Madelyn's Wine Blog: Wine Dinner 2

Up First was A 2020 California Chardonnay paired with a caesar salad. Like most California Chardonnays this was oaky, creamy, and buttery. It had a harsh aftertaste and was not enjoyable by any means. This wine had baked apple aromas along with hints of pineapples, but the flavors were completely oaky, drowning out any pleasant fruit within the wine. This wine was not an ideal pairing for creamy caesar salad, since any richness or creaminess the salad had to offer was diluted by the overbearing wine. When salad was followed by the wine, the creamy dressing and crisp lettuce the flavors were diminished by the wine’s intense creaminess and oak flavors. Overall this was not a good pairing, though it could be because I disliked the wine so much.

Name: Robert Mondavi Private Selection

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Napa Valley

Country: US

Year: 2020

Price: $10

Our next course was spaghetti meatballs and chanti. This 2020 Chianti was filled with plum and cherry aromas and tasted just as good as it smelled. This was a light bodied red with mild tannins, low acids, and delicious plum flavors with a hint of cherries. Neither the wine nor the spaghetti and meatballs overpowered each other. The food actually brought out some of the wine’s more fruity flavors. The mild tannins, in the wine, made the food textures and flavors more prominent, like the sweet flavors of the tomato in the pasta sauce. The wine also had hints of pepper which perfectly complemented the mild spices in the sauce. Neither the wine or the dish was too sweet or rich for each other, and together they made for a great meal!

Name: DaVinci 2020 Chianti

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Year: 2020

Price: $12

Last but not least was another great pairing, of Zinfandel and chocolate covered strawberries! This Zinfandel was bursting with sweet berry aromas such as raspberry. This medium bodied wine was filled with sweet berries, like raspberry and cherry, as well as medium tannins. Alongside the chocolate covered strawberries, this wine only became sweeter and its complexities shined through. Believe it or not, neither of these dishes were too sweet for each other. The richness of the chocolate and the lightness of the strawberries matched this rich, sweet Zinfandel. The tannins in this wine were medium to mild and only enhanced the flavors of the dessert by making the sweet berries seem more juicy and refreshing. Overall this was a great pairing and a great way to end our wine dinner!