Tonight was French Wine themed. The menu consisted of Mediterranean pasta, fried calamari salad, a variety of cheeses including fresh mozzarella with tomatoes, pasta pinwheels, manicotti, cheese bread and potato skins.With the fresh made pasta and bread, the quality of the food always exceeds my expectations.
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| My full plate of food! |
White
Wines:
Chateau Gaillard Touraine Sauvignon Blanc ($11.99) Year not provided-
Zeppoli's Descritpion: Pale yellow with green hints. Very characteristic of its variety, flowery, delicate. Fruity, dry, supple and silky. White from pure Sauvignon grape, this fresh wine exhales perfume of the grape. This wine's crisp acidity with notes of grapefruit would be delicious with bouillabaissee or cheese, canapes, olives cake or asparagus.
My
notes: This wine had a lightly floral and citrusy aroma. I tasted lemon notes on the palate, and
it had an orange peel finish. This
wine was very dry and crisp, and paired well with the Mediterranean pasta dish.
Chateau Suau 2010 Bordeaux Blanc Sec ($10.99)-
Zeppoli's description: Fermented in stainless steel tanks, aged on fine lees for three months. This expressive, refreshing and aromatic wine reveals honeysuckle and white peach aromas. It has an excellent depth of fruit as well as a long finish with a nice acidity. delicious as an aperitif or when served with shellfish, seafood and grilled fish.
My
notes: This wine was medium bodied and smelled of honeydew melon. It had hints of pear in the body. It was very well balanced, and my
favorite wine of the tasting.
Prochaine 2009 Chardonnay Vin de Pays d'Oc France ($10.99)-
Zeppoli's description: An unusual and delectable lightly oaked Chardonnay from the Languedoc region of France. This wine is aged on the lees from a Viognier fermentation with constant stirring (battonages). These Viognier lees gives the wine distinct, easy to enjoy, flavors of pineapple, mango, and passion fruit.
My
notes: This wine had tropical fruit flavors. It was a lightly oaky and buttery, like a California
Chardonnay, but also tasted distinctly different, with old world dynamics.
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| My roommate Kelly tasting wine |
Red
Wines
Manoir Du Carra 2010 Beaujolais noveau ($10.99)-
Zeppoli's description: Just barely three weeks old, this fresh fruity red from the granite hills of Beaujolais comes entirely from Gamay grapes. Beaujolais Nouveau day is November 19th this year and is a celebration of harvest and a festive event. This bistro style wine should be consumed in copious quantities in the first full year of its life.
My
notes: This wine from the Burgundy region was interesting. It was very tight, and we consumed it
earlier than intended, which would explain the tightness. The aroma was slightly off-putting, but
the wine itself tasted fine.
Jean-marc burgaud 2010 Beaujolais Villages ($14.99)-
Zeppoli's description: The Burgaud 2010 Beaujolais-Villages les Vignes de Thulon offers a sappy, exuberant, and ultimately gripping profusion of ripe but tart-edged and prominently seedy blackberry. A mouthwatering salinity helps to render this simple but pure and intensely-fruited recent bottling irresistible. Plan to enjoy it over the next could of years.
My
notes: This wine was a deep ruby red color. It had a succulent taste that would pair very well with meat. It was a tart wine with deep fruit flavors.
Georges DuBoeuf 2010 Morgon Descombes Burgundy ($15.99)-
Zeppoli's description: Shows perfect balance and a sumptuous bouquet of black currant, plum, violets and old-fashioned roses. Elegantly smooth on the palate, revealing several layers of fresh red berries, especially cherries. The silky, prolonged finish signals completely ripened fruit. "Impressively powerful, structured wine that has spice, richness, plenty of firm tannins as well as a punch of sweet lum and red cherry flavors. There is an edge of acidity that suggest aging potential"
Zeppoli's description: Shows perfect balance and a sumptuous bouquet of black currant, plum, violets and old-fashioned roses. Elegantly smooth on the palate, revealing several layers of fresh red berries, especially cherries. The silky, prolonged finish signals completely ripened fruit. "Impressively powerful, structured wine that has spice, richness, plenty of firm tannins as well as a punch of sweet lum and red cherry flavors. There is an edge of acidity that suggest aging potential"
My notes: This wine tasted like bright red fruits. It had had smooth, rounded tannins. I tasted a variety of dynamic berry flavors.
Charles Thomas 2009 Cotes de Rhone Rouge ($11.99)-
Zeppoli's description: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre. Clear ruby wine with overtones of red berry fruits. Round and supple with a smooth aftertaste. A god all round red wine for meat courses, poultry and light cheeses. Best drunk now while fresh with a good keeping up to 4 years.
Charles Thomas 2009 Cotes de Rhone Rouge ($11.99)-
Zeppoli's description: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre. Clear ruby wine with overtones of red berry fruits. Round and supple with a smooth aftertaste. A god all round red wine for meat courses, poultry and light cheeses. Best drunk now while fresh with a good keeping up to 4 years.
