Tasting - Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône

Name: Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône

Varietal: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault

Region: Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this fullbodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.

My Review: This wine was spicy like the Tempranillo, but was balanced by cherry notes on the nose. The spiciness was also present in the first sip along with licorice, creating a heavy, full wine. I definitely want to try this wine with food, because I think it would be less overpowering with a meat to balance it out. 

Tasting - Lobetia Tempranillo

Name: Lobetia Tempranillo 

Varietal: Tempranillo

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 

Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.

My Review: The nose of this Tempranillo reminded me of a Shiraz I had last week - smoky and almost reminiscent of barbecue. Palate-wise, this wine reminded me of spicy cherries with a little bite at the end, but the alcohol didn't compete with the smokiness, it merely complimented it. 

Tasting - Lobetia Chardonnay

Name: Lobetia Chardonnay

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 

Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.

My Review: Definitely heavier and more floral on the nose than the first wine. My first thought was grass, not fruit. It was more acidic, very warm on the first sip, but lacked the cat-pee factor that's turned me off to most Chardonnay. 

Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Varietal: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: NV

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now.

My Review: Since I started getting more into wine, I've been drinking less and less white wine. However, this wine was probably my favorite of the tasting. The nose was particularly floral, but unlike many whites I've tried recently, it wasn't too acidic and was balanced by light honey suckle and pear flavors. 

Tasting - Entrada Malbec

Name: Entrada Malbec
Varietal: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95


Online Review (via Baltimore Magazine): For those nights you call a local chain for delivery, you'll want something that covers the basics without costing more than the pizza. Try a bottle of Entrada Malbec 2010 ($8, The Country Vintner) with its inviting cherry and black-plum flavors, bright, juicy acidity, and enough structure to handle sausage. Argentina produces a boatload of cheap Malbec—not all of it very good—but Entrada delivers a healthy dose of balanced flavors at a comforting price.


My review: Although the above review is for the 2010 Malbec, the 2011 tasted quite similar to the reviewer's opinion of the 2010. This wine was dark, almost purple in the glass, and smelled of dark fruits. On the first sip, it was definitely full-bodied, but the alcohol content and acidity were balanced by the fruit and a hint of spice. I drank this wine with a meal of mashed potatoes and fried chicken, and it was delicious. It would probably also go well with a heavier meat like steak. 

Tasting - Ksana Bonarda

Name: Ksana Bonarda

Varietal: Bonarda

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2008

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 

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.

My Review: I tasted the Bonarda right after the Shiraz, which was probably a terrible mistake. In comparison to the Shiraz, the Bonarda was almost bland. I could taste and smell cherry, but it was barely noticeable. Definitely dry. 

Concannon Shiraz

Name: Concannon Shiraz

Varietal: Shiraz

Region: Central Coast California

Country: United States

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 

This is an extremely rich, full-bodied wine with a dark fruit core. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark cherry are followed by more berry fruits and chocolate and mocha on the palate.

My Review: The first second I tasted this wine, I said, "Oh, what is this? It reminds me of something." I've had that sense with wine tasting before, but never so specifically as with this Shiraz. Finally, I put my finger on it: this wine tasted and smelled like meat. I felt like I was drinking a meal, a piece of roasted lamb with a dash of oregano. It was spicy, but not too spicy, well-balanced and full-bodied. I didn't have this with food, but I have a feeling it would go great with anything from the barbecue or some steak. 

Tasting - Chandon Sweet Cuvée

Name: Chandon Sweet Cuvée

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: NV

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 

This wine is an innovative sparkling wine style revealing vibrant stone fruit and floral aromas with rich, luscious mouthfeel. This wine enlivens the senses and sparks spontaneous moments, complementing your passion for a good life. 

My Review:

For a sparkling wine, this was pretty delicious. My first thought was honey. Light in color, it was both floral and woodsy on the nose. At first taste, it had the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and dryness, with a bit of fizz at the end. I really enjoyed this wine. 

Tasting - Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Name: Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Varietal: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: NV

Price: $3.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 

This fruit forward White Zinfandel displays fresh aromas and crisp flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. It is incredibly food friendly and will pair well with burgers, sandwiches, fruit salad, and more.

