Wine and Cheese Pairing #2

One of my friends and our delicious spread.

Last Tuesday, my two friends and I decided to get together and have a wine and cheese pairing! We each contributed one wine and wine cheese and tried them together. The wines we brought were: Starborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Hedgeline Vineyards Merlot 2014, and a Yosemite Road Cabernet Sauvignon in which we paired with the cheeses: herb chevre goat cheese, creamy muenster, and a sharp cheddar. 

From left to right: Merlot, Cabernet
Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

From left to right: goat cheese,
 muenster, and cheddar cheese.

 The first pairing was the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc with the herb goat cheese. By itself, the Sauvignon Blanc had a very sweet and floral scent. The taste was very light and refreshing, with hints of tulip and pear. It had a medium acidity and was slightly dry. When paired with the creamy goat cheese the acidity was canceled out. The two paired very well together and I would definitely have these together again. 

The red wines: Hedgeline Vineyards Merlot
and Yosemeite Road Cabernet Sauvignon. 

 Next we moved on to the reds. The first red pairing was the 2015 Hedgeline Vineyards Merlot with the muenster cheese. I was very excited to try Merlot because, despite its popularity, I'm not too familiar with the crowd-pleaser. The smell was rather earthy and woody. The taste was full of spices, and dark fruits like cherry. It had a slightly dry finish, but it was very smooth. I am extremely fond of this Merlot and am looking forward to try more! When paired with the muenster, the flavors were enhanced. The muenster tasted even more buttery and the spices, like black pepper and cloves were heightened. This was my personal favorite out of the three pairings. 

My friend and I enjoying our wine
and cheese!

The last pairing was the Yosemite Road Cabernet Sauvignon and the sharp cheddar cheese. The Cabernet had aromas of dark fruit-cherry and blackberry and almost a plasticy tar scent. The taste was very sweet and fruity. The sharpness in the cheese definitely overpowered the wine, but it reduced the bitterness of the wine. I think the sharp cheddar was too strong for the wine, but it did bring out more of the spices in the wine. 


Overall we had a great time experimenting and hanging out. I'm so glad I got to try another Merlot and look forward to trying more wines and cheeses! :)

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Ca' Bea

Name: Ca' Bea Sangue di Guida
Variety: 45% Uva Rara, 10% Barbera, 25% Croatina
Region: Oltrepo Pavese
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $9.95

Product Description: "Off-dry with a slight fizz, offering bright berry and mineral notes. Medium-bodied, with a clean, fresh palate and fruity finish. This is a rare, sweet red wine that is wonderful with desserts such as dry pastries, cookies and cakes."

My Review: This wine was very sweet. It smelled strongly of fresh berries with a earthy hint. It was very refreshing and the sweetness was not overpowering. I thought it was very smooth despite the slight bubbly-ness. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Alvarez de Toledo

Name: Alvarez de Toledo Mencia Roble
Variety: Mencia
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $14 (Sale $8.95)

Product Description: 91 Points – Robert Parker
“The 2009 Alvarez de Toledo was bottled just a week before the wine was presented but seems to be showing no symptoms of distress. Balsamic, leather, and black fruits are the principal notes struck by this suave effort that over-delivers in a big way. Like its older sibling, it can be enjoyed now but will have more to say in 2-3 years.”

My Review: This wine was the first that I could distinctly taste leather hints. It smelled slightly fruity and earthy. The taste was of dark cheery and worn leather. It was smooth on the mouth and surprisingly very good. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Codirosso

Name: Codirosso Chianti
Variety: 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo, 3% Colorino
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $13 (Sale $7.95)

Product Description: 87 Points – Robert parker
A heck of a value in Chianti, this delicious blend of 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo and 3% Colorino offers up notes of licorice, new saddle leather, black cherry and berry fruit, loamy soil undertones and a touch of pepper and herbs. It is medium-bodied, savory and best drunk over the next several years."

My Review: The smell of this wine was very different than most I've tried. It was pretty woody and earthy. It tasted of dark fruits with earthy wood hints and herbs. 

Vintage Wine Cellar Tasting - The Royal

Name: The Royal Old Vines Steen
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $8.95

Product Description: 87 Points – Robert Parker
"The 2015 Chenin Blanc offers loads of melony fruit interspersed with hints of honeysuckle and peach. It is delicious, crisp, fresh, lively, and a dead ringer for a good Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Drink it over the next year."

