I have walked past this a few times and wasn't sure I was willing to risk trying it. I looks like expensive Yohoo. But my friend Danielle said it was delicious, so I thought I could risk it.
It is a product of Holland, 14% alcohol by volume and about $10 depending on where you shop. It is imported by Clever Imports, LLC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
It is a mixture of red wine and chocolate. If you've ever had a chocolate martini, this is exactly what it tastes like. It is delicious and sweet. Desert in a bottle! If you like sweet chocolate milk, then this might be something you enjoy.
It really isn't so much of a wine as a mixed drink. Not something I would buy all the time, but an easy after dinner drink, especially with the holidays coming up. ChocoVine would be great with holiday treats as an alternative to eggnog.
If you like it less sweet, you could always add some vanilla or chocolate vodka or milk if you want to cut the alcohol. Just keep this wine away from the kids!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Mulled Wine
This is not necessarily a type of wine, more like a serving suggestion, but this is one of my favorite fall/winter/holiday beverages. In fact, it was almost 90 degrees here today, but I was in the mood for mulled wine due to my sore throat.
I am sure there are many recipes for mulled wine. Here is just my experience and suggestions. I tend to use an inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon. You can use more expensive wine, but I wouldn't until you experiment a few times with cheaper wine. Also, more expensive wine tastes good by itself, I don't like to waste it in mulled wine, but perhaps I will try a bottle sometime. Tonight I stopped at Walgreens and just picked up a $3.50 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
I used premade mulling spices from Williams~Sonoma. The spices include cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon, orange rind. Some include nutmeg as well. I use a tea infuser to steep the spices in the wine. I like to add a splash of orange juice and sugar. I heat the wine on a low-medium setting (3-4 out of 10) and once warm enough to dissolve sugar, turn it down to warm or near lowest setting. You can add cranberry juice also and steep orange slices in the wine while it heats if you like.
If the wine is overheated, the alcohol will cook out. That is no fun! Keep it warm, but not hot. The cinnamon creates a warm holiday flavor in the wine and it is the perfect drink to accompany a great book, warm blanket, and a cool wintery day.
I am sure there are many recipes for mulled wine. Here is just my experience and suggestions. I tend to use an inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon. You can use more expensive wine, but I wouldn't until you experiment a few times with cheaper wine. Also, more expensive wine tastes good by itself, I don't like to waste it in mulled wine, but perhaps I will try a bottle sometime. Tonight I stopped at Walgreens and just picked up a $3.50 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
I used premade mulling spices from Williams~Sonoma. The spices include cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon, orange rind. Some include nutmeg as well. I use a tea infuser to steep the spices in the wine. I like to add a splash of orange juice and sugar. I heat the wine on a low-medium setting (3-4 out of 10) and once warm enough to dissolve sugar, turn it down to warm or near lowest setting. You can add cranberry juice also and steep orange slices in the wine while it heats if you like.
If the wine is overheated, the alcohol will cook out. That is no fun! Keep it warm, but not hot. The cinnamon creates a warm holiday flavor in the wine and it is the perfect drink to accompany a great book, warm blanket, and a cool wintery day.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Menage a Trois: Chardonnay
This was (sorry, bottle's gone) a smooth Chardonnay. While Chardonnay was one of my first wine loves, the oak flavors eventually turned me off to this type of wine. I am pushing myself to try new wines for this blog, so I grabbed the bottle anyway. I know I like the Menage a Trois red wine as a pleasant after dinner wine, so I thought I would try the new offering from the Folie a Deux winery.
This Chardonnay was smooth, lightly buttery, subtle oak with a hint of toast on the finish. It was very easy to drink and delicious. My friend who is slowly being indoctrinated into the wino arts, generally prefers moscato and reisling, but really liked this Chardonnay.
Menage a Trois is produced and bottled by the Folie a Deux winery in California. Their wines are usually blends of different types of grapes, but this time the Chardonnay is a blend of different areas' grapes: According to their website - citrus aromas from Monterey County, lush tropical fruit from Santa Barbara, and structure from Mendocino county.
