Dinner & Wine Pairing @ Home #2

Three other classmates and I decided to do a dinner & wine pairing yesterday. We had two main dishes of alfredo pasta and spicy shrimp rolls, a garden salad, and an ice cream for dessert. The wines we paired with these foods were two cabernet sauvignons and a pinot noir.

Overview of our dinner

2012 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon

Spicy Shrimp Rolls

First, we decided to try the 2012 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon with the spicy shrimp rolls. On the nose, this wine had aromas of black fruits and berries, specifically black cherries. On the palate, there were chewy black currants, definitely cherries, some blackberries, and some sort of jam. The mid-palate was ripe, and the finish lingered with some oaky taste. This bold full-bodied red wine was an okay pair with the sushi rolls. The only problem with pairing sushi with this wine was the soy sauce. I think it's because soy sauce obliterates the taste of most wines. When I tried the wine again with sushi minus the soy sauce, I was more satisfied.

2013 Kendall-Jackson 

Vinter's Reserve Pinot Noir

Garden Salad

Next, we decided to try the 2013 Kendall-Jackson Vinter's Reserve Pinot Noir with garden salad. On the nose, this wine had aromas of strawberries, cherries, and some raspberries. The taste had earthy notes with a mix of cola, and there was definitely some spice mixed in there as well. The finish was smoky, and I think I tasted some vanilla. This wine was a good pair with the garden salad, especially because the dressing we used had a squeeze of lemon juice. The acidity of the salad dressing and the ingredients used in the salad went really well with the wine. Just my opinion from my past wine & food pairing experiences, but I think salads are easy to pair with most wines.

2010 Francis Ford Coppola
Cabernet Sauvignon

Alfredo Pasta

Lastly, we tried the 2010 Francis Ford Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon with alfredo pasta. On the nose, this wine had aromas of berries, plums, and spice. On the palate, I tasted cherries, plums, currants, cassis, and a hint of vanilla. The taste was really bitter at first, but as we let the wine breathe for about 10 minutes, the bitterness decreased. The finish was smooth. Alfredo pasta was a nice pair with this Cabernet Sauvignon. The boldness of the wine matched the creaminess of the alfredo pasta very well. I highly recommend this pair.

Homestead Creamery Ice Cream

To top everything off, we had some ice cream! The ice cream wasn't paired with any of the wines. Initially, we were planning on including the ice cream in our pairings, but we just decided not to.

(From left to right) Me, Jiye, Sukyoung, Michael