Wine Dinner #3

On Thursday, April 25th after class, five of us Geography of Wine students got together and made a delicious meal! Four of us knew each other back when we were just freshmen living in Peddrew-Yates as leadership students. It was wonderful to get back together and raise our glasses to our near completion of these four great years! There were three courses and each was paired with a wine.

Left to Right: Jacob, Matt, Me, Matt, Brian

1. Romaine Salad with Caesar Vinaigrette, Cucumbers, Kalamata Olives, Mushrooms, Red Bell Pepper, and Croutons. This first course was paired with a Vinho Verde from Portugal, of course.

Course 1: Caesar Vinaigrette Salad

 Espiral Vinho Verde
Variety: "selected native grape varieties from this region"
Region: Northern
Country: Portugal
Year: 2009
Price: $4.99

 Critic Review: "Good yellow color. Almost beyond frizzante with a little extra carbonation that does eventually fade as the bottle gets enjoyed. Nose is citrus (lemon and star fruit), dandelion, honey, and salty, wet rocks, rather beach-like. Subtle undertones of grass. Big lemon attack. Dry minerality, yet also sweet. Walks a fine line between dry and sweet. Very nice. Tart finish that surprisingly lasts and lasts, turning a little more sweet than dry, yet STILL retaining that wet mineral effect. The “lemonade” of wine, in a good way. Not overly complex, nor should it be."

My Review: This is one of my all time favorites. It was one of the first I legally drank with my Mom at home in Arlington, VA and we frequently pick up a few bottles each time we visit our favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's. I went home earlier this month and picked up two. This wine paired beautifully with the salad we had because it is light and attacks the powerful caesar dressing. It cleanses the palate, leaving me ready for the next bite. It is big on the lemon flavor and is not too sweet nor too dry for my liking. I love it to say the very least!

2. Chicken Marsala with Linguine paired with a 2011 Chardonnay that was recommended by the Vintage Cellar.

Course 2: Chicken Marsala and Linguine

Gen 5 Chardonnay

Variety: 91% Chardonnay, 6% Semillon, 3% Viognier
Region: Central Valley, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $12.00

Critic Review: "Light yellow color; tart citrus, lemon nose; lightly oily textured, tangy, tart lime, mineral palate highly influenced by the Semillon in the blend; medium-plus finish (91% Chardonnay, 6% Semillon, 3% Viognier; 25% aged 6 mos in French and American oak)."

My Review: I'm not a huge fan of Chardonnay, as we've stated. However, I think that this particular one complimented the flavors of mushroom and Marsala wine well. It smelled of citrus before sipping and then seemed to be composed of what I think are pretty typical taste descriptors of Chardonnay - mineral and butter.  Of course, I didn't love it, but it was nice to have something that complimented the flavors of the chicken well. I wouldn't sip on this by itself but it was decent with food.

3. Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Sea Salt paired with a Casteggio Sangue Di Guida Dessert Wine that was also recommended by the Vintage Cellar.

Course 3: Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Casteggio Sangue Di Giuda
Variety: 80% Croatina, 20% Uva Rara
Region: Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $7.99

Critic Review: "This red is aromatic, fresh, with ripe cherry and hints of blackberry and other fruit and there is also a delicious savory aspect to this wine. Casteggio "Oltrepo Pavese" Sangue di Giuda 2010 is a sparkler made from 80% Croatina, 20% Uva Rara. There is a density to this luscious wine and an overwhelming impression of freshness and fine fruit. The light tannins help to give the wine structure. In addition to this wine being a magnificent pairing with dessert, it would be a wonderful accompaniment to any meat dish, from a beautiful roast to a plate of thinly sliced beef Carpaccio."

My Review: I'm not big on dessert wines but this one REALLY surprised me. It was the perfect amount of sweet for the bitterness of the dark chocolate. It was light, bubbly, and refreshing. It smelled of blackberries and other berries and then was extremely fresh and and light tasting. It has a fairly low alcohol content of 7.5%. I enjoyed it a lot though and was thoroughly impressed. I really don't think I could drink any more than a glass though because it is pretty sweet.

Me and my Boyfriend, Matt after dinner.