I thought this was great and had to share it.  It combines the two most important food groups:  Pizza and Wine

Enjoy!

Not going to lie, I picked this one up based solely on the bottle.  I couldn’t pass up something called Celeste that has a star map containing some of the most recognizable constellations on the label.  Ursa Major, Draco, Ursa Minor, Cepheus  and Cassiopeia easily talked me into this purchase.  I must say that I have seriously missed going into the local wine shops to discover something new.  Wine clubs are fun…but it takes away from the whole discovery experience.

This particular red poured a beautiful dark color.  Aromas are of leather and blackberries.  That didn’t immediately strike me as appealing and I wasn’t exactly hopeful from that point.  But I was pleasantly surprised when the subtle flavors of blackberries greeted my and then finished with a peppery, herbal tone.  The mouthfeel was lighter than I expected and the flavors in general were not overpowering in any way.  I’d say this is a pretty easy to drink wine.  I may have a second glass this evening while I watch the rest of Definitely, Maybe.  

This would pair well with some dried figs and dry salami and probably some other stuff….but I’m tired and don’t feel like over-thinking food pairings.

On a scale of “this tastes like piss” to “oops, I just drank the whole bottle” I would give this a “Not a bad way to unwind on a Sunday evening after a few pretty intense days.” Would I buy it again?  I wouldn’t be opposed to picking this up again.

Final Grade: B  Easy like Sunday evening.

Notes from the bottle: The wine from our hometown was proudly served on board of the airship “Graf Zeppelin.”  A fruity and spicy wine with accents and tastes of apple, pear, citrus and floral notes.  Clean and fresh with crisp acidity and a tasty finish. 

My thoughts:  Ok, I’m going to be honest.  This is the third bottle of this I have purchased and have meant to review it each time.  It’s so easy to drink that it tends to disappear well before I get the chance to jot down any notes.  I discovered this one at the wine shop around the corner.  I wander in here from time to time when I need something different and need to bounce ideas off of a knowledgable staff.  This choice didn’t need much assistance.  It has a Zeppelin on the label.  I mean, how do you go wrong there? 

Knowing my luck with badass bottles typically equaling craptacular wine, I wasn’t expecting much from this one.  Luckily, the wine is as good as the artwork on the label!  Subtle aromatics hint at apple, pear, and a slight hint of citrus.  It has a surprisingly complex flavor for a wine that is very light tasting.  I don’t even know if that makes sense.  It is very light, crisp and has a bit of spritz to it.  There is a multitude of flavors that combine to make this easy to drink wine.  I gathered hints of apples and pears with a slight aftertaste of honey and maybe apricots?

This pairs well with popcorn and re-runs of Criminal Minds.  Would go really well with some grilled or broiled fish, shrimp, scallops, chicken, vegetable fried rice, or some extra spicy Thai food.  

On a scale of “this tastes like piss” to “oops, I just drank the whole bottle” I would give this a “Third time’s the charm!  I finished almost 3 bottles of this (not in the same sitting!) before I was able to focus and write about it.” Would I buy it again?  I already have!  More than once!

Final Grade: A This is going to be my go to for reasonably priced Reislings ($13-$15/bottle) especially if I have company…and even more if I don’t have company!