Wine Tasting: Flip Flop Pinot Nior

Name: Flip Flop
Variety:  Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: NV
Price: $4.95

Winery Review: The 2010 Flipflop Wines Pinot Noir exhibits aromas of black cherry, plum, and dried herbs (sage). It tastes of black cherry cola with a little spice. This wine is fairly smooth and medium-bodied. It ends with a little bit of a spicy finish that is slightly dry. This is a nicely balanced wine and a bit spicier than typical Pinot Noir, which I liked quite a bit. Quite a nice surprise at only $6 and this one may very well find a spot in the next Top 10 list. - Reverse Wine Snob 7/11/11

My Review: Warm and slightly vinegary on the nose.  Hints of plum, spice, and vanilla are easily detectable with a peppery edge.   On the tongue this Pinot Noir is slightly sweet and dry with a mildly hot, peppery finish.  It has a unique, tangy, earthy component to it as well.  I like this wine, but it is a little too hot; it gave me heart burn. 

Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

Name: Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone
Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95

Winery Review:  As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this full-bodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.  - Vintage Cellar 4/25/2013
 
My Review:  What an interesting wine on the nose; spicy and full of warm, dark fruits.  This bold, red wine contains a slightly floral taste for the tongue.  To me it tasted a little too bitter and spicy; I got the feeling it needed more time to mature.  Though it was not my cup of tea, I can envision enjoying it more later down the road. 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Lobetia Tempranillo

Name: Lobetia
Variety:  Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.  - Vintage Cellar 4/25/2013
 
My Review: On the nose this Tempranillo smelled of cherry cough syrup and red berries.  Though I had a hard time looking past its medicinal aromas, it was able to appreciate it's fresh taste on the tongue.  To me the finish was a bit gross; it was too harsh and bitter for my liking.  Not one of my favorite wines.

Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Lobetia Chardonnay

Name: Lobetia
Variety:  Chardonnay
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Organially and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple.  Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.  - Vintage Cellar 4/25/2013
 
My Review: Interesting Chardonnay, it was more refreshing than I originally expected it to me.  It has a strangely fruity nose of warm pineapples, apples, and citrus; hard to put my thumb on the other aromas.  The tastes was mildly sweet with an acidic edge.  I actually enjoyed drinking this Chardonnay, its tartness was appealing.
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele
Variety:  Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: NV
Price: $7.95

Winery Review:  Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink
now  - Vintage Cellar 4/25/2013  
My Review: This Pinot Grigio is light and sweet on the nose with bright aromas of apples and citrus.  It also contains a sightly tropical, vegetable edge to it.  On the tongue this wine is slightly sweet and tart with an unpleasant bitterness about it.  I was not a huge fan of this wine, it seem unbalanced.
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Dinner: Easter with Friends

For Easter, a group of us unable to go home to our families came together to celebrate with a wine dinner. We held the dinner potluck style; each of us brought a variety of foods and a few white and red wines.  A few other friends not in Geography of Wine also came to participate in the dinner.  We spent the evening talking, grilling, and playing Frisbee. 

The Food:

• Bread
• Gouda Cheese
• Chicken Almond Salad
•  Pasta Salad
• Goulash
• Potato Salad
• Deviled Eggs
• Spicy Sausage
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Brownies

To compliment the array of food we had four wines to choose from; three reds and a white.  Initially we started off by tasting each wine before eating dinner, then moved on to eat and alternate wines with food.

The Wines

•   Georges Dubeuf, Red Beaujolais Nouveau, Thorins, Frances 2012
• Smells of bananas, strawberries and red berries.  On the tongue this wine is tart and fruity, but mildly sweet.  Its effect is thirst clenching, but it isn't too dry or bitter.  Nice pair to chicken salad.

• Two Vines Riesling, Washington, 2010 

• Interesting Riesling because it had an earthy, grassy component to its fresh apple, citrus, and pear flavors.  On the tongue this Riesling tasted like apple juice; sweet, fruity and mouth watering with a bitter edge.  Because it was the sweetest wine of the night, we chilled it and served it with dessert.  It was nice and sweet on its own, but a horrible companion to chocolate based sweets.

