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: 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 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: The Show Cabernet Sauvignon

The Show 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County, CA
Alcohol: 13.9%

I confess I was very surprised to read the vineyard's notes on this wine.  I did not think this wine was "big and bold".  I enjoyed this wine with my grandmother (who has had several more wine tasting years than me and I assume therefore a more sophisticated palate).  We both agreed that the wine was simple, not overly flavorful and with a short finish.  The wine was fruity and a tad sweet, reminding me of the Masked Rider Petite Syrah.


We used a portion of this bottle in our slow cooked elk roast and it was delicious!  We mixed it with turkey broth, dry onion soup mix, several garlic cloves, and spices.  After 9 hours, dinner was ready and it was amazing!

Vintage Notes:

Like a Hatch print for an Elvis gig, The Show grabs your attention. Big and bold, it is dominated by full flavors of dried black cherries, jammy preserves and complex toasty, vanilla, and spicy oak. Learn more at www.threethieves.com

Other Notes:

86% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Petite Sirah 2% Zinfandel

Price: ~$15
Freya Score: 58
Mona Value: 3.9

Wine-o: Ferrari Carano 2008 Chardonnay

Ferrari Carano 2008 Chardonnay, Sonoma County, CA
Alcohol: 13.9%


If the last Chardonnay I reviewed wasn't very buttery, this one definitely is!  It had a strong flavor I have found in several white wines that I've enjoyed and I think this can be attributed to the "soft toasty oak".  It is a very full and strong flavor, I did not find it subtle.  In a moment of laziness, I was also very happy to discover that the top is a screw cap top, an excellent choice for a party gift or camping.


This summer we are enjoying a 6 week vacation across the country before we relocate.  We enjoyed this wine in Aspen, CO.  It paired wonderfully with grilled salmon and zuchinni.

Vintage Notes from the Vineyard:

Grapes come from our vineyards in three growing regions in Sonoma County: Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and Carneros. A year of fire and ice, we began 2008 battling heavy frost in April, fires in the summer, and heat in the early fall. Reduced yields but intensely flavored, well-balanced, ripe fruit was the happy result of a very challenging growing season. Harvest began mid-August and was completed the beginning of October — 2008 being one of the fastest harvests we can remember.

Price: ~$23
Freya Score: 78
Mona Value: 3.4

Wine-o: Edna Valley Chardonnay

Edna Valley Vineyard 2008 Chardonnay, San Luis Obispo, CA
Alcohol: 13.9%

This was a fantastic white wine.  It was a tad more fruity, and not as buttery as other California Chardonnays.  I was excited to try this wine as it is from Central California.  I have heard that the San Luis Obispo area is wonderful to visit for wine tastings.  We enjoyed this wine with delicious stuffed shells and meatballs made by Granma.  It paired very well with a light summer salad and grilled squash and zucchini.  This wine also has a higher alcohol content, so pace yourself if you are the designated driver!

From the vineyard:

Our vineyards enjoy one of California's longest and coolest growing seasons, thanks to sea breezes funneled inland through Edna Valley.  Our Chardonnay has amazing flavors of lush white peach and sweet spice with a crisp, clean finish.  You will love our Chardonnay with fresh seafood, grilled chicken or roasted pork.

Price: $12-$20
Freya Score: 85
Mona Value: 5.3

Wine-o: Rodney Strong Pinot Noir

Rodney Strong 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Healdsburg, CA
Alcohol: 14.5%

I am wary of Pinot Noir, I find them fickle.  Some taste amazingly wonderful, others are simple, bland, dark, and boring.  I find it doesn't matter how much money you spend, you just are taking a chance.  This Pinot Noir I enjoyed a lot.  It reminded me of a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon in that it was very fruity in taste.  I was surprised by how clear the wine was in the glass.  A beautiful ruby color.

From the vineyard:

For the third year in a row, the 2009 vintage started off with a dry spring, which typically produces smaller clusters, smaller berries, and less canopy overall. Spring was mild enough to ward off frost this year, and vines affected from the previous year seemed to rebound. The main growing season was cool to warm and without incident. Picking commenced at the beginning of September, and all of our pinot noir was harvested by September 23rd.Supple in texture, with rose petal and red fruit aromas, this lively, medium bodied wine is aged entirely in small French oak barrels, which adds a subtle, toasty vanilla character and a hint of spice. Ideal for current enjoyment, this pinot noir will hold nicely over the next 2 to 4 years.