It sells for about $9-11 a bottle depending on state or alcohol taxes. Even if you've walked away from Chardonnay because of the overly oaked varieties, this is worth trying.
This Chardonnay was smooth, lightly buttery, subtle oak with a hint of toast on the finish. It was very easy to drink and delicious. My friend who is slowly being indoctrinated into the wino arts, generally prefers moscato and reisling, but really liked this Chardonnay.
Menage a Trois is produced and bottled by the Folie a Deux winery in California. Their wines are usually blends of different types of grapes, but this time the Chardonnay is a blend of different areas' grapes: According to their website - citrus aromas from Monterey County, lush tropical fruit from Santa Barbara, and structure from Mendocino county.
It sells for about $9-11 a bottle depending on state or alcohol taxes. Even if you've walked away from Chardonnay because of the overly oaked varieties, this is worth trying.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Jinda~Lee Chardonnay
This is a 2008 Chardonnay from South Eastern Australia. The wine is a very lite Chardonnay. I haven't drank many Chardonnay's recently. Most are too oaky or too buttery for me, but this is a nice wine. It is less tart than a Pinot Grigio but similarly light and fresh.
The Jinda~Lee name is taken "from the Littore family's first vineyard in the Sunraysia area of South East Australia and is an Aboriginal word meaning 'Bare Hill.'" The label says the wine is medium bodied, crisp with citrus and peach flavors with a hint of oak. The hint is very light. Just enough to notice if you're thinking about it, but not enough that it covers the rest of the flavor of the grape.
It was about $8 at HEB and is 13.5% alcohol. It does contain sulfites, which can cause some reaction while drinking. If you find you get a stuffy or red nose while drinking, sulfites tend to be the source.
I think the wine is easily drinkable. I prefer my wine cold, but this was nice just chilled too. Aerated the oak flavor is accentuated, which might be nice if you intend to pair it with a grilled chicken or fish dinner. I drank it with pizza, which probably wasn't the intended pairing, but was nice with some cheese. It WAS way too easy to drink. This is one I will purchase again for sure and would feel safe recommending to most wine drinkers.
Best Wishes, happy drinking!!
The Jinda~Lee name is taken "from the Littore family's first vineyard in the Sunraysia area of South East Australia and is an Aboriginal word meaning 'Bare Hill.'" The label says the wine is medium bodied, crisp with citrus and peach flavors with a hint of oak. The hint is very light. Just enough to notice if you're thinking about it, but not enough that it covers the rest of the flavor of the grape.
It was about $8 at HEB and is 13.5% alcohol. It does contain sulfites, which can cause some reaction while drinking. If you find you get a stuffy or red nose while drinking, sulfites tend to be the source.
I think the wine is easily drinkable. I prefer my wine cold, but this was nice just chilled too. Aerated the oak flavor is accentuated, which might be nice if you intend to pair it with a grilled chicken or fish dinner. I drank it with pizza, which probably wasn't the intended pairing, but was nice with some cheese. It WAS way too easy to drink. This is one I will purchase again for sure and would feel safe recommending to most wine drinkers.
Best Wishes, happy drinking!!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Middle Sister: Forever Cool
So tonight I went to the store and bought some new wines. I decided to try some of the wineries I already like. I opened the bottle from Middle Sister first, because it is a red and didn't need to be chilled. Sometimes you just can't wait for a bottle to chill before you get to have a glass and chill yourself. A note about Middle Sister Winery - they donate a dime a bottle to causes women care about. You can go to www.middlesisterwines.com and check it out yourself. I took their which sister are you wine quiz and it says I am Forever Cool - mmm, wonder what that says about me - simple and fruity?
