Wine Tasting - Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

Name: Sonnenband Moscato Magnum
Variety: Moscato
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: Non-Vintage
Price: $20 Sale Price: $9.95
Vintage Cellar Critique: "This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars."

My Critique: This wine was a sweet, sugary taste that really had a nice finish. The wine had a creamy texture that was fleshy and rich. It smelled sweet and had a powerful aroma. I liked this wine and i would recommend it as a good dessert wine.

Wine Tasting -Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Critique: "This Cabernet Sauvignon show very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushed ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure.

My Critique: This wine was overwhelming in all aspects of the wine. This Cabernet has an overwhelmingly powerful aroma that took me by surprise. It had a full and rich bouquet and really stung the nostrils. This red had a high alcohol content which really led to a hot finish. This wine had an abrasive and aggressive taste. I thought I tasted pomegranate but most definitely tasted plum as well. I thought this wine was disgusting and I would never buy it.

Tasting - Delaroche Cotes du Rhone

- Delaroche Cotes du Rhone
- Blended - Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre
- Rhone Valley
- France
- $8.95
- 2011
- Vintage Cellar: Red wine, blended with 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and end with rich fruit notes.
- This is a red wine with spicy/peppery taste. This red wine was much different than the two previous white wines. It had a heavy tangy taste and tartness that was refreshing and unexpected. I think a nice steak would have gone well with this wine.

Wine Tasting: Baumann Gentil Classiq

Name: Baumann Gentil Classiq
Variety:  Blended: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $17 Sale Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Critique: "A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stoneand citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully.

My Critique: The Baumann Gentil Classiq has a full, fruity and supple aroma that really has a heavy kick. It tasted harsh, acidic and had a long finish. It was bland and metallic tasting. with a  thin body and crisp taste. I thought this wine was alright but nothing special. and would not recommend purchasing it.

Wine Tasting - Fattori Runcaris Soave

Name: Fattori Runcaris Soave
Variety: Garganege
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Critque: "From the local Italian word for  "to work the soil" Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine, and dried herbs.
My Critique: This wine had a fruity, complex and supple aroma. It has a bouquet of apple and citrus that really does have a powerful aroma. The taste was complex and citrusy. It tasted of wine  and had a smooth supple finish that lingered on the tongue. There was also a small taste of honey and pear. I did not find this wine to be anything special and would not recommend purchasing it.

Wine Tasting - Shotfire Cabernet/Shiraz (Syrah) Barossa

http://www.kysela.com/australia/Shotfire_Shiraz_bottle.jpg

 Name: Shotfire Cabernet/Shiraz (Syrah) Barossa

Variety: 44% Syrah, 56% Cabernet

Region: Barossa

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: $17.95

Vintage Cellar Critique: "Another winner and sensational, the 2010 Shotfire Cabernet-Shiraz is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Shiraz. A whopper of a wine, it is deep ruby/purple and possesses loads of glycerin and full body along with stunning notes of wood spice, graphite, blackberry and pepper. Rich, chewy, and dense, in typically bold, exuberant Aussie style, this is a wine to drink over the next 6-10 years."

My Critique: Courtney, the wine specialist at the Vintage Cellar referred to this wine as a "Big Red" and boy was she ever right! This is the most powerfula nd pungent wine I have ever tasted. This blend really amplifies the Cabernet and Shiraz; it "Destroys the palate" with its powerful and pungent taste. You can really smell the blackberry and taste the bitterness it gives it. This wine was powerful and truly a unique experience. 

Wine Tasting - Odoardi Savuto

http://hogsheadwine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/2006savuto.jpg

 Name: Odoardi Savuto

Variety: Blended - 45% Gaglioppo, 15% Greco Nero, 15% Nerello Cappuccio, 15% Magliocco Canino, 10% Sangiovese. 

Region: Savuto, Scavigna

Country: Italia (Italy)

Year: 2006

Price: $18.00; Sale Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Critque: "A beefy, herb- tinged red, sporting dense layers of plum sauce, grilled fig and currant paste, stacked with notes of roasted game, rosemary, and hummus. The finish lingers,despite noticeable tannins. Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Magliocco Canino and Sangioves. Drink now through 2016. 14000 cases made."

My Critique: This wine had a very pungent plum smell. This red had an incredibly bitter finish that lingered for a long time. You can most definitely taste the powerful tannins and smell the powerful aroma of this blended wine. The finish is noticeable because of the dry, cotton-mouth you get after the finish; the tannins are the reason for this dry mouth and powerful taste and finish. 

Wine Tasting - Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kirchberg de Barr

 

https://www.paulsdc.com/images/sites/paulsdc/labels/t38238387x_1.jpg

Name: Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kirchberg de Barr

Variety: Varietal - Riesling

Region: Alsace (Near German border)

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $20.95

Vintage Cellar Critique: "With great intensity and structure, this is a wine that's all about texture and potential. It's expressive with white fruits and perfume, but there's a richness that's still to come. Drink from 2016 and see how the minerality and acidity will come into balance."