Freya Score: 72
Mona Value: 6

Wine-o: 2010 Apothic Red

Apothic Red 2010 Modesto, CA

13% Alcohol

This wine was given to me as a dinner party present.  I was excited to try it as I had seen just recently that it will be featured at the Peel Compton Foundation's 2012 Gardens Uncorked event this month.  The wine is a blend of several reds, including Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and more.  It has a very fruity flavor and I found it a sweeter, more full bodied red.  It bursts in your mouth with a hint of vanilla.

Pairings:  Would pair well with red meats, but I think it would also go amazingly well with a Margherita or wild mushroom pizza.

Freya's Score: 77 This is a wonderful wine, although I wonder if those who prefer drier or less sweet wines would like it as much... 

Mona's Value: 7.7 Technically, since I did not pay for this wine as it was a gift, the Mona should be 77, however I thought I'd play fair.

Cost:  ~$10.00 from the Pineville, MO Macadoodle's Liquor Store.  Buy a case of mixed wines and enjoy a 10% discount!  Or, check out their new e-commerce store for more great deals.

*Note: My Father recommended that I change the metrics by which the wines are ranked.  A Freya Score of 80 means that I think this wine is better than 79% of the other wines I've tasted.  A Mona Value of 70 is calculated as: VALUE = FREYA.SCORE/ PRICE.PER.BOTTLE

Wine-o: Cupcake Angel Food 2010

Cupcake Vineyards Angel Food 2010, Livermore, CA

13% Alcohol

I was apprehensive about trying this wine.  I expected a sweet riesling like quality.  What I received was far better!  This was a great blend between a buttery California Chardonnay and a fruity Sauvignon Blanc. It is not a sweet wine, think more of a fruity Chardonnay.

Review on tastings.com

Pale golden straw color. Fruity and floral aromas of pineapple and peach jams with a soft, fruity medium body and a tangy, lemon and orange custard finish. A very attractive sipper.

Freya's Score: 8 What a fun surprise this wine was!  The labeling is also lovely.

Cost:  ~$9.00 from Walmart!

Wine-o: James Mitchell Cabernet Sauvignon

James Mitchell Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Lodi, CA

13.9% Alcohol

I loved this wine from Day 1 to Day 4.  Day 1 upon opening it had a stronger smoky flavor, this mellowed out on Day 2 and really made me want to pair the wine with a good Barbecue venison.  As the smoky or oaked flavor mellowed the bright cherry and fruity flavors grew, making it pair well with homemade pizza made by the BF on Day 3.  (It should be noted that this pizza was amazing, only second to the Hoboken pizza I grew up on).

Described by fellow wine blog "Under the Grape Tree":

Grade=Above Average.  A solid red, with lots of black cherry preserves, brown spices, mocha and tobacco leaf.  Medium-bodied, approachable, a good value.

Freya's Score: 9 I loved this wine!  This is a bold and big California Cabernet.  Just what I've been craving!

Cost:  $11.88 from the Pineville, MO Macadoodle's Liquor Store.  Buy a case of mixed wines and enjoy a 10% discount!  Or, check out their new e-commerce store for more great deals.

Wine-o: The Usual Suspect Cabernet Sauvignon

The Usual Suspect (Big House Wine) Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 Ripon, CA
Alcohol: 13.0%

If you're going to need a lot of wine, this is what you want!  This Three Liter boxed-wine was served at the Downtown Bentonville, Inc. First Friday Greenroom in March and it was great!  Not only was it packaged in a playful manner, the price was right, AND the flavor was right.  It's a great Cabernet Sauvignon, not overly juicy but bright with fruit flavors and a quick finish.

What is this Greenroom you ask?  As a thank you for supporting the Downtown Bentonville mission, DBI members (at $150 and above) receive a membership card that gets them into the First Fridays Greenroom.  Themed, food, wine, beer, Hostess snack cakes, and other specialties (such as clean real bathrooms!) are available!  April's event will be themed International Festival, so look for some fun stuff!

The box:

Psst wise guy! Don't let the name fool you, this ain't your typical yappin-his-mouth Cab.  It's saucy with a beezer of black currants and mocha that lead to dark berries and fresh plums, a true bomba de fruta.  It would be a crime to mistake this wine for its Bordelaise kin; he is much more volatile, which is shy he's so good with food.  Eh, he's especially fond of burgers or ribs.

