Dinner - dinner party

I did a dinner party with my parents, and with some other friends. This was my first experience doing a dinner party and I wasn't really sure what to expect. It ended up being really fun though and I'd love to do another one sometime. We had four different wines at dinner. The wines were Da Vinci Chianti, SeaGlass Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de Mirail Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot, and Opera Prima Pink Moscato. These wines were paired with a salad, focaccia bread & pizza bread, green beans, lasagna, and strawberry shortcake.

The first wine we had paired with a salad. The wine is a Sauvignon Blanc is a 2012 from California in the Santa Barbra County. The wine had a slight grass smell to it, but there was definite citrus on the nose. There was a citrus taste as well as some definite lemon to it as well. I thought this wine was pretty good and was pretty smooth to drink. The wine didn't change much once I had it with the salad. But it was a nice pairing with the salad because the food compliments the citrus in the wine. 

The second wine we had was paired with the focaccia bread and pizza bread. The wine was Domaine de Mirail Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot from 2011 in the Cotes de Gascogne region of France. This wine had a very faint smell to it, but you could tell there was a slight hint of cherry on the nose. It tasted like it was a sweet red. This wine was a little fruity and slightly dry. The fruit in the wine seemed like it was pear flavored. When paired with the bread, it seemed like the wine became a little more citrusy which was nice. I enjoyed this wine.

The third wine was paired with the green beans and lasagna. The wine was the Da Vinci Chianti from 2011 in the Tuscany region of Italy. This wine had a blackberry or black cherry smell to it. There was also a small hint of vanilla in the smell. It had a dry taste but not too try. There was a slight hint of blackberry when tasting the wine. I enjoyed this wine. After having this wine with food, it added a spice to the wine. The spice wasn't too strong though, so I was still able to enjoy this wine.

The fourth wine was the dessert wine and was paired with the strawberry shortcake. The wine was Opera Prima Moscato from Spain. This wine had a slight fruit smell, and it was kind of a fainter fruit smell. It tasted like strawberries. It was really nice, sweet, and bubbly. I loved this wine. It complimented the dessert really well because the wine wasn't too sweet. The taste didn't change once I tried it with the cake.

I really enjoyed doing this dinner and being able to try new and different kinds of wine. It was something that was really enjoyable and we all would like to try again sometime in the future.

Dinner - Palisades (Grenache Blends)

Every Thursday, Palisades does a food and wine pairing. This week's theme was focused on a Grenache blend. This tasting had a pairing of three different foods with three different wines. The three different Grenache blend wines we were able to try were Honoro Vera, Little James' Basket Press, and Loose End. I went to the Palisades tasting with my parents and one of my friends.

This is the spread of our food and wine for the evening. The first wine we had was a Honoro Vera Grenache paired with a goat cheese salad. The second wine was a Little James' Basket Press Grenache paired with Arbol Chili Pork w/ Rhubarb Chutney. The third wine we had was a Loose End Grenache paired with a roasted shallot chocolate thimble with spicy cherry.




The Honoro Vera Grenache is a 2012 from Spain. This wine had a cherry taste to it, and not much of a peppery hint to it at all. I really enjoyed this wine. When paired with the food, I thought this wine didn't change in taste much. I liked that wine taste stayed the same. This wine was good and I would like to have it again.

This is a picture of my mom and I at the tasting. In my hand I have the Little James' Basket Press Grenache. This Grenache is from 2012 in France. This wine had a black cherry taste to it as well as a subtle hint of spice at the beginning which I liked. Once I tried the wine with the pork, it made the spice and pepper really stand out. The pork had some spice t it as well which I think really brought out the pepper in the wine. Once I tried the wine with the food, the wine was a little to peppery for my taste.

The picture to the left is with my friend Katie. The third wine that we tried was the Loose End Grenache from Australia in 2008. This wine had a light cherry taste to it. It was pretty smooth and slightly dry. This wine was slightly sweet but not too much, so it paired well with the chocolate thimble. I really enjoyed this wine. It was my favorite of the night.




This dinner gave me the opportunity to try some different Grenache blends that I wasn't familiar with and gave me the opportunity to try some food I don't typically eat. I'm glad I was able to attend this dinner.