• Robert Mondavi Merlot, Acampo, California 2011

• When tasting this Merlot it smelled of grape juice, cranberries, and raspberries.  On its own it was dry, with mild sweetness.  It was not too acidic, but had a finish that was a liitle too much for my liking.  On its own this wine wasn't unique; it was plain with a distinct Merlot aroma.  As I ate dinner, I tried this wine with Gouda cheese and spicy sausage.  With the cheese, the wine became noticeable more fruity, but lost some of its sweetness.  When mixed with the spicy sausage, the food had a softening effect on the wine making it more enjoyable.

• Beringer Pinot Noir, California 2011

• On this nose this Pinot Noir smelled exactly like Whelches grape juice with a blackberry-pomegranate kick.  It tasted sweet with a bold punch of tannins.  For me it was a little hot, with a long bitter finish.  I got the impression it needed time to soften, either through aging or decanting.  However, this wine was the favorite of the night.  I tried Beringer with goulash and enjoyed the combination; the pair seemed to pull out the flavors of the goulash, heightening the tomato flavors in particular.

In all, it was a great evening with a lot of food.  I am starting to grasp the concept of wine and food pairings, and enjoy the effect wine has on food.   Next time I would like to try a non-potluck style dinner that is planned down to the appetizer.

Wine Tasting: Chronic Cellars

Name: Chronic Cellars Sofa King Bueno
Variety:  79% Syrah/ 12% Mourvedre/ 5% Petite Sirah/ 4% Grenache
Region: California
Country: Unites States
Year: NV
Price: $23.95

Winery Review: Aromas: Black licorice, violets, clove, bay leaves, and thyme.  Tastes: Fresh berries, black pepper, licorice, clove, and thyme.  This wine is youthful and fleshy!  Bueno has many layers that fill the nose and palate.  It is a full bodies wine with balances tannins and different spices.  - Vintage Cellar 3/30/2013
 
My Review: On the nose Sofa King Nueno smells exactly like cherry cheese cake.  This wine is spicy and warm, brightened by red berries.  On this tongue it is light and mildly dry with a bitter finish.  Descent wine.
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Nuschese Primitivo

Name: Nuschese 
Variety: Primitivo
Region: Apulia
Country: Italy
Year: NV
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: The smoothness of its palate amazes as its black colour diffuses.  The pleasantness as you drink is exceptional.  Its an intense wine color (red purple with orange reflections if aged), with some blackberry and plum; it has a particular aroma and flavor balance.  - Vintage Cellar 3/30/2013
 
My Review:  Very dark in color and rich with pepper and spice.  Neschese Primitivo comes in strong with warm blackberries, supported with good tannic structure.  It was surprisingly sweet and not too bitter.  A good wine.
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Bokisch Tempranillo

Name: Bokisch Tempranillo
Variety:  Tempranillo
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: NV
Price: $21.95

Winery Review: Purple-black in color, with crimson hues, our Tempranillo has hit its stride this year.  Its robust aromas of blackberry jam, forest fruit, cocoa and spice, coupled with its long finish, complete this wine.  Enjoy the dry, dusty Tempranillo tannins that combine with juicy flavors of blueberry pie and dark Bing Cherry.  Just as in the Rioja, we blend a small percentage of our limited production Graciano, lending depth and complexity.   - Vintage Cellar 3/30/2013
 
My Review: Good wine, nothing about it was striking to me.  Very warm, dark and spicy with aromas of dark berries and berry pie.  On the tongue this tempranillo is light and dry, yet sweet in taste.  I felt this wine had a strong enough backbone to support its warm sweetness.   
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Bokisch Albarino

Name: Bokisch Albarino
Variety: Albarino
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: NV
Price: $17.95

