Wine Tasting - Lapis Luna Cabernet Sauvignon

 The Basics:

• Grape Variety - Cabernet Sauvignon
• Country of Origin - United States
• Region of Origin - Lodi, California
• Vintage Year - 2020
• Price - $13.99

Wine Enthusiast Review:

"Funky, reduced aromas blow off, and lead to a rich, broad palate packed with milk chocolate, dried figs, and wood char.  It is full-bodied, quite oaky, and showy." (Jim Gordon)

Wine Folly Reference (88 - 89):

The world's most popular wine is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that originated in Bordeaux.  Wines are concentrated and age-worthy.  The wine is rich in flavor with high tannins that include notes of black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, graphite, tobacco, blackberry, and mint.   

My Review:

Off the bat, I can smell a fair amount of tannins, with other notes including figs, cherries, and caramel.  Based on the rich ruby color of the wine, I would expect there to be a big punch of the wine and be quite tannic and fruity.  The wine was super tannic and alcohol-forward, but I liked the punch the wine brought.  The wine tastes like an alcoholic dark chocolate-covered cherry - with other notes of hazelnut, aluminum, vanilla, blackberry, and a little banana. I think that currently there are too many tannins in the wine after opening it, but I would be interested to try this wine again after having it open for a day or two - because I think the tannins would calm down and other fruity elements of the wine would come out. 

     

Wine Tasting - Slow Press 2016 Sauvignon Blanc

The Basics:

• Grape Variety - Sauvignon Blanc
• Country of Origin - United States
• Region of Origin - Monterey County, California
• Vintage Year - 2016
• Price - $6.99

Wine Enthusiast Review:

"Welcoming bubblegum, key lime, grass, and cement aromas check many Sauvignon Blanc boxes in this widely available and reliable bottling.  The palate leads with decent structures, but then ripeness prevails, with peach and more bubblegum notes." (Matt Kettermann)

Wine Folly Reference (165 - 166):

The wine is a unique white wine with strong herbaceous flavors that are derived from compounds called methoxypyrazines (which are found in bell peppers).  Main flavor notes include gooseberry, honeydew, grapefruit, white peach, and passion fruit; while California wines will have tasting notes of white peach, matcha powder, lemongrass, buttered bread, and saline. 

My Review:

The wine smelled relatively fresh and buttery, along with general floral and fruity notes like rose, peach, and natural sweetness.  The grassy and buttery notes carried through onto the tasting right off the bat, and there was a stronger tannic/alcohol aftertaste.  There was a really nice orange note carrying through the tasting, along with notes of green apple, vanilla, melon, and cut grass. This wine was pleasant to drink on its own, but it really needed something to pair it with - on its own it was subtle enough to come off as borderline bland.  I wouldn't mind getting this wine again and trying it again when the temperature warms up and I can pair it with a lighter meal.  

     

Drink this Now - Italian Stallions

Since I have minimal experience with tasting reds beyond the more popular reds (especially those grown in the US), I wanted to do this Drink This Now! lesson to have an opportunity to try more traditional reds.  On top of that, since I have plans to go to Italy after I graduate, so I should be getting familiar with some of the wines I'll probably be drinking.  

The Basics  - Briocco Dei Tati Piedmont Barbera :

• Grape Variety - Barbera
• Country of Origin - Italy
• Region of Origin - Piedmont
• Vintage Year - 2019
• Price - $8.95

City Vino Review:

"From a small estate in the heart of Piedmont, some vines as much as 80 years old. 100% Barbera.  Bouquet of black cherries and a bit of spice on the palate.  Light tanning, medium acidity, and medium finish."

Wine Folly Reference (79):

Barbera is the everyday drinking wine of Piedmont, Italy.  Wines are approachable, affordable, and have lip-smacking high acidity.  Tasting notes include tart cherry, licorice, blackberry, dried herbs, and black pepper. 