My Review: This wine had scents of strong fruity aromas, specifically peach and apple. The taste was fruity, but not as fruity as it smelled. I got hints of melon and some lemon. The body was light and slightly dry. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Barão de Figueira

Name: Barão de Figueira Vinho Branco
Variety: Siria
Region: Beira
Country: Portugal
Year: 2014
Price: $12 (Sale $6.95)

Product Description: "84 Points – Wine Enthusiast
This wine is soft and rounded. It has lemon and light spiciness along with cool acidity. It is an easy wine that is ripe with apple and fresh lemon juice and ready to drink.
"

My Review: I thought this wine was very light and citrus tasting. It smelled of lemons and limes. I thought the acidity was a little overwhelming but the nice fruity taste balanced it out. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling
Region: California 
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $5.95

Product Description: "Pale golden color. Ripe and dried peaches on the nose. Minerals and dried peach flavors. Nicely balanced, leaning towards lime acididty."

My Review: It smelled very very sweet, so I was surprised that it did not taste extremely sweet. It was medium-sweet with large hints of peach and apricot. It was slightly acidic with a nice refreshing finish. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Vinedos Real Rubio Rioja Crianza

Name: Vinedos Real Rubio Rioja Crianza
Variety: Rioja
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $16 (Sale $9.95)

Product Description: "90 Points – Wine Enthusiast
Lightly baked berry aromas vie for attention with leather, spice and mild earth notes, and the result is disjointed. On the palate, this is tight as a drum initially, but more expansive as it unfolds. Cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and woodspice flavors finish pure, clean and easy. This is a fine yet manageable Rioja that’s not trying too hard. Drink through 2016."

My Review: This wine had strong herbal and earthy scents. It tasted of dark berries-specifically cherry and plum. It also had hints of wood that paired nicely with the berry flavor. It was medium bodied and easy to drink. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Barao de Figueira

Name: Barao de Figueira, Tino Reserva 2013
Variety: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Franca
Region: Beira
Country: Portugal
Year: 2014
Price: $12 (Sale $7.95)

Product Description: "86 Points – Wine Enthusiast Best Buy
From vineyards at 2000 feet elevation, this is a rich and spicy wine that has a pure streak of fruit freshness and a firmly tannic core. It is perfumed from Touriga Nacional in the blend, with red berry and black plum flavors coming through strongly along, balanced by acidity. It will be better from 2017."

My Review: This wine was very plummy scented with slight hints of spices and dark cherry. The taste was very different then the scent. It was very smokey and woody. I got a hint of cigar smoke that was very interesting. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Garnacha de Fuego

Name: Old Vines Grenache, Garnacha de Fuego
Variety: Grenache
Region: Aragon
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $10 (Sale $2.95)

Product Description: "The Garnacha de Fuego Rose is a solid effort that has a light salmon color to go with notions of cherry blossom, orange peel and herbs de Provence. Medium-bodied, supple, fresh easy-drinking, and an outstanding value at $3."

My Review: This wine was very light and bitter. It was very floral and slightly dry. I personally thought this wine was too bitter and not enjoyable. 

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting - Ribolla Gialla

Name: Villa Vitas 
Variety: Ribolla Gialla
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $18 (Sale $6.95)

Product Description: "87 Points – Robert Parker
The 2014 Ribolla Gialla shows more minerality, nice quince, white currant and citrus oil notes, a dry, refreshing mouthfeel and a fragrant bouquet."

My Review: This wine had a very lemony, citrus scent. Taste was floral-like with hints of peach and spice (cinnamon or cardamon possible). It was light and fresh on the mouth.  

Wine Tasting - Wilson Creek Malbec

Name: Wilson Creek
Variety: Malbec
Region: Temecula Valley, California
Country: US
Year: 2009
Price: $55

Product Description: "This Malbec follows more in the traditional Bordeaux style with a clean leanness back by clear delicate fruit reminiscent of blackberries. Tannins are soft but controlled adding to the wines structure. This Malbec displays subtle light tones of American and French Oak - vanilla. Aromas of cedar, raspberry and rose are light to the nose."

My Review: This Malbec was very sweet, that had very nice vanilla flavors that balanced out the sweet fruit flavors. Smell consisted of very woody aromas and dark berry. Not very tannic with a smooth finish. Definitely enjoyed this Malbec. 

Wine Tasting - Candoni Prosecco

Name: Candoni Prosecco Brut
Variety: Sparkling wine: 100% Prosecco 
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $13

Product Description: "Delicate and fruity with a hint of honey, Candoni Prosecco is crisp and clean in the mouth. It has a pleasant acidity level that leaves behind a delicious and persistent freshness with a dry, well-balanced finish."

