Wine-o: 2010 Irony Chardonnay

Irony 2010 Chardonnay Napa Valley, CA

Alcohol:  14.5%

Price: ~$11-

A great Chardonnay!  I enjoyed this wine served at room temperature instead of chilled.  It was full of butter and apple flavors, while not overpowering or spicy.  Straw yellow in color and clear; it paired amazingly with Perch Po' Boy sandwiches and a damp fall evening.  This Chardonnay currently rivals the Lucky Star and Clos du Bois that I love!

Freya's Score 83

Mona's Value 7.6

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price; this produces a better analytic which takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Panther Creek Pinot Noir

Panther Creek 2009 Pinot Noir, Winemaker's Cuvee Willamette Valley, Oregon
Alcohol 14.3%
Price $25+

When I opened this wine I immediately noticed a lovely bouquet from the bottle.  Smoky and earthy, I was very curious from the beginning.  The surprises continued when I poured the wine and it pooled in the glass in a beautiful, clear ruby color.  The wine is complex, so you may already know that I like it better than the simple Pinot Noir and Syrah I have tried.  It's off dry with a tang of spice and smokiness.  When I read the tasting notes on the website it was clear why I love it, chocolate, cherries, and vanilla?  Yay!

A ruby-red hue embodies notes of chocolate-covered black cherries, vanilla bean, cola, and earth. Medium bodied, with subtle hints of cranberry chutney, black raspberry, Bing cherry, and orange zest. Bright, long lasting fruit, balanced acidity and firm tannins. A wine to enjoy presently, but surely worthy of aging 5-10 years.

This wine was a gift from The BFs sister.  She is lucky in life and has chosen to live in Willamette Valley, a gorgeous area of Oregon near Portland.  I hope to be able to visit the area.  It is largely known for its Pinot Gris wines, and if the quality is anything like this and the lovely Chardonnay from Idaho, then I am sure I will enjoy the area!

Food Pairing: Went great with roasted eggplant, mushrooms, and greek style meatballs!

Freya's Score: 88
Mona's Value:  3.5

Wine-o: Cline Zinfandel

Cline 2010 Zinfandel Lodi, California
Alcohol 14%
Price $12

This wine, had a great review from my Opa (the Dutch word for Grandfather).  We asked him to compare this wine with the Murphy Goode Merlot we served him first.  While he enjoyed the Merlot, he stated that it was better served with the meal (chicken sausage with onions, mushrooms, salad, and baked potatoes) while the Zinfandel was great on its own.

I've never heard my Opa speak about wine before.  In fact, I was under the assumption that he wasn't partial to anything except his whiskey and ginger ale which he has every night before bed.  (He buys a large handle of basic whiskey and stores it and the 2 liter of ginger ale in the top of the coat closet by the garage.)

Beyond my Opa's opinion, this wine was selected because my mother and I love Zinfandels (in particular the Plungerhead) and also because Cline is known for their Zinfandel.  If you want to try a great one, many will advise you to try a Cline Old Vine Zinfandel.

Freya's Score 86

Mona's Value 7.2

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Cupcake Prosecco

Cupcake Prosecco, Central Coast California

Alcohol 11%

Price $8

The big news is in, I have a job!  Among other things I can branch out from the Jumbo sized wines (although of course never completely, some were delicious!) and the dog food budget is definitely not going to be downsized (they love the fish Holistic Select!). 

This Prosecco was lovely.  Light and not overly sweet, fizzy and bubbly in all the right spots.  The wine had citrus notes and a medium froth (don't shake or handle roughly before opening!)  A clear, daffodil yellow complemented the light flavor and brush of spray on your nose as you dip in for a sip.  

A beautiful bottle complimented by the simple and sweet Cupcake logo.  The BF seemed dubious at first, but he requested a second glass!  It was the perfect present for a celebration.

Freya's Score 84

Mona's Value 10.5

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Cupcake Pinot Grigio

Cupcake 2011 Pinot Grigio

Central Coast California (grapes imported from Italy)

Alcohol 12.5%

Price $9

I just realized this is my first Pinot Grigio review!  So please note that I do not have a lot of knowledge about this type of wine.  These are the general facts I have learned:

• not sweet
• pairs well with fish
• serve chilled
• not a lot of people are wild about this and it's not as widespread as Chardonnays or Rieslings

I decided to go all out with the Cupcake whites.  The price is right, I cannot get over their gorgeous logo, and a friend featured the wine at her wedding.  This is an off dry wine, pear in color and very clear.  It is very crisp.  Not extremely floral or herbal like some Sauvignon Blancs, and not buttery like my favorite Chardonnays.  I found the back label very informative and helpful:

