Dinner at 622 North

My girlfriend and I decided to go all out for the last wine dinner and went to 622. We had both been there before but weren't prepared or knowledgeable enough to appreciate the good wine. This restaurant is on Main Street but is easily missed since it is not near the true "downtown" area and is right next to El Rods. It has become my favorite restaurant in Blacksburg.

 

I decided to get the wine flight (4 wines) and try to match the appetizer, my main course, and my girlfriend's main course with a different wine, with one wine as a wildcard. I matched the potato rounds with a sweet Riesling to balance the saltiness of the potatoes and sourness of the blue cheese. Second, I matched a Pinot Grigio with the Polenta Shrimp Carbonara because the Pinot and Carbonara are both from Italy and I was hoping it would go well with shrimp. Lastly, I paired a Pinot Noir with my girlfriends salmon because Pinot Noir is a salmon's best friend. For the wildcard wine I got the Rhone Blend special because I was love specials.

 

The first wine we tried was the Gabriella Veneto Pinot Grigio 2015. It had 12% alcohol and is from Veneto, Italy. The color was a light yellow and on the first taste it seemed to hit hard with the alcohol, though it was only 12%. There were some peach aromas, but not much else. This wine was very light and delicate after tasting it more but didn't reveal a whole lot.

 

The second wine was the Be. Radiant Riesling 2015 from Columbia Valley in Napa, California. It had 11.5% alcohol. The color was straw yellow.  The smell of this wine I thought was syrupy on the first sniff, but couldn't figure out any other way to say it. But then it started to smell like rubber (exactly how freshly opened racquet balls smell like) which was super interesting. The taste was sweet with a full body and had some rubber to the taste as well.  I liked this wine and the rubbery smell got be excited.

 

The next wine was the Brandborg Pinot Noir 2012 from Elkton, Oregon (Umpqua Valley) with no alcohol content listed. The color was a nice red and you could see your fingers through it. I thought there were some cherry aromas and my girlfriend said plum.  There were not a lot of tannins but the wine was acidic. There were some really good low key barrel flavors (vanilla and coconut) and the body was medium plus. This was the best Pinot Noir we have had. On a side note, I thought it might be good chilled a little even though it is a red. 

 

The last wine was the Domaine Vindemio Regain 2010 Rhone Blend. It was from Votes de Ventoux in France and contained 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah.  The color was a deep dark purple with red edges. On the nose there was definite tobacco/cigar box (which I kept reading about but never smelled in a wine until now) and some black cherry/blackberry/dark fruit. When tasting I got a lot of tannins and could not make much out because my tastebuds were so shriveled. I don't know if it was my palate or the wine or that it wasn't aged enough but there were some serious tannins going on. Still a great wine to smell and have with food.

 

For the appetizer, we got the potato rounds which came with a blue cheese sauce and bacon. They were delicious; salty and sour, creamy and crunchy. Top notch stuff. With the Riesling, the sweetness countered the saltiness and gave some more rubber taste. The Pinot Grigio got overpowered and was not a good match. The Pinot Noir tasted like it had more alcohol and was not a good match. The Rhone blend got a little more fruit action and was an adequate match.

 

The salmon was stellar and cooked to perfection with a raspberry sauce on it. The Rhone blend actually went really well with it, showing more fruit. The Pinot Grigio was "pretty good" with it (I rushed through that one to get to the Pinot Noir so didn't take many notes). The Pinot Noir went perfectly - everything in both the salmon and the wine became more pronounced and the barrel flavors were really good.

 

By this time, there was not much wine left to drink with the polenta. The polenta carbonara itself was great; it was pretty light even though polenta is generally dense. Very interesting dish. The Pinot Grigio went well with it (whew!) and had more snap than before. It was not good with the Rhone blend, however.

 

I would rate this experience 11/10 and would definitely do again if I have money burning a hole in my pocket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: R&G Rioja 2011

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $10

Review (Vins Dandurand): Colour: This is a highly-concentrated, dark cherry-red wine.
Nose: A lively, delicate nose with liquorice and fresh fruit aromas of the Tempranillo variety, with spicy hints. It keeps the essential aromas of compote fruit.
Palate: It is ample and fleshy and has elegance, complexity and power. On the palate,
it shows soft tannins and liquorice, a velvety structure and a long, delicious and persistent finish.

