Cupcake Chardonnay

I have had a few people recommend this one to me, so I finally broke down and tried it. (Besides, it was on sale). Lately I have been in more of a red wine phase, so I wasn't really sure if I would like it. Trying it, though, I was very pleased. For a chardonnay, it is pretty sweet. It isn't quite Riesling sweet, but has a good balance. It might be due to the power of suggestion, but I swear I taste a hint of vanilla frosting. On the swallow there is the characteristic bite of a white wine, but it is not sharp or overpowering. This would make a fantastic desert wine, perhaps paired with some cupcakes. :)

Winter Humbug'r

I decided to break from wine for a bit to try some seasonal beers. So glad I did! Tonight's brew is a porter from MacTarnahan's Brewing Co. in Portland, Oregon. On the label it describes it as "a rich, holiday porter...a deceptively dark holiday ale decking the halls with cheer."

It is deceptively dark. The color is very black, and it has a substantial, long lasting, and frothy head. Appearances aside, it is not nearly as heavy as I'd expect. The strongest taste I get is chocolate, and it doesn't have that strong bitter aftertaste of some other dark beers. Hooray for winter seasonals!

Polka Dot Riesling

Mmm mmm! Either there are delicious fairies frolicing in my mouth, or I've had an extraordinarily long week. Either way, I give this wine a big thumbs-up. As a Reisling, it is definitely sweet, but not overpoweringly so. It has just enough spice hidden under the surface to balance the sweetness. It seems like there is a slight carbonation, which gives it a bit more of a 'wine cooler' feeling without the sugar coma. High on the fruity-floral scale, but I could see it appealing to a diverse group of wine-drinkers. My opinion is that this would be a good wine to serve to those dissidents who don't usually like wine.

Wyndham - Shiraz

Whoa! Very strong. Bites my mouth. I didn't like this one very much at all. Coats my mouth, which is an uncomfortable feeling. 2

Boyfriend Review:
Smells like berries. Not bad...am I buzzed? Eh, I'll drink it. 3

Little Penguin - Shiraz

Very fruity and sweet. Would be a great desert wine, but I don't think I would be able to drink more than one glass. 4

Boyfriend Review:
Smells kinda fruity. Sweet, maybe too sugary. 3

Luzon

Smelled really good, but didn't taste nearly as good as it smelled. Very strong fruit flavor, and very acidic. Bites me in the back of my tongue and throat. 3

Boyfriend Review:
Smells like wine. Acidic taste. Meh. 1

14 Hands Merlot

I really liked this wine! Tastes well aged, kind of like oak. Very smooth aftertaste. I would most definitely drink this one again. This wine was the winner of the wine tasting. A whole-hearted 5

Boyfriend Review:
Smells bold and kinda acidic. Tastes full-bodied and not acidic. 5