Tasting-Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Name: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Variety: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle

Region: Sauternes

Country: France

Price: $7.95

Year: 2004

Winery review: Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

My review: This wine had a nice lemon and honey smell to it. The taste had a definite vanilla and melon flavor to it. It was a nice, light, sweet taste to the wine. I think this wine would be paired well with desserts. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Torre Castillo Alegre

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre

Variety: 100% Monastrell

Region: Jumilla

Country: Spain

Price: $9.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: 4 months in new American oak barrels. Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish.

My review: This wine had an interesting smell to it. I thought it smelled like a sweet candy, but it took me awhile to be able to identify the smell. The candy smell was almost like Twizzlers. The wine had a cherry taste with a definite tobacco and smoke taste in it. The taste was not exactly what I was expecting to be paired with the smell of the wine. I'm not a huge fan of the strong smoke taste, so I thought this wine was just okay.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name: Wilson Daniels Merlot

Variety: 100% Merlot

Region: Central Coast California

Country: USA

Price: $7.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is full-bodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with vanilla and toast.

My review: This wine has a blackberry and black cherry smell with a slight hint of smokiness on the nose. There is a black cherry taste to the wine. The wine has a very strong smoke taste to it, which I'm not a huge fan of. This wine is okay.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Name: Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Variety: 100% Barbera

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Price: $6.95

Year: 2012

Winery review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this is an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers.

My review: This wine has a strawberry nose with a hint of cherry. It has a strawberry and floral taste. This wine was acidic but it was fairly light which was nice. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $7.95

Year: 2009

Winery review: This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple and has hints of hibiscus blossoms. The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind. The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more. This wine pairs beautifully with a grilled prawn salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette, veggie spring rolls or grilled tilapia with mango salsa.

My review: This wine had a green apple smell and also a hint of pear as well. The taste had a definite lemon to it and and nice citrusy melon taste to it. It was slightly acidic. I really enjoyed this wine. It would be a nice wine to drink on a nice spring or summer day with the wine being chilled.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Ruta 22 Malbec

Name: Ruta 22 Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

Price: $7.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Stout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas. Despite being a bold and dark Malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Good on the finish with candied fruit and caramel sweetness.

My review: This wine had a blackberry and slightly sweet smell to it. This wine had a blackberry taste to it as well and a slight smoke after taste. This was not my favorite wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Chateau Cerres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Name: Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Variety: Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre

Region: Corbieres

Country: France

Price: $4.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange. Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee. The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla. This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins.

My review: This wine had a slight smell of spice to it. The smell was rather funky and I wasn't a fan of it. There was a hint of coffee in the taste of the wine. It is a full wine and definitely silky. This wine is okay. It didn't have a spice taste like I was expecting, which I liked.

Did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Cresta Azul

Name: Cresta Azul

Variety: Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-o

Region: Vino de Aguja

Country: Spain

Price: $5.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Peach, orange cream and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white. Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish.

My review: A definite peach smell to the wine with a slight hint of orange in it. This wine was nice and bubbly. It has a peach taste to it and is fairly sweet. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting-Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Name: Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Price: $3.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Fresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rose offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy.

My review: This wine had a nice cherry smell to it and some berries in the smell as well. it's pretty light when you first taste the wine. The wine has an herbal after taste. I couldn't really taste any cherry in the wine, which was interesting since it smelled of cherries. I enjoyed this wine. It slightly reminds me of a bubbly Moscato.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Name: Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Price: $3.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Rose salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubble that forms "lace" and "rosary". In the nose is complex and elegant with red fruit, citric, exotic, fresh flowers, and notes of dry fruits and dry flowers. Fresh, gentle, and alive. Perfectly integrated "perlage" with serious and subtle flavors of dry fruits, pomegranate and lemonade. Long lasting scent of flowers and herbs.

My review: Has a metal and copper smell to the wine. It was a smell I hadn't encountered before with all the wines I've tried. It was a bubbly wine with a citrus taste to it as well as a floral taste to the wine. It was just slightly dry but not too much. This wine was okay, but I would not buy it myself.

Did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name: Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Variety: 100% Shiraz

Region: South Eastern

Country: Australia

Price: $9.95

Year: NV

Winery review: A relatively light, fresh style of sparkling Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish. 

