Thursday, April 18, 2013

Tasting Number 11


Name: Wilson Daniels
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Central Coast, California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Orange blossom and citrus permeate the aromas. Alluring flavors of orange and grapefruit dominate the palate. Bright acidity balances the plush mouthfeel, resulting in a clean finish.
My Review: I wasn't a big fan of this wine. Although it was smooth and dry, it was not as good as other Sauvignon Blancs I've had. It had a short finish and tasted a bit of grapefruit.
I tasted this on its own with no food. 

NameChandon Sweet Cuvee
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $9.95
Vintage Cellar ReviewThis wine is an innovative sparkling wine style revealing vibrant stone fruit and floral aromas with rich, luscious mouthfeel. This wine enlivens the senses and sparks spontaneous moments, complementing your passion for a good life.
My Review: This was dry wine with light bubbles on the tongue. There was not much on the nose. It tasted a little bit like syrup and had a bitter finish. I didn't taste any fruit in this wine. It was not as sweet as the name implied 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Black Ridge White Zinfandel
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $3.95
Vintage Cellar Review: This fruit forward White Zinfandel displays fresh aromas and crisp flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. It is incredibly food friendly and will pair well with burgers, sandwiches, fruit salad, and more.
My Review: This was a refreshing white zinfandel. It had a very sweet and fruity nose. It tasted of cherry and was very easy to drink. This had a bit longer of a finish that I really enjoyed.
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Ksana Bonarda
Variety: Bonarda
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2008
Price: $9.95
Vintage Cellar Review: The bouquet is floral and lightly jammy, with berry aromas and a
savory note or two. To the uninitiated, this is a great introduction to Bonarda. Finishes solid. Very sweet, berry smell with some rooty undertones. Kind of dry, makes your lips pucker.
My Review: This wine was dry and a bit sour. It was almost bitter in taste and was tannic - definitely made my lips pucker. I tasted the berries but I'm not sure what they meant by a rooty undertone.
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Concannon Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: Central Coast, California
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar ReviewThis is an extremely rich, full-bodied wine with a dark fruit core. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark cherry are followed by more berry fruits and chocolate and mocha on the palate.
My Review: I really enjoyed this shiraz. It was classic in that it was a bit tannic and tasted of dark red fruits. I would love to try this wine with chocolate. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Winery Visit: Beliveau Estate

Observing the vineyard before our tasting.
The sun was out and it was a perfect day to roll down the windows and drive out to Beliveau Estate for a wine tasting. My three friends and I arrived around 4pm and after walking around the grounds for a little bit, went into the tasting room.

We were greeted by Dale, the catering manager who also cooks for the estate. He informed us that the tasting was $4 and we could choose to do the "dry" or "sweet" flight. Two of us chose sweet, and two of us chose dry, including myself.

The first wine we tried was called "Afternoon Delight." It was a white wine made of Vidal Blanc grapes, was lightly oaked, and sold at $18 a bottle. This wine was tart and tasted of apples. I tasted some vanilla and some melon. I really liked the nose of this wine; I smelt a bit of clove.

Destiny - Vidal Blanc
The next wine was called "Destiny." It was a dry, crisp wine that was also made of Vidal Blanc. It was listed as a bronze medalist! This wine was not oaked and I could taste the difference. It was a crisper wine. It was still apply and tart, but I found this wine more refreshing. It was priced at $16.

The third wine was called "Silhouette." It's a red wine made of Cabernet Sauvignon that sold for $20. It was very fruity on the nose and in the taste. It tasted of raspberries and cherries. Although it was dry, it was not too tannic. It was described to us as spicy but I didn't think it had much besides berry flavor.

Rainbow - Red Zin
Next was "Rainbow." I loved this wine. It was a red Zinfandel. It had much more body than the Silhouette and was a bit spicy and peppery, which is one of my favorite flavors in a red wine. It was tannic but well balanced. This was my favorite wine of the day. It was $24.

"Sunset Sipper" was also a red Zinfandel. This one was very similar to Rainbow but was a bit sweeter not as tannic. Somehow I found it less fruity as well. It was also $24.

After a great experience with the dry flight, I decided to try the sweet flight as well! It contained another five great wines, but one stuck out in particular.

