Wine Dinner #2

For this dinner, we went for a good variety of reds and whites, paired with food that would work well with them. We started with a good chianti, with a decanter (right) with a ball topper. It's used to separate out the "sediment" and helps the wine feel and look a little cleaner. Next challenge: decant with a fishbowl.

Vigneti La Selvanella Chianti Classico 2008

The "Riserva" label indicates that this Tuscan grape was aged 38 months instead of the standard 4-7.  Classico Chiantis are premium varietals with characteristic full-bodied tannins and high acidity, from the Classico subregion, bearing an iconic black rooster seal.

Smell: dark plums, raspberry. Dark as sin
Taste:  balanced tannins, good expansion of taste that covers the bread and cheese very well. Especially good with pasta/meatballs (below), mixing well with the balsamic vinegar to give a compact, whole, and fruity taste.
Verdict: 3.5/5

Gen5 Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

In California's central valley, the upstart Lodi Valley is considered by many wine and viticulture experts to be the next Napa. That's high praise.

Smell: ground pepper, spices, and a hint of fruit. very rough on the nose.
Taste: like dried apricots. much better as a desert wine; it didn't pair well with any of the foods above.
Verdict: 2/5

Lodali Moscato D'Asti 2014

From the Piemonte region in Italy, as far northwest as you can go towards the Swiss Alps. That means good opportunities for white wines with rich fruity flavor.

Smell: a little bit of petrol, with hints of pineapple and melon.

Taste: Fruity, as advertised, with a fresh bouquet aftertaste. With strawberrries and brownies, it was greatly enhanced. The brownies taste fruit-infused, and had a great melt-in-your-mouth action. The strawberries were less tart with Moscato, and felt sweeter and richer.

Verdict: 4/5

(38-42) Vintage Cellar Tasting

Terre di Poggio Laude- Peccorino 2013

Check the website for this wine out: it's one of the better looking ones, which obviously means it has better wines, right?

Smell: lemon, like a newly installed air freshener.

Taste: very good balance of crisp and dry taste, like a rich lemonade, with just the right amount of sugar. Definitely a good wine to drink alone. Not alone, like by yourself, that's a little depressing.

Verdict: 3/5

Torre Castillo Cosecha Monastrell

Cosecha is "to harvest" in Spanish, a fitting description. With this on the label, at least 85% of grapes must come from the Monastrell grape. Lucky for them, it's 100% Monastrell.

Smell: spicy, with licorice and black cherries

Taste: Nice and smooth on the way down. Good body, but pretty limited in taste: dark blueberry/berry, which is a broken record with these reds.

Verdict: 3/5











Chateau Suau Bordeaux Rose 2013

Chateaux in France are the lifeblood of the country's wine industry. This one is 10% Cab Sav. Trying the abbreviations here.

Smell: orange and melon, but very fresh. cool how that works.

Taste: leans towards fruit juice at first, but levels off with a great finish. All the orange, melon, and pear you'd expect, and this is good to drink by itself.

Verdict: 3.5/5

















Tres Ojos Garnacha Calatayud 2012

Guess how many grapes are in this blended wine? The Spanish tempranillo is one of them, with the titular Garnacha as well. I buy these Spanish ones just because they're fun to say sometimes.

Smell: Cherry on the nose, and a bit like roses too.

Taste: A more complex cherry, like eating it in a spicy salad. Hard to handle on its own, though. Best paired with some grub.

Verdict: 2/5
















Hahn Piesporter Michelsburg Riesling

I think I'm in a Riesling stage right now. I had a dream where I drank some, and it was the 2nd greatest dream of my life. The 1st was meeting the cast of the Lord of the Rings. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Smell: like a flower bouquet with orange wedges in it.

Taste: like orange wedges with flowers in them. See what I did there? Perfectly sweet, great wine to have as is.

Verdict: 4/5

(30-34)

Charles Thomas Cotes-du Rhone 2013

50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre. It says on the back of the bottle that part of the vineyard in France was plowed by horses, which is pretty cool. Hopefully they clean up that stuff.

Smell: berry, with a flowery smell at the end. Nice and deep.

Taste: round, with a strong body. Very dark berries that go well with meats.


Verdict: 3/5

Grande Resereve des Bastides Gaillac 2013

50% of creamy Loin L'Oell, 30% Mauzac, and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Mixtures all around here, which really make these wines more flavorful. Think of putting creamer and flavor shots in coffee.

Smell: freshly picked pears and apples. Very small rocks. cider. Gravy. Churches. A duck. All things that float, right?

Taste: a bit like seltzer water, but with fruity taste. Like a crisp apple hard cider.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Terre di Poggio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Laude 2012

What a mouthful. If the bottle and label gives any hint, this is a dark one. This Southern Italy red hails from Southern Italy, or as my grandma calls it, "IT-lee."

