My parents were in town visiting this past weekend, so we decided to go out to lunch at Wine Lab. They wanted to help me with my Wine and Dinner assignment, although I guess we had more of a Wine and Lunch, so we all split a few appetizers and I got a flight of wine.
Here's the food lineup:
Lemon Herb Ricotta Hot Dip: I normally don't really like ricotta, but I absolutely LOVED this dip! Light citrus flavors on the palate balanced well with herbs. Creamy texture paired well with the crispy bread rounds.
Burrata - Sundried Tomato Artichoke Salad, Fine Herbs, Olive Oil, Balsamic, Crusty Bread: Very good, a classic Burrata Bruchetta. The sundried tomato was slightly tart but the artichoke and mozzarella balanced it well. Delicious!
Hummus Platter - Cucumber, Olive, House Pickles, Confit Garlic, Pita: I absolutely love hummus. Whenever it's on the menu, I almost always order it. This hummus platter was very good, the hummus was flavorful and the garlic added a lot to the dish.
Tomato Bisque Soup: Very good, creamy, and overall delicious!
And for the wine ...
I decided on the Regional Flight: Northeast Spain ($13 for three 75mL pours). My mom had the Radiant Red Flight ($16 for three 75mL pours) and my dad had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Regional Flight: Northeast Spain
(1) Ostatu Rioja
- Variety: Viura
- Country of Origin: Spain
- Region of Origin: Rioja
- Vintage Year: 2020
- Wine Folly: Referenced from page 187, Viura. I got the lime and lemon notes. Did not get the honeydew, tarragon, or hazelnut.
- Personal Review: I really enjoyed this wine, especially on its own. Bold flavors, dry, and slightly acidic on the palate. Not a super soft or light white wine, which I appreciated. Very refreshing - notes of pear, citrus, and stone/mineral on the palate and nose. Crisp finish of citrus and paired very well with hummus.
- With Lemon Herb Ricotta Hot Dip: This wine did not pair well with the dip, as both were relatively high in acidity and citrus notes. The lemon herb brought out the citrus flavors in the wine, leaving a very acidic, almost bitter finish.
- With Burrata: The sundried tomato emphasized the acidity of this wine, which was not very pleasant. The burrata alone, however, softened the citrus notes and the acidity, making the wine more light and floral on the palate.
- With Hummus Platter: I really enjoyed this wine with the hummus! The spices and oil blended out the citrus and acidity of the wine, leaving a lighter, pleasant finish. The hummus brought out more of the fruity (apple and pear) and floral notes. Very good!
- Variety: Garnacha (Grenache)
- Country of Origin: Spain
- Region of Origin: Rioja
- Vintage Year: 2020
- Wine Folly: Referenced from pages 117 and 118, Grenache. I got notes of strawberry, hibiscus, and grapefruit. I did not get the dried herbs, plum, or leather.
- Personal Review: Dry, light, floral, and fruity wine. Acidic with notes of red fruit, citrus, and cherry blossoms on the palate. Pretty good flavors overall, although I didn't like how dry the wine was.
- With Lemon Herb Ricotta Hot Dip: The lemon herb enhanced the citrus and lemon notes of this wine, as it did with the first pairing. More acidic overall as well.
- With Burrata: The burrata paired relatively well with this wine. The sundried tomato brought out the acidity of the wine, but the mozzarella mellowed it out and enhanced notes of red fruit and peach. Pretty good!
- With Hummus Platter: The hummus enhanced the fruity and floral notes of this wine, which were pleasant. Strong flavors of strawberry, cherry, and blossoms on the palate.
- With Tomato Bisque: The tomato bisque heightened the floral notes of this wine. Delicious!
- Variety: Blend - Tempranillo, Graciano
- Country of Origin: Spain
- Region of Origin: Rioja
- Vintage Year: 2018
- Wine Folly: Referenced from pages 175 and 176, Tempranillo. I got the cherry and cedar. Bolder tannins, body, and acidity overall. I did not get the brown sugar or fig, which are characteristic of Rioja wines.
- Personal Review: I really enjoyed this wine! Nice balance of tannins, acidity, and dryness. Notes of cherry, blackberry, and oak on the palate. Would definitely have this again!
- With Lemon Herb Ricotta Hot Dip: The lemon herb dip brought out a peppery taste in the wine, which was very interesting. Notes of cherry and dark fruits but with an overwhelming pepper flavor overall.
- With Burrata: The mozzarella softened the woody and earthy flavors of the wine. Not my favorite pairing but pretty good overall.
- With Hummus Platter: The hummus rounded out the wine and enhanced the cherry flavors. Mineral finish, which was surprising.
- With Tomato Bisque: Creamy, slightly bitter bite at the end, but overall very good!
Overall, I had a wonderful experience sipping wine and nibbling on appetizers with my parents. We decided to try two desserts before wrapping up our afternoon: the Flourless Chocolate Cake and the Lemon Cream Pie. Delicious!
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