Wine tasting results!

What an amazing evening with great friends, here are my "judge's" thoughts on each wine:

 (original cartoon by George Aldridge)

• First course: trout pate, fresh tomatoes (marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar with fresh ground salt & pepper and freshly chopped basil), olives, fresh ciabata, fresh sliced avocado and steamed asparagus with crushed fried cashew nuts)

De Grendel Chardonnay

Football Engineer

Smooth, easy going, not to complex – enjoyed it with fresh tomatoes, steamed asparagus with cashew nuts.  Too sharp with the trout pate.

Whiskey Eyes

Before food - all I get is green with a smooth, buttery finish.

After food - tastes smoother now, but honestly most white wines taste the same to me.

Hubby

First sip - green

Finish – oily/buttery

Without food – very unremarkable

With food – better, more fruity

Me

Before food – soft fruit extracts

After food – still soft smooth fruity extracts but accompanied by a grassy smell

• Second course:  Steamed whole artichokes with blue cheese sauce and lemon butter sauce.

Ataraxia Chardonnay 2008

Football Engineer

More complex, but still smooth

Whiskey Eyes

Before food – green peppercorns & et wood that doesn’t burn good

Hubby

Flowery nose, strong flavors

Needs more decadent food like pasta, selection of cheeses, etc.

Very acidic with artichokes.

This wine is amazing by itself, no food needed – vanilla/melon tastes appear now.

Me

Before food – soft fruity bouquet

With food – robust fruity, soft gooseberries can be tasted now.

I agree, artichokes does not compliment this wine…. When we took a breather between bottles and food we realized that this wine is actually amazing.  It was so beautiful and all these different flavors started appearing.  I need to work on a dish to go with this, maybe rather a soft steamed yellowtail with veggies, nothing to over powering.

• Final course:  Slivers of Parma Ham, duck foi grass, fresh sliced avocado, tomato, cucumber & basil, wild olive boursin cheese, melted brie cheese with sweet chili, fresh ciabata accompanied with Spanish Olive oil & balsamic vinegar

Red wines

High Constantia 2004

Final selection course:  Slivers of Parma Ham, duck foi grass, fresh sliced avocado, tomato, cucumber & basil, boursin cheese, melted brie cheese with sweet chili, fresh ciabata accompanied with Spanish Olive oil & balsamic vinegar

Football Engineer

Dry, wooded, earthy.  Olives bring out the sweetness.  Boursin cheese matches well with the wine, particularly the pepper.

Whiskey Eyes

Before food – tastes woody, like I poured wine on to my wooden staircase & then licked it up. Yum

Hubby

Heavy oak, forest floor.  Wonderful finish with olive oil and bread.

Me

Before food - Fruity smell with and old wine barrel finish.  Sweet berries can be picked up. 

With food – still fruity with a very old wine barrel smell and a gorgeous soft berry aftertaste.

Le Bonheur Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

Football Engineer

Sour apple, mulberry.  Delicious with the duck pate and fantastic with the Parma ham

Whiskey Eyes

GUMMY BERRIES!

Hubby

Fruity wooden pieces of heaven – dry, but you can drink it.

Me

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Oh goodness – I can not read what I wrote, ha ha, like it’s a big secret and I wanted to be the only one to decipher it??!!! Whoopsie :)

All in all it was a gorgeous evening and we had two amazing red wines that stood to the test of time.  I have to admit the Ataraxia stayed in my mind and was the most memorable wine that evening.

So if any of you out there are hosting your own unpretentious wine tasting, with your friends or loved ones, I would love to hear about it & pictures would be a bonus ;)

Cheers all!