My Critique:the Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kirchberg de Barr was my first Riesling and it truly was a unique experience. The first thing I noticed on the nose was the sweet smell it had; it was almost overwhelming. The taste was almost exactly like its smell, SWEET. I've heard Rieslings tend to be pretty sweet and this one did not disappoint! It was sweet but it had a very bitter taste and rather bland finish. Wine Enthusiast gave it a 92 out of 100 and I do not think I would have given it that high of a score, but my first Riesling is an experience I will always remember. 

Wine Tasting- Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

http://bodegasjesusdiaz.com/wines/

Name: Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid
Variety: Malvar Varietal
Region: Madrid
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $15.00--> Sale Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Critique: "Vinos de Madrid is a region of Spain not often encountered in the US, while Malvar is considered a regional specialty bu remains unknown outside of Central Spain. Zesty acidity and tropical fruit make this obscure buy a great food wine!"

My Critique: This Spanish white from the region of Madrid is a unique and decent tasting wine. Made of 100% Malvar, the varietal combines the Earthy smell with a fruity, pear taste. The Jesus Diaz is a light wine with a weak finish and and Earthy pungent nose that combines well with its pear taste. I would give this wine an 85 out of 100 and would recommend drinking it on a hot day during summertime.

Wine Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserva
Variety: Blended: 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada, 45% Macebeo
Region: Penedes
Country: Spain
Year: Non-Vintage
Price: $9.95

Shop Critique: Light apple aromas are elegant and not over the top, while the tangerine and orange flavors are lean and focused. This is a light-framed Cava with a clean, fast, tasty profile and finish. Not yeasty or heavy at all

My critique: This Spanish bubbly white wine was a really dry, bland Brut that really did not impress me that much.  The carbonation allows the wine to "dance on your palate" and allow for a strong, clean, easy finish. The wine tasted of apple and tangerine with tart-like kick. The wine was light and vibrant with clean flavor and kick.

Wine Dinner #1: February 10th 2014

The dinner: Steak, Chicken, and 2 different types of cheeses.

Our first wine, cheese, and dinner went exceptionally well considering the lack of expertise any of us had in cooking or tasting wine. There were six of us who decided to split 3 different white wines that paired with 4 different entree/appetizer choices. Blake, Ben, Carrick, Johnny, Tyler, and myself sat down for a wonderful dinner and wine tasting that turned out to be on great experience.

The Crew: (left to right) Blake, Ben, Carrick, Johnny, Tyler, and Myself

The dinner consisted of a zesty "Spicy Montreal Steak" seasoning on the steak and a spicy and frankly awesome tasting Caribbean jerk dry rub seasoning on the chicken (seasoned and cooked the chicken).  We also cheese and cracker appetizers to go with the wines. The two types of cheeses were a smoked bacon flavored cheddar cheese and an aged Sharp cheddar cheese that was just phenomenal.

Tyler Smalls cooking the steak

Me seasoning the uncooked chicken




The first wine of the three we used was the Rockbridge St. Mary's Blanc 2002. This wine had a strong taste and even stronger finish. It sat on the palate for a good 20-30 seconds after ingestion. It had a powerful and potent smell. It smells fruity, pear-like almost with a hint of melon or plum maybe. It was incredibly tough to try and figure out. It had the highest alcohol percentage out of all the wines at 13% ABV….and you could definitely tell. This white wine went alright with the chicken but not at all with the steak. It overpowered the wonderful taste of the sharp cheddar and bacon cheddar cheeses so I did not find this wine to be very good overall. I would probably give it a 60 out of 100. 

Rockbridge St. Mary's Blanc





The next wine was the Erben Spatlese 2001. This was my favorite of the three wines.  This white wine was much less powerful than the Rockbridge St. Mary's Blanc and paired much better with the steak, chicken, and cheeses. This white wine had a fruity bouquet and decent finish. I could for sure taste a mix of pear and apple flavor in the wine which I found pleasing. I found the wine didn't over power the spiciness of the steak seasoning or the dry rub of the caribbean jerk chicken seasoning. It for sure paired  best with the steak. It really amplified the steaks juiciness and succulence. It helped the steak almost melt in your mouth and increased the steak's taste on the palate. 

Erben Spatlese 2001

The final wine we tasted was the Barboursville Cabernet Blanc. This wine was good in its own right but for sure was not my favorite. This was a mild wine with a mediocre finish. The real value in this wine came with a pairing with the Caribbean Jerk seasoned chicken. This wine was spectacular with the season chicken. It increased the intensity of the Caribbean jerk seasoning and chicken and created a finish on your mouth that I just found spectacular. This wine, paired with that chicken, made me understand how wines can increase and amplify the taste and texture of some foods. It really was a pleasure to drink this wine paired with this chicken. 

