Wine & Cheese Pairing 1

What better way to start my 22nd birthday weekend than with a little wine and cheese pairing?

Pairing #1

Name: Castello di Gabbiano

Variety: Chianti Classico

Country:  Tuscany, Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $15

Bottles Finished: 1

Wine review: 90 Points from Kerin O’Keefe: Kerin O’Keefe “This vibrant selection offers floral and fruit fragrances of violet and red berry. The palate delivers juicy red cherry flavor, with white pepper and nutmeg accents alongside bracing tannins that should soften over the next year or two. Perfect to match with barbecues or pastas topped with dense sauces.”

My review: I love this Old World wine, truly fantastic! On the nose, hints of oak followed red cherry, black pepper, and some plum. The wine became increasingly aromatic the longer it set out. Upon washing the palate, oak becomes a more prominent feature with black pepper spices as it first hits the tongue. Earthy and dusty tannins.

Cheese Pairing: Cave-aged Le Gruyere AOP from Switzerland, aged over 300 days

Cheese Notes: Sharp, overpowering, nutty, dry, bold

Pairing Notes: The Chianti dulls out the sharpness and smoothes the boldness of the cheese, while the cheese dulls the acidity of the Chianti Classico. However, the pairing did not address or mellow the dustiness and grittiness of the cheese.

Pairing #2

Name: Night Harvest

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country:  Madera, California

Year: NV

Price: $7

Bottles Finished: 1

Wine review: The wine made from grapes harvested at night. We harvest at night when the cool air chills the fruit, concentrates the flavors, and preserves the crisp acidity of our grapes - making for a deliciously balanced wine. Uncork. Pour. And discover the magic of Night Harvest. Dark and rich, the color echoes the full fruit aromas in this Cabernet Sauvignon. Black currant, black cherry, and sweet oak flavors mingle softly with supple tannins and a round finish.

My review: Not a bad wine, though not as complex or bold as a great Cabernet Sauvignon can reach. With a gritty sensation in the nostrils, heavy aromas of dark fruit and cherries are accompanied with nuances of dark chocolate. Smooth on the palate with light spice, round and clean finish.

Cheese Pairing: Artisanal Sartori Bellavitano Gold

Cheese Notes: light and creamy

Pairing Notes: The cheese makes the wine bouncier and brings out lighter fruit flavors like fresh sweet berries. Great pairing, as the cheese enhanced the wine and added complexity to the cheap Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pairing #3

Name: Panarroz

Variety: Jumilla

Country:  Jumilla, Spain

Year: 2006

Price: $9

Bottles Finished: 1

Wine review: 90 points from Robert Parker: "An amazing bargain from Spain, this blend of mourvèdre, grenache, and syrah bursts with plum, blackberry, and licorice-infused fruit. There is a bit of pepper as well, and the wine is silky, soft, and opulent. Serve it at a barbecue... Years ago I wrote in The Wine Advocate that Dan Kravitz was perhaps the top U.S. importer of wines priced under $10 a bottle. Even though the dollar bought a lot more then, Kravitz still has a knack for finding good wines at great prices." (in Business Week Magazine)".

My review: Yikes, a little past its prime! On the nose, moldy, sweat socks, wet paint, and old soggy logs in the woods. On the palate, sour, harsh on the tongue, spicy, and even salty and puckering. We tried to help the wine by allowing it to soften in a decanter, which did prove to help some. 

Cheese Pairing: French Belletoile Triple Cream Brie on Ritz crackers with Dalmatia fig spread

Cheese Notes: sweet, soft, delicious with the cracker and fig spread

Pairing Notes: The brie snack elongated the wine's flavor profile and brought a sweeter earthy feel, though since the wine has passed, the amount of benefits in flavor profile could not be maximized or realized to its full pairing potential.

Coastal Vines White Zinfandel 2013

Name: Coastal Vines

Variety: White Zinfandel

Country:  California

Year: 2013

Price: $7

Bottles Finished: 1




Wine review: This White Zinfandel has a beautiful pink salmon color and crisp acidity. The wine shows juicy fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry, with a tangy sweet finish. Pairs well with mild cheeses, crab cakes, and spicy Asian cuisine.



My review: Quite lovely! A bit soapy on the nose but a pleasing flavor profile of sweet, floral, and bouncy fruits. I would love to pair this with spicy prawn at Hakkasan Las Vegas within MGM Grand.

Rating: 

Full House

Ilurce Tempranillo 2008

Name: Ilurce

Variety: Tempranillo

Country:  Rioja, Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $14

Bottles Finished: 1




Wine review:  88 points – Stephen Tanzer
Dark purple. Zesty, youthfully medicinal aromas of dark berries, licorice and cracked pepper. Juicy and fresh, with smooth texture and sweet cherry and spice flavors framed by dusty tannins. Finishes with a suggestion of slightly roasted fruits and good clinging persistence. Delivers a lot of power and richness for the money.


My review: YES! Fantastic selection, I would buy this bold wine anytime. This wine is left unfiltered, so watch for the sediment at the bottom. The nose pops with strength of red raspberry and even a sweetness of bubblegum. The palate is smokey, full of spice, and dusty tannins. My first sip almost cleared my nostrils, a wonderful surprise! Not everything should be clean-cut, some things a best left a little unfiltered, am I right, Vegas?