Forever Cool is a Merlot out of California. It is 12.5% alcohol and is about $11. While I love more expensive wines (sometimes there really is a difference!) anything under $15 can be kind of lumped together. However, I would avoid going under $5 for most bottles. There are a few worth drinking but only if you're really pinching pennies.
This is a lighter bodied red. It is dry on the finish and a little mouthy, but primarily sweet. The aroma is simple fruit and merlot. The taste is not very complicated either. It may be too dry for a new wine drinker or someone who really prefers sweet wines, but I would say this is a very uncomplicated wine, easy to drink. Probably best by itself or with chocolate. It would pair perfectly with a black forest cake. The fruit in the wine would complement the cherry filling.
I would give this wine a 6 or 7 on a "wineglass" scale of 1-10. It is easy to drink, but it is not hearty or rich. I would compare it to the red Menage a Trois, which is named for the trio of grapes, from Folie a Deux winery in California. If I am going to buy a wine like that, I would probably just buy that one because it is usually $8 or $9. Maybe I will drink them side by side sometime and see if there is any appreciable difference.
Forever Cool would probably be a neat hostess gift or nice wine to take to a party because it would likely be enjoyed by most people. It does seem to contain sulfites, so if you're sensitive to them, you might not like this. I get a stuffy nose from them and get very sleepy.
Forever Cool is a Merlot out of California. It is 12.5% alcohol and is about $11. While I love more expensive wines (sometimes there really is a difference!) anything under $15 can be kind of lumped together. However, I would avoid going under $5 for most bottles. There are a few worth drinking but only if you're really pinching pennies.
This is a lighter bodied red. It is dry on the finish and a little mouthy, but primarily sweet. The aroma is simple fruit and merlot. The taste is not very complicated either. It may be too dry for a new wine drinker or someone who really prefers sweet wines, but I would say this is a very uncomplicated wine, easy to drink. Probably best by itself or with chocolate. It would pair perfectly with a black forest cake. The fruit in the wine would complement the cherry filling.
I would give this wine a 6 or 7 on a "wineglass" scale of 1-10. It is easy to drink, but it is not hearty or rich. I would compare it to the red Menage a Trois, which is named for the trio of grapes, from Folie a Deux winery in California. If I am going to buy a wine like that, I would probably just buy that one because it is usually $8 or $9. Maybe I will drink them side by side sometime and see if there is any appreciable difference.
Forever Cool would probably be a neat hostess gift or nice wine to take to a party because it would likely be enjoyed by most people. It does seem to contain sulfites, so if you're sensitive to them, you might not like this. I get a stuffy nose from them and get very sleepy.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Haak Madeira
Most Madeira is made on the island of Madeira, Portugal. It is a fortified after dinner wine. Most Madeira's are made through a process called "Estugafem." Haak Vintage Madeira is made with 100% Jacquez grapes, grown in the Gulf Coast Region of Texas. It is made using the traditional “Estufagem” (es too FAH jem) process, where the barrels of wine have been “madeirized” in a special, heated cellar. The temperatures of the wine in the Estufagem average between 102°F to 106°F. Haak Winery’s Estufa was completed in early 2006, and is one of very few in the United States today. Haak Vintage Madeira is the first and only commercial Madeira made and bottled in the state of Texas (haakwine.com).
This Madeira is produced and bottled by Haak Vineyards & Winery, Inc. in Sante Fe, Texas, Galveston County. It is 20% alcohol by volume. According to the bottle, it should last over 100 years unopened, but who can wait that long?!?!
If you like port or sherry, this is very similar. It smells like sweet plums, caramel, coffee, and maybe walnuts or pecans. The Madeira starts strong with bitter coffee and finishes with caramel and pecan warm in my throat. It is sweet and tart at the same time, and I can definitely tell it has higher alcohol than a typical glass of wine. It is strong and flavorful. I don't have a lot of experience with Madeira's but this is tasty and enjoyable. I was pleased to find that when I was researching the vineyard and came across the page for this wine, that my palate was pretty much dead on. I still think the port might have a hint of tobacco or chocolate although the walnuts might add the touch of bitterness that sits on the back of my tongue.
