Tasting: Sweet Blueberry Wine

 

Name: Pacific Fruit Vineyards Sweet Blueberry

Variety: Red Blend

Region: Modesto, CA

Year: not listed

Price: $6.99

Aldi review: Experience a fruity, medium-bodied wine with delicious sweet natural flavors of vibrant blueberry. Perfect complement to a delicious meal, beautiful day, fun party, or on its own. Serve chilled.

Wine Folly: This is not a very typical red wine, and it does not go into detail on what blend it is, so I'm at a loss. California produces a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah, so there is a good chance that the blend contains these. Syrah has notes of blueberry, which makes it hard to figure out if it's in there considering there are actual blueberry flavors overpowering everything else. I believe the grape used the most in this is Merlot, because its plum and chocolate notes make for a good dessert wine and it is widely available.

My review: I think I accidentally bought juice? If it didn't say 7.5% on the bottle, I would've thought this was for kids. Reminds me of Fruitscato by barefoot a bit. In terms of wine, not a good one. Can't really taste anything over the blueberry which made finding the notes for the grapes above really difficult. In terms of a good time, I think this would end in a headache but it does taste like candy!

Tasting: Bourgogne Rose

 

Name: Bourgogne Rose

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Burgundy France

Year: 2023

Price: none (free tasting)

Pro review: (this is translated from french, so kinda funky) "It is a rosé from direct pressing of Pinot Noir. Its slightly deep pink color is a reflection of its greed. It is fruity and delicate, refreshing with aromas of red fruits, sour candies and some discreet notes of liquorice. This wine is ready to drink but can still be kept for a few years. It will gain in complexity and minerality. Serve it as an aperitif, with cold cuts, snails or cheeses. It can also accompany grilled or sauced fish as well as white meats."

Wine Folly: I understand the notes of raspberry, but to me it tasted more acidic/sour like a slighlty unripe raspberry. I didn't get any clove, but I did get a bit of cherry similar to the rasberry. Very fruit forward with not a lot of complexity. This wine is from the main producer of Pinot Noir (Burgundy) so I'm a little upset that I didn't enjoy it. I will have to try another pinot noir from this region and compare. 

My review: Confusing wine. Was a very light red which I thought I would enjoy, but it was kind of just a combination of the things I don't like about white AND red. It was super acidic and I got the tannin feeling in my mouth that I don't like all at once. Very glad I didn't have to buy this one to try it, because it was a fail for me. Thank you Florida ABCs!!

Tasting: OPICI VINO BLANCO

 

Name: OPICI VINO BLANCO

Variety: 20% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Trebbiano, 40% Verdicchio

Region: Adriatic Coast, Italy

Year: No vineyard year given

Price: $12.99

Winemaker's review: "The Adriatic region of Italy has long been known for producing structured and balanced white wines from the native Verdicchio variety.  Trebbiano adds further structure to the final blend, while Chardonnay contributes the delicate fruit aromas. Dry in style with a clean, crisp citrusy finish. Packaged in a traditional ornamental fish bottle used for centuries in this region, it pays homage to the Marche’s rich history. It is also a good indication of the ideal pairing.  Serve with any and all seafood dishes.  Best when young."

Wine Folly: Trebbiano Toscano is said to have notes of lemon which makes sense because this was a very acidic wine. I could not get many notes over the acidity. Trebbiano is a grape that is very popular in Italy, so it makes sense that it would be included in a blended wine such as this one. 

My review: Too acidic for me!!! I couldn't taste anything besides straight citric acid. It was not my favorite, but that may be because I tried it with a seafood dish that was quite spicy, which made the acidity all the more intense. My boyfriend bought this bottle because it was shaped like a fish, and he and his roommates finished it off.

Tasting: Our Dog Blue Table Wine

Name: Our Dog Blue Table Wine

Variety: Mainly Riesling and Traminette

Region: Floyd, VA

Year: No vineyard year given

Price: $12.00

Winemaker's review: "This popular white wine is a semi-sweet Riesling-Traminette blend, using Vidal Blanc for added depth. Aromas of melons, citrus fruits, apricots, and delicate flowers highlight the soft finish of this soothing wine."

Wine Folly: Riesling is said to have notes of jasmine, which may be the floral notes I was getting. I did not know what floral element I was getting specifically, as my taste is not very developed and was slightly overpowered by the sweetness, it was a wonderful floral taste and aroma. I also got notes of pear/apple which is typical of a wine like this. 

My review: This is a new favorite of mine! I love that its local, I love the light floral smell, and I like that its a blend of multiple types of grape. It has a beautiful bottle and was a great match with my chicken marsala. Can't have too many glasses through as it is a very sweet wine. 

Tasting: Roscato

Name: Roscato Black Cherry

Variety: Red Blend

Region: Northern Italy

Year: No vineyard year given

Price: $15.00

Total Wine review: "Italy - Roscato black cherry is tantalizing with deep cherry flavors perfect for game night, date night, and treat yourself night. When tasting this wine, you'll find distinctive cherry notes combined with hints of almond and vanilla."

Wine Folly: It is said that red in northern Italy are more "elegant, aromatic and earthy" due to the colder climate and I believe that these elements may have been overpowered by the black cherry. It makes sense that a red blend would be from around here because there is a wide range of red grape varieties grown in northern Italy. 