My favorite sweet was called "Serenity." It was listed as a silver medalist. It was a dessert wine made of two Chambourcins. It was sweet and full bodied, but the cool part was that Dale gave us some chocolate to try it with. We sipped the wine on it's own, then sipped it after eating a piece of chocolate. The difference was so surprising - the flavor of the wine was so different! It was a different kind of sweet, it was much smoother, and there was a creaminess flavor left on my tongue. This experience left me with and urge to do a chocolate and wine pairing at home. Or maybe it's just another excuse to eat chocolate.

The Dry Flight and their Awards

The Sweet Flight and their Awards
Lavender at Beliveau
After our tasting, my friend bought a bottle of wine and we thanked Dale for everything. We walked around the vineyard and smelt the lavender on the grounds. Unfortunately, Dale said that they don't really do tours because there is not much to see. They are a relatively new winery though so that may change in the future.

Overall, it was a great day and great experience at Beliveau Estate. The service was friendly and very knowledgeable! Check them out: http://www.beliveauestate.com/



Very windy day at Beliveau! That's me behind the hair on the right. 

Tasting Number 10



Name: Ferrari - Carano Siena
Variety: 74% Sangiovese, 26% Malbec
Region: Sonoma County
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $24.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Delicious aromas and flavors of fresh-picked blackberries, raspberry jam, cola, cinnamon and clove. Sweet oak notes of vanilla and butterscotch complement lingering tart cherry, cranberry, and strawberry. A wine with nice acidity and refined, elegant texture, Siena has tannins and are showy and evenly coat the palate.
My Review: This wine was a light wine in color, but it had a lot of flavor. The nose was woody and had some spices. These flavors came through in the tastes as well; I really enjoyed the oakiness of the wine. It was high in tannins and had a long but smooth finish.
I tasted this on its own with no food. 

NameYalumba Museum Muscat
Variety: Muscat
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: NV
Price: $22.95
Vintage Cellar ReviewThe non-vintage Museum Reserve Muscat boasts a medium deep amber hue as well as stunning aromas and huge flavors oozing with glycerin, sweetness, honeyed figs, jammy berries, and notions of tea, molasses, and prunes. This wine does not improve in the bottle, but it will last many years.
My Review: This was the first muscat I ever tried. The color was amber/red/yellowish and it smelt strongly of spiced brandy. I'm not surprised that this wine is 18% alcohol. I was presently surprised with the taste after being a bit put off by the smell. It tasted warm an of caramel, molasses, and vanilla. It reminded me of syrup although it was not as heavy. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Brancott Estate
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2011
Price: $9.99
Vintage Cellar Review: Pours a pale green color. Gooseberry  passion fruit, lemongrass nose. Granny smith apples, grapefruit, lime palate with mineral undertones and a hint of grassiness  Acidity is there- good with spicy food.
My Review: I really used to like sauvignon blanc, but I have trouble finding traits that make them taste differently. This wine was crisp, dry, and tart. I got the apple flavor, and tasted some of the grassiness the review mentioned.
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Bartenura
Variety: Moscato
Region: Provincia de Pavia
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Tantalizing aromas of pear and nectarine tempt you to take a sip and experience the floral and melon flavors, supporting by a light fizz and wisps of sweetness.
My Review: I'm always hesitant to drink moscato because I prefer dry wine, but they always surprise me. This wine was not overly sweet. It had light bubbles and tasted very fruity. I definitely tasted the melon flavors. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Georges Duboeuf
Variety: Beaujolais Nouveau (Gamay)
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $5.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Surprisingly structured for a nouveau, this has a rich cherry flavor, with firm tannins and ripe acidity. The finish bears a tangy, textured character. Deutsch character.
My Review:  This wine was surprisingly light for a red wine. it was very berry-y and I did not find it too tannic at all. Mine was not chilled but I remember reading that beaujolais nouveau can be chilled so I'd like to try it and taste the difference. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Tasting Number Nine



NameVeleta Brut Vino
Variety: Espumoso Rosado
Region
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $3.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Rosé salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubble that forms “lace” and “rosary”. In the nose is complex and elegant with red fruit, citric, exotic, fresh flowers, and notes of dry fruits and dry flowers. Fresh, gentle, and alive. Perfectly integrated “perlage” with serious and subtle flavors of dry fruits, pomegranate and lemonade. Long lasting scent of flowers and herbs.
My Review: This was a dry but well balanced wine with a quick finish. It was not fruity and thinking back, it didn't have much flavor after having a bit of apple on the nose. Regardless, I enjoyed this wine.
I tasted this on its own with no food. 

