Thursday, April 19, 2012

Tasting - Morada Sangria

Name: Morada Sangria
Variety:
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year:
Price: $4.95

A traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach , banana or apple. 


Flowery, fruity, perfumy aromas, with hints of some sort of herbs. Tasted very fruity and delicious. Smooth and cool all the way through. I really enjoyed the taste (and the price), so I purchased it.


The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Cortenova Primitivo


Name: Cortenova 
Variety: Primitivo (Zinfandel)
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Dark, ruby-red color with violet highlights. Intense and fragrant bouquet with a rich array of red and black fruit aromas and flavors. Harmonious and velvety on the palate. Great balance and structure. Excellent with grilled or roasted meats, game and cheeses. 

Very deep red color. Smelled slightly woody, very strong, with a hint of berries. Tasted very tart in my throat. Very strong flavors that I had a hard time identifying. 


The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Canyon Road Pinot Noir


Name: Canyon Road
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

This Pinot Noir expresses tantalizing flavors of ripe cherry and wild raspberry, and finishes with brown vanilla spices and a smooth finish.

Smelled of raspberries, chocolate and oak. Did not taste much like a red wine to me, except for the slightly tannic finish. It tasted of dark berries with hints of chocolate. 




The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Oak Vineyards Chardonnay


Name: Oak Vineyards
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95 (750 mL), $10.95 (1.5 L)

This light straw-colored Oak Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay expresses smokey aromatics with nuances of apple and lemon zest that continue onto the palate where they flourish into citrus, orange blossom, and smoked oak flavors until meeting a crisp, medium finish. 

Smelled fresh and crisp, with hints of lemon. Tasted smooth at first with a more tart finish. Had strong flavors that I could not identify. 


The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Poysdorfer Saurussel Gruner Veltliner


Name: Poysdorfer Saurussel
Variety: Gruner Veltliner
Region: Weinviertel
Country: Austria
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Crisp lime flavors, white pepper, and lentils, followed by a mouthful of mineral notes and gooseberry. A long lingering finish. A great accompaniment to any Asian or fresh seafood dishes. 

Had fruity aromas with a warmer background scent reminiscent of chocolate. Tasted of citrus. Slightly tart, but had something heavier in the background, possibly the same chocolate in the scent. 


The Vintage Cellar

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Tasting - Opera Prima Sweet White

Name: Opera Prima Sweet White
Variety: White blend
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Flowery and sweet smelling, then round and fairly smooth in the mouth. The flavor package of tropical fruits galore is pleasant and shouldn't offend anyone. Finishes clean and easy. A mango boat of flavor.


Smelled strongly of perfume and flowers. Almost too smelly. Tasted very sweet and soft with peach tones. Very delicious. I would buy this wine.



The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Senda 66 Tempranillo


Name: Senda 66
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2008
Price: $8.95

90 points, Robert Parker. "The 2008 Senda 66 spent 8 months in new French oak. Purple/black in color, it sports a fragrant nose of spice box, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, layered, and remarkably rich on the palate for its humble price, this lengthy effort will drink nicely over the next 5-6 years."

This wine was very dark red. It had aromas of wood, dark berries, and a bit of chocolate. It tasted mostly of dark berries, with the same hints of chocolate. It was tannic at the end and stuck to my tongue.

The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Sierra Cruz Carmenere


Name: Sierra Cruz
Variety: Carmenere
Region: Maule Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95

As a member of the cabernet sauvignon family, carmenere (pronounced car-men-yare) originated in Bordeaux as one of the grapes permitted for use in the red blends of that storied region. Chilean winemakers have embraced it and several wineries in that country produce it as a single varietal. The '09 Sierra Cruz is a very pleasant, soft, medium-bodied wine that has fresh cabernet-like aromas and flavors of spice, dark fruit, and black pepper. It is a great value and also would be a nice match with marinated and grilled skirt or flank steak. 

This wine had aromas of wet oak. It was very tart with some hints of dark berries in the background.

The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Chardonnay


Name: Lost Vineyards
Variety: Chardonnay, Torrontes
Region: Northwest corner
Country: Argentina
Year:
Price: $3.95

Pale golden color. Perfumed peach, pineapple, and nougat aromas. Round and soft with a fruity-yet-dry medium body. Tangy apple skin and lemon zest notes lift the fruit nicely on the finish. 

Smelled very strong. Could not discern any distinguishable flavors, but it was warm in my chest. Could not really decide how I felt about it overall.



The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Sierra Cruz Sauvignon Blanc


Name: Sierra Cruz
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Maule Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc just oozes with bright citrus flavors and a nose of herbs and grass. Stylistically, it is a cross between the herbal, grassy wines so prevalent in Sonoma County and the riper, more fruit forward products of New Zealand. Match it with pasta sauced with arugula, pine nuts, mushrooms and parmesan.

Smelled fresh and somewhat fruity, with a hint of wood. It tasted a bit fruity, but had a warm feeling. It had a tangy, tannic finish that stuck on my tongue.

The Vintage Cellar

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Tasting - Cantina di Casteggio Moscato di Pavia

Name: Cantina di Casteggio Moscato di Pavia
Variety: Moscato
Region: Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Bright, light golden color. Very aromatic nose of ripe apricots, sage, honey and a slight minerality. Medium bodied, sweet and fruity with flavors of apricots and tangerines. Well balanced acidity and medium finish with layers of sweet and citrus fruit.


