BBQ with Wine & Friends

Friend's Backyard
Tasted Wednesday, December 30, 2009 by ikileo with 428 views

Introduction

Finally got together a bunch of my best buds and some new friends. 5 of us in all having fun at the grill and trying out different wines.

Flight 1 - Linguinue in Raw Tomato Sauce (1 Note)

  • 2005 Terras Gauda Rías Baixas Abadia de San Campio

    Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

    First wine of the evening and the first time any of us had an Albarino.

    Colour: A beautiful golden yellow hue, almost Sauterne like in colour

    Nose: Obvious notes of honey, apricots and cantaloupe. An hour later it developed peach and apple and notes. Very appealing nose and elegant

    Taste: I was, subconsciously, expecting something very viscous and/or something with lots of residual sugar but this wine was made in a drier style that was restrained and yet had all the elegance to showcase its finesse. A little Limoncino flavour on the mid palate. Healthy dose of acid to balance everything with a lengthy finish that was surprisingly savoury. As others have said, rather exotic and delicious. Went very well with the pasta due to its savoury finish.

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Flight 2 - Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Apple-Ginger Compote (1 Note)

  • 2004 Vinhos Sogrape Alentejo Callabriga

    Portugal, Alentejano, Alentejo

    This bottle was served blind by me to my friends. This was the first time any of them had a Portuguese wine so I had wanted to see what their reactions would be
    A blend of Aragonez (Tempranillo) and Alicante Bouschet, 14% alcohol content
    It was decanted for an hour and poured back into the bottle for another hour of bottle breathing

    Colour: Deep dark ruby hues

    Nose: Fresh dark fruits, blackberries. A relatively fruit forward nose but not a fruit bomb, quite balanced and none of that over-extracted almost 'artificial' fruit, eucalyptus and just a touch of spice. Very nice nose.

    Taste: The first thing that hit me was the fact that it had excellent body: medium to full, but it very well rounded and velvet as it flowed down my throat. The palate was a little more dominated by red fruits and some spice. A touch of gameiness could be detected around the corner. The oak was quite well integrated. The tannins had integrated sufficiently to the extent that we could not feel any of the dryness or graininess but just a subtle impression of them that gave the wine some structure.

    I enjoyed this wine very much and my friends were surprised with it being from Portugal.

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Flight 3 - Grilled Chicken Breasts with Dry Spice Rub & Grilled Guiness Stout Marinated Ribeyes (1 Note)

  • 2007 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Volte Toscana IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    This wine was provided by one of my friends.
    13.5% alcohol content, 51% Sangiovese, 34% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon
    Decanted for 1 hour, poured back into the bottle where it remained for another 1 1/2 hour

    Nose: Did not really smell like a Sangiovese based blend. It had predominantly green notes, but nothing overbearing; parsley and cut stems. Some crushed rocks lurked behind the 'green'ness. A further breathing in the glass revealed some plums but was not well integrated. For me the nose was a little awkward and a tad disjointed. I do not know whether this will come together with age.

    Taste: Fine tannins, high acid, definitely a food wine but was a little rough around the edges, not as well rounded as I'd like. Discernably less fruit on the palate but I was not given a complex, layered flavour profile of terrior and other complexities in its place. This wine feels like there were some good intentions and good wine making but it could be the quality of fruit. It was suitable for drinking with food but I couldn't help but feel that it was lacking something.

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