Cedar Ridge Apple Cranberry

It was an impulse buy.  At the store on a freezer filling spree when we walked past it.  I looked at Wifey and then the stack of bottles at the end of the organic produce section.  Apple cranberry.  I like this in Ocean Spray so why not vino?  Wifey affirmed.  An Iowa wine.  Help the local industry.  In the cart one bottle went.

Once home it immediately went into the fridge next to the moscato and a bottle of home brew mead.  Two days later it was time.

First impression it was sweet followed by that half second "Iowa sweet" weird taste, sorta like homemade, and then the tartness of the cranberry.  Perhaps I did not allow it to air out sufficiently.  I poured Wifey a glass and brought it to her.  regretfully, I did not have the camera ready for the expression on her face.  Nevertheless, she did not make a face but did report that it was indeed sweet.

Quality faux cork.  I like it when wineries take the $$ to have printed corks.  This one was a bit difficult to remove but did not break.

Time to read the label.  90% apple, 10% cranberry.  12% alcohol.  Government warning.  Swisher, Iowa.

Time to look at the webpage.  Cedar Ridge Wine They also distill spirits such as a single malt whiskey.  The apple cranberry wine is listed under "house wine."  As they say "A semi-sweet blend of apple and cranberry. Tart cranberry combined with sweet apple to create a delightfully balanced wine. A fabulous addition to your holiday table."

Ok, no grapes so I should not expect a traditional wine taste. Read the label first.  In the end it is ok.  Not my style.   If you are into sweet wines this may be for you.  Personally, I should have purchased vodka and an Ocean Spray as that apparently was my mood.

...About Last Night...

Ice ice Riesling!  After an hour or two fridge thaw.

The plan was to stay home.  We are usually devoid of energy on Friday nights.  Fix a nice dinner, split chicken breasts oven roasted with wild and brown rice and fresh beets.  Mary worried that the beets would stain everything including the plates.  The only beet stain was on Dora's whit fleece.  Afterwards sink into the couch and watch NetFlix with a glass of wine in hand.  A documentary on Blondie recording Parallel Lines was our pick.

Not long after Blondie's New York end my son and his friend came over.  Things got serious.  maybe 4 or 5 bottles were consumed by the four of us.  At one point I place 2 in the freezer for a quick chill.  One came out.

I don't know what prompted me to open the freezer this morning.  But there it was.  Ice cold frozen bottle of Barefoot's Riesling.  Perhaps it was there 7 hours.  Top to bottom ice.  I still am amazed that the bottle did not crack.  What is it, 7.5%?  Now thawing in the fridge.  I'll report back about the flavor.

Big Bold Red: Yellow Tail Redeems Itself

Took a chance when I bought this one.  Fortunately, it was purchased it when I made the terrible decision to get their Riesling.  Suffice to say it put a smile on my face and a stay of execution has been granted.  Yes Virginia, there is a decent Yellow Tail.

Big Bold Red.  Dark as the night in this photo. Smooth and evaporates in the mouth.  No after taste.  Perhaps a bit strong at 13.5% but acceptable despite tipping the balance but still a nice full body wine.  The alcohol does not dominate the flavor.

I started the bottle after work.  It was a cold bicycle ride home and I needed something to warm up with.  For the first time this day I felt good as it seemed to settle my heart and blood pressure.  It went well with our dinner of pork chops.

Alright you 'Rooheads, Big Bold Red has redeemed your country and your wine.

Yellow Tail Riesling

Starting a white wine dive.  Mary was asking about them.  Other than moscatos I have not brought home very many whites.  Of course on Thanksgiving I will pour a bottle of chardonay into the water bowl of the smoker for the turkey but I will not drink it.  So I set out for whites.  Rieslings are among my favorites.  Just the right amount of sweetness and booziness for a nice drink.

Hoping that the Great Barefoot Sale was still on at my store of choice I was greatly broken hearted to see that the $3.99 special was on South Eastern Australia's Yellow Tail wines of the Casella family.  I've been burned by this brand before but forgot what varietal burnt me.  Cheap enough for another go.  I also hedged my bets with Barefoots Riesling and Malbec for a full body red.

That was Friday.  I do not recall if my first glass was on Friday or Saturday but I remember regretting the purchase immediately.  I did not have any the next day but tonight I decided to finish the bottle.  I let Mary have the first sip tonight.  Immediate frown.

