By SOMDATTA SENGUPTAThe name suggests delicacy. The brand category is boutique wines. The target market is the upwardly mobile. The touch is soft and feminine.
Overall, a wine crafted with much thought and aims to please.
The wines were released into the market in late October last year, according to an Underdog Wine Merchants press release. These gourmet, award-winning wines come from the central California Coast where the weather tempers the balance of acid and sugars in the fruit. The result is a lower concentration of tannins that gives the grapes a more mellow composition.
Cupcake (750 ml) wines on sale at Spirits Middletown at $7.99 until August 25 include chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and sauvignon blanc.
While the grapes for the chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot are native to the central California Coast, those for the Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Marlborough valley of New Zealand, where the temperate climate favors a longer growing period, according to the vineyard.
After picking, the grapes are first placed in stainless steel tanks for cool fermentation and later aged in premium American-oak barrels. The intention is to present a bit of both — the fruitiness of the carefully cultivated grapes as well as the creamy touch as a result of the oak.
Adam Richardson, winemaker for Cupcake Vineyards and international winemaker for Underdog Wine Merchants, said, “When we make Cupcake, we put fruit, softness and richness at the top of our list. Everything, from the barrels we select to the way we ferment the wine, is done with these characteristics in mind. The end result is a rich and complex wine with layers of flavors and a long, smooth finish with a name that says it all.”
Tasting Notes from Cupcake Vineyards:
Cupcake Chardonnay was crafted to emphasize the Central Coast’s creamy and structured Chardonnay character. It starts off with a touch of apple, a hint of tropical fruits and is complimented by a balance of vanilla and spice. We used malolactic fermentation with aging in small barrels to provide a rich mid palate that develops into a long, smooth, satisfying finish. This wine pairs well with crab cakes, seared Ahi tuna on waffle crackers or fresh-baked French bread and cheese.
Rich and enticing, the Cupcake Cabernet Sauvignon is a balance between generous profiles of fruit and oak. This full-bodied yet smooth Cabernet Sauvignon displays soft tannins, with primary fruit flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and plums. The dark fruits melt with the flavors of mocha and toasty oak before ending with a long and silky finish. This wine pairs well with baked brie drizzled with honey or petite filet mignon with a cabernet reduction sauce.
Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc comes from the cool Marlborough valley of New Zealand. Here the grapes mature slowly, giving them complexity and a vibrant zing, reminiscent of your grandma’s lemon chiffon cupcake. The flavors are integrated, delighting the senses with Meyer lemons, Key limes and a finish that awakens the appetite. This wine pairs well with oysters on a half shell or with a rich and succulent Lobster Risotto.
Cupcake Merlot is a full-bodied yet smooth merlot displaying supple tannins. This is a softer, silkier Merlot with a good balance of oak and fruit. It starts with flavors of red cherries that evolve into decadent flavors of cocoa and espresso mingles into a plush, silky mocha finish. This wine pairs well with pork tenderloin with a port-fig reduction sauce or a decadent chocolate molten cupcake.