We bought this several months ago, but I believe the price point for this bottle was about $45. Obviously not an everyday treat, but definitely a treat. Sip slowly and savor this bold finishing wine.
This Madeira is produced and bottled by Haak Vineyards & Winery, Inc. in Sante Fe, Texas, Galveston County. It is 20% alcohol by volume. According to the bottle, it should last over 100 years unopened, but who can wait that long?!?!
If you like port or sherry, this is very similar. It smells like sweet plums, caramel, coffee, and maybe walnuts or pecans. The Madeira starts strong with bitter coffee and finishes with caramel and pecan warm in my throat. It is sweet and tart at the same time, and I can definitely tell it has higher alcohol than a typical glass of wine. It is strong and flavorful. I don't have a lot of experience with Madeira's but this is tasty and enjoyable. I was pleased to find that when I was researching the vineyard and came across the page for this wine, that my palate was pretty much dead on. I still think the port might have a hint of tobacco or chocolate although the walnuts might add the touch of bitterness that sits on the back of my tongue.
We bought this several months ago, but I believe the price point for this bottle was about $45. Obviously not an everyday treat, but definitely a treat. Sip slowly and savor this bold finishing wine.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Cupcake Vineyards: Sauvignon Blanc
Before I take a sip, I smell the wine several times to try to divine the essence of the bouquet. The wine smells like tart lemons with a slight undercurrent of lemon icing. The wine reminds me of a lemon zinger - tastes tangy, citrusy. A drier white, less sweet but not too tart.
The wine is bottled in Marlborough, New Zealand by Cupcake Vineyards and is13% Alcohol. The wine is self described as tasting reminiscent of a lemon chiffon cupcake. I can definitely understand that description. The wine is flavored with Meyer lemons and key limes and refreshing grapes grown in the Marlborough valley.
This wine would definitely be excellent paired with lobster or oysters. I am not a big seafood fan, but the acidity of the wine would be wonderful with seafood. I personally might pair it with a garlicky, creamy Alfredo sauce or risotto.
This wine is sharper and drier than most I have reviewed so far. Yet, it is something I will probably pick up again. I may also try more wine from this vineyard. This wine was about $9 and is a good value for the money. Some wines that are less expensive taste even less expensive than the cost, but this one tastes above its cost. I have savored this bottle over several days now and I really like it. Hopefully, you will too, if you like a Sauvignon Blanc or lemon cupcake.
This wine would definitely be excellent paired with lobster or oysters. I am not a big seafood fan, but the acidity of the wine would be wonderful with seafood. I personally might pair it with a garlicky, creamy Alfredo sauce or risotto.
This wine is sharper and drier than most I have reviewed so far. Yet, it is something I will probably pick up again. I may also try more wine from this vineyard. This wine was about $9 and is a good value for the money. Some wines that are less expensive taste even less expensive than the cost, but this one tastes above its cost. I have savored this bottle over several days now and I really like it. Hopefully, you will too, if you like a Sauvignon Blanc or lemon cupcake.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Su Vino - Summer Rain
Tonight's wine is from Su Vino Winery in Grapevine, Texas. They make and bottle all the wine in Texas. They do ship, but we try to stop at least once in awhile on our way home from picking up the kids.
The Summer Rain wine is a blend of a white table wine and kiwi and fruit flavors. The wine is very sweet, but flavorful. If you like Reislings or Guertztraminer, this might be something you enjoy. If you like homemade wine coolers, this would be good mixed with soda water.
It is also only 8% alcohol so for people who want to drink wine without some of the negative effects, this might be a good choice. This is definitely a nice wine for a hot summer day. Some wines get heavy and hard to drink in the heat, but this is a very nice wine even when the temperatures never seem to drop below 90 if you like sweet wine.
