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

Week 8 Wine Tasting

More time, more wine, so let's get to it!

Wine #1: Torrent Bay

Torrent Bay, Chardonnay, Nelson, New Zealand, 2009, $6.95

Smell: Beer and cheese, a hint of stinky feet, and pre-packaged lunchmeat. For me, not the most appealing smell in terms of something to drink...or at all, for that matter.

Taste: Tart and then a little cheesy. At the very end, it was a very little bit smokey. Overall, not my cup of tea.

Established Review: "Fleshy, melony aromas cuddle some fresh oak. The palate has decent acidity so there’s freshness along with weight, resiny oak flavors, lemon and green apple." Vintage Cellar (side note: clearly, I'm getting some different smells and flavors!)

Wine #2: Lost Vineyards

Lost Vineyards, Vinho de Mesa Tinto, Portugal, no vintage, $3.95

Smell: Cranberry juice cocktail, raspberry, strawberry, and a bit of pepper

Taste: VERY peppery, a little woody. Not really getting much of the fruit that I smelled

Established Review: "Pours a light garnet color with a nice crisp zest, with aromas of cranberries and orange peel on the nose. Drinks smooth with a briary of mild cherries, wild strawberries and raspberries along with a note of rhubarb. Pairs particularly well with wild game and heavy fish such as salmon." Vintage Cellar

Wine #3: Ebano

Ebano, Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2007, $7.95

Smell: Definitely smell the alcohol, but after that, a little plum

Taste: Light and tart. Bitter towards the back of my mouth. Pretty dry.

Established Review: "The 2007 Ebano 6 is 100% Tempranillo aged 4 months in French oak. Dark ruby red in color, it displays a pleasant bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium- to full bodied on the palate with savory flavors and plenty of spice, this racy, vibrant Tempranillo has enough structure to drink well over the next 5-6 years and is a very good value." Robert Parker via Vintage Cellar

Wine #4: Zonin

Zonin, Pinot Grigio, Italy, 2009, $5.95

Smell: Honeysuckle, pear, and apple

Taste: Tart apple, creamy and a hint of toast at the end. Very delicious! Plus, at that price for that size bottle, it would have had to have been pretty sub-par for me to not get it!

Established Review: "Delicately fruity bouquet, with outstanding finesse and marked hints of almond blossom and peaches. Elegant, soft and well structured fruit on the palate, with remarkable freshness and a clean, persistent aftertaste." Vintage Cellar

Wine #5: Estrella

Estrella, Chardonnay, Napa, California, 2010, $5.95

Smell: Pear, fruity, peach, and floral

Taste: Tart at the beginning, then very oaky and buttery. I can definitely see the difference between the oaked California Chardonnay and the "naked" Chardonnay. I don't know that I have a strong preference for one over another, I suppose it would depend on the situation. Overall, though, I liked this one!

Established Review: "Intensely flavored and balanced with layers of vanilla, butter and pear, followed by apple, banana and oak." Vintage Cellar

Week 7 Wine Tasting

I think, or rather hope, that I'm getting better at tasting wine. I feel like I'm better able to detect different flavors and nuances, even if they're not what everyone else smells/tastes. What I'm most excited about, though, is that I'm now enjoying wine in a new way. Hopefully I can continue to improve my palate! Alrighty, on to the wines!

Wine #1: Resonata

Resonata, Nero D'Avola, Sicily, Italy, 2010, $6.95

Smell: Some dark fruit at the beginning, like plums and cherries, and then an oakiness (is that a word? We'll pretend that it is)

Taste: Buttery, oaky, toast, but tart at the same time. There was some heat at the end. I like parts of this, but not others, so I'm not sure what I feel about it.

Established Review: "Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background." Vintage Cellar

Wine #2: Don Ramon

Don Ramon, Tinto (75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo), Spain, 2008, $7.95

Smell: Very fruity, but light. I got cherry and blackberry.

Taste: It was initially very sweet, then tart, and then hot. Somewhere in there I tasted cranberry.

Established Review: "Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity." Vintage Cellar




Wine #3: Heinz Eifel

Heinz Eifel "Shine", Riesling, Germany, 2010, $8.95

Smell: There was a mineral smell to it, kind of like a rock, maybe one with some moss on it. And there was a hint of raspberry.

Taste: Still mineral, but also tangy. It was sweet at first, like peaches and cranberries.

