Zeppoli's Wine Tasting Feb.6, 5 White Wines

Name: Crucero Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc 
Region: Cruico Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $10.25

Winery Review: Sauvignon Blanc is the fabled grape of both Bordeaux Blanc and the Loire Valley (Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume). This varietal exhibits aromas of musk, melon, pine, & grass. The finish is zesty and citrus-like, and goes very well with chick and seafood.

My Review: On the nose, this wine was very lemony and I got the citrus notes described in the review. It was a very smooth, silky wine with just the right amount of crisp. This was my favorite wine we tasted all night out of the nine.

I drank this wine with food provided by Zeppoli's such as brie on crackers, salad, pasty dishes with olives, and cheese stuffed pasta.

Name: Hugues Beaulieu
Variety: Picpoul de Pinet
Region: Coteux Du Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $8.50

Winery Review: Alcohol 12.5% - Citrus and exotic fruit dominate this fresh, crisp and lively wine from the South of France. Well-balanced with good acidity. A perfect match to seafood or shell fish.

My Review: This wine was very tart and acidic. There was a lot of heat coming through which I found unpleasant.


 I had this wine with food at Zeppoli's.

Name: Manos Negras
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Tulum Valley, San Juan
Country: Argentina
Year: 2009
Price: $12.75

Winery Review: Alcohol 13% The high altitude desert of the Tulum Valley in San Juan, Argentina provides ideal conditions for this once minor Spanish grape to flourish in unique and exciting ways. The warm sunny days and cool mountain nights produce wine of light yellow color, with explosive floral aromas, citrus fruit flavors and a crisp, clean finish.

My Review:  The nose of this wine had sterile tones, similar to rubbing alcohol which was a little off-putting. However when tasting the wine, there were floral notes and I got a lot of lavender.

I had this wine with food.

Name: Sombras Del Sol
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Valle Central
Country: Chile
Year: 2008
Price: $6.99

Winery Review: Alcohol 13.5%, 20% in French Oak. This refreshing Chardonnay has intense aromas of sweet tropical fruit and notes of vanilla and chestnuts. A blend of freshness and creaminess, the citrus character comes through along with sweet fruit on the palate.

My Review: This wine was full-bodied and extremely smooth. It was evident that there was no malolactic fermentation. The taste was briny, salty, with a little bit of butterscotch. The saltiness could be attributed to the fact I was eating the pasta with olives at the time. Regardless, this wine had a little zing to it!

I had this wine with food.

Name: Rinaldi Red Dream Filtrato Dolce
Variety: 100% Malvasia Nera
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $12.99

Winery Review: Alcohol 7% The wine is ruby red but not too deep, fruity, and pleasant. It's a dessert wine, it is possible to appreciate it at his best if you serve it chilled. This frothy fruity red wine delivers flavors of honeysuckle and black pepper. Light, fun, and exciting; it's great for parties and light fare.
My Review: This wine was my favorite of the night, which is no surprise since I enjoy sweet, dessert wines. The nose was fruity and smelled of berries. This wine was fizzy and I enjoyed the sweetness of it, paired with a chocolate cupcake. It had pear notes to it.

I had this wine with a chocolate cupcake.