We traveled to Trentino, Italy in the foothills of the Italian Alps because of its unique quality to produce lush, flavorful Pinot Grigio.  Our Pinot Grigio is full, with the flavors of ripe pears, a creamy mid-palate and a long lingering finish.  It's reminiscent of a pear cupcake with white chocolate.  Enjoy with bay scallops in a cream sauce, linguine alfredo, or simply as an aperitif

Freya's Score 71

Mona's Value 7.9

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Long Trail Traditional IPA

Long Trail Traditional IPA, Bridgewater Corners, Vermont

Alcohol 5.4%

Price $8- (6-pack)

This brewery has a wonderful pub/tasting area for customers.  Although the exterior is nondescript (it looks like a warehouse set back from the road a bit). The interior front of house area takes advantage of the warehouse height ceilings to create a larger, airier, feeling.  They serve basic pub fare from 11-6 and also offer tastings of their large variety of beer.

We greatly enjoyed the self-guided tour.  While limited in vantage points, the brewery has very clear placards explaining the brewing process.  The bottling machine was going full tilt and it was amazing to see the grace and speed at which the glass bottles are filled, capped, and organized for casing.

Freya's Score: 65

Mona Value: 8.1

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Robert Mondavi Chardonnay

Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2010 St. Helena, California

Alcohol:  13.5%

Price: ~$8.50

This Chardonnay is light and crisp.  It's a nice medium between sweet and dry.  Very affordable and with a slight buttery taste.  Overall I find it a bit too light for my taste.  It seems I prefer a more heady, or bold Chardonnay.  However I find the taste quite pleasant and would purchase again or give as a hostess gift.  

After reading the vineyard's description... I do like it more since reading the tasting notes.  Perhaps thats because they said the 2010 season was a strong one, perhaps my wine has aired more and is in fact better.  It does have a bit of a tang to it, probably denoting the peach and brown sugar flavors they refer to.  It's a fine wine and an excellent price for it.

In 2010, our Central Coast Chardonnay grapes enjoyed an extended period maturing on the vine, which produced fruit with impressively concentrated flavors. The natural roundness of our Chardonnay was enhanced by partial barrel and malolactic fermentation coupled with extended aging on the yeast lees, resulting in a luscious, complex wine. The nose reveals lemon blossom, pineapple, and peach aromas with smoky oak nuances along with enticing vanilla spice and toasty brown sugar flavors. The creamy, mouthfilling palate creates a lush impression and is balanced by a rich, lingering finish.

Freya's Score 74

Mona's Value 8.7

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price; this produces a better analytic which takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages

Georges DuBoeuf 2010 Beaujolais Villages, FRANCE

Alcohol 12.5%

Price $12

This is a red wine that definitely ought to be aired.  When I first tasted it, it had almost no flavor.  However the nose was very interesting, delicate.  The wine is smooth, very smooth.  To me I thought this mean no tannins, and the website describes it as "a smooth wine with fine tannins".

This wine is from the Beaujolais region of France, hence the description on the website.  The wines tend to be simple; low in tannins and higher in acidity.  I reviewed last Thanksgiving the 2011 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau.  Unlike that vintage which is drunken immediately, this type of wine can be stored for a couple of years.

Freya's Score: 71

Mona's Value:  5.9

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Harpoon Pumpkin Cider

Harpoon Brewery Pumpkin Cider

Windsor, Vermont

Alcohol

Price $8- (6-pack)

Imagine our surprise when we found not just Cider, but Pumpkin cider at the Harpoon Brewery store in Windsor!  Having tasted now the regular Cider and the Pumpkin, I will admit I prefer the regular cider. The pumpkin adds a bit of spice, and reminds me some of an apple pie.  The BF found it too sweet, but I prefer it over a dark lager or stout.

I am very excited to try to make beer bread with it as I think it will be amazing!

Freya Score 71

Mona Value 8.9

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Educational Video

Please enjoy this informative video on the different varietals of wine from our friends in the Paso Robles Wine Country.  Happy Saturday!

Wine-o: Smoking Loon Chardonnay

Smoking Loon 2009 Chardonnay, California
Alcohol:  13.5%
Price: ~$10.50

I confess, I bought this wine because of the amazing store display.  There is a sweepstake for this bike, and of course I entered myself, and The BF into it.  How cool would it be to have a wine cruiser bike?! (The only downside is that this is not a step through "ladies" cruiser which is my favorite...)

