First Course
2011 Coelho Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley served with Bruschetta with basil, tomato, and fresh mozzarella
Wine description:
2011 Coelho Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon $21.99
Willamette Valley, OR - This delicious Pinot offers alluring aromas of spice, cherries, and toasty cedar. It's velvety texture is enhanced by flavors of cherry, cranberry, chocolate. Vibrant and supple, this beauty offers a lovely smooth finish.
This wine had a lot of cherry and strawberry on the nose and was light ruby in color, typical of most Pinot Noir. It was very light and sweet with a strong cherry flavor. It was definitely very fruit-forward and had a nice smooth and soft finish. It was a very balanced and enjoyable wine. This was by far the best Pinot Noir I've ever tried.
When paired with the bruschetta, it really emphasized the basil flavor and they complimented each other very well. The mozzarella made the wine creamy and even smoother.
Second Course
2009 Chateau Landat Haut-Medoc Bordeaux paired with thyme roast chicken with a mixed greens salad
Wine description:
2009 Chateau Landat Haut-Medoc $24.99
91 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France - "There is a fine mineral texture to this structured, frim wine from the northern Haut-Medoc. It also has ripe fruit and a richly tannic character, with flavors of black plum juice and berry. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, this will age over several years."
The wine had strong earthy tones. Definitely Old World in style. The nose was of dirt, rubber, and a barnyard. It was very soft and elegant when tasting. The terroir stood out with the mineral essence. Spiced and juicy, it had delicious soft tannins that left a great mouth feel.
Individually, the wine and chicken were superb. However, together there was dischord. The chicken was juicy and butter but clashed with the fruitiness and tannins in the wine. I had read the most Bordeaux wines should pair well with any bird but that was not the case here.
Third Course
2013 Il Duca Moscato D'Asti served with apple crisp and french vanilla ice cream
Wine description:
2013 Il Duca Moscato D'Asti - $14.99
Sweet, Apricot, Peach, Medium-bodied
Asti, Piedmont, Italy - A soft, easy-drinking white with notes of fresh peach and apricot intermingled with clover honey. Lower in alcohol, this is the perfect accompaniment to fresh fruit or as a delicious companion or alternative to dessert.
A very sweet and fruity nose, it was difficult to distinguish the specific fruit influences due to the overwhelming sweetness. The initial taste was of a sugary syrupy mess with a very light carbonation. Definitely suited for a dessert wine, it was still too sweet for my taste.
With the apple crisp, the wine surprisingly tasted less sweet. The carbonation made everything seem much lighter and the flavor of the cinnamon in the apple crisp was really emphasized.
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