Wine Dinner - Zeppoli's (Spain and Italy, Vino Di Vino)

Om nom nom

I had always heard good things about Zeppoli's, and I must say I was not disappointed. The Sunday evening tastings they host are a very interesting experience to say the least.The dinner was held in the side room to the left as you walk in. The walls are lined with bottles and large tables are set up to get everyone setting together and talking.

After a short introductory speech by our host Matt, we were invited to grab a plate and dig into the buffet. To start there was a variety of local cheeses. Then a Mediterranean salad with peppers and feta cheese. The main dishes were turkey wraps with lettuce and tomato pesto, barbeque meatballs, margarita pizza, and finally a pasta with ham and peas. All of the food was delicious.

A taste of the Chardonay

After we were all seated we were presented with the wines one by one. Along with each wine we got a short description and some background information. At this tasting, in addition to the buffet of delicious food  we were presented with thirteen wines. 13. In order there was a Prossecco, Pinot Grigio, Vihno Verde, sparkling Moscato, Spainish Chardonnay, San Gria, Campo de Borja Garnacha, Tempranillo, Sangiovese di Puglia, Montepulciano d' Abruzzo, "Marghe" Nebbiolo d' Alba, Beaujolais Nouveau, and finaly a Beaujolais Nouveau Village.

There was a slight problem with the execution of the dinner. I was starving, so by the time we got around to tasting most of the wines i had finished all of the food on my plate.  I did try a few combinations. I found that Vihno Verde does not go well with cheese and crackers but worked great with the semi spicy salad. In contrast the Pinot Grigio went very well with the cheeses. I managed to save a few meatballs and tried them with both the Garnacha and Tempranillo. Both worked very well, they were oaked. The spicy barbeque brought out the smoke flavors making for a very nice combination.

The wines were mostly good. I had previously tasted the Pinot Grigio and many Vihno Verdes. The Prossecco was very delicious, the nose had hints of nuts and flowers, the taste was light and fruity with more nutty flavors, overall very light and easy to drink, made a great apperitif.

The evening was a hit overall, well up until the bitter end, but that is neither here nor there. We spent the evening drinking with the staff at the table, drinking and discussing wine. By the end of the night I had about two bottles of wine, some new friends, and some great memories. Which is the entire point.

Tasting - Montebuena

Name: Montebuena
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95
Tasting Date: March 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

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 Thoughts: Decent color, but not a whole lot of bubbles in the glass. The nose had hints of strawberry and cherry, some earthy and leather undertones. A strong scent of baking soda that made it less than appealing. Flavor had more of the berry fruit flavors and baking soda. Overall not great. I have found that dark red sparkling wines tend to taste fake and are overall unappealing.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Gnracha

Name: Tres Ojos Gnracha
Variety: 100% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Tasting Date: March 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: The 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 Thoughts: Nice red color. Nose has hints of red fruit, mixed with vanilla and cream. Strong hints of pine with spicy undertones. Flavor is very spicy with hints of oak and smoke. Some fruit. Decent amount of tannins. Overall not bad, but I think one taste was enough for me. 

Tasting - Sainte Victoire Côtes de Provence

Name: Sainte Victoire Côtes de Provence
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
Tasting Date: March 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

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 Thoughts: A very light Rose. The nose was fairly tight, I could not pick out any distinct scents. The flavor was much the same. There was some red fruit, a little vanilla butter flavor, not a whole lot here. There was however a bit of heat in the finish. I am noticing a trend with the blushes i have tried. Either none of them were any good, or I simply don't like them.

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California 
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Tasting Date: March 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

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 Thoughts: Very light color. Nose is sour apple, some pear, mostly what I would expect from a Chardonnay. Hints of limestone and minerals. Taste has some hints of sour apple, mostly it is chalky and oak. There is some acid in the finish. Overall it was pretty boring.

Tastng - Palacio de Bornos Verdejo Rueda

Name: Palacio de Bornos Verdejo Rueda
Variety: 100% Verdjo 
Region: Castilla y Leon 
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95
Tasting Date: March 24, 2013
Location: Tasted Independently
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: With the best Verdejo we expect both texture and complexity along with a vibrant, lemony citrus character and a healthy dose of pear. With Bornos, two fun things happen as well: it exhibits little of the grassy notes found in some Verdejo (or its occasional amigas Viura or Sauvignon Blanc), and the finish has a fascinating, almost tangible pear-skin note. Drink in the next few years.

My Thoughts: Color is a very light yellow.  The nose is a strong lemon peel with hints of orange and some floral notes. When tasting the first sensation is a hit of acid, which mellows into a citrus lemon flavor, the finish is short with some mineral aftertaste. I liked this wine, far more than any of the Sauvignon Blancs I have tried. 

Tasting - Potluck Sweet Malbec

Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec 
Variety: 100% Malbec  
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: March 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

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 Thoughts: I approached this wine expecting a decent amount of sweetness. The nose is a very nondescript fruit with sweetness. The flavor is a similar generic fruit flavor with a hint of oaky sweetness. Overall it was ok, defiantly not as sweet as expected.

Tasting - Domaine de Grange de Payan

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan 
Variety: Grenache (Majority)  
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
Tasting Date: March 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

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 Thoughts: The aroma is much more earthy than the Tinto Figaro I tasted just before this one. Pepper and vegetable notes on the nose with very little fruit. Flavor is equally earthy with pepper flavors, finish is spicy with smooth but noticeable tannins.

Tating - Tinto Figaro

Name: Tinto Figaro 
Variety: 100% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95
Tasting Date: March 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

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 Thoughts: A very fruity nose, raspberry, blackberry, hint of earthy or more leathery notes as well. Mild fruity flavors at the front, fading into a dry finish with hints of spice. Fairly easy to drink, but I didn't get a lot out of this one.

Tasting - Maipe Malbec Rosé

Name: Maipe Malbec Rosé
Variety: 100% Malbec 
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: March 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Intense pink color with violet hints. Fresh red fruit bouquet, strawberry and cherry flavors, balanced acidity, dry and lingering finish. Excellent with tuna or green salad, pasta, spicy Asian dishes.

My Thoughts: Pale pink color. Nose is fruity, mostly strawberry, light with a little sweetness to the nose. Flavor is overall dry with hints of fruit and some acid. Overall a very simple and basic wine, not much here.

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Gris 
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: March 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review:  Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi, spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine Perfect also as an aperitif.

My Thoughts: Clear, watery color. Aroma of citrus and sweet fruits. Pear and apricot.  Flavor is citrusy and light. Very dry, but balanced. Was pleasant to drink. Seems a little basic to me but defiantly a variety to look into further. 

Tastng - Santola Vinho Verde

Name: Santola Vinho Verde
Variety: White Blend, lazy Portuguese
Region: Minho
Country: Portugal
Year: NV
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: March 1, 2013
Location: Independently tasted
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review:  Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.

  My Thoughts: It has a very light color complimented by nice effervescence. The nose is very mineral, with light hints of flowers and citrus. There is a strong acid feel and taste at the start that fades into an odd buttery lemon flavor. I much prefer the Anjos I had last week, so I am going to give this wine a pass.