Tasting Wine Pairing July

Question 1

Amuse wine pairing

Answer 1

Varietal: Champagne,
Producer: Taittinger ‘La Francaise’, Brut,
Origin: France
Vintage: NV
Grapes: 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier, all fermented in stainless steel and blended with 30% of reserve wines

    - Taittinger pronunciation: Tay-ton-Jay 
    - la francaise pronunciation: la frawnce-ses 
    - meunier pronunciation: mun -yay

Tasting notes: tight bubbles, stone fruit, baked apple, crisp, very light brioche.

Question 2

1st course pairing

Answer 2

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Mt. Beautiful
Origin: North Canterbury, New Zealand
Vintage: 2022

Tasting notes: beautifully bright tropical fruit; melon, guava, pineapple with some pink grapefruit and green apple. Bright acid

Question 3

2nd course pairing

Answer 3

Varietal:Rosé,
Producer: Bouchaine, Vin Gris of Pinot Noir,
Origin: Carneros, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2021
Grape: 100% Pinot noir

   - Vin Gris pronunciation: Vahn-gree 
   - Bouchaine pronunciation: Boo-Shane

Tasting notes: fresh strawberries and fresh picked roses on the nose, cranberries and citrus on the palate.

Question 4

3rd course pairing

Answer 4

Varietal: Chardonnay,
Producer: Häfner Vineyard,
Origin: Alexander Valley
Vintage: 2020

Winemaking notes: We fermented 50% of this wine in French oak barrels to add complexity and depth; barrel fermentation gives the wine a roasted nuts aroma and greater weight on the palate. The remaining 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 53° F to retain more of the grapes’ aromas of citrus and tropical fruit. After alcoholic fermentation, 40% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation, converting the wine’s natural malic acid to the softer lactic acid, adding a buttery character to the aroma and a rich, creamy texture on the palate.

Aged for nine months in French (90%) and American (10%) oak, then bottled in July 2021.

Tasting notes: soft mouth feel with a beautiful balance of oak as well as crisp green apple and pink grape fruit. Very layered and well done.

Question 5

4th course pairing

Answer 5

Varietal: Super Tuscan,
Producer: ‘Ornellaia’ (Or-nill-eye-uh)
Fictitious name: Le Serre Nuove dell ‘Ornellaia’ (the new greenhouse of Ornellaia
DOC: Bolgheri (bull-gary)
Type of wine: Rosso, (meaning red) (ro-soo)
Origin: Tuscany, Italy
Vintage: 2021
Grape blend: 50% Merlot, 28% Cab Sauvignon, 11% Cab Franc, 11% Petit Verdot
-Le serre nuove dell Ornellaia pronunciation: Le
seh-rreh
New-oh-vay
Deh-l
Or-nill-eye-luh

Tasting notes: medium + body, cassis, cinnamon, vanilla - warm toasted notes- gripping tannins.

Question 6

Dessert wine pairing

Answer 6

Varietal: Moscato d’Asti
Producer: Ceretto Vignaioli
Origin: Piedmont, Italy
Vintage: 2021

     - d’Asti pronunciation: dah-stee 
     - Ceretto pronunciation: Chehrr-eh-toe
     - Vignaioli pronunciation:Vin-yay-oh-Lee
     - Piedmont pronunciation: Pee-ed-mont

Tasting notes: light evanescence, intense basket of fruit; white peach, apricot, soft lemon, aromatic and deliciously sweet.