Wine Tasting (Week 5)

Name: Baumann
Variety: Gentil Classiq
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Price: $9.95

Year: 2012

Winery Review: "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 stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully."

My Review: I found this wine to have a strong flower scent. In addition the flavor was very sweet with a small taste of grape and lemon on my pallet.

Name: Champteloup
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Loire Valley
Country: France
Price: $7.95

Year: 2011

Winery Review: "In the heart of France’s Loire River Valley lies the Touraine wine region. Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine’s appeal. This wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we’ve offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his winemaking, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate."

My Review: Very light red color. This was my favorite of the five. The initial aroma gave me a strong scent of cherry. When tasting the wine it was very smooth but did not have a lot of                                                                      flavor. It was a full body wine with no heat at the end. 

Name: Fattori
Variety: Runcaris
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Price: $7.95

Year: 2010

Winery Review: "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 Review: The aromas consisted of fruit but I could not pick out a specific fruit. The taste was refreshing and very wet with no heat. There was a small citrus sensation in my mouth.

Name: New Direction
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina 
Price: $7.95

Year: 2010

Winery Review: "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 Review: I was not a big fan of this The taste was of berry and other dark fruits. The taste was also sour and packed a punch at the end.

Name: Sonnenband
Variety: Moscato Magnum
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars."

My Review: This is my first moscato. This wine had a very strong flower smell. I felt like I was drinking a mojito. Naturally the taste packed a lot of sugar and was very sweet. 

Wine Tasting (Week 4)

Name: Brownie Points Vineyards
Variety: Red Blend
Region: California
Country: United States
Price: $7.95

Year: 2011
Winery Review: "Fine achievements — be it completing a half marathon, learning a new language or simply making it through a busy day - should be recognized. Who says you didn’t earn a gold star today? Our lush, full-bodied red has aromas of ripe cherries and hints of mocha that melt into a rich, silky finish."

My Review: The packaging really caught my eye on the shelf in the store. The texture of the wine felt like silk. I could taste a strong mocha flavor on my pallet. 

Name: Cupcake Red Velvet Vineyards
Variety: Red Blend
Region: California
Country: United States
Price: $7.95

Year: 2009
Winery Review: Our Red Velvet blend delivers over-the-top aromas of chocolate, deep dark blackberries and luscious red fruits that follow through to the palate. Finish with a hint of coconut and creamy mocha that shows unmistakable intensity and length. Red Velvet combines Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Each varietal adds distinct characteristics and lends structure, aroma and depth of flavor. We ferment each varietal separately before blending. Finally, a unique oak regime infuses creaminess.

My Review: This is my favorite of the five I tried this week. The aromas of chocolate and blackberries really came out to me. The texture was very creamy but had a kick at the end. 

Name: Monte Oton

Variety: Garnacha 
Region: Aragon
Country: Spain
Price: $7.99

Year: 2010
Winery Review: "The wine shows bright and full Garnacha notes of ripe black fruits, as well as raisins, blueberries, and plums, and it's even showing some overripeness. The mouth and finish are warm and relatively gentle. Drink now or in the next several years."

My Review: This was my first experience with Garnacha. The wine had a very fruity taste to it and is the reason why I enjoyed it so much. Blueberries stood out the most out of all the fruits.

Name: Simply Naked

Variety: Unoaked Red Blend 
Region: California
Country: United States
Price: $8.95

Year: 2010
Winery Review: "Simply Naked Undressed Red is fresh, yet balanced by silky tannins and a rich texture. Raspberry jam, plum, and cherry fruits caress the entire palate, leaving a long lasting finish."

My Review: I smelled aromas of raspberry. The flavor of the wine felt like that of ham and cherry. The finish packed some heat to it.

Name: Simply Naked

Variety: Unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon 
Region: California
Country: United States
Price: $7.95

Year: 2010
Winery Review: "Simply Naked Cabernet Sauvignon has plum, black cherry and cinnamon spice with chewy tannins that don't weigh down the wine. Medium-full bodied."

My Review:I did not get much taste from this wine other than that it is red. The finish also packed some heat to it. I would agree that it was a medium-full body. 

Wine Tasting (Week 3)

Name: Angove Zibibbo
Variety: Sparkling Moscato
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Price: $15.00
Winery Review: "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 sparkling dessert wine."

My Review: This was my favorite out of the five wines I tasted. It felt like I was drinking a dessert with the taste of honey and its creaminess. I could also smell the honey when I painted the glass.

Name: Norton
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina 
Price: $12.00

Year: 2012
Winery Review: "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 sparkling dessert wine."

My Review: From swirling and smelling the wine I could immediately smell tropical flavors. When tasting the wine the citrus part of the wine took over and it was hard to taste anything. 

Name: Fetzer
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina 
Price: $7.95

Year: 2011
Winery Review: "Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it’s juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish."

My Review: The first thing I noticed was how loud the color of the wine was in my glass. It was a cherry red and indeed tasted like cheery. I could still taste the cherries long after I swallowed it. 

Name: Tres Ojos
Variety: Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain 
Price: $6.95

Year: 2011
Winery Review: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée 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 weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!"

My Review: I could very easily see through the wine. When tasting the wine it was very hard to get a good sense of what the wine contained because of how dry it was. 

Name: The Royal
Variety: Old Vines Chenin Blanc
Region: South Africa
Country: South Africa 
Price: $7.95

Year: 2012
Winery Review: "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-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months."

My Review: Upon smelling the wine I did not get much except a hint of flowers. However once I tasted the wine I was able to pick up lots of honey, melon, and peers. It had a distinct fruity taste making it a very pleasurable wine. 

Wine Tasting (Week 2)

This is my first wine tasting ever. It is still difficult for me to really taste the flavors and not just feel like I'm tasting red or white wine.

Name: Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg
Variety: Sylvaner
Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany
Year: 2010
Price: $18.00
Winery Review: “The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen. It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile. The finish is zippy and refreshing. Perfect for party on the deck as it comes in a liter bottle!”
My Review: I first noticed how big the bottle was...awesome! This wine definitely had a fruity taste to it as I could taste a hint of lemon. It went                                                                                       down very smooth compared to the other wines I                                                                                       tasted.

Name: Montebuena
Variety: Red Wine
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95
Winery Review: “The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen. It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile. The finish is zippy and refreshing. Perfect for party on the deck as it comes in a liter bottle!”
My Review: I liked this wine the least out of them all. To me it was very dry and had too much of a kick to it. I was able to taste a hint of lemon                                                                                       but not much other than that.

Name: Cortenova
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Venezle
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Winery 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 finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif."
My Review: This is an Old World wine. I think I would of enjoyed this wine much more with claim spaghetti. To my surprise I could taste the almonds. The wine was extremely refreshing especially since I normally am not a pinot grigio                                                                                       fan.

Name: Delaroche
Variety: Red Wine
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
Winery Review: “This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée 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 weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" 
My Review: I believe looking at the label automatically made me think that the wine looked expensive. Although the wine was very smooth, I didn't taste anything from this bottle. I could only taste red wine.

Name: Maipe
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: “Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body.  Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well." 
My Review: Naturally this wine had the most fruity flavor at of them all. Is was not dry. It tasted                                                                                     like carbonated apple juice with alcohol in it.
                                                                                    I would of loved to try this salami and cheese.