Celebrating One Year with Two Wine Reviews

One year ago this week I kicked off the new format for my blog and set about writing about food, beverages, pairing and all sorts of other adventures. I picked this week because it includes my birthday and I felt it would be good luck for my new blog to be born in the same week.

To celebrate my birthday (today) and the first birthday of my blog I went to the store and picked two bottles of wine I had never had to enjoy and review. Happy Birthday to me!

Cinquante-Cinq Chardonnay 2009
A French Chardonnay seemed like a classy pick for a celebratory review. This wine hails from the Languedoc region in Southeastern France. I detected flavors of white peach, a strong punch of acidity and some citrus on the finish. I also found some minerality, something like sandy or salty dry soil. I didn’t pick up any oak influence at any point. This is a simple presentation of Chardonnay and with the punch of acidity one you need to be prepared to drink. I found it paired really well with my sautéed green beans and curried asparagus for dinner last night.

Cigar Box Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
I am familiar with the Cigar Box label from their Malbec which I have enjoyed several times. I was expecting intense concentration, bold flavors and smooth drinking texture based on my experience. I wasn’t expecting complexity based on the value price point and youth. And I got what I was looking for. With a deep ruby color, lots of red and only a little blue, and powerful red fruit aromas I was sure I was going to enjoy my first sip. I picked up plum, raspberries, vanilla, and spice flavors. I also found some additional wood notes, maybe even cedar. The tannins are present and a little bit coarse. The finish is considerable and extends the enjoyment. I paired it with smoked dark meat turkey and found it to be one of those surprise pairings. I was sad when the turkey was gone!
Cheers!
Jason