Dinner - Zeppoli's (French Wine)

My boyfriend and I tasting one of the red wines.

My boyfriend, a few of my friends, and I went to our third and final wine dinner at Zeppoli's on Sunday night. I was especially excited for this dinner because it was French themed, and French wines are known to be tasty. We tried 3 whites and 7 reds, which I was kind of disappointed about because I prefer white wines over reds, but I was still interested in tasting a variety of French wines. The food that we were able to pair with the wines was the best yet, so I was glad that we decided to come to this dinner. 

My dinner included salad with calamari, Greek pasta salad, pasta pinwheels, cheese raviolis, garlic bread, and a variety of cheese and crackers.

First, we tasted the white wines. Though there were only three whites offered, the waiter said that they were very representative of the French wine culture. We tried a Chateau Gaillard Touraine Sauvignon Blanc first, priced at $11.99 with an alcohol content of 12.5%. This white had sweet aromas, mostly of florals and tropical fruits. It also had hints of buttery aromas. It tasted fruity, somewhat like grapefruit, and had a crisp acidity and dry texture to it. I enjoyed it okay, but would not rank it as my favorite white of the night. It paired very nicely with the cheese and crackers, though. The second white that we tasted was a Chateau Suau 2010 Bordeaux Blanc Sec, priced at $10.99 with an alcohol content of 12.5%. This white smelled very much like honeysuckles and peach, and tasted equally as enticing, mostly like citrus fruits. It was very crisp and refreshing, with a good balance between sweetness, acidity, and tannins. Though it had a pretty high alcohol percentage, it did not have much heat and had a very smooth finish. I paired this with the Greek pasta salad and the salad with calamari. It was my favorite white of the night. The last white we tried was a Prochaine 2009 Chardonnay Vin de Pays d'Oc France, priced at $10.99 with an alcohol content of 13%. This had more oaky aromas than the first two whites, and it tasted much more musky and woody. It was a very creamy Chardonnay, but it did have hints of fruits like mangos and pineapple. I did not really enjoy the aftertaste of this white (possibly it was not completely matured due to less aging), but it did pair nicely with the pasta pinwheels which were heavy in cheese. 

Next, we moved onto the red wines. The first one was actually a Manoir Du Carra 2010 Beaujolais noveau, priced at 10.99 with an alcohol content of 12.5%. This tasted extremely unfinished and was not very enjoyable. Apparently this was supposed to be a direct representation of the 2010 growing year, but I don't see why someone would buy something that tasted bad for solely this reason.  The next red was a Jean-marc burgaud 2010 Beaujolais Villages, priced at 14.99 with an alcohol content of 12.5%. This was much better than the Beaujolais noveau  because it was actually aged properly. It also had aromas of dark berries and spices, but had a hint of vanilla as well. It was still full-bodied and balanced. I paired it with calamari and it went together well. My favorite red of the night was a Clos de sixte 2004: Lirac, priced at 11.99 with an alcohol content of 14.5%. It's aromas were very strong, smelling mostly of plum and spices. It tasted mostly like dark berries and jam, had a fully body, great tannin, as well as a lot of definition. It was easy to see why Robert Parker gave it 88-90 points! 

Personal Wine Dinner – Wine, Cheese, and Dessert

Over the weekend, my boyfriend (Travis) and I decided to have our own wine dinner, pairing wine with cheese and desserts. We asked Travis’ parents for advice on how to appropriately pair wines with different cheeses and desserts, because they have thrown these types of dinners several times. We had a ton of fun, and now that we are familiar with some wines that pair well with what cheese and desserts, we definitely want to host a wine dinner for more of our friends in the future.

First, we paired a 2007 Jackson-Triggs Vidal Icewine with St. Andre cheese. The bottle was $19.9, but since I had never had an icewine before, it was definitely worth it. The wine itself is considered a Canadian dessert wine and is made from grapes that are left to freeze on the vine long after harvest. The result of this process is delicious. The wine’s aroma was dominated mostly by tropical fruits, like mangos and apricot. Its taste had equally as bold fruit flavors, was very complex, and was well-balanced between acidity and sweetness. The crispness of the wine surrounded my palate and the finish was silky and smooth. The cheese has a soft, buttery texture, tangy edible rind, and tastes similar to Brie but with more intense flavors. The strong, cheesy flavors matched perfectly with the fruitiness of the wine. 

Next, we paired a Sandeman Madeira with chocolate cheddar cheese and blue cheese with crackers (because this wine is supposed to pair well with hard or veined cheese). The bottle was roughly $18.99, but again, experiencing this new type of wine made the purchase worthwhile. The Sandeman Madeira is made in the “traditional” manner on the Atlantic island of Madeira where the rich soil and volcanic subsoil give the wine a unique character. The wine is enhanced by the winemaking and ageing process in “estufas.” The wine description suggested that it would pair well with rich desserts, like chocolate, which is what led us to try it with chocolate cheddar cheese (with was tasty, but a little strange due to the combination). The wines aroma was dominated by nuts and cream, and it tasted medium rich with nutty and complex flavors that surrounded the palate. It was well-balanced between acidity and sweetness and had a good tannin structure and a clean finish.

