Wine Dinner #2

Last weekend, my group of friends and I decided to get together and share a few bottles of wine with a dinner we each contributed to. We decided on a menu and paired various wines with each dish. It was a great evening with friends!

Peppercorn Brie and Smoked Gouda cheeses

To start with, we had an appetizer of cheeses: peppercorn brie and smoked Gouda. Grayson Cellars 2012 California Cabernet Sauvignon was paired with both of these cheeses to compare the differences. The brie had a delightful, creamy texture. It was hard on the outside, with flakes of black pepper on the inside. When I tried the brie with the Cabernet, it was good although it made it taste slightly more acidic than the cheese did on its own. On the other hand, the Gouda cheese gave the Cabernet wine a very smooth texture. It was delicious! This wine also minimized the acidity in the palette with the Gouda cheese as compared to the brie cheese. Overall, I enjoyed both cheeses with the Cabernet, but I preferred the Gouda cheese with this wine. I believe this can be accredited to the harder, sharper flavor of the Gouda, rather than the creamy texture of the brie.

2012 Grayson Cellars Cabernet Saugivnon

Stuffed red bell pepper with basil, feta, olives, and tomatoes

As an additional appetizer, we had a red pepper that was stuffed with tomatoes, basil, olive oil, olives, and feta cheese. This was paired with Leese-Fitch's 2011 California Merlot. The wine was a great complement to the basil and tomatoes of this dish. The feta cheese was also delicious with the Merlot because of the cheese’s creamy, powerful flavor. 

Leese-Fitch 2011 Merlot

Corin and Rachel enjoying the meal!

Asian Salad

Our next dish was a salad made with cabbage, kale, mandarin oranges, cilantro, cashews, water chestnuts, and carrots. All of these ingredients were tossed in a warm dressing made with white wine vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. This dish was paired with both a red and a white wine: a Merlot and a Riesling. When I tasted the Merlot with the salad, it was slightly hot because of the soy sauce and vinegar mixture. However, the Merlot brought out the flavors of the cilantro in the salad, which was delicious! The Riesling had an interesting effect with this salad. The Riesling brought out the sesame oil flavors from the dressing that you couldn't taste as much with the Merlot. This was definitely a good pair with the “Asian inspired” dressing, and my preference with this dish.

         

Stir fry meat, vegetables, and rice

       

For a main dish, we prepared a chicken, pork, beef stir fry with vegetables. The vegetables had a lot of flavor and were spicy, so they paired very well with a Trimbach Riesling. The stir fry meat was not as spicy as the vegetables, so it was not as good with the Riesling, but it was still decent. I decided to explore with the combinations and tasted the Cabernet and Merlot with the stir fry, but these were definitely not good pairings for this type of dish. The Riesling was the right choice with the stir fry!

Molly and I sharing some laughs!

Trimbach Riesling

Chocolate cake with chocolate icing and port

For dessert, we had a chocolate cake with a chocolate icing. I made the cake and when I was making the icing, I accidentally added a tablespoon too much vanilla! I thought this would be a disaster, but it was actually a good mistake! We paired the cake with Warre's Warrior port wine. These two together were delicious! Even though the port was really sweet and high in alcohol, the extra vanilla flavor in the icing of the cake evened out the sweetness and calmed the port’s acidity down. 

Warre's Warrior Port

Tasting: Cupcake Vineyards Malbec

Name:  Cupcake Vineyards

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: Unknown

Price: $11.00

Winery Review: “Discover the allure of Argentina with a deep, delectable Malbec from Mendoza. A heady, yet dry nose of blueberries and leather opens up to a palate of intense chocolate, mocha and plums. A soft velvety texture and hint of spice leads to a finishing note of toasted oak. We carefully select the best fruit from our Mendoza vineyards, picking dark and delicious berries that mature gradually and gracefully. Rooted in stony alluvial soil, the grapes are harvested, gently crushed and left to ferment slowly with extra skin contact. Aging in oak barrels results in a full, soft, intense and rich Malbec.”

