Saturday, January 31, 2015

Tasting - Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo

Name: Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Valdepenas
Country: Spain
Year: 2004
Price: $13.95

Winery Review: Anciano wines are matured for years in cellars stacked floor to ceiling with oak barrels. This slow, controlled maturation guarantees the perfect balance between ripe fruit and mellow oak character. Great things come with age!

My Review: This was sharp on the nose. I could really feel the affect of the alcohol from this on the nose. It was very dry and had a tart finish to it. The oak came out on the palate with a finish of fruit.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Picket Fence Russian River Pinot Noir

Name: Picket Fence Russian River Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Sonoma County
Country: Russia
Year: 2012
Price: $16.95

Winery Review: Aromas of brandy-macerated red cherries, bay laurel, duck fat, forest floor, toasty baking spices and warm vanilla. The chewy red and black fruits come through in the mouth with layers of fine tannins and just a whisper of smoldering French oak. A delicious finish ends this wine on a lush note of creme brulee topped with plum compote.

My Review: I found this to bold and very sharp. I detected the dark berries.  A nice balance of tannins with oak. Finished strong on the palate. Not one of my favorites but also not bad.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Picket Fence Russian River Chardonnay

Name: Picket Fence Russian River Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Sonoma County
Country: Russia
Year: 2013
Price: $14.95

Winery Review: Picket Fence Chardonnay is classic Russian River. Citrus blossom, hints of ripe stone fruit, creme brulee, and a bright balanced acidity. Lightly toasted french oak enhances the structure and spice, coalescing into a round juicy wine with an attractive lingering finish.

My Review: I enjoyed this chardonnay. It had a rounded taste that I found a little sweet but not very. I also tasted a bit of vanilla. The oak also came out in it as well.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Manfred Breit Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese

Name: Manfred Breit Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese
Variety: Riesling
Region: Mosel
Country: Germany
Year: 2012
Price: $18.95

Winery's Review: The late harvested Spatlese wines are medium bodied but still very flowery, with good aging potential. This Goldtropfchen Spatlese is very fresh with a nice tropical fruit flavor balanced with the acidity. This wine has good potential for aging at least 8 years.

My Review: I found this wine to be very sweet. It tasted almost like candy. The tropical fruitiness did come out as well. I also smelled a bit of cheese which I did not expect and probably is not common among others. This wine was too sweet for me.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Casablanca
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: Energetic, precise lemon and pear qualities, with floral, herbal and mineral accents adding complexity.

My Review: This was not one of my favorites of the day. I could detect the herbal nose and was hit hard by that. The taste was very sharp and I felt overpowered by the herbal accents.

I did not try this with food.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Tasting - Les Petits Roucas Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Les Petits Roucas Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Vin de Pays, d'Oc
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $10.99

Winery Review: Pale yellow with green reflections, this expressive French Sauvignon has an intense nose of citrus and ripe peaches. A lively attack on the palate reveals a good balance between the fruit flavours and the crisp freshness.

My Review: This was a very refreshing and light wine! I detected a slight lemon and herbal taste to it. I really enjoyed this one. It would be great with a light, fresh meal and I would definitely drink this again.

I tried this without food. 

Tasting - Kris Heart Rosso

Name: Kris Heart Rosso
Variety: 60% Merlot, 20% Montepulciano, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Alpine north to Mediterranean South
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $10.99

Winery Review: Garnet in color with intense aromas of dense blackberries, spicy currants and leather. Ripe fruit flavors are balanced by lively acidity, making this an excellent wine to enjoy with food.

My Review: I really enjoyed this one, so much so that I bought it. I could really taste the berries in the wine and could see how it can pair well with many foods. A strong taste but not so strong that it is deterring.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Wine: The Life Experience


Growing up in my household there was always wine at the table. My dad worked in a Winery for quite some time when he was younger. Both my dad and mom enjoy wine and appreciate the wine making process. I would go to many wine tastings with my parents growing and got to see and listen to all of the notes about each wine they would taste. They loved it when I became old enough to drive so that I could drive them to multiple tastings in a day. They also would always have a glass of wine with dinner and would let me taste them occasionally. Now that I'm of age, I join them with a glass at dinner and maybe one before and after too. I've gotten to go to many different wineries with them and taste many different wines.

I've found dry reds to be my favorite. When I first started trying wines I liked whites more because they are easier to drink and not as bold as reds. I really enjoy Chardonnay or Chianti the most. When I went to Italy over winter break, I tried different Chiantis they had. We visited one winery that had their table Chianti, Chianti Classico, Chianti Reserve, and Chianti Selection. Each one was very good and are probably my favorite reds now. I have found Pinot Noir to be one of my least favorites and also anything very sweet I tend not to like either.

During this course I would love to learn about the backgrounds of every wine. I've learned a lot from my dad over the years but there is a still so much to learn. I'm also very interested in detecting the flavors in the wine. When I read the label on the bottle or someone tells me what to taste I can usually pick that out in the wine. However, I'd like to be able to do that on my own more and not rely on others. I'm looking forward to Geography of Wine, not only for the wine tastings, but for learning more about wine from a different source.