Tasting Number Eight

Name: D'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.

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

Name: Cortenova 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.

Name: Maipe Malbec Rose

Variety: Malbec Rose

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Intense 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 Review: Deep 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.

Tasting Number Six

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve 
Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada

Region:Penedes

Country: Spain

Year: NV

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes. Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and balanced acidity. A delicious sparkler for a great price!

My Review: When I saw the word "brut" in the name of the wine, I knew to expect something dry. I got exactly what I expected with a taste of tart apple and a quick finish. I enjoyed the slight bubble sensation.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Villa d' Orvieto

Variety: Blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia

Region:Umbria

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads.

My Review: This was a very smooth wine with a slight taste of flowers and fruit. I could not recognize what fruit it tasted like but I know I've tasted it before. Although the wine was fruity, it was not too sweet. I think this wine would make a good aperitif.

I tasted this on its own with no food. 

Name: Maipe Chardonnay

Variety: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 30% malolactic
fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels. Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.

My Review: Although this alcohol had high alcohol content, it didn't taste like it. This was a fruity, semi-sweet wine with no tannins. It was very smooth. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Variety: 100% Montepulcian

Region: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats.

My Review: This wine was also very smooth. It had a fruity bouquet and I got a hint of cherry. There were medium tannins that left my mouth a bit dry. I agree with VC that this wine was full bodied.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Monte Aman

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Arlanza

Country: Spain

Year:2009

Price: $5.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit. Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now.

My Review: I got cherry on the nose of this wine. It had soft tannins and a long finish. The wine was a bit bitter and tasted of spices with a hint of licorice. I enjoyed this wine!

I tasted this on its own with no food.