Personal Review: This wine had a distinct cherry and plum aroma to it. After tasting this wine, I did not discover any of the notes the winery mentioned in their review. To me it tasted very bitter and watered down. Although this wine was smooth, it was not your typical Malbec that I am used to drinking. It was not spicy or peppery like most I have had in the past. While I did not drink this wine with food, I am not interested in trying it again as it was just too bitter and watery. 

Tasting: Casillero del Diablo Carmenere

Name: Casillero del Diablo

Variety: Carmenere

Region: Central Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2012

Price: $9.99

Winery Review: “Chocolate, coffee and spice combine with raspberries and blackberries in this Carmenere, Chile’s very own grape. Perfect for tasty winter stews or grilled summer barbeques.”

Personal Review: This wine had a smoky, camp fire smell to it. It reminded me of the way a fire smells when it is only the hot coals left burning/smoking. It did smell high in alcohol, although not terrible like others I have smelled. This wine was definitely high in tannins, as it was a little too hot for my taste. It had a severe drying effect on my cheeks after I tasted it. Although it was interesting that this wine had a slight sweetness to it as well, making it taste unique. I drank this wine with a homemade pepperoni pizza with green peppers and onions. It would not be my first choice of a wine to pair with pizza, but it was drinkable.

Tasting: Arquero Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Arquero Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Toledo

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Price: $5.99

Winery Review: “Color: bright lemon yellow. Aroma: golden apple and tropical flowers. Body: medium-light. Flavors: gooseberry, kiwi fruit with hints of cold melon and citrus. Finish: mouth filling, fresh, and crisp. Notes: vibrant fruit, easy to drink, great with all seafood and hot and spicy dishes.”

Personal Review: This wine had a crisp apple aroma to it. It also had a unique smell of pears and citrus fruits as well. The taste of this Sauvignon Blanc was very refreshing. It was no too hot or high in acid or tannins. Although it was slightly tangy, it was fairly smooth. I did not try this wine with food, although I am curious to try it with the wineries recommendation of seafood dishes.”

Tasting: Bellafina Pink Moscato

Name: Bellafina Pink Moscato

Variety: Moscato and Rabosos

Region: Unknown

Country: Italy

Year: Unknown

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: “A blend of Moscato and Rabosos grapes it has a pale rose color, notes of red berries (strawberry and raspberry), with the characteristic and fragrant bouquet and palate that is typical of the Moscato grape.”

Personal Review: This wine smelled like pink lemonade! I was excited to try it! It also smelled like orange sherbet. It had a great taste to it too! It was like drinking a fresh grapefruit! It was slightly bubbly and easy to drink. It was sweet, but not overpoweringly so. I would definitely take this wine to a beach picnic! I am not sure what food I would pair this with, but it was delicious! 

Tasting: Weinert Carrascal

Name: Weinert Carrascal 

Variety: 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot

Region: Unknown

Country: Argentina

Year: 2008

Price: $13.95

Winery Review: “Aged for two years in cask, the 2009 Carrascal is a blend of 40% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Merlot. It has a rustic blackberry, scorched earth and leather-scented bouquet with touches of pressed flowers. The palate is well balanced with crisp tannins, expressive black tarry fruit, and Bordeaux-like finish. Drink now-2016.”

Personal Review: The nose of this wine was interesting. It smelled like a spice box with too many spices and a lot of pepper. It smelled a little bit acidic, like lime juice. It reminded me of a leather saddle, which is one of my favorite smells from growing up riding horses, but not a smell I would want in a drink! It also had a dirt, mulch component to it. After tasting this wine, all I could decide was that it was bad! I did not like this wine at all. It tasted earthy, like mulch and grass. I am not interested in tasting this wine with food.

Tasting: Santa Julia Malbec

Name:  Santa Julia Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Unknown

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: “The nose if full of mellow raspberry and cherry, while the palate is fleshy and round, with blackberry and a touch of raisin. Plump, not edgy, and ready to drink, with coffee and mocha notes on the finish.”

Personal Review: This wine had a pungent dark red raspberry smell to it. It smelled delicious! It smelled like wood and currant, and a little bit like raspberry jelly. I was really excited to taste this wine! It was smooth the whole way through, from beginning to end. It was not too spicy or peppery as I would typically expect from a Malbec, which was nice. It was high in tannins, but I did not think it was hot at all. I loved this wine! I am excited to try this wine again with a meal! My favorite wine from this tasting!

