Wine Dinner : Zeppoli's 4/15

I always look forward to the Zeppoli's wine and food pairings.  They continue to exceed my expectations by serving a variety of Italian dishes and 9 wine tastings for only $13.  Zeppoli's does a great job to make sure the menu items served are varied, and there is a new selection of wine every dinner.

The food was delicious as always.  This time we had an assorted cheese platter (including tomato and fresh mozzarella), a chef salad, broccoli and red pepper alfredo, cheese ravioli with meat sauce, eggplant parmesan, pizza bread, and a bruchetta platter with basil and tomato.  I made sure I had second helpings of everything.

My full plate of wonderful food!

 White Wines

Musanti NV Brut Sparkling Wine Pendes- from Spain ($7.50)
Zeppoli's Description- Lemon blossoms, green apple, toast and honeydew melon are front and center in this crisp refreshing Spanish Sparkler.  Silky supple with lingering flavors, yet a tingle of crisp acid on the finish.  A combination of traditional cava grapes but this wine is not made in the traditional methode champenoise (which is required by Spanish law to be called Cava).  This is made with the Charmat process and may only be called 'Spanish sparkling wine'.
 
My notes: This wine had a citrus bouquet with zesty notes of  orange peel.  Upon tasting it, I noticed it was very carbonated, and the carbonation was almost overpowering.  It had a tart and lingering finish.

Mars and Venus Chardonnay (2006) from the Central Valley, Chile- $8.99
Zeppoli's Description- This Chardonnay is juicy and fresh with pineapple and citrus notes and a silky smooth texture.  Serve it with roasted chicken, shellfish or pasta dishes in a light cream sauce.

My notes: This wine is the house Chardonnay for Zeppoli's.  It did not undergo malactic fermentation so it did not have the oaky, buttery notes characteristic of California Chardonnays.  It had fruity citrus flavors and paired well with the pasta with alfredo.

Rubus (2009) Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley, California- $11.99
Zeppoli's Description- This wine has hints of tropical fruit, pear and New Towan ripened apples.  The wine is barrel fermented, but not overtly and is balanced just like a Joe Swann or Sonoma-Cutrer wine.  This is Chardonnay for the lover of white burgundy-flavorful, balanced and delicious.

My notes: This wine had a strong oaky buttery taste, and the oak was particularly noticeable on the finish.  It also had hints of vanilla on the finish as well.  It was creamy and buttery on the nose, and went down very smoothly.

Borrealis (2010) "The Northern Whites" from Willamette Valley, California- $12.99
Zeppoli's Description- Te aroma practically covers the full fruit spectrum with notes of papaya, quince, yellow apple and hints of grapefruit and lime made all the more exotic with whiffs of jasmine and sandlewood.  On the palate it starts with a slightly sweet expression of ripe fruit with a crisp and balance and evolves to a delicious fresh finish of grapefruit and lime.

My notes: This wine was a dynamic blend.  It had citrus-y flavors on the nose, including grapefruit and lemon.  It also had a tart aftertaste.  It was a very fruity wine.  This blend paired well with the chef salad.

Red Wines

San Elias (2010) Cabernet Sauvignon- $7.99
Zeppoli's Description- "This wine has a nice purple color and the bouquet practically jumps from the glass; smoky, meaty notes; soon ripe cassis and black cherry emerge; the palate is similar, with the fruit taking the lead; nice tannins and acidity perk the fruit up again near the finish, which is crisp yet lingering.  A top value wine."  Beverage Dynamics 88 points

My notes: This wine had a very strong aroma of black cherry.  It was spicy, and had cigar box notes.  I could taste flavors of black currant.  It tasted of deep red fruits, and had a purple-ish hue.

Kenwood (2009) Yulupa Cabernet Sauvignon from California- $11.99
Zeppoli's Description- 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot.  Deep in color with rich, ripe-fruit aromas of cherries and plums followed by fragrant notes of cinnamon and cocoa nibs.  Full-bodied, with a rich lingering finish.  Aged 20 months in french and American oak.  Delicious with any pork, beef or lamb, this Cabernet Sauvignon also pairs well with a variety of pasta dishes.

My notes: This wine had some notes of cinnamon on the nose, as well as bright fruits.  I detected cherries and plums upon taste.  It was very heavy in fruit.  I tried it with my ravioli with meat sauce, and it paired very well.

My roommate Lesley and I enjoying some Zinfandel

Rubus (2009) Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi, California- $12.99
Zeppoli's Description- Ruby red in color, with red fruit, rasberry, and spice on the nose.  This wine is medium in body, with notes of ripe cherry, cedar box, cinnamon, anise, black pepper, and hint of smoke on the palate.  It has a long, silky finish.

My notes: This wine was a deep violet in color, almost inky.  It has strawberry and raspberry on the nose, as well as black cherry notes.  I could taste hints of cinnamon.   This was a very fruit forward, and jammy zinfandel.

Mars and Venus Merlot (2007) from Central Valley, Chile- $8.99
Zeppoli's Description- Smooth, rich and well balanced with berry and cocoa flavors framed by a sturdy structure-a real wine drinker's Merlot.  It is perfect with pizza, pasta or even a good steak!

My notes: This wine had a lot of berry flavors on the nose, with hints of some spice like black pepper.  It tasted of blueberry and raspberry.  It had light tannins, and was well balanced.  It complemented the food served at the tasting well.

Trentadue (2009) Block 500 Merlot from Sonoma County, California- $18.99
Zeppoli's Description- 96% Merlot, 1% Montepulciano, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot.  The wine's characteristics are typical to the Estate fruit with aromas and flavors of dark stone fruit, black licorice and earth.  Further aeration reveals layers of blackberry, herbs, cedar and tobacco.  On the mouth the wine is complex and full-bodied with ripe, balanced tannins, a juicy middle and long smooth finish.  The low pH and tannin structure will support several years of aging.

My notes: Although grown the same way as some of the well-known mass-produced wines, this is the only wine the makers will put their label on.  While it is grown the same as less expensive, mass-produced wines, it is crafted with care to truly express the flavors to their fullest potential.  It was deep, inky purple in color.  I detected black licorice and blackberry on the nose.  It was earthy and herbal with flavors of dark fruits.  It had flavors of spices on the finish.

The wine selection for the night

I really enjoyed this wine dinner.  I am excited that Zeppoli's will be offering one final dinner for the semester, and I plan to be in attendance.