Wine Tasting Week 5: Heinz Eifel Riesling - Shine

Variety: Riesling

Region: Mosel Saa Ruwer

Country: Germany

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:

Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors.  Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.

My Review:

I found this white to have an intriguing balance between smokey sultry flavor and sweet citrus.  The wine seemed to have a very warm and smokey nose with some subtle hints of citrus fruit.  On the palate, this riesling has a rich, sweet sensation, with mostly the notes of pear- an odd combination paired with the initial smokey taste.  While I did enjoy this white, I believe that it is a little off-balance, with it being much too sweet, almost unpalatable on its own.  Pairing this white with a creamy cheese or perhaps a salty cracker could allow for more of the fruit flavors to come through, while balancing out the initial overwhelming sweetness. 

Tasting Week 5: Don Ramon Tinto

Variety: Non-varietal red

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:

75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo.  Aged 3 months in American Oak casks.  Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry.  Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium frameworke.  A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.

My Review: 
A very fun and interesting red, this non-varietal features a very Earthy Pine nose - almost like taking a walk in a fall woods.  The Earthy components continued through the palate, where I was able to discover deep, dark berry undertones.  Bright raspberry mixed with earthy, dark chocolatey hints, this extremely smooth wine would pair well with dark chocolate or a heavy red meat dinner.  I would definitely try this wine again with some different food pairings.  

Tasting Week 5: Resonata Nero D'Avola

Variety: Nero d'Avola 

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Food?: Not paired with food.






Winery Review:
Dense ruby red with violet reflections.  Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries,and spice.  Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background.


My Review:
Not a bad red at all for sub $7 at the Vintage Cellar.  I would absolutely recommend this red for everyone who "detests red wine," as I did prior to taking the wine class.  A very mild red with a light and refreshing nose, this Italian wine has a deep pinkish-purple color.  With a hint of various dark berries on the palate, the Resonata is very light and smooth, perfect for a new wine drinker.  While this may not have as much depth as some other reds I've tasted, I would say it is not a bad find. 

Tasting Week 5: Protocolo Blanc

Variety: Non-Varietel White Blend? (not listed) 

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:
Greenish gold.  Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle.  Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness.  Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon.  As usual, this is an outstanding value. 

My Review:
Similar to the Vinho Verde, this is a kick-in-the-pants citrus monster that even the queen of tropicana would pucker at.  With all anti-citrus preconceptions aside, this white features a strong acidic nose, with crisp green apple notes on the palate.  I would say that this white was slightly more toned down than the Vinho Verde, but lives up to its "dry and brisk" description.  Not the worse, but definitely not the best.  I suppose that these bright whites may pair well with a seafood dinner or may be clean and refreshing during the summer months. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel it for these two whites.

Tasting Week 5: Santola Vinho Verde

Variety: Non-Varietel White Blend 

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review: 

Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors.  Off dry and very fresh.

My Review:
While I am absolutely in LOVE with this white's label, featuring a screen-printed image of a crab with all of the neon love of the 90s, I am not a huge fan of this tangy Vinho Verde.  Not the most appetizing of wines on the nose, I found this white to have a very pungent, acidic scent, with very boisterous grapefruit flavors on the palate.  I am not personally a huge fan of the citric acid, harsh, whites, but if you are, this may be a perfect fit for you.  Although this is supposedly a "flat" white wine, I did detect a bubbly sensation on the palate, that was a plus. Overall, I found this wine to be fairly single-noted, with a strong citrus "punch-in-the-face" on the palate, and a super dry finish.

Tasting Week 4: Faraway Farms Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Bosman's Crossing (Western Cape)

Country: Africa

Year: 2008

Price: $5.95

Food?: Paired with milk chocolate.

Winery's Review:
Our Cabernet Sauvignon will spoil you with rich flavors of ripe blackberry and plums.

My Review:

The sister to the Shiraz Faraway Farms wine that I tasted earlier, The Cabernet Sauvignon is very dark purple-red in color and actually smells like grape juice on the nose.  I found the Cabernet Sauvignon to be an odd combination of too sweet and too spicy - if this combination does exist - both on the nose and on the palate.  Initially, I sensed a strong burning/spice sensation on the mid-palate, as well as some dark berry sweetness towards the end.  I found that the milk chocolate pairing did not help to alleviate the overall spiciness of the wine, and perhaps a dark chocolate would be a much better pairing... I think I will stick with the Shiraz. 

