Dinner - Zeppolis (Italy)

My friends and I attended the Wednesday night wine tasting dinner at Zeppolis on April 20th that had Ryan Keaton as the lecturer. They had a wide range of different wines and varietals to try and we ended up tasting thirteen different wines.

The list of wines we tasted is below:
-Social: Astica 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Argentina
-Jekel: 2014 Riesling Moneterey
-Be Bright: 2013 Pinot Grigio Napa
-Josh: 2014 Sauvignon Blanc North Coast
-Cellar 8: 2012 Chardonnay Napa
-Red Tree: 2013 Chardonnay California
-Mirassou: Pinot Nior
-Red Tree: 2013 Pinot Nior California
-Amberhill: 2012 Secret Blend California
-Crusher: 2013 Merlot Wilson Vineyard Clarksburg
-BV Coastal Estates: 2013 Zinfandel Sonoma
-William Hill: 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast
-The Good Lot: 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Chalk Hill Sonoma

The three I am going to talk about are three that really interested me, either good or bad, from the bunch and those are the 1) Josh 2014 Sauvignon Blanc from the North Coast, 2) Red Tree 2013 Chardonnay from California, and 3) Crusher 2013 Merlot Wilson Vineyard from Clarksburg.

The first wine that interested me was the Josh 2014 Sauvignon Blanc. The reason I chose this wine is because it had an Old World smell with tones of mold and an earthy vibe but had a more New World taste. I thought this contradiction in smell and taste was unique and something I've never tried before. When tried alone, as I said, it had an moldy smell and a soft lemongrass flavor that was amplified by the biting aftertaste it left on my palate. When tried with just bread the tannins were softened and the aftertaste wasn't as harsh. The cheese had an old affect in that it brought out more of the moldiness in the smell and some of the taste than when just tried by itself. My favorite food pairing with this wine was the lasagna. The tomato sauce really combined nicely with the Josh and gave the flavor profile a lot more depth and body.

The second wine was the Red Tree 2013 Chardonnay and the reason I chose this wine was because it was my favorite of the night and had a really high rating from the other wine tasters around us. The nose of this wine reminded me of a fruit orchard. It smelled heavily of pears and fresh apples. The nose is what made me first like this wine because of the sweetness of the fruit and like any typical beginning wine taster, I tend to like the sweeter wines more than the dry reds. Anyway, the taste of this wine alone brought more citrus flavors than sweet fruit and had a mild body with a refreshing light feeling of weak acid on my palate. With cheese, this wine was not as good because the cheese had a strong yeast/mold flavor and it did not compliment well with the citrus and fruit from this wine. With the potatoes this wine took on a more full bodied wine and I felt the acid more with the neutral food pairing. And finally with the frittata, this wine was enhanced with more an almost natural floral taste that reminded me of roses and this was surprising because it came out of nowhere for me.

The final wine I will talk about in this blog was my least favorite wine and that was the Crusher 2013 Merlot from Wilson Vineyard in Clarksburg. The reason I didn't like this wine is not a complex one. The smell immediately pur me off with a burnt rubber nose coming through with an almost gag worthy smell of smoked meat. The taste wasn't much better. Alone, the Crusher Merlot tasted like a combination of dried plums and plastic. It left a strong dry tannic aftertaste that burned the plastic, fake taste into the back of my throat and no matte what I ate I couldn't seem to get rid of it until the next wine came along. With bread this wine's taste didn't change a bit and still had that overpowering plastic taste with old fruit. With the potatoes this wine was softened, if only slightly, and didn't seem to last as long in the back of my mouth as it did by itself. And with the mac and cheese this wine lasted only a few second before being drowned out by the delicious cheese and garlic taste of the pasta for which I was thankful.

These three wines were the most interesting to me from the group of thirteen we tried last night and I think for good reason. Trying new wines is not always a treat for my palate but I am definitely learning a lot and I like the idea of pairing them with different foods to see how the tastes and smells change when combined with different ingredients. Below is a picture of the wines and some of the food I sampled last night at Zeppolis.

Tasting - Baci Dolci

Baci Dolci

Mosto Di Uve Parzialmente

Fermentato Non Vintage

50% Marzemino, 50% Merlot

Sale Price $9.95

Colli Euganei, Italy

Winery Review: A blend of 50% Marzemino 50% Merlot.  A delicate, slightly frizzante wine with an intense, ruby red color. Fresh strawberry & black cherry aromas with hints of roses. Cherry pie flavors, medium-full bodied with refreshing sparkle to balance the semi- sweet finish.

