Wine and Cheese Pairing - Chardonnay & Two Pinot Noirs

Earlier in the semester, a friend and I got together with three wines and three cheeses to see if we could pair them well.  We went with a 2013 Cavit Pinot Noir, 2013 Franic Coppola Chardonnay, and a 2013 Leo Hillinger Pinot Noir for the wines, with chevrion buche, mahone, and smoked gouda as our cheese options.  

I tried the three wines on their own first to see which I liked best without the cheese, and I found the Cavit Pinot Noir to be my favorite out of the three.  It was a very subtle, lighter-tasting Pinot Noir with berry notes.  The Chardonnay had a strong pear nose and taste, while the Leo Hillinger Pinot Noir was much stronger and drier than the Cavit.

The smoked gouda was the hardest cheese we had, so we chose to try that with both of the Pinot Noirs.  I didn't find that it enhanced the flavors of either of those wines, but I think it would be great to try them with a hard, mild cheese to bring out the fruity, berry flavors in both.  I found that the Cavit Pinot Noir paired decently with the mahone cheese, since it was a softer, lighter Pinot Noir, the berry notes were brought out by the softer cheese.

The best pairing was easily the chevrion buche with the Chardonnay.  The soft, creamy cheese brought out so much of the crisp pear flavors, especially at the back of the mouth.  We didn't eat much of the smoked gouda, but the chevrion buche was gone very quickly.

I think we could have gone with a better option for the third cheese rather than smoked gouda, maybe a hard cheddar of some sort.  Overall though, I think this pairing was a success, and look forward to trying it again.

              

Dinner - Salmon, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Chardonnay

This week, a couple of friends and I got together with three bottles of wine and made a nice dinner at home.  For the entree, we marinated some salmon filets in maple syrup and threw those on the grill.  To round off the meal, we steamed some broccoli and cooked some rice pilaf for a nice variety in flavors in textures to pair with our wines.

The wines we tried were a 2010 Okanogan Pinot Noir, a 2012 Thorny Rose red blend, and a 2012 Macon-Peronne Le Clou Chardonnay.  On their own, I liked the Pinot Noir the best.  It had a very earthy nose with a strong, dry palate.  The Thorny Rose red blend was not so great, with subtle cherry flavors in it.  I enjoyed the crisp, tart flavor of the Le Clou Chardonnay, it didn't pair as well with the meal as the other two wines.

When paired with the food, I liked the Okanogan Pinot Noir with the salmon the best.  The earthy notes and maple glaze on the salmon went very well together, and the flavors in one were accentuated by the other.  The Le Clou Chardonnay went surprisingly well with the rice pilaf, with a nice contrast between the starchy texture of the pilaf and the crisp bite of the Chardonnay.  The Thorny Rose went decently with the salmon, but nowhere near as well as the Pinot Noir.  

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this dinner.  The Okanogan Pinot Noir was my favorite wine, both on its own and paired with the food.  I was surprised in my capability of knowing whether a wine went well with a certain dish, and look forward to having this experience again soon.

Tasting - "Blackstone Pinot Noir"

Name: Blackstone Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $7.49

Winery review: "Shows bright flavors of black cherry and raspberry with notes of vanilla and nutmeg."

My review: Bright ruby red color, nice fruity nose.  Dry palate full of berry and cherry flavors, with a sharp finish that tapers off quickly.  I liked this a lot.

Tasting - "Duck Commander Triple Threat Red Blend"

Name: Duck Commander Triple Threat Red Blend

Variety: Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $10.49

Winery review: "Fruit forward, silky and soft, with fresh, ripe, jam-like fruit flavors."

My review: I bought this mostly for the novelty, but it actually turned out pretty good.  It has a deep purple color with a medium fruity nose, and very rich, dark fruit flavors with a bold finish.

Tasting - "667 Pinot Noir"

Name: 667 Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $12.99

Winery review: "This Pinot Noir offers a modern expression of the classic style: the smooth, rich mouthfeel is framed with gentle tannins and luscious cherry, black pepper and floral notes."

My review: Very rich, fruity nose, with a surprisingly smooth texture and palate.  Not harsh at all, with a mild finish.  I liked this very much, and I paired it with a steak which helped bring out the cherry flavors in the wine.

Tasting - "Las Rocas Garnacha"

Name: Las Rocas Garnacha

Variety: Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $13.49

Winery review: "Our Garnacha offers a taste as uniquely intriguing as its origin, with exotic dark cherry and blackberry flavors.  This wine is well-structured with round tannins and subtle hints of oak."