Barboursville Cabernet Blanc

In conclusion, this experience really was awesome and I would most definitely recommend it to anyone who is trying to become a wine connoisseur. I plan to do this a couple more times with my friends and hope I can continue to improve upon my understanding and knowledge of wine. 

Carrick showing how to improperly drink wine.

Blake showing how to properly sniff and swirl the wine before consumption.

Wine Tasting: Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato

Name: Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $15; Sale Price $7.95
Vintage Cellar (Amanda). This is a tasty and generous Moscato that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There's a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparking dessert wine.
Critique: This white wine was……PHENOMENAL. The Angove Zibibbo was very good and the carbonated aspect of the wine helped open it up and allow the wine to "pop" on your palate. It had a great fruity, citrusy, super sweet tasted that was delicious. It had a smooth texture and strong finish that sat on your palate for 20-30 seconds. Would have been great with cake or some sweet dessert.

Wine Tasting- Fetzer Malbec

Name: Fetzer Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
County: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $15; Sale Price $7.95
Vintage Cellar (Amanda). Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza Argentina. it had a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum, cherry jam. one the palate its juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.
Critique: This red wine from Argentina was….PHENOMENAL. By far the best red wine I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. It's smell/taste was super fruity with a smooth texture and finish. It's sweet, intense fruity taste graced my palate for 30 seconds after swallowing. It was 13% alcohol by volume even though the alcohol only made up for a small portion of this wine's incredible taste. I would easily give this wine a 95-97 out of 100 and recommend it to anyone wishing to try a smooth, sweet red wine.

Wine Tasting: Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name:Tres Ojos Garnacha
Variety: Grenache (Blended)
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar (Amanda). "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvee of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate and weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes.
Critique: I found this red wine to be…..TERRIBLE. This was by far the worst red wine I've ever had (given it is a small sample size). It was bitter, dry, powerful, oak-like, and dry. It had a large amount of tannins because it dried out my mouth almost immediately after swallowing. It had a smooth texture and a rich taste but this wine most definitely was not for me.

Wine Tasting: The Royal Old Vines Chennin Blanc

Name:The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Variety: Chenin Blanc

Country: South Africa

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Shop: Vintage Cellar. "One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10,100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-wesight, fresh, fruity, rips, dry textbook Chenin blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months."

Critique: This white wine had a strong, sour, pear-like taste. It was pretty good in my opinion but not the best of the 5 wines we tasted during this wine tasting. The wine had a fruity bouquet and strong sugary taste. I would give it a 60 out of 100 contrary to its 90 point rating by Robert Parker

Wine Tasting - Norton Sauvignon Blanc

-Norton Sauvignon Blanc

-Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

-Mendoza 

-Argentina

-2012

-$5.95

-Vintage Cellar: Amanda. This wine has aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical and zesty.This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy, white to sip on the patio

- This white wine was a very citrusy and "bright" white wine. I had a pale taste and texture with a  bit of a  kick of tanginess. I thought it was a mediocre wine and probably would not recommend it. One thing noticeable was its finish; the Norton Sauvignon Blanc sat on the palate for at least 20-30 seconds. 

Wine Tasting - Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg

- Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg
- Sylvaner
- Rheinhessen
- Germany
-2010
-$4.95
- Vintage Cellar: The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called "Rheinhessen-Switzerland", the heartland of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess  and a semi-dry profile.
- This wine probably tasted the best of the 5 wines we tried. I did not like the smell but I did notice lemony, fruity bouquet mentioned in the Vintage Cellar's synopsis. I was very sweet and sugary but also had a spicy, tangy kick that was pleasant to the pallate. I would not be against getting a little tipsy on this wine.

Tasting - Montebuena Rioja

-Montebuena Rioja
-Tempranillo
- Spain
- 2010
- $8.95
- Vintage Cellar: Vivid Ruby. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip.
- I liked this red wine because of the sweet and smooth taste. One thing I did notice after drinking the wine was the dry-mouth it caused. this is probably because of the tannins in the wine that gives the wine its shape and texture. It had a potent smell and taste that I found refreshing and pleasing.

Tasting - Maipe Torrontes

Wine #2



- Maipe Torrontes
- Torrontes
-Mendoza
- Argentina
- 2013
- $7.95
- Vintage Cellar: Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals.
- The first thing I thought of when I smelled this wine was that it smelled a lot like Blue moon. It had a citrus and sour taste. It seemed to linger on the palate and was one of the stronger wines I have ever tasted. It would probably go well with some BBQ or sharp cheddar cheeses.

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Wine #1

- Cortenova Pinot Grigio 2012
- Pinot Grigio
- Venezie
- Italy
- 2012
- $7.95
-Vintage Cellar. White wine with emerald reflections. Fresh floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots, and bananas.
- I did not find this wine to be very good. I think it would have gone well if it were to be drunk with a dinner and dessert. I could taste the apricot and pear in the wine but not much of the banana. It was relatively smooth tasting and a little sweet for my liking. It/'s fruity boquet and potency was one of the most notable parts of this wine.