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: Review from my Father, the California Conoisseur

Franzia Caberbet Sauvignon, 2011 CHILE

Alcohol: 12.5%

The Franzia wine is a collection of unknown vintages that have been developed since 1906, more than a century ago.  I, Andrew, friend and part-time keeper of the wolf-hound, Joy, am happy to explain to all of you some of the unique qualities of this wine.  

There is little known about this 5-liter box-wine. Millions of gallons are produced annually using grapes gleaned from 1000s of acres of old vines growing on the sun-drenched Chilean mountains. It is made using various processes that are unknown to the general public. Most impressive is that all these gallons were fermented and boxed in less than twelve months!

I am having a very difficult time trying to explain this wine. The aromas were delicate and muted, as might be expected from a generic red created by blending perhaps as many as 20 vintages from vineyards nestled intimately amongst the rocky crags of the Andes Mountains. There are delicate scents of - grapes - and more grapes. A grapey odor and taste that lingers delightfully in the mouth. However, it definitely requires aeration, and even then I was less than impressed.

I served this wine with breakfast - okay, Sunday brunch - and found the subtle (very subtle) flavors of currants and other fruit did not instantly remind me of anything. The wine is actually quite smooth. It is not harsh. Therefore, it is doubtful that additional years will improve this melange du vin.

Cost: ~ $12.98 per 5-liter box (about seven 750-ml bottles for about $2/bottle, or 40-cents per glass)  in Southern California, bought from the Albertson's location in Corona, CA. This is a great deal if you purchase it alone or with additional boxes. It is always on sale!

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: Sebeka Shiraz Pinotage

Sebeka Shiraz Pinotage South Africa

13.5% Alcohol

Living in a dry county, it is more than customary to bring a bottle of wine with oneself when going to another's for dinner (That or some beer at least).  We had some friends over who brought with them the Sebeka Shiraz Pinotage to try.

This blended wine was lovely for the diverse group.  Fruity in flavor but not overly sweet or dry, it was definitely a crowd pleaser.  The bottle barely made it to dinner...

Freya's Score: 7 A very economical price and a great bottle!  (The cork is cheetah print...)

Cost:  $6.42 from the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store! 

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: Charles Smith Eve

Charles Smith Eve Chardonnay 2009, Washington Valley, OR

I finally frequented Pressroom after work.  The coffee house recently obtained their liquor license (conveniently in time for New Year's Eve) and I have been told by various Bentonville locals about how wonderful their offerings are.

Since I had a bottle of red already open at home I decided to go with a glass of white, the house white recommended to me was the Charles Smith Eve Chardonnay.  The 2009 vintage was lovely.  A little bit on the crisp side for a chardonnay, but still with a buttery hint to it.  (I love buttery chardonnays.)  The menu described it as having pear and apple flavorings which I found delightfully offset that buttery flavor.

Pressroom opened in downtown Bentonville in the fall of 2011, just in time for the grand opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  The coffee house features a delightful offering throughout the day.  Grab an amazing coffee drink in the morning (my favorite is the brown sugar latte), pastries by  the Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie pastry chef throughout the day, light and healthy lunches, and finally a full bar menu with cheese, olive, and charcuterie plates in the evening.  

This has been an amazing addition to the downtown area and is a convenient walk to the Square, Crystal Bridges, Walmart Visitor Center, and all the other retail, yoga studio, and restaurant perks in downtown.

Freya's Score: 8  This great wine added to a lovely happy hour with some girlfriends!  The label art on the bottle is also super fun.

Cost: ~ $7 at Pressroom in Bentonville, AR

Wine-o: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Alcohol: 13.5%

After a lovely stint in Southern California for the holidays, my father and stepmother have turned me onto white wine again.  I bought this wine as it is a favorite of my mother's, but during her visit over Thanksgiving Arkansas was just too chilly for white wine.

The wine is full of citrus flavors and bursts on the tongue.  Previous years of this wine have had more of a spicy herbal taste to them, almost like a sage or rosemary.  However, to me, the 2010 tastes of tart citrus.

"New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at its best, this wine displays excellent palate weight and length,with flavours of ripe passion fruit, lemon and peach supported by fresh, zesty acidity."  Snooth.com Winemaker Notes

Freya's Score: 7

I confess I preferred earlier years where there was not as much citrus, and more of an herbal quality.

