Wine Tasting - 5/3

Name: Sutter Home
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $7

Winery review: "A pure delight to drink, our Riesling wine exhibits floral fragrances, rich ripe melons, and summer peaches. Like a golden sunset, this wine will put you in the perfect mood at the end of the day. Take fresh scallops sautéed in butter, top with fresh herbs, and pour away."

My review: This is a wine that I just grabbed off the Kroger shelf because it sounded like my taste. I definitely like the sweetness of Rieslings and this wine had good floral and fruit components. However, it was still too hot for me. The acid and alcohol tastes were coming through just a little too much.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Yellow Tail
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Yenda
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $10

Winery review: "Rich tropical fruits with a creamy finish. This wine is soft yet fresh with balanced acidity and lingering melon flavors on the tongue."

My review: I also grabbed this off the shelf because of its description. I did not like this Australian Chardonnay. I usually prefer whites, but this was extremely acidic and overwhelmed any fruits that may have been present.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Yellow Tail
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Yenda
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $10

Winery review: "Blackberry, chocolate and luscious vanilla aromas. This full-bodied wine shows bold fruit flavors and mild spice."

My review: This is a wine my roommate bought. I normally do not like big reds. However, this Cabernet Sauvignon was balanced well and I could taste the berries. The tannins were still present, but not overbearing. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Chateau Morrisette
Variety: Blackberry Wine
Region: Meadows of Dan, VA
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $8.79

Winery review: "Winemakers at Château Morrisette just couldn’t leave well enough alone. Not content with only grapes, they have crafted a delicious new fruit wine from summer’s bounty of sun-ripened blackberries. One of life’s simple pleasures here in our little part of paradise. Sweet and smooth, our Blackberry Wine is packed with the vibrant fruitiness of succulent, sun drenched berries. This all-natural wine may contain a harmless sediment."

My review: This is another wine my roommate brought home. I have never tasted a wine not made from grapes. I really enjoyed the strong fruit flavors, but the alcohol level was too high for me.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Beliveau Estate Sunset Sipper Reserve
Variety: American Zinfandel
Region: Blacksburg, VA
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $24

Winery review: "Sunset Sipper is a fabulous, full body experience Zinfandel. From your head to your toes, there is enjoyment to be had from this wine! Sunset has a full nose with ripe dark berries and fig. The palate is complete, covering the whole mouth and throat with rich flavors, velvety texture, and a smooth finish. Even with 16.1 % alcohol, this wine is well balanced due to the presence of 4% residual sugar. It is a "sweet" wine that drinks as if it were dry! Perfect for beef, strong cheeses, tomato sauces, and sitting by the fireplace or watching the sun set."

My review: This is the last bottle my roommate picked out. It is one of the more expensive wines I have tried. I do like Zinfandel even though it is red. It had a high alcohol content, but it did not feel as hot as it said on the bottle. The sweetness factor was definitely present which I enjoy.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Family Wine Dinner

For my uncle's 71 and my grandmother's 92 birthdays, we went out to Frankie's Place for Ribs in Virginia Beach. I came home to surprise my grandmother for the weekend. As seen in the picture, I was joined by two of my aunts and uncles, my mother, and my grandmother from left to right. Since it is a "place for ribs', that is what most of my family ordered. However, I am not a fan of barbecue. I opted for a steak and potatoes with green beans.












They did not have a large selection of wines, but I wanted to try a Merlot. Their Columbia Crest was described as "a full bodied red wine with aromas of raspberry, cinnamon, blackberry and coconut, perfect with beef and pork." When I received the glass, I noticed the dark ruby color of the wine. It had a strong spicy finish that I was not a fan of. The initial flavor, however, was soft and fruity. It was also mostly dry.









As an appetizer, my uncle ordered an onion loaf, which was the first thing I tried. The wine did not pair well with the onion's spicy Catalina dressing - it made the spices even stronger. As the night went on, the wine began to open up and became less hot and more drinkable. When my meal came, I was able to taste the wine with the steak. It was a decent pairing, but the wine was still spicy and tarty. I tried one of my grandmother's ribs with the wine. This was the best pairing - it made the ribs sweeter.










As per tradition, we rapped up the dinner and headed home for birthday cake as desert. My uncles were intrigued by the fact that I am taking this wine class and tried to impose their favorites on me. On opened a bottle of his "favorite" wine - Riunite Lambrusco - he is mostly a beer drinker. I actually enjoyed this a lot as I do not yet enjoy the old world red tastes. This light and fruity red was easily drinkable and was sweet enough to go with the cake.













As always, I really enjoy eating out with my family. The night was very enjoyable and I am glad I came home to see my grandmother.

