Week 9 Wine Tasting

Another week, another wine (or 5...)

Wine #1: San Elias

San Elias, Carmenere, Chile, 2010, $5.95

Smell: Woody and spicy, kind of like cedar shakes on a beach house, or cigarette ashes, but not in quite as disgusting a way as that sounds.

Taste: Very smooth, then dry and a bit tart, then the peppery spiciness comes in, and then woody. Not woody in a creamy toasty way, but in a tree bark or freshly cut pine sort of way.

Established Review: "Beautiful red fruit aromas. Supple and round in the mouth, the wine pairs well with full flavored cheeses and lamb." Vintage Cellar

Wine #2: Col Des Vents

Col Des Vents, Blend (Carignan, Grenache, Syrah), Corbieres, France, 2009, $7.95

Smell: Sweet, plum/prune, blackberry

Taste: Very light, then dry. Spicy with a hot finish. Didn't get a whole lot of flavor at the beginning

Established Review: "Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper…all are present in this authentic French country wine." Vintage Cellar

Wine #3: Peter Mertes

Peter Mertes, Liebfraumilch (Muller-thurgau grapes), Germany, 2009, $5.95

Smell: Sweet, dates and apples

Taste: Crisp, fresh, sweet, honey, and apple. Very yummy!

Established Review: "Leibfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts. The original wine was named after the Leibfraumilch monastery in Worms, where the monks were the first wine growers and produced an unusually pleasing wine. Wines of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate are noted for their aroma, well balanced harmony, and fragrance." Vintage Cellar

Wine #4: Peter Mertes Platinum

Peter Mertes, Riesling, Germany, 2010, $6.95

Smell: Light, a little citrus, and some apple

Taste: Crisp, tart apple, smooth, with a little tang at the end. Ended up getting this wine when the one above was sold out. Pretty good, less sweet (although still a pretty sweet wine) than the Liebfraumilch

Established Review: "A sweeter wine with a little more body, but still has just enough acidity to create a perfectly balanced wine." vinopedia.com

Wine #5: Three Rivers Winery

Three Rivers Winery, Merlot, Walla Walla, Washington, 2006, $8.00

Smell: Cherry, a little light wood, like pine

Taste: Tart, black cherry. Some spice, a little heat, then dry and tannic

Established Review: "Smooth and round, with a nice minty aura to the black cherry and dried currant flavors, persisting on the lively finish." wespeakwine.com