Get freaky with the Michael David Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon! Ok, maybe that was corny, but this wine is no joke. The label could throw some people off since it is loud and possibly not as refined as other distinguished and notable wines, but this Cabernet is sure to hit the spot, especially for its affordability. The Freakshow cab is like a $50 wine dressed up and marketed at a $19 price point.
This Cabernet is bold, yet refined and provides spicy aromas, deep color, and a smooth finish. There is a hint of fruit too that just makes this wine so well rounded.
The winery states,
Known for taking the road less traveled, Michael David Winery has always stood apart from the crowd. Whether it be their outlandish brands and packaging or their quirky personalities, Michael and David are definitely on a stage of their own and this wine showcases just that. The fruit for this brute of a Cab comes from the original “super freak,” Michael Phillips’ vineyard located only a medicine balls toss away from the winery.
This wine pairs well with sharp cheddar cheeses, steak, and any other cabernet friendly foods!
The Vivino rating is low in my opinion. I go on record and say this wine deserves a 4.1/5. But again, who am I? I discovered this bottle on one of my yearly ski trips to Vermont, and it was just a bottle I had to go back for. I love trying new wines, but the Michael David Freakshow has definitely become a staple in my wine cellar.
The weather is finally breaking! I am so excited for spring! I love waking up to the birds chirping and love coming home to unwind with my favorite wines for the spring. As you all know, I am a definite cabernet fan, however the change in the weather sometimes calls for something lighter! Below are my favorite wines for the spring season. You can thank me later!
BUBBLY & SPARKLING:
Bele Casel Assolo Prosecco– inspiring, fresh, and crisp! This prosecco is tasty and goes well with most foods. Formerly labeled as Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOCG, it has received more awards than any other wine from the region: The non-vintage of this wine won the Los Angeles International Wine Competition Silver award in 2010 and 2009. It receives 86 points from Wine Enthusiast. Average price: $15
Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Red- raspberries and cranberries make up this sparkling red. It is smooth on the palette and offers a crisp acidity. This is such a festive sparkling wine! It is tasty and fresh and pairs well with spicy foods, seafood, and chocolate. Average price: $19
WHITES:
Conundrum White Blend 2014- what a beautiful blend of whites! It offers flavors of honeysuckle, peach, apples, and lemon. It mimics a mixture of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Semillon and Muscat Canelli. Maybe that why this wine is called “conundrum.” The blend is a secret! Average price: $22
Relax Riesling 2014– affordable and the perfect riesling! Not too sweet and not too dry, this riesling is fruit forward with aromas of apples, peaches, and a hint of citrus. Coming from the Mosel valley in Germany, this has always been one of my overall favorite white wines! Average price: $10
REDS:
Walt ‘La Brisa’ Pinot Noir 2012– I love this wine! Pinot Noir is a great wine to have in the spring if you are a red lover; it is on the lighter side, but still has some qualities that the bolder reds have. The winemaker states, “The WALT “La Brisa” Sonoma County Pinot Noir articulates the signature characters of Sonoma: vibrant and opulent with an underlying brightness and length to the palate. Teeming with ripe red berries and spicy toasted aromas, the wine is lush and persistent on the mid-palate while long-lasting and delicate on the finish.” Give this one from Sonoma county a try! Average price: $37
Paltrinieri 2013 Radice (Lambrusco di Sorbara)– Hmmm, Lambrusco, a brightly colored grape made in northern Italy. Lambrusco is not my go to wine at all, but it is good and light and totally worth it if you are craving a red wine in the warmer weather. Wine Enthusiast states, “The lovely fragrance recalls crushed blue flower and wild berry. The refreshing, frothy palate doles out pink grapefruit, candied cherry and nectarine alongside brisk acidity.” Average price: $21
Obviously, there are many great wines for spring. There are some amazing whites out there as well as some rosé wines that are spectacular as well. I could probably write up a ten page article on this topic, but these are some of my favorite go-to choices. Feel free to comment below with your favorites! Cheers!
It’s been a while, but I can promise you I have been drinking some awesome wines! I am circling back to the Lodi region zinfandels, and the Plungerhead Zinfandel stands out (no, not because of the weird little man on the label… 😉 )
This zinfandel is medium bodied with raspberries, black cherries, and spices notes. A little peppery on the tongue as well which gives it a nice smooth kick after each sip. The winery states:
A plush deep purple hue in color, this Lodi Zinfandel comes with enticing aromas of dried cherry, sweet blackberry, Tahitian vanilla, brown sugar, toasted walnut and violets. Complex layered flavors start with bright Bing cherry, black currants, blackberry cobbler, molasses and Mexican hot chocolate.