Light pink color. Smelt of flowers, perfume, and kind of like artificially scented bathroom soap. Very bubbly. Tasted flowery, but also kind of perfumey. The artificial scents came through in the taste. I almost liked this, but there was something about it that did not taste right.

The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Montebuena Rioja Crianza


Name: Montebuena Rioja Crianza
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2007
Price: $6.95

100% Tempranillo. Dark red. Spicy red berries and cherry on the nose, with hints of cracked pepper and dried rose. Crisp and dry on the palate, with spicy redcurrant and cherry flavors, light tannins and a fresh, energetic finish. An excellent value, and surprisingly elegant for this price point.

Deep red colored wine. Smelled of berries with a hint of wood. Tasted very ashy and cigarette-like. It had a bit of a spicy finish, which left my throat burning a little. I did not care for this wine at all. 

The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Varas Vinho Tinto


Name: Varas Vinho Tinto
Variety: Castelao, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Pinot Noir
Region: Lisbon
Country: Portugal
Year: 
Price: $21.95 3L box ($5.49 bottle)

This smooth Portuguese red is a blend of Castelao (45%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Tinta Barroca (20%), and Pinot Noir (10%). The vineyards are located near Lisbon, planted in sunny gentle slopes of clay and limestone soils. The wine was aged in oak barrels. 

Strong aromas of wet wood. Tangy, tannic taste with a softer finish. Left a slightly woody flavor in my throat.




The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Oveja Negra Syrah-Cab Rose Reserva


Name: Oveja Negra Reserva Rose
Variety: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Maule Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Oveja Negra Reserva Rose is bright cherry-red in color and has an attractive nose with aromas of raspberries and strawberries as well as plum and a bit of green apple. Crisp and juicy on the palate with a slight sweetness that accompanies the red fruit flavors. Pleasing natural acidity with medium-high intensity, nice persistence, and a fresh finish. 

Had rosy, light aromas. Slightly bubbly on the tongue and very tart. The ending was full of tannins. 


The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - gPG Gargangega Pinot Grigio


Name: gPG Garganega
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: delle Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

gPG is from the delle Venezie regions of northeastern Italy. A clean and crisp palate with plenty of texture and weight follows aromas of apples and zesty lemons. It's perfect with grilled white fish or light risotto. 

Smelled like a red white, oaky and strong, but somewhat fresh. Tasted very tart. Burned all the way down. I did not enjoy this wine at all. The burn stayed with me for quite awhile after. 



The Vintage Cellar

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Tasting - Girard Cabernet Sauvignon


Name: Girard
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa County
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $14.95 (originally $30)

Showcases the forward, ripe fruit and fine, polished tannins for which the Napa Valley is most prized. The initial aromatic notes are of ripe red fruit and spicy oak. The flavors on the lush palate follow suit, while the finish underscores the high quality of the fruit from which this wine was made. Enjoy it now, but know that this Cabernet will continue to improve with proper aging for another 8 to 12 years. 

This wine had woody yet fruity scents. It was smooth to drink and had a spicy aftertaste with a hint of oak

The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Vidal Fleury Cotes du Rhone


Name: Vidal Fleury 
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2009
Price: $10.95 (originally $16)

Brilliant garnet red color. Red fruits and spices on the nose. The mouth reveals rounded tannins (thanks to the stay in the oak barrels), a warm and full-bodied wine with an uncommon and lasting aromatic intensity. The proof that Cotes du Rhone can be a serious and elegant wine.

This wine had soft smells of wood and dampness. It was warm in my mouth at first but finished very tangy an spicy on my tongue.



The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Girard Chardonnay


Name: Girard
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Russian River Valley
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $12.98 (originally $28)

Experience tropical fruit balanced by small oak barrel aging, adding a layer of spice, richness, and complexity. Crafted specifically for the passionate football fans of New York, this limited release is a perfect addition to game day or your tail gate party.

I enjoyed this wine a lot. It had a soft fruity smell, but mostly sweet fruits, not tangy fruits. It had a cool beginning and an overall soft taste. It ended with a hint of tanginess left on my tongue.

The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio


Name: Villa Pozzi
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95

Clear to light straw colored, this Pinot Grigio exhibits soft aromatic flavors of perfumed rose and soft honeysuckle that are attractive and indicative of the refreshing and rounded fruit style. The structure of this wine is well balanced and clean. Wonderfully complemented by a firm and crisp acidic finish.

This wine did not have any significant or distinguishable scents. It was smooth and cool at first, initially giving my mouth a fresh feeling. It transitioned and finished off tangy.


The Vintage Cellar

Tasting - Fontana Candida Frescati

Name: Fontana Candida
Variety: Malvasia varietals
Region: Frascati
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95 (originally $11)

The grapes for this dry, clean wine are grown in the porous, volcanic soils located in the Frascati commune near Rome. Rich in potassium, this soil produces plump flavorful grapes. Fontana Candida is the only Frascati producer that uses cold filtration and cold bottling to preserve the wine's flavor and clarity. Pairs well with salads, pastas, veal, chicken, vegetable soups, mild seafood dishes, and mild cheeses. 


This wine smelled crisp and clean, but did not have any identifiable aromas. It was tangy at first, but left my mouth feeling very fresh and clean. It hung on to my tongue after I was finished.

The Vintage Cellar