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. 

Name: Chandon Sweet Cuvee

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: NV

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: This 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 Review: This 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.

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. 

Name: Yalumba Museum Muscat

Variety: Muscat

Region: South Eastern Australia

Country: Australia

Year: NV

Price: $22.95

Vintage Cellar Review: The 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.

Tasting Number Nine

Name: Veleta 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. 

Name: Veleta Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo Rosado

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $3.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Fresh 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 Review: Stout 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.