Tasting - Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

Name - Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

Variety - 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault

Region - Rhone Valley
Country - France
Year - 2010
Price - $14.95/750 mL - $38.95/3L

Shop review - As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve 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 full-bodied, 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 exciting because of the variety and price point but I don't think it was super great. The scent was spicy and a bit 'strong' but there were notes of berry in there as well. This full bodied wine tasted 
intricate with a variety of different flavors happening. The ones I could pick up on that were talked about in the shop review was the licorice, black cherry and a bit of spice.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Lobetia Tempranillo

Name - Lobetia Tempranillo

Variety - Tempranillo

Region - La Mancha
Country - Spain
Year - 2011
Price - $9.95

Shop 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 - I very much appreciated that we had an organic and naturally grown wine. The scent on this wine was powerful. Very much berry, cherry happening. Still not sure about Tempranillo but I enjoyed the light berry on the tongue and a bit of spice and some earthy components. Good body on it as well. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Lobetia Chardonnay

Name - Lobetia Chardonnay

Variety - Chardonnay

Region - La Mancha
Country - Spain
Year - 2011
Price - $9.95

Shop 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 - I very much appreciated that we had an organic and naturally grown wine. The scent was very distinct and clear. The fruit scent of pineapple really came through on this one and also a bit of other citrus options. It also tasted a bit fruity as well, chardonnay is not my favorite and the acid level was interesting. Enjoyable.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Name - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Variety - Pinot Grigio

Region - Veneto
Country - Italy
Year - NV
Price - $7.95

Shop 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 - This wine had a light color, yellowy white wine. Scent of fruit evident on the nose and also the tang of acid. It tasted acidic as well with light tastes of fruity citrus.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Dinner - Pairing Party with Friends

For the wine dinner blog post myself and two other friends in Geography of Wine got together to and each brought a dish and a paired wine.

Using my "7 half-turns" knowledge to open the sparkling wine

 

BALLATORE - Spumante Rosso

To start I brought the appetizer which was a cheese plate and to drink with the cheese course I brought a Sparkling Wine. This sparkling Spumante Rosso smelled very fruity and of course was effervescent.
The wine was tingly on the side pallet and had just a faint light flavor of raspberry and cherry. 

PepperJack, Gouda, Cheddar, Aged
Gouda & Goat Cheese (starting on left) 

It was interesting eating the variety of cheeses with the fruity-bubbly wine because each had a different effect on the appetizer experience. 

• The wine cuts the solid strong flavor of cheddar
• Brings out MORE of the flavor of the goat cheese
• The Gouda made the wine taste less good. Also since it was smoked cheese it brought a toasty flavor the drink that didn't necessarily mix well.
• The Aged Gouda improved the taste of the wine

Sniffy-sniff before eating the food - Note the decanter (vase)

Rosemont Estate - Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon.
Note the great label design, already a plus there

The second course was a delicious pasta dish made by my friend Shannon. The entree was a vegetable medley over angel-hair pasta and with feta cheese sprinkled in. To pair she chose a Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon from Rosemont Estate. This wine tasted and smelled of berry and chocolate. I really enjoyed the complexity of the flavors. It was medium bodied and a bit spicy. It had an interesting blend of charred chocolate and fruit (cassis).

Rosemont Shiraz-Cabernet with Pasta Dish

I thought that this wine tasted AMAZING with the food! Drinking the wine with food completely set it off. It LOVED it. It added a whole new layer to the experience. The wine was fruity and warm and tasted velvety. I would absolutely buy this for myself to have on hand for future dinner parties.

Peter Mertes - Riesling

The last wine was a Riesling to pair with our dessert. The Riesling is from German, Peter Mertes. The Riesling had an apple, pear and butter scent. It also had some acid on the nose. At first taste it was light and tangy and had a great finish and good swallow.

Riesling with Pineapple Upside Down Cake

The wine was paired with our dessert which was a Pineapple Upside-down cake. It seemed strange to pair a sugary Riesling with a very sugary and carmelized dessert but the combination was a great level of sweet and the acid of the wine helped to cut the sickly sweetness of the cake. 

Overall I was impressed both with my friends cooking and how drinking the wine with food really improved the experience and taste of both items. Since we have been drinking wine mostly at tastings I have not been fully appreciating the importance of the meal and wine combinations and opportunities. Also I was impressed with how much wine we could go through when drawing out a meal and really savoring everything. It was a great time and I feel like I got to further appreciate wine in a new way.