This wine pairs well with pulled pork sandwiches or meats in general with a BBQ or slightly spicy sauce. Even some foods like a Greek gyro would pair well here. The options are endless!
The Vivino rating is pretty spot on. I would raise it a tad to a 3.9/5. I really enjoyed the Plungerhead Zinfandel and think it is a solid zinfandel for those who can appreciate the good ones.
Sushi is one of my favorite foods! I love all the rolls and sashimi and love myself a little wasabi soy combination! But what makes good sushi, and what makes a sushi restaurant stand out over another with the abundance all around as a must eat sushi spot?
I am outlining my favorite sushi restaurants (in no specific order) in the state of New Jersey! When I get my sushi itch, these restaurants stand out above the rest and for good reason!
Yumi- Sea Bright & Red Bank NJ
BYOB- Yumi is located on Ocean Ave and Broad St. It is small, unassuming, and ultra delicious! Walking in to Yumi is like walking in to a little restaurant off the street in Japan. It is dim and quaint, but serves up some mean sushi.
Yumi- New Crispy Spicy Tuna Roll
Get the “new” crispy spicy tuna roll. The tuna is fresh, the jalapenos add a nice kick, and the plate is beautiful to look at. Also recommended are the Mame-spider Roll which is soft shell crab, cucumber, and avocado as well as the Volcano Roll which is crabstick cucumber, avocado, and spicy tuna. Outside of sushi, the small plates of the beef teriyaki and the 12-hour pork belly are amazing! You can’t go wrong here. Find what you like and give it a whirl!
Aki- Bloomfield, NJ
BYOB- Sleek, quaint, and tidy, Aki delivers. The Sashimi Regular is a great entree that is light and delicious. The sashimi is super fresh and beautifully colored.
Aki- Sashimi Regular
On this plate is 15 pieces of the chef’s choice. The Tiger Special and Chef Rolls are amazing; The Tiger Roll is spicy tuna, mango, avocado, tempura crunch inside, black, red, green caviar outside, while the Chef Roll is eel, crab tempura inside, salmon, white tuna, avocado, tempura crunch, caviar, outside. Other favorites are the Philadelphia Roll and Long Beach Roll. Awesome spot!
Xina- Toms River, NJ
BYOB- Xina is literally one of my favorite new spots. It is incredible. Located right before the bridge going in to Seaside, Xina is a restaurant that offers something for everyone! This menu overwhelms me in a good way because I want to eat everything on it, even outside of their delicious sushi. The Chilean Seabass roll is amazing and unique. I loved it so much, but watch out because each piece is a mouthful! The spicy tuna roll is simple, yet seriously the best basic spicy tuna roll I have ever had. It is just so fresh and tasty. Both of these rolls are pictured above on the cover photo for this article! The Treasure Island is an awesome appetizer consisting of salmon, tuna, and avocado.
Xina- Treasure Island
Additionally the Crunchy Pepper Tuna appetizer is also awesome! Their entrees are amazing… outside of sushi, can I please recommend the fat noodles? Holy heaven! I just can’t explain how awesome this place is. I love how the owner came around to speak to everyone; he is so sweet and enthusiastic about the food. What care and perfection in to each savory dish!
Nikko’s Japanese Restaurant- Whippany, NJ
Full Bar- Nikko’s is a delight! Great place for business dinners that offers a full bar for everyone to drink something they like. Not only offering a full bar, but delicious sushi. Everything here feels authentic, even down to the kimonos that the staff wears! I love the Red Dragon Roll and the Mango Roll. Both are delicious! The Red Dragon Roll is eel and avocado on the inside with spicy tuna and caviar on top. I love rolls with mango after I tried it for the first time at a sushi place in Bridgewater, so naturally I enjoyed the Mango Roll which is spicy crunchy salmon with mango. Fresh and delicious! Love that Nikko’s offers Udon noodles on their menu too. Thier dinner entree menu is also robust; there is something for everyone!
