Schwab Wine Tasting Event -- March 18, 2021

 “The softer the cheese, the lighter the wine.”

Wine Tasting: Schwab — Webex Events

Panelists

• Lori Cajimat
• *Alpana Singh
• Donald Klein
• *Gerald Moran
• Jason Meeks

  

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Ethel M Chocolates: Duos

• Website here.
• Gourmet premium chocolate: Henderson (Las Vegas), Nevada; wiki here;
• Other brands: M&Ms; MARS
• Ethel M is owned by Mars, Incorporated; and, was named after the mother of Forrest Mars, Sr.
• created in 1978; opened in 1980, as a project to cure the boredom he experienced after retiring;
• selected Nevada because it was one of the few states that allowed the sale of liqueur-filled cordials;

At Amazon.

Wine Chips

• Manchego: Rosé Bubbly (website here -- SOLD OUT -- tell me again this is a bad economy)
  
• Ribeye: Wine - Red (website here)
  

Champagne: Nicolas Feuillatte, rosé, Choiully, France

• Nicolas Feuillatte
• Chouilley, France
• ripe berry fruit —
• before, with dinner, and after dinner, dessert
• great with chocolate
• French dishes
  
• for rich, creamy dishes
• great against fat, salty, and sweet
• risotto: creamy Italian rice dish
  
• mushroom sauce
• crême beurre
• goes with Indian food
• Samosas: really delicious from Central Market, Southlake, TX; fried or bake pastry filled with a savory filling;
  
• 
fried chicken
• chips
• Vietnamese food
• perfect for a BYOB wine
• perfect for a house-warming gift
• proper glass
• tulip type; not a flute
• must be chilled
• fastest way to chill: bucket of ice with tons of salt
• 
but not too cold
• 7 - 10% sugar, sweet
• demi-sec = 1/2 sweet
• brut: least sweet
  

Chardonnay: Kosta Browne, 2018, One-Sixteen, Russian River Valley

• “cab”
well-balanced “oaky” and buttery

• Kosta Browne
• 2018
• One-Sixteen
• Russian River Valley
• chardonnay
• warmer climes
• lower acid levels
• more buttery
• Chardonnay Food pairings
• serve with foods served with drawn butter (think seafood)
good with cream, classic French sauces
• cheesy, cream, sauce
• Triple Creme cheese
• Roquefort
• Popcorn
• Lambrusco -- wiki; lambruco?
  
• levels of sweetness
• charcuterie (salami) — picnic -- wiki;
  
• with Riunite — Lini 910
• Fumé blanc: sauvignon blanc made in the US; has likely gone through some oak aging;
  
• 
old school

• Mondavi marketing; see this link;
  
• 1970’s term
• aged in oak

Zinfandel: Ridge Lytton Springs, 2018, Dry Creek Valley
72% zinfandel, 18% petite sirah, 8% carignane, 2% mataro — grape varieties

• THE GREAT AMERICAN WINE
• Ridge Lytton Springs; 2018
  
• “raspberry jam” type
• food pairings
• 
burgers, BBQ, classic American
• Filipino foot, tacos, pork
• pizza
• most American of wines
• sacramental, prohibition; wiki here;
• how the church saved the wine industry during prohibition;
  

Cabernet Sauvignon: La Jota Vineyard Co; Howell Moutain Estate; Napa Valley;

• the wine of prestige
• La Jota Vineyard: makes the best merlot; more sensitive
• Napa Valley
• 2015 Howell Mountain
• The Rock Star
• tannins
• can stand on its own
• CAB: measure one's worth by CAB
• prestige factor
• good level cab: $100; over $200 level — stars!
• the story matters and goes into the price point
• food pairings
• “slab and a cab”; steak
• braised meat: pot roast, stake taco
• chili
• needs umami: why it matters;
  
• manchego cheese
  
• gouda 
• parmeson
  
• dry — no residual sugar
• sweetness: only felt with tip of tongue
• can be subtle and everyday and can also be a rock star

TAKEAWAY

Bruce: "So what would you like with your steak tonight?"

May:  "A Zin. You know, the great American wine."

Bruce: "Any particular one?"

May: "Maybe a Ridge Lyttone Springs, if you have it."

Bruce: "How about a 2018?"