Cost: ~ $12 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.  They have a discount section that provides cases of wine perfect for any party, event, or just a personal favorite that one wants to always have on hand.

Wine-o: Fat Monk Merlot

Fat Monk Merlot 2009, Central Coast CA
14.5% Alcohol

Described by winespectator.com as 

Soft and juicy if a bit generic, offering cherry and spicy vanilla flavors. Drink now. 3,000 cases made. –TF

Freya's Score: 8

This is a great tasting wine.  Full bodied and with a great round flavor.  Goes great with steak.  The flavors are more subtle, not spicy like a Zinfandel or some Shiraz.

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.  They have a discount section that provides cases of wine perfect for any party, event, or just a personal favorite that must always be handy.

Don't forget to try out the Macadoodle's new e-commerce store, have wine and other goodies delivered to you (alcohol shipping rulings differ by state).  

Wine-o: Wilson Creek Winery Almond Champagne

Wilson Creek Winery Almond Champagne, Temecula, California

11% Alcohol

To celebrate the holiday season, Macadoodle's featured several specialty wine tastings to help customers plan for their Christmas meal.  I was lucky to find my friend Dan at the Wine bar and knew I was in for a treat.  I was surprised to see that the first wine was the Wilson's Creek Almond Champagne.

Now, I love Wilson Creek.  Mainly because this is my father's favorite vineyard in Temecula.  My father is lucky enough to live within an hour of Wilson's and is a proud member of the Wilson Creek Wine Club.  I asked Dan: "You mean start out the evening with champagne?"

"Well yeah, invite people into your home with a little bubbly!  Loosen things up a bit!" was his response.

Freya's Score: 8 -If you like almonds, and you like champagne, you will like this.  It is bubbly, the almond welcomes you with a friendly aroma and continues with a lovely slightly sweet flavor.  If you are looking for your bottle buddy for December 31st, this is a great alternative to a dry or overly sweet champagne.  Available in several Liquor Stores, including the Macadoodle's Pineville location.

Wine-o: Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon

Cycles Gladiator  Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Soledad, CA

Alcohol: 14.5%

This is a wonderful wine.  I would describe it as darker and very round and full.  I tasted mocha and dark fruits.  I have greatly enjoyed this wine.  The best flavor was about an hour after opening to a day later, the taste seems to have gone slightly downhill around day 3 of the wine being opened.

Described on Snooth.com:

Our Cycles-Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon has lovely aromas of raspberry, mint, and mocha. Flavors of dark fruits layered on more dark fruits wrapped in a cloak of dusty tannins. Lush and mouthfilling from start to finish, there is enough acid to support the whole structure but doesnt finish sharp. The wine drops off at just the right place. I am declaring this the Official Wine of Filet Mignon. It will also go great with BBQ short ribs, and with bigger, spicy, tomato-based pasta and meat dishes. 

Freya's Score: 8 This wine was delicious with venison roast as well as turkey and egg noodle soup!

Cost: ~ $7.23 on Macadoodle's E-Commerce site, 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.  They have a discount section that provides cases of wine perfect for any party, event, or just a personal favorite that must always be handy.

Wine-o: Plungerhead Old Vine Zinfandel

Plungerhead Old Vine Zinfandel, 2009 Lodi, CA
Alcohol: 14.9%


This was my favorite wine from the Thanksgiving week of wine tastings.  The wine is a beautiful ruby red and had moderate flavors of plum and pepper.  It was a drier wine which paired wonderfully with venison, vegetables, and pate.  A great simple wine.  


I am so glad that Dan from Macadoodle's recommended this wine to me.  My mother was horrified by the name and label and declared she could never serve it at a party or give it as a gift.  After we had sampled a couple wines over the Holiday we were both won over with the Plungerhead.  I have bought it again since and look forward to opening it at my next pizza night.


Described on Wine Spectator with a rating of 83:

Ripe and smoky, showing baked cherry, fresh sage and cedar notes and dry flavors. Drink now. 36,000 cases made. –TF

Freya's Score: 8 Zesty and flavorful, it went great with venison tacos and pate hors d'oeuvres.  


