Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review

It's my favorite time of year with my favorite holiday, so I love these wines labeled specifically for Halloween.

Tonight, I'm enjoying Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, from Napa, California. It has a dark ruby color and a woodsy smell of clay, moss and cedar. It's pleasingly dry, with no bitterness, and a smooth mouth feeling. There is a taste of dark berries, dark chocolate and espresso. Seasonally perfect! The finish is nice and long, moving slightly into a smoky plum taste. 

Very drinkable on it own, but it was wickedly good with my steak and mushroom soup. It's a very nice table wine, and I believe it would work extremely well with the upcoming holiday feasts, although you might want to hide the label to keep your guests from getting nervous. Don't worry, though. They'll be asking you to reveal the name of your secret potion. What will really put them under its spell is its affordability! 


Until then, flaunt your Halloween spirit with this bold statement wine. 13.5% alcohol, so please drink responsibly.

 

Come Over to the Dark Side

I love Apothic wines. The winery's newest addition is apropos for the Halloween season, Apothic Dark. This is a superlative blend of Petit Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and the rare outside of Italy Teroldego varietals. This is not a wine for those looking for a light red. In fact, its almost dark opaque color is indicative of its depth. On the nose, you'll find scents of earth and smoky cocoa. Coffee and dark chocolate are predominant in the taste, with a backdrop of dark berries and a creamy finish. It was spectacular with my 4-alarm chili, but I would drink this wine with anything. It has so much rich flavor, it's not a compliment to food...it's a dish on its own. 

Out in limited release, you need to hurry to enjoy it, especially since I've read several reviews of folks planning to go back and stock up while they can. That's exactly what I'm going to do, too. I want to make sure I have this one on hand. 

Book Review: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," by Rebecca Skloot

Author's Notes: Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells — taken without her knowledge — became one of the most important tools in medicine.

There's no way Henrietta Lacks could have known that her cancer cells would, in no small part, help save the world from deadly disease. She died of cervical cancer in the early 1950s. But, her cells proved to be immortal and, because of that, have been able to help clinical researchers find the vaccine for polio, unlock the chromosomal key of Downs Syndrome, help in the understanding of every type of cancer that afflicts humankind, cloning and much, much more. The saddest aspect of the story...while the medical research industry made a fortune growing and selling her cells, her family never saw a dime of that money and couldn't even afford health insurance. 

Skloot tells the engrossing story from the human perspective, explaining the science in layman's terms. She honors the family's final spiritual acceptance of Henrietta's suffering death as a challenge to learn just what her sacrifice meant to the world and continue that legacy. I found the story singularly moving and enlightening. It should be required reading for any person who works in the field of clinical research. They owe that much to Henrietta.