Nikko- Sushi Boat
Taka- Asbury Park, NJ
Full Bar- Eat your sushi in one of the hippest towns in the state! Taka offers an awesome atmosphere that you can get a little dressed up for, and also have the fun town of Asbury Park to cruise around in whether you want some after dinner bars or some coffee and dessert! For our appetizer, we got the crisp spicy tuna, which is pan-fried rice cake topped with spicy tuna and fresh jalapeno. Wow, very good! They were bite size too so they were easy to eat.
Taka- Red Dragon Roll
The taste was phenomenal. We also got the Red Dragon roll and the Jalapeno Shrimp roll, which consisted of steamed shrimp, pickled jalapeno, mango, and mint topped with salmon, wasabi mayo, and jalapeno masago. For those of you who don’t know, masago is just plainly roe (small fish eggs). I am not a huge fan of roe, but it did not bother me here at all. This roll was delicious and super fresh. The mint initially came off as a little perfume-like, but this roll was outstanding. There are so many good rolls here to choose from, and I am sure they’re all amazing. Entrée selection here is phenomenal as well; I had the Shrimp Curry which was tasty and not overpowering.
Koto Fusion Sushi and Poke- Long Branch, NJ
New to the Pier Village area, Koto is an unassuming gem that you must visit. The chef focuses on sourcing the best and most high quality ingredients Speaking of the talented sushi chef, he came from the well known 3 star Michelin restaurant Masa. If that doesn’t speak volumes to you, then you do not know sushi! Pictured here is the fantastic artwork of the New Jersey roll. Simply gorgeous. Bring your favorite wine and head on over to a sushi dream in Pier Village!
Well, there you have it! Comment below with YOUR favorite sushi spots in the state! Enjoy!
Hello! It’s Wine Wednesday, and I have not written one of these in a while! My sincerest apologies! I was busy drinking the wines instead of writing about them. 😉 But I am back and highlighting this lovely Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon that I tried during my recent trip to Napa Valley. This Cabernet is bold, smooth, and amazing! The notes of blackberry and raspberry are present; this wine delivers a long finish. Robert Parker Wine Advocate states, “A beautiful elegance can be found in the 2013 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged 20 months in one-third new French oak.”
Vivino is spot on here with the Frank Family Cabernet. I am in total agreement with 4.2/5. I guess everyone else loves this Cabernet too! I have not seen this wine frequently at my local liquor stores, but I know you can order it online or find it at some restaurants. Definitely give it a try. Make sure you pair it with a nice steak or hearty Italian dish to get the full effect. I even got the idea to pair this wine with some good BBQ lamb ribs. Yeah, that’s a good one. Anyway, enjoy. 😉 Salute!
Ma Cherie! Don’t eat the cheese platter for an appetizer! Eat it post-dinner like the French do! A lot of people may know that when you go to France or a French restaurant, the cheese boards are an after dinner option before dessert, but not many people know the reason why and the correct way to eat the cheeses! I am outlining the correct way to eat your cheese like the French do!
Me in Lyon, France, the food mecca!
The French eat their cheese after dinner because it is a holdover from European dining.
assiette de fromages from O Bistro Francais in Red Bank NJ.
A known fact that a lot of people may not attribute with some dairy products is that outside of milk, some can help aid in digestion. For instance yogurts and aged cheeses help aid digestion because they are fermented and the present bacteria already has done most of the work in breaking down the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. That is also my argument as to why I like ice cream after dinner… it helps me digest! Haha just kidding, that is a total joke created by my own head.
Make sure when you’re eating your cheese on the platter, you start with the least salty like a brie and move to the saltiest last such as an imported blue cheese. Additionally, you want to make sure if you’re not at a restaurant and preparing your own platter at home that you let the cheese come close to room temperature before eating. This way, all of the flavors will be maximized.
cheese plate from La Mer in Honolulu HI
Want a cracker with that cheese? Don’t you dare in France. Bread such as a baguette is accepted, but some of the time you may just see the cheese.
Don’t cross contaminate the cheese knives! If you don’t have one for each cheese, make sure you’re wiping the knife so that the flavors are not confused.
Lastly, have a bottle of red wine handy! I personally don’t think you can ever go wrong with a good Cabernet or Bordeaux when eating cheeses, however I am going to outline a few of my favorite cheese and wine pairings for you here in case you want to get fancy and have the ultimate cheese experience!
