Witch On Wine TV: Casa Larga Cab- Merlot

Get into Witch On Wine TV! In this episode I will you about a nice red from the Finger Lakes. Casa Larga has been making wine for forty years and their cab-merlot is simply delish! Baby come and get it!

Weekly Menu: Baked Eggplant, Lasagna, Burgers, General Tso Caulifower & Chocolate Mousse

This week's selection is: La Vieille Ferme Rouge

I love this wine, it's one of my favorite French table wines. The wine comes from the Rhône Valley area. Not only is it a good wine, but a bottle goes for under $10 bucks.  

Monday: Baked Eggplant with Haloumi and Kasseri by Greekalicious
Tuesday: Easy Lasagna by The Italian Chef
Wednesday: Classic Stuff Mushrooms by Simply Recipes
Thursday: One-Pot Rice Cooker Mexican Chicken and Rice by Domestic Goddess Wannabe
Friday: Best Ever Burgers on Yummly
Saturday: General Tso's Cauliflower on Food 52
Sunday: Sauteed Kale on Food.com

Dessert:
Chocolate Mousse by Jacques Torres
Blueberry Hand Pies by Pastry Affair
10 Minute Indoor S'mores on The Best Blog Recipes

Recipe: Bodacious Bordeaux Cupcakes

They say that the way through a person's heart is through their stomach. These wine infused cupcakes are certain to win someone's heart. They are a wonderful treat for holidays, birthdays, weddings, or just because. Then there is the frosting..delish!

So yummy, these cupcakes are sure to please, especially wine lovers! If you are not a Bordeaux fan, use your favorite red wine.

Bodacious Bordeaux Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup Bordeaux Wine
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup  semi- sweet chocolate chips melted

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix melted butter and sugar together, then mix in the eggs one at a time until everything is incorporated. Next add the red wine. In a separate bowl, mix the rest of the dry ingredients together and then slowly add to the wet mixture. Mix in the melted chocolate. Pour batter into the cups, filling them about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 15-20 mins. Let cool completely. Ice with Chocolate Bordeaux Wine Icing.

Chocolate Bordeaux Wine Icing

• 2 3/4 Cups confectioners sugar
• 6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 Tablespoons butter
• 5 Tablespoons Bordeaux wine

Cream butter and slowly add the confectioners sugar. Then add the cocoa powder alternating one tablespoon at a time with the  wine. Incorporate until the mixture is nice and fluffy. Make sure your cupcakes are completely cooled then ice each cupcake. Enjoy!

Magickal Mulled Wine

Mulled wine is such a fabulous drink during the autumn and winter months. You can drink on lazy Sundays or when you want to entertain. Besides being delicious, this wine is packed with aphrodisiacs, the honey, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves are an orgasmic combination. May you enjoy, let me know how you like it!

Magickal Mulled Wine

4 cups apple cider

1 bottle of red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir

1/4 cup honey

2 cinnamon sticks

1 orange, zested and juiced

4 whole cloves

3 star anise

4 oranges, peeled

Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves and star anise in a large saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel to each and serve.

*As a side note, you can make this in your crockpot, throw all the ingredients in and out on a low heat and all a yummy smell will fill the air.

Chinon: A Region Known for Joan of Arc and Really Good Wine

When I say Chinon, what do you think of? It makes me think of Joan of Arc and really good wine. I recently went to a five course wine lunch at Northern Bell in Willamsburg, Brooklyn to find out what Chinon wines are all about.

It is said that Chinon is home to Loire Valley’s most celebrated Cabernet Franc wines. Let's just say that this area is all about red wines, with a small amount of rose and even smaller amount of chenin blanc wine. A majority of the winemakers in the area are from generations of winemakers.

The special guests for the lunch were Master Sommelier, Pascaline Lepeltier and winemaker, Rodolphe Raffault of Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault. The pitmaster for Northern Bell, Dale Buchheister, came out to discuss his dishes. He has been trained in three different methods of making barbecue.

During the courses at the lunch, I learned a lot about winemakers from Chinon. More importantly, I found out that wines from the region are fabulous with barbecue, though they would pair well with any meat. Sometimes the wines are hard to find due to the wineries making a limited supply. When you find a wine from Chinon, it is worth selecting because it is a wine that was made with passion and exquisite winemaking. As for Northern Bell, if you are ever in Brooklyn, I recommend going to this hotspot. It is an experience your palate will thank you for!