My review: Sweet cherry nose, possible hints of plum.  Surprisingly dry and tart when it hits the tongue with a very oaky finish.  Had with havarti cheese which softened some of the oakiness of the wine, which made it more palatable for me.  

Tasting - "Arrow Creek Meritage"

Name: Arrow Creek Meritage

Variety: Meritage

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $11.99

Winery review: "This Meritage embraces nuanced aromas of cassis and blackberry with delicate, soft, sweet red fruit notes.  This wine exhibits complex aromas and a balanced, long finish."

My review: Strong nose, but has a very light, smooth palate and a medium finish.  Full of red fruit flavors.  This was a pretty good red wine, and I would definitely try it again.

Tasting - "Da Vinci Chianti"

Name: Da Vinci Chianti

Variety: Chianti

Region: Chianti

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $13.99

Winery review: "Crimson red with intense aromas of ripe fruit and flavors of fresh strawberry and plum."

My review: Intense nose, even more so than the Clos du Bois red blend.  Seems to go straight to the very strong finish, with not much time for flavor inbetween, so I tried taking a very small sip and got a short cherry palate.  This was too strong for my liking. 

Tasting - "Clos du Bois Rouge Red Blend"

Name: Clos du Bois Rouge Red Blend

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Charbono

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $9.99

Winery review: "Sumptuous and velvety, made in a sweeter style, and expressing aromas and flavors of red currant, blackberry and plum balanced with chocolate, vanilla and spice.  A crowd-pleaser, perfect for your house red or as a dinner party wine."

My review: This wine has a surprisingly strong nose, almost too powerful.  Very dry palate with fruity notes, possibly plum, but not a very long finish.  Overall I'm not a big fan of this one, and probably won't be having it again.

Tasting - "Jacob's Creek Classic Shiraz"

Name: Jacob's Creek Classic Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Barossa Valley

Country: Australia

Year: 2013

Price: $8.49

Winery review: "A medium bodied wine with plum, pepper and spicy fruit flavors with subtle hints of toasted oak."

My review: Right away noticed a very purple color to it.  Has a very spicy, pepper nose.  Bold flavored, rich and oaky with some slight fruity notes.  Very strong finish.  I liked this a lot, the rich flavor and spicy nose worked well together.

Tasting - "Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc"

Name: Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Marlborough

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2014

Price: $10.99

Winery review: "Clean, fresh and easy drinking.  Lovely tropical fruit flavors."

My review: I thought this was a very good sauvignon blanc.  True to its description, it was very easy drinking with almost no finish but a very crisp, light taste.  I tasted this chilled, and found it had a strong pear nose and a very tart taste as soon as it hits the tongue.  A light, fruity palate lead to a very mild, slightly biter finish.  I would absolutely try this wine again, and would like to try other Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand as well.  

Tasting - "Dancing Bull Red Zinfandel"

Name: Dancing Bull Zinfandel

Variety: Red Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $8.99

Winery review: "Our zinfandel is bright, zesty and bursting with flavors of black cherry and raspberry with just the right amount of spice."

My review: Similar to the Kendall-Jackson red wine blend I tasted, this wine was not bad, but was a bit too spicy for my taste.  The nose gives way to strong cherry and berry flavors, with a bold fruity and spicy palate.  It had a medium finish with a kick of spice at the end.  I don't think I'll be trying it again, simply because I prefer fruit flavors to spicy ones in wine.

Tasting - "Candoni Pinot Noir"

Name: Candoni Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $8.99

Winery review: "Offers scents of red and black currants in combination with refined notes of vanilla.  It is a ruby-red color that resembles the lush shade of wild berries."

My review: I don't have much to say about this wine, it smelled and tasted very "winey" and I didn't get much cherry, currant or berry flavors out of it.  This definitely seemed like a 'cheap' wine that would probably be good for cooking with and not much else. 

Tasting - "Kendall-Jackson Summation Red Wine Blend"

Name: Kendall-Jackson Summation Red Wine Blend

Variety: 28% Zinfandel, 27% Merlot, 18% Syrah, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Grenache, 2% Petit Verdot.

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $11.99

Winery review: "This red wine blend offers intriguing flavors and aromas: roasted coffee, dark chocolate, pomegranate and black cherry intertwine to offer a multi-layered feel and sumptuous texture."

My review: This wine smells a lot like a Cabernet Sauvignon, with red fruit notes in the nose.  It tasted very tart with cherry and oaky flavors, as well as hints of spice.  The finish was not very strong at all.  This wasn't a bad wine by any means, but it was a little too oaky for my liking.  

Tasting - "Michael David Winery Chardonnay"

Name: Michael David Winery Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $16.99

Winery review: "A beautifully balanced wine with ripe tropical fruit and great, natural acid."