Lastly, we paired Cooper Noche chocolate dessert wine with éclairs. This combination was brilliant. The Cooper Noche has received several awards, including “Best in Show” Town Point 2008, Gold VA Governors Cup 2009, Gold Medal Tasters Guild 2007, and a People’s Choice Award. The wine is described as “Virginia Norton infused with essence of chocolate” which results in a sweet, red wine with a chocolate aftertaste. Unlike some other dessert wines I have tried, this wine did not have a syrupy texture, which I was happy about, and tasted mostly of berries on the front and chocolate on the finish. The aromas were similar, reminding me of chocolate covered cherries. While this dessert wine would be a good match for following almost any meal, we paired it with éclairs, which was delicious.

Although my boyfriend and I splurged a little to experience this wine dinner pairing with cheese and a dessert, having a traditional “wine, cheese, and dessert” dinner was really satisfying, especially after learning about different flavors and pairings in class. Now that we are getting into wine even more than we were before, I have a feeling we might host several more of these types of meals in the future. 

Tasting - Dr. Loosen Bros Riesling

Name: Loosen Bros Riesling 
Variety: 100% Riesling 
Region: Mosel
Country: Germany 
Year: 2010
Price: $30

Wine review: Dr. L embodies the elegant and racy style of Riesling from the steep slate soil vineyards of the Mosel valley. It is fruity with a refreshingly crisp taste that cools the palate making it an excellent wine for spicy foods. 

My review: This was my favorite Riesling, and my favorite overall wine, that I have tried yet since being in this class. I would rank it a 9.5 out of 10. The fruity aromas were refreshing and enticing, they smelled mostly of tropical and citrus fruits. It tasted equally as refreshing, with a range of fruity flavors (mostly apples) on the tongue and a cool, crisp finish that surrounded my entire palate. It did not have much heat, with 8.5% alcohol, very low tannins and acidity, and a great balance of sweetness. I did not pair this with spicy food (I had it with crab cakes and asparagus) but would definitely try it with something spicy next. 

Tasting - Bodegas Triton Tempranillo

Name: Bodegas Triton Tempranillo 
Variety: 100% Tempranillo 
Region: Zamora
Country: Spain
Year: 2008
Price: $30



Wine review: Meticulously vinified in small lots and aged in the best French oak for 15 months, the wine has a distinctive balance of ripe red fruit flavors and a delicate spiceness. A hint of dark chocolate completes the long finish. 



My review: I enjoyed this red wine a lot; I would give it a 9 out of 10. It smelled beautifully of black cherries with hints of spice, and it tasted equally as satisfying. It had flavors mostly of dark berries and a tad of pepper, but its dryness allowed it to go down smoothly and with a long finish. It did have a good amount of heat, with 15% alcohol, but it was still easy to drink because it had a good tannin structure and balanced acidity and sweetness well. I paired it with a crab cake dish with asparagus and rice and it went very well. Though it was a little expensive for my budget, I would definitely treat myself to it again someday. 

Tasting - Cartlidge & Browne Chardonnay

Name: Cartlidge & Browne Chardonnay 
Variety: 100% Chardonnay 
Region: North Coast, California 
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $8.99

Wine review: Tropical fruits, ripe citrus, and a gentle oak spice are key notes of this subtle, elegant Chardonnay. It pairs beautifully with poultry, seafood, and light cheeses. 

My review: This was an okay Chardonnay, but not my favorite that I have tried. I would rank it a 6.5 or 7 out of 10. The aromas were nice, mostly of sweet fruits but it also had creamier, buttery hints. It tasted very oaky but was a little too dry for my liking. It was definitely creamy and rich, but it did not have as many fruit flavors as I would have liked. It didn't have much heat, and it was balanced between acidity and sweetness. I did not pair it with any food, but would probably drink it with seafood if I got it again. 

Tasting - Black Box Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon 
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 
Country: California 
Year: 2010
Price: $20


Wine review: Rich aromas of dark fruit complemented by a deep, lush body. The finish is soft and long with lingering notes of berry. 


My review: This was my first experience with boxed wines, and it was a pretty good tasting Cabernet Sauvignon. I am not a huge fan of spicy red wines, which this was, so I would rank it a 7 out of 10. It was a great value, considering I got 4 bottles of wine for $20 dollars and they will last longer since they are stored in the box. The aromas were very strong and intense, mostly of dark berries and spices. The tastes were equally as strong, ranging from black berries to spices to herbs. The wine was well balanced, with equal proportions of acidity, heat, and tannin structure. It was not a sweet wine, but it did have a smoother finish than some other reds I have tried. I did not taste this wine with any food, but I would probably buy it again in the future now that I know it is a pretty good red wine and a great value. 

Tasting - Peter Mertes Platinum Riesling Pfalz

Name: Peter Mertes Platinum Riesling Pfalz 
Variety: 100% Riesling 
Region: Rheingau-Pfalz
Country: Germany 
Year: 2010
Price: $12


Wine review: Light-bodied slightly sweet white wine; medium pale slightly greenish yellow. Inviting fresh white peach aroma and flavors. Easy to drink, not complicated, very pleasant, and flavors develop in the glass. Food pairing: Compliments a wide variety of light foods from fish to fowl and even spicy Asian cuisine. Also, enjoy on its own. 