My Review: I wasn't so taken with this wine. It was definitely fruity and light, smelling strongly of cherry, particularly the cough syrup flavor. Overall, this White Zinfandel tasted like Kool-Aid. After trying so many wines this semester, I've come to expect and appreciate more complexity, so the simplicity of this was a bit of a let down. 

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc 

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Central Coast California

Country: United States

Year: 2010 

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 

Orange blossom and citrus permeate the aromas. Alluring flavors of orange and grapefruit dominate the palate. Bright acidity balances the plush mouthfeel, resulting in a clean finish. 

My Review: This wine was predominately floral on the nose, but had a sniff of carmel. Taste-wise, it was rather acidic and not very balanced with the citrus flavors, as the two seemed to compete. There was no hint of caramel on the palate, which disappointed me after I'd smelled it. Overall, it was heavier than I'd like for a white wine. 

Hunter Valley, Australia – Wine Region Report

Hunter Valley, Australia – Wine Region Report

      Australia has been a rising force in the wine industry, particularly due to the Hunter Valley wine region. Like any successful wine region, the Hunter Valley has several key wine-growing factors, including good location, climate, and iconic grape varietals. Before the Hunter Valley was colonized by European settlers, the Australian aboriginal Wonnarua tribe inhabited the land. The Wonnarua developed an independent trading route between Hunter Valley and Sydney, creating a perfect method of importing and exporting between the two (Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism 2010).

      However, it wasn’t until Sydney was settled that wine growers discovered the Hunter Valley. Originally known for its timber and coal, grapevines were planted in Hunter Valley soon after they were first planted in Sydney. According to one website, by 1840 “the Hunter Valley’s registered vineyard area exceeded 500 acres” and now is home to more than 150 wineries (winecountry.com).

            The Hunter Valley is composed of the Upper and Lower Hunter Valley, but is recognized as one Geographic Indication under Australia’s wine appellation system. It was registered as a GI zone in 1996 (visitvineyards.com). Semillon is the Hunter Valley’s most recognized wine, but Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Verdelho are also grown and produced in the region. The most widely planted grape variety is Chardonnay, which accounts for more than 70% of planted vines in the Upper Hunter Valley. It is, however, closely followed by Semillon.

            Although the Hunter Valley is labeled as a Mediterranean climate zone, it is subject to harsh weather extremes. Lower Hunter growers receive more annual rainfall than Upper Hunter growers, although the two subregions don’t experience much variation in temperature. These extremes are what create Australian’s Semillon’s unique quality and flavor. Ordinarily classified as a low tannin grape, in the Hunter Valley, it takes on a toasty, honey-like quality with rock and mineral notes. 
Hunter Valley Semillon is almost always unoaked, yet still gives the drinker a barreled impression. It has often even fooled “professional tasters of being an oak-aged Chardonnay” (Robinson 2006). In Australia, German Riesling is even referred to as “Rhine Reisling” in order to avoid confusing it with the better known “Hunter River Reisling,” which is actually just Australian Semillon (Antcliff, Kerridge 1999).

       Due to few government restrictions on viticultural practices, growers in the Hunter Valley experiment with wine blends and varieties. However, Hunter Valley is still regulated by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. According to the Corporation, for a grape variety to appear on a wine label, it must account for at least 85% of the wine. In order for a wine to be labeled with a specific region, like the Hunter Valley, at least 85% of the grapes have to be from that region (MacNeil 2001).

       Overall, the Hunter Valley region is just as unique as the wine it produces. It is home to much experimentation but also rooted heavily in Australian growing tradition. The Semillon in Australia is tailored to the Hunter Valley’s specific climate, changing the properties of the grape itself. According to Australian wine writer Campbell Mattinson, the Hunter Valley should be regarded and remembered because it “produces wine…that is acknowledged as the best in the world” (winecountry.com)

Sources: 

Kerridge, G., & Antcliff, A. (1999). Wine grape varieties. CSIRO PUBLISHING

MacNeil, K. (2001). The Wine Bible. New York: Workman Publishing

Robinson, J. (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine. Oxford: Oxford UP.

"Hunter Valley Wine Country." (2010). Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism. 

Winecountry.com

Visitvineyards.com 

Tasting - Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Name: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Variety: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle

Region: Sauternes

Country: France

Year: 2004

Price: $7.95

Wine Review: Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple, and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

My review: For it's light color and smell, this wine was surprisingly heavy - physically so. The consistency was thick, almost like maple syrup. Sweet to the taste and sweet to smell, but I'm not sure I could just sit and sip this wine.  