My Review: This wine had a lighter red color than the last and a carbonation that made it unique in this group. The smell reminded me of vinegar and sugar. The taste was sweet with hints of strawberries and floral notes. I liked this wine.

Tasting - Oasis del Cuyo

Oasis del Cuyo

Malbec 

Sale Price $6.95

Mendoza, Argentina

Winery Review: Deep ruby color. Appealing red fruit nose with hints of tobacco. Medium bodied with a smooth and lush mouth-feel. Finishes dry with lasting flavors. Excellent choice for a young and fruity everyday wine. Enjoy as an aperitif or with meats and pasta dishes.

My Review: This wine had a deep reddish purple color and smelled like cigarette smoke. The taste was harsh to my palate and had a dry finish. It had small fruit undertones but not enough to balance the alcohol bite in this wine. 

Tasting - Terranoble II

Terranoble

Cabernet Sauvignon

2013

$8.95

Central Valley, Chile

Winery Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon offers an intense and deep color and lovely aromas of red fruit, pepper and tobacco. It has smooth tannins, very freshness and rich fruit, which gives the wine a good balance. Pair with barbecued beef ribs, grilled sea bass, or spaghetti alla Bolognese.

My Review: I really liked the red color of this wine. The smell reminded me of freshly grinded pepper and grass. The taste was strong and had a big body. It tasted like dark fruit such as pomegranates and cherries. 

 

Tasting - Terranoble

Terranoble

Chardonnay

2014

$8.95

Central Valley, Chile

Winery Review: This Chardonnay offers a wine with an attractive color and lovely aromas, such as ripe pear and pineapple, mixed with butter and vanilla notes. It is a fresh style of white wine, with medium persistence in mouth. Ideal as an aperitif.

My Review: This wine was a pretty light color. The smell reminded me of Italian herbs and a sour fruit. I didn't like the taste because it left a residue oily feeling in my mouth. The taste was fruity but also heavy. 

Tasting - Santola

Santola

Vinho Verde

Loureiro and Pederna

$7.95

Vinho Verde, Portugal

Winery Review: Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.

My Review: This wine had a light color. It smelled slightly chemical to me, and had an almost hot smell. The taste was the opposite with a light sharp finish of light fruit such as pears and peaches. I liked the taste of this wine. 

Tasting - Lost Vineyards

Lost Vineyards

Spumante Italiano

Moscato

Non Vintage

$6.95

Piedmont, Italy

Winery Review: Pale color. Confected, fruity aromas of yellow apple, honeysuckle, pear tartlet, and honeydew melon with a satiny, shy, spritzy, moderately sweet light-to-medium body and a sleek, fast yellow apple, candied pear, honeycomb, and sweet papaya finish with no tannins and no oak. Simple and approachable with sweet apple, melon and candied pear on a framework of gentle, delightful bubbles.

My Review: This was my favorite wine of the night. The color was a nice see-through honey color and nose reflected sweet fruit and honey. I loved the smoothness of this wine on my palate and the bubbly feeling on my tongue. This wine is sweet but not overly so and had very little tannic bite to it. It was almost like drinking adult apple juice. 

 

Tasting - Jip Jip Rocks

Jip Jip Rocks

Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Regular Price $19 Sale

$8.95

Padthaway , Australia

Winery Review: This is red wine is a well above average effort with lots of flavor as well as Australia's so easily obtainable, lush fruit. The 2013 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon (55% and 45% respectively) exhibits a dark ruby/purple hue along with a layered, peppery, berry fruit-scented nose revealing licorice and meaty notes. From a much lighter vintage, it is a supple, easygoing red to enjoy now and over the next several years.

My Review: This wine smelled heavily of tropical fruit with a strong overtone of salami and had a nice purple color. The strange combination on the nose was reflected in the taste. I first tasted fruit immediately but that was followed swiftly by a sharp alcohol meat flavor. I did not enjoy this wine at all. 

Tasting - Cavit

Cavit

Alta Luna

Pinot Noir

2011

Sale Price $9.95

Winery Review: On the nose cherry, plum and berry aromas mingle with notes of spice and tobacco. On the palate soft, supple tannins and refreshing acidity are beautifully balanced by ripe cherry fruit flavors on the finish which is dry, harmonious and elegant.

My Review: This wine was darker than the first few and the first red wine I tasted out of this bunch. The nose had a sugary cherry smell. It had a plum and blueberry-ish flavor that added the sweetness and the dry, tannic bite added the opposite effect. 

