Hubby spent the last full day of our weeklong vacation in Cape May on the beach.  Considering it was the Friday of Labor Day weekend, we were surprised the beach wasn’t more crowded, but we certainly weren’t going to complain.  We did head back to the rental a little early, though, because we both wanted time to walk around the city photographing the amazing Victorian Houses.  It really was a photographer’s dream…and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I hope everyone there is on safe and on the road to recovery.

After the sun set and the lighting just got too dark to take any more photos, Hubby and I went for a delicious dinner at The Ebbitt Room, which specializes in farm-to-table menu items.  When I saw the restaurant had Domane Wachau Federspiel Terrassen Grüner  Veltliner on its wine list, I knew what I was ordering to drink.  And, truthfully, the food decisions were just as easy to make.  Hubby started with a salad, but I couldn’t pass up the chance for Jersey Clams Casino, particularly when I thought about pairing it with the Grüner.  For main courses, Hubby ordered the locally caught flounder, which he said was very well prepared, and I had the broiled jumbo lump crab cakes with the best whipped potatoes I’ve ever eaten.  The Grüner turned out to be the perfect pairing for both of my seafood choices.

After leaving the restaurant, Hubby and I walked back to our rental to pack so that we could head home early Saturday morning.  Thankfully, the packing went quickly, and I was able to drink my last bottle of wine out on the porch while reading and enjoying our last night at the Jersey Shore.

The 2009 Cellar No. 8 Zinfandel (winery, amazon) is made from California grapes and has a deep ruby color.  On the nose, there were figs and blackberries with hints of vanilla.  In the mouth, there were figs and blackberries with a touch of vanilla, cinnamon, and tobacco.  The wine had medium tannins and a medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine.  At $9, it’s hard to say no to this wine.  However, I was a little disappointed in the “heft” of this wine.  It just didn’t live up to the richness and promise that was offered when I took a whiff of the wine before tasting it.  That said, I think it would be a good cookout wine, as pairing it with some hot dogs and hamburgers would probably fill in the gaps in flavor.

Question of the Day:  Have you ever been to Cape May?  Are there any restaurants there that you loved?  Places you went that were particularly fun?  Or, maybe there was a house that caught your fancy?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this gorgeous area of the Jersey Shore!

Price: $9
Purchased at Montreal Liquor Store
Overall: 3 Corks