Tasting: Gougenheim Torrontes

Name: Gougenheim Torrontes

Variety: Torrontes

Region: Chilecito in La Rioja

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: “The 2012 Torrontes comes from Chilecito in La Rioja. It has a light floral nose with touches of lemon peel and nectarine. The palate is crisp and taut, showing far more vivacity and fruit that the nose implied, finishing with a flourish of apricot and white peach. Drink now.”

Personal Review: This wine had a fresh, citrus aroma to it. You could smell a slight acidity in it. The wine had a clean taste to it. It was kind of tart and sour like an apple. It had a light, smooth feel to it, which was really refreshing. I really enjoyed this wine! I did not have it with food, but I will definitely be on the lookout for it to pair with a meal!

Tasting: Santa Julia Pinot Grigio

Name: Santa Julia Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Unknown

Country: Argentina

Year: Unknown

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: “Light and clean, which compared to other Argentine Pinot Grigios is not something to dismiss. Feels solid and punchy, with orange and mango flavors. Has nice overall clarity and balance, with a citrusy finish.”

Personal Review: This wine had a creamy, buttery smell to it. It reminded me of buttered popcorn! It was an interesting aroma because typically I can taste the creamy, buttery-ness, not smell it. However this wine did not taste the same as it smelled. It tasted slightly citrusy like lemons. This wine also had a flowery component to its taste, similar to honeysuckle flowers! I think this wine would be perfect to try again with food on a summer night. 

Tasting: Jam Jar Sweet White

Name: Jam Jar Sweet White

Variety: 100% Muscat

Region: Unknown

Country: South Africa

Year: Unknown

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: “100% Muscat. Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise straightforward ripe peach and nectarine aromas. There’s a good balance in the mouth, with a nice acidic lift and slightly lime edge to cut the sweetness on the finish and close with the faintest hint of honeydew melons.”

Personal Review: This wine had a unique smell to it. It reminded me of a good smelling kitchen cleaner, possibly something similar to Pine Sol! It was VERY sweet tasting! To me, it was like drinking white grape juice. It did have a slight peach taste to it, which was refreshing. I enjoyed this wine, but I would only be able to drink 1 glass of it, not an entire bottle. It is definitely a light, summery wine that would be perfect for the beach! Although I’m not sure what food this wine would pair well with. 

Tasting: Entrada Malbec

Name: Entrada Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Unkown

Country: Chile

Year: Unkown

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: “Firm and structured, this is a solid wine, laced with mineral acidity and tight tannins. It has a juicy, blackberry fruit component cutting through the texture.”

Personal Review: This wine had a very pretty purple/plum color to it. It smelled a little dusty and reminded me of opening a cedar chest. The taste of this wine was surprising! I really enjoy Malbec’s, but I typically have had them from Argentina, so this Malbec from Chile was different. It was not as spicy as the Argentinian Malbec’s which was nice. It was very good and my favorite of the day! I did not taste this wine with food, but I will definitely be looking for this wine again!

Tasting: Vina Borga Borsao

Name: Vina Borga Borsao

Variety: 100% Grenache

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: “86 Points – Robert Parker. Also made from 100% Grenache, the 2012 Vina Borgia was fermented and aged in stainless steel. Its medium dark ruby color is followed by abundant notes of strawberries and black cherries offered in a straightforward, medium-bodied, soft, hedonistic, round style. It is hard to believe a wine this good can sell for $7 a bottle. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years.”

Personal Review: The smell of this wine was delicious! It smelled like strawberries! It reminded me of a combination of strawberry jelly and black raspberry jelly! The taste of this wine was surprising in a good way. For being a red wine, I was expecting it to be thicker bodied and heavier alcohol content, but it tasted like a rose wine. It had a lot of strawberry components to it and was smooth and thin. I really enjoyed this wine. I did not have it with food, but I would definitely like to try it again with a meal. 

Tasting: Peter Lehmann Chardonnay

Name: Peter Lehmann Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Unknown

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: $20, Sale for $9.95

Winery Review: “The 2010 Chardonnay presents subtle notes of spiced apple slices and ripe peaches with hints of freshly baked bread and melon. Light bodied, clean and refreshingly crisp in the mouth, it offers just enough apple and pear flavor concentration, finishing with medium-long persistence. Drink it now to 2014.”

