Taco Bell just launched its first wine called Jalapeño Noir, a Pinot Noir, get it? Is the wine any good? Should you try it? Does it pair well with tacos? What will surprise you about making the wine, especially the winery that made it? What was the stealth marketing plan behind the launch? What's next, Big Macs and Bordeaux?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm going solo to do a live taste test for you. You can find the Jalapeno Noir wine here.

Highlights

• How well did Taco Bell's new Jalapeño Noir wine perform at its launch?
• What was my first impression when I heard Jalapeño Noir announced?
• What might surprise you about the making of Jalapeño Noir?
• Why would you usually enjoy cheddar paired with Cabernet Sauvignon?
• Is there a preferred order in which you should taste wine and food?
• What purple prose will you find on the label of Taco Bell's Jalapeño Noir wine?
• Which winery was responsible for producing Taco Bell's Jalapeño Noir wine?
• Why should you try Queenston Mile Vineyard's Pinot Noir?
• What should you look out for in the tasting of Jalapeño Noir?
• Who is the winemaker of Jalapeño Noir?
• How does Jalapeño Noir compare to other Pinot Noirs from the same winery?
• Why should you use big-bowl glassware with Pinot?
• Is it worth it for you to try the Taco Bell pairing of Jalapeño Noir with the Toasted Cheesy Chalupa?
• What tasting notes can you expect from the pairing?
• Why might you find it difficult to pair wine with spicy food?
• Which types of wine can you more easily pair with spicy food?
• What flavours will you taste in Wayne Gretzky Estates Whisky Oak Aged Chardonnay?
• How do the pairings of the Toasted Cheesy Chalupa with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir differ?
• What flavours and aromas will you pick up with barrel-aged wine?
• What aspects of Jackson-Triggs Bourbon Barrel Aged Merlot make it a better pairing than Wayne Gretzky Estates Whisky Oak Aged Chardonnay?
• Why should you give high/low pairings a chance?
• What sort of changes might this wine prompt in the industry?
• How do beverages play a key role in restaurants?

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/97.