Established Review: "Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors. Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance." Vintage Cellar




Wine #4: Muscanti

Muscanti Brut, Muscanti, Girona, Spain, no vintage, $7.95

Smell: Lemon and apple, and I thought I got a small hint of banana, but I couldn't find the smell again when I tried

Taste: Very crisp, lemon and sour apple, and a bit bubbly

Established Review: "Lemon blossoms, green apple, toast and honeydew melon are front and center in this crisp refreshing Spanish Sparkler. Silky supple with lingering flavors, yet a tingle of citric acid on the finish." Vintage Cellar

Wine #5: Spanish Vines

Spanish Vines, Sauvignon Blanc, Spain, 2009, $4.95

Smell: Sweetness, some banana, and grass. The alcohol-y smell was also apparent

Taste: Light with some grapefruit and minerality. Very smooth, creamy finish

Established Review: "Apple and floral notes and then an almost buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors." Wine Enthusiast via Vintage Cellar

Week 6 Wine Tasting

For whatever reason, I'm not in a super blog-y mood right now, so this post will probably be even more boring than usual. Sorry to the TA who has to read this! Well, here goes...

Wine #1: Coreto

Coreto, Tinto, Lisboa Region, Portugal, 2008, $6.95

Smell: Black cherry, plum, brandy, and the fruit in fruit cakes, whatever that is called.

Taste: Some cherry, some plum, and it was a little bitter for my taste.

Established Review: "This red from the Coreto range has loads of dark berry fruit with a hint of new oak creating a soft, velvet structure that makes it very

easy to drink. Red currant and juicy acidity." Vintage Cellar

Wine #2: Charles Thomas

Charles Thomas, Cotes-du-Rhone, Rhone, France, 2009, $8.95

Smell: Lighter than I was anticipating based on the color and reputation of a Cotes-du-Rhone. I smelled some caramel and strawberry.

Taste: Soft but very dry and tannic. A little pepper-y at the end.

Established Review: "A blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. Well made, with loads of berry fruit and a heady, meaty, peppery nose with a hint of Provencal herbs, the wine is fresh, lively, and best drunk over the next 2 years." Wine Advocate

Wine #3: Lost Vineyards

Lost Vineyards, Spumante, Italy, no vintage, $4.95

Smell: Peaches, melon, and jasmine

Taste: Very bubbly and light, zingy, not as syrup-y sweet as I imagined, though still sweet. Green apple flavors, very delicious!

Established Review: "Pale silvery straw color. Floral aromas of apples, peaches, and potpourri follow through on a round, frothy entry to a fruity medium bodied sweet wine with good depth and tangy peach fruit and a breezy, harmonious green apple kissed finish." Vintage Cellar

Wine #4: Santola

Santola, Vinho Verde, Portugal, 2009, $7.95

Smell: Pear and lemongrass. Interesting combination.

Taste: Very light, a little grapefruit and other citrus.

Established Review: "Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh." Vintage Cellar

Wine #5: Protocolo

Protocolo, Blanc, Spain, 2010, $6.95

Smell: Sweeter, lemon-y scent. I got a hint of what I thought was watermelon at one point in time, but I wasn't able to get it again. Does this work like science? Is it only valid if it's repeatable?

Taste: Stronger and more tart than I was anticipating based on the scent. Also tasted a tiny bit grassy.

Established Review: "Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon." Stephan Tanzer

Week 5 Wine Tasting

Alright, more time, more wine! This week is a little different, because all of the wines weren't tasted at the same place or time, so it's a little more varied. Let's see what, if anything, I learned this week!

Wine #1: Sivas Sonoma

Sivas-Sonoma, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, California, 2009, $14.95

Smell: It was a little fruity, but in a heavier way. It was like if those little candied fruits you get in a fruit cake were heated on a stove and reduced. It had a concentrated smell.

Taste: I was excited, because I could actually taste a whole bunch of different things in this wine! Some of them were more distinct than others, but there were definitely a lot of flavors. It was buttery but still fruity and sweet. There was a hint of chocolate and then a spicy, peppery finish. Granted, this could be a lot of nonsense, especially compared to the actual review, but that's what I got from it.

Established Review: "Fruit driven, with a nice combination of blackberry, red currant, and a background of dark chocolate and cocoa...On the palate, dark chocolate-covered cherry flavors meet hints of mocha, and the dark fruit profile carries all the way through the lively mid-palate...the mixture of French and American oak aging lends light touches of vanilla and cinnamon to this wine's background complexity." Vintage Cellar

Wine #2: Innocent Bystander

Innocent Bystander, Moscato, Victoria, Australia, 2011, $15.95

Smell: Very fruity, melon scent. Also, a bit floral, like jasmine or roses.