Palisades Dinner (Spanish) - 4/16/14

Wine Around the World with a Hop - Every Wednesday, the Palisades restaurant has a wine tasting dinner. This week, the theme was Spanish and Southwestern Mediterranean. I decided to take my brother and his girlfriend, who go to college in Salem, to Palisades for my birthday dinner. While they are still underage, I enjoyed the experience and had a couple of designated drivers. On the way, there were several times I thought we were lost. I had never been to Eggleston and the winding drive in the woods was not helping. When we finally found the restaurant, the sun was beginning to set and I was not expecting this small building in the middle of nowhere. To the left is a picture I took while walking in - my brother and his girlfriend (red sweatshirt) can be seen in the reflection!

We were amazed by the beauty of this restaurant. It was a hidden gem that was literally hidden in the boondocks. There were so many interesting artifacts decorating the walls. The checks were served in old mason jars and the atmosphere was nice. My brother's girlfriend loved their homemade iced tie with hints of honeysuckle - she even asked the waitress for the recipe. To the right, she snapped a photo of the centerpiece as I was reviewing the Wines Around the World menu. 









The following three pairings were presented (as shown from left to right): The first pairing was of Sea Scallop Carpaccio with White Burgandy and Terrapin Rye Pale Ale. In the middle, Goat Cheese Raviolo was paired with Rose and Pale Ale. Finally, Duck Sausage was served with Bonarda and Hobgoblin Dark Ale.

The first wine I tasted was the Domaine Vercheres Macon Village. This White Burgundy from France was described as "a flowery, fruity and flinty Chardonnay with a brilliant hue. It has a crisp, medium body and a clean, lean acidity. It is a perfect accompaniment to full flavored fish dishes and charcuterie or as an aperitif".  To me, the aroma was very hot and the alcohol was obvious. However, the taste did not have the same hotness. It did have some hints of fruit to the taste, but all and all not a very rememberable wine. It was paired with Sea Scallop Carpaccio Shaved Fennel and Sherry Gastrique. The scallops did not have much flavor even with the sauce, but I am not a big seafood person to begin with. They paired smoothly together, but neither were potent enough to excite me. The Terrapin Rye Pale Ale that was added was described as follows: "By using an exact amount of rye, a grain seldom found in other micro brewed beers, the Rye Pale Ale acquires its signature taste. Made with five varieties of hops and a generous amount of specialty malts, it offers a complex flavor and aroma that is both aggressive and well balanced - a rare find among beers." I am not a drinker, a least of all a beer drinker. However, I actually enjoyed this beer; it was the only drink I finished. It had a light beer taste, which is the only kind I can stomach. 





Next on the list was the Protocolo Rose from Spain described as "50% Tempranillo, 50% Bobal grown in La Tierra de Castilla in La Mancha in central Spain, this rosado is the easy drinking rose made by the talented Eguren family - famous for a number of estates. Tempranillo imparts the ripe fruit we love but it's the Bobal (incidentally among the grapes with the highest levels of resveratrol) that bears its fresh scents and juicy acids - yielding a rose with notes of raspberry, strawberry and citrus fruit all coming together into a fresh glass of wine." This was my favorite wine of the three. The aroma was very fruity and had a bit of a spicy tart taste. The Goat Cheese Raviolo with Crispy Lamb Bacon and Baby Peas, however, was my least favorite dish. I do not like goat cheese and this proved to be very strong in flavor. The wine did become a bit less tarty with the ravioli, but the dish was not any better. The Anderson Valley Summer Solstice Pale Ale was "slightly sweet, malty session beer with a creamy mouth feel and clean finish. With hints of caramel in the nose and a touch of spice, it's become affectionately known as cream soda for adults. The unique flavors and superior drinkability make for the ultimate refreshment on a hot summer day." This was my favorite of the three beers, close with the first. I had less alcohol smell and taste than the first. However, when paired with the Chicken Alfredo Pizza my brother order, it was not at all pleasing.






Lastly, the Ksana Bonarda was the only wine not from the Mediterranean  hailing from Argentina. "The bouquet is floral and lightly jammy, with berry aromas and a savory note or two. To the uninitiated, this is a great introduction to Bonarda. Finishes solid. Very sweet, berry smell with some rooty undertones. Kind of dry, makes your lips pucker." From this description, the wine seems like my cup of tea, but it was not. The smell and taste of dirt out shown the fruit flavors and I did not enjoy this red. The Cremini Mushroom with Tarragon Duck Sausage was the best plate. I really enjoyed the duck sausage, but the mushroom was too slimy. I really did not like the wine, so the pairing of these did nothing for me. The Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin Dark Ale was also my least favorite. This beer is said to be "traditionally craft brewed with chocolate and crystal malts and a blend of Styrian, Goldings & Fuggles hops to produce a full-bodied, Ruby beer that delivers a delicious chocolate toffee malt flavor, balanced with a rounded moderate bitterness and an overall fruity, mischievous character." I did not get any chocolate from this beer. It was much stronger than the others and the dark ale quality is not my thing.

Of all the options, I most enjoyed the Rose, Duck Sausage, and the pale ales. It would have been more enjoyable if I had brought some drinkers along with me, but we all enjoyed our evening. Even though I did not enjoy the majority of the dishes, I am always up to trying new things. I really enjoyed this visit and hope to return before I leave Blacksburg in May. 