Cheese Plate and Bordeaux from Pascal & Sabine in Asbury Park NJ
Brie cheese with Pinot Grigio
Cheddar with Cabernet Sauvignon
Goat Cheese with Burgundy
Camembert de Normandie with Champagne or Chenin Blanc
Picture this. It’s February 13th and you have no gift or plans for your significant other for Valentine’s Day. Maybe this is your first Valentine’s Day together, and you feel pressure to make it special, or maybe you’ve been married for years and try to do something special every year away from the kids. Time is running out, and you’ve got nothing.
Don’t panic! Nothing beats a romantic dinner planned from the heart, good food, and a bottle of wine. To the guys reading this, maybe flowers would be a good addition too if you want, haha. I am outlining the top romantic restaurants at the Jersey Shore with the best food as well! Everything from the ambiance down to the dessert will be unforgettable. Take a look!
Theresa’s South- Bayhead
Bayhead is such a cute little town, and Theresa’s South is just as cute. This Italian BYOB restaurant is intimate and serves up some mean fresh homemade pasta dishes. The ambiance is romantic. Lights are dim, candles lit on the table, and the long windows with the grilles add a nice touch. Bring your favorite bottle of wine and toast to eachother while enjoying some awesome food.
Gemelli with sweet fennel sausage Theresa’s South
Recommendations here are the gemelli with sweet fennel sausage, braised short rib entree, and the eggplant pancake appetizer.
Take the time to venture in to Bayhead to Theresa’s South. You won’t regret it. Our rating: 80%
Pascal & Sabine- Asbury Park
Pascal and Sabine is a perfect spot for Valentine’s Day. Isn’t French supposedly the language of love? So go eat some French cuisine at this great spot in Asbury Park. When you walk in, the right side of the restaurant resembles a library and is a great spot to have a drink and lounge. Sometimes they have a piano player or some live, soothing jazz to help set the mood. Nestle up in a booth with your Valentine and order a French wine or some of their awesome cocktails. Their cheese plate is excellent, and I love getting a good Bordeaux with that. Their escargot is great as well as their coq au vin. You can’t really go wrong here! As a side note, they have a really great Sunday brunch menu too. Our rating: 84%
escargot Pascal & Sabine
Moonstruck- Asbury Park
Moonstruck is the quintessential example of the perfect package for a romantic dinner. Located in a Victorian house on the lake that separates Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, Moonstruck gives you atmosphere, great food, and even some live entertainment if you happen to go on a Friday night. In the spring and summer, you can eat dinner on the porch. That is my favorite! Try their Thai salmon and their Asian grilled shrimp, two of my favorites. They’re both amazing!
Thai salmon Moonstruck
Pasta lovers will be happy with the pasta entree options as well. Lamb quesadillas are an awesome appetizer. For dessert, you must have their signature black and white creme brulee. Moonstruck is just an absolute pleasure all around, and the romance factor is a total 10. Our rating: 77%
Larimar- Spring Lake
Larimar is a newer fine dining establishment that has recently joined the restaurant scene in beautiful Spring Lake. This BYO serves modern Italian and European style dishes. The pasta here is fresh and delicious and the dishes are presented beautifully.
campanelle Larimar
The campanelle is my favorite pasta dish here! The pork chop is also very good. I love the colors in the dining room. The white and blue dining room is clean and sleek looking, yet elegant and intimate. Sunday brunch here is great as well. Bring your favorite bottle of wine and be served like royalty at Larimar! Our rating: 83%
Fromagerie- Rumson
Fromagerie recently reopened and has been reinvented, and boy is it fabulous! The restaurant alone is beautiful. The charm of the restaurant alone is enough to create a romantic night. I had the pleasure of sitting in a secluded booth near the bar, and it was nice and private, however their main dining room is gorgeous as well. The cocktails are amazing, and their wine list is extensive.
short rib special Fromagerie
The steak options are definitely recommended by the chef, but the other entrees are delicious as well and beautifully executed. The filet mignon is delicious as well as the short rib. The pistachio ice cream cake comes highly recommended and is worth every calorie, I promise! Our rating: 83%
Well, there you have it. I have outlined the most romantic restaurants at the Shore with the best food to give you a flawless Valentine’s Day! Be sure to make your reservations ahead of time! Have a great Valentine’s Day everyone!
