Swirl, Swish, Swallow

One of my latest sponsors, Bon Vivant Distributing from right here in Chicago, IL, told me to take a look through their portfolio and see if anything caught my eye. The first thing I thought was a structured tasting.

For less experienced wine drinkers tastings provide a perfect way to experience the differences in wines. There are three primary types of tasting: general, horizontal, and vertical.

A general tasting can be done with any wines, with no restrictions. If you are a wine novice I recommend doing a general white wine tasting of Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grgio, and Chardonnay. This really lets your palate experience the differences between the wines. For a red tasting I recommend Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. When tasting be aware of the body of the wines and make sure to cleanse your palate between gulps.

Vertical tastings are tricky, and usually done on site at vineyards. Tasting the same varietal of wine, from the same vineyard, with the only difference being the vintage (year) is not always possible when perusing the shelves at your favorite wine shop. Showcasing differences in the weather, the soil, and the aging of the wine, vertical tastings really let you see that no two wines are created equal.

What we did this past Thursday was considered a horizontal tasting. With three different Pinot Noirs of the same vintage, 2008, we were to experience the differences between geography, climate, and soil. Now it is very important to have a group when doing a tasting. Just as each wine is different, so is each persons palate, so it is good to have to discussion when tasting to really realize what you are experiencing.

Grown in the Curico Valley, on the middle coast of Chili, the Pacifico Sur Pinot Noir, boasts a ruby red color, aromas of cherries and raspberries, and is said to have a smooth elegant texture with a sophisticated finish. Now sometimes I think winemakers say and write things because they sound good. Like sophisticated finish, how does a wine possess sophistication? Retailing at $13.99 a bottle, the Pinot would be the cheapest selection of the night.

Traveling just south west of Chili’s Curico Valley, the second Pinot Noir, from Agentina’s Patagonia region, was produced by Valle Perdido winery. With a red garnet color, aromas of red fruit, cherries, even tropical notes, and a well structured body and a lingering finish, the wine was a bit heavier in body than the Pacifico Sur. Being produced so close together, I was anxious to see what difference, if any, there would be. Retailing at $14.99 a bottle this was are middle of the road wine.

Completing the trifecta, the journey would end across the Pacific Ocean in Marlborough, New Zealand’s Centra Otago region, specifically at the Mud House Winery. Retailing at $24.99, this was the most expensive of the three wines. So does price always mean quality? That is what I wanted to find out. Described as having a bright ruby red color, aromas of berry compote, and sweet spices, and a palate of bright red fruit and a delicate acidity, I was anxious to see what type of differences soil and geography would play.

With tastings, food is important as well. A general tasting might need a light appetizer, a salad course, and a heavier entree. A vertical tasting can be paired with a single entree that fits the structure of the wine, and the same goes for a horizontal tasting as well. Generally speaking, Pinot Noir, is a lighter fruitier wine, and doesn’t stand up well to heavy stews and red meat, so I planned on making dijon crusted pork chops with asparagus, cous cous, and a pear and endive salad. With the night set, the fate lie in the bottles, would there be a perfect pair?