Sunday, April 29, 2012

Dinner- Blue Apron and Red Rooster

This week is my brother's birthday, so over the weekend I went home to Salem and our family went out to dinner at the Blue Apron and Red Rooster.  We had been before, but not since the opening almost a year ago.  I was excited to go back and see what had changed and try some of the wines with my family.

Going into the front door of the restaurant.







This picture above shows the entrance into the Blue Apron Restaurant.  I switched purses and didn't realize that I didn't have my camera until we were already seated, so I'm having to borrow pictures from my friends and from online.






A view from across the street.
Inside the Blue Apron, very warm and inviting.

Once we got to the restaurant there wasn't a long wait at all.  We had to park a little ways away and walk since it is on Main Street and it's often hard to find parking.  We were seated very quickly after we walked in.  It's a relatively small location, but it is very warm and inviting inside.



The wines and dishes I had were as follows: (wines) Pinot Noir, Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend and a Riesling, (food) Grilled Atlantic Salmon, nicoise vegetables and roasted red potatoes.




Closerie des Lys

The first wine I tasted was the Closerie des Lys.  It is a 2010 Pinot Noir from France and was $32 for a bottle but $9 for a glass.  We got glasses of wine instead of bottles so that we could try more types throughout the meal.  I really liked this wine.  It had some dark and fruity notes that had hints of black cherry and various spices.  It also paired up very well with the food in my opinion.


Chateau de Goelane.


The next wine that I tried was the Chateau de Goelane Merlot and Cab Sauv blend from Bordeaux, France.  This wine was $30 a bottle and $8 for a glass.  I really liked this wine as well.  It was a very interesting blend but I really liked some of the different and new flavors it brought out.  I would rather have this wine by itself or with another dish because it didn't seam to pair up quite right with my dinner, but I really did enjoy this wine and would definitely want it again.


Dr. L Loosen Bros.

Finally there was the Dr. L (Loosen Bros) Riesling from Germany.  This 2009 wine was $20 a bottle and $7 for a glass.   This wine was very sweet and tangy and it was the last one that we had.  I really enjoyed this wine as an after dinner wine because it was lighter and fruitier than the previous two that we had tried.  It offered some really sweet flavors without being over powering and sickening sweet.



This was a very fun evening with my family.  Of the three wines that I tried my favorite was the Closerie des Lys because it matched up so well with the dinner that we were eating.  My mom's on the other hand was the Riesling because she is a newer wine drinker and still isn't very into red wines.  She liked how that one was sweet, without tasting like sugary grape juice.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Tasting- Trentadue "Block 500"



Name: Trentadue "Block 500"
Variety:Merlot
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $35

Winery review: Heavy and oaky, with a full-bodied, soft mouthfeel. But it’s rich and sweet in cherries, blackberries, plums, mocha and spices. Pretty good price for a nice, everyday Merlot.

My review: This was a deep dark red wine.  It was sweet but had a very full mouth.  I definitely got hints of darker fruits when I tasted it.  This would be a good wine to pair with many foods.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Peter Franus Zinfandel



Name: Peter Franus
Variety: Zinfandel
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $44

Winery review: . The wine offers bright, deep aromas of blueberry jam, white pepper, and coffee accentuated by notes of the usual baking spices--clove, cinnamon, and allspice. The wine is mouth-filling and rich, but with the structure that holds the wine in check. With lots of classic Zinfandel berry character and a bit of chocolate, the wine is "friendly"

My review: This wine was a fruity and surprisingly a little spicy wine.  I think this one would pair up well with several different meals and would like to be able to taste it with food.  I really liked the little hint of blueberry and other flavors that popped.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Hope "The Ripper" Shiraz



Name: Hope "The Ripper"
Variety:  Shiraz
Region:  Western Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $27

Winery review: Fruity/sweet flavor, lots of smooth tannin and oak. Nose has mostly reduced sulfur compound funk. Full body and big texture. While not porty or roasted, the emphasis on sweet fruit is dull.

My review: This was a fruity and oaky wine.  I had expected it to be dry but it was not at all. It also had the perfect amount of oak to not be too overwhelming.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- 75 Wine Co Sauv Blanc



Name: 75 Wine Co
Variety:  Sauv Blanc
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $35

Winery review: This wine leads off with an amazing amalgamated nose of grapefruit, white currant, melon, lime, chalk dust and an array of high toned herbs and flowers. The palate is remarkably poised yet playful, showcasing a beautiful balance of ripe, luscious fruit, beautiful minerality, and crisp acid.
 
My review: This wine has a lot of various fruity and citrus flavors that I really liked.  I think it is very different than a lot of other sauv blancs because of this and I really enjoyed some of the more citrus notes.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Buehler Chardonnay



Name: Buehler
Variety:  Chardonnay
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $17

Winery review: Displays abundant floral/ stone fruit aromas lightly accented by toasty, graham cracker sur-lie qualities. The mouthfeel is creamy and full but the natural acidity of the Russian River fruit carries this velvet textured package to a long, clean finish.
 
My review: I really liked this wine, I think that it has some toasty and creamy flavors that really work for it.  I would definitely drink this wine again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Tasting- Ca' Lunghetta Pinot Grigio


Name: Ca' Lunghetta
Variety:  Pinot Grigio
Region:  Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2008
Price: $20

Winery review: Full of refreshing flavors of citrus and apple, this Italian Pinot Grigio is easy to drink and well-balanced, with a clean, bright finish. Perfect alongside pasta, fish, or salad dishes.
 
My review: This wine was sweet and easy to drink, but it seemed a little watered down.  I would drink this wine again but it was nothing special.

I tasted this on its own with no food.