Tasting: Shotfire Cabernet/Shiraz Barossa

Name:  Shotfire Cabernet/Shiraz Barossa

Variety: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Shiraz

Region: Barossa Valley

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: $17.95

Winery Review: “Another winner and sensational, the 2010 Shotfire Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Shiraz. A whopper of a wine, it is deep ruby/purple and possesses loads of glycerin and full body along with stunning notes of wood spice, graphite, blackberry, and pepper. Rich, chewy, and dense, in a typically bold, exuberant Aussie style, this is a wine to drink over the next 6-10 years.”

Personal Review: This wine did have a very rich, pretty ruby/purple color, like the winery describes. It had a black pepper smell to it. It tasted spicy and peppery, and dried out the sides of my mouth. This wine had a very full, thick body. This was probably my second favorite wine of the day. I did not have it with food, but I think it would pair very well with steak. 

Tasting: Begali Valpolicella Ripaso

Name: Begali Valpolicella Ripaso

Variety: 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 10% Molinara

Region: Northeastern

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $14.95

Winery Review: “The 2011 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore La Cengia is exceptionally beautiful and balanced. There’s a lot going on: background tones of balsam herb, rosemary, and black olive follow straightforward aromas of dried fruit and prune. A pretty touch of eucalyptus springs forth. The wine is incredibly light, buoyant, and lively despite the elaborate Ripasso process. Drink 2014-2018.

Personal Review: This wine had a very fruity smell to it. I couldn’t identify exactly what fruits it smelled like, but I was interested in trying it. It had a great, dried fruit taste that I really enjoyed! This was by far my favorite wine of the day! It did not seem to have a high alcohol content, but it was thick and rich. I thought it had a nice aftertaste. This wine could be interesting with a grilled BBQ chicken dinner. 

Tasting: Odoardi Savuto

Name:  Odoardi Savuto

Variety: Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Magliocco Canino and Sangiovese

Region: Calabria

Country: Italy

Year: 2006

Price: $18.00

Winery Review: “A beefy, herb-tinged red, sporting dense layers of plum sauce, grilled fig, and currant paste, stacked with notes of roasted game, rosemary, and hummus. The finish lingers, despite noticeable tannins. Drink now through 2016. 14,000 cases made.

Personal Review: This wine has a very pretty plum color. It has a similar smell to the color, like rich plums. It tasted very spicy and made my mouth feel very dry. I didn’t taste the meat, game, or herbs the winery description listed. I mostly tasted plums in this wine. Perhaps drinking this wine with food would make those tastes more apparent. I am not sure I would be willing to try this wine again because I was not a big fan of it on its own in the first place.

Tasting: Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kirchberg de Barr

Name: Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kirchberg de Barr

Variety: Riesling

Region: Alsace

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $20.95

Winery Review: “With great intensity and structure, this is a wine that’s all about texture and potential. It’s expressive with white fruits and perfume, but there’s a richness that’s still to come. Drink from 2016 and see how the minerality and acidity will come into balance.”

Personal Review: This wine had a really pretty golden color! Although it had a sweet aroma, it was rather dry. The wine’s bouquet reminded me of a sweet perfume. After tasting it, the wine had a slight mineral taste. This mineral taste was similar to licking a rock or a stone. I did not have this wine with food, but I think it might be interesting to try it with an Asian meal. The sweet, mineral taste might go well with the spiciness of the dishes. 

Tasting: Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

Name:  Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

Variety: 100% Malvar

Region: Vinos de Madrid

Country: Spain

Year: Unknown

Price: $15.00

Winery Review: “Vinos de Madrid is a region of Spain not often encountered in the US, while Malvar is considered a regional specialty but remains unknown outside of central Spain. Zesty acidity and tropical fruit make this obscure buy a great food wine!”

Personal Review: This wine was sweet and fruity, with a tropical lightness about it. I could sense a minor tropical taste, along with apples. It did have a slight burn or kick at the end of it, but overall it was not bad. I would not say this was the best wine I’ve ever tasted, but it was decent. I did not have this wine with any food, but since the winery does suggest this, I would be interested in trying it again with a meal.

Tasting: Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Name:  Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada

Region: Penedes

Country: Spain

Year: Unknown

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: “Light apple aromas are elegant and not over the top while the tangerine and orange flavors are lean and focused. This is a light-framed Cava with a clean, fast, tasty profile and finish. Not yeasty or heavy at all.”

Personal Review: This Spanish version of Champagne was tasty! I enjoyed the sweet hint of apples and pears with so many bubbles from the carbonation. It reminded me slightly of sparkling apple cider. It would classify it as being semi-sweet, since it did leave my mouth feeling a tad dry but not overly so, as a big, red wine typically would. I definitely agree with the wineries review that this wine is not heavy at all. It was very crisp and refreshing. I would like to try this wine in the summertime and with food, as I think this would change certain elements of it.

Tasting: Rubis Shiraz

Name:  Rubis Shiraz

Variety: 98% Shiraz, 2% Viognier

Region: Barossa Valley

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Price: $18.99

Winery Review: “This richly concentrated Barossa Shiraz is indicative of the style for which Australia's top production region is famous. The wine is dark in color, rich and dense. There are ample tannins balanced by the powerful fruit. You will note the hints of blackberries, mint, and eucalyptus flavors upfront and in the finish. Try Rubus Barossa Shiraz with rich dishes like lamb shank, Osso bucco, beef steak or roast duck.”

