Mollybrooker The Boxer 2014 Shiraz | Wino Wednesday Linkup

Happy Wino Wednesday!

Lindsay and I always look forward to our linkup so we can read all of the delicious wines that you all recommend!

This month I'm featuring a wine by Mollydooker called The Boxer; it's a 2014 Shiraz and it is amazing!  My aunt had me try it a couple of months ago and I was blown away by the taste.  The wine was creamy but also had some flavors of coffee and was smoky.

The winemaker's notes are: "This year’s Boxer certainly lives up to it’s name with its double punch of fruit! Initially, your taste buds will experience cherry, red berries and plum flavours that develop beautifully into that of spice, licorice, chocolate and cream. The soft tannins and underlining structure contribute amazing depth and lusciousness. The Boxer is undoubtedly a WOW wine that will surely lead you to fill your glass first, as it won’t last long once the bottle is open"

One of the cool things about Mollydooker wines is that they are sulfate free.  They use nitrogen to protect the wine, and the nitrogen sinks to the bottom of the bottles, in order to redistribute them,  the bottle needs to be shaken.  The bottles have a screw top so they can easily be shaken.  You have to pour a little wine out first, then shake.  All Mollydooker wines need to be shaken except thier sparkling wine and any wine that's over two years old.

If you see this wine, you need to pick it up - it sure is an experience, and it is delicious!

2013 Brooks Weir Note Pinot Noir | Wino Wednesday

Happy Wino Wednesday!

It's been a while since Lindsay and I have done a post, it feels great to be back!  As you all know, I'm a lover of most red wines, preferably full-bodied reds.  For me Pinot Noirs are usually hit or miss because they are so mild and light-bodied.  My friends at Qorkz sent me a bottle of 2013 Brooks Note Weir Pinot Noir and in their letter to me, they basically said that I would love this pinot even though I'm not a big pinot fan - and they were right!

Brooks Note 2013 Weir Pinto Noir was delicious.  It was mild, but so full of flavor it didn't feel like you were drinking a pinot!  I tasted berries and a slight smokey flavor (which is my favorite), I liked it so much I had a couple of glasses of it that evening!  I think the key to a really good pinot, is buying a higher end bottle of wine, that way they don't taste as watered down - and this bottle sure did do the trick!

Here are the winemaker's notes: "This offering from Brooks Note is an elegant ruby color typical of Weir vineyard. Aromatically, it offers notes of blackberry, cherry, raspberry, leather, and black tea with a hint of jasmine.  As it opens up, there’s a touch of clove and herbs de Provence. In the mouth, it has a lovely smooth entry, structured tannins and balanced acidity with flavors of cranberries, tart cherries, blackberries and anise. The silky texture continues through the palate with nice weight. It has a long, finish of cranberries, dark cherries and bright licorice. The cherry lingers quite a while once the wine is gone."

Do you like pinot noirs, if so which ones are your favorite?  If you've never heard of Qorkz, do yourself a favor and check them out!  They're an awesome company that allows you to buy wine directly from the producers and not from a distributor. They make small batch wines easy to buy by featuring and selling from limited production wineries, which allows you to buy wines you can't find anywhere else - pretty cool concept!


Also -- Don't forget today is the first day of our #LovelyStyledLife Instagram series!  Use the hashtag on your posts today that have anything that inspires you: cooking, fashion, family, home decor - anything!  Lindsay and I can't wait to see your posts and what makes you smile!

Have a great day!

Wino Wednesday| Ascension Cellars 2014 Halo

My favorite day of the month is here, Wino Wednesday!  Lindsay and I love reading everyone's recommendations every month and love sharing ours with our fellow winos!

Since it's still 80+ degrees here, I figured I'd share one last white of the season.  I tried the Ascension Cellars 2014 Halo and loved it. You all know I'm more of a red lover, but this white hit the spot.  There's something about a nice cold glass of white wine on a hot day, am I right?!  This wine was perfect for one of those warm days, I tasted fruity aromas and lemon - the perfect combo.

