Zack Deeley Wine Blog

Simonet Brut Blanc de Blancs Variety: Chardonnay Country: France Region:  Alsace Year:  N/A Price: $13  Wine Folly Pg. 94 My Review:  Regarding Wine Folly, Brut is supposed to be one of the driest varieties of sparkling wine. In my opinion, this sparkling Chardonnay actually has a very sweet apple taste with a buttery finish. We followed Wine Folly’s recommendation to chill this sparkling wine, which resulted in a crisp and refreshing undertone. Describing bubbles as "fine" was definitely an interesting choice of words, but I think it accurately described them. Though this wine is sparkling, it is not unbearable because of the very low carbonation level. I honestly enjoyed this wine because it gave me a nostalgic taste of apple juice. Professional Review: Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. It's an expressive sparkling made in the classic Champagne style that produces rich and complex wines. In addition to flavors of green apple, peach, and pear, it offers lively aci...

Wine - Woodbridge Chardonnay - Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon - The Big Red Monster - Five Ports Maynard's Aged Tawny Porto Cheese - Merlot Bellavitano - Maple Gouda - Brie Since the Chardonnay had been opened for three days, I was not expecting much of a savoy taste. I would say I was pleasantly surprised by my poor judgement. It was absolutely delightful with hints of pear and apple with a perfect balance of sweetness and rich tannins. I was expecting the stereotypical Chardonnay with buttery richness and abundant sweetness. The Maple Gouda, most pungent cheese on the table, did not pair well. The nutty flavor with thyme infused inside of it was definitely overpowering for the subtle wine. On the other hand, the Merlot complimented the wine nicely with an apple-like sweetness. Lastly, the Brie transformed the wine into a incredibly rich taste. The woody and nutty undertones were delicious to pair with. The Cabernet Sauvignon had an exceptional amount of sweetness with notes of ra...

Juggernaut Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Region of Origin: California Country of Origin: USA Price: $17 My Review:  I think this is one of my favorites. Without looking at the book, I would say it had high tannins because of the dryness and coating of the mouth. It gave me heartburn right off the bat. From a visual standpoint, it’s super dark and has clear legs when tilted side to side. Wine Folly says it DOES have high tannins and should have tastes of cedar, graphite, and baking spices. I have to say one thing. I have no clue what graphite or cedar tastes like. The book also says this wine is known for its medium- high alcohol content. This would explain the legs on the edges of my glass. Professional Review: " The aroma of this wine is filled with the scent of licorice and blackberry that accompanies the perfect taste and smooth finish. The combination of rich, bold flavors and smooth texture makes Juggernaut Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon the p...

Williamsburg Governors White Variety: White Blend Country of Origin: USA Region of Origin: Williamsburg, VA Price: $10 My Review:  From looks, it has a pretty clear visuals with a tint of yellow.  It smells like rotten apples. It did have an artificial cork and did not have the best taste. The super sweetness was pretty upsetting to my stomach. Wine folly has Riesling being the highest sweetness and very high acidity. It was so overbearing with the sweetness I really didn’t get any hints of fruits. If anything, I got a little bit of apple.  From Wine Folly, it said I should get notes of beeswax, petroleum, and lime.  Professional Review:  "A semi-dry Riesling with a lot of bright fruit and residual sugar gives the wine a wonderful richness and will pair with many light dishes or spicy foods; or simply with a burger by the pool."

Variety: Pinot Noir Region of Origin: Central California Country: USA Price: $13 Wine Folly pg. 150 My Review:   From a visual standpoint, this red wine was pretty light. This would have to do to its light-body explained in Wine Folly. The aromas had a citrus undertone. The flavor were quite good with subtle notes of a raspberry or something better. Wine Folly says the most prominent flavors are cherry, raspberry, clove, vanilla, and gun smoke. I would think this would go well with a chicken or other poultry dish.  Professional Review: " Crafted from hillside Mendocino County vineyards, with a supplement of Russian River and Carneros fruit. Floral and spicy aromatics from Mendocino County, and bright red fruit with integrated, soft tannins from the Russian River Valley and Carneros, make this a perfectly balanced Pinot Noir."

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Region of Origin: Mendoza Country: Argentina  Price: $13 Wine Folly pgs. 88-90 My Review:  The wine was strong and pungent on the pallet. I could tell the tannins were pretty high on this one because of the dry after taste it left in my mouth. Its full-bodied bitterness really gives it a acidic pallet feeling. I really get a bloody bitter feeling all down my throat. The berries probably included a blackberry or plum. The biggest thing I can say about this wine is its INTENSITY.  Professional Review:  "Santa Julia Organic Cabernet Sauvignon is an intense red ruby color. Nice fruit aromas of red and black fruits such as cassis, black cherries and spices like black pepper and sweet pepper. Medium-bodied, well-balanced wine with soft tannins and a long finish."