My review: This was a very good chardonnay.  The nose had a very fruity quality, and the taste was very crisp and light.  It didn't have much finish but I didn't really notice it due to the great, refreshing palate.  I would definitely try this again.

Tasting - "Warre's Warrior Porto"

Name: Warre's Warrior Port

Variety: Touriga Nacional

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Year: 2013

Price: $18.99

Winery review: "Warrior is a rich and full-bodied Port and has been matured in our cellars to a mellow balance of wild red-fruit flavours, supported by spicy and elegant tannins with a long and satisfying finish."

My review: Following my review of the Alamos Red Blend which was one of my favorites so far, this is my least favorite wine that I've tried yet.  It was far too sweet and desserty.  It had a spicy nose with hints of berry, and a palate with plum notes but didn't taste acidic in the slightest, and had almost no finish.  I would like to try a Port again in the future, but will be staying away from this one for sure.

Tasting - "Alamos Red Blend"

Name: Alamos Red Blend

Variety: Malbec, Bonarda, Tempranillo

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2013

Price: $8.99

Winery review: "The Alamos Red Blend displays deep, ripe flavors of blackberry and plum with layers of brown spice."

My review: This has been one of my favorites so far.  It has a soft berry nose to start, then a very smooth velvety palate with subtle berry flavors.  The finish has surprising notes of spice, but overall it was a very soft, drinkable wine.

Tasting - "Gallo Family Merlot"

Name: Gallo Family Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $5.99

Winery review: "It blends flavors of black cherry, ripe plum and hints of oak for a velvety richness."

My review: This merlot has a strong fruity nose with a surprisingly smooth cherry palate which I really liked.  It has a very dry finish with some oaky, spicy notes.  This wine was very flavorful, and I would probably try it again.  

Tasting - "Rex-Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Rex-Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $5.89

Winery review: "Our hearty Cabernet is dark and intense - it's long on fruit and short on attitude."

My review: This wine has a very bold nose with a dry fruity palate.  The finish is strong and puckery.  As of right now I'm not as big a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon when it's very dry and strong-flavored, but as my palate becomes more refined I think I will begin to appreciate how dry a Cabernet like this can be. 

Tasting - "Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $8.99

Winery review: "Our Cabernet Sauvignon features aromas of strawberry, cherry and cola while identical flavors give way to a silky, soft palate that culminates in a long velvety finish."

My review: Strong, bold cherry nose.  Flavors give way to a very dry cherry and berry palate.  Has a long finish with not much bite to it, much softer and less bitter than other Cabernet Sauvignon I've tried.

Tasting - "Edna Valley Vineyard Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Edna Valley Vineyard Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $11.99

Winery review: "Our Cabernet Sauvignon offers rich blackberry flavors lined with cedar and spice notes."

My review: This cabernet sauvignon had a very rich berry nose right away, followed by strong berry flavors with oaky notes in the palate.  When the wine first hit my tongue it had a smooth texture to it, but then had a sharp finish.  I don't think I'll try this one again, it was far too dry for my liking and had too much berry flavoring.

Tasting - "Cupcake Vineyards Central Coast Pinot Noir"

Name: Cupcake Vineyards Central Coast Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $7.99

Winery review: "Aroma of cherries carries through the palate with a touch of red currants and a hint of spices.  It's reminiscent of a cherry cupcake with currant coulis."

My review: This was one of the more bold Pinot Noir's I've tried so far.  Immediately I sensed a very strong cherry nose, followed by a bold, tangy cherry taste with hints of cranberry.  Unlike others I've tried, this pinot noir didn't have a very strong finish.  It seemed that most of the flavor came out at the start of the tasting.  As ridiculous as it sounds, I was eating beef jerky when I tried this just as a separate snack, but it seemed to actually enhance the cherry flavors in the wine, so I would imagine that this wine would pair very well with any type of red meat.  

Tasting - "Woodbridge Lightly Oaked Chardonnay"

Name: Woodbridge Lightly Oaked Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $7.99

Winery review: "Displays delicate floral aromas complemented by crisp flavors of citrus and green apple."

My review: Even just after opening the bottle I was hit with a very strong green apple scent.  After pouring a glass, I also found floral tones in the nose.  Has a crisp, tart and dry pallet full of green apple flavor, with soft bitter finish.  I really liked this chardonnay, it was refreshing and crisp, I would definitely try it again.

Tasting - "Gnarly Head Merlot"

Name: Gnarly Head Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $7.99

Winery review: "Classic, supple and anything but shy - lush, velvety tannins frame rich black cherry, blackberry, ripe plum, sweet herbs and a hint of spice."

