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Hard Seltzers vs. Hard Liquor vs. Wine

Tasted December 17, 2023 by WineBurrowingWombat with 58 views

Introduction

Heard there was a taco party, ~20 people, thought it would be a nice place to try to introduce some wine.

Flight 1 - Taco night (4 notes)

I was trying to get an idea of what kinda wine people liked. Apparently it's White Claw and Irish Whiskey..

White
2021 La Pelle Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Napa Valley
95 points
N: Fresh lime zest, tall stalks of dried straw, pineapple rinds, a squeeze of lime juice, white berries and crushed dried limestone gravel.

P: Light pastry treats like a lemon tart wrapped with fresh acidity, clean and dried tree bark, with bitter lime zest and gently spiced, but clean, minerals trailing into the finish. On day 3, there are notes as if this has gone through some malo, showing a touch of butteriness and airy creaminess.

This has such an exciting and fresh nose, with an awesome swiftness and crispiness to match on the palate. Serve at a cooler temp for a more pronounced freshness. This may very well be a go-to sauvignon blanc for me. Would’ve loved some raw Cherrystone clams or oysters with this.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
White
2021 La Pelle Chardonnay Bien Nacido - Block 1 USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
95 points
N: Aromas lean towards tropical aromas of deep and earthy pineapple, and scents of whole guavas. Bales of hay, a sprinkling of lime zest, and notes of washed stones.

P: Imagine if there was a hybrid fruit that was a crossbreed between a pineapple and a cantaloupe, having the fresh crispness of a pineapple while also having the comforting, ripe cantaloupe flavors. Freshly cut green grass brings the swiftness on the palate down a bit, without completely slowing everything down. Light notes of damp neutral oak, prickly tree bark and bitter minerals on the finish.

Great balance here while still delivering a deep pitch of flavors. The deep flavors of this chard somehow manages its flavor profile that isn't heavy or weighty in terms of flavor and body. Restrained freshness, enough to stay exciting.
1 person found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
2021 La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
94 points
N: Aromas of deep earth and also as if it were somehow roasted (not heavy like scorched earth), dull black fruits with a hint of freshness, and light graphite with damp light oak.

P: Dark and bitter red fruits with a highlight of lightly bright blue fruits that provides an overall freshness to the fruits. Swiftly scribbled graphite, light on the oak, with earth and drying, steeped tea on the finish.

A fresh drinking cab that doesn’t hit heavy on the palate. 93-94
1 person found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
2021 Di Costanzo Cabernet Sauvignon DI CO USA, California, Napa Valley
94 points
N: Fragrant and fresh on the nose with fresh unripe red cherries and a bit of raspberries. Lightly red floral notes help stack the fragrance more in its favor. Subtle oak.

P: Bright red and black fruits, a clean strike of graphite across the palate, clean new oak and naturally bitter earth with steeped tea on the finish.

Fresh and lively. Settles and integrates more with some time in the glass, providing a steeped tea finish and a drying sensation on the palate. Did not get a chance to do this, but maybe closer room temps might’ve provided some darkness. 93-94
2 people found this helpful Comment

Closing

Wine lost this battle: La Pelle cab was emptied, DiCo cab had 1/3 left, and the two whites were left untouched (not because no one liked them, they literally were left untouched). I poured some tasters for myself before setting them out to make sure they were good to drink, and that fill level didn't move by the end of the night.

The championship belt goes to the hard liquor for this crowd.

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