My Review Initially:

The wine was quite purple/pink than red; almost approaching a cranberry color.  There's a slight smell of licorice and prune - something with a hint of some sort of age too.  The wine was surprisingly sweet and really tannic with some of my tasting notes including oak, currant, blackberry, cherry, and fig.  There was also a slight spice and strong tobacco flavor too which I wasn't too fond of. 

My Review Later in the Day (with and without cheese):

After waiting a couple hours, I tried the wine again.  There was less spice that I could taste and smell.  There was still a strong fruity flavor overall, but the flavors morphed into having a similar complexity that jam sometimes has.  Fortunately, there weren't any tobacco flavors, instead, there was some hint of licorice or other candy.  

When I tried the wine with a piece of brie I had, the butteriness of the cheese and the tannins was quite present.  I was surprised there weren't as many fruity flavors brought out by the cheese as I've usually experienced in other pairing experiences.  Overall, I think the wine doesn't mesh well with the cheese - not necessarily saying one overpowers the other, just that they're not a good fit - since I'm missing more elements from the wine.  

My Review 24 Hours Later:

A day later, I tried the wine again.  The color didn't appear to change much - still pretty cranberry in color - but perhaps shifting more towards the pinker side as it's oxidated.  There was an odd smell coming from the wine which was more molasses-y and metallic, with a specific note of blackberry. The taste was by far the most bitter and tannic of all three of the tastings, and there was a specific cheese, must, and aged taste.  While the wine was still heavier than I thought it would be by this point, the more pleasant-tasting notes I got included oak, cranberry, jam, and prune. 

     

The Basics - Anzivino Gattinara DOCG:

• Grape Variety - Nebbiolo
• Country of Origin - Italy
• Region of Origin - Gattinara
• Vintage Year - 2018
• Price - $21.95

Villa Italia Review:

"This Gattinara is 100% Nebbiolo, aged for 4 years in traditional large Slavonian oak barrels.  With an additional 3 years of bottle age, it is typically medium garnet in color and has developed complex flavors and aromas of dried fruits, spices, and violets.  The finish is long and smooth, always inviting another sip."

Wine Folly Reference (141 - 142):

One of Italy's top reds made famous by the Barolo region of Piedmont.  It's where wines deliver both delicate aromas and rigorous tannins the grape is famous for.  Tasting notes include cherry, rose, leather, anise, and a clay pot with northern Piedmont flavor notes specifically including sour cherry, rose hip, tobacco leaf, leather, and black tea. 

My Review Initially:

The wine had a pretty strong alcohol/tannins smell; and while the color was pretty red, relative to the other wines I had for this session, there was still a light, yellow hue around the edge of the glass. The wine was really tannic and alcoholic to the taste too and was overall heavier in flavor.  There was some black cherry, blackberry, caramel, vanilla oak, and even a cardboard must.  The wine was overall pretty sweet and less fruity than I would anticipate from a punchy red, and again I was happy to not taste tobacco or strong spice. 

My Review Later in the Day (with and without cheese):

When I drank the wine later that day, there was still a punchy, rich note in its smell while the color remained the same.  The second taste I had was much sweeter and lighter than the earlier drink I had and was somehow generally blander in its taste.  I was still able to taste some licorice, currants, and the other fruity flavors I chose, but somehow I was still missing the punch I wanted from the stronger fruit flavors and tannins.  Oddly, it tasted like watered-down juice with a hint of alcohol.  

When I tasted the wine with brie cheese, the tannins were enhanced a bit more while I lost the creamy element of the cheese and the general fruity profile of the wine.  This was probably the worst combination I had of all three wines since there was a lack of punch from either the cheese or the wine. Based on my other tasting experiences, I'm now looking for that strong punch from the two together, and I didn't get that at all. 

My Review 24 Hours Later:

After tasting the wine again a day later, the color hadn't changed at all - with it's still deep red color and a yellow hue on the edge.  There was a strong, sharp tannic smell with some notes of balsamic, freshness, and maple syrup.  The tannins were still very present, while the fruit taste was more mellowed out - though I could still pick up notes of cherry, jam, balsamic, chocolate, caramel, hazelnut, vanilla, and blackberry.  I was surprised to see the intensity of the fruits increase between tasting rounds - but this has been the most pleasant glass I had so far.  