Personal Review: The very first thing I noticed about this wine after it was poured was how pretty its color was! It had a rich, deep burgundy, purple, maroon color! It tasted very dry and acidic, instantly drying out my tongue. It had a 14.9% alcohol content, which I attributed to its very thick consistency. It had a peculiar “jammy” taste, reminding me of black raspberry jam! It was very good and I would like to try this wine again with the recommended dishes the winery suggests!

Tasting: Senda 66 Tempranillo

Name: Senda 66 Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $9.50

Winery Review: "Bright red color and intense fruit aromas wrapped with tons of ripe cherry flavors, strawberry and spice. Full body, great structure and long finish."

Personal Review: This wine smelled sweet and a lot like cherries! It was not too dry, which made it delicious! It was right in between being a sweet and a dry wine, which I really enjoyed. Even though it is considered to be a “big” wine, with a relatively high alcohol content, it had a thin feeling to it. Besides tasting cherries, I also tasted a hint of black pepper flavors. I’m curious as to what food this wine’s flavors would pair well with, since it is not the typical dry, red wine I have had before. 

Tasting: Fattori Soave Classico Runcaris

Name: Fattori Soave Classico Runcaris

Variety: 100% Garganega

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: Unknown

Price: $15.00

Winery Review: “Mineral, with slight sensations of yellow citrus and yellow pulp fruits. An interesting bouquet of fine herbs, fresh sage, and nettle.”

Personal Review: This wine had a slight dusty smell about it. After tasting it, it was very smooth and had a very nice aftertaste that I enjoyed. It was not as sweet as most white wines I have tried, which was refreshing as I enjoy drier wines more. I did not taste the herbs that the winery described, but maybe pairing this wine with food would have made the herb flavors come out more. 

Tasting: Finca Luzon Jumilla Luzon Blanco

Name: Finca Luzon Jumilla Luzon Blanco

Variety: 70% Macabeo, 30% Chardonnay

Region: Jumilla

Country: Spain

Year: Unknown

Price: $11.00

Winery Review: “Luzon Blanco is a pretty yellow-greenish color. Clean and elegant nose, floral tones and grapefruit with hints of vanilla. Fruity, ample and with good length.”

Personal Review: This wine smelled very sweet and citrusy. It had a slight burn of acidity, which reminded me of a grapefruit. It was also very thin and smooth. I did not have this wine with food, but I did enjoy it and would consider having it again. 

Tasting Snap Dragon's Riesling

Name: Snap Dragon

Variety: Riesling

Region: Sonoma, California

Country: United States

Year: 2011

Price: $10.99

Winery Review: “Snap Dragon Riesling is a crisp off-dry wine with apple blossom aromas, pear and peach flavors, and a lingering finish. A perfect wine to drink by itself or pair with seafood dishes or spicy Asian food.”

Personal Review: I was excited to try a Riesling today because I don’t believe I have ever tasted one, although it turned out to be a slightly disappointing experience. The wine smelled a lot like plastic and honestly reminded me of walking into a stale, dusty room! After getting past the dusty smell, I could sense a slight pear or apple aroma with some sweetness to it. It had a surprisingly smooth taste and was very thin compared to the red wines I am typically used to drinking. I believe it had the “buttery” taste Dr. Boyer has been discussing in class. It was too sweet for my taste, but others I was with seemed to really enjoy it. I was also not a fan of the minor plastic aftertaste it left in my mouth. It was recommended to us that this wine would go well with Asian or Thai meals, so perhaps I would have enjoyed this wine more with food. 

Tasting Bodega Norton's Malbec

Name: Bodega Norton

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza within the region of Cuyo

Country: Argentina

Year: 2013

Price: $10.99

Winery Review: “This Malbec is a round, smooth and full-flavored wine. It has a purplish-red color and spicy aromas. Balanced with smooth tannins, rich plums and cherries can be found in its delicate flavors. It is ideal to pair with grilled meat, chicken and pasta.”

Personal Review: This wine came recommended by the Gourmet Pantry wine tasting. I was excited to try another Malbec wine, as I’ve mentioned in my last post that this is one of my favorite varieties. My first impression of this wine was its rich, dark red and even purple color tones. It smelled slightly sweet at first and then a little spiciness of pepper afterwards. After a few more smells, I sensed a lot of cherry aromas. My first reaction after tasting it was how much of a drying effect it had on my cheeks. Next, I tasted plums and cherries! It was delicious! This Malbec was much less hot than the previous Rex Goliath I had tried, which was a nice change. It was also surprising to me how fairly inexpensive this wine was and still had such a great taste. Before this class, I had always been under the impression that the more expensive a bottle of wine was the better it would taste, but I am becoming more aware of how incorrect this assumption was! I think this would be a great wine to enjoy with a nice dinner of grilled steaks and vegetables. I think its spicy black pepper essence would pair well with the smoky, grilled flavors.