Cune Rioja Blend Tasting

Name: Cune Rioja
Variety: 60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: Unspecified
Price: $15

 

Critic Review

"There is a new organic recd, the debut of which is the 2019 Cune Organic, a blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, and 10% Graciano from external suppliers. That's quite an unusual blend for them, as they tend to use more Tempranillo, and it brings a different combination of freshness and power. I nearly fell off my chair when I put my nose in the glass, as the wine screamed GARNACHA - but traditional Garnacha at its floral and herbal best, with the sweet cherry fruit, red licorice and the chalky tannins from the limestone soil. It's balanced, tasty, and juicy, truly delicious. They have newer released a wine like this or such a young red. Amazing young Garnacha for the by-the-glass market. Bravo!"

- Robert Parker (via the Vintage Cellar)

Wine Folly

 I did not find a page on Garnacha or Graciano, but page 175 says Tempranillo wines are known for their cherry and cedar notes. I definitely tasted cherry, and I also tasted oak, which lines up with the woody notes the book says to expect.

Personal Review

This wine is very fruit-forward, with particularly strong notes of cherry and strawberry, and some oaky, chocolatey notes behind. This wine got significantly better after I had it open for a few days, which I attribute to the fact that I did not initially decant it. This is one of the better red wines I've tried, and it's nicely priced at $15. 

 

HRW Zinfandel Tasting

Name: HRW Zinfandel
Variety: 100% Zinfandel
Region: Napa Valley
Country: United States
Year: 2020
Price: $20

Critic Review

"Medium purple-ruby color. Cedary spice, tea leaves, briar, dark berries and pepper  on the nose. Light to medium-bodied, with a bright fruit-driven palate. On the palate, flavors of cocoa, blackberry jam,, and strawberry. Easy drinking, moderately structures."

- Vintage Cellar

Wine Folly

According to page 189 of Wine Folly, Zinfandel wines are characterized by berry flavors, peach preserves, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco. I got notes that resembled cinnamon and sweet tobacco, but the only fruit note I got was plum. I was surprised to not find any of the fruits listed in the book.

Personal Review

This wine had a very full plum aroma with spicy and metallic undertones. The flavor was a rather dry and had the same plum note from the aroma, but it was blended with a new cedary flavor. I liked this wine, but I thought it could have been closer to the $10-15 range.

Dr. L Riesling Tasting

 

 

Name: Dr. L 2021 Riesling
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Mosel
Country: Germany
Year: 2021
Price: $14

Critic Review

https://winelibrary.com/wines/riesling/2021-dr-loosen-l-riesling-130580

"Dr. L 2021 Riesling is a superb value Mosel Qualitätswein under $16. Fragrant with lemon pudding, ripe apple and peach jam aromas, the wine is off-dry, medium-bodied and mouth-filling with apple, peach, tropical fruit, lemon meringue and spring rain minerality on the palate. So good now with spicy pork ribs from the grill or try it with smoked-salmon Bennies."

89/100

Natalie MacLean - Natalie MacLean Wine Reviews and Ratings

Wine Folly

This wine was particularly strong with the lime flavor listed on page 158 of the book. It also had a strong green apple flavor, which is shown on the same page. though it's from Germany, it seems to match up more closely with the flavor profile of a French Riesling, as described on page 159 of the book.  

Personal Review

This wine had a fruit-forward aroma and flavor dominated by green apple and lime. There was a hint of bitterness on the smell that was replaced by a bit of sweetness on the flavor. The wine's color was also remarkably light. I thought it was pretty nice, though I've tasted a Riesling or two that I liked more at around this price range.

Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend Tasting

Name: Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend
Variety: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2017
Price: $12

Critic Review

"This is not a wine about complexity. It’s about a perception of cherry cola and alcohol that will never change from vintage to vintage. It smells like a Christmas shop in August. It does not taste like a wine made with care, but mass produced with no care in mind. It has low alcohol, but somehow the heat comes at you first. But hey if you're in a pinch it would work on a wine table at a huge party where wine is not the focus."

- Keith Beavers

Wine Folly

According to pages on each of the grapes that make up this blend (88, 131, 172 and 189), they mostly share the same general flavor profile dominated by dark fruit and spices. I tasted an especially strong representation of the Cabernet Sauvignon's flavors, which are listed as black cherry, black currant, cedar, and baking spices.