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

Shop 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 - This wine tasted very fruity and could smell the alcohol on it as well as peach and apricot. This tasted very tart and juicy. I thought it was quite sweet but at the same time it tasted like the fruit went a bit bad. Seemed like the wine was made from rotten apricot covered in honey. It had a nasty aftertaste, I did not like the Caprice at all.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Torre Castillo Alegre

Name - Torre Castillo Alegre

Variety - 100% Monastrell

Region - Jumilla
Country - Spain
Year - 2010
Price - $9.95

Shop 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 a and smoke notes repeat on
the finish.

My Review - This red wine had a very very wooden scent with undertones of raspberry and vanilla. It smells like it would be good with chocolate. This wine  tasted very toasty, quite roasted. The wine had a wooden taste. It tasted like someone made juice out of wood that had been sitting with berries rubbed all in it. There was also a spice to the back of the throat and a campfire taste. This wine was not my favorite because it was so wintery and not right for the season I tasted it. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name - Wilson Daniels Merlot

Variety - Paso Robles grapes

Region - Central Coast, California
Country - United States of America
Year - 2010
Price - $7.95

Shop review - Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is fullbodied 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 - This distinctly ruby wine had a plum scent. Also on the nose was chocolate, mocha, coffee grinds and a bit of spice. This Merlot was very warm and a bit spicy, perhaps the heat of alcohol. The wine had a light to medium body, and almost light or watery. The wine had coffee and toasted undertones. This wine was not my favorite.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Name - Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Variety - 100% Barbera

Region - Calamadrana
Country - Italy
Year - 2012
Price - $6.95

Shop review - Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers

My Review - This pink wine distinct smell, very strong. The wine had a very fruity nose, it smelled of rose-hips and strawberry. The Rose tasted very fruity, juice-like with a tart alcohol taste. The wine is very juicy a berry, cherry juice. I liked this wine for when I am in the mood for a fruit easy drink.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Name - Smoking Loon 

Variety - Sauvignon Blanc

Region - Napa, California
Country - United States of America
Year - 2009
Price - $7.95

Shop 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 yellow-white wine had a fruity scent. It smelled very crisp and tart with a definite sugar, almost of green apple. The taste of the wine was quite muted. The smell was much stronger than the taste. The Smoking Loon had a light taste with a nice finish, overall a decent white.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Ruta 22 Malbec

Name - Ruta 22 Malbec

Variety - Malbec

Region - Patagonia
Country - Argentina
Year - 2011
Price - $7.95

Shop 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 - This ruby colored wine had a great scent. It smelled fruity, cherry and cassis with a tang and warmth on the nose. Once tasted the Malbec had a great velvet, smooth finish. I thought this was delicious, Toasty fruit, chocolate and rich fruit could all be tasted in this wine. I purchased a bottle of this for myself and am really excited to pair this for a great dinner.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Name - Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Variety - Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre

Region - Corbieres
Country - France
Year - 2010
Price - $4.95

Shop 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 - This red had a strong and almost complex scent. The smell of this wine reminded me of oil or dirt. Also there was a smell of almost diaper and a burnt fruit pie. The taste of the wine was absolutely toasty. This red tasted a bit like burnt coffee or burnt vanilla. There was also a roasted aftertaste and slight spice afterwards.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Cresta Azul

Name - Cresta Azul

Variety - Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo

Region - Girona
Country - Spain
Year - NV
Price - $5.95

Shop 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 - The white wine smelled very sweet. You could smell the sugar and flowers on the nose, almost of honeysuckle. I really enjoyed this wine it had a light finish. It tasted of a variety of fruit with a clear citrus taste. It was definitely off-dry as described and I really like that.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Name - Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Variety - Tempranillo

Region - Grenada
Country - Spain
Year - 2010
Price - $3.95

Shop review - Fresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rose offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy.

My Review - This very rose colored wine had a strong nose. The scent to me was fruity and flowery with slight hints of a 'poopy' scent as well. On the tongue the wine was smooth and medium-bodied. It was a bit velvety or buttery. I liked the taste of the wine it was lightly fruity with a bit of vague spice. I purchased this wine and thought it was fine for one bottle but would not purchase it again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Name - Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Variety - Tempranillo and Garnacha

Region - Grenado
Country - Spain
Year - NV
Price - $3.95

Shop review - Rose salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubbles 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 - This coral colored drink was effervescent in the glass. The drink smelled of flowers with a hint of clorox. At the same time there was a slight musty scent. The Brut tasted of lemonade. It has a very light and tangy flavor with a dry after taste. I would not particularly recommend it, but decent price for what it was.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - 2005 El Coto de Rioja Coto de Imaz Reserva

Name - 2005 El Coto de Rioja Coto de Imaz Reserva

Variety - Tempranillo

Region - Rioja

Country - Spain
Year - 2005
Price - $15

Wine Enthusiast Review - Much like the 2004, this wine straddles traditional and modern lines. The nose offers light raisin, spearmint, brick dust and leafy red fruit aromas, while the palate may seem acidic and sour to some but reflective of old Rioja to others. Strong American oak accents of dill, coconut and vanilla are present on the palate and finish. Drink now through 2012. 