My review: I really enjoyed this Riesling; I would rank in 8.5 out of 10. It was on sale from $18 to $12, and the bottle was about 2 feet long. Thus, it was a great value considering it had much more wine in the bottle than average wine bottles. The aromas were very sweet and fruity, like peaches and green apples. The flavors were very crisp, clean, and balanced. The taste was fruity and sweet but not acidic and had a nice tannin structure. I did not pair this wine with any food, but I would definitely buy it again and probably drink it with fish. 

Dinner - Zeppoli's (Italian Wines)

On April 1st, I went to my second Zeppoli's wine dinner with my boyfriend and a couple of my friends from the class. We got to sample red and white Italian wines paired with some of Zeppoli's appetizers and light dishes. The same two employees hosted the event as last time and they were, again, very knowledge of the wines. The difference between this dinner and the other dinner we did at Zeppoli's was that this time we got to taste some of the wines "blindly." For a few of the wines, the grape type, price, and alcohol percentage were blank and we had to compare them together to try and figure out what was what. It was a lot of fun!

My vegetarian dinner: regular salad, Greek pasta salad, garlic bread, crackers and 3 different types of cheese, and pasta shells with marinara sauce.

First, we tasted 3 white wines and one dessert white wine. We started with a Fossi Bianco White Table Wine, priced at 6.99 with 11.5% alcohol. The waiter told us that the grape variety was unknown for this table wine, but that it probably had a majority of Pinot Grigio along with a little bit of everything. This wine smelled very citrusy and fruity, and tasted mostly of green apple and lime. It was light, clean, and had a crisp finish, as well as having low acidity and heat. It paired the best with the regular salad and the Greek pasta salad. This was my second favorite of the white wines. Next, we blind tasted two whites. It turns out that one was a La Fiera 2010 Pinot Grigio Veneto, priced at 7.99 with 12% alcohol. This white was dryer than the Table Wine, tasting mostly like a combination of peach and pears. It had soft aromas of fruit, like apples, and was well-balanced between sweetness, acidity, and heat. This was actually my favorite white of the day. The other blind tasted white was a Nals Margried 2010 Pinot Grigio Alto Adige, priced at 14.99 with an alcohol content of 13.5%. This white was creamier and a little heavier than the La Fiera, but it still smelled and tasted sweet, like pear, lemon, and apples. It paired best with the mozzarella cheese and Greek pasta salad. This was my third favorite white. Lastly, we tried a white dessert wine, Lodali 2011 Moscato D'Asti, priced at 12.99 with an alcohol content of only 5.5%. It was hard to decipher many aromas with this white, it mostly just smelled sweet and sugary. It tasted almost like white Welch's grape juice, plus some alcohol. It was very bubbly and spritzy. I thought that I was really going to enjoy it because I love sweet wines, but I actually didn't care for it that much. It did not have the texture I prefer and it really did not taste like much, more like just sugar water. I liked the red dessert wine, the Red Dream, that we tried at the first Zeppoli's wine dinner much better.

My boyfriend and I happily wine tasting.

Next, we tasted 5 red wines. First, we did a blind tasting. It turned out to be a non-vintage Luca Primitivo del Salento Puglia, priced 8.99 with 13% alcohol content. This red had strong aromas of spices and herbs, and tasted mostly of pepper and burnt cherries. It had high tannins and heat and paired well with the pasta marinara (the description said it would go well with hearty pasta sauces). This was my forth favorite red. The other blind tasting wine was a SUD 2010 Primitivo Puglia, priced at 11.99 with an alcohol content of 13.5%. This red had intense aromas of spices and cherry but also had hints of vanilla. It tasted again like pepper and some plush fruits and herbs. It also paired well with the pasta marinara, but this was my least favorite of the red wines. Next, we did another blind tasting. The first turned out to be a Morli Neri 2009 Cianti, priced at 9.99 with an alcohol content of 12.5%. The waiter considered this a "medium red" because it was not too overpowering but not totally boring either. It had soft aromas of cherries and tasted mostly of dark berries and jam. I paired it with the pizza bread because the description said it would go nicely with pizza. It was my second favorite red of the night. The other blind tasting red was a Bibi Graetz 2010 Casamata Toscana, priced at 12.99 with an alcohol content of 12%. It had aromas of mostly dark berries and tasted soft and silky, with earthy tones and cherry flavors. It was surprising how easy this red was to drink, it had barely no heat and very smooth finish. I paired it with the garlic bread and it was perfect. This was my favorite red of the night. The last red we tasted was a Lodali 2009 Nebbioli D'Alba Sant Ambrogio, priced at 17.99 with an alcohol content of 13.5%. The waiter said that this is the most expensive wine they have given out at a tasting for our class yet. It smelled pretty nice, mostly of florals and cherries, and tasted full and well-rounded, mostly of pepper and dark berries. It paired well with the goat cheese and crackers, but, despite having the highest price, it was my third favorite red of the night. 

All of the red and white wines that we tasted lined up at the end of the night.