Tasting: Dellatorri Chianti

Name: 2023 Dellatorri Chianti

Variety: Dellatorri Chianti

Region: Lamporecchio, Italy

Country: Italy

Year: 2023

Price: $10.99

Winery Review: Dellatori has a long, notable history of providing esteemed wines from Italy's most renowned vineyards. Following true Italian tradition, each of our wines is crafted to enhance gatherings with friends and family, ideally with a table full of festive foods. The wine has bright, cherry aromas and soft vanilla and berry notes. The ideal wine for fresh pastas in tomato, basil and oregano based sauces.

Vivino Rating: 3.6 stars

Wine Folly: Pg. 162, Sangiovese. This wine is high in acidity, tannin, and body. This grape is almost exclusively grown in Tuscany's Chianti region. Main tasting notes include cherry, roasted tomato, sweet balsamic, oregano, and espresso.

My Review: After a full tasting of this wine, I felt like it had almost no flavor. I noticed that the wine was extremely acidic and tannic, and that is almost the only thing that I could focus on. I was able to pick up on slight notes of cherry, plum, blackberry, and plum; I also thought it tasted strangely floral in a way. We also tried this with shredded mozzarella cheese to try to cut the tannis/acid with the fat to try to pick up on some of the flavors underneath, but we were unsuccessful. I would say that it is an overall basic wine that would be good with any meal honestly, but I thought it didn't have any notes that really stuck out to me which was a bit disappointing. 

Weekly Wine Tasting! Me and Morgan!

Tasting: Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc and Viognier White Blend

Name: 2023 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc and Viognier White Blend

Variety: Chenin Blanc and Viognier White Blend

Region: Napa, CA

Country: USA

Year: 2023

Price: $12.99

Winery Review: Our distinctive white blend marries the crisp, honeyed citrus fruit of Chenin Blanc (80%) with the plush body, soft floral and juicy peach notes of Viognier (20%) for a lush, versatile and delicious wine. Enjoy a glass on its own or try it alongside your favorite seafood or spicy dish.

Vivino Rating: 4.0 stars

Wine Folly: Pg. 98, Chenin Blanc. This wine is high in acidity with a light body and can vary on the sweetness level. Main tasting notes include quince, yellow apple, pear, chamomile, and honey.

My Review: I thought that this wine was pretty good. It was not a bottle I would go back and get, but was pretty drinkable for the time that I tried it. I picked up on strong notes of white peach and pear. I noticed the wine was quite tart without being tannic which was unique for me, but I ended up identifying that as a grapefruit flavor! While I continued to taste it, I picked up on an earthy mineral taste as well. I ended up enjoying the acidic, light wine with a slight sweetness.

We are back at it again with the Weekly Wine Tasting! After my travelling last week, Morgan I are finally back into our wine tasting routine. Morgan and Me!

Tasting: Flourish Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: 2023 Flourish Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Sonoma, CA

Country: USA

Year: 2023

Price: $12.99

Winery Review: We believe good stewardship of the land enables all life to Flourish. By sourcing the purest organically grown grapes, we bring you superb wines while cultivating thriving vineyard habitats for bees and wildlife. Savor this Cabernet Sauvignon with complex aromas of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla.

Vivino Rating: 3.7 stars

Wine Folly: Pg. 88 Cabernet Sauvignon- This full-bodied "big red" is the world's most popular wine. It is a mix of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that originated in Bordeaux. It is high in tannins and lower in acid. Main tasting notes include black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, and graphite.

My Review: This Cab Sauv is made from organic grapes and is vegan and gluten free. I thought that was really interesting and I was expecting it to taste a little bit different than a typical Cab Sauv, but it didn't. During the sniff and swirl, I picked up on black currant and graphite. During the tasting, I picked up on additional notes of blackberry and smoke. Interestingly enough, I did not pick up on chocolate, coffee, or vanilla notes in this wine like the bottle stated. I can't tell if I am a fan of smoke as a tasting note in my Cab Sauvs yet.

Wine Tasting Night! Morgan and Me!

Tasting: Chevalier du Grand Robert Bordeaux Clairet Dry Rose

Name: 2022 Chevalier du Grand Robert Bordeaux Clairet Dry Rose

Variety: Dry Rose

Region: France

Country: Europe

Year: 2022

Price: $12.99

Winery Review: Winemakers in France have enjoyed this hidden gem for centuries for its versatility. Described as "Super Rose" by locals, its deep color and velvetly body are reminiscent of a light red that pairs well with food. However, its delicate tannins and refreshing taste ask to be served chilled. No matter how you enjoy it, Bordeaux Clairet is a conversation starter that will leave even you most wine-savvy friends captivated.

Vivino Rating: 3.7 stars

Wine Folly: Pg. 83 Bordeaux Blend- This wine is full-bodied with high tannic content and medium acidity and low sweetness. Tasting notes include black currant, black cherry, graphite, chocolate, and dried herbs.

My Review: When I heard Prof. Boyer mention that there were dry Roses that existed from France and that were not super sweet, I knew I had to try it. I typically do not like a California Rose because it is sickly sweet. This one I thought was great! We opted for a Bordeaux Blend Rose, and I learned that was a mixed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. We chilled it, and during tasting, I picked up on blackberry and cherry notes, with a honey-like secondary note/finish. I noted how this wine was not super tannic or acidic, because it was a Rose. The bottle said that the wine paired well with food, but we did not drink the wine with any food but I actually thought it stood really well on its own. 

Wine Tasting Night! Morgan and Me!

