Tasting - Gascon Malbec

Name: Gascon
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2016
Price: $15
Professional Review (from vivino): The Gascon Malbec a very good starting point for those getting their feet wet with Malbec. The oak influence is almost non-existent but comes through as a nice velvety texture on the palate. The nose is ripe with berry fruits both red and blue and has plenty of violet notes as well. The palate lacks depth but the wine is still there and is easy to enjoy. Paired with a nice seared steak, the Gascon Malbec should shine
My Review: I was excited to begin trying malbecs, and this was the one that was recommended to me to start. I really enjoyed this wine. It was very well balanced and had some rich dark fruits on the nose that came out excellently on the palate. The finish was the perfect length and still smooth, without being too acidic. I will definitely buy this wine again. The best thing about it was the fullness of body while stay maintaining an effortless drink. 

Tasting- Prophecy Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Prophecy
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2016
Price: $14
Professional Review (from kenswineguide): This almost clear in colored Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand opens with a bouquet with lots of green grass and hints of grapefruit, pleasant minerality, lychee and peach. On the palate, it is very pleasant and displays nicely integrated acidity and minerality. The flavor profile is bright lime, green apple, and grapefruit. It finishes dry and would pair nicely with grilled swordfish.

My Review: I thought this wine fell a little short. It seemed flat, and while it was sweet without being syrupy, it seemed to just be warm alcohol juice. There was a bit of unidentifiable fruit but overall tasted very much like a traditional cheap wine (even cheaper than its $14 price tag). The balance was alright, it just seemed to not have a lot of balance in the body or finish well. It was tart on the nose, something that did not continue through to the palate. 

Dinner Blog

1st Course - Vegetable Dip
w/ 2016 Dr. G Dry Riesling

I wanted to try a Riesling so I tried to pick a dry one that would complement both the citrus/creaminess of the dip and the rooty hints from the vegetables. The crispness of this Riesling went well with the chilled dip, but the dip's acidity became too pronounced in contrast with the wine. The best combination was with the sliced cucmbers, most likely because the baseness (while still chilled and refreshing) of them. The citrus from the lemon did not set up well with the riesling and seemed a bit overpowering.



2nd Course - Greek Lemon Chicken and Brussel Sprouts
w/ 2017 Chenin Blanc (from South Africa)

The wine was moderately dry, with a slight tartness. It was balanced very well and I think it was the best-tasting wine. At least the pairing with this dish was set up the best. The wine was very light and was buttery. The butter was not in a chardonnay way but more butterscotch and was incredibly well balanced with the sauce of the dish. The buttery, citrusy sauce also set up nicely with the very slight tartness of the Chenin Blanc. The balance carried into the body of the wine, and the mix of the light chicken matched the drink in terms of feel. Neither one overpowered the other. If the wine had any more of an alcohol taste it would have been too much. The only thing that would have made this pairing is a slight increase in the buttery sense in the wine. Any other flavors would have thrown me off from the balance.




3rd Course - Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Pie
w/ 2016 Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon

This was a very peculiar pairing, with the wine having a particular set of flavors that I was not expecting. Most apparent was the cinnamon coming from it. This was on the nose but reminded more of a broken stick of cinnamon than of the spice itself. There were also some large notes of cherry and blackberry with this wine, two things that were complemented by the richness of the dessert. The balance was pleasant but would have been ideal if the wine was a little fuller. It was light enough to be enjoyable but did not have a long finish and compared to the pie seemed thin. Additionally, there was some minimal nutmeg in the aftertaste which was also set up nicely with the pie. Overall, its seems that this pairing was very pleasing in terms of complimentary palates, but the balance of both items' body could have been improved. Strangely, this wine brought forward the citrus tastes from the earlier two courses but not as much of the chocolate from the course at hand.

Tasting- Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc

•Name: Cupcake 

•Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

•Region: Marlborough

•Country: New Zealand

•Year: 2017 

•Price: $11 

•Shop/wine critic/winery review "Subtle stone fruit and delicate floral tones lead into a heavier-than-expected palate. There's a touch of residual sugar here amidst the fleshy stone fruit characters, with a brisk, short finish."

•Your review: I had a couple friends' parents who, while avid wine drinkers, are oddly affectionate of this Cupcake wine. I had to give it a shot and keep an open mind. It was definitely pleasing, and I have to see why it would be so wildly popular. It is very simple, with a shallow taste profile of crisp citrus. But I will say that it seemed very balanced. I did not notice very much acidity or sweetness at all, but at least neither one stood out to me in a negative way. 

Tasting - Altos Del Plata

•Name: Altos del Plata 

•Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Argentina

•Year:2016

•Price: $10

•Shop/wine critic/winery review "This is an easy drinking, low priced Cab that works very well as a $5 happy hour wine. Medium bodied, soft mouthfeel, with woody palate and flavors of blackberries, plums, leather, mocha, and light oak. Firm tannins and mild acidity."

•Your review: For how cheap this wine was, I was impressed. It was smooth and not very acidic. Instead of well-balanced I would say that it is a little flat. It does not feel very full bodied and seems to fall out from start to finish. Taste-wise it was enjoyable, very dark fruit forward. I liked this for what it was, but it lands about exactly as one would expect for a ten-buck-cab. 

Tasting - Robert Mondavi

•Name: Robert Mondavi Private Selection 

•Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

•Region: Monterey County

•Country: United States

•Year: 2017

•Price:$12

•Shop/wine critic/winery review (From vivino):

Deep purple in color with cherries, oak and vanilla on the nose. The bourbon barrel oak really comes alive in your mouth. Slightly sweet, with flavors of cherries, minerals, tobacco and toasted almonds. The tannins are present but not overwhelming. Nice complexity for such a young wine. 

•Your review: For $12, I was really impressed with this bottle. It was aged in Bourbon barrels, which is the reason I wanted to try it origninally. It was a bit sour and bitter, with some pucker going on. But the flavor of the bourbon and the rich cherry made this very enjoyable. It was the first bottle I purchased at the grocery store after the Oklahoma laws were changed, and I was pleased to taste such a deal. I would definitely buy this again.