Better yet, the wine was still decent tasting 10 days after the event when refrigerated!

Freya's Score: 7 A fun tasty wine, fun artistry, and fun size!

Cost: ~ $17 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Wine-o: Cupcake Petite Sirah

Cupcake Petite Sirah, 2009 Central Coast, CA

13.5% Alcohol

This wine was recommended to me by a friend and since I love the Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc, I thought I would give it a try.  It is a simple wine, with dark berry flavors, smooth with almost no body.  The flavor was good.  It seems to me that my taste recently is leaning towards the big, spicy Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignons, which this is no where near.

From the vineyard's beautiful website:

We harvested these tiny berries in the early morning and transported the grapes over to the crush pad. A dense, full-bodied red wine, crafted from the coolest Central Coast areas, this Petite Sirah is anything but petite in flavor. Bursting with dark cherry, blackberry and bittersweet espresso notes, it has a creamy mouthfeel derived by aging a portion of the wine in small oak barrels. This wine is reminiscent of a dark chocolate cupcake with a vanilla berry coulis. 

The BF, was very skeptical, asking multiple times if it was a sweet wine.  It's not!  He tried it, loved it, finished the bottle for me!

Freya's Score: 7 A great flavor, if not exactly to my preferences

Cost:  $8.97 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Wine-o: Lucky Star Chardonnay 2009

Lucky Star Chardonnay 2009, Graton, CA

13.5% Alcohol

The back label states:

"Star light, star bright, your Chardonnay wishes have been granted.  With golden apple aromas and flavors, hints of citrus and a rich, crisp finish, our wine is heavenly matches with light appetizers, seafood, and frilled salmon or chicken.  May our wine shine brightly at your table and bring good fortune to you and those who share it."

What a lovely introduction to this sweeter Chardonnay.  I love the buttery flavoring to it.  It bursts in your mouth with an array of fruitiness that I find very pleasing.  A very decent price, lovely label, and great (sweet) taste!

Freya's Score: 8 I love the buttery and full flavor of this Chardonnay!

Cost: ~ $10 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Wine-o: Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon

Sterling Vintner's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Central coast Sonoma, CA

13.5% Alcohol

This wine has made me question what a "typical" California Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like.  I enjoyed the bold and full flavors.  It has a lingering finish of spicy flavors.  I would say that this wine is a bit more spicy than I anticipated, and also drier than I prefer.  In many ways it reminds me of a Zinfandel, more spicy than the round full flavor I was expecting.  I found that the more it aerated, the less I enjoyed it.  It was very good just after opening to a day after.

I would very much like to visit Sterling Vineyards at some point.  When I asked my grandmother which vineyards in the area she enjoyed the most on her tours of Napa, Sterling was one of the first.  To reach the winery, one can take a gondola and enjoy a one of a kind view of the valley.  I find the Napa landscape breathtaking and think this would be a very fun outing.

Freya's Score: 6 This wine paired well with venison chili.  I wonder how it would go with a barbecue pulled pork...

Cost: ~ $10 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Wine-o: SCV Sauvignon Blanc

SCV Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 Sonoma, CA

13.7% Alcohol

This wine was recommended to me by Dan from Macadoodle's, a good white wine to have handy he would say.  To me, this wine has a very crisp aroma as well as taste.  It is almost zesty with citrus.  A short finish and on the drier side, this is not a "sweet" Sauvignon Blanc by my standards.  Nor would I say it has an "herby" flavor like the Nobilo Sauvignon (an aspect which I love in Sauvignon Blancs).

I opened this wine after the BF and I watched Food Matters, a documentary on "optimal health" through natural and wholistic practices.    I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in a healthy diet or alternative healing options.  It seemed like this wine would go great with our "super" vegetable laden salads.  It did just that.  And I anticipate it will be delicious with our shrimp Green Curry Thai tonight.

Freya's Score: 7 I love this wine's back label.  It seems very authentic to me, I love this idea of having a simple rundown from the vineyard on the bottle.

Cost: ~ $15 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Wine-o: Wisteria Cabernet Sauvignon, Party Sized

Wisteria Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Morgan Hill, CA
13%

This wine was purchased with a party in mind because of the jumbo size of the bottle and lovely pricing.   It is a simple wine, ruby in color and quite clear.  The aromas to me hint of berry and vanilla and the taste has a short finish.  This wine is a great wine for a party, with a different label than the usual (Yellowtail or Little Penguin) but still with a satisfying taste.  It also did very well as a Red Wine Spritzer, mixed with Pellegrino and Orange Juice.

