Vintage Cellar Tasting

January 30, 2012

 George Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2011

 

Variety: Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $3.95 (on sale)

 

Critic Review: This is a light bodied red wine. It pairs well with turkey or ham. Exceptionally pruny, with a thin body.

 

My Review: I thought this wine tasted somewhat bitter, and was not sweet enough for my liking. It was probably my least favorite red wine I tried. I did not try this wine with food. 

 Robert Mondavi Solaire Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95 (on sale)

 

Critic Review: On the nose, lovely rose petal, violet, and red cherry aromas mingle with complementary scents of smoky vanilla and nutmeg. Very soft and round with good length and richness on the palate, the wine displays supple, silky berry and cherry jam flavors. 

 

My Review: This wine tasted full bodied and was much less bitter tasting with a tad sweeter flavors. I tasted some cherry and vanilla flavor. It went down very smooth. I did not try this wine with food.

Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Region: Marlborough

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2008

Price: $9.95 (on sale)

 

Winemaker Review: A pure and delicate bouquet of ripe citrus-lime and spring blossom aromas. The palate is beautifully balanced with intense flavours, lovely juicy length and a zest lime finish. Great on its own or with light fresh food.

 

My Review: This wine was sweet, sugary, and super yummy! However, it also had a savory side to it and was more complex than a simple Riesling. It was definitely an interesting wine to sample. I did not try it with food. 

 

 Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc 2009

 

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: N/A

Country: USA

Year: 2009

Price: $9.95 (on sale)

 

Wine Enthusiast Magazine Review: Wine was weighty and smooth, with apple and floral notes and then an almosty buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors. Oddly, it’s a soft, ripe wine that’s fading and not showing much Sauvignon Blanc typicity.

 

My Review: This wine tasted very smooth, and I also tasted a berry flavor in this wine. It definitely had a fruity and sweet aftertaste as well. I enjoyed this wine. I did not have it with food.  

 

 

 Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose

 

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Columbia Valley

Country: USA

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95 (on sale)

 

Wine Critic Review: A crisp wine with rose bud and watermelon aromatics. This dry Rosé has bright flavors of strawberry, melon with balanced acidity and lingering raspberry notes on the finish.

My Review: This was my favorite wine of the day. It was sweet to the taste right away, and also had a smooth, sweet aftertaste. I loved it! I tried this wine without food, but I think it would be fantastic with some light appetizers.

 

 

Vintage Cellar Tasting-- January 21st

Vintage Cellar Tastings 

Saturday January 21, 2012

 

Alta Luna Phases 

Variety: Teroldego, Lagrein, and Merlot

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $9.95

 

Vintage Cellar Review: 

40% Teroldego, 30% Lagrein, 30% Merlot aged in small oak barrels for 12 months, then further refined in bottle before release. Deep ruby red Dark cherry, plum and blackberry aromas combine with intriguing spicy notes. Rich, concentrated dark fruit character against powerful yet silky tannins and bright acidity. Excellent structure, with a distinctive freshness to the fruit that creates and elegant profile.

 

My Review: 

Such a tasty wine! A great priced wine as well. I usually am not crazy about red wine, but this one was very good. It was very rich, but had a smooth finish. I tried it without food, but I would love to pair it with a meal, maybe a yummy steak or Italian chicken recipe. 

 

 

 

RN 13 Vin de Plaque Organic White

Variety: Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Langeudoc-Roussillon

Country: France

Year: 2009/2010

 

Vintage Cellar Description:  

A really good fun, sociable white. Very easy-going. This is a blend of Viognier (40%), Chenin Blanc (35%) and Sauvignon Blanc (25%). The palate is a blend of apples, pears and peaches with refreshing acidity and a hint of lemon. Great balance and perfect example of an easy drinking white to serve chilled as an apéritif or with tapas.

 

My Review:

I am a big fan of Sauvignon Blanc, so this was a fun wine for me to try. I definitely prefer white wines to red. I enjoyed the fruity flavor of this wine. However, I would have liked it a tad sweeter, it was a bit tart for me.  Regardless, I still think this would be a great wine to have for cocktails, or with appetizers like the Vintage Cellar suggested. I tried it without food.

 

 

                                                   Candoni Pinot Grigio

 

 

 

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Friuli

Country: Italy

Year: Fresh, Not Vintage

Price: $10.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Medium-bodied, well-structured and sophisticated. It has a rich, pear-like nose, followed by a crisp acidity and a delicious mouth feel. A delicious accompaniment to fish, seasonal pasta dishes or chicken. It can also stand alone as an aperitif on a hot summer day.

My Review: 

This was another tasty white wine, and another of my favorite kinds, Pinot Grigio. I loved the design on the bottle, so cool! The actual wine was sweet and went down very well. It was fruity and not too bitter. I tried this wine without food. 

                                                             Crios Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $14.95

Vintage Cellar Review:

Previous vintage, 90 points, Robert Parker 5% Bonarda in its blend. It spent 9 months in 50% new French and American oak. Notes of balsam wood, smoke, black cherry and spice box lead to a similarly styled wine that comes off as just a bit too lean. Again, the flavors are pleasant, but should be drunk over the next several year while it retains its fruits.

My Review:

This wine was a red, but tasted a little sweeter than most red wines. That is probably why I liked it more than I usually like reds. I could taste spices and it seemed a bit smoky to me. However, it was a little higher priced than I would like to spend so I probably wouldn't buy a bottle. I tried this wine without food. 

 

 

                                    Four Bears Cabernet 

 

 

 

Variety: Cabernet

Region: Napa Valley

Country: US

Year: 2010 

 

Vintage Cellar Description: 

2010 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is ruby in color and displays aromas of lavender, cedar and raspberry fruit. Flavors of blackberries and raspberries combined with hints of savory spices coat the palate. The soft tannins and sweet oak balance lead to a long and lingering finish.

 

My Review:

This was my favorite red wine I tasted. It was fruity with rich berry flavors, and tasted very smooth. I tried this without food, but definitely think it would be amazing with a meal.