First off!
Manchego & Gouda and Apples with
Praia
Vinho Verde, Portugal
40% Arinto, 30% Loureiro, 20% Trajadura, 10% Azal
$15/bottle
They say: The grapes are carefully selected from the best vineyards of the Vinho Verde region - the most extensive in Portugal.The region is typical for its unique wines that are fresh and light, combined with a very well balanced acidity. These characteristics result from the region's unique soil and climate, with a strong Atlantic influence that you will identify when you taste it.
Praia, which means beach in Portuguese, is a smooth and fresh wine with delicate and lovely fruity flavors. Slightly spritzy, it is well balanced and very refreshing.The wine is ideal as an aperitif or throughout a meal, especially with fish, seafood, white meat and salads. Due to it freshness, it is particularly pleasant in a relaxed and informal ambiance.
"Full of fruit, a lasting peach flavor targeted with laserlike acidity through the finish. It has the bite of salty ocean air and a lot of zing. For langoustines."
Smell: Apples, citrusy, really pale color
Taste: Nicely carbonated!! Tart! Sharp! Salty!
With cheesy bread and manchego: Lots of cinnamon, made the wine more substantial and deeper. The carbonation cut nicely through the thick food.
With apple and gouda: Clean and tart. Almost no flavor compared to food. So it's actually a good complement because it doesn't over power the food but its nice and clean and helps you drink it. Very cleansing wine. It lets the food stand out. Apple helps the wine stay on your tongue while the cheese overpowers it. Manchego is a hard cheese and doesn't take over while the soft gouda does.
Next up!
Castelvero Piemonte Barbera 2011
$11/bottle at Kroger
They say: Couldn't find a review :( But I did run into the guy who did the Zeppoli's wine dinner when I was buying it and he said it was really good. Despite me have zero faith in that guy's ability to pair wine, it did give me a bit of confidence in my choice.
Smell: Lots of strong tannins, hot, plum, slightly peppery
Taste: Not a lot of body, nice acidity. Had it with spaghetti and meat sauce and cheesy garlic bread and it WAS DANK. It wasn't too full but complemented the food excellently. It was my first Barbera and I would absolutely buy it again, especially at such an awesome price.
We also had cheesy zucchini and didn't have a wine that paired directly with it but we also had an extra cab sauv, so here are those two individually. The zucchini was a free for all of nomming.
Woop Woop
Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
South Australia
$12.99/bottle, bought at Kroger
I bought this because it had a tag on it saying it got 90 points and it just made me laugh. Worked out well! A very unique wine.
Winemaker's notes: Winemaker, Ben Riggs and his team have produced a full and flavorsome wine, deep-hued with lifted aromatics and a structured but supple palate. Smooth, rich and generously loaded with mulberries, black cherries and spice on the palate, the finish is long lasting, delicious, dense and fruit-packed. With tannins enhancing the tastes and richness of food, this is a perfect red meat or pasta accompaniment.
Smell: Bread and butter nose while I was POURING it. Some stinky socks. Very spicy, slightly acidic.
Taste: Sweet. Some seriously powerful scallions on my initial taste. Some strawberries that helped fade the scallions; they went away more and more as I kept drinking. It's a little bit dry and kind of hurt the roof of my mouth. All of these things make it sound really bad but it's actually decent, just very unique. Cherry cola aftertaste. Lots and lots and lots of red pepper. Probably good with spicy food.
Brought this sucker out for the wine dinner after I had a had a glass or two a few nights before and it went great with the food. Still super super peppery but it was great nonetheless.
Rancho Zabaco
Zinfandel 2011
Sonoma County, California
$13.99/bottle
They say: Crafted in the heart of Sonoma County's "Zin Zone," Rancho Zabaco wines showcase the decadent flavor characteristics of some of Sonoma's most sought after vineyards. Flavors of juicy lingonberry, blueberry syrup, elderberry preserves and huckleberry smoothie develop in your mouth you realize that there's more to the flavors than just berries. Named for an historic Mexican land grant, Rancho Zabaco wines are an authentic expression of a special place and time in Sonoma's history.
Smell: Big on the blueberries! Smelled great, not too sweet. Nice acidity.
Taste: Had it with triple chocolate brownies and ice cream and it first it was really bitter but I definitely warmed up to it by the end. Really yummy wine. Total hit.
Wine dinner was da bomb.com!! We really took our time with it and tasted a lot of things so that was wonderful.
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