My notes: I detected spices on the nose of this wine. It tasted like dark fruits and was deep red in color. It had a lingering finish, that tasted earthy.
Clos de sixte 2004: Lirac ($11.99)-
Zeppoli's description: 88-90 Robert Parker: "The 2004 Lirac Clos de Sixte has a dense ruby/purple color and exhibits a Syrah-like character in its blacker fruit-dominated aromatics and flavors. With medium to full body, ripe tannin, and good freshness as well as definitive, it should drink well for 6-8 years." 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre
My notes: This wine had a distinct bouquet of black cherry, which I detected on the palate as well. It had a lot of dark fruit flavors and a spicy finish. I detected light tannins that were not overpowering.
Chateau Suau 2009 "Cadillac" Merlot/Cab ($15.99)-
Zeppoli's description: The wine is made from 45% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are weighted, destemmed then sorted on a table in the cellar. Fermentation in thermo regulated stainless steel tanks. Aging from beginning of November, after malolactic fermentation, in 100% French oak barrels (30% new oak) during 12 months. Fleshy, fruity and ample in mouth, this wine is attractive both with its ripe fruits aromas melted with roasted hints as well as its nice. Structure and elegant, pleasant finish.
My notes: This wine had dynamic fruity notes on the nose. It had a mouth-puckering tannic effect. I detected blackberry, as well as other dark fruit flavors.
Chateau Grimard 2010 Bordeaux ($11.99)-
Zeppoli's description: This right bank Bordeaux estate is located in Lugon, just outside France. The vineyards are well situated on a south-east slope and the clay/limestone/sandsoils provide an ideal growing environment in which Merlot thrives... (80% merlot/20% Cabernet Franc). Sourced from vines that are at least 25 years old, the fruit was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. Displaying round and ripe Merlot aromas and flavors, the bouquet of red fruit and well-balanced tannins combine on a fresh and supple finish. A classic Bordeaux, offering a deep red-purple color, a lush bouquet, and ripe plummy-cassis fruit with good structure, showing the promise of the 2000 vintage.
My notes: This wine had the most noticeable tannins of the tasting. It had a spicy aroma, and was deep red in color. It was full and robust, with dark fruit flavors that mixed with the spices.
I really enjoyed this tasting. I am glad that I have been able to have a unique experience at Zeppoli's every time I go. Although the wines were not my favorites tonight, I feel that I have expanded my palate. I'd say I prefer New World wines to Old World, in general
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| My roommate Lesley and I enjoying good food and wine |
Clos de sixte 2004: Lirac ($11.99)-
Zeppoli's description: 88-90 Robert Parker: "The 2004 Lirac Clos de Sixte has a dense ruby/purple color and exhibits a Syrah-like character in its blacker fruit-dominated aromatics and flavors. With medium to full body, ripe tannin, and good freshness as well as definitive, it should drink well for 6-8 years." 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre
My notes: This wine had a distinct bouquet of black cherry, which I detected on the palate as well. It had a lot of dark fruit flavors and a spicy finish. I detected light tannins that were not overpowering.
Chateau Suau 2009 "Cadillac" Merlot/Cab ($15.99)-
Zeppoli's description: The wine is made from 45% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are weighted, destemmed then sorted on a table in the cellar. Fermentation in thermo regulated stainless steel tanks. Aging from beginning of November, after malolactic fermentation, in 100% French oak barrels (30% new oak) during 12 months. Fleshy, fruity and ample in mouth, this wine is attractive both with its ripe fruits aromas melted with roasted hints as well as its nice. Structure and elegant, pleasant finish.
My notes: This wine had dynamic fruity notes on the nose. It had a mouth-puckering tannic effect. I detected blackberry, as well as other dark fruit flavors.
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| Comparing the evolution of labels |
Chateau Grimard 2010 Bordeaux ($11.99)-
Zeppoli's description: This right bank Bordeaux estate is located in Lugon, just outside France. The vineyards are well situated on a south-east slope and the clay/limestone/sandsoils provide an ideal growing environment in which Merlot thrives... (80% merlot/20% Cabernet Franc). Sourced from vines that are at least 25 years old, the fruit was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. Displaying round and ripe Merlot aromas and flavors, the bouquet of red fruit and well-balanced tannins combine on a fresh and supple finish. A classic Bordeaux, offering a deep red-purple color, a lush bouquet, and ripe plummy-cassis fruit with good structure, showing the promise of the 2000 vintage.
My notes: This wine had the most noticeable tannins of the tasting. It had a spicy aroma, and was deep red in color. It was full and robust, with dark fruit flavors that mixed with the spices.
I really enjoyed this tasting. I am glad that I have been able to have a unique experience at Zeppoli's every time I go. Although the wines were not my favorites tonight, I feel that I have expanded my palate. I'd say I prefer New World wines to Old World, in general
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