Tasting - Cune Rioja Organic

Name: Cune Rioja Organic

Variety: 60% Grenache, 30% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2019

Price: $16.95

Winemaker Notes: "Deep ruby red in color with a good aromatic intensity showing forest fruits such as blackberries, redcurrants and wild fruits. On the palate the red fruits characteristic of Tempranillo dominates along with floral notes. Barrel ageing gives a lightly spiced touch and a long, balanced finish.

This is an ideal wine to enjoy with Mediterranean foods, pasta, rice, cured ham as well as all types of cheeses and meat dishes."

https://www.wine.com/product/cune-organic-rioja-2019/693842

Wine Folly: pg.117 general Grenache- Wine Folly lists stewed strawberry, grilled plum, leather, dried herbs, and blood orange. It also lists a higher alcohol content, medium tannins, low sweetness, good body, and medium acidity.

pg.175 general Tempranillo- The book lists aromas of cherry, dried fig, cedar, tobacco, and dill for tempranillo. It also says that this grape has a medium body, alcohol, acidity,  and tannins. The book also states that it has a very low sweetness.

My Review: This was a very good wine! I enjoyed the fact that it had lots of fruity aromas in it. I got lots of wild berries like blackberry in this Rioja blend. I would recommend serving this wine with a spicy steak dish because the red fruit would balance out the spice.

Tasting - Churchill's Dry White Porto

Name: Churchill's Dry White Porto

Variety: 100% Baga

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Year: 2012

Price: $24.95

Wine Critic Review: "An intriguing and delicious example of this classic style, with plenty of phenolic weight and dry extract from maceration on the skins in lagares giving the mellow complexity of an ʺorangeʺ wine. Flavours are complex and evolved with chamomile and ripe yellow pears, toasted almonds, baked quince and charcuterie. Much too good to mix with tonic. Serve chilled on its own as an apéritif or with strong cheeses as an alternative to red port." - 94/100, Falstaff

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/church+hill+dry+white+port+oporto+douro+portugal/1/usa-va-y

Wine Folly: pg.154 general Port- Wine Folly lists black plum, dried cherry, chocolate, raisin, and cinnamon as aroma notes for port. I didn't get any of these flavors in the port. Lower on the page, the book lists some characteristics of a white port. Some of these include dried peach, white pepper, tangerine zest, and incense.

My Review: I definitely got the light fruit notes in this wine like peach and pear. It was a little bit too dry for my taste, but it was still very good! It was very nutty and a little bit fruity. I would love to pair this port with some powerful cheese and crackers.

Wine and Cheese Pairing #2

Wine and cheese is one of my favorite activities in this class and I enjoyed getting together with my friends once again. This time we had Hunter, the dog, as a special guest demanding the cheese tax from all of us! The first pairing we had was a Sauvignon Blanc with a creamy Brie cheese. The second pairing was a Pinot Noir with a Swiss. The final pairing was a Cabernet Sauvignon with a Sharp Cheddar cheese. 

First up, we tried a 2021 Chateau Souverain Sauvignon Blanc wine from California. I got aromas of pear, honey and melon. This wine was very crisp, bright, and acidic. It was also more dry than I was expecting.

Brie: These two were supposed to pair very well together, but I was underwhelmed. It was almost like the cheese was stronger tasting than the wine. I thought it also had a strange aftertaste.

Swiss: This was a far better pairing than I expected! I like how the dryness of each complimented each other.

Cheddar: This was a funky pairing. The sharpness of the cheddar overwhelmed the wine. I think that a wine with a bigger body is needed when balancing out a bold, sharp cheddar cheese.

Second, we tried 2020 Buttercup Pinot Noir from California. This was a very light colored Pinot Noir. This is already a light grape variety, but this one was even lighter than normal. I got notes of cherry, raspberry, and herbs. It was a nice medium bodied wine with a fruity flavor profile and good tannins.

Brie: This was not a good pairing. The tannins plus the sweetness of the Brie was not great. I think sweet cheese like Brie just doesn't pair well with red wine.

Swiss: This was very good with the Pinot Noir! The sharpness of the swiss cheese is balanced well by the medium body of the red wine. They support each other well and the tannins are mellowed.

Cheddar: Once again the cheddar is too sharp for the cheese. The tangy flavors overpower the fruity flavors of the wine. This cheese does not help balance out the tannins. It almost adds to them in some way.

Lastly, we tried 2020 Josh Reserve Cabernet Sauvingon from North Coast, California. I like a bold California Cab! This one was no different. I got aromas of dark fruits like blackberry and black cherry. I could also taste some mocha! It was a full bodied wine with strong, smooth tannins.

Brie: Brie cheese and young, big Cabs do not get along well. The creaminess is just too weak to hold up against the wine. It also leaves a rough aftertaste in your mouth.

Swiss: The strong tannins in this wine are not complimented well by the dryness of the swiss cheese. Both the wine and cheese leave an unpleasant feeling in your mouth when they are together.

Cheddar: This was a very good pairing! The sharp cheddar is balanced out by the big, dark fruit flavors. Both of them are very strong on their own, but together they are mellowed out.

