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: 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: 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: 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.