The Summer Rain wine is a blend of a white table wine and kiwi and fruit flavors. The wine is very sweet, but flavorful. If you like Reislings or Guertztraminer, this might be something you enjoy. If you like homemade wine coolers, this would be good mixed with soda water.
It is also only 8% alcohol so for people who want to drink wine without some of the negative effects, this might be a good choice. This is definitely a nice wine for a hot summer day. Some wines get heavy and hard to drink in the heat, but this is a very nice wine even when the temperatures never seem to drop below 90 if you like sweet wine.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Pool Side 2009 Pinot Grigio
Ok tonight's entry is going to be short and sweet, but the wine is purely delicious! This wine is from South Eastern Australia and has 12.5% alcohol by volume. I love this wine! We discovered this wine a few months ago and stock up on several bottles every trip to the store.
It is crisp, clean and a simple wine. It is really delicious with a good cheese. The bottle boasts that it is a pure Pinot Grigio without any doctoring of flavor. The best recommendation I can give is that any time I run to buy wine, this is one of the two or three that I always look for.
This is about a $10 bottle of wine at HEB (a Texas chain). The wine is imported by a Houston distributor, so I am not sure where it is available outside of this area, but keep an eye out for it.
It is crisp, clean and a simple wine. It is really delicious with a good cheese. The bottle boasts that it is a pure Pinot Grigio without any doctoring of flavor. The best recommendation I can give is that any time I run to buy wine, this is one of the two or three that I always look for.
This is about a $10 bottle of wine at HEB (a Texas chain). The wine is imported by a Houston distributor, so I am not sure where it is available outside of this area, but keep an eye out for it.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Alice White: Red Lexia
Tonight's wine was one of those I usually would walk past. It is a semi-blush? They call it a Moscato Rose. The wine is a product of South Eastern Australia.
If you absolutely detest sweet wine, this is probably not your cup of tea, but if you occasionally like a sweeter choice. This is pretty good. It falls short of syrupy sweet with a slightly buttery feel to the mouth.
The flavor is hard to describe. It is slightly fruity like a red, but also shares notes with whites. Warm it would be nice with a spicy dish. Chilled, it is just very drinkable. It would pair nicely with a light summery dessert like strawberry shortcake.
The bottle was $5.47 at Walmart. For that price, it is a nice summery wine and one I will probably pick up again from time to time. Especially for my friends who like Moscato, Riesling, Guertztraminer, or fruit wines.
I will try to look for a bolder choice next time to cater to my alternative palated friends!
If you absolutely detest sweet wine, this is probably not your cup of tea, but if you occasionally like a sweeter choice. This is pretty good. It falls short of syrupy sweet with a slightly buttery feel to the mouth.
The flavor is hard to describe. It is slightly fruity like a red, but also shares notes with whites. Warm it would be nice with a spicy dish. Chilled, it is just very drinkable. It would pair nicely with a light summery dessert like strawberry shortcake.
The bottle was $5.47 at Walmart. For that price, it is a nice summery wine and one I will probably pick up again from time to time. Especially for my friends who like Moscato, Riesling, Guertztraminer, or fruit wines.
I will try to look for a bolder choice next time to cater to my alternative palated friends!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Middle Sister: Drama Queen
This is one of my recent finds! and new staple in my wine stable. Middle Sister is a California winery. The wine is vinted and bottled in Santa Rosa, California.
The Drama Queen is a Pinot Grigio. It is approximately a $10-11 bottle in Texas. This is my first blog about wine, I promise to post more accurate price points in the future.
My husband and I both LOVE this wine. It calls itself drama queen, but is nothing but SMOOTH! A lot of Pinot Grigios and Sauvignon Blancs are very tart or acidic. This is neither.
It is a pale yellow color with a light, fresh aroma, reminiscent of lemon grass and shortbread. The flavors are semi-sweet. If you avoid sweet wine like the plague, this may be on the sweeter side, although my husband who abhors sweet wine really enjoys this one. I think it has a sweet side but a smooth finish.