     

The Basics - Fattoria La Lecciaia Sangiovese Maremma Toscana:

• Grape Variety - Sangiovese
• Country of Origin - Italy
• Region of Origin - Maremma Toscana, Central Italy
• Vintage Year - 2019
• Price - $12.95

The Wine Buyer Review:

"Bay leaves, undergrowth, dried cherries, chocolate, and walnuts on the nose.  Its medium-bodied with firm tannins and a chewy, savory palate.  Drink or hold." (James Suckling)

Wine Folly Reference (162 - 163):

Sangiovese is Italy's most planted grape and the key variety in Tuscany's renowned Chianti.  It's sensitive, tasting quite different depending on where it grows.  Key tasting notes include cherry, roasted tomato, sweet balsamic, oregano, and espresso.  

My Review Initially:

This Sangiovese was really intense all the way around.  Its sharp red ruby color was quite distinguishable, it smelled like a wellness shot (lemon, apple, and horseradish), and its taste was strongly cherry and spice-forward (like cinnamon and pepper).  It was incredibly tannic and punchy with tobacco, jam, blackberry, and raspberry.  The glass made me want a bite of food and a drink of water, so I could barely finish my glass on its own at this point. 

My Review Later in the Day (with and without cheese):

When I tried the wine again later, the wine had slightly lightened in color - but still a strong red.  There was a slightly sweet smell and less acid than the last round, both of which I was able to pick up on in the tastes along with a stronger fruity presence.  The wine was overall less intense, especially mellowing out on the spices and tobacco (unless I introduce more air into the glass - then I can taste it), but there was still a large fruit present in the wine - specifically raspberry and blackberry. 

When I had the brie and wine together, the combination was fairly pleasant.  There was still a fair amount of stinky elements from the cheese coming through the wine, but it did help bypass most of those flavors.  The butter and cream of the cheese were enhanced quite well with the wine and brought out more of the fruity, jammy sides of the wine. With the cheese, the wine mellowed out quite well, and the small number of tannins left was still quite pleasant. 

My Review 24 Hours Later:

When I revisited the wine a day later, the wine was even lighter in color and was approaching more of a bronze-red than a straight red with a hint of yellow around the rim.  There was a strong floral, pepper, semi-sweet, and even tannic smell to the wine.  None of these flavors really came out in the taste, but I did get a strong tannic, acid, caramel, jammy, and hay/olive.  The wine wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be, and the flavors were harder to identify.    

     

Conclusion:

This experience let me try some of the richer, more intense red wines.  I really appreciated trying the wines at different stages of their oxidation process - since I was able to taste how the wines morphed over time as air was introduced.  I overall liked the Nebbiolo the best across all stages, but I was able to find something I liked in each of the wines.  This hopefully won't be my last experience with these wines, since they're something I would happily drink these again - especially after they've aired for even a couple hours. 

Wine Tasting - Busy Bee Asti Spumante

 The Basics:

• Grape Variety - Moscato
• Country of Origin - Italy
• Region of Origin - Asti, Piedmont
• Vintage Year - 2021
• Price - $7.95

Vivino Review:

"The only wine I've ever bought that it comes out so bubbly and fizzy!  I was so surprised!  This to me is a very unique wine because it's a honey wine.  It has the perfect honey taste as well as being sparkling!  And no this one does not taste similar to mead... this has its own unique type of taste on its own.  I've never had anything like it before and can easily down a bottle." (Torie Miller)

"Crisp and sweet - tastes like honey!  Not too bubbly, but just right." (Delaney Ferguson)

Wine Folly Reference (138 - 139):

Reference for Muscat Blanc - An ancient aromatic white variety originally from Greece that's available in all styles from dry to sweet, still to sparkling, and even fortified.  Tasting notes include orange blossom, Meyer lemon, mandarin orange, ripe pear, and honeysuckle.  Moscatos from Asti have one of the lowest alcohol levels of all wine with tasting notes of mandarin orange, honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, rose petal, and vanilla bean. 