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and I am outlining the top five foodie cities in the U.S. for not only a perfect scene for some romance, but also with the best foods for your palette to fall in love with. The food scene is always changing and growing, so take a look at this year’s hottest foodie cities for you to fall in love in more than one way!
5. Providence, RI
Providence, Rhode Island gets overlooked a lot for their cute town with robust foodie spots, but we are definitely not overlooking this little city! Take a walk to Federal Hill or Downtown Providence to find the best foodie spots along with a little romantic ambiance in and outside of the restaurants! Historic Federal Hill begins at Atwell Avenue and is stocked with some awesome chefs waiting to cook you up some top notch meals. Checkout Siena or Camille’s for some good Italian food or Gracie’s for some classic, upscale American fare.
Frutti di Mare from Siena
4. Portland, OR
Have you ever heard of James Beard? “James Andrew Beard was an American cookbook author, teacher, syndicated columnist and television personality. Beard was a champion of American cuisine who taught and mentored generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts.” Portland is the birthplace of James Beard and has a standard to live up to! Portland is not only a beautiful city with mountain, water views, and wineries, but also a foodie spot! Check out some great Peruvian food at Andina or French food at Le Pigeon. So many great restaurants to choose from makes it difficult, but you can definitely find something you love here in this endearing city.
Duck Confit from Le Pigeon
3. Washington D.C.
Take some time to visit the nation’s capital along with their foodie scene! Endless cultures pouring into this city is what creates the ethnic and diverse restaurant offerings here. Not to mention, parts of D.C. are gorgeous and makes it a great city to embrace eachother and the scenery for the sunset pre-dinner. Stroll over to Blue Duck Tavern for excellent American fare, Rasika for some modern, award-winning Indian food, or Fiola for their top Zagat rated elegant Italian.
Personalized cheese & charcuterie plate at Blue Duck Tavern
2. Napa Valley, CA
The rolling hills of Napa Valley are picturesque and beautiful. Napa is always known for the amazing wines and winery experiences, however it gets overlooked for its food. Never making the top foodie city lists, I am here to shed some light on this and make it number two on this list! Napa offers amazing restaurants that some would argue can compete with the best of New York City. Napa is the perfect foodie and wine lover spot, offering something for everyone. Here, you can also begin to learn about the wine and food pairing experience if you choose. Pairing wine with food accentuates tastes for an ultimate foodie journey. Plus, a little addition of wine to the scenery helps for a romantic setting, if you know what I mean… 🙂 Chef Thomas Keller has three amazing restaurants in Napa: The French Laundry, Bouchon, and Ad Hoc. He also has Bouchon Bakery, which is great for a little sweet after dinner treat. Additionally, check out Celadon in Downtown Napa for some eclectic comfort food or Redd in Yountville for an unforgettable dining experience.
Scallops over cauliflower, capers, almonds, and golden raisins at Redd Restaurant
1. New York City
No surprise here. The Big Apple comes through at number one with their diverse and immense amount of fabulous restaurants and famous chefs at the helm of them. The city can be magical when you hit the right spots, so why not wine and dine your special someone at the foodie spot of your choice under the romantic lights of New York City. Check out Per Se or Le Bernadin for some upscale French fare or Spark’s Steakhouse for some exceptional steaks. Gramercy Tavern is also well known in the city for its delicious New American food and awesome wine list. One if by Land, Two if by Sea is a very romantic spot as well nestled inside what once was Aaron Burr’s old carriage house. Some of the best finer chains live in the city as well such as Hakkasan, STK, and Wolfgang’s. There is something for everyone in New York City, and you can’t go wrong here!
Vegetable Dumplings from Hakkasan
Well, here you have it, my top 5 U.S. foodie cities with the perfect Valentine’s Day ambiance. I know, there are plenty more awesome foodie cities in the U.S., but these all are special for more than just their food. If by chance is you don’t have a special someone, treat yourself and have your palette fall in love. Hope everyone has a great Valentine’s Day.
Ah, the beautiful Napa Valley has so much to offer from the stunning views of the rolling hills and vineyards to the exceptional cuisine and wines. There is so much to do and so much to see! Coming to Napa Valley can be overwhelming; there are so many places to hit and impossible to hit them all as a visitor unless you have atleast a month to spare. Somewhere to absolutely hit is Del Dotto Vineyards!