My review: A very strong berry smell to the wine. It has mainly a berry taste to it with lots of bubbles in the wine. It is a pretty sweet wine for being a red wine. I was a little surprised when I tried it. I really liked the bubbles in it. I can tell why this wine should be paired with dessert. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha

Variety: 100% Grenache 

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Price: $6.95

Year: 2011

Winery Review: This wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc. 

My review: The first smell is definite raspberry but then the spice kicks in after and has a really strong smell to it. It has a fruity taste to it but with a major spice to it (mainly pepper). It's fruity toward the beginning of the taste, but then the pepper rushes in and hits you. I wasn't a big fan of the pepper taste to the wine and would be okay if I didn't have it again.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Montebuena

Name: Montebuena

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Price: $8.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja.

My review: There is a definite and strong cherry smell to the wine. It is a pretty smooth wine to drink. The wine has a cherry taste to it but a definite smokiness to the wine. I think the cherry is harder to detect because the smokiness overpowers the cherry. I like that this is a red wine that doesn't have much of a spice to it. I thought this wine wasn't bad.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Variety: 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cinsault

Region: Provence

Country: France

Price: $8.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Bright salmon pink; typical of the fresh but warm Provence style. Refined and complex on the nose, with summer fruit and floral notes. Dry and crisp, with a delicate flavor and full texture.

My review: A nice and clear smell. The smell kind of makes me think of the spring with a slight floral smell to it. It is a pretty dry and crisp wine. It has a slight herb taste to it. I can definitely taste the alcohol in it, which I'm not a big fan of. This wine is okay

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $6.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Medium-bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice. Delicious complement to grilled chicken, lighter pasta dishes or mild cheeses.

My review: I thought this wine had a citrus smell to it and I could very faintly pick up a smell of apple to it as well. I thought there was a pear taste to the wine with some slight apple as well. I thought it was interesting that there was no citrus flavor considering the scent was strong. It is not acidic at all, but a slight oak taste at the end. I really enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Potluck Sweet Malbec

Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Price: $7.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Deep red brilliant with violet hints. Complex, fruity, and predominant red fruits. Easy to drink, round with persistent sweetness, very well balanced with sweet tannins.

My review: This wine had a nice sweet and fruit smell to it. I think one of the fruits was a slight smell of raspberry in the wine. When tasting this wine, I thought it was fairly light for a red wine and pretty easy to drink. This wine had some definite sweetness to it, which makes me understand why it is paired with dessert. Even with the sweetness to the wine, it was slightly dry at the end, which I think shows that this is still a red wine. This wine was pretty good.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Domaine de Grange de Payan

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan

Variety: Grenache

Region: Cotes du Rhone

Country: France

Price: $8.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Intensely spicy and precise, with lively red berry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The Grenache, which makes up the majority of the wine, is deeper and more powerful, offering cherry and black raspberry qualities lifted by zesty minerality.

My review: I didn't think this wine had a super strong smell that was easy to pick up with my cold. But I was able to detect a slight raspberry smell to the wine. When I would inhale strongly, I could pick up the smell of pepper to it. When tasting the wine, I detected the flavor of cherry to it. I think it also had a slight pepper or zesty flavor to it as well. Being the same grape as the wine before, I thought this one was not as spicy as the one from Spain. I liked the Spain one better because it didn't have the pepperiness to it.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Tinto Figaro

Name: Tinto Figaro

Variety: 100% Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Price: $6.95

Year: 2009

Winery review: Figaro is 100% Garnacha, made from a selection of the best grapes grown in the oldest vineyards. While not truly an "oaked wine,"a short stay in oak barrels provides a nice spicy flavor boost. Bright violet. Dark berry and cherry aromas show a jammy aspect. Supple and gently sweet, with good lift to its black raspberry and boysenberry flavors. Smooth and broad on the finish, leaving behind a hint of spiciness. Extremely easy to drink and an excellent value.

My review: This wine had a very berry smell to it with cherry really standing out to me in the smell. Once I tasted the wine I realized it was not as fruity as it smells. The taste definitely highlighted a black raspberry flavor in it. The after taste had a spiciness to it, with also a slight smoke taste to it.

I did not try this wine with any food.