Tasting - Chateau Morrisette Vin Gris

Chateau Morrisette Vin Gris

67% Cabernet Franc, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon & 1% Petit Verdot

2014

Floyd, Virginia

 

Critic Review: Reminds me of vibrant fresh watermelon & strawberries with a few tart cherries.  The great thing about dry rosé is that it will pair with just about anything and everything that’s for dinner (or lunch) in every season, although I would probably a plate full of charcuterie or even fresh trout, lightly battered of course. 

 

Tasting: Has a decent nose of  strawberries with rare notes of ginger. The taste is very heavy with while peaches at the start and finishes with other red fruits, and has a clean finish.

Tasting - The Black Dog

Chateau Morrisette The Black Dog

Chambourcin, Cabernet, Merlot Blend.

2013

Floyd, Virginia

Critic Review: Aroma: Fruity. Palate: Berries, subtle spices. Finish: Smooth. Off-dry, medium-bodied.

 

Tasting: Has a nose of black fruits, with a taste of blackberries and strawberries with a smooth finish. My favoriate of the normal chateau red wines.

Tasting - Red Mountain Laurel

Chateau Morrisette Red mountain laurel

Red Wine Blend

2014

Floyd, Virginia

Critic Review: This is a distinctive dessert wine made from a blend of American native grape varieties. It exhibits flavors of fresh grapes and cherries, complemented by a sweet, smooth finish.

 

Tasting: Has a powerful nose of grapes with a heavy sweetness. The taste is that of fermented welch's grape juice with a crisp finish. A huge favorate!

Tasting - Frosty Dog

Chateau Morrisette Frosty Dog

66% Vidal Bland and 34% Traminette

2012

Floyd, Virginia

Critic Review: Warm floral notes give into a honeysuckle & guava burst in opulent style.  Subtle notes of mandarin orange & pear linger on the finish.  This wine doesn’t need any paring unless you’re craving roasted almonds or pecans.

 

Tasting: Slightly syurpy consistency with a heavy nose of guava and honey. The taste has notes of oranges with peaches and a very sweet finish. Desert in a bottle.

Tasting - Chateau Morrisette Chardonnay

Chateau Morrisette

Chardonay Reserve

2013

Floyd, Virginia

 

Critic Review: Lemon meringue and zest are full within its first breath.  A clean balance of toasted coconut & almonds, but not enough to overpower the crisp, butter-laced finish.  100% barrel fermented and aged Chardonnay to enjoy with the likes of Cesar salad, grilled pork chops, sharp cheddar cheese or better yet, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

 

Tasting: The nose has a very powerful lemony with slight hints of apple. The taste is very buttery with notes of tropical fruits and a crisp, slightly hot finish.

Wine & Cheese Pairing #2

 The Cheese Plate Selection

 Left: Stilton Blue Cheese 

Center: Whole Milk Brie Cheese

Right: Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries

 The 3 Wine Choices

 

Cousino - Macul

Cabernet Sauvignon

Maipo Valley, Chile 

Critic Review: The smell has hints of spice and cherries, with a body of blackcurrants and is a perfect match for roasts and grills.

Tasting: Has an aroma of black berries, and slightly oaky. The taste is slightly fruity, acidic, and has a dry slightly hot finish.

Before Brie: Doesn't change the cheese flavor too much but gives it a slight acidity.
After Brie: Brings out the oaky flavor, but adds a slight spicyness to the wine.

Before Blue: Brings a spicy flavor to the blue cheese, an unexpected but good pairing.
After Blue: Gives the spicies in the wine a very good blue flavoring.

Before Wensleydale: Doesn't change the cheese taste much but gave it a wierd texture.
After Wensleydale: Sweetens the wine a bit and really brings out the red fruit flavor.

Woop Woop

Shiraz

2013

Australia

Critic Review: Woop Woop Shiraz has a bright violet color. Powerfully scented with blackberry and blueberry, with a more serious licorice character coming up in the glass. Flavors of dark berries, bitter cherry and mocha show both depth and verve, sweetened by a touch of vanilla. Gains firmness with air and finishes with good clarity and length. Definitely shows the polish I've come to expect from a Ben Riggs wine.

Tasting: Has a nose of smokey black fruit with a taste of spicies mixed with strawberries but with an odd middle flavor I could not figure out; but has a nice after taste, not too dry.