Rating: 

Four of a Kind

San Elias Carmenere 2014

Name: San Elias

Variety: Carmenere

Country:  Valle Central, Chile

Year: 2014

Price: $9

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review:  This medium-bodied red offers roasted plum, kirsch, sage and game notes, with light tannins supporting the spicy finish.



My review: Unimpressive and cheap on the palate. The nose is fully aromatic with plum and nuts, but the palate felt acidic, sharp, and tasted like medicine. No thank you.

Rating: 

Three of a Kind

Riebeek Chenin Blanc 2014

Name: Riebeek

Variety: Chenin Blanc

Country:  Swartland, South Africa

Year: 2014

Price: $10

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: Fresh kiwifruit, green apple and almond notes bounce along, showing a flash of plantain on the friendly finish. Drink now.



My review: A sweeter wine, rose petal and bubblegum can be enjoyed on the nose with some complexity on the palate of meadow, orange blossom, and rose. Respectable and enjoyable, but perhaps not my go-to wine.

Rating: 

Full House

Santa Luz Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Name: Santa Luz

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Country:  Valle Central, Chile

Year: 2013

Price: $11

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review:  Like any good Sauvignon Blanc, this opens with oceanic aromas of citrus fruits, sea foam and minerality. In the mouth, it is juicy and stony, with washing acidity. Flavors of honeydew, lime and a nice grassiness finish firm, with good backbone. Drink this with salads, shellfish and ceviche.



My review: A respectable wine, solid on the palate with pleasing aromas of citrusy lemon and some peach. Dry on the palate with flavors of earth and spice, I would enjoy this thoroughly chilled on the red sands and tan shrub of the Nevadan deserts.

Rating: 

Flush

Canyon Road Moscato 2013

Name: Canyon Road

Variety: Moscato

Country:  California

Year: 2013

Price: $12

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: Floral, with tea rose and cherry blossom notes, this balanced Moscato shows flavors of ripe white cherry, candied plum and almond on the smooth finish.



My review: Bouncy and lighthearted, Canyon Road's Moscato is sweet and kind, with aromatics of white peach and candied ginger. On the palate, the sweet citrus orange takes you through a candy shop flavor profile, perfect when served alongside a meal at Sugar Factory within the heart of Paris Las Vegas.

Rating: 

Full House

Resonata Nero D’Avola 2013

Name: Resonata

Variety: Nero D’Avola

Country:  Sicily, Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $14

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: The grapes are soft pressed and the juice is placed in stainless steel along with the skins for a maceration of 8 to 10 days with daily pumping over of the juice to extract more color and sweet tannins. Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background. Excellent with lamb, grilled and barbecued meats, dishes with olives or capers and seasoned cheeses.



My review: Strong rose aromatics, accentuated with greens like dandelions. The flavor profile is very much like the nose, rosy and overtaking, with a sharp sensation at the swallow. This is a bold Italian wine, asking only to be paired with bold foods. I would love to pair this with a dish at Carnevino within The Venetian, owned by Mario Batali!

Rating: 

Four-of-a-Kind

Canyon Road Pinot Noir

Name: Canyon Road

Variety: Pinot Noir

Country:  California

Year: 2013

Price: $12

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: Rich, fruit forward cherry flavors, soft tannins, a medium body and a smooth velvety finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, salmon, and savory pork dishes.



My review: Very aromatic highlighting rose and strawberries. Comfortable flavor profile of smooth light berries. This wine takes over with a well-rounded feel on the tongue, like a sweet layer of velvet. For a cheaper wine, I was impressed and would love to pair this with a hearty salmon!

Rating: 

Four-of-a-Kind

Maipe Torrontes 2013

Name: Maipe

Variety: Torrontes

Country:  Mendoza, Argentina

Year: 2013

Price: $8

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish.



My review: Maipe offers a wonderful Torrontes from the Salta region, emanating pepper, Asian spices, and taro root on the nose. I thought this Asian flair odd for an Argentinean wine, but loved these aromatics nonetheless! On the palate, there is a slight kick as soon as the wine washes over the tongue, offering a slight carbonation sensation. With a calming flavor of cantaloupe and light fruits, this wine can be enjoyed with its long finish. A superb wine!

Rating: 

Four-of-a-Kind

Hugl Grüner Veltliner 2013

Name: Hugl

Variety: Grüner Veltliner

Country: Niederösterreich, Austria

Year: 2013

Price: $14

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: 89 Points – Wine Enthusiast
"A fresh scent of green pears greets the nose. What follows comes in a light, crisp citrus vein, supported by a rounded mouthfeel. A refreshing wine for immediate drinking. - Anne Krebiehl, MW".


My review: This was a very confusing wine to me. On the nose I got honeydew promising of a sweet palate to come, as well as the aroma of hay to add complexity. However, upon drawing in the wine, I was sharply surprised. The wine was very dry and even dense. I had a hard time understanding the flavors of this wine, I could only sense sharp straw, but the rest was hard to tell. The flavor profile did not live up to the nose, and wasn't even a pleasant surprise.

Rating: 

Three-of-a-Kind