Tag Archives: Napa

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2012 Mumm Napa Cuvée M, Sparkling Wine

There are many ways to finish off a great holiday evening. One favored in my family is a chocolate cream pie, a flaky-crusted treat layered with plenty of cream and just the right amount of dark, sweet goodness. That’s what we had for dessert tonight, capping off an enjoyable Christmas celebration, perfectly accompanied by the 2012 Mumm Napa Cuvée M, Sparkling Wine.

2012 Mumm Napa Cuvee M, Sparkling Wine, Napa, USA.

2012 Mumm Napa Cuvee M, Sparkling Wine, California, USA.

I was an immediate fan. The bubbly was great as it intertwined with the chocolate in the pie; not too sweet and not too tart. This 2012 Mumm Napa Cuvée M is the byproduct of grapes from more than 50 vineyards–surely Pinot Noir and Chardonnay among them*–that are blended only after the initial fermentation process in order to keep some of the nuances of the individual fruit. For a sparkling wine, the Mumm Napa Cuvée M was not too dry and had a very level, balanced finish.

From the winemaker‘s notes: “Cuvée M exhibits a graceful stream of very fine bubbles gently rising to a persistent mousse cordon with a light peach rose color. The aromas are elegant, rich and complex, showing fresh white and yellow stone fruits with subtle hints of wild strawberry. A light touch of fresh brioche, with hints of vanilla and honey add to the wine’s complex bouquet. On the palate, full flavors of peach and pear combine with a creamy caramel character, which lingers into a long satisfying finish.”

It’s got a light, peach and citrus bouquet and taste to be sure, working effectively with the chocolate sweetness to brighten our evening. I didn’t necessarily hit the strawberry referenced above, but I am not really a fan of a strawberry and did not go pulling on this thread to separate it from the overall tapestry of taste that is the Cuvée M. Incidentally, it’s this wine that the San Francisco Giants used in both 2012 and 2014 in order to celebrate their World Series Championships. I’m less a fan of the champs, but really happy with their good luck drink that is the Cuvée M. Enjoy…

*Ed. note: Additional research reveals the actual makeup of the Cuvée M as 48% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir, 6% Pinot Gris, and 3% Pinot Meunier.

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2012 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Great meal tonight, a mustard-coated pork chop with our favorite orzo pasta and arugula salad, and featuring brussel sprouts as our vegetable. The sprouts were slow cooked in a pan with butter, holdovers from our Thanksgiving, and perfect for popping as we talked about the day’s challenges, and still delicious when we ate them with our dinner and the 2012 Josh Cellars Cab.

2012 Josh Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon California USA

2012 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.

Judging by the “Josh” story I’m pretty sure I’ve had the Josh Cellar experience at least once previously. That time it was the 2011 Merlot; this time it was an enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon with a warm, home-cooked meal. There’s some smoke in the works here, some spice–a couple of my favorite accents–and an enticing interplay of dusky fruits and berries.

It’s a work night, however, so less time to ramble on here about the effect of the Josh or the meal itself. Suffice it to say we’re full, heart healthy here for tonight, and looking forward to the weekend and fun guests.