My Review: Smell of citrus and sweet fruit. Taste of apple and pear with high acidity. Very dry finish that is almost overpowering. Personally it was too dry for me as I prefer a sweeter Prosecco. 

Wine Tasting - J Pinot Gris

Name: J Pinot Gris
Variety: Pinot Gris 
Region: California
Country: US
Year: 2014
Price: $14.99

Product Description: "This wine truly represents some of the best California locations for Pinot Gris. This Pinot Gris offers a delightful bouquet of pear, Meyer lemon and tropical/pineapple fruit. The lush mouthfeel bursts with flavors of ripe pear and sweet orange blossom honey, then finishes with a distinct minerality. A swath of lemon-lime on the palate highlights the fruit and acid."

My Review: This wine was very refreshing. It had bursts of lemony and pear flavors. It was very light and fruity with a big sting of acidity. 

Wine Tasting - Louis Jadot Beaujolais

Name: Louis Jadot Beaujolais 
Variety: Gamay
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Product Description: "This wine is fruity although it also has weight and a rich strand of spice and red plum-skin tannins. This 100% Gamay could age at least until early 2016, although one can just drink it now."

My Review: I loved this wine. It smelled of dark red cherry and plum with a hint of spice. Taste was smooth and of medium tannin. Tasted of berries, but not very sweet, slightly acidic. Left a semi-dry finish. 

Wine Tasting - Francis Coppola Black Label Claret

Name: Francis Coppola 2014 Black Label Claret
Variety: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot 
Region: Napa Valley California
Country: US
Year: 2014
Price: $21

Product Description: "Our prize offering, the ultra premium Claret, sports a label that honors the first Cabernet Sauvignon blended in a Bordeaux style by Gustave Niebaum in 1910. Claret is a term originally coined by the British to describe Cabernet-based wines. This Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc blend is alluring and sophisticated; it is memorably lush with a tapestry of smooth tannins and succulent flavors of wild berries, plum and anise. Borrowing tradition of European wineries, we add gold netting to bottle to signify outstanding quality of wine."

My Review: Had an aroma consisting of dark berries with hints of flower. Very smooth mouthfeel, strong tannins, with a slightly dry finish. Taste consisting of dark raspberry and cherry. I also got hints of an oaky and woody taste. Overall really enjoyed this bottle, and would recommend. 

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Alvaro Domecq Sherry

Name: Alvaro Domecq Aranda Cream Sherry
Variety: Sherry
Region: Jerez
Country: Spain
Year: N/A
Price: $20 (Sale: $9.95)

Product Description: "Youthful and raisiny, this is a fresh style of cream sherry. Appetising flavours of marmalade bread and butter pudding. Alcohol level: 18.00%"

My Review: Smell was overpowering of strong alcohol. Taste was surprisingly sweet with a nice creamy, buttery sherry to finish. Hints of dried fig, overpowered by sherry alcohol taste. 

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Layer Cake Garnacha

Name: Layer cake
Variety: Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $18 (Sale: $7.95)

Product Description: "Our Layer Cake Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain is rich and powerful, yet clean and balanced. Layered with aromas of ultra ripe black fruit. On the palate, the wine shows intense dark fruit with abackground of rich dark chocolate and fresh ground coffee with a long creamy finish. The intensity of flavor from these ancient vines is beautifully offset by the great freshness from the high-altitude vineyards; the Layer Cake Garnacha is not to be overlooked."

My Review: I got strong aromas of a rich chocolate, when I tasted it I got more of a dark chocolate palate with a side of raspberry. I also got hints of mocha--delicious. 

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Fossi Rosso

Name: Fossi Rosso
Variety: Merlot, Sangiovese, Negroamaro
Region: Fiesole
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $18 (Sale: $7.95)

Product Description: "Fresh, bright red fruit on the nose leads to clean flavors of black cherry and strawberry."

My Review: Smelled of raspberry and cherry. Taste was fruity--dark red fruits with hints of oaky or wood. 

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Nugan Chardonnay

Name: Nugan Pie in the Sky
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: South Eastern
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $15 (Sale: $7.95)

Product Description: "Pale straw with a youthful green hue. Crisp aromas of citrus and melon. Fresh, fruit driven palate of melon and white peach with all spice nuances and subtle hints of integrated oak leading to a crisp dry finish"

My Review: Smelled of citrus fruit with a more herby aroma. Taste was very buttery with hints of peach. Very dry finish on the mouth. 