Before Brie: Gives buttery cherry flavor to the cheese.

After Brie: Cuts through most of the acidity, and brings out a lot of blackcurrant flavor.

Before Blue: Gave the cheese a very salty taste, not a good combo.

After Blue: Gives the wine a blue strawberry flavor, odd but interestingly good mix.

Before Wensleydale: Really sours the wine, not a good pairing.

After Wensleydale: Great pairing afterwards, really brings out the cranberries in the cheese.

Casas del Bosque

Sauvignon Blanc 

2013

Chile

Critic Review: The Casas del Bosque sauvignon displays energetic, precise lemon and pear qualities, with floral, herbal and mineral accents adding complexity; year in and year out, this wine punches far above its price point. It possesses the depth and power to work with richer foods, but also the finesse and energy to be enjoyable on its own, or alongside simply prepared salads or seafood, even sushi.

Tasting: Has nose of apples with gooseberries with uric acid and slightly green notes. The taste is that of cat piss on a gooseberry bush and a very nice finish of peaches.

Before Brie: Gives the a slight floral flavor but cuts most of the butteriness from the cheese.

After Brie: Brought out a yeasty flavor from the cheese into the wine and gave a slight ctriusy taste to the wine.

Before Blue: Gave the cheese a much stronger blue flavor and a salter taste, not a great pairing.

After Blue: Kind of a bland pairing. The wine cuts the left over blue flavor while the cheese cuts out all of the gooseberry.

Before Wensleydale: Brings out the cranberries in the cheese while leaving a sweet aftertaste.

After Wensleydale: Not much of a change to the cheese flavor but turns the wine to almost water. A bad pairing.

Homemade Cookout Dinner

The Dinner Plate

Pepperjack Burgers

Sauteed Collard Greens with Garlic

Country Style Baked Beans with Bacon & Maple Syrup

The 3 Wine Choices

Cousino - Macul

Cabernet Sauvignon

Maipo Valley, Chile 

Critic Review: The smell has hints of spice and cherries, with a body of blackcurrants and is a perfect match for roasts and grills.

Tasting: Has an aroma of black berries, and slightly oaky. The taste is slightly fruity, acidic, and has a dry slightly hot finish.

Burger: The relish from the burger makes the wine fairly acidic, really hurting the flavor of the wine. Not a great pairing.

Baked Beans: Cuts through the acidity and brings out the sweet red flavor from the wine.

Greens: Gives the wine a green flavor but doesn't change the wine flavor.

Woop Woop

Shiraz

2013

Australia

Critic Review: Woop Woop Shiraz has a bright violet color. Powerfully scented with blackberry and blueberry, with a more serious licorice character coming up in the glass. Flavors of dark berries, bitter cherry and mocha show both depth and verve, sweetened by a touch of vanilla. Gains firmness with air and finishes with good clarity and length. Definitely shows the polish I've come to expect from a Ben Riggs wine.

Tasting: Has a nose of smokey black fruit with a taste of spicies mixed with strawberries but with an odd middle flavor I could not figure out; but has a nice after taste, not too dry.

Burger: Cuts the odd middle flavor from the wine while giving the meat a sweetness.

Baked Beans: The beans really sweetens the wine while bringing out the flavor of blackcurrant, also adds a slight earthy note.

Greens: The greens gave the wine a peppery flavor, also brought out the tannins nicely.

 

Casas del Bosque

Sauvignon Blanc 

2013

Chile

Critic Review: The Casas del Bosque sauvignon displays energetic, precise lemon and pear qualities, with floral, herbal and mineral accents adding complexity; year in and year out, this wine punches far above its price point. It possesses the depth and power to work with richer foods, but also the finesse and energy to be enjoyable on its own, or alongside simply prepared salads or seafood, even sushi.

Tasting: Has nose of apples with gooseberries with uric acid and slightly green notes. The taste is that of cat piss on a gooseberry bush and a very nice finish of peaches.

Burger: Not much a change to the wine but gives the finish a slight hotness to it. Not a great pairing.

Baked Beans: The beans cut the acidity in the wine to bring out the flavors of peaches and grapefruit but gives the finish a sour note.

Greens: Gives the wine a completely sour flavor and takes out much the flavor of the wine. Not a good pairing.