Sweet yet dry.  But a lingering dryness and flat taste.  For people who hate sweet wines they may like this.  I think it may be do to the alcohol content.  The 2013 vintage clocks in at 12%  Barefoot was only 7%.  Tasting the booze not the fruit.  Not enough body to fully support 12%.

Will I purchase this one again?  Unlikely.  Then again it may be good in the smoker for Thanksgiving.

Barefoot Alert!!!

$3.99 per bottle at Windsor Heights Hy Vee.  Lowest price I have ever seen for that vino.  Wide assortment--Malbec to Chards, Moscato to Pinot.

get ya some!!

Barefoot Red Blend Trilogy

Was started as a review of Barefoot's Rich Red Blend but I drained two bottles with only a photo and nothing to write about.  My next visit to the store for bottle #3 had me come home with the missing siblings, Rosa Red Blend and Sweet Red.  So I will review them together.

The back label is called "Footnotes."  here they leave a description and a sweetness chart.  Rosa is the sweetest followed by Sweet Red and Rich Red is closer to the dry end of their chart.

In terms of alcohol content Rosa clocks in the lowest at 7.5%, Sweet is 10.5% and Rich beats them all at 13% by volume.

Descriptions.  According to Footnotes, the Rich Blend "is a velvety red blend with bold aromas and flavors of blackberries, blueberries and vanilla.  hints of caramel and oak compliment the smooth  finish."  I found it to be full bodied and smooth.   No boozy taste despite being 13%.  It is a dark purple color.

Rosa Red "is a bright, lively and sweet red blend wine with notes of raspberries and strawberry jam.  Floral notes compliment the sweet lingering finish."  This one put a smile on my face immediately.  A rich pink color and a taste reminiscent of sangria with bubbles on the top that made me wonder if it was still fermenting.  I did not find it overly sweet.  Very well balanced for a "sweet" red.  Screw top for convenience.

Sweet Red "is a smooth and sweet red wine blend with luscious aromas and flavors of black cherry and plum."  Honestly, despite drinking wine on the sweet side and enjoying such I do not care for sweet reds.  Bedhead Red from Jasper Winery is one of the few exceptions.  Unfortunately this was not.  Too sweet.  Mary thought it had a bitter element to it but I did not.  Most likely the plum flavor.

The important thing, taste.  Rosa Red hands down or bottoms up!  It's ace.

A Dry Red From iowa that is Great!! Summerset Winery

Summerset Winery Marechal Foch

I opened up the fridge and there were only two bottles.  A moscato and a pink moscato.  We were having smoked ribs so I desired something less sweet and more full bodied.  I needed a red, a dry red.  Looking into my wine reserve I was disappointed that all the Malbecs were gone.  The Bolla Valpolicella would have to wait for a better occasion.  But the Summerset Marechal Foch was ready.  I gave it a half hour in the fridge before opening.

I purchased this bottle in Windsor Heights, specifically the Hy Vee.  Those that know me also know that I get most of my wine there.  Sample day and a representative from Summerset was there.  Those that know me also understand that I am a sucker for local free samples.  Well, free samples.  Obviously, I tried and liked and bought.  This bottle must have been in my reserve for 2 or 3 months.  Time to uncork.

Iowa has a horrid reputation for dry reds.  Our rich soil and harsh winters are not suitable for most varieties of grapes.  We produce an abundance of sweet wines, both red and white, but finding a world class dry red is a challenge.  I have no desire to search for a dry white as of yet.

As the name implies, the wine is made from a French hybrid named after the famous French Field Marshall who was instrumental in the armistice of World War One.  The grapes are small berry sized and are cold weather hardy which suits Iowa's climate.  I have noticed that other wineries in Iowa use the same grapes.  I will endeavor to try them.

The taste.  Flavorful, dry, no aftertaste, no funky taste, no boozey taste.  I think this wine stands up quite well against cabs, Malbecs and pinot noirs.  I cannot find a fault with it and snotty Californians may enjoy it as well.  I wish they would have put the alcohol content on the label but who cares.  Taste is the standard.  In my opinion there is no better wine from Iowa.  Do yourself a favor and purchase a bottle.

Summerset Wines

Thank you Ron and Linda!!