Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet

We first received this wine as a gift.

From the description on the bottle we thought it would be sweet . . . 

Experience a wine as rich, soft and elegant as red velvet. Our Red Velvet blend delivers over-the-top aromas of chocolate, deep dark blackberries and luscious red fruits that follow through to the palate. Finish with a hint of coconut and creamy mocha that shows unmistakable intensity and length. Red Velvet combines Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Each varietal adds distinct characteristics and lends structure, aroma and depth of flavor. We ferment each varietal separately before blending. Finally, a unique oak regime infuses creaminess. {Cupcake Vineyard ~ California}

What a pleasant surprise that it was just to our liking . . . 

a dry blend with a nice warm finish.

a smooth easy drinking wine.

Who can say no to a "cupcake"?

{a bargain at $8.99}

If you invite us for a porch sit

we'll bring it along . . . .

bolla valpolicella

We recently tried this wine on sale at Publix.

Then . . . we bought more.

From the bottle:
"For more than a century Bolla wines have been recognized for trusted quality. Made with hand-picked grapes from northern Italy's Veneto region, Bolla Valpolicella offers berry, almond, raisin, and spicy black-cherry flavors.

12.0% Alcohol"

From their website:
This sumptuous wine has flavors of berries, cherries and almonds, enhanced with subtle oak, vanilla and spice complexity from aging in new oak casks. This wine pairs well with rich pastas, grilled red meats, salmon, and soft cheeses.

Valpolicella is a new variety to us and we really enjoyed it. 

($9.99 on sale)

Chateau Ste Michelle

Even though it's not Wednesday, 2 WoW couples ( mac, mac, jr mm) are enjoying a bottle of Chateau Ste Michelle - cabernet sauvignon ($12) while we plan a trip to Florida in April. First glass was fine the second even better!

“This Cabernet Sauvignon highlights concentrated Washington State red fruit in an accessible style. It has plenty of complexity and structure, and is also very versatile with food--try it with beef, pork or pasta” - Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

A recent and new wine to us is
Peter Lehmann’s Clancy’s Red.
We do not usually drink "blends"
but this blend of Shiraz, Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot turns out to
be quite good. It’s a nice mix of fruity
smoothness with sharp tannins
and a warm finish.

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel

A nice surprise on last Wednesday was a wine that will turn out to be a new favorite ~ Gnarly Head Old Vine Vin 2006. It paired well with a variety of hors d’oeuvres and a robust (!) Carrot Cake. Gnarly Head web site describes it as -

WINE
The 2006 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel is crafted from grapes from 35 to 80 year old vines. Robust berry flavors and exotic spice notes from the small grape clusters are balanced with French, American and Hungarian oak, which creates heady layers of vanilla and chocolate and a lingering finish.

VINTAGE
The 2006 vintage will be remembered for rain – abundant, continuous rain, which flooded many vineyards in Northern California. However, the wet spring gave way to an ideal growing season with moderate that allowed the grapes to mature evenly and slowly. A heat spike during the summer concentrated the flavors in the grapes. The grapes for this wine were hand-harvested in August 2006.

Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon

Even though it's not Wednesday, 2 WoW couples ( mac, mac, jr mm) are enjoying a bottle of Chateau Ste Michelle - cabernet sauvignon ($12) while we plan a trip to Florida in April. First glass was fine the second even better!

“This Cabernet Sauvignon highlights concentrated Washington State red fruit in an accessible style. It has plenty of complexity and structure, and is also very versatile with food--try it with beef, pork or pasta”
- Bob Bertheau, Head Winemaker

Beringer Cabernet Sauvigon

Founders' Estate

2005 California

We recently had this at a wine tasting and it was our favorite of the 15 red wines there. It is hearty and has a bold red taste ($8) . According to Beringer's "Winemaker Tasting Notes: The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex yet approachable wine – I get flavors of cola, ripe black cherry and a hint of tobacco in the aroma and flavor. The North Coast vineyards I used in this blend are known for producing fruit that is lush in flavor yet also balanced by great structure and tannins. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is full of spice and black fruit, making it ideal to serve with a variety of foods or simply just enjoyed on its own."