Wine Blog

Wine photos:     Cheese photo:   Photo of me:   Pairing 1:  Barton & Guestier Vouvray Chenin Blanc w/ Murray's Stilton Wine alone Aromas of pear and slight crisp green apple; overall a sharp smell.  Smooth and sweet flavor, with notes of sweet honey, pear, green apple, and a tropical fruit that I cannot identify.  The aftertaste had a stronger alcohol taste, with a dry fruitiness that I haven't been able to pin down.  Overall a smooth, velvety, and pleasant sweet wine. With cheese The cheese had a strong nuttiness, and a very strong blue cheese-like flavor.  It was musty, but the combination with the wine was incredible.  The cheese immediately made me think of walking along the sandy flats in Florida heading to the beach, where I could smell the palm trees and the wet, rotting bark of broken parts from the trees.  The wine immediately turns the crumbly cheese into a smooth flavor profile that almost melts into th...

Photo of Wine:   Photo of Me:   Name of wine:  Beaujolais Nouveau by Manoir Du Carra Varietal:  Gamay Region:  Beaujolais Country:  France Year:  2021 Price:  $4.49 Wine critic:   Super light, smooth and clear wine for a great sunset at one of Virginia's winery boutique. Smooth, fruity, cranberry and strawberry taste. References: Gamay (pg. 113):  High in acidity, low in alcohol, body, sweetness, and tannins.  Flavors of pomegranate, blackberry bramble, violet, potting soil, and banana. My review:  Strawberry and pomegranate aromas, not too high in alcohol, and an overall generic scent with the aforementioned hints.  Upon tasting, there is not a dramatic sensation of anything other than fruit.  The strawberry really comes to the forefront, with what I believe to either be peach or pomegranate circling the outskirts of the flavor.  Decently high in tannins, much more so than the Sangiovese.  Su...

Photo of Wine:   Photo of Me:   Name of wine:  Sangiovese by Caparzo Varietal:  Sangiovese Region:  Montalcino Country:  Italy Year:  2019 Price:  $8.54 Wine critic:   Intense ruby color. Fruity, spicy aromas. The palate is full, fruity, persistent, and soft with ripe blackberries, wild strawberries, and vanilla on the finish. References: Sangiovese (pg. 162):  High acidity, alcohol, tannins, and body, low in sweetness.  Flavors of cherry, roasted tomato, sweet balsamic, oregano, espresso. My review:  An earthy and cherry aroma, with a nice fruity freshness without being overly sweet.  There is little alcohol to speak of in the scent.  Right away there is a lack of intensity in the mouth feel.  Many reds I've tasted have had a strong alcoholic sharpness to the flavor, but this wine stayed smooth and uniform throughout the tasting.  There is again a nice fruity flavor, seemingly cherry and slig...

Photos of wines:       Photos of meals:   Photo of me:   Names of wines: Prosecco by Montelliana Montebelluna, Italy Cabernet Sauvignon by Columbia Crest 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington Chianti Classico by Gabbiano 2019, Chianti, Tuscany Wine notes without food: Prosecco:  Crisp and grape heavy aroma.  The carbonation is a unique experience, and the grape flavors coupled with the bubbles mask any other flavors I would get.  There is a nice alcoholic flavor in the aftertaste, but overall it is a nice appetizer. Cabernet Sauvignon:  Hints of chocolate and jam aromas, along with a distinct scent of alcohol.  Velvety and smooth texture immediately when tasting, which lends to a jam-like texture.  Medium dryness and body, and the chocolate flavor comes more in the aftertaste than in the mouth taste.  Overall a very pleasant and smooth flavor, and bitter and alcoholic with almost no sweetness and acidity. Chianti Cla...

Photo of Wine:   Photo of Me:   Name of wine:  Pinot Gris by Larkspur Varietal:  Pinot Gris Region:  Oregon Country:  United States Year:  2020 Price:  $11.69 Wine critic:   This stands out as a balanced mix of softer subtleties. Granted, the golden hay color is vibrant but the scents of pineapple and honeysuckle are slow moving and light. Lesser intense, rounded acidity set in with just enough presence to accent the green apple, melon and dried herbal palate. These to are only lighter in presence. The real complexity is with an overall level of refinement that you can’t miss. I liked it! References: Pinot Gris (pg. 149): High acidity and sweetness, medium alcohol, and low body and tannins.  Flavors of white peach, lemon zest, cantalope, raw almond, crushed gravel My review:  Floral aromas, with hints of peach and melon.  The first taste is incredibly mild and flat, but the acidity comes to the forefront quite la...

Photo of Wine:   Photo of Me:   Name of wine:  Pinot Grigio by Clos du Bois Varietal:  Pinot Gris/Grigio Region:  California Country:  United States Year:  2021 Price:  $8.09 Wine critic:   A classic Pinot Grigio that displays intense aromas of white peach, melon and pink grapefruit, with delicate hints of floral notes. Lively acidity with bright citrus and grapefruit notes notes lead to a crisp and refreshing finish. Enjoy a glass chilled by itself, or pair with your favorite Asian or shellfish dishes. References: Pinot Gris (pg. 149): High acidity and sweetness, medium alcohol, and low body and tannins.  Flavors of white peach, lemon zest, cantalope, raw almond, crushed gravel My review:  Zesty and peach aromas, and overall a rough and sharp scent.  The first sensation when it enters the mouth is smooth and delicate, but the body creeps in soon after.  While in the mouth, there is a strong overall lemon ta...