Tasting- Vina Santurnia Crianza

Tasting on Saturday 1/28/2012

Name: Vina Santurnia Crianza

Variety: Tempranillo (according to http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1052166#moreinfo)  

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2006

Price: $11.95

K&L  Review: (The Vintage Cellar did not have a review so I used one from http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1052166#moreinfo)
“Here is our latest incredible find in value Rioja. Very classic, traditional styling, with a terrific balance between mouthwatering berry fruit and damp forest floor nuances. Traditional Rioja, with its Burgundian characteristics and slightly plumper fruit profile, works wonders with food. Simply put, the 2006 Viña Santurnia Crianza Rioja is pure deliciousness! In all seriousness, this property, located a mere 3 kilometers from Muga over in the Rioja Alavesa, really over-delivers when it comes to consistently making wonderful Crianza, with impeccable balance and typicity, for an incredibly fair price. This wine is produced in comparably tiny quantities for Rioja, 5,000 cases, all the more reason to join the many customers who have purchased past vintages of this terrific, satisfying wine in case quantities.”

My Review:
This wine had a kind of brownish red hue.  The aroma was very woodsy... potentially oak.  It had a very sharp initial taste and lingering aftertaste.  There was little mid-palate flavor.  This wine was okay, but not my kind of wine.  The wood flavoring was just overwhelming to me... I felt like I was drinking a tree.  If you’re a fan of the strong oak and wood flavors, there’s a great chance you would love this wine.  If you’re like me and have not yet acquired a taste for such strong wood flavors (not sure if I ever will), then you probably won’t enjoy this wine too much.  

Pairings:  I did not try this with food, and I’m honestly stumped on what to pair it with.  Since I really didn’t care for the flavor, it’s hard for me to think of what would taste good with it. 

Tasting- Sol Acantalys Cotes Du Rhone

Tasting on Saturday 1/28/2012

Name: Sol Acantalys Cotes Du Rhone

Variety: Red Rhone Blend (according to http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1187482) 

Region: Rhone (Southern  Rhone)

Country: France   

 

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Calais Wine Review: (The Vintage Cellar didn’t have a review for this one so I found one at http://www.calaiswine.co.uk/products/buy/multi-buy-wine-offers/offer/product/4620/productname/c%C3%B4tes+du+rh%C3%B4ne+sol%27acantalys/product.aspx)
“Bright and juicy Côtes du Rhône with hints of spice and pepper. This young and fresh Côtes du Rhône from Les Vignerons de Tavel shows superb notes of red berry fruits and spice, particularly pepper.”

My Review:
This blend has a very deep purplish burgundy hue.  Almost a coffee aroma.  It was pretty dry and slightly acidic.  I could taste a fair amount of different flavors... grape, cranberry, chocolate, coffee/toffee.  Most of what I could taste came from the initial flavor.  I really did not taste much of a mid-palate or aftertaste.  It was a little tannic (kind of dried out my mouth).  Overall, this wine was decent.  The initial flavor was good, but the final two components of the taste (mid and after) were lacking.

Pairings: I did not taste this wine with food, but I think it could be good with a heartier meal.

Tasting- Doural Tinto

Tasting on Saturday 1/28/2012

Name: Doural Tinto

Variety: Red Blend- Tinto Cao, Touriga Francesca, Touriga Nacional
(according to http://www.ctwineauthority.com/sku16489.html)   

Country: Portugal

Year: 2009

Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review:
“This Portuguese tinto (red) blend exhibits a deep red color with violet hues.  The nose is vibrant and fruity.  The palate offers notes of spice, cherry, and dark berry supported by good structure.  Pairs well with red or game meat, cheeses and fish.”

My Review:
This wine has a light burgundy color.  There were very little legs after swirling the glass (little residue on the sides of the glass).  It has a mildly fruity aroma.  While I’ve heard the term “smooth” used to describe wine, this was possibly the first wine I’ve personally tried to which I really felt the term applied.  Despite a slight tang, it did seem a little watery and was followed by a very soft aftertaste.  I also tasted a little bit of berry flavors in the wine.  Overall, not bad for a red wine since I don’t usually care for them... I’d say it would be worth the $8.95 price.  

