Tasting - Manfred Breit Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese

Name: Manfred Breit Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Mosel
Country: Germany
Year: 2012
Price: $18.95

Store Review: The late harvested Spatlese wines are medium bodied but still very flowery, with good aging potential. This Goldtropfchen Spatlese is very fresh with a nice tropical fruit flavor balanced with the acidity. This wine has good potential for aging at least 8 years.

My Review: This wine had a super pale color and I could immediately smell the tropical fruits on my nose. Upon tasting, I realized this is one of the sweetest wines that I have ever tasted.  It had wonderfully soft tannins and basically no acidity.  I was surprised that the tropical fruits tasted even better than they smelled.  I would definitely recommend this for anyone having a "girls' night" in the near future (including myself!)!

I did not have any food with this wine.

Tasting- Oliver Hill Red Silk Shiraz

Name: Oliver Hill Red Silk Shiraz

Variety: 100% Shiraz/Syrah

Region: McLaren Vale

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Price: $19.95

Robert Parkers' The Wine Advocate Review: Full-bodied and packed with concentrated blackberry preserve and menthol flavors, it has a good backbone of medium to firm rounded tannins.

My Review: This had to have been my favorite red wine of the day. I could smell the blackberries on the nose and it had an even bigger, fuller flavor in my mouth.  At first, I thought the tannins were somewhat softer than the description led on, but after a few more sips I noticed they were not as soft a I first thought. I could even see some granules left in the bottom of my glass. I would have liked to spend a little more time with this wine and would love to try this again with a risotto.

I did not have any food with this wine.

Tasting - Picket Fence Russian River Pinot Noir

Name: Picket Fence Pinot Noir

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Sonoma County, California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $16.95

Winery Review:  Aromas of brandy-macerated red cherries, bay laurel, duck fat, forest floor, toasty baking spices, and warm vanilla. The chewy red and black fruits come through in the mouth with layers of fine tannins and just a whisper of smoldering French oak. A delicious finish ends this wine on a lush note of creme brûlée topped with plum compote.

My Review: One of the first things I noticed about the wine was how light the red color was. This made me think it would not be as full-bodied upon tasting, but I was quite wrong.  My nose immediately loved the smell of this wine as the cream flavors came through. Upon tasting, I could taste the creamy cherry flavor and a hint of spices.  I will definitely have this wine again.

I dd not have this wine with food.

Tasting- Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc made from a blend of three different clones from 9-19 year old vines

Region: Casablanca

Country: Chile

Year: 2013

Price: $12.95

Winery Review: On the nose intense notes of key lime, grapefruit and fresh ginger dominate with just a hint of salinity.  In the mouth, bright flavours of ginger and citrus zest give way to a tight mineral backbone and rapier-like acidity.

My Review: Upon smelling this wine, I picked up traces of citrus and pear. After tasting it, I did get more of a sense of a different fruit flavor that seemed somewhat complex and had a very little bit of tartness.  This wine had soft tannins and was quite refreshing!  

I did not have any food with this wine.

Tasting - IL Paggio Chianti

Name: IL Paggio Chianti
Variety: 95% Sangiovese and others as per regulations
Region: Chianti region, Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $12.99

Winery Review: Bright ruby red with appealing purple hues. Soft and well balanced on the palate with aromas or ripe berries undertone. Geranium, pepper, and cherry feature on the nose, with some slightly vinous notes. Soft tannins and red fruit flavors deliver an elegant structure, ideal to accompany cold buts and grilled meats.

My Review: This red wine had a beautiful color and I noticed it had nice legs while I was swirling it in my glass. I took a few of sniffs before tasting and was able to sense the fruity berries. Upon tasting it, I immediately found this wine to be very smooth with soft tannins. The berry flavor was even more evident, especially toward the beginning and middle of the tasting. However, there were occasions when I felt a bite near the end of the tasting, yet it did not have a distinct flavor. As recommended online, I had pieces of aged asiago cheese in between my consumption of this wine.

Tasting - Celani Siglo Red

Name: Celani Siglo Red

Variety: 100% Merlot

Region: Napa, California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $29.95

Winery Review: The 2013 Celani Siglo is 100% Merlot made, a selection from the Celani family Estate Vineyard. After pressing to 30% new oak, the wine continued malolactic fermentation in barrel, and was bottled unfixed and unfiltered. The 2013 Siglo is extremely aromatic with huge expressions of bright, lush black raspberries, juicy plums, dark chocolate, and rhubarb. Subtle notes of orange peel, wet rock, and pencil lead add further compliment. In the mouth, are richly concentrated flavors of candied black and red raspberries, black cherries, and roasted black berries. The powerful flavors are beautifully integrated with lush, velvety tannins resulting in a luscious seamless quality. The 2013 Celani Siglo will drink amazingly well over the next 10 years.

My Review: The Celani Silo was my favorite red wine of the day. The wine definitely had the taste of berries, yet the many berry flavors listed in the winery review were not distinct to me over the course of my sipping.  Other flavors were apparent as well, yet I am hesitant to call them "wet rock" and "pencil lead."  Besides the delicious flavor, what really sold me on the wine was the overall smoothness. This will definitely be a wine to try again.