Winery Review: Highly aromatic and exceeds our expectations for this stellar vintage.  It has a myriad of aromas mixed together from stone fruits such as apricot and peach blended with kiwi, Meyers lemon, rose petals and ripe fresh strawberry.  It is luscious, juicy fruity in the mouth combined with bright acidity and a long finish of white peach and lemon tart.  This is a fantastic wine to pair with fresh oysters and mussels, grilled salmon, or your 5 o'clock kick start to the evening.  - Vintage Cellar 3/30/2013
 
My Review:  I absolutely loved this wine, it had so many wonderful things going on!  At first taste, Bokisch came across as being very tropical with flavors and aromas of strawberries and peaches, tied together will a floral component of rose petals.  On this tongue this albarino was light and juicy, with a while tartness.   I highly recommend this wine!
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Chateau les Tuileries

Name: Chateau les Tuileries Bordeaux Blanc
Variety:  15% Semillon/ 85% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Year: NV
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: From the Bordeaux Blanc heartland of Entre-Deux-Mers Chateau Tuileries Blanc is a fantastic entry level white Bordeaux.  Crisp with boysenberry fruit note rounded out by notes of honeydew and white flowers.  - Vintage Cellar 3/30/2013
 
My Review: Not a bad example of a Bordeaux Blanc; it was very light and freshreshing with strong green apple flavor.  This wine has a floral aspect to it that enhances its refreshing effect.  Over all I consider Chateau les Tuileries' wine enjoyable. 
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Name: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne
Variety:  60% Semillon/36% Sauvignon Blanc/4% Muscadelle
Region: Sauternes
Country: France
Year: 2004
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follows through to a medium body.  Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish.  Lightly sweet.  - Vintage Cellar 4/11/2013
 
My Review: It was hard for me to taste this wine because the preceeding wine was extremely smokey.  What I was able to detect was a strong citrus component.  Caprice was extremely sweet tasting of honey supported by a bitter, acidic finish.  It was okay.
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Torre Castillo Alegre

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre
Variety:  Monastrell
Region: Jumilla
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: 4 months in new American oak barrels.  Bright ruby-red.  Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas with a hint of woodsmoke.  Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs.  The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish.   - Vintage Cellar 4/11/2013

My Review:  I think I finally understand what the "Oak Monster" is mentioned on Wine Library TV!  This wine is incredibly dirty and smokey.  It smells like over cooked mashed green vegetables, licorice and cherry.  On the tongue the smokiness gets even stronger, it was hard to clear my palate afterwards to taste the following wine.  It was a very interesting wine, not one of my favorite.  To summarize it has a very strong licorice aroma on the nose, and smokey taste... like inhaling smoke!
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Wilson Daniels

Name: Wilson Daniels
Variety:  Merlot
Region: Central Coast, California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Made predominately from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is full-bodied and silky yet robust with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with vanilla and toast.  - Vintage Cellar 4/11/2013

My Review: Dark ruby in color, this wine has an interesting warm aroma.  For me it was hard to detect the level of fruitiness expressed in the tasting notes, but I noticed aromas of blackcherry and plum.  I also enjoyed the sensation it created on my tongue; it was hot with nice tannins.  Not my favorite wine, but not too bad.
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Name: Bricco Dei Tati Rose
Variety:  Barbera
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this is an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers.  - Vintage Cellar 4/11/2013

My Review:  Made of 100% Barbera, this wine has one of the most beautiful aromas I have even smelled in both wines and perfumes.  It is beautifully floral with hints of rose and the fruitiness of strawberries to spruce it up.  On the tongue it has a nice combination of acid, and a light sweetness.  I would love to spend more time enjoying this wine! 
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Smoking Loon

Name: Smoking Loon
Variety:  Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple and has hints of hibiscus blossoms.  The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind.  The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more.  This wine pairs beautifully with a grilled prawn salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette, veggie spring rolls or grilled tilapia with mango salsa.  - Vintage Cellar 4/11/2013

My Review:  A very bright and refreshing wine in both color and taste.  It was strong in green apples flavor, with a tropical aspect of citrus and pineapple.  I really enjoyed how this wine felt in my mouth, it was tangy and mildly sweet with a prominent bitter backbone.  I haven't been a fan of white wines recently and this one impressed me!
 
