As we travel up the east coast, I am continually visiting new grocery & liquor stores, thus selecting blind on my wines. It would be easy to stick with the "good enough" grocery store options that you can get anywhere, but where's the fun in that?... So where do I start? First, I stay within my preferred varietals, then look for interesting labels. Next I see where it was bottled because different areas are better for different varietals. I read the description, but don't put too much stock in it. Every winery is going to make is sound like their wine hits all the complex notes and better than the rest. Nobody will they you you're about to buy a flat, overly tart wine that you should only cook with; but we all know they are out there. Lastly, I compare the price to a wine I know. It's usually a good indicator of the quality level of the wine. This process, while time consuming, has had a pretty good success rate for me. I think my enjoy rate is about 80%, which either means my process works or I'm not overly picky (probably a bit of both).
With my husband whipping up some amazing Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches last night, I wanted to enjoy a nice glass of red wine along with it. I had a Napa cab that I hoped would do the trick, Block Nine Cabernet Sauvignon. This cab was definitely a great choice to enjoy with our sandwiches. Upon first inspection, there was an aroma of wet earth. It smelled earthy and dry with light hints of sweet spice. My interest was peaked and I was excited for that first sip... it did not disappoint. This wine was bold, with dry cherries and bark berries and hints of clove. While it was dry and earthy, the finish was smooth with hints of smoke. It's tannins hit you in the best way, allowing you to really savor each flavor. While I definitely enjoyed this wine, after 2 glasses I was really feeling the acidity. Not sure if it was also the sauteed peppers, but none the less, it was hitting me. It is listed at pH 3.66, which is normal levels, but it was just hitting different. Even with the after effects, I will still be enjoying those other 2 glasses, but maybe with something not so acidic.
CHEERS!
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