Personal Review

This wine had smells of of dark fruit and mocha, and flavors of currant and spices. there wasn't anything wrong with it, but it tasted like pretty standard red wine without much to set it apart from other reds. It was also pretty cheap though, so if you're looking for a pretty average red wine at a low price, then this could be a decent pick.

 

 

Wine Dinner 1

  

It's time for the first wine dinner of the semester! For this tasting, my friends and I paired oyster, pork, and cake with three wines. We paired these dishes with a sparkling Blanc de Blanc, a Malbec, and a Vermouth, respectively. The first thing we had was the oysters with the Saint-Hilaire Blanc de Blanc. The wine smelled like dry pasta with a hint of sweetness, and it had a fairly dry flavor that tasted like strawberry seltzer water. The oysters were great, and paired nicely with the wine, bringing out a pleasant sweetness.

 

 

 

The second pairing we had was pork chops and potatoes with a Vista Flores Malbec. The wine had a bold aroma of cherry and mocha, but was surprisingly mild on the palette. The flavors I identified were cherry and plum. Interestingly, pairing the wine with the pork reintroduced the mocha note to the flavor, balancing out the fruity notes I tasted before. The pork and potatoes were also wonderful on their own.

Our dessert was a chocolate cherry cake paired with a Perucchi White Vermouth. The vermouth was unlike anything I've tasted before for this class. It had a rich, complex gingery smell accompanied by notes of honey, cinnamon, and possibly some other spices. The flavor was similar to the smell, with a stronger honey flavor, and a bit of licorice as well. The cake was amazing, and it strengthened the ginger flavor of the wine while introducing a minty character.

It's a tough choice to pick a winner between the three pairings, but I think my favorite has to be the Vermouth with the cake. The Vermouth blew me away on its own, and pairing it with the cake enhanced its flavor while adding even more complexity. I think second place would have to be a tie between the other two pairings. They both added a very nice balance to the dishes they were paired with. Overall, this was my favorite tasting experience so far this semester. I can't wait for the next one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wine and Cheese Tasting 1

 

I did this wine and cheese tasting with some members of my wonderful wine group. My (blurry) picture to the right shows everyone who was at this tasting except for two who eluded my camera. We tried an Asti, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Shiraz, and paired them with sharp cheddar, gouda, and brie. Without further ado, let's get into the details of the tasting!

We started off the tasting with Martini & Rossi's Asti. It was a sparkling white wine with a very fruity smell dominated by green apple and pear. The flavor was rather sweet and peachy,  and it paired best with the brie cheese. The brie brought out a bit of lemony tartness in the wine that nicely balanced the sweetness. The next cheese I tried was the sharp cheddar. Though I didn't expect the sharp cheddar to pair well with this wine, I was still disappointed. The cheddar and wine clashed badly, bringing out a very unpleasant saltiness in the cheese while overpowering all of the wine's sweetness. The last cheese I tried was the gouda.  Though I tasted the flavors of the wine and gouda at the same time, they didn't seem to interact much. Overall for the Asti, the brie was a clear winner, with the cheddar being a bad pairing, and the gouda being neutral.

The second wine we tried was the Smith Hook Cabernet Sauvignon. It had a tart, fruity smell, like an unripe plum. It was fairly dry on the palette, with notes of blackberry and mocha, and a hint of tartness. The brie got overpowered a bit, and it brought out a bit too much bitterness in the wine. The cheddar was a much better pairing, covering some of the wine's harsher flavors and letting the sweetness shine through. The gouda was mostly overpowered, like the brie, though it didn't bring out any unpleasant flavors. The cheddar was definitely the best pairing for this wine, and the other two seemed to lack enough boldness to compete with the wine's flavor.

The last wine we opened was the Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz. It had an acidic, dark fruity smell, so I was surprised by the sweet cherry and spicy notes I tasted. The brie was also a strong pairing with this wine. The creaminess of the brie really complemented the wine's texture. The cheddar didn't blend much, but it also didn't clash like it did with the Asti. The one thing it did do was bring out a touch of bitterness in the wine. I was expecting the gouda to be completely overpowered by this wine, which it surprisingly was not. Besides that, it was an unremarkable pairing, similar to the Asti.

