Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Savignon

This week's pick by Brit is Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Savignon 2011 Central Coast version.  This wine is very affordable and can be found most anywhere (even in your local grocery store)!  

Appearance:  dark plum in color, thick legs that take a long time to form.  

Smell:  smokey, strong plum smell, spices, pepper, earthy, hint of raspberry 

Taste: butter, dry, slight smoke, not as strong of a taste as you would think, short taste, tart finish, slight oak, raspberry on the front note, mouth feel is cotton

Pairings: The Swartzwelders had burgers and fries before wine and the Hogans had pasta before wine.  Cheeses: cheddar is a no go, Gouda doesn't do anything for it, havarty brings out the raspberry and plum taste.  Chocolate brings out the fruit taste as well but also enhances the smokey notes.  

Brit Scale Ratings:

Sherry: 3
Erin: 2
Brit: 3
Robin: 2
Gerry: 2
Melissa: 3

Wild Haven Pinot Gris

Wild Haven Pinot Gris Columbia Valley 2011 was the choice by Melissa.  Brit managed to get the same wine from the same valley even.  

Appearance: looks like water, almost no color, thin legs.

Smell: very citrusy, homeysuckle, pear, lime, grapefruit

Taste: very light pleasant taste, refreshing, citrus bitey endnote, very smooth silky mouthfeel, starts with a mild wine taste then builds to a fruity taste of pear, apricot, honeysuckle, and then ends with the citrus bite.

Pairings: the Hogan family had fediccini Alfredo with shrimp for dinner.  Brit had cod with potato crust.  The Swartzwelders had pineapple chicken with rice.  Havarty cheese brings out the fruit taste.  Cheddar also brings out the fruit but not as much.  Gouda tones down the citrus.

Brit Scale Ratings:

Brit: 3
Robin: 3
Melissa: 4
Erin: 4
Sherry: 3
Gerry: 3

Beaujolais

We are all trying a Beaujolais today.  The Swartzwelders and Hogans has Domaine Pignard Beaujolais 2011.  Brit has domaine des Rosiers Moulinavent.  Both wines are similar in grapes, region, importer, and even the labels are similar.

 

Appearance:  deep red purple, cherry colored, no legs

Smell: cherry, fruity, butter, black raspberries, hint of pepper

Taste: peppery, slight cherry, thin fine texture and finish, very light wine that doesn't stay with you long which incourages you to drink more, not as fruity as you would think, hints of raspberry.

Pairings: robin had a bacon cheese burger, the Swartzwelders had a digiorno, Brit had a meatball sandwich and a salad for dinner.  Gouda brings out the peppery taste and changes the midnote, cheddar really brings out the fruity taste and is a hit with the wine.  Chocolate and fruit needs to be avoided while enjoying this wine.

Brit Scale Ratings

Brit: weak 3
Robin: 2
Erin: 2
Sherry: weak 3

Louis Chavy Bourgogne Grand Ordinaire

This is a French wine that was actually chosen by Bruce Swartzwelder.  The description makes the wine sound like a mildly sweet Bourgogne.  So we will see.

Appearance: looks thick bodied.  Deep, rich plum and red color.  Legs that take a while to form.

Smell: cherry, licorice, cola, toast,

Taste: very cherry, slight rasberry, short finish, silk feel on the mouth, smooth taste, pleasant aftertaste, not heavy in tannin,

Pairings: The toast taste is brought out by the lasagne that the Hogans paired with the wine. Gouda brings out the raspberry taste of the wine.  Dark chocolate brings out a bitter taste (AVOID). Milk chocolate brings out the smooth taste of the wine.

Brit Scale Ratings:

Robin: 3
Melissa: 3
Erin: 3
Sherry: 3
Bruce: 3

Bruce states that even though he gave the wine a 3 he was disappointed in the wine as a Bourgogne.  It doesn't taste as overpowering as a normal Bourgogne (burgundy).

The rest of us thought that the wine lived up to it's mildly sweet reputation and that's why it's rated so well by us.