The cool thing about this wine is that it's only made in small batches.  I got it off the Qorkz website.  Qorkz has a cool concept it is a marketplace to buy wine directly from the producers and not from a distributor.

The wine maker's notes are "Our 2014 Ascension Cellars Halo Viognier delivers bright floral aromas of meyer lemons, bee’s wax, white peach and kiwi with a palate of citrus and acidity that gives this special wine length and suspense.
Pair this wine with light to medium body cheeses, oysters, shellfish, seafood, poultry and good friends."  And I agree!  I remember thinking I wish I was eating some crabs or seafood when I drank it, I think it's the hints of lemon.

The Ascension Cellars 2014 Halo is a little more than I usually spend on every day bottles, but it's definitely worth the splurge!

Are you still drinking whites or do you switch to reds in the Fall/Winter?


*I was provided this wine by Qorkz for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Five on Friday (10/30)

I know everyone is going to be saying this but... how can this be the end of October already?  This year has FLOWN by.  It's true what what they say, the older you get the faster the years pass.

I feel like I've been in some type of blogging/life funk this week - I couldn't get my act together!  I'm hoping next week will be better and that there wont me so much silence around here.

I'm linking up today to share my favorites from this week.

one:  It's soup season, and this tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons sounds pretty perfect!  I just wish the rest of my family loved tomato soup as much as I do, this sounds and looks so good!

two:  Pretty much obsessed with these wine bottle drinking glasses from Rewind.  They are so unique!  Now if only I had room in my cabinets!

three:  Next Wednesday is Wino Wednesday - we would love for you to linkup with us and share some of your favorite wines, or your favorite cocktails with wine, prosecco or champagne

 

four:  I'm loving Adelle's new song Hello.  Her voice is just so beautiful as are the words to the song.

five:  Lastly, I'm loving this pretty space.  I'm a sucker for neutrals and distressed wood - this space is right up my alley!

I hope you all have a great weekend!!  I'm getting together with a good friend this afternoon for some wine and cheese... if that doesn't put my weekend off to a good start then I don't know what will ;)

 

*also linking up with H54F,   Oh Hey Friday and Meet at The Barre

Evolution Red | Wino Wednesday

Happy Wino Wednesday!  Lindsay and I are so excited to have one of our favorites, Christina to co-host with us! 

This month I'm featuring Evolution Red.  This wine was recommended to me by my cousin who is also a big fan of blends; it also helped that the bottle was pretty - so it was an easy buy. ;)

I cracked open the perfectly chilled bottle a few days ago.  Did I mention my aunt bought us a wine fridge for our anniversary?!  Talk about the perfect gift!  I've been enjoying all of my wines cooled to the perfect temperature and loving it.  Ok back to the wine... I opened the bottle and poured some to taste.  The wine was light bodied, but very flavorful, and I enjoyed it even more as it breathed a bit.   I describe it as an easy drinking red, perfect for those nights you don't want anything too heavy to drink.

The wine maker's description is "This blend is complex, big, juicy and nothing short of exquisite with Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Syrah and a splash of Evolution Luck No. 9. It's a friend to grilled meats, Italian red sauce dishes, pizza and even a fine ratatouille. In a nutshell, Evolution Big Time Red continues the evolution of Evolution. Another giant step forward in wine."

So there we have it, another yummy blend to add to the list!

  

Almond Creek Almond Sparkling Wine | Wino Wednesday

 

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Happy Wino Wednesday!  Today we're doing something a little different.  We have Jenn co-hosting with us and we're also participating in her What's Hap-"Pinning" link up :)

 I was so excited when I was at Trader Joes and found this almond sparkling wine because way back when, Lindsay had written about an almond champagne that she loves.  I couldn't find that champagne anywhere so when I came across this one (for $6 nonetheless) I had to try it!

