Wine Dinner - Charleston: An Evening with The Phantom

Wine Dinner #2: Music of the Night
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This past weekend my girlfriend and I took a road trip to Charleston, SC to celebrate Easter, and to experience the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera! Masked in the shadows of the opera house, the Phantom glides along the stage to enact his mysterious and dangerous plans. Just how the Phantom glides like smoke, my girlfriend and I swept through the city of Charleston to experience its food and culture (not as sinister as the Phantom's but this worked well for us). There were two restaurants in particular that I need to praise: Magnolia's and Anson! This dinner post focuses on the food, the wine, and the excellent and accommodating service of Anson.

~ Appetizer/Overture ~
Food: She Crab soup + sesame bread
Wine Name: Handley
Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $13.99 (Anson: Glass)

Wine Review:
      "This dark ruby colored Pinot Noir from Handley opens with cherry-cola bouquet with hints of clove and faint red raspberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and savory. The flavor profile is a red plum and mild oak blend with notes of black currant. I also detected a hint of pomegranate. The finish is dry and its flavors are slightly prolonged. This Pinot would pair well with a grilled salmon burger. Enjoy"- Ken's Wine Guide

Personal Review:
       Another excellent Pinot Noir but this time from California. It had an outstanding nose emanating with aromas of red cherries and red raspberries. I think I detected a little blueberry in there, which was interesting. This wine definitely had a hint of dirt to it, which made me think of some Old World Pinot Noirs. On the palette, it had some pomegranate taste with a little oak (very surprising to me since I didn't smell it on the nose). With the She crab soup, this wine wasn't the best pairing since the soup was a thicker, and more creamy soup to begin with. I did like the wine by itself anyway!

Personal Score: VG (4.0/5)

~ Entree/Reprise ~
Food: Duck Leg
Wine Name: Elouan
Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $12.99 (Anson: Glass)

Wine Description:
      "Flavors of rich red plum, bright cherry, subtle earthiness and a hint of sweet tobacco, creating complex layers with soft, refined tannins." - Napa Valley Connection

Personal Review:
     I was honestly shocked by this wine. I love Pinot Noirs, especially ones for Oregon, but this one had a very distinct nose to it. I detected cinnamon and red cherries right off the bat (an unusual smell but it's what I could pinpoint). By itself this wine had very little acidity and definitely let the various fruit notes take over this ensemble: strawberry, cherry, with a little cinnamon piece to liven the wine up even more. With the greasiness of the duck leg, I thought the food did an amazing job complimenting the wine. The two together harmonized and created a very pleasant and silky aspect that was not present before. I highly recommend this wine to anyone interested in another great Pinot Noir from Oregon!

Personal Score: VG (4.5/5)

~ Dessert/Encore ~
Food: Almond basket w/ vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, & strawberries
Wine Name: Alexander Valley Vineyards
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $9.99 (Anson: Glass)

Wine Review:
      "Alexander Valley Vineyards has been making Cabernet Sauvignon for a long time, and the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is from 100% organically grown grapes. It has a saturated purple color and offers up big, juicy, rather classic Cabernet Sauvignon that is super-concentrated, with loads of chocolate, plum, blackberry, and cassis. Smoky earth as well as underbrush and forest floor are also present in this big back-strapping, super-rich wine. Is it the 2013 vintage or is this the new super-duper style Alexander Valley Vineyards is cultivating? There are 1,200 cases of this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that should age brilliantly for at least 20-25 years. Rating: 92(+?)" - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Personal Review:
      I don't think I've mentioned in this post how amazing the food at Anson was...if you visit Charleston, SC check them out for dinner!! Anyway, this Cabernet Sauvignon had quite the noticeable nose just sitting there on the table. Alexander Valley's Cab had plum and chocolate on the nose, something even my girlfriend could detect! It was a hardier wine but had a smooth consistency making it dance on my tongue. I thought this wine very much was complimented by our dessert. The cool ice cream, sweetness of the almond basket, and the decadence of the chocolate syrup paired extremely well with the wine. I would highly recommend this wine for someone who doesn't want a super sweet dessert wine!

Personal Score: VG (4.2/5)