Dinner - Blacksburg (My House) Traditional Italian

After a group effort on the last dinner, I decided to take the reins and flex my culinary muscles, or lack there of. It was a struggle to get things on the table and I gambled with a few new recipes but prepared by loosening the mood and all the guests' palettes with lots and lots of wine. We paired only three wines but consumed no less than twelve bottles all different styles and varietals. We tried, a Samorens Cotes du Rhone 2010, a Bollenberg Gewurztraminer 2011, a Muscadet Servet et Maine Sur Lie 2011, Mandla America White 2010, Paradox Cotes du Rhone 2009, Buzet Family Reserve NV, and Vin de Pay du Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc to name a few. This was a true tasting. 

The three wines we choose to use for the dishes were the; Chateau D'Orschwihr Gewürztraminer from 2011 with Pasta Primavera for the antipasti, a  Samorens Cotes du Rhone  from 2011 with  Chicken Fontina for the segundo, and a Shotfire Red from 2010 with a Tiramisu for the Dolce.

First Course

Chateau D'Orschwihr Gewürztraminer 2011 + Pasta Primavera
The Gewurztramier caught me off guard. This wine absolutely wreaked of honey. It was almost comparable to a mead. I was shockingly disappointed with its performance. I had intended the semisweet and crisp flavors to cut the creamy mustard sauce and enhance the spice but it was just too strong a wine. Luckily there were other whites at the dinner to join in but the Gewurztraminer let me down. 




 

Main Course

 Samorens Côtes du Rhône 2011 + Chicken FontinaToo date this is the best Cotes du Rhone blend I've had. I found it Spicy and Rustic just what was needed for this rich tomato pepper cheese sauce.  The wine came in leathery yet jammy with a deeper medium alcohol feel, wtih a medium plus length and complexity that only grew in depth when pair with the food. I was not disappointed here. 

Dessert!

 Shotfire Red 2010 + TiramisuI had been let down by the Antipasti and ok with the Segundo but the Dolce was spot on. The semi-sweet bitter-chocolate and cherry of the wine sang with the rich cream and sweet cocoa of the Tiramisu. It was a perfect pairing however it was not the best pairing. That distinction is reserved for what came next.









Moneti 2007 Super Toscana + Tobacco

It's hard to put how good this wine was into words. Granted we drank it last after 11 other bottles but take my word. It carried a sensational nose, heavy leather scents with essence of blackberries, blueberries and stone. It was an inky sort of wine with incredible complexity and it left with a soft semi-dry long finish. Not unlike a long drawn out sigh one makes after finishing something profound. 

Overall I think I could have done a better job on the food but with the help of some great wine the whole thing came together. I plan for the next meal I cook to be perfection and the pairings to be sublime. 

The Wine

Tasting - First Light Moscato

Name: First Light Moscato
Variety: 100% Muscat

Region: Barossa

Country: Austraila

Year: NV

Price: Regular Price $15 Sale price $7.95

Shop Review: Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine. 

My Review: In the past I have tried a Shiraz/Cab Sav blend from Thorne Clarke called "Shotfire" and found it very good. While overly sweet wines are not usually my thing this Moscato was done very well. The effervescence was subtle and supportive letting the peach and tropical fruits come through on the nose. The sweetness was reserved as well giving me just enough and I got excellent notes of passion fruit in the finish. A good wine.

Tasting - CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

Name: CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
Variety: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Viognier

Region: Paso Robles

Country: California

Year: 2009

Price: Regular Price $16 Sale price $10.95 per liter or $5.95 per 500 ml

Shop Review: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produced outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet Flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish. 

My Review: I try not to judge a wine by its bottle and I have come to expect great things from Paso Robles however this wine has had something go wrong. There were strange synthetic notes and a sort of methanol buried under the nose which was quite rich and strong of aged fruits. It was very dry and had very high tannins despite its age. The finish was disappointingly short, it was almost as if the tannic levels evaporated in an instant. I'd call this wine a tease. It promises a lot but there just something not quite right and your suspicions are confirmed when the finish is stolen right out from under your nose. 

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau

Variety: 100% Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: Regular Price $15 Sale price $7.95

Shop Review: Wine Spectator
An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish. 

My Review:  An interesting wine. It is only the second wine I've tried from the Beaujolais region and it has shared the same character, Raspberry yogurt. Perhaps this is due to the extremely young age but the wine is overpoweringly lactic. It comes in creamy with almost a milk like mouth feel. It was monochromaticly raspberry with little to not acid and a very short length. 