This sparking wine was SO good; it had such a unique flavor.  The best way I can describe it, is a bubbly amaretto - but not as strong or sweet and very light and refreshing, the almond flavor isn't overpowering at all. 

I always have my husband open champagnes for me - I'm scared of the popping cork!

This would be the perfect drink for a girl's party.  It's so different than any other of the regular bubbly's or moscatos!  I will definitely be buying this and keeping it on hand for any time I feel for anything refreshing and a little on the sweet side.

Have you ever tried this before?  What did you think?

And because one can never have enough wine talk, here are some fun pins I've found!

12 Amazing Bottles of Rose Under $25

Raspberry Champagne Float

 

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Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc | Wino Wednesday

 

Happy Wino Wednesday!

Lindsay and I are excited to have Michelle co-host with us today.  She's just as much as a wine lover as we are!

In true Summer fashion today I'm sharing a delicious Sauvignon Blanc.  I came across Nobilo wine and had to try it.  The description sounded so refreshing and fruity.  I'm usually more of a Pinot Grigio girl, but this sounded like Summer in a bottle which caught my attention. 

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc was very easy to drink, you can taste the fruity notes but it wasn't too sweet, it was the perfect balance.  This wine is perfect to sip on a hot day or with grilled food, chicken or seafood and would be a crowd pleaser for sure.  The wine maker's notes are "fresh, crisp and clean with zesty flavors of ripe tropical fruits, especially passionfruit and pineapple with subtle hints of nettle. The wine has excellent presence and mouthfeel, with balanced acidity and a generous finish."

Have any of you tried Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc before?  Did you like it as much as I did?

Rodney Strong 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon | Wino Wednesday

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It's that time of the month again!  We're so excited to have Pinky co-hosting with us this week, she definitely loves her glass of vino as much as we do!

This month I'm kicking it back to reds.  Our friends brought over this ah-mazing bottle of wine a few days ago for dinner.  I was automatically hooked, which is why the bottle is empty in the photos ;).  The wine is Rodney Strong and it's their 2012 Cabernet.  I was in love at first sip.  It is full bodied and slightly smokey, my recipe for delicious wine!

The winemaker's notes are " Our 2012 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is rich with dark cherries, plum, spices and black pepper. The palate is full with medium tannins and a lush finish."

This wine goes in the top 10 for me - if you ever see this any where, pick it up - you wont be disappointed!

Kirkland 2014 Pinot Grigio | Wino Wednesday

 It's that time of month again!  I think Wino Wednesday has to be one of my favorite days, I love reading everyone's recommendations.  This month we are so excited to have Shelby co-hosting along with Lindsay and I.

I'm sure by now you all know that Costco is my #1 place to shop for wines and lately I've been getting a bit more into whites, so when I saw their Pinot Grigio I had to try it.  The color of the wine was a beautiful pale green, it drew me to the wine right away.  I have never had a bad wine Kirkland brand wine so I knew this one had to be decent.

I decided to take the bottle out one night that my cousin was over.  We each poured a glass and both of us LOVED the wine.  It was crisp, slightly sweet and so refreshing.  It almost tasted like a white blend.  The kicker is that this wine is only $5.99.  I swear, Costco has the best prices and this Pinot Grigio easily tastes like a more expensive bottle!  I had forgotten how cheap it was until last week when I went to pick up a few more bottles.  I couldn't get over the price tag!

If your Costco sells wine, I HIGHLY recommend this white - I can't get enough of it!

Blueberry Prosecco Cocktail

Lets talk about cocktails this Tuesday morning, shall we?  I love a good cocktail, but can only usually have 1 at a time.  I'm such a lightweight when it comes to anything but wine, so I decided to create something a little more fun for when I wanted a cocktail or two... that's where the Blueberry Prosecco cocktail was born!  It's super easy to make, pretty and a tad fruity.