Tasting Week 4: Guinness (cupcakes)

Variety: Draught

Region: Dublin

Country: Ireland

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95 (4 pack)

Food?: Paired with cupcake batter.

Brewery's Review:
Swirling clouds tumble as the storm begins to calm, settle, breathe in the moment, then break through the smooth, light head to the bittersweet reward. Unmistakeably GUINNESS® beer, stout, or draught , from the first velvet sip to the last, lingering drop. And every deep-dark satisfying mouthful in between.  Pure beauty. Pure GUINNESS®.


My Review:  
Oh.yes.we.did. (make beer cupcakes.)  In celebration of my roommate's 21st birthday (for the third time,) we crafted homemade guinness chocolate cupcakes, and boy were they good.  Guinness on it's own is a very thick and dark beer, which I don't find to be particularly appetizing.  It is almost so thick that you have to chew the beer...gross!  While I typically like dark beers, Guinness has a strong licorice taste which, accompanied by the beer's already thick nature, I do not find very pleasing.  As part of a cupcake recipe, however, it was absolutely spectacular.  Words cannot express how delicious these cupcakes are... the Guinness definitely enhances the chocolate flavors of the batter, making them crack for fat kids (a.k.a. me).   

Tasting Week 4: Dona Sol Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2009

Price: $3.95

Food?: Paired with lasagna with wine infused sauce.

 

Winery Review:

"Dona Sol Merlot is a rich red-colored wine that has plentiful fresh fruit with hints of wild berries, raspberry, and vanilla.  The fresh fruit continues into the palate and ends with a smooth finish."

My Review:

Our Valentine Wine!  My boyfriend cooked Valentine's Day Lasagna Dinner with tomato sauce infused with Dona Sol Merlot Wine.  The wine turned out to enhance the cheesy buttery goodness of the Lasagna, and brought out the peppery Italian Spices.  On it's own, Dona Sol Merlot is a very dark, almost black-ruby color, with rich legs.  Not too shabby for a wine under $5.  The only thing I found off-putting about this red was it's nose, which had a strong, burning, rubbing alcohol and industrial smell to it.  Pairing the wine with the rich, meaty, lasagna helped to tone down the wine's initial industrial nose, and allowed for the subtler cherry and plum flavors to come through.  I also found that it made the dinner as a whole much more rich and well rounded.  I suppose the lesson one could take from this pairing, is that perhaps a "cheap" wine can be enhanced by pairing it with food or infusing the food with the wine to bring out the subtler flavors.  Overall, the dinner and wine made for a very nice pairing - maybe not a wine I would have again on it's own, but definitely with lasagna!

Tasting Week 4: Faraway Farms Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Bosman's Crossing (Western Cape)

Country: South Africa

Year: 2008

Price: $5.95

Food?: Paired with french bread.

Winery Review:
Our Shiraz will spoil you with flavors of rich juicy blackberry, dark spice, and just a hint of black pepper

My Review:  
Bright Magenta in color, this Shiraz features a warm leathery taste with almost no heat from the alcohol.  Oddly enough, this red has a very industrial taste and smell, including:  baby powder, leather shoes, and "new car."  Towards the mid-end palate I do notice a light cherry, almost floral, fragrance.  Not a bad combination for around $5!   I can't believe I am saying this, but I actually enjoy the leathery taste, almost like licking a new coach bag!  What could you want more out of a wine?   While the Chocolate Box Shiraz remains my favorite, this isn't a bad choice for second place. 

Tasting Week 3: Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown

Variety: Wheat Beer

Region: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Country: USA!

Year: 2011

Price: > $10 a case?

Food?: Not paired with food.

Brewery Review:

Features pale and red wheat with natural hazelnut flavor.

My Review:

Beer?  Yes, Please.  This warm and nutty beer is perfect for a cold winter's day, featuring a deep gold/brown color and a warm nutty fragrance.  There is a milk chocolatey and nutty taste towards the mid-end palate, with almost no bitterness or heat from the alcohol.  Funny enough, this beer reminds me of tootsie rolls and hot chocolate, a definite winter must-have.  While it is a little on the sweet side for my taste, I would absolutely recommend this slightly thik beer during the winter/holiday season.  Cheers!