Torre Castillo Alegre

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre

Variety: 100% Monastrell

Region: Jumilla

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $9.95

Wine Review: 4 months in new American oak barrels. Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish.

My review: This was not my favorite wine of the bunch. I've never been a fan of wines that smell woodsy, so the tobacco and smoke combination turned me off. With the taste and smell of herbs and smoke, it was just a bit much for my palate. 

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name: Wilson Daniels Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: Central Coast, CA

Country: US

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Wine Review: Made predominantly from Paso Robles gapes, the wine is full-bodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with vanilla and toast.

My review: I've recently gotten into Merlots, so I was definitely excited to try this one. The nose was full of dark fruits, like the above mentioned blackberries and plums, and the same components came out on taste. This wine went down extremely smooth and I sensed a bit of vanilla on the end.

Tasting - Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Name: Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Variety: 100% Barbera

Region: Piemonte

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

Wine Review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this is an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers.

My review: The wine's pink label already biased me against the flavor - I was expecting something fruity and well, pink, and I wasn't disappointed. It smelled heavily of strawberries and cherry, almost like a Jolly Rancher/cough syrup combination. It tasted more of cherry than strawberry, but I was mostly surprised by the fizziness. 

Tasting - Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: California

Country: US

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple, and has hints of hibiscus blossoms. The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind. The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more. This wine pairs beautifully with a grilled prawn salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette, veggie spring rolls, or grilled tilapia with mango salsa. 

My review: This wine is mainly memorable for its lightness. Light color, light smell, with tropical notes like pineapple and slightly floral. I didn't get as much hibiscus as I did notes of jasmine and honeysuckle. However, for all of its "light quality," it had an acidic bite - maybe an effect of the tartness of the green apple? 

Tasting - Ruta 22 Malbec

Name: Ruta 22 Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Stout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas. Despite being a bold and dark Malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Good on the finish, with candied fruit and caramel sweetness.

My Review: Right off the bat, the dark berry aroma stood out. I've never tasted or smelled cassis, so I wasn't quite sure what my palate was sensing, but this Malbec was surprisingly light. After the initial fruit faded, the caramel lingered, giving the wine a nice sweet finish. 

Tasting - Château Serres Sainte Lucie Corbières

Name: Château Serres Sainte Lucie Corbières

Variety: Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre

Region: Corbières

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $4.95

Winery Review: Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange. Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee. The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla. This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins.

My Review: I'd never tasted a wine with a strong coffee component, and on the initial smell, that was the main characteristic I noted. Taste-wise, the fruits were overwhelmed by the combined bitterness of the coffee and spice - very powerful. This wine probably would've been mored balanced with food. 

Tasting - Cresta Azul

Name: Cresta Azul

Variety: Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: NV

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Peach, orange cream and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white. Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish.

My Review: Continuing the theme of light, fresh wines, this Cresta Azul almost had a peach Schnapp's quality to it. The nose reminded me of a Creamsicle pop and the taste was just as delightful - slightly fizzy with a sweet hint of vanilla. 

Tasting - Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Name: Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $3.95

Winery Review: Fresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rosé offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy.

My Review: In comparison to the opening wine, this Tempranillo was delightful. The first sniff hinted at a rich berry quality, which definitely came out on the palate.The juiciness, particularly the raspberry flavor, was balanced enough by the wine's dryness and acidity to keep it from being too heavy for a rose. 

Tasting - Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Name: Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Variety: Sparkling Brut Rosé

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: NV

Price: $3.95

Winery Review: Rosé salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubble that forms “lace” and “rosary”. In the nose is complex and elegant with red fruit, citric, exotic, fresh flowers, and notes of dry fruits and dry flowers. Fresh, gentle, and alive. Perfectly integrated “perlage” with serious and subtle flavors of dry fruits, pomegranate and lemonade. Long lasting scent of flowers and herbs.

My Review: Although heavy in fruit on the nose, the combination of floral notes and fruit was a strange one. The cherry and strawberry taste clashed with the pollen-like floral flavors, which was only magnified by the citrus-acid component of the lemonade. Maybe others would enjoy this as a light summer beverage, but there were too many components for my liking.