WINE AND CHEESE TASTING

April 2, 2014


Wine and Cheese Tasting

Cheeses:

     Mild Cheddar: dark yellow color, dry, thick, and somewhat salty

     Monterey Jack: off white color, somewhat bland, moist, slight zest,
                                 and somewhat creamy

     Muenster: slightly bitter, creamy, white light yellow with an orange
                        coating

     Medium Asiago: strong flavor, brittle texture, salty, and dry

     Gouda: dry, thick, very similar to cheddar, but more bitter, and creamy

     Creamy Havarti: almost no flavor, semi-dry, very creamy

Wines:

 Name: Rancho Zabaco

 

Variety: Zinfandel (15.3% Alcohol)

Region: Sonoma County, California

Country: United States

Year: 2012

Price: $13

My Review: This wine is a very dark plum color, and is medium to full bodied based on the moderate legs.  It smells like blueberry, blackberry, and a hint of gasoline.  This wine is very bitter and very hot.  There is some oak flavor along with the subtle fruit and some mild tannins. The alcohol content overwhelms the flavors, and is too powerful for my taste.

Winery Review: Rancho Zabaco is named for one of the original Mexican land grants in northern Sonoma and is inspired by the rich winemaking heritage of this growing area.  Made with grapes from the top vineyards throughout Sonoma County, this wine combines the best qualities of Zinfandel fruit by balancing juicy ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors with an underlying hint of pepper.  This wine pairs with dishes that range from simple grilled meats and roast chicken or turkey with sage, to more exotically-spiced Mediterranean cuisine.

I drank this with several types of cheese

I might drink this again (7/10)

     with Cheddar: The taste of the wine is not affected too much, but it takes away some of the fruit flavors.

     with Monterey Jack: This cheese softens the alcohol burn and brings out the fruit flavors, very smooth.

     with Muenster: The cheese softened the heat, blocked most of the fruit, and created a smokey flavor.

     with Medium Asiago:  This cheese didn't blend with the wine at all, I either tasted the cheese or wine.

     with Gouda: This pairing is similar to the Monterey Jack pairing, I taste the fruit with little burn.

     with Creamy Havarti: This pairing is very similar to the Muenster pairing, but without the smokiness.

Name: Acronym

 

Variety: Pinot Noir (13% Alcohol)

Region: Sonoma County, California

Country: United States

Year: 2012

Price: $10

My Review: This wine has the color of copper mixed with ruby red.  It is a light to medium bodied wine with slight legs.  It does not have a strong smell, but I do smell some toast, smoke, and rubber.  There is also a slight blueberry flavor.  It is sweeter than it smells, it is smooth slightly bitter and has mild tannins.

Winery Review: The acronym Pinot Noir is a silky sipper with bright raspberry and plum flavors.  This wine pairs beautifully with pork dishes or is simply great on its own.

I drank this with several types of cheese

I would probably drink this again (7.5/10) 

     with Cheddar: The cheese blocks most of the flavors but brings out the heat slightly.

     with Monterey Jack: This cheese blocks every flavor except blueberry, and there is little burn.

     with Muenster: This cheese dilutes every aspect of the wine; there is no bitterness or fruit flavor.

     with Medium Asiago:  This cheese blends very well, it creates a unique, sweet aftertaste.

     with Gouda: This cheese also blends very well, it combines with the wine to bring out a smokey flavor.

     with Creamy Havarti: This cheese does not affect the taste of the wine much, but it brings out the heat.

Name: Milton Park

 

Variety: Shiraz (14.5% Alcohol)

Region: South Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Price: $9

My Review: This wine is deep purple in color with a medium body and mild legs.  It smells like blackberry, blueberry, and pepper.  This wine has moderate tannins and has a slight toasty flavor.  This wine is very sweet and incredibly smooth.

Winery Review: This full bodied Shiraz displays rich, ripe plum and berry fruit which is complemented by subtle spice and oak character.  On the palate soft round tannins and a mouth filling richness complete this South Australian Shiraz.

I drank this with several types of cheese

I would definitely drink this again (9/10) 

     with Cheddar: This cheese brings out the blueberry, but does not affect the flavor much besides that.

     with Monterey Jack: This cheese blocks the heat completely and also brings out the blueberry.

     with Muenster: This cheese made the wine even sweeter and enhanced all the fruit flavors.

     with Medium Asiago:  This cheese did not blend well, I either tasted the cheese or the wine.

     with Gouda: This cheese diluted most of the flavors, but once again cheese brought out the blueberry.

     with Creamy Havarti: This cheese gave the wine a more creamy texture, but did not change the flavor.