My Review:

This wine was a really interesting one to taste.  Initially, I tried this at the Vintage Cellar following a tea tasting, which was a really interesting experience especially since I tried a few teas earlier that were very honey-forward which paired somewhat well with the wine.  When I first tried the wine, I had a pretty immediate reaction to the wine in a positive way - the bubbly honey-forward taste was really pleasant and sweet.  After the bubbles settled, there were strong notes of peach, white tea, honeysuckle, pear, mandarin, apricot, and even a hint of rose.  The sweeter, lighter taste overall made it really easy to take another sip of the wine, and even pour another glass (the bottle I bought never stood a chance).  

This wine was a great refreshing drink to have as a late-day treat and even as a dessert. I had the strongest initial reaction to this wine so far in this class, and considering how easy it was to drink I'll happily consider getting another bottle - and even have it as a birthday bottle for friends in the future.  

     

Wine Tasting - Josh Cellars Chardonnay

 The Basics: 

• Grape Variety - Chardonnay
• Country of Origin - United States
• Region of Origin - California
• Vintage Year - 2020
• Price - $6.49 for a split

Winemaker's Review:

"Our Chardonnay is a great balance of bright citrus and honey with a touch of oak character and hints of juicy peach.  Crafted with care so that no single flavor outpowers another, this wine is simply delicious."

Wine Folly Reference (96 - 97):

One of the world's most popular grapes, chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from sparkling Blanc de Blancs to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak.  Tasting notes include yellow apple, starfruit, pineapple, vanilla, and butter.  Additional tasting notes from the California chardonnays include lemon zest, pie crust, and nutmeg.

My Review:

Initially, the wine has a buttery, oaky, and lemon smell along with a pretty yellow color.  Initially, the taste was pretty creamy and sweet, with more robust notes of lemon, honey, orange blossom, and apricot.  There was a tannic, dry taste at the end, and finished on a grassier note. Overall, this wine was pretty mediocre, yes I could go for another glass of it, but I'm not the biggest fan of chardonnays - especially more oaky, buttery ones.  

     

Wine Tasting - Yalumba Y Series Viognier

 The Basics:

• Grape Variety - Viognier
• Country of Origin - Australia
• Region of Origin - South Australia
• Vintage Year - 2021
• Price - $13.99

Winemaker's Review:

"Bright straw in color with green hues.  Aromas of orange blossom with fresh ginger, hints of honeysuckle, and white flowers.  Fresh apricot, white tea, dried figs, and fennel lead to a creamy mid-palate with a silky textural finish.  The wild fermentation and lees aging gives the wine an extra level of complexity on the palate that belies its age. "

Wine Folly Reference (186):

The wine is a rich, oily white wine originally from Northern Rhone.  Often oak-aged, flavor notes include tangerine, peach, mango, honeysuckle, and rose.

My Review:

The wine smells very citrusy with the first hints of orange and rose coming out well.  There's also a solid dried grassy note too.  There's a hint of honey on the first taste, but the wine is quite dry from start to finish.  I get a note of oakiness from the aftertaste and the flavors notes aren't overwhelming.  I do get notes like lemon, pineapple, peach, a lighter orange, and a dry tea/grass note.

This wine was one of the harder ones to taste and get notes for.  Between the strong dryness and the weaker notes, it was a challenge to pick up on the flavor notes.  While I did keep going back for more of the wine, it was more because I was struggling to pick up on a specific tasting - not necessarily because I was in love with the wine. 

   

Wine Tasting - Tilia Torrontes

 The Basics:

• Grape Variety - Torrontes
• Country of Origin - Argentina
• Region of Origin - Mendoza
• Vintage Year - 2022
• Price - $10.99

Winemaker's Review:

"Pale yellow color with greenish hues. Intense nose of passion fruit, citrus, and freshly cut grass.  Fresh, concentrated vegetal and tropical flavors on the palate.  Long and persistent finish."

