For a long time, I've wanted to assemble a wine tasting series type deal in which my friends and I would taste different wines and eat some good food to go with it. Well, I finally organized a 7 part series, and kicked it off with Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. When preparing the menu, I took into account that lighter foods and seafood usually pair well with these wines. I prepared a simple salad with tomatoes and radishes from the farmers market. For cheeses, I chose goat cheese and fontina, and added sliced oranges on the side. The acidity in the goat cheese and oranges paired particularly well with these wines to amplify the flavor. The fontina had a more taming affect on the acidity and flavors of the wines.
For the main dishes I prepared a tomato goat cheese tart topped with arugala sprouts, which added a nice bright freshness to the dish. I also roasted a spiced pork tenderloin and served it with a sweet and spicy peach chutney. Finally, the star dish was the pistachio and herb crusted scallops topped with a blueberry balsamic reduction.
Here are some of my thoughts on the wines we tasted.
J
Pinot Gris, 2012, California
Price: $15.99
This was one of my favorites. It smelled of peach and melon on the nose. It was a bit on the sweeter side than you would typically think for a pinot grigio, but displayed complexity, starting fruit forward and showing a decent finish that was acidic, but not too much so. Overall, a great buy for $16 in my opinion. Showed a little bit of an effervescence.
Santa Margharita
Pinot Grigio, 2012, Alto Adige(Italy)
Price: $20
I've had this wine several times, and it is always solid. This is much more of a classic pinot grigio than the previous one. It is a little drier and doesn't put forth much fruitiness. It's got that lingering acidity that is expected, but in a good way. Reliable wine that doesn't disappoint.
Cakebread Cellars
Sauvignon Blanc, 2012, Napa Valley(California)
Price: $27.50
This wine was very easy drinking. It had a similar nose to the California Pinot Grigio we tasted, but was milder. It was balanced on the front end with some acidity and a little fruitiness as will. However, the finish disappeared very quickly. It is a decent wine, but I preferred others that we tasted(although part of the group labeled this their favorite.) A good safe bet for a solid easy to drink wine for large groups of people. Also had a slight effervescence to it.
Whitehaven
Sauvignon Blanc, 2013, Marlborough(New Zealand)
Price: $15.99
This wine was solid but didn't necessarily stick out amongst the crowd. It had a nice bouquet, showing that grapefruit citrus smell I've learned to point out in Sauvignon Blancs. It had nice body and mouth feel. The wine was not too acidic and had a solid finish which showed some spiciness. Overall fairly enjoyable and landed in the upper middle of the pack for me.
Chateau Fonfroide
White Wine, 2011, Bordeaux(France)
Price: $15
This was universally a crowd favorite. It didn't necessarily have a heavy earthiness or mineraliness I expected out of a French wine. It featured some acidity, but in a pleasant manner. Solid body and complexity, with a hint of sweetness. I'd definitely buy again.
Reyneke
Sauvignon Blanc, 2010, South Africa
Price: $28
After tasting the other Sauvignon Blancs, this one came as a bit of a shock with completely different flavors and characteristics. It was polarizing, it few of us loved it and a few of us hated it. Although the initial smell was not pleasant, it soon faded. It showed hints of reminding me of a chardonnay, with a heavier and creamier texture and a hint of butter and oak. Not really much citrus in this one, but definitely the most balanced and complex wine we tasted. It showed some spiciness as well(I identified a white pepper taste.) It also put forth a little earthiness. After the third or fourth sip is when I really started enjoying this wine. I'd say it'd be better for those that drink chardonnay rather than typically the lighter whites.
Tilia
Torrontes, 2012, Salta(Argentina)
Price: $10
The least favorite of the crowd. The old saying "you get what you pay for" held true here. No complexity or balance, mainly a sweeter wine.
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