We had just picked up a huge container of blueberries so I decided to combine a little sugar and water to my blueberries and cook them on medium heat to create a semi-sweet blueberry puree.  I let it cool, then added some to the bottom of my champagne flute and added some deliciously bubbly prosecco to the glass.

These cocktails are perfect for sipping on during a warm day or for serving when company comes over, the bits of blueberries floating around the glass are so pretty!

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of prosecco
• handful of blueberries
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoons water

Instructions

1. Combine the strawberries, sugar and water in a medium saucepan
2. Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes until blueberries have broken down, so that it looks like a puree - I mashed mine up a bit at the end
3. Remove from heat and cool
4. Place a spoonful of blueberry puree in the bottom of each fluted glass
5. Fill each glass with prosecco

Enjoy!



linking up:  The Sequin Notebook & Green Fashionista

With Love | Modern House Wines | Wino Wednesday

Happy Wino Wednesday!

We are so happy to have our co-host Natalie join us today for the party!  As I'm sure you already know, I'm a sucker for buying wines with a pretty label.  Throw in a tab that said the wine was featured as one of Oprah's favorite things... I mean if Oprah says it's good - then I HAVE to try it!  Once I bought it, I came to find out that even Gwyneth Paltrow wrote about it, so you know I was SO excited to try this wine!

All of the Modern House wines have a fun saying printed on their labels, which automatically drew me to the wine.  It would be a great bottle to bring to someone's house. With Love was pretty good!  I opened the bottle for a little happy hour and I enjoyed it.  It was light bodied and fruity.  Kind of more like a pinot noir than a blend.  It's the perfect wine for simple summer menus and would be a fun wine to open and drink with girlfriends.  I can not find the wine maker's notes anywhere... so don't quote me on the flavors but that's what I tasted.

Have you tried any Modern House wines before?  Which bottle reeled you in?

Happy Tasting!

Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2011 {Wino Wednesday}

 

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It's the most wonderful time of the month - Wino Wednesday!  If you want to link up with Lindsay and I, just write about your favorite wine and linkup below!  We're also excited to have Ally from Life As I know It guest host with us!

This month I felt like talking about an oldie but goodie.  I know the weather is warming up and many of you are moving on to white wines, but I'm more of a red wine girl, and can drink it year round!  I've had Tripache Broquel a few times and I always find it to be a really good choice.  Most of the times I've drank it it's been paired with Italian food (lasagna and spaghetti).

 

Care for a glass? ;)

Upon tasting the wine, I automatically tasted a smoky sweet taste - which is my favorite combination.  I also found this wine to be on the sweeter side of a Malbec, almost tasting like a red blend.  I had my husband try Broquel and he automatically said it tasted spicy to him.  The winemaker's notes are "Deep red in color, this wine exhibits aromas of ripe black plums and blackberries revealing sweet spicy, smoke and mocha notes. Concentrated, lengthy and juicy, this wine reveals Bonarda at its finest."  

We usually find Broquel at Costco and it's a wine that they regularly carry - so if you ever see it, grab a bottle!

Do most of you switch to lighter wines when the temperature warms up, or are you like me and can drink red wine year round?

Wino Wednesday - Kirkland Signature Wines

Happy Wino Wednesday!  I'm excited to be hosting this  Lindsay and Kate!  If you want to join us grab a button and tell us about your favorite wine - new or old!  I like to think of it as a virtual wine tasting ;)

One of my favorite things to do while we're at Costco is peruse their wine selection.  They have so many wines at all price points to choose from, including their own Kirkland Signature wines.  Today I'm sharing two of my favorite Kirkland wines.

I've put a few pictures on Instagram of Kirkland Signature wines and people always comment and ask whether their wines are good or not.  I have tried many of their wines, and I think for the most part they are all really good.  Two of my favorites from them are 2012 Kirkland Signature Series Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the Kirkland Signature Malbec.