Tasting - Beltrame Friulano

Name: Beltrame Friulano

Variety: 100% Tocai Friulano

Region: Friuli, Italy

Country: italy

Year: 2009

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: 100% Tocai Friulano Straw colored yellow with a pale green tint exress and intese, delicatedly aromatic and floral bouquet. The flavour is dry, soft slightly fruity, with slightly bitter nuance in its almond aftertaste, and suggestion of peach.

My Review:  Best wine at the tasting. Very interesting, I have not heard Tocai Friulano perhaps it a cult short of wine but regardless the deep staw color wafts out rich corn meal and sugar all coated in a lemon like aroma. The palate combines those notes over a rich body of almond in an incredible balance. There is some immense potential for pairing this wine. 

Tasting - Mas Llunes Maragada

Name: Mas LLunes Maragad

Variety: 100% Grenache Blanc

Region: Emporada

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: This Grenache Blanc is exquisitely sculpted with sharp acids and pinpointed minerals, and offers orange, melon and vanilla-honey flavors. A delight to drink, at a great price.

My Review:  Sharp nose, very minerally but not much fruit when I smelled and tasted it but it had great acid structure. Overall a light drinkable wine that straight forward and upfront about what it is. 

Tasting - Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

Name: Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

Variety: 100% Mocato

Region: Mosel

Country: Germany

Year: NV

Price: Regular Price $20 Sale Price $9.95

Shop Review: This Wine is intricate with delicate perfumes of white flowers blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars.

My Review:  Not good. If you enjoy immensely sweet wines with no depth and little character go for it. The vintner described it as "not too sweet" a generous description. He also alluded to the fact that he was going sell a lot of it today. He was referring to the hordes of sorority girls who would no doubt notice the price and quantity of wine coupled with is overpowering sweetness and purchase this monstrosity. The only thing I noted on the nose was a slight floral aroma. The palate was obviously sweet... a sort of nondescript sweet, with no acid, no complexity, no length and very a little alcohol feel.

Tasting - Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: Regular Price $15 Sale Price $7.95

Shop Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure.

My Review:  Good wine. On the nose, hints of light leather with predominantly cherry. The palate continues the leather trend. I did not get the depth of character the shop review claimed was there. Low acid and alcohol. Medium tannins, complextity, and length. Overall a sort of loose wine really lacking in body.

Tasting - Champteloup Pinot Noir

Name: Champteloup Pinot Noir

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Loire

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: Regular Price $15 Sale Price $7.95

Shop Review: In the heart of France's Loire River Vally lies the Touraine wine region. Although it produces vasts amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine's appeal. this wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we've offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his winemaking using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate.

My Review:  Great wine. It gives off a aroma of old berries layered onto ripe strawberries. The palate is this semi-sweet dried fruit flavor that wafts around hints of parchment and light smoke. Low acid, medium tannins, complexity, and alcohol. Medium plus length. 

Tasting - Baumann Gentil Classiq

Name: Baumann Gentil Classiq

Variety: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris

Region: Alsace

Country: France

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully.

My Review:  A great wine for the money. Best at the tasting. I am growing to love the Alsace region of France with every wine I try. On the nose an extreme honey and floral bouquet with a palate of petals, melding to more a floral almost vegetal character and finishing with a smooth dry honeysuckle flavor.  

Tasting - Fattori Runcaris Soave

Name: Fattori Runcaris Soave

Variety: 100% Garganega

Region: Soave

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Shop Review: 86 Points - Wine Enthusiast
From the local Italian word for "to work the soil," Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine and dried herbs.

My Review: Good wine. On the nose it starts with a sort of oxidized apple smell that changes to a melon aroma. There is a semisweet middle with definite citrus notes. It has a tart, crisp, acidic finish. 

Tasting - Thorn Clarke Shotfire

Name: Shotfire

Variety: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Shiraz

Region: Barossa

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: $17.95

Shop Review: 91 Points - Robert Parker
Another winner and sensational, the 2010 Shotfire Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Shiraz. A whopper of a wine, it is deep ruby/purpel and possesses loads of glycerin and fully body along with stunning notes of wood spice, graphite, blackberry and pepper. Rich, chewy, and dense, in a typically bold, exuberant Aussie style, this is a wine to drink over the next 6-10 years. 

My Review: Excellent and interesting wine. The smell is strongly blackberry with oak that combines to almost form a scotch whisky aroma. Great complexity ranging through spice to graphite. Dense is a great descriptor of the texture. The weight of this wine is just massive, it almost makes your jaw drop. Good length to the finish as well. 