Cost: ~ $12 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.  They have a discount section that provides cases of wine perfect for any party, event, or just a personal favorite that must always be handy.

Wine-o: Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon

Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Sonoma County, California

Alcohol: 13.8%

This is a delicious wine.  It was recommended to me by Dan, one of the wine specialists at Macadoodle's Wine Tasting Bar as one of his top 5 red wines to have on hand at all times.

It is a full and round taste.  With definite flavors of dark fruits.  Powerful in aroma and dark in color.  This wine pairs very well with my usual diet of venison based dinners.  It was described by the BF as a nice "sipping wine."  I take that to mean he very much enjoyed it and wanted to savor it.  The flavor also lingers on the tongue, letting one savor it for a time.

Described on Snooth.com by Westchester Wine Warehouse: 

The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness during September and October, then de-stemmed but not crushed upon arrival at the winery, leaving 20% - 30% whole berries in the fermenter. This process retains the grape's varietal character and minimizes bitter tannin extraction in the wine. Extended skin contact occurred for an average of 6 to 8 days for maximum extraction of color and flavor. The must was fermented in a mix of rotary, punch down, and static fermentors at an average of 85 to 88 degrees for about 5 to 7 days. A variety of yeast strains were used to ensure the development of desired flavor and aroma characteristics and 100% of the wine completed malolactic fermentation. (90 Points - Wine Director) 

Freya's Score: 8 A great California Cabernet Sauvignon, I admit I am partial to these since my trip to Napa this past June.

Cost: ~ $13- 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.  They have a discount section that provides cases of wine perfect for any party, event, or just a personal favorite that must always be handy.

Wine-o: Les Jamelles Pinot Noir & St. Nick

Les Jamelles Pinot Noir Aude, 2010 L'Aude Region, FRANCE

Alcohol: 12.5%


Coming from a Dutch immigrant family, the tradition of St. Nick is still celebrated in my mother's house on December 6th.  One must leave their shoes by the door on St. Nick's Eve and if you've been good then you may find a treat in your shoes in the morning!  Freya decided to try to soften up St. Nick a day early with the last of our Pinot Noir.  (She's lost all her balls and is in desperate need of new toys to chew.)

This is a very light red wine.  It is very fruity with lovely flavors of plum and blackberry.  The flavors almost have a "jam" tendency to them.  Light in aroma, and moderately flavorful.  I anticipate those that are transitioning from white wine to red wine will enjoy this as it is quite light and not robust like many Malbecs and Merlots.

I was also sold on this wine by its' label.  It has a vintage French feel to it.  Simple and classic.

Described on WineVariety.com:

A developed style, with spiced cherry, plum and currant flavors that are organisation and fresh-tasting. Shows hints of dim chocolate on a finish. Drink now. 40,000 cases imported.

Freya's Score: 8 Nicely paired with bread and medium aromatic cheese.

Cost: ~ $13- 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.  They have a discount section that provides cases of wine perfect for any party, event, or just a personal favorite that must always be handy.

Wine-o: Beaujolais Nouveau 2011

Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, 2011 FRANCE

Alcohol: 12.5%

The Beaujolais Nouveau wine is a vintage that has been developed in the past 20 years.  Dan from the Pineville Macadoodle's wine tasting bar was happy enough to explain to me some of the unique qualities of this wine.  

This is the first grape to be picked in the spring.  It is made without using any oak and is released every year just before Thanksgiving.  The Georges DuBoeuf Beajolais Nouveau is the most popular and the one most people serve traditionally during the holiday season.

I had a very difficult time trying to taste this wine.  The aromas were moderate and very simple, grape smelling.  It was off dry and a light wine with a moderate flavor.  It definitely requires aeration, and even then I was less than impressed. 

We served this wine with Thanksgiving dinner and it went well, although I preferred the Lindemans Bin 99 Pinot Noir.  It also went well with hors d'oeuvres of pate and a dill feta bread from the local bakery Stone Mill Bread & Co.

In the past 20 years this wine has received scores ranging from 86 to 87 and has an average price of 11-14 dollars according to Wine Spectator.

Freya's Score: 5  This wine was very fun to try since so many people talk about it this time of year.  It is important to drink it when you buy it and let it aerate for an hour.

Cost: ~ $10.44 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.  10% off all bottles of wine not already on sale!