Taste: Strong green apple flavor. It's bright with a tang, and sweet, but not too sweet. Pink and bubbly(but still smooth,) light and fun, it says party to me!

Established Review: "Scents of rose and fresh wild strawberries lend this pink, slightly fizzy wine its brisk perfume. Lightly sweet, it is balanced by chalk-like minerality." Wine & Spirits via wine.com

Wine #3: Bella Sera

Bella Sera, Merlot, Sicily, Italy, 2009, $10

Smell: It's a bit buttery/creamy, but still fruity. It has some plum, cherry, and a hint of strawberry. Nothing too harsh, very nice.

Taste: It had a warm taste, if that makes any sense. It wasn't an alcoholic burn, just a warm feel/flavor. It had a tart, cherry flavor, and it was very smooth and velvety. I had this with a dinner of steak and potatoes, and the wine and food went very well together.

Established Review: "The wine delivers ripe red and black fruit flavor, delivering a rich mouthfeel and sweet tannins with a lingering fruit finish." Marketview Liquor via Snooth.com

Wine #4: Cantina Villafranca

Cantina Villafranca, Malvasia and Trebbiano, Frascati, Italy, 2010, $7.95

Smell: Citrus-y smell, very light.

Taste: Buttery and smooth. I think I got a hint of cheese, but that seems odd, so I'm not sure about that...

Established Review: "Intense yellow color with greenish reflections. Characteristic persistent fresh and fruity aromas." Winemaker's notes

Wine #5: Morro Bay White Oaks Estates

Morro Bay White Oak Estates, Chardonnay, California, 2009, $5.95

Smell: It smelled heavily of raisins, with a little bit of oak and spice. Almost like toast made from raisin bread.

Taste: This one tasted very oak-y to me, and was tangy at the end. Not really sure how I feel about this. I will have to try more wines with different levels of oak to see what I can deal with and what I can't.

Established Review: "Vanilla cream soda nose with a slice of fresh cut pineapple. Full body, tropical fruit, spice and pleasing vanilla oak note linger in the finish. Sweet flavor on the palate is from sur-lie aging the wine on the primary yeast lees for 7months." Vintage Cellar

Week 4 Wine Tasting

Alrighty, week #4! Once again, we decided to go to the Vintage Cellar for a tasting, and once again, we walked away with more wine but less money. (Though with the awesome prices, I think the wine gained outweighed the money lost!) So to begin, we have...


Wine #1: Leese-Fitch

Leese-Fitch, Sauvignon Blanc, California, 2010, $10.95

Smell: Light, dry, and fresh. Kind of reminds me of a riverbed. In a good, refreshing, earthy, clean way, though. Not a fish poop and mud kind of way.

Taste: Clean and tart, slightly acidic.

Established Review: "Dry, crisply acidic and clean, with complex citrus, flower and mineral flavors." Wine Enthusiast

Wine #2: Allamand

Allamand, Saint Jeannet, Mendoza, Argentina, 2011, $11.95

Smell: Light, with a hint of freshly cut grass.

Taste: Very smooth, very light. I also thought I tasted a slightly bread-y flavor, but that seemed rather odd, so I kind of second guessed myself. But, I suppose it doesn't hurt to add to the wine blog.

Established Review: "Made very naturally from organically farmed grapes with almost nothing added later, wild yeast fermentation and no oak." Vintage Cellar

Wine #3: Frisk

Frisk, Riesling, Alpine Valley, Australia, 2011, $11.95

Smell: Light, floral, honeysuckle, and jasmine. Smells delicious!!!

Taste: Floral and slightly sweet, but also tart and with a little kick. Also, a few bubbles in there! Very tasty and fun. One of these guys definitely made his way home with me!

Established Review: "A pleasing level of prickly spritz lifting the ample fruity flavors...loads of tropical fruit and jasmine aromas, off-dry fruity flavors...and a sweet/tart finish." Vintage Cellar

Wine #4: Cuilleras

Cuilleras, Grenache, Rhone Valley, France, 2010, $11.95

Smell: Plum hit me first, but then other fruits, specifically berries, came through.

Taste: Light at first, then very peppery. It had a smokey aftertaste.

Established Review: "A wine with great lively acidity which gives it great freshness. You'll taste lots of black cherry and currant fruit with some notes of licorice and minerals." Vintage Cellar


Wine #5: Antano

Antano, Crianza, Rioja, Spain, 2008, $8.95

Smell: This smell surprised me, because usually with red wines, I have a difficult time smelling anything floral, but that was the first smell that hit me. It was also a little fruity. It smelled warm, if that it possible.