I selected a Chardonnay from their wide variety which included Old Vine Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, and more.  The wine had a pleasant, subtle taste of fruits.  It wasn't as dry as I prefer, but a bit more floral in taste.

Freya's Score 70
Mona's Value 6.7
The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price; this produces a better analytic which takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Heady Topper

Heady Topper Double IPA Waterbury, Vermont

Alcohol 8%

Price $12 (4-pack of 16 oz.)

The brewery is located in Waterbury, VT just 20 minutes southeast of Burlington along I-89 and right next to the Ben & Jerry's factory.  It is again a very nondescript building, but close to the highway.  They sell growlers and 4-packs of cans.  (Perhaps check their facebook ahead as they were out when we visited; they had just filled all of their Burlington area orders.)

This beer gains rave reviews from everyone we've met.  And Beer Advocate has ranked it as the #3 beer in the world.  Pretty impressive if you ask me.  To me, the hoppy flavors dissolved into a fruity goodness, swirling around my mouth.  It was a very different experience from other beers I've tasted.  I also like this brewery's business model.  This is the #1 beer their customers like, and so it is the ONLY beer that they brew.  Simple, smart, and lucrative.

The BF describes this as "#1 beer that I've ever had... that's still in production".  That's pretty good if you ask me...

Freya's Score: 98

Mona Value: 8.2

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc

Cupcake 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

Central Coast California

Alcohol 13%

Price $12

My mother is quite the fan of Sauvignon Blanc.  Usually they aren't as dry as a Chardonnay, and they often have a trace of citrus or herbal zest to them.  She particularly likes those of the herb resonance, such as Nobilo and Kono.  

However, the Cupcake is a little more affordable, and very available at almost any wine shop.  This wine has a nice zing to it and is more on the herbal side than citrus.  Definitely serve this chilled.  It paired well with cheese hors d'oeuvres and a humid evening.  Not overly sweet and a bit on the drier side; the whole family enjoyed this!  (Although I would still buy the Cupcake 2010 Angel Food over this vintage...)

Freya's Score 79

Mona's Value 6.6

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Sawtooth Chardonnay

Sawtooth Winery 2009 Chardonnay 
Snake River Valley, Idaho

Alcohol 14.3%

Price $13

This past summer during our road trip out west, we picked up some beer and wine to try.  I was pleasantly surprised by the Snake River area in Idaho (just outside Boise).  It was wonderful to be 30 minutes from a large city and surrounded by farms and mountains.

Sawtooth Winery was a stop The BF requested because of their striking wine labels.  We bought a couple bottles, one being the 2009 Chardonnay.  It packs a bit of a punch at 14%+ alcohol and is a very dry Chardonnay (and yes it has a buttery flavor to it!).  While a bit too dry for my taste, the flavor was lovely.

It should be noted that Sawtooth Winery has received awards and is a noted Idaho wedding venue.  Bookings can be made by emailing: kellig@sawtoothwinery.com 

Freya's Score: 82

Mona Value: 6.3

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: The Norwich Inn

The Norwich Inn (technically Jasper Murdoch's Alehouse) Whistling Pig Red Ale
Alcohol 5.4%

Price $6.50- (22 oz. bomber)

The Norwich Inn is very well known in the Hanover/Dartmouth College area.  It has a diverse menu featuring locally sourced products, as well as the microbrewery (and with that pub-fare).  It is also an Inn, and one can reserve rooms there.

We parked in the back and entered through a side door to the front desk.  The receptionist happily sold us a "bomber" of our choice right there.  While The BF deliberated over the assortment I was able to look at the dining room and bar area.  Both very New England, very classic, and just lovely looking.  Clean lines with a general sense of "old" sunken in and painted over in a beautiful minty sage green.

The Norwich Inn was very kind in responding to a comment I left when I joined their mailing list.  They provided me with this fun history of the brewhouse:

We have been brewing beer at the Inn since 1993 producing traditional English-Style ales in 5 gallon glass jugs. Ten years later we became established as a brewery and named it after the Colonel [and Dartmouth graduate] who built the original Inn in 1797.  

In May of 2003, Tim Wilson established our own Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse as one of the countries smallest breweries.  An historic barn was restored for this purpose and stands opposite the pub in the courtyard.  Our ales are handcrafted at the inn and pumped underground to the taps in the pub and packaged in 22oz bottles available for sale only at the inn.  In 2006 Joe and Jill Lavin purchased the inn...  They began renovations to the old vestry and carriage house to create the Walker House and Ivy Lodge giving us 11 more sleeping rooms, and added our beautiful wine cellar which houses one of the largest selections of wine in the state.   