Pairings:  I did not try this with any food, but I think it would be good with some kind of red meat and salad. 

Tasting- Nykteri Santorini Yannis

Tasting on Saturday 1/28/2012

Name: Nykteri Santorini Yannis

Variety: White Blend - Assyrtico, Athiri and Aidani (according to http://www.santorinicarhire.com/blog/santorini-wines/ )

Region: Aegean

Country: Greece

Year: 2010

Price: $13.95

Vintage Cellar Review:
“I fell first for the compelling story of this ‘night work’ wine, and then for the aroma and taste, and can’t think of a wine to compare it to.  Nykteri-Dry White Wine Appellation of Origin Santorini of superior quality since 3,500 years ago, the Nykteri is synonymous to Santorini’s famous white wines.  The formula to ‘instant wine making’ on the night of the same day that the grapes were harvested solved the problem of the variety’s sensitive aroma deterioration.  The wine is matured for 3 months at least in barrels.  In this way the wine’s contact with barrel’s wood gives the Nykteri a special finesse.  Characteristics Crystal-clear, semi-yellow wine.  Dominated by the aromas of jasmine, citrus fruits, flowers and pear, all these enhanced with a gentle vanilla sense.  A strong body with warm personality and a long lasting taste.  Serve with grilled anything as well as with local Greek dishes such as tomato meatballs and fava dip.”

My Review:
I have to say that my expectations of this wine were high simply because Santorini is #1 on my list of places to which I am dying to travel.  So, I really wanted to like this wine.  Unfortunately, I thought it was merely okay.  It smelled kind of like apples and had a sweet scent.  However, the taste did not seem to live up to the sweetness of the aroma.  It almost tasted watered down.  It was kind of dry and had a slightly oakish flavor.  It was a little acidic when swallowing, and the aftertaste was not fruity and lingered for a while.  The wine wasn’t awful but it didn’t impress me much.  

And this is why I really want to go to Santorini!
http://travel.usnews.com/Santorini_Greece/Things_To_Do/

Pairings: I once again did not have any food with this wine, but I feel like it might be good with chicken, fish, or pasta. 

Tasting- Casa Bianca Spumante Rosato

Tasting on Saturday 1/28/2012

Name: Casa Bianca Spumante Rosato

Variety: Prosecco

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: Not Vintage

Price: $11.95

Vintage Cellar Review:
“Prosecco is very popular in Italy.  The wine is often served as a festive aperitif but mild dry Prosecco Spumante is also very suitable as a companion of appetizers and entrees.  Prosecco is a generic term and can be sold in many different qualities.  The best have their own appellation, as Casa Bianca.  The vineyards of Montello and the hills of Asoli located in northern Italy.  This rosato spumante is made from white grape pinot nero prosecco and red.  By fermenting them together creates the pale pink color and a flavor that is more powerful than the white variety.  Spicy rosato spumante with a fine, persistent mousse, juicy fresh red fruit in the aroma and a rich, smooth and lasting flavor.”

My Review:
This sparkling wine had a very light rose color to it... almost a washed out ballet pink.  It had the tingle and fizz of a sparkling/carbonated wine.  It had a sweet scent and an even sweeter taste.  I could pick out some citrus flavors and a hint of apple flavor.  The sweetness carried through all the way to the aftertaste.  I actually really liked this wine, but as much as I hate to give this label, I think of it as a pretty “girly” wine all the way from the color to the bubbles to the very sweet flavor.  Overall, great strong flavor that carries through to the aftertaste.  

Pairings: I did not try this wine with any food.  I imagine it would be good with desserts or light fare.

Tasting- “Las Rocas Garnacha”

Sorry I couldn't get the best quality on this one!

Name: Las Rocas Garnacha

Variety: Garnacha

Region: Aragon

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $12.95... pretty good deal!