Food: I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Dinner: Zeppoli's "The Big Varietals"

Zeppoli's Wine Dinner

 I attended a Zepoli's wine dinner whose theme  was "The Big Varietals", hosted by Matthew Burch.  Zeppoli's provided a buffet style meal with an assortment of food and nine different wines to taste. 

The food included:

• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Greek salad
• Cheese ravioli
• Assorted cheeses
• Cheese bread
• Bread and dip
• Cake (vanilla and chocolate)

During the dinner, the host poured samples of a variety of white, red, and dessert wines to try as the dinner progressed.  As we ate and drank, the host gave descriptions of each wine as well as pairing recommendations.  He took the time to give further wine information on bottling and opening techniques.  As we ate, we took tasting and wine pairing notes. 

White Wines

•  Torre di Luna 2011 Pinot Grigio IGT Italy 
• Has a very pale, golden color.  Very fruity, fresh, and tart with a mildly dry/sweet edge.  Yum, I was definitely a fan!

•  Sierra Cruz 2011 Savignon Blanc Maule Valley, Chile
• Very light in color with floral and citrus aromas.  This wine was sweet, but with a slightly acidic aspect that gave back bone to the wine.  I tried this wine with the cheese bread and it became a lot more fruitty.  The food brought a lot out of the wine!

• Hope Estates 2009 Chardonnay Hunter Valley, Australia
• This was one of my favorite wines tried during this dinner.  This Chardonnay was yellow in color, smooth and light on the tongue, with a long finish.  It was very sweet, but backed by a bit of acid.  I tried it with with the cheese ravioli and noticed the combination brought the acidity out of the wine. 

 Red Wines

• Coastal Vines 2010 Pinot Noir Sonoma, California
• Yum, I loved with wine.  It has a beautiful ruby color encompassing warm notes of blackberry and cherry.  It also had a warm, syrupy, vanilla,  spicy edge that made it inviting and enjoyable.  This Pinot Noir was sweet, but also has an acidic backbone.

• Kenwood 2010 "Yulupa" Merlot California
• Very warm wine with spicy edge.  I was able to detect the spiciness of the clove, as well as hints of cherry and plum.  This wine was oddly light on the tongue compared to its aroma, and a little dry.  I wasn't that big of a fan of it. 

• Gen 5 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi, California

•  Big fan of this wine.  It was a beautiful plum color  with a warm, blackberry scent.  The taste was rather unique, characteristic of sweet vanilla and dark berries.  To me, the wine seemed in balance since the acidity nor the sweetness stood out to me

•  Oxford Landing Shiraz Australia
  
  • Not a bad wine, wasn't too acidic to me.  I was able to detect hints of blueberries, raspberries mixed with the warmness of caramel and vanilla.  Dark purple to ruby in color, this Shiraz was light and refreshing on the tongue with a hint of warm spices.

Dessert Wines (served with vanilla cake)

• Famiglia Pasqua 2011 Moscato d'Asti DOCG Piedmont Italy
• On the nose this pale Moscato was very feminine and floral.  It was very sugary, tasting exactly like white grape juice.  I was apprehensive to try this wine with dessert being I felt the sugar may become overpowering.  I was surprised to find how well this wine complimented the vanilla cake.  It was not overpowering at all and made both the wine and the cake more exciting to the tongue!

• Banfi "Rosa Regale" Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG Italy
• After trying the initial dessert wine, I was excited to try  another to see how it complimented the vanilla cake.  This wine was salmon in color with a lot of carbonation.  I was mostly able to detect a soft floral side complimented by strawberries and raspberries.  I was disappointed to find how poorly it complimented the vanilla cake.   It was too fruity to be paired with the sweet warmness of the vanilla.

Overall this dinner was a great experience!  I really enjoyed trying a variety of wines spanning from soft, sweet and fruity to dark, spicy and tannic.  This experience sparked in interest in learning how to better pair wine with foods.