Wine Folly Reference (177):

This is Argentina's own white is really only grown in this part of the world with few exceptions.  It may smell sweet, but it's usually dry to the taste with notes of Meyer lemon, peach, rose petal, geranium, and citrus zest. 

My Review:

When I tried this wine, I was drinking out of a rubber wine glass (it was an interesting night for sure) so throughout the tasting, I got a lot of rubbery taste and smell - which probably isn't the best.  I smelled quite a bit of acid - especially citrus, but otherwise no major scents.  The initial taste is pretty minerally and dry, but then it opens up into this taste of honeysuckle, apricot, grapefruit, a bit of cut grass, a bit of orange blossom/geranium, and even a white peach.  The fruits all work together to create a sense of natural sweetness that doesn't overwhelm the otherwise dry wine.  The wine then finishes pretty dry and acidic in a refreshing way. 

This wine came at the suggestion of a professor I work with - and she nailed it.  I really enjoyed the lightness of this wine with its rich fruity complex.  I think this was the first wine I tasted where I hit a large majority of the flavor notes without knowing them ahead of time - both from the winemaker's reference and the Wine Folley Text.  I would happily drink this wine again and pair it with a meal at the end of a long summer day poolside.  

   

Wine Tasting - Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

 The Basics:

• Grape Variety - Sauvignon Blanc
• Country of Origin - New Zealand
• Region of Origin - Marlborough, South Island
• Vintage Year - 2021
• Price - $10.99 for a half bottle

Vivino Review:

"Pale straw with green edges and aromas of citrus and tropical fruits with floral herb notes.  On the palate juicy apricot, peach, and grapefruit with lemon zest, classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  Vivid acidity and spice compliment this well-balanced wine to a medium finish." (Sipping Fine Wine)

Wine Folly Reference (165 - 166):

The wine is a unique white wine with strong herbaceous flavors that are derived from compounds called methoxypyrazines (which are found in bell peppers).  Main flavor notes include gooseberry, honeydew, grapefruit, white peach, and passion fruit; while New Zealand's Sauvignon Blancs also has notes of kiwi, pea shoot, jasmine, and ripe pear. 

My Review:

The chilled wine was super bright and smelled like grapefruit, blueberry, and orange blossom (which lines up with some of the notes from the review and Wine Folly).  The wine had tasting notes of more grapefruit, hibiscus, white peach, and a rosy floral note at the finish.  It wasn't overly dry, and with a slight touch of sweetness, the wine was really well-balanced. 

The wine was light and easy to drink, especially with its flavor notes.  I really liked this combination of the tropical florals and fruits in the wine, and I would be interested to try other wines like this from other parts of the world. 

      

Wine Tasting - J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

The Basics:

• Grape Variety - Cabernet Sauvignon
• Country of Origin - United States
• Region of Origin - Paso Robles, California
• Vintage Year - 2020
• Price - $10.99 for a half bottle

Vivino Review:

"For about a million cases, this is a reliable stud of a wine.  Deep, dark blackberry and light wood aromas on the nose lead into berry jam, wood spice, and caramel flavors, with amplified tannins promising at least a few years of freshness." (Matt Kettmann)

Wine Folly Reference (88 - 89):

The world's most popular wine is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that originated in Bordeaux.  Wines are concentrated and age-worthy.  The wine is rich in flavor with high tannins that include notes of black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, graphite, tobacco, blackberry, and mint.   

My Review:

The wine was opened a few days earlier, and I kept it in the fridge before warming it up for the tasting.  The wine smelled strongly of cherry with other notes of blackberry, strawberry, and clove.  The wine was quite viscous and tannic (in my notes I wrote tannic with at least four C's on the end), but it was really well-balanced between its sugars and acids.  There was a large presence of tobacco, vanilla, and jam too - which helped make a well-rounded wine.  