Winemaker’s Review: (this was a replacement for a bottle that ran out at the tasting so, we didn’t receive a printed review of it.... as a result, I’m using a “Winemaker’s Notes” review from wine.com)

“Deep ruby colored with a gorgeous nose.  Attractive aromas of kirsch, raspberries, pepper and melted liquorice.  Full flavored wine with a supple texture and no hard edges.  Medium to full bodied, fruit driven sumptuously-textured and long aftertaste.. Pairing: Various roast dishes, Spanish stew, mushrooms and grilled meats.  Blue fish, rice, short-and medium-cured cheeses.”

My Review:

                This was a pretty deep red wine.  It smelled very rich and even a little spicy.  However, it didn’t taste a little spicy... it tasted a lot spicy.  I’ve never tasted such a spicy wine... it was kind of like the wine version of Dr. Pepper.  I also thought I tasted some oak flavors, or at least I could taste the flavor of some kind of wood.  Really the overwhelming take-away from this was the kind of heavy flavor and the spiciness.  If the season of autumn had a flavor, it would taste like this wine.  I once again, did not have food with the wine, but I guess I would think it would be good with some kind of meat or filling dish.  It would make for a very bold meal.  It was certainly not my favorite because I generally don’t like my drinks to be spicy, but I wouldn’t say it was bad either.  If spicy/non-sweet wines are your thing, you would probably love this. 

Tasting- “Candoni Pinot Grigio”

http://www.candoniwines.com/pinot_grigio.html

Name: Candoni Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: The year is again, not completely known because when we asked the man working the tasting, he simply replied saying it was not vintage.  So I would guess it was maybe a 2010 wine.  I once again couldn’t see a year on the bottle, so this is my best guess.  

Price: $10.95... one of the cheapest at the tastings.

Vintage Cellar Review:

 “Medium-bodied, well-structured and sophisticated.  It has a rich, pear-like nose, followed by a crisp acidity and a delicious mouth feel.  A delicious accompaniment to fish, seasonal pasta dishes or chicken.  It can also stand alone as an aperitif on a hot summer day.”

My Review:

                This is the first one that I’m not going to give a very good review.  Normally, I love Pinot Grigio... usually it’s my first choice of wine (Chardonnay is the only other one I might prefer).  However, I was less than impressed with this one.  It had little aroma to it, which looking back was definitely foreshadowing for the flavor of the wine.  It tasted exceptionally watered down.  It was pretty smooth, but the flavor was basically non-existent.  I felt like I was drinking water.  I do feel a little bad about giving such a harsh review, because I feel like its position in the tasting was partially to blame.  I'm usually a fan of the saying “lucky number 7” (which is a great movie by the way), but in this case, being the 7^th wine I tasted was not so lucky.  It directly followed the Prosecco, which had a really strong, sweet flavor.  So I think the contrast between the super sweet and flavorful sparkling wine, and then the Pinot Grigio may have skewed my opinion of it.  So I think at the very least, if the wine itself wasn’t that bad, the decision to place it right after the Prosecco in the tasting was a poor one.  As for food, I did not have any food at the tasting but I guess I could see how it may be decent with fish or chicken to keep an overall light and simple flavor to the meal.  However, I also think it could be good with a heavier meal, like steak or something because the lighter, simpler flavor of the wine wouldn’t interfere with the strong flavor of the meal.  Overall, I would not have to recommend this wine to anyone... it was probably one of the cheaper ones for a reason. 

Below is a picture I took of the last 6 wines at the tasting (the one furthest to the left is the Prosecco and the one just to the right of that is the Pinot Grigio)

Tasting- “Crios Malbec”

Name: Crios Malbec

Variety:  Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010  

Price: $14.95 a bottle... a little more expensive than the Sauvignon Blanc, but still very affordable.  

Vintage Cellar Review:

 “Previous Vintage, 90 points, Robert Parker 5% Bonarda in its blend.  It spent 9 months in 50% new French and American oak.  Notes of balsam wood, smoke, black cherry, and spice box lead to a similarly styled wine that comes off as just a bit too lean.  Again, the flavors are pleasant, but it should be drunk over the next several years while it retains its fruit.”

