The weather outside is frightful but the Gnarled Vine is so delightful

As the winds whip around outside, the wind chimes have been taken down, aluminum cans set out for recycling are weighed down with heavy wine bottles, As the winds whip around outside, we’ve battened down the hatches and prepare to ride out the wild night of storms. May as well enjoy a nice bottle of Gnarled Vine Zinfandel while we watch the lighting flash across the darken sky.

The colors are a deep dark purple in the glass, aromas are very oaky and smell divine. Slightly dry with lots of oak and a nice finish with a hint of sweetness at the end. Gnarled Vine is almost as good as Seven Deadly Zins but cost only $8.99.

Gnarled Vine is produced by Oak Ridge Winery and is located in the Lodi appellation, between the Sierra Nevada foothills and San Francisco Bay. The winery was founded in 1934 and was purchased by Rudy Maggio and Don and Rocky Reynolds in 2001 and contains Lodi’s first tasting room. In addition to their own wines the winery also offers custom winemaking to other wineries as well as custom brands. If you live in Lodi and are part of the Rotary Club, they apparently meet every Wednesday at 7:00. Have to wonder if they’re doing a little taste sampling during the meeting.

Turns out once the storm hit us it wasn’t as bad as they made it out to be, which is a good thing. The other good thing is finding yet another affordable wine that I would be proud to serve to any of my holiday guests.

2009© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Since my budget does not allow for Cakebread, I’ll have to settle for Cupcake Cabernet

We’ve all heard the hype on Cakebread but who can afford to spend $100 on one bottle of wine. This inexpensive wine drinker would rather stretch my wine dollars, so tonight I reach for a bottle of Cupcake Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 priced less than $10.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but was pleasantly greeted with oak and vanilla aromas. Full-bodied with soft tannins, blackberries and plums make for an easy drinking and very enjoyable wine.

Cupcake Vineyard is located in Monterey County, CA and benefits from the cool nights thanks to the proximity of the ocean and the warm days, slowing the growing process and allowing more time on the vine. This temperate weather provides balanced acids and sugars making for a well rounded wine. The grapes are then pressed and spend time aging in oak barrels.

Cupcake is a delightful wine and I will be sure to add it into my wine rotation. Maybe some day I can taste the hyped up Cakebread Cabernet for myself, but only when sold by the glass.

2009© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/