Tasting: Domaine De Cambis La Vie En Rose Saint - Chinian

Name: Domaine de Cambis
Variety: Languedoc-Roussillon Rosé
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review: The nose honestly smells like Hawaiian Punch. The wine sits light on the tongue, great red fruit flavors that are sweet. The finish starts sweet then quickly flattens, turns a little tart, and leaves you with an alcohol-ish flavor.

My Review: This was very light red that almost had a pink hue to it. I smelled citrus, strawberries, and sugar on the nose. The wine was less sweet than what I was expecting and it had a tart taste. This wine was alright but it just wasn't my style. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Domaine Pelaquie Cotes Du Rhone

Name: Domaine Pelaquie
Variety: Cotes Du Rhone
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review: A beautiful garnet-red color with blue reflections and red fruits at the nose. It’s well-rounded in mouth and offers a fruity finish. Food pairing: grilled meat and cheeses.

My Review:  This wine had a ruby red color and smelled like spices to me. I thought this wine tasted fruity, salty and dry. I did not really enjoy this wine very much and wouldn't buy it in the future. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Anne de Joyeuse Camas Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Anne de Joyeuse Camas
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: 
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review: Pronounced citrus fruit nose. On the palate, a powerful expression of lemon and lime fruit, with richness and a long mineral finish. An ideal companion for shellfish, lobster or crab. Equally at home as an aperitif or with food, the Camas Sauvignon works well with all types of fish, salads or Oriental and Asian cuisine.   

My Review: This wine had a light yellow, and clear color. It smelled somewhat like laundry detergent. The taste was slightly sweet and had some fruity flavors. I was not overly very impressed with this wine and wouldn't buy it gain. 

I had this wine with a cheese dish and it paired well with brie.

Tasting: Rex Goliath Zinfandel

Name: Rex Goliath 
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: California 
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $6

Winery Review: This wine drinks well all by itself, but really opens up when complemented by beef stew, barbecued ribs or slow-roasted pork tenderloin! Any way you slice it...I know you will enjoy this wine, hopefully as much as I enjoyed creating it!

My Review: This wine had a heavy ruby red color to it. The nose was mostly spice and I had a hard time pulling anything else out of it. When I tasted it the main qualities were the bitterness and a slight sweetness. It was also a little dry. I actually enjoyed this wine and for $6 I would probably try it again. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting:Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon

Name:  Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California 
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $10

Winery Review: Our Cabernet Sauvignon appreciates the warmer vineyards of California’s lower foothills, bringing out robust flavors of black cherry and chocolate. A hearty companion to steak, chops, and ribs.

My Review: This wine had a ruby color and a fruity nose. I could mostly  smell berries and that was the main taste as well. It was a little dry but not too much. I thought this cab was below average and I wouldn't want to try it again. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Zeppolis Dinner

Two of my friends and I went to Zeppolis Wednesday night to taste some wines and have dinner. This wine dinner was very enjoyable and the food was much better than I expected it to be. The wines we tasted were all French wines.

The food we had was delicious and every dish was enjoyable. I started with the salad, which had a Italian dressing on it. There was nothing fancy about it but it was very good. Next I had some of the cheeses. I tried three kinds and liked all of them. The brie was my favorite out of the cheeses. After the cheeses I started on the rice pilaf. It may have been my favorite part of the meal. Next I tried the pasta. I was baked in a meat sauce and it went very well with the red wines. 

My three favorite wines from the meal were a Chardonnay, a Bordeaux and a Syrah.

The Chardonnay was Domaine Redmond 2014 chardonnay Macon-Charnay. This wine was a clear light colored yellow and had slight oak aromas. The taste was tangy, a little sweet and had a hint of oak. My guess is that this wine was aged in old oak barrels since the oak was so weak. The pasta paired well with this wine. This wine retails at $15 a bottle. I liked this wine but I am not sure if I would buy it in the future. 

Next was Chateau L'insoumise Caresse du Terrior 2012 Bordeaux. The color on this wine was a dark red and it had strong smells of oak and butter. The taste was not as oaky as I thought it would be and it was moderately dry. This wine also felt very sticky in my mouth. It paired well with the cheese from the dinner. This wine was $12.99 and I would probably buy it in the future. 

My favorite wine of the night was Domaine La Croix Belle 2014 Syrah. This wine was a dark crimson color that almost looked purple. The nose was very fruity and I could defiantly pick out blackberries. As for the taste, it was very robust and with spice and fruit. I liked this wine a lot and come to find that I like most Syrahs. It was $12.99 a bottle and I would defiantly buy this wine in the future. 

Tasting: Shutter Home Red Blend

Name: Shutter Home 
Variety: Red Blend
Region: California 
Country: United States 
Year: 2015
Price: $5

Winery Review: Just try to resist the juicy red fruit flavors of our Red Blend! Rich and smooth, this blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet carries notes of vanilla and spicy oak. Deliciously drinkable on its own, or pair it alongside hearty red-sauce pasta dishes, grilled meats, burgers, and maple-bacon brussels sprouts.

My Review: This red was pretty dark but still a red color. I thought this wine smelled like oak and acid. When I tasted this wine I thought that it was very hot and pretty dry. I did not like this wine. 

I did not have this wine with food.