The Kirkland Signature Series Red Mountain ($16) easily tastes like a $25 bottle of wine.  It's smooth and semi smoky.  This wine was love at first sip - sometimes I wish bottles like these didn't have alcohol in them so I could drink the whole bottle!  They never taste as good the next day!  Here are the wine maker's notes:  "In the glass, it offers aromas oBing cherries, dried currants and cocoa powder.  Flora, violet notes from a touch of Merlot add roundness to this viscous, full-bodied wine, bursting with ripe berry flavors, French oak-impared sweetness and fine tannins linger on a toasty finish." 

The Malbec is a wine that I always have on hand.  The first time I bought it I was pleasantly surprised, mostly because this wine sells for $7 and I'm telling you it's good!  Everyone that tastes this wine always asks me where I got it from because they want to buy it.  The winemaker's notes are "Garnet black color. Mild aromas and flavors of waxy honeycomb, cassis jam, and chocolate orange peels with a satiny, bright, fruity medium body and a tingling, charming, breezy finish that shows notes of roasted citrus and earth with crunchy tannins and light oak. A enjoyable and versatile everyday red."

 If you're ever in Costco, pick up one of the Kirkland brand of wines!  I was sold on them once I saw the CMBC "Costco Craze" special - Costco sells more wine than than any retailer in the world!  Their wine team visits many different vineyards to find the perfect wine not only to back the Kirkland brand wine but to also find great wines to sell to their customers. 

Have you tried any Kirkland wines?  Also don't forget to enter our Kate Spade giveaway!

Gloria Ferrer: Blanc de Noirs Champagne

As I mentioned, my friends at Gloria Ferrer sent me two bottles of champagne to try.   I started out with the VA de VI which was delicious, and yesterday I tried the Blanc de Noirs.

 

I immediately loved the color - which was a pale pink, and what is it about the sound of the cork popping?  Such an awesome sound!  Once I tried the champagne, I thought it was semi sweet, with a hint of strawberry taste, and extremely easy to drink - delicious!  I drank a glass (or two) by itself first, then paired it with our dinner: coffee crusted NY Strips, sweet potatoes, and a Greek salad and Blanc de Noirs paired perfectly with it.

The winemakers notes are “Deliciousness marks this blend of 92% Pinot Noir and 8% Chardonnay. It’s forward and sweet in raspberries, strawberries and vanilla, with hints of brioche, white chocolate and buttered toast. Gorgeous all by itself, it will pair well with everything from sushi to steak."

All in all, I loved both bottles!  They are great bottles to sip on your own or with a group over a fancy dinner and definitely bottles I would purchase.

Gloria Ferrer VA de VI {Wino Wednesday Linkup}

Happy Wino Wednesday!!

I'm very excited to share this wine with you all!  Gloria Ferrer was kind enough to send me two bottles of their bubbly to me so that I could try.  The first one I tried (the second review coming soon) was their VA de VI.

I've always been a fan of champagne and prosecco so I was very excited to try this.  From the moment we popped the bottle, and it was poured into the glass I knew I'd like it.  It' was such a beautiful golden color and had such a crisp smell.  Once I tasted it I was in love -  It's refreshing, semi sweet, and has a slight lemony taste.  My husband who normally is not a wine or champagne lover really enjoyed VA de VI and we both finished the bottle that night.  He kept saying "this is really good!"

The winemaker's notes are "As they say in Barcelona, “It’s about the wine.” VA de VI captures the essence of a style popular in Spain that’s fresh and lively, satiny smooth, but not too dry. Only we did it with pure Sonoma County Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a touch of Moscato. A true delight to the senses, think of VA de VI as what happens when Gloria Ferrer lets her hair down. An exquisitely delicious sparkling wine revealing a bit of its wild side"

Thank you so much Gloria Ferrer for the awesome opportunity,  I can't wait to review the next bottle!


Now it's your turn to link up and be sure to check out my co-host Natalie's wine!