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.

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.

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.

Tasting- Bliss Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Bliss
Variety:  Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $15

Winery review: Leads with a nose of ripe blackberries which are accented by dark chocolate. Juicy fruit flavors are followed by integrated spicy oak. Always food friendly, this well-balanced wine is completed with hints of pepper, smooth tannins, and a long, lingering finish.

 

My review: Has a dark and spicy flavor that also has a lot of oakyness.  I liked the flavor but would like it to be a little less oaky.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Bliss Chardonnay

Name: Bliss
Variety:  Chardonnay
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15

Winery review: Aromas of honeysuckle and baked apples. Lively fruit flavors of ripe melon and a hint of lemon zest are complimented by a rich, creamy mouth feel. The finish is long and memorable and is sure to please.

 

My review: Has a very full and fruity flavor, not too sweet and has a little bit of a tart taste.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Bliss Merlot

Name: Bliss
Variety:  Merlot
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2007
Price: $12.99

Winery review: With aromas of juicy raspberries and a touch of milk chocolate, this Estate Merlot has flavors of dark fruit and earthy spice which are complemented by round tannins and a long, smooth finish.

 

My review: This was a very dark and fruity wine.  It had some spicy flavors and very little oak taste.  I really enjoyed this wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Chateau Morrisette Vidal Blanc

Name: Chateau Morissette
Variety:  VIdal Blanc
Region:  Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $10

Winery review:   Refreshing flavors of citrus and apples are augmented by grapefruit, melon and floral aromas.  Medium-bodied and smooth, this vintage features a lengthy, aromatic finish.

 

My review: This wine was very good, a little bit bitter but it had a good strong finish.  I really liked this wine and would like to have it again with food.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Clos du Bois Pinot Grigio

Name: Clos du Bois
Variety:  Pinot Grigio
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $24

Winery review: Features a temptingly fruity potpourri of apple, pear, peach, melon and grapefruit—all leading to a long, crisp finish.

 

My review: This wine was a good blend of several different sweet and citrus fruits.  I really enjoyed the flavors mixed together without being entirely too sweet.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Santa Margherita Prosecco

Name: Santa Margherita
Variety:  White Blend
Region:  Trentino-Alto Adige
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $21

Winery review: The color is straw yellow, with an aroma that has a lively vinosity characterized by a fine fruity fragrance and an elegant long-lived mousse. On the palate the wine tastes pleasantly dry with a well-balanced acidity, making the wine fresh and lively.





 
My review: This was a bubbly and semi dry wine.  It was not very sweet, but was actually very good.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Lumina Pinot Grigio

Name: Lumina
Variety:  Pinot Grigio
Region:  Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $10

 Winery review: Its medium-bodied structure and full aromas makes it stand out in the broad Pinot Grigio category.

 

My review: This was an alright Pinot Grigio, it was pretty much typical and didn't have any special or unusually delicious flavors.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Beringer White Zinfandel

Name: Beringer
Variety:  White Zinfandel
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $27

Winery review: In making Beringer’s White Zinfandel, the focus is to highlight the fresh red berry, citrus and melon aromas and flavors, and round them out with subtle hints of nutmeg and clove. The wine has a youthful exuberance that is enjoyable as a sipper on its own, or with a variety of dishes.

 

My review:   It had a lot of different fruity flavors, especially strawberry. It was very sweet, yet not overwhelming.  I would definitely try this wine again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Apothic White

Name: Apothic
Variety:  White Blend
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $13

Winery review: The wine is straw-colored and slightly luminous in the glass, which is a very good sign for most whites.  The nose is complex with smells of chalk, citrus, and melon.  The palate is a bit sweet but not overly so and has strong flavors of pineapple and citrus.  The finish is very short.  That is unusual as sweeter wines tend to end with finishes that are dry, bitter, or cloying.

 

My review: This wine was a very good blend.  It had a lot of different fruity flavors and a very good taste.  I would definitely try this wine again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Apothic Red

Name: Apothic
Variety:  Red Blend
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $14

Winery review: It has a very nice mouth feel with a velvety texture. This is a medium-to-full bodied wine with dry, round tannins and refreshing acidity.

 

My review: This wine had a creamy fruit taste and was very thick.  The blended grapes work well together, offering a different and unusual flavor.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Andre Peach Passion

Name: Andre
Variety:  Sparkling Wine
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $8

Winery review: Andre Peach sparkling wine is sweet and fresh with scents and flavors of fresh peaches.

 

My review: This was sickeningly sweet and had a candy peach flavoring instead of a realistic one.  I do not like this sparkling wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Conde Villar

Name: Conde Villar
Variety:  40% Loureiro, 30% Trajadura, and 30% Arinto (Mixture)
Region:  Portugal
Country: South America
Year: 2009
Price: $18

Winery review: The Loureiro in the blend delivers a burst of intensely fresh citrus and green pear fruit, lime skin, and floral aromas.  Take a sip and you’ll discover more citrus fruit, wet stones, and a touch of yeasty freshness.  The finish is bright, crisp, and dry with lingering mineral/yeast and lime notes.

 

My review: I did not like this wine very much.  It was fruity but bitter.  It also had a little bit of carbonation that I did not like at all in this wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Electric City Merlot

Name: Electric City
Variety:  Merlot
Region:  Washington
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $20

Winery review: Young, full bodied, tannins dominate, relatively monolithic, a reasonable aftertaste. A big fruity nose of dark fruit and pepper, primary flavors of intense dark fruit, oak and earthy undertones.

 

My review: This was a very delicious dark wine.  Of all the red wines we tasted all night this was my favorite.  It has a little bit of an oak flavor but was far from overwhelming.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Alamos Malbec

Name: Alamos
Variety:  Malbec
Region:  Argentina
Country: South America
Year: 2010
Price: $22

Winery review: The Alamos Malbec has dark, blackish purple color. The nose shows ripe black fruits, black pepper spice and floral notes. The mouthfeel is full yet soft and supple, with black raspberry and currant flavors mingled with notes of sweet spice and a touch of leather. The finish is long and persistent with soft, sweet tannins.

 

My review: This wine had a heavy, dark and delicious feel to it.  It had flavors of darker berries yet was smooth with little to no alcohol burn.

I tasted this on its own with no food.