I did not have any food with this wine.

Tasting - Masseria Surani Puglia Ares Red

Name: Masseria Surani Puglia Ares Red

Variety: 50% Primitivo, 30% Negroamaro, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Puglia

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $12.95

Winery Review: Intense ruby red color. Red fruits, black-cherry on the nose. Sapid, balanced acidity, soft tannins, medium-bodied. Rich first courses, red and roasted meats.

My Review: I had a piece of blue cheese before sampling this wine and I think that really helped to bring out the fruit flavors.  Immediately upon tasting, I could also feel the soft tannins but thought it was a bit acidic towards the end of the tasting. If I had another piece of cheese before my next sip, I think I would detect even less of the acidity and therefore enjoy the wine more thoroughly.

Tasting - Dom La Grand Ribe Cotes du Rhone

Name: Dom La Grand Ribe Cotes du Rhone
Variety: Mostly Grenache with a small amount of Syrah
Region: Cotes-Du-Rhone Village, Southern Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2009
Price: $14.95

Shop Review: Beautiful, intense ruby color, profound, lively, and brilliant. The nose is intense with aromas of cassis and red fruit. In the mouth, you'll discover a fresh and fleshly wine, still with blackcurrant and crushed strawberry; fine tannins.

My Review: This was one of the first wines I tasted today that does not seem to match its description. Between sniffing and tasting, I was unable to detect the fruit flavors in this wine and was overcome with a disappointing tartness. While the flavor was not to my liking, this wine did have fine tannins that were not as evident in other wines I tasted today.

I did not have food with the wine.

Tasting - Dog Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Dog Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Marlborough

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2014

Price: $19.95

Winery Review: Bouquet: Distinctive varietal character; ripe tropical fruits, melon, lemongrass, citrus. Soft-textured palate, purity of fruit, intense flavor, balanced refreshing acidity. Food match: white meats, pale cheeses, seafood especially scallops and oysters.

My Review: I could smell the fruitiness of this wine right away. After the first sip, I could detect these fruits were melon and a type of lemon, but more earthy in its flavor. I agree that "lemongrass" would be a good descriptor for this. I found that this wine did have 3 distinct flavors at the beginning, middle, and end, yet I do not know how to describe these differences yet. This wine became smoother after a few sips, but I could taste more of the acidity toward the end of the taste. I would love to try this again with a food pairing to see how the flavor further develops.

I did not have any food while tasting this wine.

Tasting - Telmo Rodriguez Rueda Basa

Name: Telmo Rodriguez Rueda Basa

Variety: 85% Verdejo, 3% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Viura

Region: Rueda 

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $12.95

Shop Review: Dusty aromas of unripe melon and apple are pyrazinic. A bit of spritz greets you on the palate, while flavors of green citrus run heavy and pithy.

My Review: Upon first smelling this wine, the citrus was very noticeable and refreshing. After the initial taste, I was able to detect the melon flavor but not quite the apple. As I continued to sip this wine, I did not find the citrus flavor to be heavy like its review stated.  Overall, I found it to be a smooth and enjoyable wine that I would drink again. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine.

My First Wine Post!

      Welcome to my first blog post for my Geography of Wine Class! Even though I am almost 22 years old, I still consider myself "newly 21" in that I am still learning which types of alcoholic beverages, particularly wines, I like. I am excited to take this course to learn more about the art and science of wine, how geography affects grape production and taste, and of course how to navigate the endless possibilities of wines out there.

    When I was 18, I had the opportunity to travel to Italy with my high school classmates and it was there in Assisi that I tried my first sip of wine. And of course, I hated it. Sure, it was only the table wine that everyone was served but I hated the taste so much that I didn't bother to put a few euros out there to try a better wine. The next day we got to go to a wine tasting in Assisi and I didn't really want to try them after my one bad experience and I seriously regret this now. Looks like I need to make a trip back to Italy soon...

   Now at the age of "almost 22," I have come to appreciate the taste of wine over the past year.  When I was at home for breaks, my family would occasionally have wine with our pasta dinners or we would make delicious sangria during the summer time.  Over the course of this year,  I found that I generally prefer white wines to red wines, especially if I am not eating food with either of them.  While the red wines are growing on me more, many remain too strong for my liking.  When I visited the Williamsburg Winery over Winter Break, I was able to taste about 10 different wines and start learning what I like and really do not like.

An afternoon of tasting at the Williamsburg Winery

If you asked me what my favorite bottle of wine is, I probably could not tell you since I'll usually just take what everyone else is having.  So, I hope this class will teach me more about the different grapes that are used to make wines so I can categorize my wines in a more sophisticated way than just "white" versus "red."  I am also interested in learning about how the same types of grapes can produce different tastes in wines due to their geography or country of origin.

I look forward to an exciting and informative class! Stay tuned for posts about my wine tastings, winery visits, and possibly more!

This girl is ready to learn more about wine!