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: 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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