Wine and Cheese #1

Welcome to my analysis of my first wine and cheese night with my boyfriend, Patrick! Tonight is Super Bowl Sunday and we are boycotting the Super Bowl because our favorite team, the Ravens are not in it. So, we decided to do a wine and cheese (and homework) night instead! The theme for the first wine and cheese night is everything from Aldi, the cheapest I could find! I will note the individual wine pricing while talking about each wine. The total for tonight after buying three wines, three cheeses, and Ritz crackers is roughly $28. It was a super affordable night for two college students, and it allowed us to try different wines with different cheese pairings, which was awesome!

Pairing #1: 2023 Giretto Pinot Grigio from Italy with Dill Havarti Cheese

During this tasting, the first notes that I picked up on were the pear and green apple notes. This specific $5.99 Pinot Grigio is fruitier than other Pinot Grigios that I have tasted before, and I really enjoyed the light feeling of the wine. I also picked up on a secondary lemon zest note while tasting which I enjoyed. This wine had a medium acidity and a low sweetness. I thought the cheese paired pretty well with the Pinot Grigio, the chewiness texture of the cheese was made a bit softer by the acid from the wine and I thought that contributed to a better mouth feel for the Havarti cheese. The flavors of the wine and cheese complimented each other well. This was my personal favorite pairing of the night, I found a Pinot Grigio that I liked and would drink again!

Pairing #2: 2023 Evanta Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina with Garlic & Herb Goat Cheese

I have never tasted a Malbec wine before, and this $4.99 Malbec did not disappoint. I picked up on blackberry, sweet tobacco, and smoke notes during the tasting. I noticed this wine was a good middle of the road for red wines, with a medium body, mild acidity, and mild tannins. While this pairing may sound a little strange, I thought it was great. I grew up working on a sheep farm, and any cheese that is anything close to sheep cheese I absolutely love. This goat cheese is soft, rich, and lighter than a cow's milk cheese, so it allowed for a slight cut of the acid and tannic mouth feel caused by the wine, but still allowing the tasting notes to come through strong. It was a great pairing and I love that cheese!

Pairing #3: California Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon from Modesto, California USA with Aged White Cheddar Cheese

This Cabernet Sauvignon had no vintage, and was $4.95. California Heritage seems to be one of Aldi's main staple brands because they had a lot of different types of wine by them. We enjoyed this one and picked up on main blackberry and black cherry notes, with a cedar and smoke finish. I thought that this Cab Sauv wasn't as tannic as others I have tried before, which I like by itself, but it caused the cheddar cheese to over power the flavors of the wine a bit. This is just because cheddar cheese is so thick and coats your mouth immediately so it is hard to taste anything else while eating it. Overall, I thought this was a pretty good pairing and it ended up being Patrick's favorite pairing of the night.

Wine and Cheese Night! Me and Patrick!

Tasting: Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling Columbia Valley

Name: Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling Columbia Valley

Variety: Dry Riesling

Region: Paterson, WA

Country: USA

Year: 2023

Price: $9.99

Winery Review: Sourced from select vineyard parcels, the citrus notes and bright natural acidity in this dry riesling pair especially well with mild cheese, seasonal salads, and fresh seafood. 

Vivino Rating: 3.8 stars

Wine Folly: Pg. 158 Riesling- This is a wine that can be extremely dry, extremely sweet, and anywhere in between. This wine also features extremely high acidic levels and can be very aromatic. With main notes of lime, green apple, beeswax, jasmine, and petroleum this wine can be very refreshing. 

My Review: I enjoyed this wine. This particular dry riesling was very very strong in green apple notes both in smell and taste. I was able to detect strong green apple notes and secondary pear notes in the scent of the wine. During tasting, I thought this wine was very acidic compared to anything else I have ever tried before, but I liked it. It reminded me of eating a sour candy. The wine made my mouth water which was very interesting, and it reminded me of eating a lime which I thought left a lime-like note at the wine's finish. Notes I detected during tasting were constant with notes I picked up during smelling. I thought this wine was good, and the next riesling I try I would want to try a medium dry/sweet riesling. 

I tried this wine alongside my dinner, which was a chicken Chipotle bowl. I did not think that this wine added or subtracted anything from the dish or vice versa. Overall, they simply did not pair. I think if the dish was predominately chicken and cheese it would have gone together better, but the combination of lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, corn, and rice distracted the wine's flavors from the components of the dish it was supposed to pair with.  

Tasting: Buttercup Pinot Noir

Name: Buttercup Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Parlier, CA

Country: USA

Year: 2022

Price: $12.99

Winery Review: Named for the golden rows of wildflowers that ribbon our California hillside vineyards, Buttercup wines celebrate the inherent beauty in life's everyday experiences. Buttercup Pinot Noir is crafted to enhance any occasion with red fruit flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry with a dry, elegant finish. This fruity Pinot pairs well with salmon, roasted chicken, pasta, or a charcuterie board. 

Vivino Rating: 3.9 stars

Wine Folly: Pg. 150 Pinot Noir- This wine is described as a very common and popular light-bodied red wine. Main notes include cherry, raspberry, clove, mushroom, and vanilla. Pinot Noir features a low sweetness, medium acidity, and low tannin levels.

My Review: At first, I was not really enjoying this wine. Something about it felt a little weird to me, but as I continued to drink it I leaned into it and actually really started to enjoy the wine. During the smelling of the wine, I detected a stronger cherry scent and secondary clove and raspberry. When I tasted the wine, I noticed how acidic it is! That was interesting how the wine was red but not super tannic. I thought this made it very easy to drink, and I noted that it would be really good paired with a food like baked chicken or pork. Tasting notes that I picked up on included cherry as the main note, along with mushroom as a secondary note, especially during the finish. I did not try this wine with any food. 

Tasting Night with Friends! Pictured from Left to Right: Myself, Morgan, Julia, Miabella, Sarah