Taste: There was some spice and it was a bit peppery, with just a little heat. There was also something tart, like a black cherry.

Established Review: "Loads of fresh, spicy black cherry and hints of vanilla and toast combine with fresh acidity in a medium-bodied, textbook crianza that is perfect for a nicely balanced, delicious house red." Vintage Cellar

I think I'm slowly developing my palate. It will probably take a lifetime of improvements, but I feel like I can already taste, smell, and talk about wine in a more intelligent way. Although, I may have taken a step back with the first description of the day by including the words "fish poop"...oh well, it's a learning process!

Week 3 Wine Tasting

Ok, so an actual week has passed, but this is the third week of wine tasting, so I'm going with it! This time, instead of doing an at home tasting, we decided to go to an actual tasting and let people pick wines out for us. It will be interesting to see how our wine choosing abilities change throughout this course! Now, to the reviewing...


Wine #1: The Royal

The Royal, Chenin Blanc, South Africa, 2009, $4.95

Smell: Sweet, light, and a little bit of fruit, possibly apple

Taste: This wine is very light, crisp, and a little tart. There is an citrus/acidic taste, but then a sweet finish

Established Review: "Packed with upfront melon fruit, the nose charms with an abundance of guava and gooseberries as well as the signature hint of honey. The palate follows through with fruit flavors balanced by a crisp acid to ensure a fresh and fruity style of wine." Kysela.com

Wine #2: Coldstream Hills

Coldstream Hills, Sauvignon Blanc, Yarra Valley, Australia, 2009, $7.95

Smell: At first, I couldn't put my finger on the scent, but it was very familiar. It wasn't until someone said "grapefruit" that I realized they were right. The grapefruit hit me right away, but there was also a little musty, earthy smell.

Taste: This had a very light taste, even lighter than the Royal wine from earlier. It was tangy and zesty. I suppose the best way to describe it would be light, but with a kick.

Established Review: "The nose shows fragrant gooseberry characters with underlying passionfruit and lychee aromas. Minerally, stalky notes are evident and provide additional complexity. The palate is a fine and elegant style with zesty lemon acidity and length. Varietal characters of passionfruit pulp and gooseberry dominate with hints of lemon peel in the background." Vintage Cellar

Wine #3: Marques de Moral

Marques de Moral, Crianza & Tempranillo, Valdepenas, Spain, 2007, $7.95

Smell: Very sweet, definite caramel scent (for me, at least)

Taste: This wine was also light. It had either a cranberry or cherry taste, though I couldn't decide which. Maybe both? It was tart, anyhow. There was a little bit of heat, and it ended with a peppery taste. I was definitely thrown off, because the smell and taste were so different.

Established Review: "Medium red. Aromas of redcurrant and cherry, plus a hint of dried rose. Fleshy and smooth, with moderate depth to its slightly bitter red fruit flavors. Finishes with decent breadth and grip, with the redcurrant element joined by a hint of white pepper." Stephen Tanzer via Kysela.com


Wine #4: Le Lapin

Le Lapin, Multiplicity, Paso Robles, California, no vintage, $6.95

Smell: Sweet with plum and some sort of berry, though I can't put my finger on specifically which ones, and a hint of spice

Taste: Flavorful but not too harsh. Spice and a little woody. I'm surprised to say that I really enjoy this wine. I never thought I would enjoy a beverage that tasted like wood.

Established Review: "The nose is black cherry, blackberry, a little plum and some spice, with a touch of forest floor. The palate is full of fruit and spice, with flavors of black cherry and a slight cranberry note. Nice firm tannins and a medium finish." Vintage Cellar

Wine #5: Opera Prima

 Opera Prima, Moscato, Spain, no vintage, $5.95

Smell: Honeysuckle, light melon, and something floral (I think jasmine, but I can't be sure)

Taste: This one was sparkling, which automatically makes it more fun! Bright, citrus-y, melon, and very sweet. Floral aftertaste (again, probably jasmine, but possibly a little rose too.) This wine had by far some of the easiest scents and flavors to detect. They were very distinct, yet still blended well together. A couple of bottles of this may have come home with me...

Established Review: "Its bright fruit aromas of lychee and lime are apealing and the flavors of honeydew, lime, and lychee are delightful." Vintage Cellar

What I have noticed so far is that I am smelling and tasting things that are not in the wine review. I'm not sure whether this is because things taste and smell differently to different people, or my inexperienced nose and palate are mislabeling things. I suppose it could be a combination of both. Well, even if I'm wrong, at least I'm having fun doing it! Plus, who can say they're right about everything after a couple of drinks?!