Ruta 22 - Malbec from Argentina

When I went into the wine shop to ask for a good pizza wine, I also asked for a nice fruity wine that would go well with a picnic. It had to be bold enough to compliment fried chicken, as some friends of ours had invited us out to a state park for KFC then some hiking.

I was given the shop's very last bottle of a Malbec by Ruta 22. Keeping with my tradition of trying wines from all over the world, I was excited that this one was from Argentina. So far my experiences with red wine went from a party in my mouth Syrah to a smooth and supple Sangiovese. This one, like the story goes, was just right. Bold and flavorful, yet smooth and drinkable.

When you pour it you will see that it is very dark. That already excites me! You can also smell that it is very fruit forward. Definitely the fruitiest smelling red I've had so far. Upon drinking, if you don't smile then there is something wrong with you. There is a hint of something that makes you think of blackberries. That theme continues even after swallowing.

It has a high ABV, about 14% (just like the Syrah) so if you are used to drinking wines that are around 9-10% it might be a little overwhelming. But you get over it quickly, because it is just plain delicious. Fried chicken and mashed potatoes didn't pair so badly. I know people might be thinking that white wine would go better but the sweet undertones made me very happy when matching it with the spicy flavors of the breading and gravy. Perhaps next time I will try a Chardonnay.

In the mean time, if you are looking for a red with flavor but won't rape your taste buds, this Malbec is the way to go!

Castello Vicchiomaggio - a love affair with a Sangiovese

So I walked in to the wine shop with pizza on the brain and asked for a good wine to pair up. I was recommended a Sangiovese varietal from Italy by Castello Vicchiomaggio called Rosso Pesce Vino da Tavola. For under $10 I was skeptical, but these days it's pretty true that price isn't usually an indication of quality.

My second red in this journey, I have been wondering if all reds are as insane as Syrah. I was not in the mood for an in your face kind of night. I was happy that this wine was very smooth. The tannins and the acidity were medium to low and it definitely paired well with the spiciness of the pepperoni and tomato sauce on my pizza. I do understand that Sangiovese is the name of the grape. As for what type of wine this is, I still have no idea. Is it a Chianti maybe? Is Rosso Pesce a type of wine? No clue. There is a lot of Italian words on that bottle and I don't speak Italian. I also have little experience with wines.

It is pretty dry but still has a hint of fruitiness. Mainly I tasted cherries, perhaps plums. I can't say too much about it. It was just a very simple red that accompanied my pizza quite nicely. However, I will say that a couple of days later we baked a lasagna, and I was absolutely blown away. The tomato sauce was a little sweeter and less acidic than the kind on the pizza, and this wine was taken to a whole new level with it. I don't think I'll ever drink anything else with lasagna. Period. Keep that in mind next time you put one in the oven!

Levraudière - my first Muscadet

This is my first indication that I may be a little over my head in this endeavor! This bottle of Muscadet was quite good, but is it bad that I think it tastes like a Riesling? Not a sweet Riesling, like Spatlese, but more of a dry variety. There is very little sweetness to this wine at all, but that doesn't mean it isn't delicious.

Upon inhalation I think of pears. The color is pleasing and I'm excited for my first drink. Like any mildly acidic wine, the first taste immediately makes me think of citrus. I like citrus, it gives the wine a very crisp and clean flavor. As I swallow I taste not pears, but maybe a tart apple instead, along with something quite surprising! In the lingering after taste...is that...cherimoya? Almost like banana to me, but not. Cherimoya is the closest I can come to describe it. No Riesling has given me that before!

I was almost afraid to taste this wine after drinking The Wolftrap the other day. That Syrah was so loud and in my face, I was afraid of being bored with the muscadet! However the cherimoya has enchanted me. My fears were in vain! I must also say that I am happy Muscadet tastes nothing at all like Muscadine. I know this is blasphemy to say in North Carolina, but I am not a fan at all of Muscadine wine. (shudder)

Anyway, if you're a Riesling lover I definitely recommend giving Muscadet a try!

Boekenhoutskloop's The Wolftrap - my first Syrah

Last Saturday the hubby and I decided to head over to our favorite wine shop. We've always frequented the place because of their unique beer selections. Husband is a fan of ales, especially unique but manly ones. (This weekend's favorite was a pecan ale from Abita. Very dark and nutty flavor, robust and delicious, according to him. I'm not much of a beer drinker.)

I've always been intimidated by the shelves of wine surrounding the coolers though. My only wine experiences to date had been grocery store variety. Barefoot, of course, and others. Not that there is anything wrong with grocery store varieties in the slightest. However, when you walk around a wine shop and you literally see nothing at all that you recognize, it can be a bit disconcerting. So Saturday while perusing the beers, I asked Allen, my favorite gay guy (who runs the shop in the evenings) if he could recommend a great starting wine for an amateur like myself. He recommended what he calls his favorite "bridge wine." (Bridging someone from a sweet to a dry.)

It's a  65% Syrah blend from South Africa called The Wolftrap. He poured some into a plastic cup and let me try it. The smell was quite excellent, so I was already excited before it even hit my tongue.
However, I was very shocked at the first taste. It's so earthy and spicy! Not at all what I am used to. I swallowed it down and let the after taste wash over me. That is when the sweetness finally came. Not sweet like moscato but delicate and barely there. It stayed with me too, reassuring me and urging me to try another taste and give it one more shot.

As I sat there and contemplated it, I had to smile. The difference between the first swallow and the after effects were intriguing. I told Allen that it was like my tongue had been attacked but that the lingering flavors were comforting. In my head though, I thought it was like my tongue was raped and then cuddled afterwards. I was so intrigued by this wine, that I took it home with me. The more I drank it (not all at once, just over the weekend) the more I enjoyed it. I really wished that I had a steak to go along with it.

I'd like to be able to offer some sophisticated tasting notes, but I'm just not there yet. For now the best I can do is earthy, spicy, very aromatic in a musky sort of way, deep and semi-complex. If you're a fan of spicy reds, I definitely recommend it!

And so it begins...

I had my first wine cooler before I was legally able to drink. Some type of fruity, berry concoction that undoubtedly was loaded with sugar and had maybe 3% alcohol tops. Not quite carbonated kool-aid but possibly close! Perfect for my teenage tastes though. From there I went to Arbor Mist type blends: cheap, sweet and a little bit higher in its alcohol content. Shortly after that, I quit drinking all together, mainly due to a lack of interest. Now I am 27 years old, and I have discovered that I'm missing something.
Over the years I have delved into the world of cuisine and have learned that what you drink with your meal is just as important as the meal itself. So I've started back to square one, so to speak, but at least this time I went straight to a real wine. Barefoot's moscato. Oh how deliciously sweet! I confess, I'm a fan of sweet wines even to this day, and moscato swept me off my feet. After several months of my love affair with moscato (with the occasional side relationship with rum...mmm...rum) I have decided that it is time to graduate to a more adult selection. I'm ready to train my palette to appreciate complexities and relish in variety.
So this is my journey. From a California moscato to wines from all over the world. The sky is the limit! I am very much open to suggestions and appreciate any input as I embark on this adventure!