One of my favorite experiences that I would absolutely recommend to any visitor to Napa Valley is the Delicacies by Del Dotto experience. My husband and I did this, and it was the highlight of our trip. It encompasses all of the great things of Napa: amazing, unique wines, delicious food pairings, and a gorgeous atmosphere.
Del Dotto Vineyards is a family owned vineyard that focuses on the small production of premium wines. These are not wines that you will find at your local liquor store, so I suggest you buy any bottles that you like while tasting! They have wineries in Napa and St. Helena and produce predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Sauvignon Blanc from their Napa Valley vineyards. Also in production are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and limited amounts of Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from their Cinghiale Vineyard in the King’s Ridge region on the Sonoma Coast. Visit deldottovineyards.com for more information and history!
Del Dotto Winery in St. Helena is breathtaking. It has a Venetian feel, and you automatically feel like you have stepped in to a palace from the moment you walk in. The Delicacies experience begins with a guided tour of the cave. In 2007, they built the winery and cave in the St. Helena location which is absolutely stunning. In there, our knowledgeable and helpful guide, Brandon, let us taste wines from the barrels including current releases and wines which were to be released in a couple of months. We tasted about five to six wines and spoke about them all. We learned about how grapes were chosen and the difference between French and American oak barrels. I’m not going to spoil it here, but it is so interesting how the barrel impacts the wine!
After the barrel tasting in the cave, we went upstairs to a private dining area. Lunch consisted of a five course tasting menu, each paired with one of their wines. Joshua Schwartz is the chef here, and he is outstanding. He has previously worked for some fabulous local restaurants in Napa such as Bouchon and The French Laundry and also previously served as the private dining chef at Per Se in New York City. Each course was immaculate and perfectly paired with the wine for the ultimate tasting experience. My favorite course was the wagyu beef slider, however that was a hard decision to make since all of the courses were great. Of course, we bought some wine at the end of this phenomenal experience! My favorites were the 2014 St. Helena Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2015 Russian River Zinfandel. I am normally very picky about my Merlots, but the Merlot included with the tasting menu was excellent, and I would recommend this for any Merlot fan!
Thank you so much Del Dotto Winery for this amazing experience. We had so much fun and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Napa Valley area! Make sure you make your reservation ahead of time! Salute!
Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano Dry Red Wine 2014
Region: Abruzzo, Italy
Wine Spectator: 88 points
Vivino app rating: 3.7/5
Average Price: $14.99
Let’s start by admiring how darm cute this bottle is with the little twig or stick (whatever you want to call it) hanging around the bottle’s neck. This wine is aka the “Twig Wine.” The writing and font on the bottle, while excessive, is alluring and give’s you an Italian vibe if that makes any sense whatsoever!
Some notes about the wine:
Intense violet robe. Aromas of plums and ripe blackberry. Each sip delivers a mouthful of ripe berries, leather and black pepper with subtle hints of oregano, dried herbs, and a touch of vanilla; all leading to a dry, supple finish.
The Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano dry red wine 2014 is smooth and perfect for wine drinking in any weather. The notes of berries are evident here. This wine is made is the Abruzzo region of Italy from the Montepulciano grape. For those of you stuck on your California wines, the montepulcianno grape produces wine that is lighter than a cab, but heavier than a pinot noir. Perfect balance in my opinion!
The Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano dry red wine 2014 pairs well with chicken and turkey.
I really like this red wine a lot, and as I’ve said before, I believe the Vivino rating is a little underrated! I would rate this wine a 3.9/5. This will be the wine to open you up to more Italian wines if you are not well versed in this region already. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Salute!
This wine pairs well with pulled pork sandwiches or meats in general with a BBQ or slightly spicy sauce. Even some foods like a Greek gyro would pair well here. The options are endless!
This Cabernet is bold, smooth, and amazing! The notes of blackberry and raspberry are present; this wine delivers a long finish. Robert Parker Wine Advocate states, “A beautiful elegance can be found in the 2013 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged 20 months in one-third new French oak.”
My favorite course was the wagyu beef slider, however that was a hard decision to make since all of the courses were great. Of course, we bought some wine at the end of this phenomenal experience! My favorites were the 2014 St. Helena Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2015 Russian River Zinfandel. I am normally very picky about my Merlots, but the Merlot included with the tasting menu was excellent, and I would recommend this for any Merlot fan!