We now produce over 30 different beers and have between 4 - 6 on tap in our pub at all times.  Our ales are crafted from fine English malts.  Filtration can strip flavor and body from a beer, therefore the ale yeast is allowed to settle out naturally in an extended cold-aging process.  Our beer is then pumped underground from our beer cellar to the pub, or packaged in 22 ounce bottles for sale in our Bottle Shop.

Very malty, almost smoky flavored; less hoppy than other red ales.

Freya's Score: 90

Mona Value: 13.84

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Big Claw White

Big Claw 2009 White Wine, CA
Alcohol 13.7%
Price $16-

This wine was a huge disappointment.  During a fun vacation on the Maine Coast, it was assumed that this wine would be fantastic with seafood.  While it did pair adequately, it was very weak in flavor.  The wine is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewurtztraminer.  The bottle noted it as "the perfect lobster pairing."  I would recommend a large Yellow Tail Chardonnay instead.


"Dry, bland, disappointing"

"Flavorless, indistinct, expensive"

"Bizarre, watery"

Freya's Score: 40
Mona's Value: 2.5

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Harpoon UFO White

Harpoon Brewery UFO White Wheat Ale, Windsor, Vermont
Alcohol
Price $8- (6-pack)

I was told very clearly by the BF and the BF's Former College Roommate (here on known as VegasBaby) that the Harpoon UFO White is one of the best if not THE best of White Ales.  In our house it is always served with a wedge of orange, and next to the Harpoon Cider is my favorite of their offerings (and beer in general).

The Harpoon Brewery has the most wonderful visiting area in Windsor, VT and Boston, MA.  They offer guided tours, have a lovely indoor and outdoor dining room, and offer tastings as well.  The layout is wonderful, with a nice retail area linked onto the dining room (but situated so that the diner and shopper can be comfortable in their area or floating between).  They also feature several wonderful events and do a great job of marketing.  All in all, this is our favorite brewery we have visited thus far and also The BF's favorite types of beer.  I have a feeling we will have Harpoon in the house as long as we are in the area.  Now to buy some of their Irish road signs...

Freya Score 95
Mona Value 11.9

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

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Wine-o: Tereseret Antique Rose

Tereseret Antique Rose, FRANCE
Alcohol 12.5%
Price: ~$15

This wine was a lovely rose.  It was not as sweet as I anticipated and paired very well with hors d'oeuvres of crackers and french soft cheeses.  Served chilled it is a great solution for a hot summer evening.  I would recommend serving this first to guests and then a more conventional white or red wine paired with the dinner offering (remember, reds can be served slightly chilled as well!)

"Crisp"

"Refreshing"

"Sweet and slightly dry, pairs well with St. Andre cheese"

"Refreshing and a bit fruity without going overboard"

Freya's Score: 68
Mona's Value: 4.5

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Wine-o: American Microbreweries

The USA is the home to several microbreweries.  In New England I have noticed a pride in local microbrews that I didn't detect in Arkansas.    Breweries are very fun to visit, often with a dining room for sampling beer and basic pub fare.  And of course, a ton of retail items such as t-shirts, coolers, hats, dog leashes, etc.  Many breweries also offer guided tours.

The BF's favorite type of beer is IPA, and so this is more often than not the kind of beer in the fridge, and thus the kind that I try.  I am not a huge beer drinker, and my taste is narrow and specific, however I will rank beers on a 100 point scale.  I can detail the fun experiences at the breweries that we visit as well.

Printer Friendly Maps & Cheat Sheets:
New Hampshire
Vermont
Maine
Massachusetts
New York
Connecticut
Rhode Island

For more information about microbreweries, one can watch "Beer Wars" (available on Netflix Instant). This is a documentary about the market share struggle between the "big 3" and microbreweries across the country.  The narrator has a very clear opinion, but the documentary is informative.

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Wine-o: Fat Bastard Merlot

Fat Bastard 2010 Merlot, FRANCE
Alcohol 13.5%
Price $12

This is a great wine that I have enjoyed many a time.  It is an affordable wine and therefore a great hostess gift.  It is a soft and smooth merlot, with some tannins that give a sharp metallic kick of an aftertaste.

This wine pairs well with a variety of meats.  It goes wonderfully with venison steak as well as barbecue pork.  I've even enjoyed a Fat Bastard wine at Thanksgiving with stuffing and domestic turkey.

"I love a fat bastard!"

Freya's Score: 80
Mona's Value: 6.67


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