Wine Tasting (Week 13)

Name: Yealands Estate
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Seaview Vineyard
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: "This aromatic wine shows lifted flavours of blackcurrant with underlying notes of wet stone and thyme. The palate is elegant yet full with sufficient weight and texture, balanced by a flinty minerality. This wine is a fantastic match with foods such as cheese salad, poultry dishes and a wide range of seafood dishes including freshly shucked natural oysters, prawns, green lip mussels and creamy scallops."
My Review: This wine had a distinct smell of vegetables and salted nuts. The taste did not reflect this however and had a small dark fruit taste on my pallet.

Name: Angrove
Variety: Viognier
Region: Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95
Winery Review: "Bright light straw in colour with some green hues, this wine has a lush ripe tropical fruit aroma. This is a fuller bodied white which fills the mouth with heady flavours of apricot, peach and citrus.  Angove Nine Vines Viognier is perfect for today's relaxed life-style and is the ideal accompaniment to grilled prawns with chilli and garlic or roast pork."

My Review: This was my first tasting of viognier and I was not impressed. The wine was clear as water and it tasted just like water, nothing. The wine had a little fruit on the nose. It packed a lot of heat on the finish. 

Name:  Ironstone 
Variety: Old Vine Zinfandel
Region: Lodi
Country: California
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: "Grown in vineyards that are over 45 years old, this medium-bodied Zin has exceptional varietal character with lovely aromas of dark fruit and blackberry. Subtle pepper spice mingles with richly concentrated fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plums and fresh red raspberries. Barrel aging created its smooth, silky finish and unprecedented depth.  A wonderful wine pairing for variety of dishes. Any type of meat - whether its pork, beef or game - is ideal with this wine. Cioppino is another amazing complement or try it with tomato-based pastas, hearty stews or a plate of strong, aged cheeses."

My Review: It is important to know I am not a big fan of zinfandel in the first place. This wine had a very interesting new store smell to it. This wine had really nothing for a taste component but it was a dry wine. 

Name: Rosemount Estate
Variety: Moscato
Region: Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $3.95
Winery Review: "Clear, medium-lemon yellow in appearance; lovely citrus and honeysuckle aromas with lemon, honeysuckle, apple and ripe yellow plum flavours. Serve chilled with angel food cake or fresh fruit and mild cheeses."
My Review: This wine was very clear and had a sugar smell on the nose. On the pallet this wine had a big lemon component to it and was a little citrusy. 

Name: Librandi Ciro
Variety: Rosso Classico
Region: Italy
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: "Don’t let the pale garnet color fool you:  this is a substantial wine.  Aromas of red fruits and spice complement undertones of cranberries, wild berries, and plums.  On the palate, ripe tannins and good body make for an incredibly rich, yet easygoing red wine.  Pair this wine with sausage, spicy curry sauces, hot soppressata, and tandoori chicken."
My Review: This wine had a big fruit and chocolate component to the nose. However the wine was very dry and did not have much taste to me.