Tasting - Odoardi Savuto

Name: Odoardi Savuto

Variety: Gagliopppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Magliocco Canino and Sangiovese

Region: Calabria

Country: Italy

Year: 2006

Price: Normally $18 Sale Price $9.95

Shop Review: 89 Points - Wine Spectator
A beefy, herb-tinged red, sporting dense layers of plum sauce, grilled fig and currant paste, stacked with notes of roased game, rosemary and hummus. the finish lingers, despite noticeable tannins. Gagliopppo, Greco Nero, Nerello cappuccio, Magliocco Canino and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2016. 14,000 cases made. 

My Review: Excellent bouquet. Strong beefy smell mixed with heavy plum notes. Medium acidity, Medium plus alcohol and tannins, with a deep complexity ranging from rosemary to leather. Long satisfying finish. 

Tasting - Willm Alsace Gran Cru Riesling

Name: Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling

Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: Alace

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $20.95

Shop Review: 92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
With great intensity and structure, this is a wine that's all about texture and potential. Its' expressive with white fruits and perfume, but there's a richness that's still to come. Drink from 2016 and see how the minerality and acidity will come into balance. 

My Review: I agree with the review. I definitely drank this young. The minerality was very earthy. Mostly clay mixed with rose petal. Compared to some other German Rieslings the acid seemed low. The taste was a cool semi-sweet flavor with a nice mineral finish. 

Tasting - Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

Name: Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

Variety: 100% Malvar

Region: Madrid

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: Normally $15 Sale price $8.95

Shop Review: Vinos de Madrid is a region of Spain not often encountered in the US, while Malvar is considered a regional specialty but remains unknown outside of central Spain. Zesty acidity and tropical fruit make this obscure buy a great food wine. 

My Review: Smooth, Mango, floral, Low acid. Medium complexity in structure and body. Medium length to the finish and lastly a medium feel to the alcohol. 

Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% 

Region: Barcelona

Country: Spain

Year: NV

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: 88 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Light apple aromas are elegant and not over the top, while the tangerine and orange flavors are lean and focused. This is a light framed Cava with a clean, fast, tasty profile and finish. Not yeasty or heavy at all. 

My Review: Very light aromas. A nose of apple, tangerine mixed with an orange elements. Low acid, Medium complexity, length and alcohol. A nice sparkling wine all around. 

Tasting - Angove Sibibbo Sparkling Moscato

Name: Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato

Variety: 100% Muscat

Region: South Australia

Country: Australia

Year: ----

Price: Regular Price $15 Sale Price $7.95

Shop Review: This is a tasty and generous Moscato that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There's a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling dessert wine.

My Review: A hyper sweet desert wine. One the nose one gets lemon and lime that melds into an thick orangey apple smell. The middle progress through the sensation of candied ginger and orange tart ends with a snappy and bubbly finish. 

Tasting - Fetzer Malbec

Name: Fetzer Malbec

Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Shop Review: Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it's juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.

My Review: At glace you can tell it is a lighter red. And again because of my cold I believe my palate was shifted some however. The red cherry notes came through very strong along with a mixture of rasberry. Very subtle in body, mild acid, low alcohol and very mild tannis especially in comparison to the Tres Ojos Garnacha in the tasting before. 

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha

Variety: 85% Garnacha, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Tempranillo and 1% Syrah

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Shop Review: (I believe the shop review was incorrect, perhaps it was not changed from last week, the following review is from http://www.kysela.com/spain/tresojos.htm ,and from Wine Enthusiast)

"With a hint of rubber and asphalt, the bouquet on this value wine is generous and topped with blackberry and dark plum aromas. The palate is grabby, with clampy tannins and black-fruit flavors mixed with chocolate and spice. The earthy, lightly herbal finish with rubbery nuances is nice. — M.S."
- Wine Enthusiast (July 2013), 89 pts + BEST BUY

My Review: A nose that was a combination of cherry, wood and leather all worn in earth. With a middle that was sharp and tart the above grabby is a good descriptor. Finally is finishes bone dry with the most exiting flush of tannins. 

Tasting - The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Name: The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc

Region: Western Cape

Country: South Africa

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Shop Review: 90 Points Robert Parker "One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months."

My Review: Always a shame to be sick for a sensational wine. But even my congestion could not stop the heavy floral notes coming from this glass. My tasted was skewed giving a very flat note to the melon flavor and giving rise to grapefruit one. 

Tasting - Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Silvaner

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: Regular Price $12 Sale Price $5.95

Shop Review: Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio.

My Review: Unfortunately for the five tastings from today I was sick with a head cold so my palate was skewed. Despite the cold the citrus was truly quite powerful. Powerful enough to be recognizable above the fog that was my sense of smell.  And the body was very smooth.