Apr 27, 2016 | WINES TO LEARN |
Full-Bodied White Wine 2014 USA (Cafifornia – North Central Coast – Monterrey County) Chardonnay 13.9% alc. Serve at 55-56ºF (13ºC) Turn Key Wine Brands Wine-Searcher Back to Wines to Learn To keep in mind You can learn about the body of wine. This is very far from the light, zesty, easy to drink white wines you can pair with every fish dish. This is a bold player. If the first thing you with a wine is to quaff it… Maybe should try something else. This wine is to entertain your palate for a long time. It’s rich, dense, flavorful, creamy. At the end, you can feel the strenght of the sun in this wine. Smell and taste: maybe, the first thing you will notice is the mineral aroma, similar to the french chardonnays made in cool climate… But, as a real californian there is some ripe fruits too: orchard fruits, the producer says. Peach and lemon? Yes. But what makes this wine interesting is the effect that 6 months in french oak barrel has: a rich aroma of vanilla and nutmeg. Exercise to learn about oaked and unoaked wine: compared it with other californian chardonnay. I think this wine needs food to pair with and be served not too cold. It is ok if you do it, but, in this case you will find it more soft and pleasant around 55ºF. As a full-bodied white, avoid subtle fish: go for lobster, seasoned poultry and creamy pasta or légumes. Baked vegetables pie or pasties? Sure!. Also, look for umami flavored asian dishes or strong cheeses. I have to...
Dec 19, 2015 | WINES TO LEARN |
Full-Bodied White Wine 2014 USA (California, Central Coast, Santa Inez Valley) Grenache Blanc 15% alc. Serve at 48-53ºF (9-12ºC) WINC Back to Wines to Learn To keep in mind You can learn about white wines. For some beginners, the fact that a white wine can be full-bodied may be surprising. This is because of the most common way our taste for wine evolves. First we prefer whites, then, as our palate accustoms to more tannins and higher levels of alcohol, we start to appreciate reds. It happens in a similar way with beer… Usually we do not like the bitter taste at the beginning… And then, we love the hoppy taste more and more. Thus, this wine is a second step in white wine comprehension. This wine is not especially fruity, nor is it very fresh (or acidic) and it has high alcohol content… So, an unexpected special wine for beginners (and not-so-novice). The mouthfeel is of a full-bodied wine and you can learn about minerality, as the fruitiness is not overwhelming. This is more like a European-style wine (aka Old World Style). The alcohol also provides a rich and smooth feeling: even after swallowing you still notice the warmth. If you want to “see” the alcohol, pay attention to the “tears” that will appear in the glass after swirling it. The main aromas are grapefruit, melon, sweet lime, honey and slate. This wine can be a “total meal”. I’m a great fan of drinking wine by itself without any accompaniment, or at least jut taking a couple of sips to concentrate on its flavors. It is not the typical white...
