Curivari Reserva Limitada 4000 and Justin Isosceles 2006: Review

The Wine

Justin Isosceles 2006

Justin Vineyards and Winery

15% abv

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot – (unfiltered).

Justinwine.com

6 months barrel aged before blending and then an additional 16 – 18 months oak barrel aging.

I last reviewed this wine on December 12, 2010.  Click Here to see review.  This is not going to be a full review.  I am planning to just sit back and enjoy this wine with a Curivari Reserva Limitada 4000.  Click Here to see the cigar review.

This wine still needs to be decanted. 

The Isosceles has a very deep purple body that is near black when the glass is full.  The aroma has a smoky earth style with blackberries at its core.  The blackberry and dark currant notes are full, earthy and on the tart side.  There is a toasted caramel note with a hint of roasted vanilla from the oak.  Damn, I like this wine.  This baby is six years old and still kicking.  Actually, this wine can age up to 2025.  I only have two bottles left and I am hoping to do the next one in 2016.  I’ll bet they (the two bottles) don’t make it through 2013.  I’ll try for 2016.

The Cigar and Pairing

Curivari Reserva Limitada 4000

Size: 6.25 x 54 Torpedo

Nicaragua Puro that sports a Colorado wrapper

Criollo and Corojo tobaccos

Curivari.com

Back in March of this year I said in the review, “This cigar has a nice medium roast coffee, green and white peppercorn spice, toasted grains and a semi-dry mouthfeel.”

This cigar is pairing well with the Isosceles Wine.  The earthy dark berries of the wine are blending well with the medium roast coffee likeness of the cigar and its toasty grains.  Tonight, I am only picking up a dusty white peppercorn resemblance, on the cigar, during this pairing.  I was a little concerned about the mouthfeel for this pairing for the cigar has a semi-dryness and the wine is dry for sure.  But, there are no issues with the mouthfeel for me.  This is a very good medium-full bodied pairing. 

Okay, I am not going to think any more about this pairing and I am going to my leather chair here my cigar lounge and enjoy the next glass of wine with this tasty cigar.  

Curivari Reserva Limitada 4000 and Frankenmuth Brewery Red Sky: Pairing

The Ale

Frankenmuth Brewery Red Sky

Red Sky Irish Style Ale

Frankenmuth Brewing Co.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, USA

Frankenmuthbrewery.com

5.25% abv

23 IBU

This is the craziest beer I have ever experienced.  It is just too inconsistent.   

I drink it from a bottle and I really like it – it had a nice malt and spice style;

I pour it from the bottle to the glass and it is okay – I don’t notice the spice as much;

I have had this on tap at the brewery and it was a malt bomb that I could not finish. 

Poured into a pint glass:

Appearance: it’s a clear red with an amber tint, the off white head was bubbly and with an aggressive pour I barely got a one finger head.

Aroma: lager like, some sweet malts,

Flavors: lightly toasted grains and malts, light caramel, very light grassy hops, light spice

Mouthfeel: clean, too clean, no aftertaste, watery edge, low to moderate carbonation.

My Strength Rating: 2 – for this review

From the Bottle

The carbonation comes across stronger than from the glass (moderate).  The grassy and spicy hops are a little more noticeable but nothing that stands out.  The malts are still the same.    

The only thing I can think of with this Ale is that it depends on what batch you get for the ones I had last summer (in the bottle) had a better spicy style.  But, I then went next door to the brewery and had it on tap and it was a malt bomb. 

This should be a good Red Ale to pair with most cigars.  The light sweet style should be a nice balance to a cigar. 

The Cigar

Curivari Reserva Limitada 4000
Size: 6.25 x 54 Torpedo

Nicaragua Puro that sports a Colorado wrapper

Curivari.com

This cigar has a nice medium roast coffee, green and white peppercorn spice, toasted grains and a semi-dry mouthfeel. 

The Pairing:

This cigar pairs well with this light bodied Red Ale.  The sweet malty style is needed to go with the cigars spice and dry mouthfeel.  Going to the hoppy side makes for a tight and dry mouthfeel.

I paired this cigar with an ale a few weeks ago that had a dry mouthfeel to it and it was a bad match for this cigar.  The cigar was not all that enjoyable that day.  I wish I remembered what Ale I had that day.