After cheese, we had fondue!

Hunter demands the Cheese Tax

Drink This Now! #2- Lesson 6

For Drink This Now! #2, I chose to complete lesson one because it is the only lesson that evaluates wine with color. The wines in order are an Apothic Zinfandel Rose, a Carnivor Zinfandel, and an Bay Bridge White Zinfandel. For the cheese, I decided to pair a parmesan with the Zinfandel wines.

Name: Apothic Rose

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Vintage: 2021

Winemaker Notes: "The 2021 Apothic Rosé offers the lightness of rose petals with the boldness of sun-ripened red fruit notes. Aromas of wild strawberry, watermelon and white peach hint open in the glass before revealing layers of strawberry, cherry and red plum. The floral and citrus notes linger, leading to a deliciously smooth mouthfeel with a refreshingly clean finish and a dollop of honey."

https://www.wine.com/product/apothic-rose-2021/1103472

Color: Deep Salmon

Smell: Strawberry, Watermelon, Cherry

Taste: Watermelon, cherry

Body: Medium

With Cheese: The wine is too fruity for the parmesan cheese.

Body: Not heavy enough to balance out the sharpness of the parmesan.

Other: This wine is prickly and acidic.

Name: Carnivor Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Vintage: 2020

Winemaker Notes: "The Carnivor Zinfandel is a sophisticated wine whose bold, intense flavor is matched by a refined smoothness. Crafted with grapes from prestigious vineyards in California, it's medium bodies with intense flavors of blackberry, black cherry, plum, raisin and blueberry, with caramel, and toast, that are matched with notes of mocha, dark chocolate, black pepper, bacon, and baking spice. Flavors of vanilla and toasted oak linger with a long, smooth finish. Would pair well with bbq or steak." 

https://www.corkerywine.com/products/carnivor-zinfandel-california-2020

Color: Medium Purple

Smell: Cherry, jammy, mocha

Taste: Cherry, blackberry, mocha, oak

Body: Heavy

With Cheese: Compliments to sharp, bold cheese very well.

Body: The body feels slightly softer when it is paired with cheese.

Other: This wine has strong tannins that are very tasty.

Name: Bay Bridge White Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Vintage: 2022

Winemaker Notes: "Pale salmon orange color. Candied aromas and flavors of watermelon candies, apple lollipop, and cherry taffy with a satiny, crisp, dryish light body and a smooth, medium-length finish with no oak flavor. A very fruity Rosé for summertime fun."

https://www.tastings.com/Wine-Review/Bay-Bridge-Vineyards-NV-White-Zinfandel-California-USA-10-15-2020.aspx

Color: Pale Salmon

Smell: Peachy, strawberry

Taste: Strawberry, cherry, sweet

Body: Light bodied

With Cheese: The wine was too light to balance out the cheese

Body: The body felt really rough when paired with parmesan

Other: Light acidity, citrusy, medium sweetness

The White Zinfandel definitely felt the lightest in my mouth. It was also very sweet compared to the others. The Rose Zinfandel felt a little heavier. I would describe it as a medium bodied wine. It was still pretty fruity, but it had some characteristics of Zinfandel. The pure Zinfandel was definitely the boldest and heaviest bodied wine. I find it interesting that the color got darker with the body of the wine. 

Tasting - Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier

Name: Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier

Variety: 80% Chenin Blanc 20% Viognier

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2021

Price: $16.00

Winemaker Notes: "Crisp, bright, and vivacious, Chenin Blanc + Viognier 2021 is an aromatic white blend boasting a bouquet of honeysuckle, orange blossoms, nectarine, white peach, and ginger spice. The entry is both bright and mouth-filling exhibiting refreshing acidity and roundness, opening to flavors of tangerine, lime, and lemon curd, lemongrass, ginger, white peach, and green apple. This delicious wine finishes clean and long with a lingering hint of lime. Chenin Blanc + Viognier is a versatile wine that pairs well with a number of dishes, from light salads to seafood, and most notably with foods with a hint of spiciness—its subtle sweetness provides balance alongside a touch of heat. It’s the perfect pour for the start of an evening with appetizers such as goat cheese, radishes, and olives. Also try with a flavorful Thai curry, a frittata with sweet onions and ricotta, or a shrimp and avocado tostada."

https://www.wine.com/product/pine-ridge-chenin-blanc-viognier-2021/877331

Wine Folly: pg.131 general Chenin Blanc- Wine Folly lists quince, yellow apple, pear, chamomile, and honey are aromas for Chenin Blanc. It also lists high acidity, light bodied, and varying sweetness levels as attributes for this variety.

pg.186 general Viognier- The book lists tangerine, peach, mango, honeysuckle, and rose as aromas for Viognier. In addition to these, Wine Folly says Viognier has low acidity, a medium body, and lower sweetness levels.

My Review: When Chenin Blanc and Viognier are blended together, they complement each other very well! The two grape varieties are on opposite ends of some elements of the tasting profile, so together they meet in the middle. This wine has strong body, but not as heavy as a red wine. It's solid body pairs well with it's medium acidity and sweetness. I got lots of apple, peach, and honey aromas from this blend. It was very citrusy, but it's lower acidity didn't give it much of a "mouth-puckering" sensation. I would be interested to try pairing this wine with my mother's Pad Thai recipe!