First  Course:

Charred Iceberg Lettuce, Homemade Bourbon Beef Bacon, Crumbled Blue Cheese, Roasted Corn, Ranch dressing paired with Beatrice et Pascal Lambert, Domaine de Chesnaies, Rochette, 2013

This was a perfect pairing. The wine was nice and light on the taste buds which went wonderfully with the flavors in the salad. I loved the smell of the floral notes in the wine. This winery does biodynamie farming, a farming system that has harmony between the plant, its soil, and its environment.

Second Course:

Cherrywood Pit Smoked Wings paired with Domaine JM Raffault, Chinon Rosé 2014

Killer smoked wings and a Chinon rosé, makes for a very delicious pairing. The Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault Winery has been cultivating vines in Chinon for 14 generations. This is something that you will find with many wineries in Chinon. I loved this rosé, so much that I keep a glass to try with all of the dishes. It’s 100% cabernet franc with aromas of  clementine and black pepper. The wine was awesome with the wings that are marinated with Northern Bell’s in house dry rub.

Third Course:

Homemade Biscuit, Poached Egg, Sage Pork Sausage with Country Gravy paired with Bernard Baudry Les Granges 2014; Philippe Alliet 2014 and Domaine Grosbois, Cuisine de ma Mere 2012

I liked all three of the reds during this course, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Philippe Alliet 2014 or Bernard Baudry Les Granges 2014. With cabernet francs that taste this good, it is easy to see why the region is known for this wine. Deep, dark, and juicy is how I would describe this trio of reds. When it comes to taste is all depends on your mood.

Fourth Course:

Memphis Style Dry Rubbed Ribs Paired with Complices de Loire La Petite Timonerie 2011, Domaine de la Noblaie, Chiens 2010 and Couly Dutheil Clos de l’Echo 2009

This was another good selection of wines paired with some of the best ribs I’ve had in a long time. I was all about the Couly Dutheil Clos de l’Echo 2009, it was the standout in the three wines. Think blackberries, leather, tobacco and raspberries aromas. It pairs wonderfully with beef, pork, and anything in between.

Fifth Course:

Chocolate Bourbon croissant pudding paired with Sauvion Les Roches Cachees 2014, Chais St Laurent La Vigne en Veron 2013 and Marc Plouzeau Rive Gauche 2013

This dessert was crazy, which I mean in the best way. It was kind of like cake. I would have to say that the Chais St Laurent La Vigne en Veron 2013 was my favorite one out of the three. The wine has some berry and spicy notes going on which I love during this time of year.

Chinon is definitely a region that has many good wines. Sometimes the wines are hard to find due to the wineries making a limited supply of their wines. When you find a wine from Chinon, it is worth selecting because it is a wine that was made with passion and exquisite winemaking. as for Northern Bell, if you re ever in Brooklyn, I recommend going to this hotspot. It is an experience your palate will thank you for!

Review: Chateau du Moulin Rose, Cotes de Castillon 2000

Next time you are on the prowl for a good Bordeaux, look for Chateau du Moulin Rose. It is a red blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot that comes from the Cotes De Castillon region. 

The aromas in the wine are  spices, candied jam, berries, and cinnamon. The finish is tobacco and cedar. I would suggest pairing it with red meats, cheeses, or other hearty meals.

For a complete sensory experience when sipping burn a sandalwood candle or incense with sandalwood.

This wine will only run you $12 or under, which is hard to beat for a wine this good, especially when it comes to Bordeaux, . Santé!

                                              

Cotes de Castillon

Friday Night with Bandit

It's a brisk Friday night and I am having a bit of Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon. The great thing about getting wine in the box is that it last a little bit longer, you can take it on the go, and it's easy to get more wine in the box. 

 I'm nesting in my apartment and sipping away so that I can get some writing done. What are you drinking tonight?

Red Wine May Prevent Cancer

Good news, looks like red wine may be good for cancer prevention. There has been a long going debate, whether alcohol is good or bad for you. The University of Colorado Cancer Center recently completely a study that shows a chemical in grape skins, resveratrol, may prevent cancer.