UMTravels

Today’s oddity. A wine and cupcake pairing. Cupcake Royale released their Valentine’s Day cupcake call Deathcake Royale. Just put together a wine tasting just a couple of doors south of the shop. I was manning the store counter while he was pouring (for THIS I cancelled my trip to Berkeley on a $101.40 round-trip fare).

Here’s what we were pouring:

2009 Cadence, Coda $25

Red Mountain, 34% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot
The 2009 vintage was warm but not hot with a stunning September to finish up ripening. Coda fairly bursts with lip-smacking berry goodness. Plums, blueberries and a touch of Red Mountain spice lead the aromatic profile. The palate is juicy, fresh and just plain delightful. Tannins are definitely present at the level that begs for food with which to play. There is so much intensity and balance that it can defiantly go past the main course and into desert.

Gonzales Byass, Solera 1847 Oloroso Duce $18

75% Palomino, 25% Pedro Ximenez
This rich Spanish Sherry spent an average 8 years in the Solera. It has full concentrated flavors of sweet raisins and figs with a velvety palate and a touch of nuttiness on the finish. It can stand up to but not over power any number of deserts. And best of all you don’t have to finish the whole bottle. Due to the Solera process it keeps open for months.

I include it as it would be a good match for any chocolate heavy dessert you might be planning.

With some last minute customers we didn’t get out of the shop until 7:30 which put me at home a little after 8 for my steak dinner washed down with the remains of a red and a white that a rep left us to try.

Nice quiet evening.

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