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Invino Si Pinot Grigio

Name: Invino Si
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $14 (Sale: $5.95)

Product Description: "The fashionable Pinot Grigio with a fresh, fruit driven style that’s crisp and refreshing. Easy to enjoy by itself, but pairs well with light dishes, seafood and cheeses."

My Review: Smelled sweet, citrusy. Taste was very crisp and slightly dry. Hints of apple and citrus. 

Dinner - Zeppolis (Italy)

Every other Wednesday, Zeppoli's hosts wine tastings which typically includes 10-12 wines paired with a light dinner. Last Wednesday (February 28th) my friend and I attended "An Italian Journey with Jim Hutton." This was different from their typical wine tastings, serving only eight but more expensive wines and small plates for $24. Jim Hutton is from Vias Imports in Alexandria, VA.

Zeppoli's outside shot

Inside Zeppoli's wine bar with the wine server.

Here are the eight wines we tasted, from left to right in the order they were served. We started out with the whites: Prosecco, Cortese, then Greco Di Turfo. Followed by the reds in order: Nero D'Avola Terre Siciliane, Nebbiolo, Rubiolo Chianti, and then Brunello Di Montalcino. We finished up with a delicious dessert Moscato. 

The first wine we tasted was Le Dolci Colline Prosecco Brut, a non-vintage wine from Veneto, Italy. This wine has an abv of 11.5% that is very acidic and citrus-like. It was very fresh and crisp, with hints of apple and freshly cut grass or hay. It was paired with a lemon-garlic muscle, that brought out the fresh clean taste in the wine with the citrusy lemon. 

Here is my friend and our second pairing: a 2015 Castelvero Piemonte Cortese accompanied by cantaloupe topped with mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. The wine was more tart than the other white and very fruity. It was very refreshing and when paired with the fruit it was an excellent light starter. The tanginess in the wine was nicely balanced out by the creamy mozzarella and sweet cantaloupe, the acidic balsamic brought it all together for an explosive flavor blend!

The third pairing: Terredora di Paolo Greco di Tufo Loggia della Serra 2015 with a crostini topped with marinated mushrooms a creamy marsala sauce. This wine was very aromatic, with a very fruity taste--specifically apricot and citrus. It was very acidic and my favorite of the whites. The mushroom crostini brought out the herbs in both the dish and the wine. 

Fourth pairing: Purato Nero D'Avola Terre Siciliane 2015 with salmon topped with a spinach spread and grilled artichokes. The wine itself I thought had hints of cherry, almost a limestone taste--very spicy and slightly tannic. The buttery salmon paired very nicely with the lighter red. This red was medium-bodied that complimented the rich salmon. 










Fifth pairing: Damilano Marghe Nebbiolo Langhe 2013, a wine from Piedmont, Italy, paired with a buttery eggplant parmesan. The Nebbiolo smelled of dark berry with herb and branch aromas. When I tasted it I had an overpowering taste of fresh flowers, almost like an epiphany wine. I felt like I could almost taste a freshly picked flower, specifically rose with an almost chemical hint. The eggplant really brought out the floral taste that was very complimentary of the wine. 

Sixth pairing: Gagliole Rubiolo Chianti Classico 2013, from Tuscany, Italy paired with a delicious pesto manicotti shell. The Chianti smelled heavily of dark berries, and tasted like dark blackberry and cherry with a spicy, leathery finish. Paired with the rich manicotti and vibrant pesto enhanced the spices in the wine, resulting in an explosion of flavor. 

Seventh pairing: Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino 2011, from Tuscany, Italy paired with Italian sausage and feta crostini sandwich. This was my absolute favorite pairing, both the food and the wine were amazing. The wine had a matured fruit smell and fresh flowers. It tasted of ripened cherry and plum with hints of cinnamon and clove spice. The meaty, melt-in-your-mouth sausage and creamy warm feta blended together with the wine creating a cozy Italian party! The crusty crostini sandwich brought out a velvety taste to the wine that I completely loved. I don't typically like sausage but I would come back again for this combo (minus the $65 wine cost though). 

Final pairing: Marenco Strev Moscato d'Asti 2015, from Piedmont, Italy paired with a banana french toast cake topped with creamed cheese and fresh strawberry and banana. The Moscato smelled fragrantly of sweet citrus fruit with bright herb. The taste was a magnificent blend of apricot, peach, and lemony herb with an exotic citrus finish. This was the most amazing way to finish a meal. The warm french toast dessert was absolutely mouth watering and the moscato offered a sweet-refreshing finish.





I had the most amazing experience at Zeppolis and would like to return for their normal menu. The food was absolutely delicious and paired perfectly with the wines chosen. Can't wait for my next visit here!