Vintage Cellar Tasting 4/24/14

Name: Yealands Estate
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Seaview Vineyard
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2008
Price: $21

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: The dark color of the bottle masked this white color wine. The wine's aroma had some aspects of fruit with a mix of earthiness and dirt. This wine had a strong acid component and I could taste the mineral flavors. 

                                                                I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Angove
Variety: Viognier
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009 Vintage
Price: $15

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: The second white wine was a more colorful. This wine had a nice fruity smell that I enjoyed. I also enjoyed the tastes of pear and peaches. It was not too strong for my tastes.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Librandi Ciro
Variety: Rosso Classico
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $14

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: The color of this wine was a light ruby red. It had a fruity smell, but the smell and taste of spices wasn't pleasing to me. It had too much tannin component for my taste.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Ironstone
Variety: Old Vine Zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011 Vintage
Price: $15

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: This darker color wine had some fruit aromas that I couldn't recognize. Once again, the spices were present, which is not in my taste. I could taste the oak from the barrel and a tiny hint of plum.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Rosemount Estate
Variety: Moscato
Region: N/A
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $12

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: So far, all of the Moscatos I have tried suited my palate. This light, clear white wine smelled of oranges and lemons. I really enjoyed the apple flavors.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Vintage Cellar Tasting 4/17

Name: Frascati Volpetti
Variety: Malvasia, Trebbiano, Greco
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Straw yellow in color with a soft, delicate perfume, fruitful flavor, dry and harmonious taste. Perfect with appetizers, soups, fish.

My review: The color of this wine was a golden yellow color. I detected a hint of a fruit aroma. The wine was too tarty on the palate, but with nice floral hints.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Bricco dei Tati
Variety: Rose
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries and rose petals. This is ideal with shellfish, salads chicken, and with appetizers.

My review: This light pink wine had a more pleasant smell than the previous. There were obvious notes of cherries and it was not too tarty.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

 Name: Georges DuBoeuf
Variety: Beaujolais Nouveau
Region: N/A
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $14

Winery review: Balanced and lightly creamy, offering pretty flavors of plum sauce and raspberry coulis threaded with hints of ground spice. Elegant, with a floral finish. Drink now.

My review: This wine had a deep violet color and an aroma of plum and dirt. To the taste, there were hints of plum and floral elements. The tannins were also evident. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

 Name: Atlas Cumbres
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: N/A
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $15

Winery review: Intense red color with violet highlights, with clean, fresh and complex aromas of berries, plums, figs, and pepper. Strong personality is in perfect glances with a medium body and pleasant tannins. Ideal for: red meats, cheeses and strong sauces. 

My review: This wine was also violet but with more red color. It had a strong fig smell. This classic red flavor, in my mind, had components of berries.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine
Variety: Riesling
Region: N/A
Country: Germany
Year: 2013
Price: $9.95

Winery review: This drier-styled Riesling is bright, fruity and floral with crisp acidity and clean flavors of apple, pear and peach that compliment its stony minerality and earthy complexity. It serves well as an aperitif and matches a wide variety of foods, like lighter salad dishes, shellfish, cream sauces and also anything with a touch of spice.

My review: This was one of the best wines I have tasted. This chilled wine was almost white in color with a pear scent. It was very sweet with apple and pear flavors.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Vintage Cellar Tasting - 2/27/14

Name: Mas LLunes Maragda
Variety: Grenache Blanc
Region: Emporada
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95

Winery review: This Grenache Blanc is exquisitely sculpted with sharp acids and pinpointed minerals, and offers orange, melon and vanilla-honey flavors. A delight to drink, at a great price.

My review: The color of this wine was very white and had a very light floral aroma. It was a bit too acidic for my tastes, but I did enjoy the melon flavor.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Beltrame
Variety: 100% Tocai Friulano
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $9.95

Winery review: 100% Tocai Friulano Straw-coloured yellow with a pale green tint express an intense, delicately aromatic and floral bouquet. The flavor is dry, soft, slightly fruity, with slightly bitter nuance in its almond aftertaste, and suggestion of peach.

My review: This light colored wine did not have much to it in my opinion. It just tasted like juice. However, since I am not yet accustomed to alcohol it was easy to drink.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: Georges Duboeuf
Variety: Beajolais Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Wine Spectator - An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish.

My review: This bright magenta colored wine oddly had a distinct banana smell to it. I wasn't able to distinguish the fruit flavors present. It was too dry for my taste.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: CalNaturale 
Variety: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Viognier
Region: Paso Robles, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $10.95

Winery review: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish.

My review: This boxed wine was much darker than the previous and it had a rooty smell to it. I could taste some aspects of different herbs and it had a hot, spicy quality to it.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Name: First Light
Variety: Moscato
Region: N/A
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine.

My review: This wine was almost clear. The nose was not very pleasing with a bad musty smell. It was very carbonated, but the "grape" taste was rather nice and it was not very acidic.

I tasted this on its own with no food.