Sunday, January 9, 2011

Cupcake 2009 Chardonnay.

So, our first wine review of the new year, is Cupcake. It is a 2009 Chardonnay. The color of it is nearly clear. An extremely pale wine, with a very subtle flavor. By subtle, I'd go as far to say, nearly non-existent. It's also a dry wine, with no aftertaste. I mean NO aftertaste at all.

It's extremely smooth, and would go with just about any light cuisine. Fish, scallops, crab, chicken, salad, quiche or even dessert. In fact, I would wager it would go very well with some kind of pie or ironically cake.

The price of the wine was extremely reasonable as it was purchased on the cheap at Sam's Club for $6.95 a bottle. I could be wrong it could have been cheaper than that.

It has a decent alcohol content, but unlike some other wines, will not put you under the table if you have more than one serving. Which is really what this wine is good for, ONE serving. I couldn't actually bring myself to having a second glass because there really wasn't any point.

It was produced by Cupcake Vineyards, in Livermore, CA. They also made a red which we have in the cellar. I will likely give that a shot in the coming days to see if it's as underwhelming in the flavor department as the Chardonnay. Given that Chardonnay shouldn't be overwhelming, it would be nice though if you could taste it.

The color of it was truly a beautiful pale yellow. The scent of it really nice. It has all the earmarks of a quality Chardonnay, but at the same time gives you really nothing in the way of flavor. I'm beginning to think that this wine is truly just a table wine, and in that regard I give it 5 stars.

It is a very good wine, that you could drink every day, and never be disappointed, so long as you paired it with something. I give the makers credit for engineering a wonderful wine that is suited exclusively for pairing.

The packaging was underwhelming, as they spend no money on the creation of their labels. The price is perfect, and an excellent value. If you see it on the shelf, give it a try. Especially if you're having a nice quiet dinner outdoors. I think that is what was missing from the equation. This wine should have been part of a picnic trip, or outdoor bistro meal.

Either way, I give it 5 out of 5 for flavor. 1 out of 5 for packaging, and 5 out of 5 for look, color, and scent.