(http://vinsdandurand.com/index.php?/en/wines/r-g-rioja/)

My Review: I tasted this wine alongside the Sangiovese and it renewed my faith in red wine. The bouquet was earthy, dirty, with a hint of dark cherry.  There was some leather on the mid palate and tingly on the finish. I have no idea what would cause this but it was interesting. This wine was more earthy than the Sangiovese and was good with cheese.

Name: Sir Passo Toscana Sangiovese 2014

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Year: 2014

Price: $11

Review (Barbanera): Sir Passo was conceived as an attempt to experiment new techniques in order to surprise and delight the wine drinker with a memorable combination of new aromas, flavours and style. It's an extraordinarily captivating wine which literally flows like finest silk over the palate and where the predominant fruit character of black cherries, is kept fresh by Sangiovese's natural acidity. Drink on its own or with meat-based pasta and meat dishes in general.

(http://www.barbaneravini.it/en/wines/duca-di-saragnano/sangiovese-di-toscana-igt-sirpasso)

My Review: I was starting to get discouraged with the red wines I have been drinking because they have generally just tasted like garbage or wet dog and the other flavors are not apparent or there at all.  This wine finally changed this.  I drank it alongside R&G Temranillo, which was also delicious.  The wine had a ruby color with aroma of blueberry and something acidic.  On tasting, fruit was still there along with hint of licorice and some kind of wood (possibly cedar, I don't think it was oak.) Moderate tannins, but when I drank the wine a few days later, there seemed to be more/the wine was more astringent, which was interesting. This wine was more fruity than the Termpranillo I tried with it.

Name: Carraia Aglianico 2013

Variety: Aglianico

Region: Campania

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $15

Review (Monsieur Touton/Carraia): Deep ruby red colour Dark wild berries, liquorice, black currant and spicy notes. Full-bodied, warm, with strong tannins.

(http://www.mtouton.com/products/italy/campania/82051-2013/carraia--aglianico)

My Review: This wine was extremely aromatic, but it was hard to tell what the main characteristic was. After reading the tasting notes it was likely the licorice. Rotten licorice? There were moderate to high tannins, with a tart finish and a sour fruit quality throughout. This wine was fairly enjoyable, but likely just because it was not easy to figure out the main aromatic element.



Menu and tasting notes

Dinner at Palisades

Germany/Austria

 

On Wednesday I went to Palisades in Eggleston with my girlfriend for Wines Around the World. The theme for the week was Germany & Austria, which was exciting because we liked Gewurztraminer the last time we had it. I thought I had the wrong directions driving there because it is a little in the middle of nowhere, but we made it and I was impressed as soon as I walked in!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We started with a Cajun seafood bisque that was not on the Wines Around the World menu, but was delicious. It paired well with water. The foods that were served were kasespaetzel(fancy mac and cheese), rohe kartoffelknodel (fancy tater tots), and schnitzel (fried pork). These were to be paired with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Gruner Veltliner.

 

Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner

  

The first wine we tasted was the Dr. Loosen 2014 Riesling, which was light yellow in color and the lightest in color of the wines. It had a medium light body. It was hard to smell the wines because of the glasses that they were served in, but the Riesling was crisp and had an apple aspect to it. It was probably right in the middle of dry and sweet, maybe on the dryer side. With the kasespaetzel, the wine had a spicy-ish characteristic that I couldn't place and became more acidic with less fruit. I was not expecting that at all but they paired well together.

Noodles, dumpling, pork

 

 

The next wine was the Shine 2013 Gewurztraminer. This wine was golden colored and had medium to medium plus body. There was definite aspects of perfume and flower with some spice. The fruit quality was lychee I'm pretty sure after tasting a few Gewurztraminers. It was really well balanced.  With the rohe kartoffelknodel, some of the perfumey-ness of the wine left and it was more fruity and sweet. This was also a good pairing.

 

The sommelier at work

The last wine we tasted was the Anton Bauer 2013 Gruner Veltliner. The color of this wine was a pale gold and had little bubbles, but I don't think my girlfriend's pour did. It had a light body and was dry but smooth and airy. It was a little spicy and I thought I tasted hints of nut, but the wine was kind of bland. It was easy to drink but not much aroma or taste or complexity. There was also not much change with the schnitzel pairing. 

 

 

 All the food was delicious, especially the pork which was crispy and cooked perfectly. Our favorite wine was the Gewurztraminer, with the Riesling in second. We enjoyed our dinner and the service especially the butterscotch candy at the end. I recommended this to my parents and would love to go again to try a different country. 

