Zack Deeley Wine Blog

 Wines - Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 - Josh Buttery Chardonnay Central Coast 2021 - Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfadel 2019    I consider this night a success! Our meal was as followed: Australian Grass Fed Tomahawk Ribeye Steak, Roasted Potatoes, and Seasoned Asparagus. Everything came out perfectly! Our Tomahawk Steak was medium rare and seasoned with salt and pepper. Roasted potatoes were seasoned with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Finally, the roasted asparagus was seasoned with salt and pepper. I think this had amazing complementary flavors with texture variety. The tenderness of the steak, crunchiness of the asparagus, and softness of the potatoes made for a culinary journey.      First off, I could tell the difference in these more expensive wines. They finished very well on the pallet. I will say the Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon had a very dry finish to it. This would equate to Wine Folly's text describing its medium to high t...

Inycon Pino Grigio 2022 Variety:  Terre Siciliane IGT Wine Folly: page 149 Region: Menfi, Sicily Country of Origin: Italy Price: $10 My Review: This one definitely was my favorite out of the two. The first instinct I get after tasting it is… REFRESHING. In addition, it gave off a super light and fruity taste. I got strong hints of lemon zest, cantaloupe. Unfortunately, I can't say I have any hints of almond or crushed gravel. The sweetness was a perfect contrast to the light body content. I do like the cold temperature of wine like these though.  I was not aware that Pinot Grigio was from Sicily. I was thinking that only red wine was from that reason for some reason. Professional Review:  "Beguiling aromas of Asian pear Thai basil, honeydew melon and a hint of ginger give way to a crisp but pleasantly voluminous mouthfeel. The lingering finish reveals hints of herbs and flowers from the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia."

Domaine Bosquet 2021 Price: 15 Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Country of Origin: Argentina Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza Wine Folly: pg. 125-126 My Review: If I’m being honest, this one was not my favorite to taste. I did get a hint of blackberry and tobacco, however, I would not classify it as sweet tobacco. From a visual standpoint, this was an incredibly thick wine. The color was extremely dark and felt very full in the mouth. The biggest visual attributes I saw were the legs, meaning it has a higher alcohol content. My biggest regret is not letting it decant for 30 minutes. I would love to pair this wine with a thick cut of meat or light cheese. Unfortunately, I think blue cheese is disgusting so I would not take that recommendation by Wine Folly.  Professional Review: Bright black fruits jump from the glass in this 100% certified organic Malbec from Argentina. There is a nice creamy texture to this wine that permeates the wine, but it also stays fresh and bright fruited on the ni...

19 Crimes Cali Red (Snoop Dogg Wine) Page: 96, 97 Variety: Red Blend Country of Origin: USA Region: Lodi, CA Price: $15 My Review: Well, Snoop Dogg has done it again. It's a pretty solid wine considering the mostly negative reviews. Wine Folly mentions the flavor profile being mostly sugar plums and blueberry. I do taste these in the beginning, however, it does finish a little harsh for my liking. This has to do with the aggressive tannin profile. I was not aware that tannins are responsible for the bitter and dry feeling in your pallet. Black tea was also a MAJOR note that I tasted in it. Professional Review: “ Full and dense, with strong black & blue fruit notes up front from the Petite Sirah, complemented by bright red, slightly candied fruit in the background from the Zinfandel. The darkly toasted oak ties it all together along with a slightly sweet finish.”

F.J. Serra 2020 Chardonnay Wine Folly: pg. 96, 97 Variety: Chardonnay Country of Origin: USA Region of Origin: California Price: $8 My Review: I agree with Wine Folly about its taste of buttery rich flavor. We paired it with grapes and cheese (Espresso Bellavitano) which was a great choice for this matter. I have to say it was a little too bitter for me with a rich after taste. I did get subtle hints of tangy apple with some sort of fruit. I get no taste of vanilla or pineapple. The aromas were a little bit harsh too. I think a big factor of the disappointment was paying $8 for a bottle. Wine Folly says to pay at least $40 for this particular wine.  Professional Review: “Quite a lot of power here - this is one for those who enjoy a Chardonnay at the oakier end of the spectrum! Ripe fruit like pear, mango and hints of pineapple, mixed with baked lemon and grapefruit. The oak contributes vanilla, bitter and coconut to the spectrum of flavors, and the overall feeling is one of richnes...

I believe wine is more than a taste. It is a social activity for me. Its a reason to interact with friends and family. The sophistication of each wine makes me feel like an sophisticated man. It makes me feel like I have a refined and mature palate. I would like to better understand how to pair these wines I choose with the correct food group. I also am fascinated by how different regions use different aging techniques and grapes. My biggest issue is that its hard for me to distinguish different wines. A lot of them taste very similar so I need to adjust my pallet. Red wine is particularly harder to taste the different flavor profiles for me. It will be helpful to collaborate with others in this class to better understand each unique taste. I am confident that by the end of the semester I will have a better understanding of different characteristics of wine. This is a great opportunity to become cultured in different regions signature wines.  The social aspect of group tastings enc...