There wasn't anything overly special about this wine though (since its flavors were really familiar) and along with its tobacco presence, I don't think I would be able to finish a whole bottle of the wine. 

     

Drink This Now! Color Experiment

For my first experiment from the Drink This Now! textbook, I chose to see if I could tell the difference between the colors of the same grapes by doing Lesson 6 - Color Me Clueless.  Going into the experiment, I didn't think that there was much significance in the appearance of the wine other than noting the viscosity.  

When I went into the Vintage Cellar to buy the wines, I specifically looked for the Tres Ojos Rouge wine, but they didn't have them both in stock.  At the suggestion of Randall, I went for a rose and red wine both from the Rioja region of Spain.  

The Wine: El Coto Rosado

• Grape Variety - Tempranillo
• Country of Origin - Spain
• Region of Origin - Rioja
• Vintage Year - 2020
• Price - $9.99

Vivino Review:

"Average good value Rioja rose (from 90% Tempranillo and 10% Grenache).  Those that enjoy a fruitier rose will enjoy this more.  Medium copper color.  Simple medium-intensity aromas of strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, and apple.  Dry, medium to high acidity light bodied.  Quite fruity flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry, with hints of rosehip, grapefruit, and watermelon.  Short finish." (Milena K)

Wine Folly Reference (175 - 176):

The grape is Spain's top variety (famously from Rioja) with notes of cherry, dried fig, cedar, tobacco, and dill while wines from Rioja have specific notes of dried cherry, sour cherry, pastrami, roasted tomato, and chard.  

Color Analysis:

When looking at the rose, not only was it pink - but it was specifically more of an apricot pink (a pink that's not as familiar as I get from other roses).  I used the color scale in the Wine Folly textbook and determined the color was somewhere between medium copper and deep salmon.  The color was super clear and not cloudy, and there were no noticeable legs of the wine.

My Review:

The wine not only had an apricot color, but it also had notes of apricot, fig, and almond.  Its earthy, slightly tannic taste was really nice, especially since the wine wasn't as sweet as I get with most other roses.  However, the wine was more acidic than I would have liked it to be, so it's the kind of wine I'd drink a little bit of and pair it with cheese or food.  After this tasting, I had some water, a few crackers, and some brie because my mouth was super dry.  

   

The Wine: Palacio del Burgo Rioja Tinto

• Grape Variety - Tempranillo
• Country of Origin - Spain
• Region of Origin - Rioja
• Vintage Year - 2018
• Price - $11.99

Timeless Wines Review:

"Very bright, deep, and clean violet color; blackberry and licorice aromas in the nose; long-lasting, powerful, and smooth taste in the mouth.  A fruity and plummy wine with just a hint of strawberry jam.  Full body.  Velvety tannins and a flavorful finish.  Dense and layered.  Some may find it a little heavy, but it's lively."

Wine Folly Reference (175 - 176):

The grape is Spain's top variety (famously from Rioja) with notes of cherry, dried fig, cedar, tobacco, and dill while wines from Rioja have specific notes of dried cherry, sour cherry, pastrami, roasted tomato, and chard.  

Color Analysis:

With this wine, there was definitely more of a presence with the color which in the bright light read more as a ruby color - somewhere between a pale and medium shade based on the Wine Folly scale.  The wine was more opaque than I thought, especially when I looked into the light with the glass.  There was even a hint of a few legs appearing, especially as the wine warmed up. 

My Review:

The wine was super rich with black cherry and a heavier spice that came out quite distinctively.  There also was a more earthy and woodsy element that came through the taste as well that was slightly tobacco-forward.  The strong tannins too helped round out the wine that made me want to go back for another sip. 

     

I learned from this lesson that you shouldn't rely entirely on color to tell you about the wine, but it can be the first visual in telling you about the wine.  Of course, it makes sense to start with color to ensure it's the right quality and not flawed given the grapes the wine originates from.  I can see how this can instantly distinguish between the varieties of some different varietal wines, but there's not much other use of the coloring differentiation.