My review: Definitely has a rich fruity nose with plum and cherry scents.  Full of berry and plum flavors, very fruity all-around.  Had a medium tart finish.  Overall I thought this was pretty good, I liked it better than the last Merlot I tried since it was less oaky and more fruity.

Tasting - "Yellow Tail Shiraz"

Name: Yellow Tail Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Yenda

Country: Australia

Year: 2014

Price: $5.99

Winery review: "It's approachable, fresh, flavorsome and has a personality all of its own."

My review: The bottle says mulberry and spice with smooth vanilla but I got none of that in this wine.  I got more of an apple scent in the nose with a berry pallet.  Definitely didn't like this wine, but what did I expect for 6 dollars? Won't be having it again.

Tasting - "The Williamsburg Winery Virginia Merlot"

Name: Williamsburg Winery Virginia Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $19.00

Winery review: "A complex well-balanced wine, aged primarily in French oak for 14 months, rich in fruit character with hints of cedar and spice."

My review: This is the first wine I've tasted where I've understood what "oaky" meant.  The nose and palette both have strong oaky qualities.  Unlike the winery description, I don't get a lot of rich fruit character.  Rather, the taste is slightly spicy and oaky, with a medium, spicy finish.

Tasting - "Fontana Candida Frascati"

Name: Fontana Candida Frascati

Variety: Malvasia

Region: Frascati

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $8.00

Winery review: "This wine has a delicate bouquet of wildflowers and fruit, a characteristic taste, fresh and distinctive, with just a hint of almond."

My review: I noticed a distinct pear scent in the nose.  This wine was chilled when I tried it, and was very refreshing and crisp, easy to drink.  It had a dry texture with floral tones.  I would try this wine again based solely on its crisp, refreshing qualities.

Tasting - "Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha"

Name: Borsao Tres Picos

Variety: Garnacha

Region: Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Price: 18.99

Winery review: "The grapes for this exceptional wine were harvested from old vine Garnacha vineyards that cling to rugged terrain on the slopes of the famous Moncayo mountain.  Low yields of less than two tons per acre produce a rich deeply colored and aromatic wine with concentrated flavors of blackberries, strawberries and nuances of leather, vanilla and plums."

My review: This wine has a strong cherry-scented nose with slight hints of vanilla.  The palette, however, is much different from the nose with a strong fruity, berry taste.  This is the first wine I've experienced where the smell and taste are noticeably different from each other.  The finish is sweet, strong and fruity.  I enjoyed this wine a lot and would definitely have it again. 

Tasting - "Redwood Creek California Malbec"

Name: Redwood Creek

Variety: Malbec

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2014

Price: $6.00

Winery review: "Plush flavors of dark fruit coupled with hints of maple and star anise give our Malbec a velvet finish."

My review: Right away I got a very sweet , light, cherry/possibly plum smell.  It has a rich fruity and sugary taste, and a surprisingly smooth finish.  The smell and flavor are soft and smooth, which must explain why it is described as having a velvet finish.  Not a big fan of this one, it was too sweet for me.  I'll try another Malbec in the future to see if that's a property of the grape or just this wine.  

Tasting - "Pinetti Notte Puglia Zinfandel"

Name: Pinetti Notte

Variety: Zinfandel (red)

Region: Puglia

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $6.00

Winery review: "The quintessential Zinfandel exhibits a velvety richness and depth of flavor.  Earthy aromas reveal bright cherry and blackberry with a subtle hint of white pepper."

My review: Very bold smell, I can definitely sense the cherry/fruity nose.  Flavor is fruity and dry, but has a smooth texture.  The finish is strong and seems slightly spicy, which must be the "subtle hint of white pepper."  Overall, it was good, but I would like to try a more expensive Zinfandel to compare the flavors and texture with this one.

Background

This blog will document my experience with wine tasting.  By trying a wide variety of wines, I hope to expand my ability to sense the many flavors present in a wine.  I've always thought that surely a small bit of wine tasting and reviews is made up, and there was no way a wine could have "blackberry notes with hints of eucalyptus."  However, even as I'm just starting out with wine tasting, I've been surprised in my capability of singling out different flavors.

Up to this point, I had always preferred the taste of white wine to red.  It always seemed much more refreshing and crisp, and less "winey" like red can be.  However, I began to try a glass of red wine with dinner every now and then, and the taste has begun to appeal to me much more.  Over the course of this semester, I hope to find a favorite type of red and white wine and be able to describe them accurately.  Right now, my favorite grape is a pinot noir, but there are still many others for me to try.  I will post my review of tastings for five different wines a week, and I expect that I will quickly be able to discern different notes and flavors in wine.