My Review: This was a low alcohol very light red wine which I have never tasted or heard of! The notes of vanilla and almond were great and came through very clearly, and it was a very casual drinking wine that I probably would not have with dinner, but it did go well with a leftover slice of chocolate cake and by itself. It went down easy! Tannins are something that usually ruin the wine for me and this one didn't have many which helped. 

Tasting: Yellowtail Pinot Grigio

Name: Yellowtail Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Australia

Year: No vineyard year given

Price: $11.99

Wine Pro review: "Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio is an Australian dry white wine that is both fizzy and refreshing. Sourced from high-quality vineyards in Riverina and harvested at night to conserve pure flavors, Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio is zesty and passionate. It bursts with red apple, pear, and passion fruit flavors and makes the perfect partner on a warm summer evening."

Wine Folly: Australia does not have Pinot Gris noted as one of the wines to explore from this region, instead being more known for tawnys like the one I had in my 3 course meal blog. Nonetheless, yellowtail is a very broad wine company that makes a large variety of wines, and it does say that pinot gris makes up a small amount of the wine produced in Australia. Wine folly has notes of peach, lemon zest, and raw almond for pinot gris, and the only one of those I get from this wine is the lemon zest as it is more fruit forward but has more pear than peach tones. 

My Review: This is the wine I regularly share with my roommate and sadly she moved out this morning to go to her permanent job, so last night we bought a big bottle and talked about old times. This wine is a very simple, cheap, nice drink to have at the end of a long day with snack foods. I love having it with salty foods, tonight was potato chips and tzatziki sauce. A strong note of pear is what makes it so refreshing in my opinion, it's not the lightest wine I have had but it is pretty far up there, which is nice considering its 11.5%. 

Cheese and wine pairing!

 I got together with a couple friends on a Friday and got 3 cheeses and 3 wines from Kroger along with a box of crackers. It was such a fun way to wind down after a stressful week!! We also had chocolate fondue afterwards!

The Cheese:

North Sea Cheese:

A semi-hard cheese from Denmark known for being aged close to the sea-- the salty air does wonders!! Very comparable to gouda because of the nutty and sweet flavors. Also was a bit reminded of parmesan.

Whiskey Maple Gouda:

Exactly as the name suggests, this is a gouda with notes of whiskey and maple. It was too fun to pass up!! Sweeter and a bit softer than the North Sea Cheese, with a creamier taste. 

Double Cream Brie:

I am a lover of brie, but this was not even close to the best one I've had. Was a bit harder than triple cream brie and did not have a lot of flavor compared to others I've had.

The Wine:

Chateau Morrisette Chardonnay:

A 2021 Virginia grown Chardonnay found in the "local" section in Kroger. Was chosen simply because it had a dog on the front, and I haven't had a Chardonnay in a while!

"About Last Night" Storyteller Sauvignon Blanc:

A 2022 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc. I have seen this brand over and over again and finally decided to give it a try! I wanted another white with a different flavor, so I went with their Sauvignon Blanc since I enjoyed the one I had for one of my wine tastings. 

Yellowtail Cabernet Sauvignon:

A donation from my boyfriend's roommate in exchange for cheese. My new goal now that I'm enjoying a variety of white wines is to start exposing myself to more reds even though I don't like any yet. Doesn't have a vineyard year, but yellowtail is just yellowtail. 

The Tasting!!

I went cheese by cheese during the tasting, having some with each wine, so I'll do the same here!!

Starting with the North Sea Cheese, this was definitely my favorite cheese by itself. I started with the Sauvignon Blanc, and it was okay but a bit overpowering and tart. The next I grabbed was the chardonnay, and it tasted amazing! Definitely the top pairing of the night, I kept going back for more. The red wine with the North Sea Cheese left a lot to be desired, probably because it came right after chardonnay. That mixed with the fact that this red wine is not something I'd buy again, I only had one bite. 

The next was the double cream brie, which everyone had very strong opinions about. Both white wines, especially the Sauvignon Blanc, were absolutely horrible with the brie. It resulted in this rotten milk flavor that made all of us disturbed. The chardonnay had a slightly less punchy version of this flavor but it was still nothing I'd ever attempt to combine again. The best pairing for this wine was the red, which says a lot considering I do not like this red. 

Last, but not least, was the whiskey maple gouda. I liked this cheese, but my boyfriend was not a fan and deemed it "not a wine cheese". I was under the impression that all cheeses were wine cheeses, but to each their own. The Sauvignon Blanc was unimpressive but inoffensive with this cheese. It is nothing to rave about but is perfectly acceptable. The chardonnay was a bit better as I think the sweeter flavor brought out the sweetness of the maple in the cheese. In my opinion the red completely took away the reason you would every buy this cheese- the whiskey and maple flavor. It just tasted like a mild gouda when paired with the red. 

Conclusions:

I really love North Sea Cheese, and maybe having a dog on the label IS a good reason to buy wines because the Chardonnay was delightful! I have not broken through to my red wine-loving self quite yet, but I will keep you updated on that. 

Best pairing: North Sea Cheese and Chardonnay

Worst Pairing: Double Cream Brie and Sauvignon Blanc

Best wine: Chardonnay 

Worst Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Cheese: North Sea Cheese

Worst Cheese: Double Cream Brie