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!