What better way to end my 22nd birthday weekend than with a little wine and 3-course dinner
pairing?
pairing?
Appetizer
Entrée
Dessert
Name: Cellar No. 8
Pairing Notes: Although this wine encourages pairings with
meats, I found that pairing with a chocolate and raspberry dessert was a smart decision! I love this pair, as the wine's flavor was sent to add bitter dark chocolate-covered strawberries. The wine offered a very dry and bitter affect that was satisfying against the typically too-sweet finish of desserts after meals.
Name: Castello de Poggio
Variety: Moscato Pavia
Country: Asti, Italy
Year: NV
Price: $12
Bottles Finished: 1
Wine review: Fruity and very inviting, with intense scents of peaches and exotic fruit. Fresh and pleasantly sweet with a taste that reveals its varietal characteristic.
My review: An instant hit! Light and soapy on the nose, the bouquet also gives notes of mango with nuances of tropical fruits. On the palate are crisp red apples and orange blossom.
Food Pairing: Mixed lettuce and spinach salad with strawberries, pears, dried cranberries, candied
pecans, and gorgonzola cheese. Dressed with a raspberry, pear, and citrus vinaigrette.
Pairing Notes: This salad with a fruit and citrus vinaigrette rejuvinates the wine, bring out a fresh floral and sweet honey flavor profile! Quite a nice surprise.
Name: Cline Estate
Variety: Viognier
Country: Sonoma, California
Year: 2013
Price: $15
Bottles Finished: 1
Wine review: Originally grown in the Condrieu and Château-Grillet regions of northern Rhône, Fred Cline first planted Viognier in his Sonoma vineyards in 1990. Sensitive to its surroundings, vineyard managers must keep a watchful eye. Grapes are late ripening and have to be picked at just the right moment. Cline’s Viognier offers rich and distinctive aromas of peaches, apricots, orange blossoms and honeysuckle. Drink within 2 to 3 years and serve slightly chilled.
My review: Well. This wine as a standalone provided an odd experience. On the nose was a quite displeasing bouquet of a poopy diaper. I couldn't shake off this aroma. But on the palate, I was relieved. Notes of minerals, stone, pear, and even olive oil graced the tongue with a very dry sensation. Talk about a relief!
Food Pairing: Pumpkin Sage Cream Sauce over Linguine (Puréed pumpkin, onions, butter, green apple, pepper, salt, cream, milk, sage)
Pairing Notes: The Viognier helped to raise the acidity of the vegetable pasta, while the two together brought out more earthy, mushroom tones.
Name: Cellar No. 8
Variety: Zinfandel
Country: California
Year: 2011
Price: $12
Bottles Finished: 1
Wine review: Deep ruby in color, this classic Zinfandel begins with aromas of black mission figs, black cherries and vanilla. The palate is filled with intense characters of brown, baking spice, vanilla, cherries, pomegranate and fig. These flavors repeat themselves on a long, elegant finish. Try it with our recipe for rack of lamb with a black pepper Dijon crust.
My review: A thick nose of black cherry, pomegranate, coffee, and chocolate. The flavor profile offers a jammy palate with notes of black pepper.
Cheese Pairing: Deep Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Pairing Notes: Although this wine encourages pairings with
meats, I found that pairing with a chocolate and raspberry dessert was a smart decision! I love this pair, as the wine's flavor was sent to add bitter dark chocolate-covered strawberries. The wine offered a very dry and bitter affect that was satisfying against the typically too-sweet finish of desserts after meals.
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