I received a sample pack of the Cupcake Vineyards Central Valley 2009 Chardonnay and 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon earlier this spring, when we still had sunshine.
Finally, I'm getting around to tasting them.
I used my ISO tasting glasses for the first few sniffs and sips and then tried the wines from the Riedel Vinum XL Tasting Set glasses identified as Montrachet (for Chardonnay) and Cabernet Sauvignon. I was curious if the aroma and flavour profiles would change and/or improve with glasses designed for specific grape varieties.
Here is what I found:
Cupcake Chardonnay 2009
Central Coast, California | $14.99 | 13.5% ABV
Appearance: Clean, clear, lemony-gold that could almost be mistaken for store-bought apple juice.
On the nose: Smoke, vanilla, citrus, apples, and butter—in that order.
On the palate: Crisp and dry, with good acid and a bit of a burn. The flavours included citrus, smoke, green apples, sweet spice, and not so much a buttery mouthfeel as the sense of buttered popcorn.
In the Riedel Montrachet glass: The smoke was not as aggressive on the nose and the palate was creamier, with a lot more fruit—lime, green apples, green pears—showing through.
Serve with: Cilantro-and-chicken soup, lobster salad, or crab cakes.
Conclusion: A good-value Chardonnay that is friendly and enjoyable and imparts aromas and flavours you'd expect from a Chardonnay. This is a white wine you'll be happy to share with guests or take to your friend's house for dinner.
Cupcake Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Central Coast, California | $14.99 | 13.5% ABV
Appearance: Clean, deep ruby with a purple hue.
On the nose: Cooked black cherries, spice, dusty minerality, and eucalyptus—not necessarily in that order.
On the palate: This wine was juicier than I expected, with ripe red and black fruits (not cooked), vanilla, chocolate and coffee, and a medicinal aftertaste that was not unpleasant. The tannins were present but did not interfere.
In the Riedel Cabernet Sauvignon glass: Ka-boom! Black Forest cake on the nose, with nicer, more precise fruit on the palate—black cherries, blackberries, cassis—and still a little herbaceous quality.
Serve with: Grilled beef steak with fire-roasted green bell peppers, rich aged cheeses such as gouda or cheddar, or slowly roasted lamb with mint sauce.
Conclusion: A good value Cabernet Sauvignon that will please most red-wine drinkers, beginner or experienced, with both its approachability and price. This is a wine you can share with guests or take to your friend's back-yard barbeque. Cupcake Cabernet Sauvignon is a drink-it-now wine, not one to lie down and save.
Have you tried these wines? Would you buy either again? I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Cheers to you!
Copyright © 2011 Kathleen Rake. All rights reserved.