Personal Review: This wine had a strong odor to it! To me, it smelled like someone had just opened a can of tuna fish! Gross! The taste was slightly better than the smell, but I was still not a fan! It had a smoky taste, but it was still fishy tasting. The body was also kind of slimy but the aftertaste was alright. I would describe this wine as “unique!” I did not try this wine with food and I do not think I will be any time soon!

Tasting: Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

Name: Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

Variety: Airen and Macabeo

Region: Castilla

Country: Spain

Year: Unknown

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: “Mostly Airen with a little bit of Macabeo. Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon, and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value.”

Personal Review: This wine had a sweet honeysuckle smell to it that was really refreshing. The aroma instantly reminded me of a warm spring day when the honeysuckle starts blooming and there’s a warm breeze blowing. It had a very refreshing taste to it. This wine tasted very fresh and clean. I would probably classify it as a semi-sweet wine, as it did dry out my mouth slightly but wasn’t overpoweringly sweet. I did not have this wine with food, but I would try it again with a meal. 

Tasting a homemade blend

Name: Homemade Blend

Variety: 75% Old Vine Zinfandel & 25% Carrion blend

Region: Napa Valley, California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: N/A

Winery Review: N/A

Personal Review: This wine was a blend made by a friend of my parents in 2012. The wine spent 6 months in oak barrels. It had a wicked alcohol smell to it. It smelled harsh and slightly like a dirt floor cellar, but in a good way. This made it smell earthy and kind of reminded me of mushrooms. The taste at first was very hot from the alcohol. Once I got past the alcohol taste, it was fairly peppery and creamy. It had a hint of chocolate to it and was a little bit jammy in its taste. I think this wine would be good with a little more time in the bottle to settle down the tannins and alcohol levels. I did not drink this wine with food, but I don’t think it would have changed the flavor much because of the overpowering taste of alcohol. 

Tasting: Glenora Wine Cellars Bobsled Red

Name: Glenora Bobsled Red

Variety: Red blend

Region: New York State Finger Lakes

Country: USA

Year: Unknown

Price: $7.99

Winery Review: “Bobsled Red is a unique blend of high quality grape varieties that has blackberry jam aromas. This pleasant, semi-dry finish makes this wine enjoyable on its own or with pasta, pizza, or Buffalo style wings. This wine may be served slightly chilled, or at cool room temperature.”

Personal Review: This wine had been chilled before tasting it, so at first it had little to no smell to it. After swirling and warming up the glass for a few minutes, you could start to smell a light aroma. This wine smelled like bubblegum tape that I used to beg my parents for whenever we went to the store! I was already hesitant to taste this wine after it had that smell to it, but I went for it anyway. Mistake!!! This wine was terrible! It was super sweet and everyone in my family agreed that it was awful! No one even bothered finishing their glass of this wine because it was not worth it! I did try to make it seem better by trying it with cheese, but that may have made it taste worse! Overall, we all agreed that this was not the wine for us!

Tasting: Haras Chardonnay

Name:  Haras Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Maipo Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2012

Price: $8.99

Winery Review: “The Haras estate in Chile unites the twin passions of the Matte family: thoroughbred horses and fine wine. Located in the foothills of the Andes, the estate is home to South America’s top thoroughbred breeding farm and some of the best vineyards in Chile. The winery itself is built in a unique horseshoe shape, and its vineyards are managed with sustainable practices. The vibrant Chardonnay offers distinct aromas of white peach and citrus, pleasantly balanced with a creamy texture.”

Personal Review: This chardonnay was oaked, so I was excited to compare it to the previous wine, an un-oaked California Simply Naked chardonnay. It smelled like a lot of different fruits, but mainly apples and peaches. This wine tasted like peaches! It was delightful! I thought this wine was also slightly carbonated with a bubbly texture to it. Tasting this wine helped me to understand what an “oaky” flavor tastes like. I was not expecting to like the oak taste, but I liked this wine better than the Simply Naked chardonnay! I also drank this wine with the herb encrusted pork tenderloin and it was my favorite wine paired with the pork! I really enjoyed this wine and am definitely going to be on the lookout for it again! 