Tasting - Eastwood Farm and Winery Raspberry Rose

Name: Eastwood Farm and Winery Raspberry Rose

Variety: 90% Merlot 10% Raspberry

Region: Virginia

Country: USA

Year: 2022

Price: $26.00

Winemaker Notes: "The Eastwood Raspberry Rosé is a delicious rosé blend made from 90% Merlot and 10% Raspberry, all Virginia grown and harvested by hand. Ripe raspberry flavors are pronounced on the nose with subtle aromas of summer-ripe strawberries and melon. Medium-sweet and medium-bodied, rich flavors of juicy raspberry and delicate flavors of honey characterize the palate. The sweetness is well-balanced by the acidity giving the wine a lush round mouthfeel and a subtle tart finish. Great for picnics, backyard barbecues, and summer days at the beach. Delicious with grilled meats and farmer's market veggies as well as summery salads and pastas."

https://eastwoodfarmandwinery.com/product/tall-tails-white-blend-duplicate/

Wine Folly: pg.131 general Merlot- Wine Folly lists cherry, plum, chocolate, dried herbs, and vanilla as the primary aromas of merlot. This particular wine is a Rose, so many of the aromas are difficult to pick up on. In fact, the only merlot aroma I got from the book was some vanilla.

My Review: The raspberries may only be 10% of this blend, but do not underestimate them! They take control of the aromas of this wine. Since this is a rose, the body of the wine is lighter than what you would anticipate for a standard merlot. This wine is very acidic with a subtle tannins from the merlot in the blend. I love how the Virginia raspberries give it a medium sweetness! I would definitely recommend this wine on a warm summer day!

Wine Dinner Blog #2- with my Parents!!

 

While I was home for Spring Break, I decided to plan a Wine Dinner for my family! I thought it would be a great opportunity to snag some extra credit points in the class with my parents! I decided to cook recipes from my mom's family cookbook.

For the first course, I decided to make Mexican Cheese spread which is a recipe created by my family. Don't let the container in the photo fool you, I made it myself. I promise! This is a mainly cream cheese based spread with lots of spices to give it some kick. I decided to pair it with a 2020 St. Huberts The Stag Chardonnay. Since the cream cheese spread has a lot of spice, the oak, butter, and pear flavors balanced it out nicely. This Chardonnay was a little bit bolder than some other California Chardonnays I have had. I think this characteristic works well for it when it is paired against a spicy food.

Name: St. Huberts The Stag Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: USA

Vintage: 2020

Winemaker Notes: "The St. Hubert's The Stag Chardonnay offers lush tropical aromas of fresh peach blossom, coconut and marzipan, supported by delicate lemon citrus fruit. The palate is bright with a bounty of ripe flavors, including passion fruit, pineapple, lemon curd and lime zest, alongside hints of spiced oak and cardamom, leading to a soft, round, creamy finish."

https://www.wine.com/product/st-huberts-the-stag-chardonnay-2019/725898

For the main course, I prepared Bean and Corn Burritos. These are very good and are a relatively simple recipe! As the name suggests, the main ingredients are beans and corn, but there are also tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and spices. I chose to pair this with a 2019 Palacio del Burgo Crianza Rioja. This wine was pretty dry and tannic. I got lots of berry aromas such as cherry and raisins. I think the fruity-ness paired well with the big flavors in the burritos. Especially because I added some red salsa into my burrito, so the red wine balanced it out nicely. I really enjoyed the the flavors of the dry red wine and the spicy burrito.

Name: Palacio del Burgo Crianza

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Vintage: 2020

Wine Enthusiast Review: "Slightly raisiny berry aromas come with accents of leather and oaky vanilla. This is a generous crianza with density and chewy depth. Similar to the nose, this tastes of borderline jammy cassis, blackberry and prune, while the finish is smooth but short due to modest acidity; drink now. -Michael Schachner 89/100"

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/burgos+viejo+palacio+crianza+doca+rioja+spain#t3

For the final course, I chose to wrap up the Mexican themed dinner with a Tres Leches cake! The cake itself is not that sweet, but the topping is a sweet whipped cream with cinnamon and Heath Bar Bits. For dessert, I chose to pair this with a Lustau Rare Cream Solera Superior Sweet Sherry. This was a magnificent pairing! The dessert and the sherry complimented each other perfectly. The sherry had some notes of toffee and raisins that paired so well with the more simplistic cake. Especially with the toffee bits on top of the cake. This pair was a match made in heaven!

Name: Lustau Rare Cream Solera Superior Sweet Sherry

Variety: Sherry

Region: Jerez

Country: Spain

Vintage: Unknown

Wine Tasting Note: "Combination between intense rum & raisin and fig flavours with fresher preserved orange peel note." - Silver, International Wine Challenge

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/lustau+solera+rsrv+rare+cream+superior+sherry+jerez+andalucia+spain#t2

Me with my parents!