Tasting Notes - Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Name: Masciarelli Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
Producer: Masciarelli
Region: San Martino, Abruzzo, Italy
Grape Varieties: Montepulciano
Vintage: 2013

Overall Rating:  ★★★★☆



Pairing: Chicken Riggies!  This is a pasta specialty from my hometown, Utica, NY.  It's a creamy pink sauce with chicken and hot peppers, and this Montepulciano D'Abruzzo was a perfect pairing.

Sight
Color: Dark Purple



Aroma
Intensity: Moderate
Age: Some Age
Scent: Spicy, dried cherry and light plum

Palate
Dry/Sweet: Dry
Body: Medium
Acidity: Fresh
Tannin: Low/Medium
Flavors: Cherry and leather
Finish: Long(5-7 sec)

Wine Resolutions 2016

It's the start of new year, and I'm making the obligatory resolutions...

Luckily, my resolutions are wine focused, so hopefully they won't be too unrealistic. ;)

2016 will be the the year of grape! Each month, I will try to do a deep-dive study of a different grape.  I hope to learn as much as I can about the grape and the regions that produce it, and then hopefully compare a couple of wines of that varietal.   Here's a rough plan  for the first half of the year...

January - Merlot
February- Zweigelt
March- Gamay
April- Carmenere
May- Pinot
June - Semillon

Cheers to 2016!

Tasting Notes - Frappato Vittoria

Producer: Paterno di Vittoria

Region: Sicily, Italy
Grape Varieties: Frappato
Vintage: 2013
Overall Rating:  ★★★★☆

Pairing: This was an unfamiliar grape that was recommended by the waiter at Mozzarella & Vino.  It was a fresh, well-balanced red, with cherry flavors and some herbal/spicy notes.  It was easy to drink while waiting for our entrees and then complemented both the ravioli and the sausage that we ordered.

Sight
Color: Ruby Red


Brightness: Dull

Aroma
Intensity: Low-Moderate
Scent: Cherry

Palate
Dry/Sweet: Dry/
Body: Light-Medium
Acidity: Fresh
Tannin: Low
Flavors: Cherry and Herbs/Pepper

Tasting Notes - Grooner Grüner Veltliner

Name: Grooner
Producer: Weingut Meinhard Forstreiter
Region: Austria
Grape Varieties: Grüner Veltliner
Vintage: 2014
Overall Rating:  ★★★★☆






Pairing: Refreshing and crisp this paired nicely with our Catfish Ramen dish from Blue Apron.  The citrus flavors and acidity complimented the Asian spices, and the aroma of apple and hint of bell pepper gave it a nice balance.


Sight
Color: Straw Yellow


Brightness: Day Bright

Aroma
Intensity: Moderate
Scent: Green Apple and Bell Pepper

Palate
Dry/Sweet: Dry
Body: Light
Acidity: Fresh
Flavors:  Citrus and Green Apple

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé

The third Thursday of November is a wonderful day in the world of wine, because it is Beaujolais Nouveau release day!  Beaujolais Nouveau is a vin de primeur (wine sold in the same year that it was harvested) made from the Gamay grape, which is a signature grape of the Beaujolais wine region in France.   Harvest season in France is usually between late August and early October, so the Beaujolais Nouveau is only fermented for a few weeks before it's release.  As such, it is light-bodied and not complex, but it is easy-drinking and often has a strawberry flavor.  Judging by this year's Nouveau, 2015 seems to have been a strong year for the Beaujolais region.

Tasting Notes - Rosso di Romagna

Name: Rosso di Romagna
Producer: Maestro di Pomidoro
Region: Emilia Romagna, Italy
Grape Varieties: Sangiovese
Vintage: 2013
Overall Rating:  ★★★☆☆
Pairing: This wine was alright; kind of a strong alcohol burn to it.  However, I loved the tomato man on the label, and we drank the whole bottle with a NY thin-crust pizza.

Sight
Color: Purple


Brightness: Dull

Aroma
Intensity: Moderate
Scent: Plum and Cherry

Palate
Dry/Sweet: Dry
Body: Medium
Acidity: Smooth
Tannin: Low
Flavors: Fruit:Apricot/apple/plum, very juicy
Finish: Long(5-7 sec)

Tasting Notes - Nero Scuro

Name: Nero Scuro
Producer: Fattoria Laila
Region: Rosso Piceno DOC
Grape Varieties: 80% Montepulciano/20% Sangiovese
Vintage: 2013
Overall Rating:  ★★★★☆

Pairing:  CHEESE!  I've really been enjoying Montepulciano wines lately.  They're easy drinking and seem to go with everything, and as I like to say... wine goes with everything! :-p



Sight
Color: Purple


Brightness: Dull/Opaque

Aroma
Intensity: Moderate
Age: Some age
Scent: Plum, berry, earthy

Palate
Dry/Sweet: Dry
Body: Light-Medium
Acidity: Tart/Crisp
Tannin: Low/Medium
Flavors: Jammy plum and berries