 

 

 



 

Name: Chateau L'Insoumise Caresse du Terroir 2012 Bordeaux

Variety: 60% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc

Region: Bordeaux

Country: France

Year: 2012

Price: ~$12

Review(Or Lack Thereof): I got this wine from the recommendation of the wine specialist at Kroger. I have not been able to find much in the way of tasting notes or reviews besides for the 2011 vintage on Vivino.

My Review: When I first smelled this wine, I got some dirty laundry, but after getting past that, there was plum, vegetal, and hints of spices. There were mild tannins, earthy tastes, and not much fruit beside subtle plum. Might need a good cheese to enjoy this wine properly.

 

Name: Fincastle Cabernet Franc 2013

Variety: Cabernet Franc

Region: Virginia

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: ~$11

Review (Fincastle Winery): Dry red aged 24 months in oak. Less tannic than Sauvignon with hints of anise, blackberry and black cherry.

(http://www.fincastlewine.com/our-wines/)

My Review: This wine is aromatic with woody, oak/briar, as well as earthy/leafy smell. The taste seems sweet, but that could be because of the low tannins. The sweetness turns to a sour quality after the initial attack, tasting like raspberries that are not yet ripe, with a subtle taste of a cigar box. I liked this wine initially, but the sweetness and sour aspect were overpowering with nothing to balance it out.

Name: Blackstone Merlot 2014

Variety: Merlot

Region: Central Valley

Country: USA

Year: 2014

Price: $8

Review (Blackstone): "Our Merlot shows rich blackberry, plum and raspberry flavors with hints of vanilla and tasted French bread."  (http://www.blackstonewinery.com/merlot.php#.Vvh7s7n2bIU)

 My Review: Like I said in the last post, this along with the Bogle Cabernet Sauvingnon made me feel very dumb.  This wine was less aromatic than the Bogle, and smelled acidic.  I got some blackberry and a little raspberry on the nose.  There was mild tannins and a dry/savory aspect that I couldn't identify, some plum, and possibly earthy tastes. This wine was less fruity but also less dry than the Bogle.

Name: Bogle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Clarksburg/Central Valley

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $11

 

Review (Bogle Vineyards): Irresistible vanilla and intriguing black plums lay way to the dense and concentrated wine that is the Cabernet Sauvignon. Deeply extracted and complex dark fruit enhance the full-bodied character, and touches of toasted hazelnut and spicy clove are left by the 12 months of aging in one year old American oak. Ample tannins and an enduring finish will allow this wine to cellar for another 6-8 years, but don’t let anyone say you can’t enjoy it now…(http://www.boglewinery.com/ourwines_cabernetsauvignon.php)

 

My Review: I tasted this wine along with the Blackstone Merlot and they both made me feel like an idiot because I had a hard time picking out descriptors, as opposed to the white wines I've been drinking.  This wine had a ruby red color and a bouquet of berries  and possibly cedar.  There were moderate tannins and a taste of almost a vanilla cigar.  After reading the tasting notes, the cedar smell was probably something else woody, since it was aged in oak. This was more fruity than the merlot, but more tannic and dry.

Name: Stone Cellars Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Napa Valley

Country: USA

Year: ??? (None on label)

Price: ~$6

Review (Valley Fine Wines): This Pinot Grigio is crisp and refreshing with bright fruit flavors of green apples, citrus and melon; pairs well with zesty salads or lightly seasoned pasta dishes.

(http://www.valleyfinewines.com/Stone-Cellars-Pinot-Grigio--750mL--White-Wine-_p_2095.html#.VvhtZrn2bIU)

My Review: This wine was an impulse buy by my girlfriend but ended up being enjoyable though simple. There was some apple and grape on the nose, with a little citrus.  The taste was grapefruity (but not sour) with some green apple and was light. Not complex but still good and easy to drink.  Good for summer. Could take on spring break and drink out of the bottle and not feel bad about it because of the price but still have a good tasting wine.