Smell: dark aroma, like an old cigar box. Leathery, and dark plums

Taste: soft tannins, which go easy on the palate, but lots of dark fruit too. Too dark for me, like dark cherry licorice

Verdict: 2.5/5

Peter Mertes Reisling Platinum 2013

The Riesling grape is a white variety from the Rhine region of Germany. Usually relatively oakless, it's used to make dry, relatively

Smell: like a bouquet of flowers...and a fruit stand right next to it.

Taste: acidy melon and honey. like a really good sweet tea. Very good

Verdict: 4/5








Sean Minor Pinot Noir Rose Vin Gris 2013

Vin Gris has a bright salmon color, as shown. It comes from the Napa Valley, not from Sean Minor. Trust me, you don't want anything that guys try to put in a bottle.

Smell: watermelon, and a variety of berries. A bit like blueberry pie.

Taste: spicy, crisp acidity. raspberry, and way to much cherry. Doesn't do it for me.

Verdict: 2/5

(28) The Naked Grape Chardonnay

Why is it called a "naked" chardonnay? It's not because it gives you the confidence to streak at sporting events; every wine does that.

Naked wines are not aged in barrels, but rather in stainless steel containers. Aging wine in barrels is meant to allow some of the barrel's own contents to seep into the wine, leading to the definitive "oak" taste. Naked wines are often advertised for their purity, with no additional ingredients.

Smell: light smell, like a freshly peeled orange. Like an air freshener packet that's just the right intensity.

Taste: The naked processing leads to better aftertaste than its oaky counterparts. Peach and pineapple flavors that cover the palate but aren't tangy. Good, but other wineries have probably done a better job of taking the edge off.

Verdict: 3.75/5

(24-27) Vintage Cellar tasting

Cortenova Pinot Grigio 2013

Italy's take on the Pinot gris grape originally from the Alsace wine region of France. This is where terroir-the weather, geography and climate of the areas, made the difference.

Pinot gris translates to "gray pinecones," aptly named after the grape's color and growing arrangement.

Smell: flowery, like the inside of a fresh barn. Weird, right? It's better than "wet rock," which is apparently a thing.

Taste: easy on the tongue, and not too bitter. Fruit (bannanas, melons) at first, followed by a nutty aftertaste. Great for a summer day.

Verdict: 3.5/5





Bodegas Atalaya Laya 2013

 When you don't recognize any of the wine buzz words on a bottle, it's usually a blend. I won't bother listing the grapes, because they're Spanish ones no one has heard of(70:30 Garnacha Tintorera:Monastrell).

It's worth noting that this wine was fermented in stainless steel, and then French oak barrels for four months. It's quite the project.

Smell: very strong blueberry and blackberry, but to much. It stings the nostrils.

Taste: Ugh. Oak to the max. Many sommeliers call this the oak monster attack, and it's too much. Fiery, like hot sauce and does not settle well.

Verdict: 1/5



Paul Laureano Tinto Classico 

How can not buy a wine with a mustachioed guy on it?

A blend of Portuguese varietals, which when you think about it, is mostly a coastal region. Thus the terroir lends itself to sweet, sugary reds.

Smell: light, faint leather, like freshly cut wood.

Taste: a very balanced body, that flows over the palate well. Think of a ripple effect of aftertaste of dark blueberry/raspberry.

Verdict: 3/5

Villa Pozzi Moscato 

Hey guys! You know that guy who hates sparkling Moscato? Let's get some more of that stuff, he'll love it.

Smell: grainy, peach and tangerine.

Taste: I can just add Fanta to some whiskey and get the same thing. That's sounds right, right?

Verdict: 1.5/5

(23) CIB Amarone della Valpollicella 2011

Amarone, for short, is a dry red wine with a mixture of Corvina and Rondinella grapes. That much Italian on a bottle must be good, right?

"Amarone" translates directly to "the great bitter," so you know what you're getting yourself into here. Little acidity and more tannins are a given.

I learned later this was at Trader Joe's(lol) for under $10, when it's usually priced in the $20s. Definitely a good steal.

Smell: burnt wood, with a bit of raspberry in there. Thick body, thanks to the tannins.

Taste: bitter, as advertised. Like well-preserved berries, with a dark, liqueur-like sweetness. Even a bit of leather in there too, of all things. Made me feel like a badass.

Verdict: 4/5

(22) Beringer Chenin Blanc 2013

This white comes from the Beringer vineyards in California's Napa Valley. So, Beringer manages the whole process from grape harvesting to fermenting. Less fortunate wineries have to rely on grape deliveries or wine distribution from outside sources. But the West coast has it pretty good.

Chenin blanc is a white grape variety from the well known Loire Valley in France, but made the jump to New World wines. It's also the name of the punk rock band I'm gonna run out of my garage in 10 years.