NameVeleta Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo Rosado
Region: Granada
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $3.95
Vintage Cellar ReviewFresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rosé offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy.
My Review: This wine was fruitier and sweeter than the Brut Vino, as expected. I tasted a variety of berries in this wine and it had a quick finish. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Cresta Azul
Variety: Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo
Region
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $5.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Peach, orange cream and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white. Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish.
My Review: This wine had orange and vanilla both on the nose and in the taste. I enjoyed the soft bubbles. It tasted a bit like an orange creamsicle; it had a creaminess aspect to it. This wine was very easy to drink. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Château Serres Sainte Lucie Corbières
Variety: Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre
Region: Corbières
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange. Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee. The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla. This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins.
My Review: This wine smelt a bit diry at first. At the beginning I got a whiff of asparagus which somehow turned into a coffee smell. The wine was dry but not tannic and tasted bitter and earthy.
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Ruta 22 Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Patagonia
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar ReviewStout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas. Despite being a bold and dark Malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Good on the finish, with candied fruit and caramel sweetness.
My Review:  This wine impressed me with it's color- it was red and violet and deep. The wine was fruity and tasted like berries. Not to tannic or dry- easy to drink. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.


Saturday, March 30, 2013

Tasting Number Eight


NameD'Arenberg The Stump Jump
Variety: Riesling/Marsanne
Region: Southern Australia 
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $13.95
Vintage Cellar Review: An intoxicating mix of ripe, yellow peaches, guava, and hints of honey blossoms on the nose. The tropical stone fruits are also evident on the palate but give up little territory to some lovely, zesty lemon, lime citrus characters which really add to the freshness of this wine.
My Review: This wine had a fruity nose in which my friends and I picked up apple. The taste of the wine was very light and not much was there. It was tart and smooth. This is a good wine to drink with fish during the summer.
I tasted this on its own with no food. 

Name: Salneval
Variety: Albarino
Region: Val do Salnes
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $13.95
Vintage Cellar Review: This smooth white offers pear, dried peach and tangerine flavors, with smoky and light earth notes. Features tart acidity. 
My Review: This wine was also very light in both color and smell. The nose was sweet and flowery. It smelt a bit of honey. The taste was light though and the wine had little body. It was a bit acidic but otherwise smooth. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Foris
Variety: Gewurztraminer
Region: Rougue Valley, Oregon
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Nose of rose petal and lychee that Gewurztraminer is known for as well as stone fruits and lemongrass. The palate shows good concentration but stays fresh and lively due to its crisp acidity. We have always finished our Gewurztraminer drier than many of the more commercial bottlings in the market. 
My Review: This wine was a pleasant surprise. It was crisp on the tongue but was acidic and balanced. I tasted pear and something that may have been strawberry. I had been wanting to try a Gewurztraminer for a while now and I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Dom la Ricoune
Variety: Grenache and Syrah
Region: Cotes de Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $15.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Inky. Intense and complex nose, fruity and spicy. Aromas of berries, garrigue, licorice, cinnamon, cloves. The palate is intense and fresh. Red fruits. Seductive and lingering finish. 
My Review: This wine had very good color. It tasted of licorice and red cherry. It had incorporation of spices and was we found it to be a bit sour. It was an acidic wine with good body and a lengthy finish. I wish I could have tasted some cinnamon!
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Bogle
Variety: Petite Syrah
Region: Sacremento Valley
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $12.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Deeply inky, this wine coats the glass and lingers before the first sip has been taken. Heady aromas of boysenberries and blackberries headline the entry, while flavors of wild blueberries steal the show. Full-bodied and concentrated, seductive juniper and anise tangle with coffee and leather tones as the wine's finish lingers on stage. Enduring and enthralling, this wine is perfectly suited for and encore. 
My Review:  I've never tried a fuller bodied wine than this one. It was very dark purple in color. The nose smelt of wood and spices. It tasted of dark cherry or other dark red or black fruits. It was very heavy on the tongue and lingered for a good while.
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Dinner - Home (Puerto Rican) with the Parents!

