Cameron Hughes Chardonnay Lot 216

There's a lot going in here. Mostly Chardonnay, it also blends Pinot Blanc, Riesling & Muscat for a complex nose and finish. Aromas of stone fruits like nectarines and peaches. A bit oakier than I usually like, but it is bright & acidic & refreshing. This would have been great with the lobster dumplings I had over the weekend.

Wine & Painting

This seems to be the latest thing: put a bunch of women in a room, give them wine, music, and some paint and basic painting instruction and let the fun begin!

I've kinda put off attending one of these as I'm not all that artistically inclined even though it doesn't really matter and, well, any excuse to drink wine right?

This was at the South Dakota Art Museum, so I was a bit surprised to see Yellow Tail and Fish Eye wines (usually you will see J Lohr wines at events held on campus). I seem to be on a Pinot kick as I chose both Grigio and Noir last night!

The Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio is a nice Grigio. A little sweet, but not overly so. Slightly acidic not too dry.

About half way through the evening, I switched over to the Fish Eye Noir when the Delta Chi guys brought with wine downstairs and they were out of Grigio. This is a fruity noir with a hint of raspberries.

I had a lot of fun with my sister in law and 2 of her friends (and my first night out without Rocky or the girls). We are talking about doing it again the next time Uncorked Creativity is in town.

Cardbeaudeaux Pinot Noir

2 favorites in one: Pinot Noir and Cardbourdeaux!! This is a nice Pinot and well matched with Friday night pizza. I've had the Naked Grape in bottles, so I was very happy to see they have a boxed option! The box is the equivalent on 4 bottles, so at $20 for the box, this is a great deal.

I know a lot of wine "experts" frown at wine in boxes, but I have a hard time blanketly saying no to wine without trying it. Regardless of packaging, good wine is good wine & bad wine is bad wine.

Black Box Sauvignon Blanc

This is a really nice Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp, a little peachy, clean & dry. It was fermented in steel, which is evident in the crispness.

I'm liking the Black Box Wines. Definitely affordable, considering you get the equivalent of 4 bottles in one. These wines are readily available in the grocery store -- and as there's not much selection in this small town, I do believe I'll just try them all!! 

Layer Cake Malbec

I love Mendoza wines & I love Malbec so this was a great choice for me. Black berries, cocoa, & truffles add layers to this fun wine. Layer Cake winery is found in Napa Valley.

I enjoyed this with my meatloaf cupcakes & added a great dimension to the meal. I found this at the local liquor store for under $20. It's a little over my threshold, but as it seems I need to extend that and this wine is fairly easy to find, I'm not calling this a splurge. This is one of those that's hard to stop at just one glass!  "Never pass up a good layer cake." Excellent Advice!

Black Box Shiraz

A few weeks ago, on a night out, I had a wine conversation with our waiter about how box wine has improved. It's no longer just the cheap wine; it's complex, intense, layered, & better for the environment. And of course it IS cheaper. You get the equivalent of 4 bottles in one box.


Rocky & I had a rare kid-free night last weekend and he picked up a box of Black Box Shiraz for me. Black cherries, currants, hints of vanilla and oak, I live that I've been able to enjoy this all week long without worrying about how long I should wait to finish the bottle. At $21.00/box this is definitely affordable and I really want to try the other varieties!

Red Guitar, Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha

I can't be the only person who selects wine based on the label alone, right? It was a few days before Valentine's Day and I was actually looking for an old vine Zin. Unable to find one, this caught my eye. Fun, colorful label. And typically I do enjoy Tempranilo and Spanish wines so I figured it was a win.

I have to say this is much better the 2nd day. A lite more O2 and the fruitiness really shines through. A bit dry, smooth finish. Fruity. Made in what the label calls "New World Style," but it works for these grapes. 

I'd probably pick this up again. They also make a sangria, which would be great this summer!