Smell: melon-y, like tasting a mixed fruit cup. not terrible.

Taste: citrus, but to the point where it overwhelms. It's almost like someone poured too much OJ in this. It ends with spicy ginger, which doesn't help.

Verdict: 2/5

Wine/Cheese #1: The Interview

Don't worry, this isn't a wine experience watching North Korea's favorite flick. I interviewed for a PhD candidacy this past weekend in Microbiology at Virginia Tech. The weekend included an interview with faculty, a retreat to meet and network with grad students...

and an open bar.


Roanoke Railhouse Track 1 Amber Lager


One of the newer breweries I've seen, founded in 2009 in Roanoke. I'll be giving the place a visit soon.

Taste: nice amber color, kind of like a stained glass window. Malty at first, and the carbonation doesn't overwhelm.

Verdict: 4/5

Bucket list item #27: Drink beer on Virginia Tech's dime.

I'm a big fan of whoever cut this cheese.

Pairing wines and cheeses for the first time reminded me of something I pair a lot: chocolate granola bars and coffee. The coffee coats the chocolate well, giving a hazelnut smooth taste; think a full, chocolate coated espresso bean. Each one enhances the other.

mars and venus 2013 Merlot w/ Gouda cheese

I went with a brand I recognized here, but a different grape variety. Every single grape variety of mars and venus was there, so it's a good thing I haven't declared war against the winery yet.

Smell: like wood, freshly cut from a tree. fruit is there too, as always, plum and cherry

Taste: bold, fruity, and heavy tannins. The cheese helps make it less abrasive and less harsh to your taste buds.

Verdict: 3.5/4 

Wine Dinner #1: The Palisades

After almost four here, I've found the best eateries in Southwest Virginia are the best hidden.

Case in point: The Palisades Restaurant in Eggleston, Virginia, about 20 miles northwest of Blacksburg.

http://www.thepalisadesrestaurant.com/index.html

This shot doesn't reflect the soup of fog we went through to get here. 

A general store for the past 75 years, the place has been around since 2005, so very recent by Giles county standards. But the brick walls don't do the interior justice.

A nice little bar of regulars here. 

Random items line the shelves, giving an antique feel.

Wine's a lot better when you have a great date :)

Malbec Arido 2012(right)

The pizza is with pork tenderloin and gouda cheese. Paired with a red, meats are usually the way to go. Whites are usually paired better with fruits, lighter cheeses, yada yada yada.

Smell: blackberry and chocolate raisin like. Dark body that swirls in the glass real well. a bit bitter.

Taste: coffee-dark and smooth. It coats the beef/pizza very well, which lessens the wine's bitterness and gives the beef some extra flavor. Amazing!

Verdict: 4/5

Heavy Seas: Loose Cannon IPA

Heavy Seas Brewery is the mainstay of Maryland beers. It's what Devil's backbone is for Virginia: on tap everywhere you can find one. Begun out of Baltimore in 2003 by brewmaster Hugh Sisson, the brewery has grown into THE craft beer giant in MD.

Taste: The hops are all here: The Hop^3 name comes from x3 fermentations. It has a malt aftertaste that balances out the early hoppiness, and is one of the creamier IPAs. Always a solid choice at the bar.

Verdict: 3.75/5

Wine Sorcery Spot: The Wine Aerator

Going through my mom's wines back home in Richmond, Virginia, I came across this thing. It's called a wine aerator.
Think of it as an intermediate between the bottle and the glass. Like its name suggests, the aerator introduces more oxygen to the wine by swirling it quickly. If you swirl a glass with wine in it, its just a slower version of this process. It helps that the interior of this thing looks like a mini wine glass, too.

This is only done with red wines, since skin contact is what puts the tannins in, and whites don't do this.

The result? Lighter tannins and a boosted scent profile.

14 Hands Hot to Trot Red Blend 2012

Red Blend here is a mixture of Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's also my mom's favorite, so there's barrels of this in a vault somewhere.

Smell: cherry, and spice.
  -w/ aerator: stronger. You can smell it without sticking   your nose in the glass.

Taste: blackberry and raspberry, but with an abrasive, friction-y body.
-w/aerator- the same taste, but less grainy. smoother, and easier to drink. That's lighter tannins for you.

Verdict: 4/5

(15-19) What happens when your pourer is good

Got a different pourer this time, and it made a difference; portions were big enough that you could get a good feel for the wine's...well...feel, and small enough that I could drive home like a responsible adult. There's a reason people use spitbuckets for this.




Le Jade Sauvignon Blanc 2013

The official review by The Beverage Testing Institute describes this below:

"Lively aromas and flavors of pineapple, yellow apple, melon, and Meyer lemon with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tingling, complex, medium-long finish with notes of lemongrass, pear, and lemon with no tannins and no oak." 

