bdenniswineblog

For this pairing I decided to do it with my family several hours before thanksgiving. My family already had a Tuscan sangiovesse and a Chardonnay from an acquaintances' vineyard. I went to  Forward Foods  to pick out some cheeses. For the red she recommended an " Organic Taleggio",that was from the same region in Italy as the wine. For the white she recommended a "Bonde D' Antan" as Chardonnay pairs easily with many types of cheese. For my third cheese she recommended a Cremeux De Bourgogne" and recommended to pair it with Brut Champagne. My local liquor store was able to help me find a quality sparkling wine within my budget. My Cheeses and wines - The Tasting - After I got everything set up and prepared I was finally able to drink some wine. I gave everyone a little background information and a notepad and we got to work. Tuscan Sangiovese and Toleggio - Cheese - This cheese had a strong smell and an even stronger ...

Name - Gabbiano Chianti 2014 Variety - 90% sangiovese, 5% merlot, 5% colorino Region - Tuscany Country - Italy Year - 2015 - Price - $13.00 Critic Review -  "Made with 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot and 5% Colorino, this juicy wine opens with aromas of blue flower, black-skinned berry and a whiff of tobacco. The savory palate doles out Marasca cherry, licorice and black pepper alongside velvety tannins. Enjoy over the next few years." Rated 89 points and # 66 of the top 100 best buys of 2018 by  Wine mag . My review - I got this wine as a recommendation from my local wine seller. She recommended this as a quality and unique wine within my budget. Upon smelling this wine, I smelled a leathery, planty, earthy smell. This was backed up by what I tasted. I tasted a leathery, burnt wood, almost cigar taste to this wine. This wine was mild in tannic structure and I was surprised by the lack of dark fruit flavor. I drank this wine with a pizza - this is what the Zraly textb...

Name - Castello Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio Toscana Variety - 100% Pino Grigio Region - Tuscany (the southern part of Montalcino.) Country - Italy Year - 2017 Price - $17.00 Winery Review - "San Angelo Pinot Grigio is an elegant wine. Lush tropical fruit aromas and flavors, balanced with crisp citrus notes, reflect its unique Tuscan character and distinguish San Angelo Pinot Grigio from its northern counterparts."  This wine received a 90 and gold medal in the  sommelier challenge . Review from  Banfi Wines . My Review - I chose this wine because I enjoy Pinot Grigio and it appeared to be a quality one. Upon smelling this wine I was greeted with a strong smell of alcohol. Less potent were the smell of pear and a floral component. When I tasted the wine I was met with the subtle flavors of pear with an aftertaste of citrus. The wine also had a distinct tartness to it. I drank this wine with chicken over rigatoni and pesto. This helped to balance the w...

Name - Terrazas Altos Del Plata Malbec Variety - 100% Malbec Region - Mendoza, Cordon del Plata mountain range Country - Argentina Year - 2016 Price - $12.00 Winery Review - Aroma: Great intensity of fruit. Outstanding notes of cherries and forest berries, with subtle notes of caramel, spices and toast provided by oak aging. Palate: Important structure. Its fruit intensity and roundness are its defining features and make it an elegant wine with high varietal typicity (From Bottle). My review - This was a wine that I really enjoyed. The first thing I noticed was the dark, almost purple color. This wine was very powerful. This wine had a strong tannin and alcohol smell that almost overpowered everything else. I also smelled dark berry and what I deduced as chocolate. This wine also had a powerful taste, full of tannin's and strong alcohol. I also tasted dark berry with a leathery component. I drank this wine with a pepper seasoned pork tenderloin. The wine tasted much b...

Name - Forest Glen Merlot California Variety - 100% Merlot Region - Sonoma County, California Country - USA Year - 2014 Price -  $13.00 Critic's Review - "Dark ruby black color. Herbal, sweet, overripe aromas of blackberry, black pepper, and blueberry pie with a slightly chewy, soft, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a peppery, interesting, medium-long date pudding and baked dark fruit finish. Powerful, on the sweet side, but fairly balanced". With a score of 87. ( tastings.com ) My Review - This was a decently priced Merlot recommended by my local liquor store (9 East Liquor). I really enjoyed this wine and was one of the best Merlot's I have tasted. The first flavor to hit me was dark berry. I placed this as a raspberry or a blackberry. I also tasted and smelled a woody flavor. This wine was very mild and the tannin's were much softer for a Merlot. I drank this wine with a rosemary lamb steak. This wine brought out the spices of the lamb steak. I...