Wine Tasting #2 Baglio Di pIanetto Catarratto Sicilia Doc

 The wine I tasted for this blog was a 2021 Baglio Di pIanetto Catarratto Sicilia Doc that I bought at the Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg. It is made from the Catarratto white wine grape in Sicily, Italy and cost $14.95 before the educational discount. 

As found on Enotri.com they describe the tasting notes as " Pianetto’s organically grown Catarratto displays forward notes of citrus and blossoms, enriched with fragrant lemon zest, orange blossom, and jasmine. On the palate, a zesty acidity complements full, rich flavours." (https://enotri.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Baglio-di-Pianetto-Catarratto.pdf)

I was not able to find information on the Catarratto grape in the Wine Folly book, however on WineSearcher.com they describe it as "Full-bodied and rather neutral-tasting wine with low acidity and little aromatic interest – hardly the benchmarks of a top quality grape. That said, careful vinification from dedicated producers has shown the variety is capable of producing good wines with juicy texture and crisp lemon flavors." (https://www.wine-searcher.com/grape-90-catarratto)

In my own words I would describe the 2021 Baglio Di pIanetto Catarratto Sicilia Doc as a slightly darker, more golden color white with strong mineral notes on the first swirl and sniff. It has a more savory taste to it and has a less sweet and more dry smell. The taste lingers longer than the Reserve du Naufraget Vouvray that I had earlier that day. There is also a honey taste that comes along at least for me halfway through the glass. I did not pair this wine with food, however seeing that it is always suggested as being paired with white fish, next time I get the wine I will be sure to have a white fish for that dinner.

Wine Tasting #1 Reserve du Naufraget Vouvray

The wine I tasted for this blog was a 2020 Reserve du Naufraget Vouvray that I bought at the Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg. It is made from the Chenin Blanc grape variety in the Loire Valley region in France and cost $16.95 before the educational discount. 

 

As found on Touton.com describing the tasting notes they say "Produced from 100% Chenin Blanc This off-dry wine gives a sweet sensation with a dry finish on the palate. A concentration of rich flavors develops fruity aromas such as orange peel, honey and ripe quince. It has a great long finish with a slight honey taste. Delicious!" (https://www.mtouton.com/products/france/loire-valley/vouvray/52-2020/reserve-du-naufraget-vouvray)

On page 184 of Wine Folly they describe the Chenin Blanc grape as "hard not to love given its diversity of styles from lean, dry whites and aromatic sparklers to sweet golden nectars and rich, balanced brandy." and that "you cannot fail pairing Chenin Blanc with Thai or Vietnamese cuisine" on page 185.

In my own words I would describe the 2020 Reserve du Naufraget Vouvray as a wine with a not so strong smell, with slight acidity and honey in the first taste, with a sourness coming after. The taste does not linger however it is not overwhelming and very easy on the taste buds. It has a smooth feel and allows for the drinker to enjoy it in a slow or fast paced fashion, perfect for when conversing with friends or family. I did not taste it with food, however after the Wine Folly suggestion I would like to try it with some local thai food. 

Introduction Blog

My name is Collin Goldbach and I am a senior studying National Security and Foreign Affairs and I have had very little experience with wine so far in my life. What I hope to learn in this class is the history of wine from its conception to modern day and the changes that have occurred since then, as well as the complexities behind wines taste, texture, and drinking experience. Already with the first introductory lectures I have expanded my non existent knowledge with just how big wine is in our world and how much it affects not only agriculture but politics and the economy. By the end of this course I hope to have a well rounded understanding of wine not only as a drink and commodity but as an important historical milestone in mankind's history.

So far in my life my experience with wine has been very limited, the first memory I have of wine is mistaking a glass of it for my grape juice when I was 7 on vacation and promptly spitting it out. In more recent years I have had box wine such as Franzia (something that I will not be drinking ever again) and some lower cost wines from stores like Food Lion and Kroger. The wine I've had the most has been sparkling rose on special occasions while in college, as wine is not something that I have gotten into until recently. In my experiences I prefer a dryer wine and one that is less sweet and has more flavors, although I don't know how many $10 bottles have complex flavors.

Growing up my family had wine at holidays and special occasions but neither my parents or aunts and uncles have had a particular affinity for wine and therefore that sort of knowledge has not yet been passed down to me. I hope that with this class and its many opportunities for wine tastings and education that I can not only help expand my own knowledge but help my family appreciate wine in its more complex ways and how to enjoy it with other foods and dishes.