Tasting Week 7: Night Harvest

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: USA!

Year: N/A

Price: $5.95

Food?: Paired with wine-infused vodka sauce and pasta.

Winery Review: 

Golden in color, this rich and cream Chardonnay offers ripe pear and green apple aromas.  The soft, smooth finish showcases a subtle hint of toasty oak and vanilla character.

My Review:
Very light and almost unnoticeable in color, this Californian Chardonnay features mostly fruity notes on the nose.  These are most notably pear and green apple scents, but also a strange, twisting, cat urine undertone.  Landing fairly pleasantly on the palate, this white also features bright pear and citrus notes on the mid-palate with hints of some oaky/butteryness towards the end-palate.  While I enjoyed the breakdown of the flavors individually, I did not find this wine to be particularly cohesive.  I typically enjoy the balance between bright citruses and warmer vanilla flavors, although I found this particular white to retain too much of the the harsh, biting citrus fruits flavors.  Certainly not the worst, but not the best, Chardonnay out there.

Tasting Week 7: Mars & Venus Cab Sauv.

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Central Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review: 
This is a fresh, palate friendly wine with notable tannins, boasting colors of garnet and scents of ripe cherry.  This is a full-bodied Cab offering flavors of cherry, chewy blackberry, hints of vanilla and consistent oak.  Easy pairing for red meats off the grill or mixed with a hearty tomato sauce. (www.internationalcellar.com)

My Review:

I have actively been eye-ing this captivating red from the Vintage Cellar for a few weeks now - watching as its numbers dwindle in the sales section.  It seems to be very popular, and surprisingly affordable - I just had to give in eventually.  The description of the wine's color from internationalcellar.com is right on, as this red solicits a "garnet", but noticeably more magenta, reddish hue. This cab sauv features surprisingly sweet and fruity notes on the nose, with definite cherry characteristics in the mix as well.  I would say that the sweetness has almost a maple syrup like appeal - not exactly what I look for in a red - but interesting none-the-less.  Upon tasting, I actually found this red to be decently balanced.  The mouth-puckering tannins were there, but were a nice finish in contrast to the sweet cherry notes in the mid-palate.  Simply put, this red had a range of sweet and tangy from start to finish with highlights of cherry and oaky/vanilla notes.  Not a bad deal at all for sub $6!  I would say this is a terrific find for the wine-connoisseuring college student. 

Tasting Week 6: Blau

Variety: Mazuelo, Syrah, and Garnacha Blend

Region: Montsant

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $13.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:
Cherry, pomegranate, mountain herb and smoke notes mingle in this expressive red.  There's a gentle texture, yet well-integrated tannins provide structure and bright acidity enlivens the floral finish.  

My Review: 
Bright ruby-red in color, this blend features an interesting flavor profile between light florals and deep earthy smokey notes.  This red has earthy, dirt notes on the nose that land a little more subtle on the palate.  The woodsy, tones are balanced by the expressive floral bouquet on the mid-end palate.  This red also features a strange tangy tannic structure that actually complements the burning floral complex of the wine.  I imagine that this red would pair delightfully well with a dark bitter chocolate.  

Tasting Week 6: Poggio alle Querce II Guado Bolgheri

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot Blend 

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Year: 2007

Price: $19.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:

Enticing plum and black cherry flavors are accented by oak spice and iron in this intense, muscular red.  Saturates the palate, eventually leaving the steely structure to grace the finish.  The fruit echoes.

My Review:
Probably one of the most interesting reds that I have tasted so far.  This cab sauv - merlot blend is almost burnt orange in color, and features notes of dark cherry and spice on the nose.  There is a burst of clove and potpourri flavors on the mid-palate, with undertones of cherry and current that add complexity towards the end-palate.  I enjoyed this red's slight unbalance, and strong tannic structure.  Like a good book or movie, this red continues to open up during the tasting, and would be perfect on a wintery night. 

Tasting Week 6: Cristobal Verdelho

Variety: Verdelho

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: N/A

Price: $9.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:

Made with Finca La Pinta grapes, this unique wine in Argentina, which takes its origin from Portugal, is characterized by its fruity aromas with floral tones and its freshness highlighted by its balanced acidity in the mouth.

My Review:
A citrus bomb, this Argentinian Verdelho features bright, crisp green apple notes on both the nose and grapefruit on the palate.  This white has a strong floral bouquet that balances the tangy and dry citrus notes on the palate.  While I personally found this wine a little too bitter and biting for my taste, for someone who prefers the extra-dry, tropical citrus notes of white wines, this wouldn't be a bad choice.

Tasting Week 6: MandraRossa Fiano

Variety: Fiano

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: N/A

Price: $13.95

Food?: Not paired with food.

Winery Review:

Brilliant pale yellow with hints of green.  Ripe tropical fruits and citrus aromas Medium - bodied and dry with elegant balance.  The fruit and citrus aromas on the nose evolve on the palate in an array of fruit flavors.  Enjoy with chicken and turkey entrees, fish and grilled vegetables.

My Review:

Very similar to what you would expect from a Sauvignon Blanc, I found this Sicilian white to have a harsh biting citrus fruit smell tossed in with a little bit of cat urine.  The palate was a better from the nose, with notes of grass and earthiness mixed in with some almost ripe tropical fruit flavors.  This white was fairly dry, light, and smoother towards the end-palate.  While this white was not my favorite of the tasting, it was fairly balanced with some dryness that counter-acted the more biting citrus flavors.  A pretty decent white all in all. 

Tasting Week 6: Anima Trebbiano D'Abruzzo

Variety: White Grapes (Trebbiano)

Region: Abruzzo

Country: Italy

Year: 2008

Price: $15.95

Food?: Not paired with food.






Winery Review: 
A luminous straw yellow color, a persistent, fruity and intense fragrant floral nose, with a hint of honey, turning to fresh citrus fruit and peach on the medium palate.  Bright acidity gives the finish a crisp kick.


My Review:
Finally, a white wine with some body!  Out of the wines that I've tasted thus far in the semester, I would say this white definitely held its own.  This white fell very light and floral on the nose, with a very balanced and dry tactile sensation on the palate.  While there was not much color to the wine, there was definitely a medley of citrus fruit, pear, and a wonderful bursting bouquet on the palate.  With each taste, I detected a different fruit or flower.  A great white for novice to expert wine drinker alike!  This white featured enough balance and complexity to be interesting, but still easy enough for the beginner to get their palate around.  Although it was a little pricy, I ended up buying a bottle as a gift - a very pretty and enchanting white wine always makes a great gift!