Wine Tasting # 3

Name: Avelium Puglia I.G.P.

Producer: Masseria Pertuso 

Variety: Bombino Bianco/Chardonnay

Region: Puglia

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2016

Price: $15

Wine Review: "From the Apulia region of Comune di Andria nella zona, the color is Straw yellow with greenish reflections. A fresh bouquet with floral and cirtus fruits characteristics. A wonderful wine to pair with fish."

My Review: A fruity, smooth wine that is fairly light in body. Slight smoky smell with a melon like finish. 

Name: Pieter Cruythoff Sauvignon Blanc 

Producer: Pieter Cruythoff

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Swartland

Country: South Africa

Vintage: 2015

Price: $10

Wine Review: "Made in a definite herbaceous style, this Sauvignon Blanc also offers tropical undertones of gooseberries that add fruit to the palate. Well-balanced with zesty acidity, every glassful is fresh and crisp, and perfect for warm summer days."

My Review: Hints of pineapple along with strong tropical fruit were the primary tastes from this particular wine. Went down the palate smoothly with a sweet aftertaste. 

Name: Vigna Lenuzza Cabernet Franc

Producer: Vigna Lenuzza

Variety: Cabernet Franc

Region: Friuli

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2011

Price: $15

Wine Review: "With a ruby red color and with intense purplish reflections it has a nose of red fruits like cherry, raspberry, and blackberry, to spices like marjoram, rhubarb and white pepper. On the palate it is pleasantly fresh, not too heavy, with sweet tannins and with soft herbaceous notes, which are the traditional characteristics of the Cabernet-Franc."

My Review: Smells of smoke and oak were the main scents that hit the nose. Cherry, strawberry and spices made this wine particularly zesty. There were also traces of hay that were left on the palette. Slight acidity, and was particularly dry.

Name: Terre dei Savoia Barbaresco

Producer: Terre dei Savoia

Variety: Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2010

Price: $40

Wine Review: "Red berry, rose, leather and baking spice aromas come together in the glass. The structured, juicy palate doles out ripe black cherry, licorice, roasted herb and tobacco alongside firm, velvety tannins. Still young and bracing, give this a few more years to fully develop. Drink 2016–2026."

My Review: Earthy aromas along with more spices on the nose than the Cabernet Franc. Oaky flavor along with some licorice and strawberry to round it all out. Not particularly dry with a slight acidity. 

Name: Crane Lake Riesling

Producer: Crane Lake

Variety: Riesling

Region: California

Country: United States

Vintage: 2017

Price: $9

Wine Review: "This light-colored wine displays aromas of honeysuckle and orange blossom; flavors include green apple and peach. The finish is mildly sweet, crisp, and lingering. This wine is an excellent aperitif, yet it pairs well with a number of different foods. Try it with New England clam chowder, smoked salmon, Chinese chicken salad, roasted duck, or scallops in a cream sauce."

My Review: Very tasty with flavors of pineapple, raspberry and a citrus-like feel with a particularly floral like smell. A semi-sweet like aftertaste leaving a want for more. 

Wine Tasting #2

Name: Tournon Victoria Mathilda 

Producer: Michael Chapoutier 

Variety: Viognier, Marsanne

Region: Victoria

Country: Australia

Vintage: 2014

Price: $20

Wine Review: "Orange blossom and mango aromas leap out of the glass, with a fleshy core and a juicy finish, accented by hints of citrus zest. Viognier and Marsanne."

My Review: "Fruity aromas permeate from this slightly sweet wine with the taste of ripe pineapples and a slight citrus acidity." 

Name: Casa Bella Pinot Grigio

Producer: Casa Bella

Variety: Pinot Grigio 

Region: Provincia Di Pavia 

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2017

Price: $10

Wine Review: "Produced by macerating Pinot Grigio grape must with its skins. The skins’ pink hue give the wines its copper color. Flavors of green pear, pomegranate, and honeysuckle. It is somewhat of a big burst of opulent tropical flowers, orchid-like scented, with hints of flower, pungent oily floral notes." 

My Review: An interesting penny-like color that tasted of peach, pear, and tropical fruits. Dry, tropical flowers wafted from this particular wine. Some slight acidity. 

Name: Vina Temprana Garnacha 

Producer: Bodegas Aragonesas 

Variety: Old Vines Garnacha

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain

Vintage: 2017

Price: $9.95

Wine Review: "This wine's bright raspberry and plum aromas are typical of Garnacha. Its fresh, racy palate isn't heavily structured, offering a lovely mix of plum, oak and chocolate flavors."

