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
"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
"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.
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