It is better chilled, not cold. I noticed that the flavors change as it warms. Cold, the front flavors are very much lemony, while warm the flavors are more peaches and pears. I was talking on the phone to the husband in Iraq, my wine had a chance to reach near room temperature. The peach flavor really started to stand out. The wine starts to warm and the flavor of honeyed peaches is a tasty undercurrent to the lemony Pinot Grigio flavor.
This is a white wine drinkers go to type of wine. I would bring a bottle of this to anyone's party. If nothing else, to drink it myself.
The Drama Queen is a Pinot Grigio. It is approximately a $10-11 bottle in Texas. This is my first blog about wine, I promise to post more accurate price points in the future.
My husband and I both LOVE this wine. It calls itself drama queen, but is nothing but SMOOTH! A lot of Pinot Grigios and Sauvignon Blancs are very tart or acidic. This is neither.
It is a pale yellow color with a light, fresh aroma, reminiscent of lemon grass and shortbread. The flavors are semi-sweet. If you avoid sweet wine like the plague, this may be on the sweeter side, although my husband who abhors sweet wine really enjoys this one. I think it has a sweet side but a smooth finish.
It is better chilled, not cold. I noticed that the flavors change as it warms. Cold, the front flavors are very much lemony, while warm the flavors are more peaches and pears. I was talking on the phone to the husband in Iraq, my wine had a chance to reach near room temperature. The peach flavor really started to stand out. The wine starts to warm and the flavor of honeyed peaches is a tasty undercurrent to the lemony Pinot Grigio flavor.
This is a white wine drinkers go to type of wine. I would bring a bottle of this to anyone's party. If nothing else, to drink it myself.
Affectionately Winey
I am no expert, but according the definition, I am an aficionado, which is a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime. Can you say ABSOLUTELY! Wino in residence!
My mother-in-law roped in her son, who in turned dragged me in. We all blame LINDA, lovingly of course. But in I am all in, so here I go. I am a struggling teacher, a hopeful stay at home mom, so my wine choices may be on the less expensive side, but frugal wine buys are the best wine buys. I am sure a $100 bottle of wine is better than a $10 bottle, but if I can't afford to drink it, who CARES!!!!!?!??!?
I want to blog about the wine most of us can actually afford. My tastes run the gamut of flavors. I love a bold red with a great meaty lasagna or steak and a frilly sweet wine next to the pool in the summer. I love wine and plan to tell you what wines taste like and steer you toward wines you might enjoy. Sometimes the information on the bottle or a neat label just aren't enough information.
My plan is to buy and drink a different bottle every few days, don't want to overindulge with a teaching career! and give you vintners and wines to get you started on your own wine adventure. I hope to increase my wine tasting vocabulary as I go, but bear with me if I don't have all the descriptors to go with my wines. I will work on growing in knowledge if only to be able to drink more effectively!!
CHEERS!
My mother-in-law roped in her son, who in turned dragged me in. We all blame LINDA, lovingly of course. But in I am all in, so here I go. I am a struggling teacher, a hopeful stay at home mom, so my wine choices may be on the less expensive side, but frugal wine buys are the best wine buys. I am sure a $100 bottle of wine is better than a $10 bottle, but if I can't afford to drink it, who CARES!!!!!?!??!?
I want to blog about the wine most of us can actually afford. My tastes run the gamut of flavors. I love a bold red with a great meaty lasagna or steak and a frilly sweet wine next to the pool in the summer. I love wine and plan to tell you what wines taste like and steer you toward wines you might enjoy. Sometimes the information on the bottle or a neat label just aren't enough information.
My plan is to buy and drink a different bottle every few days, don't want to overindulge with a teaching career! and give you vintners and wines to get you started on your own wine adventure. I hope to increase my wine tasting vocabulary as I go, but bear with me if I don't have all the descriptors to go with my wines. I will work on growing in knowledge if only to be able to drink more effectively!!
CHEERS!
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