My Review - I tasted this at a Wegman's so it was not in proper wine glasses. This exercise made it very clear how important the vessel is for tasting. These were taken out of small plastic cups, almost like shot glasses and it was very difficult to find a scent. There was very little on the nose. This wine was quite full bodied with less distinct tannins than the previous red of that afternoon. This red was very fresh, an easy Tempranillo to swallow. It tasted of berries and chocolate. This smooth wine was complex and I would use this at dinner with the correct food pairing. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - El Coto Blanco

 Name - El Coto Blanco

Variety - Macabeo

Region - Rioja

Country - Spain
Year - 2012
Price - $8

Gnarly Vines Review - This is a friendly, flavorful white made from 100% Viura (a.k.a. Macabeo). Juicy fruit and citrusy acidity combine nicely with floral notes and a hint of fine herbs. Try with a grilled cheese sandwich flanked by a bowl of tomato soup or chili.

My Review - I tasted this at a Wegman's so it was not in proper wine glasses. This exercise made it very clear how important the vessel is for tasting. These were taken out of small plastic cups, almost like shot glasses and it was very difficult to find a scent. There was very little on the nose. From what I could smell it reminded me of vinegar. The wine had a dry taste and a light body, almost watery. I would not recommend this wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - El Coto Crianza

Name - El Coto Crianza

Variety - Tempranillo

Region - Rioja

Country - Spain
Year - 2008
Price - $11

Wine Enthusiast Review - Straightforward cherry and raspberry aromas carry a floral accent. It feels zesty and tight with plum, herb and tomato flavors, with a finish that shows a vanilla note. A fresh, simple wine at every turn. 

My Review - I tasted this at a Wegman's so it was not in proper wine glasses. This exercise made it very clear how important the vessel is for tasting. These were taken out of small plastic cups, almost like shot glasses making it much harder to get a scent. This wine has a fruity scent. It was light on the palette and also a bit tangy. This was not my favorite from the tastings of the day. Probably wouldn't purchase it. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Bourgogne Clos de Loyse

Name - Chateau des Jacques Bourgogne Clos de Loyse

Variety - Chardonnay

Region - Bourgogne- Beaujolais

Country - France
Year - 2010
Price - $18

Maker's Review - The Clos de Loyse creates a very individual style of Chardonnay derived from its granite soils, which lie to the south of Burgundy.The ‘Clos de Loyse' Burgundy is vinified in oak barrels, just like its northern cousins. The grapes are placed in the barrels straight after clarification, and there it undergoes both its alcoholic fermentation and its malolactic fermentation (either partial or full). The wine is matured on its lies, and undergoes regular batonnage. Of the Allier oak barrels used for this wine, 50% are new. The Château des Jacques Clos de Loyse white Burgundy is a fruity wine with vanilla-tinged aromas. It is quite structured and tends to show good balance. It's the perfect match for poultry, fish, shellfish and goat's cheeses.

My Review - I tasted this at a Wegman's so it was not in proper wine glasses. This exercise made it very clear how important the vessel is for tasting. These were taken out of small plastic cups, almost like shot glasses and it was very difficult to find a scent. There was very little on the nose. I could smell hints of citrus. The wine was very light on the tongue with a strong acid finish. I thought it was very pleasant and drinkable. Would be a very easy table wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Monte Aman

Name - Monte Aman

Variety - 100% Tempranillo

Region - Arlanza
Country - Spain
Year - 2009
Price - $5.95

Shop review - Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe Cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit. Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now.

My Review - This red had a very strong scent of almost marshmallow, reminded me of a campfire. But also berries and perhaps some chocolate coming through. The wine tasted toasty, an even stronger taste of toasted marshmallow and smoke. Additionally it tasted of violet and charred fruit. There was also some acidity on the swallow. I liked the wine for the price but not my favorite red in the world.

I tasted this on its own with no food.