Before spring break, I got to go home for a few nights and hang out with the family. The day before my friends and I left for Key West, my mom made us a Puerto Rican dinner and we opened up three bottles of wine.
The dinner was rice with beans, chicken, tomatoes, and plantains. The first wine was a 2010 Black Opal Shiraz from South Eastern Australia.l. The second wine was a 2011 Turning Leaf Merlot from California. The last wine was a 2010 Gallo Family Moscato from California. These were all under $10. The only "wine" Puerto Ricans make is rum! Therefore, these wines were not chosen particularly because of the meal, but because of curiosity as to how these wines taste with food in general.
The three wines of the night
We started dinner with the shiraz. On its own, it was very tannic and spicy. It smelt of cherry and tasted peppery. I'm not sure I liked this wine with the chicken because it was just too much; I could definitely see this wine better paired with a steak or spicy food. After a glass of shiraz, we moved on to the merlot. The merlot was so much smoother in comparison to the first wine. It was sweeter, less alcoholic, and easier to drink in general. The merlot was fuller body than the shiraz. I could not recognize them, but I found that the food brought out more fruit flavors of the wine (possibly plums?). Although they were very different wines, I enjoyed them both with dinner.

Dad and Sarah at dinner.
Just for fun after dinner, we took out some cheddar and american cheese we had in the fridge. Even though it was not fancy cheese or specifically paired for our wines, we found that eating the cheese made the shiraz less tannic and left the mouth less dry.

Since my birthday was the day before I left for spring break, my family got me a cake for after dinner and we opened up the moscato. We saved this for dessert because we knew it would be too sweet to drink with the meal. By itself, the wine was sweet and smelt of citrus. It tasted of honey and had hints of peach. With the red velvet cake, the wine tasted less sweet and seemed to lose the peach and honey flavors.

Overall, this was a great learning experience. Not only did I learn about these three wines and how food changed them, but I learned about the whole tasting wine with food experience. I'm looking forward to doing this again so I can take even more notes, pair wines with specific foods, and take more pictures!

Tasting Number Seven


NameCortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region:
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi, spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine Perfect also as an aperitif.
My Review: This wine was very clear in color. It smelt of pear and although it was a bit acidic (or high alcohol, not sure which), it was still smooth. I could definitely see this pairing well with seafood.
I tasted this on its own with no food.


NameMaipe Malbec Rose
Variety: Malbec Rose
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar ReviewIntense pink color with violet hints. Fresh red fruit bouquet, strawberry and cherry flavors, balanced acidity, dry and lingering finish. Excellent with tuna or green salad, pasta, spicy Asian dishes.
My Review: This wine was also very smooth. It was a bit dry and tasted like strawberry to me. It had a long finish that left a fruity taste in your mouth. 
I tasted this on its own with no food. 


Name: Tinto Figaro 
Variety: 100% Granacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Figaro is 100% Garnacha, made from a selection of the best grapes grown in the oldest vineyards. While not truly an "oaked wine", a short stay in oak barrels provides a nice spicy flavor boost. Bright violet. Dark berry and cherry aromas show a jammy aspect. Supple and gently sweet, with good lift to its black raspberry and boysenberry flavors. Smooth and broad on the finish, leaving behind a hint of spiciness. Extremely easy to drink and an excellent value.
My Review: This wine smelt of spices and tasted of raspberry. I'm not sure I'd ever tried a wine that was 100% Garnacha before. It was low in tannins and easy to drink. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan
Variety: Grenache
Region: Cotes de Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Intensely spicy and precise, with lively red berry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The Grenache, which makes up the majority of the wine, is deeper and more powerful, offering cherry and black raspberry qualities lifted by zesty minerality.
My Review: This wine also smelt of spices. It was more tanning that the Tinto Figaro. It tasted of a dark red fruit such as cherry or maybe raspberry. This wine was easy to drink- very good wine. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.



Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar ReviewDeep red brilliant with violet hints. Complex, fruity, and predominant red fruits. Easy to drink, round with persistent sweetness, very well balanced with sweet tannins.
My Review: This wine smelt of fruit on the nose. I was expecting it to taste fruitier and sweeter than it did. It still has the taste of alcohol. While I enjoy a sweet and fruity white wine, I'm not I enjoyed this sweet red. 
I tasted this on its own with no food.