My Review:

                The first thing I noticed (and liked) about this wine was the gorgeous, rich purplish hue.  It had a very deep tone with a hint of pink to the purple color.  This wine didn’t have a very strong aroma which seemed surprising to me because the woman working the tasting told us about all the rich flavors, so I thought that would be accentuated in the aroma of the wine.  However, I didn’t really notice much from the scent.  As for the taste, it definitely wasn’t as fruity as a lot of the wines I had tasted.  But that’s not to say that it lacked flavor.  It just had a lot more rich, warm, maybe even heavier/thicker flavors.  I could taste a little bit of a chocolate or coffee flavoring and the darker fruits like plums were more evident.  As a girl who doesn’t usually like red wines, I have to say, this one was pretty good.  It seemed like a good wine to drink in the winter, maybe curled up on the couch with some dessert and/or chocolate (something my roommates and I would definitely enjoy doing!).  I didn’t have it with food, so I’m not sure how that would affect it but like I said, I would probably drink it with dessert even though white wines are typically the dessert wines.  I felt like it was a very different wine because it didn’t have the typical sweet flavors that white-wine drinkers would really like but it also wasn’t dry like a lot of red-wine drinkers may prefer.  I think it may be good for people trying to transition into drinking red wines (like myself).  

Tasting- “Candoni Prosecco”

Due to the crowds at the tasting, I couldn't
get a good picture of this wine, so the picture is courtesy of

http://www.monstermarketplace.com/fine-wines-and-spirits/candoni-prosecco-brut-doc-nv-italy

Name: Candoni Prosecco

Variety:  Prosecco

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: The man working this tasting said that it was not a vintage wine when he was asked what year it was, so I guess that means it was probably a 2010 or 2011 wine.  Although he said that about all of the 6 wines he was showing and some of the bottles said 2009.  I couldn’t find this one’s year on the bottle, but the tasting was very crowded so it was hard to see.  I tried to do a little more research to see if I could determine that more conclusively, but didn’t have much luck.  I do know it’s not considered vintage so, it’s from a recent year.  

Price: $15.95, which is I guess a little more than I usually spend but it was really good!

Vintage Cellar Review:

 “Delicate and fruity with a hint of honey.  It is crisp and clean in the mouth with a pleasant acidity that leaves behind a delicious and persistent freshness with a dry, well-balanced taste.”

My Review:

                I really liked this wine a lot.  The very first wine I ever liked was champagne, so I’m definitely a fan of the sparkling wines.  This wine was ridiculously sweet, but for some reason it didn’t seem like too much.  I think while it had a very sweet and crisp carbonated taste, it still had a very soft aftertaste that lingered.  So the softer aftertaste kind of balanced out the exceptionally sweet flavor.  More than anything else I could definitely taste apple.  I’m usually not the best at picking out the types of fruit... usually I just say “fruity,” but in this case I was fairly certain that apple was a big part of the production of this wine.  I didn’t have it with food, so that didn’t affect it, but I’m honestly not sure what I would pair it with.  It kind of took me back to my childhood when I would have sparkling cider on New Year’s Eve, only this was the “big-girl version.”  This is probably a big part of the reason I liked it so much.  I would highly recommend it, but if you’re not a fan of sweet flavors, this is probably not for you. 

Tasting- “Four Bears Sauvignon Blanc”

      I went to my first real wine tasting on Saturday, January 21^st.  I’ve tasted a wine or two at a vineyard before, but never really participated in a full-on wine tasting.  This wine tasting at the Vintage Cellar was certainly quite the start... I tasted 12 wines.  It was pretty overwhelming at first, but I started to get a little more comfortable with it.  I learned that it’s very difficult to put words to some of the tastes and flavors.  I tried to find fitting descriptions, but there were a few that I really just couldn’t figure out how to describe.  The five that I’ll be blogging about left some of the greatest impressions on me, whether those were good or bad.   So here’s the first one: 

Name: Four Bears Sauvignon Blanc
(Side Note: I was a little confused because the bottle said “Sean Minor” but the info sheet at Vintage Cellar said “Four Bears.”  So a little research has told me that “Sean Minor” is the producer and “Four Bears” is the designation)

Variety:  Sauvignon Blanc

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2010  

Price: $12.95 a bottle... not too bad.  