Give that one your best Mr. Burns voice.

Smell: apricot and orange is all I got. But fruits seem to be the overriding smell in most whites.

Taste: Really light body, meaning it goes easy on the taste, feeling really smooth on the way in. I got the pear.

Verdict: 3.5/5



Petrucco Ribolla Gialla


Ribolla Gialla is a grape grown in the most northeastern region of Italy, or IT-LEE, as my grandma would say.

Smell: The subtle fruit smell is great here, how it hides. Kind of like an aftersmell, it that's a thing.

Taste: Sour to me, but not too overwhelming, which saves it. Pair it with something spicy Asian food, and you're set.

Verdict: 3/5









Riebeek Cellars Shiraz 2013

The Riebeek Valley in South Africa is often called "Shiraz Country." Keep in mind that shiraz and syrah are interchangeable when referring to grapes.

Smell: Very strong. I've learned that what I used to call the overwhelming "alcohol evaporating" smell is what the sommelier snobs call "smokiness."

Taste: Heavy, like its smell. Fruity too, with spice.

Verdict: 3.5/5 

Cortenova Primativo 2012

100% Zinfandel grapes here. Sounds Spanish, but it's Italian.

Smell: Very intense, like smelling a fresh bouquet of flowers. "It stings the nostrils."

Taste: Wow. This one goes down very smoothly, with a silent middle of the palate that reds usually reach. Raspberry and blackberry. This could go great just by itself, and is the first one I would call a "dessert wine".

Verdict: 4/5

Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Not again. This beats Mike's Hard Lemonade on the list of "things I ask my mom to buy." If this one was actually good, that is.

Smell: Like opening a box of mints.

Taste: What do you want me to say? The strawberry sparkling flavor changed my life? Since drinking it I've seen the Virgin Mary in my toast three times? The carbonation gave me the inspiration to solve world hunger? Don't be silly.


Verdict: 1.75/2

(14-18) Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting #3

For the record, the guy that was pouring wine last week(2/12) was a chump. He must have thought I was about to enter the priesthood or something with the portions he was giving. So it was tough to get a gauge on some of these.

If you want it done right...




Santa Luz Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Another Chilean white. I'm told Chile has really come onto the wine scene in the past decade, because no one wants llamas as their chief export. Or maybe that's Peru...

Smell: Apricot/orange. Notice a pattern? This means I need to open up the smell/taste palate a bit.

Taste: pear, with a good balance between bitter and sweet. Easy to drink.

Verdict: 3/5












Riebeek Chenin Blanc 2014

Speaking of the wine scene, South Africa is the place to watch now, with vineyards shooting up over there. They've successfully grown agave over there too, a plant previously native to Mexico. What is it used to make? Tequila, the beverage only George Clooney can down without making a face.

Smell: apple, and some other fruits I don't eat enough of to recognize.

Taste: Can taste the fruits in the mid palate, near the mid-back of the tongue. Needed more time w/ this.

Verdict:  ???










San Elias Carmenere 2014

Looks like a really dark bottle, right? This dark color comes from the skin of the grapes, not the juice (which is clear). The process of deriving this color is called maceration or skin contact, in which the tannins/colors are leached from the grape skins into the fruit juice. The longer you let purple/red grapes do this, the darker the color. So for white wines, we barely macerate, if at all.

Smell: Cherry. That's all I got.

Taste:  Like a chocolate bar with cherries inside. Damn Chile, you fine.

Verdict: 3.75/5









Ilurce Tempranillo 2008

Spain wasn't gonna sit this one out. Spain and its European counterparts were early producers of "old world" wines, which were meant to be paired with food. "New world" wines, like those in California, can be more standalone. No colonists dancing for gold required.

Smell: the alcohol is strong with this one. tough to smell.

Taste: dark plums, and licorice. Richer than Donald Trump's toupee guy. This didn't sit well with me as a novice.

Verdict: 2/5








Coastal Vines White Zinfandel 2013

Why is it pink? Because the skins of the Zinfandel grape produce very different colors based on how long they're under skin contact, from snow white to blood red. In this case, we call it "white" because the pinkish grapes used were in skin contact for just a short time.

Smell: strawberry/cherry. Very easy on the nose.

Taste: very balanced between tangy and not too tangy. I didn't wince when I drank it, so that's a good sign, right?

Verdict: 4/5

(13) mars and venus Chardonnay 2013

mars and venus Chardonnay 2013

This Chilean white has a nice, astronomically accurate label upon second glance. Don't ask why it's half empty. We've got a blizzard going over here...and well..you know.

Smell: a bit strong on the alcohol smell. But hints of apricot and orange.

Taste: much better than it smells. A great initial fruity taste of pear and lemon, but followed by a harsh tangy aftertaste. Given the price ($6.95), its a steal.

Verdict: 3.5/5