Tasting Week 3: Cabernet Sauvignon Chocolate Box

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Northern Barossa Valley 

Country: (Southern) Australia 

Year: 2009

Price: $15.00 (and worth every penny)

Food?: Paired with milk chocolate

Winery's Review:
The gift of chocolate is prized for its unique indulgent character.  This package is a chocolate box of another kind - an indulgence of fine wine.  Enjoy your own liquid candy.

My Review:

Looking for a Valentine's date... or two?  This second "Chocolate Box" Wine features "Truffle Chocolate, with a very similar fragrance and color to its Shiraz counterpart.  I found, however, that the Cabernet Sauvignon features a much more spiced (peppery) note on the palate with some heat from the alcohol.  I also noticed an unpleasant rubbery/burnt note towards the end-palate, that is alleviated slightly by combining the wine with chocolate.  Of the pair, I would have to say the blonde (Shiraz) was the more fruity and my personal favorite of the two, while the brunette (Cabernet Sauvignon) proved to be too bitter and spicy for my palate.  Happy Valentine-ing all :) 

Tasting Week 3: Shiraz Chocolate Box

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Northern Barossa Valley 

Country: (Southern) Australia 

Year: 2009

Price: $15.00 (and worth every penny)

Food?: Paired with milk chocolate

Winery Review:
Selected fruit from family owned vineyards in the northern Barossa Valley.   This wine showcases classical Barossa Black Fruit characters with Dark Chocolate flavors matured for 2 years in a combination of French and American oak barrels.  

My Review:

Perfect in every way for Valentine's Day, Chocolate Box's "Shiraz" wine comes highly rated from the Vintage Cellar, bearing 91 points.  Not only does this wine come highly rated, but also features an eye-catching label with a blonde vintage inspired pin-up girl.  Deep magenta in color, I found this red (or blonde?) to be very light and sweet on the nose with a hint of plum and blackberry.  The wine features a very fruity, blackberry pie taste on the mid-pallete and also an interesting kalamatra olive flavor towards the end-pallate.  An interesting combination that is only enhanced with milk chocolate.   I would say, however, that the milk chocolate tends to bring out the bitter tannins a bit more than I would like, and a dark chocolate pairing would be more appropriate.  Overall, I would say that this wine would make a very sweet date, 100 points in my book. 

Tasting Week 3: Tilia

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Mendoza 

Country: Argentina 

Year: 2010

Price: $9.49

Food?: Paired with milk chocolate

Winery Review:
Tilia is sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards in the Eastern and Southern regions of Mendoza.  Tilia Chardonnay shows ripe citrus and peach fruit flavors and aromas with a touch of sweet vanilla and a crisp, clean, refreshing finish. 

My Review:  
A very interesting find during a late-night, post-studio, jaunt through the local  grocery store, I was very surprised by this Argentinian wine.  This white has a very pleasing champagne color, with a very light and crisp apple and pear nose.  I could also detect a muted floral hint that I was also able to pick up on towards the end-palate.  There was a strong fruity sour-apple taste initially, with a smooth and buttery tactile sense towards the end.  When tasted with chocolate, I found the wine to have a strong and almost unbearable citrus pungency, and to be quite dry.  I would suggest either a darker chocolate, or possibly cheese to pair with this white to preserve the light apple crispness detected during the first tasting.  Overall, a very good find and a "pretty" summer/fall wine to enjoy.

Tasting Week 3: llama

Variety: Malbec (old vine 100+yrs)

Region: Alto Agrelo Valley, Lujan de Cuyo

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $11.99

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:
Rich ruby-purple colored, Llama boasts elegant flavors of blackberries, ripe plum, and robust spices with good balance and structure enhanced through aging six months in French oak barrels.


My Review:
This deep magenta red will not disappoint on llama-filled goodness.  Not only does this red feature a pretty fly silver embossed label, I found it to live up to its "robust spicy" llama-like nature.  Even from first sniff, I could detect a rich peppery note along with a subtle dark sweetness, that flooded the senses and the palate upon first tasting. While I would say the peppery/spicy notes were the loudest by far, I also found the wine quite noticeably balanced by very cool and muted notes of dark berries towards the mid-end palate.  While there is not much heat from the alcohol, I do notice a tingly/stinging sensation mid-palate that I would attribute to the Argentinian spices.  Over-all I would say that this was a little too spicy for my taste, but may pair nicely with chocolate.  Perhaps a little nutella is in order?