Tasting - El Cortijillo

El Cortijillo

Verdejo

2014

$5.95

La Monacha, Spain

Winery Review: Golden straw color. Bright, attractive, tropical aromas of creme brulee and fruit tart with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a smooth, intriguing, snappy lime and apple finish with crunchy, fruit tannins and light oak. A super smooth and pure white sipper.

My Review: The color was beautiful wheat color and had a pleasant, sweet smell that reminded me of freshly cut grass and lemons. The feeling of this wine was smooth on my palate and had a strong taste of seasonal fruit such as apples and had a bit of bark flavor also. It was a decent wine. 

Tasting - Trattoria

Trattoria Busa Alla Torre

Pinot Grigio

2014

$7.95

Veneto, Italy

Winery Review: It is crisp and dry, rich and spicy with hints of peach and honey…perfect with salads, pasta, chicken and fish! 

My Review: This wine had a strong nose with a hot smell almost like heated metal. The taste was dry and fruity but lacked the punch I was expecting with how spicy the nose was. I didn't hate it but I didn't love this wine either. 

Tasting - Beringer

Beringer

Chenin Blanc

2014

$5.95 Sale Price

California

Winery Review: A fresh green-apple aroma and vivid citrus and crisp apple flavors are supported by vibrant acidity in this medium-bodied wine. The texture is smooth but crisp, making lots of good food pairings come to mind, from pre-meal cheese, to salads, seafood and veggie pastas.

My Review: This wine has a soft yellow color and it was my favorite wine of the night. It had a sharp, fruity smell that reminded my of a fruit salad. It's taste was also fruity with an overpowering taste of apple that was pleasant and almost like drinking alcoholic apple juice. 

Tasting - Carraia

Carraia

Aglianico

$9.95 Sale Price

Campagna, Itlay

Winery Review: Produced in the Campania region of Italy, this Aglianico has delicious black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, volcanic soil and tar notes. Classic in nature, yet in a lighter, more crowd-pleasing style, the Carraia is made of the ancient Aglianico grape. This black grape originated in Greece and today is widely grown in Basilicata and Campania.

My Review: Right off the bat I could tell this wine was going to be full-bodied because of the color and the smell. It is a dark red, almost purple color, and smelled hot with hints of bitter candy and gasoline. First taste displayed a wide range of flavors that was overpowered by an earthy quality and a heavy, oily feeling it left behind. I did not like this wine. 

Tasting - Siemo

Siemo

Vino Rosso

Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo

$6.95 Sale Price

Winery Review: Intense ruby red with soft garnet nuances in the glass, the Rosso is intriguingly fresh, fruity and spicy on the nose. Perfectly round and balanced, the wine is particularly soft and dry. Pair with simple dishes like fresh cheese, ham, salami, or pizza for a divine culinary experience.

My Review: This wine had a beautiful red color, especially when light glinted off of it. This smell of this wine was a contradiction in that it had undertones of sweet fruit but one of the main things I kept smelling was hot sausage or pepperoni. This combination however did not carry over into the taste. It was a lot sweeter than I thought it would be and didn't have the bite I expected. This wine was one of my favorites of the tasting. 

Tasting - Dom de la Foret

Dom de la Foret

Grenache Cinsault

Rose de Mediterranee

$8.95 Sale Price

Provence, France

Winery Review: A stony, pure style, with a warm paving stone note framing the dried cherry and rose water notes. The long, watermelon rind—inflected finish is finely tuned. Shows length and cut, staying lacy in feel. 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache.

My Review: This wine was a beautiful rose color. This wine had a slightly hot feel to it that complimented the fruity nose. There was a hint of sweetness such as cherry but it was almost drowned out by the alcohol flavor I got from this wine. It was a decent wine but not my favorite. 

Tasting - Bricco dei Tati

Bricco dei Tati

Cortese

2013

$6.95 Sale Price

Piemonte, Italy

Winery Review: Great Value! Treat this terrific little white like a red: Don’t chill it too much, then let it open for a half-hour to develop its enticing tropical fruit flavors. It’s dry, but the fruit gives an appealing illusion of sweetness. Great as an aperitif or with light seafood dishes.

My Review: This wine had a nice light color and had a pleasant smell of pineapple and mango. I'm am not a huge fan of dry white wines and this one was exactly that. It had a tannic component that hit me straight away and left a sharp taste in my mouth after I swallowed. This wine was okay in my opinion.