- 2011 - Suavia - Soave Classico
- 2010 - Buehler Vineyards - Chardonnay
- 2012 - Hedges Family Estate - CMS White
- 2011 - Hedges Family Estate - CMS
- 2009 - Peter Franus - Merlot
- 2011 - Aviva Vino - Montsant - Bula
- 2012 - Marenco Moscato d'Asti - Strev
- 2009 - Guffens-Heynen - Roussanne Viognier D'Aigle
- NV - LaGarde Altas Cumbres - Extra Brut
- 2008 - El Huique - Chardonnay Reserve
- 2010 - Manos Negras - Torrontés
- 2008 - El Huique - Carménère Reserve
- 2008 - Giovanni Rosso - Dolcetto d'Alba - Le quattro vigne
- 2009 - Bodegas Nieto Senetiner - Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva
- 2005 - Ardévol Priorat - Coma d'en Romeu
We also decided to have a blind comparison tasting of two ESBs (Extra Special Bitter) one night. We opened a Fuller's which is a classic British beer and an ESB from Evolution Craft Brewery, which came in our monthly craft beer mailing.
Technically only Brett did this blind as Megan actually poured the beers, but she'd never had either so it was essentially blind for her as well. Brett was able to identify, by aroma alone, which was the Fuller's ESB. It's just better and that's all there is to it. If you have to drink a different ESB after a Fuller's you're going to be disappointed (Brett feels the same way about Fuller's London Porter).
Brett also had a few other beers that we both tasted over this period.
- Schneider - Weisse Tap X - Mein Cuvée Barrique - What a beer! This is a weizen bock that has been aged in pinot noir barrels for two years. Brett drank bottle #415/688. The depth and breadth of flavor rivaled that of $100 wines, but clearly was beer. We weren't sure how the two different profiles would blend, but they marry very well. This isn't cheap ($25 a bottle), but if you want something to savor over a relaxing evening, give it a try if you can find it.
- Florida Beer Company - Key West Sunset Ale - This is the second of our Florida Beer Company beers - it has a somewhat traditional, if subdued, amber ale taste, but there is also a strange tangy off-putting finish. Normally that would be associated with extract brewing, but I'd be surprised if they were using extract. Maybe it'd be okay with food, but it's going to take us awhile to get through this.
Vintage Cellar was also having a special Monday tasting as they were filming a TV commercial so we headed over (long after filming was over) to give a few more wines a try.
- 2011 - d'Arenberg - The Hermit Crab
- 2009 - L'Ecole - No. 41
- 2010 - Hedges Family Estate - Red Mountain
- 2010 - Attems Collio - Pinot Grigio
- 1927 - Alvear Pedro Ximénez Montilla-Moriles - Solera
- NV - Thorn-Clarke - 18 Year Old Rare Tawny
Finally, on Monday we had three new tastes. We tried a new recipe for dinner, which we'll list here, but won't give the recipe for because it wasn't that amazing - not bad, just bland. We also had a new wine with that dinner. Megan then made some amazing pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to celebrate the start of fall!
- Chicken with pineapple and onion cooked in slow cooker
- 2011 - E. Guigal - Côtes du Rhône Blanc
- Pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies - Note the cookies are only 56 calories each - they taste like a lot more than that!
We're looking forward to a bunch of new tastes this coming week. There's a special tasting at Vintage Cellar on Thursday, both wine and beer. The beer is Belgian and Belgian-style beers including a special visit from Ommegang Brewery from Cooperstown, NY. They make Belgian-style beers and also make special Game of Thrones edition beers. Saturday is the Radford chili cook-off and also the apple festival at the Blacksburg Farmer's Market. We'll be able to taste all kinds of apples, much like the tomato festival, then try a bunch of chilis. We also bought a number of new beers, some special fall ones in particular, that we're looking forward to trying, including a pumpkin lambic!
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
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