Zack Deeley Wine Blog

Variety: Carignane, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah Country: California= Region:  Mendocino County Year:  2022 Price: $20  Wine Folly pg. 90 My Review: This wine has a surprisingly dry, cranberry and strawberry flavor despite its pungent tobacco smell. This would align with the dried cranberry and raspberry flavors associated with Carignan grapes according to Wine Folly. I have never tried Carignan before, and I actually really like it. This wine is supposed to be chilled, but I kind of feel like it is muting the flavors, and I would like to try this wine at a warmer temperature. Overall, I usually hate Rose, but I actually liked this wine. Professional Review : Light cranberry color, juicy strawberry-watermelon fruit aromas, nice mineral, nice lift of spring flowers and fresh zest from cara-cara oranges, tangy vanilla crème fraîche on strawberry shortcake! Refreshingly crisp and dry, mouth-watering actually. Great with almost any food, from sushi to salmon to BBQ!

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...