Name: Republic of Wine 2014 Chardonnay North Coast
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: North Coast, California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $5.48

Wine Review (Republic of Wine): Aromatically, this wine leads with notes of fresh pear and apple, along with a hint of oak. On the palate, the Pear dominates on the initial impression, fresh and juicy, evolving to add apple and sweet citrus, all wrapped in a light vanilla cream.  The flavors are supple and concentrated but remain fresh and lively through the mid palate and on into a long smooth finish. Balance is the hallmark of this wine – fruit, spice, oak, and cream, all in harmony.
(http://www.republicofwine.com/explore-2014-chardonnay)

My Review: I tried this wine because it was half off at Target and it does taste like wine that was half off at Target. This wine is light gold color and the bouquet smells of apple and oak. The body was a bit light; there was a buttery taste but I wouldn't say it was creamy. There is definitely a pear taste on the mid palate but the finish tastes like a picnic basket. It is also heat on the finish.

Name: Chateau Puy Servain Cotes De Montravel 2012
Variety: 100% Semillon
Region: Montravel
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: ~$10
Review (Vintage Cellar): I had a hard time finding a Semillon wine. I was told that it wouldn't be easy to find a 100% Semillon that wasn't blended with Sauvignon Blanc but we finally found this one. I was told that 100% Semillon would be very sweet and dessert-like. I could not find much information on this wine - even the Vintage Cellar website did not have it listed.
My Review: This wine was dark golden colored and smelled sweet almost like honey, gardeny, and almost like chicken. The first thing that stuck out when tasting was how full-bodied the wine was. Maybe it was just that I tasted it after the Chenin Blanc and Pinot Grigio, but this wine was thick.  As far as actual taste goes, I got honey and vanilla/butterscotch, but the sweetness was tempered by something "dull" that I couldn't place. After chilling the wine, There was more of an over-ripened fruit taste.

Name: Ca'Stella Latisana Pinot Grigio Friuli
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: 9.95
Review (France 44): Pale golden hue, with heady aromas of fresh citrus fruit, crushed flowers and some notes of pear. On the palate, refreshing and vibrant, with ripe green fruit flavors, a touch of minerality and good acidity.  
(https://www.france44.com/wine/ca-stella-pinot-grigio-friuli-latisana-2013)
My Review: The bouquet of this wine was not what I was expecting; I immediately got an almost overpowering musky smell. My girlfriend said it was like wet straw but I've never smelled that so I have no idea.  I got a new glass just in case mine wasn't washed and it smelled the same.  The taste was delicate, though, and very light and springy. It tasted like mineral water with a little pear.

Name: Les Clos Francs Vouvray Chenin Blanc
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Vouvray in the Loire Valley
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95
Review (Timeless Wines):
The cool climate in the Vouvray appellation area insures good acidity, which is balanced by the distinctly fruity character of the Chenin Blanc and the mineral qualities imparted by the soil. Thanks to these natural elements, this half-dry Vouvray combines elegance and vigor with sweetness and an inherent freshness.
Mechanical and hand harvest, destemming, pneumatic pressing, static settling of the must at low temperature for 24 hours, fermentation at the cellar temperature (12°C/54°F) for 1/2 month, aging in vats, two rackings, stirring once a week during 1 month, filtration, bottling in September.
Chicken, fish, Asian Food, Desert with strawberry and raspberry.
(http://www.timelesswines.com/les-clos-francs-vouvray-2013/)

My Review: The color of this wine was a bit light and I was not able to get much from the nose.  The taste was great - crisp apples and a bit of grass. It was sweet but tart as well with a little lighter than medium body.
 

    On my 21st birthday my parents thought it was my 41st and took me to a wine bar.  My favorite wine was a Cabernet Franc.  I've been to a few wine tastings with them since, but when I drink wine I usually get Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, unless I'm investing in a pleasant Franzia box wine.  I had a surprising recent experience with wine as a result of doing Lesson 3 of Drink This Now.  I drank the Cote du Rhone with my girlfriend (each of us had about a bottle, which is pretty average), slept for 7 hours, woke up and was wondering whether I could drive to practice.  I wonder what they put in that wine. 

I like red wines a lot better than white wines, but sometimes have Pinot Grigio if my roommates need help.  Mimosas are great as well.  The more I try to talk about my experiences with wine I realize that I don't know that much.  I generally resort to saying the wine has a "smooth finish" with a straight face and people don't question it.  I think a proper vocabulary is necessary to enjoy wine properly.  That is one thing I would like to get from this course.

Some other things I would like to get from this course are an understanding of the different types of grapes that are used to make wine, the regions that they come from, aging, and how all of this contributes to making wine taste differently.  I would like to learn to talk about wine and enjoy it to its full potential.  It would be cool to learn about labels as well.  There are a lot of complexities to wine and it seems to be a conversation starter that I could get into.