My Review: An almost vegetative like smell of oak was observed. There were hints of blueberries, cherries, and an almost caramel like taste. Left an undesirable aftertaste, possibly from the tannins present. 

Name: Bricco dei Tati Piemonte Barbara

Producer: Bricco dei Tati

Variety: Piemonte Barbera

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2014

Price: $8.95

Wine Review: "This is a young, fresh, lively Barbera with a persistent and attractive bouquet of black cherries and a bit of spice on the palate. It has few tannins which is typical of the Barbera varietal, and a medium finish. Delightfully approachable, pairs great with cheese, barbecue and game."

My Review: A subtle hint of spice with a mixture of blackberries and cherries were at the forefront of this smooth tasting wine. There was a slight increase in acidity after going down the palette. Smelled sweet, taking on the fruity flavors present. 

Name: Douglas Hill Sweet Red Table Wine

Producer: Douglas Hill

Variety: Shiraz, Barbera, Grenache

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $7.95

Wine Review: "A blend of Shiraz, Barbera, and Grenache with flavors of fresh berries and stone fruits, this sweet-style, easy-drinking wine is delicious when served with appetizers, seafood, shellfish, pork, poultry, and desserts."

My Review: An extremely smooth, sweet tasting wine with mixtures of strawberries and other sweet fruits. Smelled slightly like cinnamon. Will definitely try with the food mentioned in the wine review. 

My First Wine Tasting

Name: Giarola Bianco di Custoza Saint Valery
Producer: Saint Valery
Variety: 40% Garganega, 25% Cortese, 20% Trebbiano toscano, and 15% blend of Trebbianello & Chardonnay
Region: Custoza
Country: Italy
Price: $15
Wine Review: "Giarola Bianco di Custoza Saint Valery is made from 40% Garganega, 25% Cortese, 20% Trebbiano toscano, 15% blend of Trebbianello & Chardonnay. Brilliant pale straw-yellow color with greenish reflections. Fruity, floral bouquet. Dry, crisp and clean with a soft, fruity finish. Harmonious and refreshing. Pairs best with seafood, grilled and roasted white meats and chef salads."
My Review: Light, yellow tinged glow. Medium bodied. Contained a citrus like flavor with a berry-like slightly burning aftertaste. A little dry, but goes down smoothly until the aftertaste becomes present. 

Name: 2013 Sauvignon Blanc 
Producer: Four Sisters
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Region: Central Victoria
Country/Continent: Australia 
Vintage: 2013
Price: $9.00
Wine Review: "Vibrant passionfruit, gooseberry and lemon citrus flavours shine through on the nose and palate with a fresh, crisp finish. A fantastic match with fresh shellfish, sushi or smoked salmon."
My Review: Full bodied, and very distasteful. Smelled strongly of alcohol instead of the mixture of berries present in the wine review. An almost musky smell and taste persisted, with an earthy taste persisting on the palette. Found it rather dry. 

Name: Tenuta Rapitala Nero D'Avola
Producer: Tenuta Rapitala
Variety: Nero D'Avola
Region: Campo Reale/Sicily
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2016
Price: $14
Wine Review: "This early-drinking Nero d'Avola opens with ripe black-skinned fruit, tilled soil and cooking spice aromas. Straightforward and savory, it delivers black cherry, blackberry and ground pepper flavors alongside round tannins."
My Review: Fuller bodied with cherry and spicy aromas that instantly hit the nose and palette. Also contained a slightly earthy taste with hints of black pepper that were tasty. A beautiful darker red color.

Name: Tres Ojos
Producer: Tres Ojos
Variety: Old Vines Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2016
Price: $12
Wine Review: "The wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness."
My Review: Medium bodied with a dark red color. Spices made up the smell of this wine. A little on the dry side with a fruity and raspberry like flavor that was really enjoyable while swishing the wine in my mouth. Went down the palate very smoothly.

Name: Sangria
Producer: Vina Galana
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Price: $9.00
Wine Review: "Natural fruit flavors and succulent red wine all fused together in one bottle. This doesn’t require a punch bowl and big ladle, you can chill your bottle in a cooler and head out to the beach or a hike and enjoy a cup of the best sangria anywhere you choose to be."

My Review: By far the most delicious of the five wines in this list. I loved the cinnamon flavors that reminded me of red hot chewing gum. The flavors absolutely burst in your mouth with a nice sweet finish. Light bodied.