Tasting: Simply Naked Chardonnay

Name: Simply Naked Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $8.99

Winery Review: “Simply Naked wines reveal themselves as they really are, without being hidden by the flavor of oak. Our winemaker has chosen not to oak age the wines, allowing the crisp fruit flavor and the true varietal characteristics to shine through. Simply Naked Chardonnay is a rich, fruit forward wine with crisp apple, melon, and pear flavors and a touch of honey.”

Personal Review: I was interested in comparing an un-oaked chardonnay with an oaked chardonnay. This wine was not very aromatic which surprised me. I expected to be able to smell a lot of the fruit in it. It tasted a lot like apples and pears, which was delicious! It also had a slight bubbliness to it. It seemed as though it had been carbonated just a little bit. I drank this wine with an herb roasted pork tenderloin and they were delicious together! I would definitely recommend this wine to those who don’t like the flavor of oak in wines. 

Dinner Blog: “Family time with a few bottles of wine!”

This year I decided to enjoy my last spring break at home with my family. Coming from a large, loud Italian family, wine is always a part of our gatherings, so I thought doing a wine pairing dinner would be a lot of fun! My parents, one of my sisters and brother-in-laws, and my boyfriend participated in this dinner. As an appetizer, I bought a few cheeses and grapes to pair with two bottles of wine. We had sharp cheddar cheese, imported provolone cheese, and parmesan reggiano. I chose to pair a Cabernet Sauvignon with the provolone cheese, and a Syrah with the cheddar cheese. As a side note, these wines were on sale at the wine store! Score! 

Parmesan reggiano, sharp cheddar, and provolone cheese along with red seedless grapes.

        The Cabernet Sauvignon was a 2011 by Clos du Bois from the Sonoma Valley, California. Everyone agreed that it smelled like black berries, cherries, and earthy. The taste of this wine was of rich fruit, medium alcohol, and plums. It was fairly oaky as well. Drinking this wine with the provolone cheese was delicious! It really helped to smooth out the tannins in the wine. However, this wine did not complement the parmesan cheese as well. My mom suggested that this would be an ideal wine to have with meat in a gorgonzola cream sauce! I can't wait to try that next time!

Clos Du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon $20.00

Next we tasted Campuget’s 2010 Syrah from the Rhone Valley in France. This wine smelled sweeter than the previous wine, the Cabernet Sauvignon, although we all thought that it did have a slight isopropyl alcohol odor to it as well. After tasting this wine, it was much thinner bodied than the previous wine. It did seem to be high in tannins, but these were mellowed by the cheddar cheese. This wine was alright with the parmesan cheese, but the cheddar was definitely better. While my parents preferred the Cabernet Sauvignon, my sister, brother-in-law, boyfriend, and I all preferred the Syrah instead. 

Campuget Syrah $9.99

My brother-in-law, dad, and boyfriend enjoying their wine and cheese.

My mom was excited to try the Cabernet!

        For dinner, I decided to make a meal of herb encrusted pork, mashed potatoes, peas, and dinner rolls. The pork was marinated in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Everyone helped me to prepare dinner and we were excited to try it all with a Pinot Noir. We ate dinner with a 2010 Garnet Pinot Noir from Napa Valley, California. To our surprise, this wine did not have much of a nose to it. It tasted very smoky to several of us and reminded my mom of a cigar. It had a medium body to it and was fairly oaky. It did however complement the pork well. Everyone agreed that this wine was great with the pork and would have it again!

Garnet Pino Noir $11.99

Herb encrusted roasted pork.

Yum!

Dinner is served!

Delish!

Taking notes!

Rachel sippin' some wine!

Since there were six of us, three bottles of wine was definitely not enough! So, we decided to try a few others as well: two Chardonnay’s, a New York red, and a homemade Zinfandel. To hear more about these wines, look for my upcoming wine tasting blogs about them!

This was such a fun night at home that was really relaxing (especially after tasting seven bottles of wine!) We laughed for hours at the table and enjoyed comparing our wine palates with each other. Everyone truly enjoyed this experience and are excited to try it again soon!

Success!