Freya's Score: 7

Cost: ~ $10 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Wine-o: Il Cuore Barbera

Il Cuore Barbera, 2009, Mendocino County, CA

14.7% Alcohol

This Valentine's Day, what better wine to enjoy at home with those you love, than one from Il Cuore "The Heart" vineyard.  They have a variety of wines from Chardonnay to Cabernet, Barbera and more.  

This is a great dry red wine with a full bodied taste of fruits, (to me, plum and blackberry).  It tasted crisp with medium tannins along the top of the tongue.  The wine had simpler flavors than a Zinfandel or strong California Cabernet Sauvignon.  It paired wonderfully with the amazing gumbo The BF made for us.  It was recommended to me for pairing with wild game such as venison or wild duck (both of which were in the gumbo!)

Described by Dreyer Wine Co. as 

This vintage represents our fifth release of Barbera, the robust wine of the fabled Piedmont region of northern Italy. Long known as a rich, dry red wine it has been consumed at Italian tables throughout this region on an everyday basis. The grapes for the Il Cuore Barbera were harvested from vineyards in Mendocino County. The ripe raspberry aromas and rich cane fruit offers attractive complexity with soft tannins. The wine has dark garnet color with mouth-filling smooth fruit flavor with spice.

Freya's Score: 7

Don't forget to add some flowers to your Valentine's Day, either as a gift or just to spruce up your house!  This year, why not go local and support a small floral business (like the new Bud to Branch in downtown Bentonville)?

Cost: ~ $15 in Southern Missouri, bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Wine-o: Merlot 181

181 Merlot 2009, Lodi CA

This wine was recommended to me by Dan from Macadoodle's.  Her suggested several wines, telling me to buy 2 bottles as he was sure that I would want more once I had finished the first one.

Described on Snooth.com:

Quarterly Review of Wines called this Merlot a Best Buy saying "this is Merlot that delivers" and "the flavors are forthcoming and fetching." 181 refers to the clone of the Merlot grape that originates in Pomerol Bordeaux. That clone is planted in the clay Station vineyard in the Sierra Foothills where the grapes for this wine are sourced. Clay soil, like in Pomerol, retains moisture, keeps the vines vibrant and the grapes developing through the warm summer months. It also scored 90 points with the Tasting Panel who called called it "a pleasing and vivacious value driven slice of sunshine."

 Freya's Score: 8 This was a great merlot, although it does start to get a bit pricey if you are budgeting for table wine.  It would be perfect for a dinner party with a hearty red meat entree

Cost: ~ $14  bought from the Macadoodle's location in Pineville, MO.  This is a great deal if you purchase it with the fantastic Macadoodle's case of wine deal.  Try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store to have wine and other goodies delivered to you.  

Date Night, Homemade Pizza!

Since the BF was going out of town for the weekend, we decided to declare Date Night.  However, it should be noted that it was a Wednesday night (and a rainy one at that) and we had both had a long day at work; we were fairly uninspired.

Originally I had planned that we would drive by the mailman's light display.  He has been telling me everyday for a solid week about the glory that are his House Christmas lights.  I thought it would be fun and nostalgic to "take a drive"  see the lights, romantic even.  The rain 86ed that idea.  Afterwards we would go to a gourmet grocery store and pick out a decadent dessert, then go to Tusk & Trotter or get a pizza from Johnny Brusco's.  But rain and laziness prevailed, meaning...

Date night resulted in homemade goodness.

Menu

Baked Brie Leftovers - the BF had just come back from weight lifting at the gym and was famished, this ensured he would not inhale dinner but enjoy it

Homemade Pizza - handmade simple dough & toppings ideas: mushrooms, goat cheese, pepperoni, artichoke hearts, olives, onions.  We each made our own mini pizza, this ensured we each had the right amount of what we love on our pizzas (he adores a ton of sauce wheras I am a minimalist)

German Chocolate Cake - excellent with Braum's Peppermint Ice Cream, if this recipe looks to intense, you can always do what I did, which is buy the Duncan Hines cake mix, easy and yum.

181 Merlot, 2009

Movie: Crazy, Stupid, Love. starring Steve Carrel and Julianne Moore

Perhaps the next Date Night will involve getting out of the house... however this budget was hard to beat!