 

The brie was the best pairing for two of the wines, but I thought the sharp cheddar with the Cabernet Sauvignon was the best pairing out of all three wines and cheeses. I thought it was interesting how it simultaneously covered up some flavors of the wine and brought out others. Overall, this tasting was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Colutta Pinot Grigio Tasting

 

Name: Colutta Fiuli Pinot Grigio Skin Contact

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Friuli Colli Orientali
Country: Italy
Year: 2021
Price: $17

Critic Review

"Hawthorn and ripe green-apple aromas mingle together on this medium-bodied white. On the round savory palate, tangy acidity lifts honeydew melon and ripe Bartlett pear before a fennel finish."

90/100

Kerin O'Keefe

Wine Folly

According to page 149 of wine folly, this varietal is known for citrus and white fruit notes, which I found a lot of in this wine. Strangely, I found no almond or gravelly notes.

Personal Review

I thought this wine was really nice. It was a nice level of sweetness with enticing citrus notes. For $17, I thought it was great for the price

Maynard's Aged Tawny Porto Tasting

 

Name: Maynard's Aged Tawny Porto
Variety: Unspecified Blend
Region: Douro Valley
Country: Portugal
Year: 2012
Price: $25

Critic Review

https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/barao-vilar-nv-maynard-10-year-old-tawny-port-blend-port-port/

90/100

"Dark-colored, this rich, full-bodied wine is flavored with dry molasses as well as raisins. Cut with acidity, it has a mature feel that is both ripe and, at the end, dry, with a fragrant aftertaste." - Roger Voss

Wine Folly

According to page 154 of Wine folly, port wines often have raisin notes. I found similar dried fruit notes, but I didn't find the other listed notes of dark fruit, chocolate, or cinnamon. I thought the absence of maple and molasses was interesting, since I expected these to be common flavors in port.

Personal Review

This is the first port I ever tried, and it was really interesting. It smelled and tasted very strongly of maple and molasses, and it was sweeter than any wine I've tasted. It also had a fairly strong date flavor. Though it was more expensive than the other wines I've tasted for this class, I will definitely consider buying another bottle if I'm looking for port. 

Siegel Special Reserve Viognier

Name: Siegel Special Reserve Viognier
Variety: 100% Viognier
Region: Valle De Calchagua
Country: Chile
Year: 2020
Price: $17

Critic Review

https://www.tastings.com/Wine-Review/Siegel-2020-Special-Reserve-Viognier-Colchagua-Valley-Chile-03-04-2021.aspx

88/100

"Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of peach gummies, tinned pears, hints of juniper, bay, and steamed rice with a supple, crisp, dryish light-to-medium body and an even, medium-length finish evoking notes of dried apple with a suggestion of oak flavor. An easy-drinking Viognier for everyday indulging".

Wine Folly

Page 186 of Wine Folly describes a bright, fruity flavor profile for Viognier wines. I tasted that as well, especially the peach. I also tasted some oaky notes in this wine that aren't listed in the book. It's also a bit cheaper than I would have expected, since Viognier is on the more expensive side of the grapes listed in the book.

 Personal Review

This wine is moderately sweet, but balanced with a soft tartness. It tasted primarily like peach at first, and the finish was more oaky with a hint of spice. It wasn't a super complex flavor profile but I think the flavors that are there are nicely balanced. I think it's a nice medium-bodied white, and a solid price for a Viognier.

19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvingon Tasting

Name: 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvingon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvingon
Region: Victoria
Country: Australia
Year: 2021
Price: $9

Critic Review

https://buywinesonline.com/products/19-crimes-cabernet-sauvignon-2021-750-ml

"Bright red to crimson hues, this wine confidently takes charge with intense lifted vanilla aromatics balanced with red currants, violets, and mulberry fruits. Firm and full on the palate with a subtle sweetness giving a rich mouth feel. The vanilla aromatics carry through on the palate and compliment subtle flavors of red currants, dark cherries, and chocolate. The palate is filled with dark berry fruit and the soft tannins provide a lingering finish."

Wine Folly

This wine seems to line up very closely with the description of Cabernet Sauvingon on pages 88 and 89 of the book. The currant and baking spices were very prominent and there was also a bit of chocolate, which matches the southern Australia regional description. The biggest difference is that this wine wasn't particularly bold, which is described as a characteristic of Cabernet Sauvingon wines from southern Australia.

Personal Review

The smell was a mix of mocha and dark fruit. The flavor had a similar currant flavor, but it trades the mocha for some spicy notes I couldn't quite identify. The body was a little weak for a Cabernet Sauvingon, but it wasn't super light. I wasn't expecting a whole lot at $9, but it was surprisingly solid.