Vintage Cellar Review:

“Rich and complex with aromas of ruby grapefruit, citrus and tropical fruit.  On the palate, the combined flavors of fresh melon, fig and lime are balanced perfectly to form a crisp mouthwatering texture and a lingering finish.”

My Review:

                I first noticed the scent of the wine.  You could smell the sweetness right away.  For me, that’s a good sign because I love sweet wines.  I don’t do so well with dry ones, but I’m trying to improve on that.  I definitely tasted the fruitiness and especially the citrus flavors because it almost had a tangy quality.  I also thought it tasted like it may have been stored in an oak or cedar barrel (some kind of lighter wood).  I definitely felt like the other fruits used in making the wine overpowered the grapes, which is not necessarily good or bad in my mind.  I didn’t have any food with it, so that didn’t impact my opinion of the wine.  It was also the very first wine I tried so I didn’t have lingering flavors of other wines to interfere with the tasting.  If I were to pair it with any kind of food, I think it would have to be a light or simple food because of the overwhelmingly sweet/tangy flavor.  Overall, I like the sweet and fruity taste so I would definitely recommend it.  It was one of my favorites if not my absolute favorite of the twelve I tried that day. 

Welcome to my Blog!

Hi Everyone!  My name is Erin and I’m a senior at Virginia Tech.  I’m taking a class this semester called “Geography of Wine” so I created this blog.  You may be wondering what I know about wine/ why I’m blogging about it.  The truth is I don’t know much about wines at all.  I like to try to different wines, but I don’t know much real information about them other than whether I like them or not.  But the plan is that through this class, I’ll learn a lot about it and I’ll be going to wine tastings and vineyards so I’ll write about it.  This blog will follow my journey as I learn all about wine!  So, I’ll start off by talking a little bit about what I do know and what my experiences have been with wine.

First of all, I just wanted to mention that I chose the picture at the top of my page (courtesy of http://www.ehow.com/ehow-food/blog/jordan-salcito-favorite-summer-wines/) because it reminds me of one of my favorite songs.  I love country music, and one of my favorites is “Strawberry Wine” by Deanna Carter.  If you haven’t heard it, I definitely recommend it!  Plus the picture reminds me of summer.  This past summer, I learned that a vineyard near my house, Boordy Vineyards, has concerts every Saturday night in the summer.  I started going with my friends and had a blast, so it’s one of my most fun memories involving wine (the picture on the right)!

 As far as knowledge of wine, most of what I know if from my family.  My grandfather loved wine and had a wine cellar in his basement.  When I was little, whenever we would have big family get-togethers with all of the cousins, my grandfather would let us take a sip of one of his wines.  We would pass a glass around the table and we would all get to taste it.  Then he would ask us what fruits we thought were in it and what type of barrel it was stored in (oak, cedar, pine, etc.).  We all used to think this was so cool, and it was what first got me to really think about the flavors in different wines.   My dad still asks me about this when we try wines together, so those are my only real experiences with thinking about and analyzing the wines that I drink.  

Now that I’m older, I’ve started to pick out my own wines and try different things.  But, I’m not gonna lie, I’m a college student... so I usually just buy whatever is cheap.  What I know so far is that I really like white wines.  In particular, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Riesling are my favorites.  I also like White Zinfandel and other blush wines.  I unfortunately haven’t tried many red wines that I really like, but I’m hoping throughout this semester I’ll acquire a taste for them.  Not only are red wines much more heart healthy, I also think they look sophisticated/ classy so hopefully I’ll find some I like!  

I’m really excited to get this started and explore all different types of wine!

P.S.  The wine I’m currently drinking is Woodbridge Chardonnay... I wouldn’t have to recommend it.  It’s super bitter and very acidic, but I guess that’s what I get for $7!