Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting 2/23

Santola Vinho Verde (year not provided) $7.95 A white wine from the Mealhada region of Portugal
Vintage Cellar reviews: Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.
My description: This wine smelled very fruity with a bit of an alcohol under the fruity elements.  When tasting this wine, I picked up a little fruit that the Vintage Cellar pointed out in their review.  I thought that this wine was crisp and had citrus flavors.

Protocolo Blanc (2010) $6.95 A white wine from Spain
Vintage Cellar reviews: Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value.
My description: The smell of this wine was crisp.  It seems inviting, because the smell made it seem like it would roll across the palate and not be thick.  When tasting this wine it was a bit dry and tart.  There was a bit of crispness that I picked up on the smell.

Resonata Nero D'Avola (2010) $6.95 This red wine comes from Sicily, Italy.
Vintage Cellar reviews: Dense ruby red with violet reflections.  Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice.  Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy
background.
My description: With this wine I could really smell dark fruits mixed with chocolate.  It was a little sticky on the palate, it was not a very light wine.  I liked the tannins that were present when tasting the wine.  I could also pick up hints of fruit in the overall taste of the wine.
 

Don Ramon Tinto (2008) $7.95 This blended red wine comes from Spain
Vintage Cellar reviews: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo. Aged 3 months in American Oak casks.  Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry.  Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.
My description: This wine smelled like dirt.  There were hints of cherries in the smell, but it mostly smelled like earth.  However, the taste was nothing like the smell.  This wine wsas very smooth across the palate.  There was a little bit of a bite, but it was a very nice tasting wine.

Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling (2010) $8.95 This sweeter wine comes from Germany
Vintage Cellar reviews: Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors.  Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.
My description: This wine also smelled like earth.  I could get a sense of the mineral notes that the Vintage Cellar review noted.  The taste of this wine could not have been more different from the smell.  It was very bright and refreshing.  It tasted like fruits and different citrus flavors.  This was actually a Riesling that I liked to taste.

Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting 2/18

Old Coach Road Sauvignon Blanc (2011) $14.95 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Nelson, New Zealand
Vintage Cellar Reviews- Fresh, lively and intense varietal fruit with delicious passionfruit flavors in the mouth.  Old Coach Road Sauvignon Blanc Wine is nicely integrated and has a long lingering finish.
My description- This wine had hints of citrus smell and taste.  It was very crisp on the palate.  There was also a slight apple taste.

Old Coach Road Chardonnay (2009) $14.95 1/2 oaked and 1/2 unoaked chardonnay from Nelson, New Zealand
Vintage Cellar Reviews- This is a delightfully satisfying wine full of ripe chardonnay fruit characters intertwined with smooth, supple, spicy oak.  The palate is full and textured, with a clear definition and long lasting flavors.
My description- This wine smelled floral and slightly fruity.  When I tasted the wine, I definitely picked up both the fruit and floral tastes, as well as some hints of pepper.  It was also toasty and there were oaky elements that could be detected.

Ch. Mas Neuf Rhone Blanc (2010) $11.95  Rhone style White Blend
Vintage Cellar Reviews- Brilliant yellow color.  The up-front nose uninhibitedly reveals fresh fruit aromas (yellow peaches) that combine with hints of white flowers.  The palate develops fully with a fresh, tonic finish.
My description- this wine smelled like alcohol.  Which was not very encouraging to taste.  However, it was not as alcoholic in taste as the smell indicated.  It was a sharp tasting wine though, with a very strong punch to the mouth.

Zentas Malbec (2011) $8.95  No oak, estate grown 100% Malbec wine from the Mendoza region of Argentina
Vintage Cellar Reviews- This Malbec presents a nice deep red color.  The nose offers intense and ripe aromas of red fruits, such as dark cherries, plums and raspberry.  On the palate it is fresh and fruity with soft tannins and a nice finish.  Pleasant and easy to drink.
My description- This wine smelled like coffee and mocha.  There was also a slight floral smell that balanced the strong coffee elements.  When tasting this wine, there was hints of vanillas, mocha and also fruits like cherries.  There was also detectable tastes of spices.  As the Vintage Cellar review states the tannins were a pleasant addition to the wine.  This was my favorite wine of the tasting.

Glop Priorat (2010) $20.95 A blend of Syrah and Cabernet, from the Priorat region of Spain   
Vintage Cellar Reviews- Glop is a customer favorite in our retail store and it has a very memorable name which means 'sip' or 'gulp' in Catalan.  Glop is an inky red wine from Priorat with a deep plum and blackberry flavors perfect for pairing with grilled chorizo or lberico pork.
My description- This wine was very smooth.  There was a little sense of alcohol and there were definitely detectable elements of dark fruits.  In particular, as the Vintage Cellar points out, there were hints of blackberries that gave the wine a sweeter finish.

Wine Dinner- Zeppoli's 2/6

Zeppoli's dinner yum!  The food was so good!  Delicious salad, garlic bread, pasta with sausage and peppers, and pasta with feta and olives, it was such a great deal for the price.  My roommate and I had so much fun eating and tasting the wine.  We got to sample from 9 wines and about 5 dishes.

Some of the salad and garlic bread that we were able to enjoy while wine tasting.

What was left of the pasta and crab-cream cheese puffs.

Crucero Sauvignon Blanc (2010)- This Sauvignon Blanc is from the Curico Valley of Chile. 
Zeppoli's Review: Sauvignon Blanc is the fabled grape of both Bordeaux Blanc and the Loire Valley (Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume).  This varietal exhibits aromas of musk melon, pine, and grass.  The finish is zesty and citrus-like, and goes well with chicken and seafood.
My description: This wine had a very floral smell.  There was a hint of heat when tasting the wine.  The wine burned a little bit as it was going down.  However, it was still a light and crisp wine.
Picpoul de Pinet, Coteux Du Languedoc (2010)- This varietal white wine comes from the South of France.
Zeppoli's Review: Citrus and exotic fruit dominate this fresh, crisp, and lively wine from the South of France.  Well-balanced with good acidity.  A perfect match to seafood and shell fish.
My description: I would definitely smell the citrus element that was highlighted in the Zeppoli's review.  I could also sense some hints of berry.  The wine tasted very fruity.  It was a bit drier than the Crucero.  This wine was also crisper than what I had expected.
Manos Negras, Torrontes (2009)- This varietal with 5% Viognier comes from the Tulum Valley in San Juan, Argentina.
Zeppoli's Review: The high altitude desert of the Tulum Valley in San Juan, Agentina provides ideal conditions for this once minor Spanish grape to flourish in unique and exciting ways.  The warm sunny days and cool mountain nights produce wine of light yellow color, withi explosive floral aromas, citrus fruit flavors and a crisp, clean finish.
My description: This wine had a very floral smell.  It was crisp and dry, with minimal alcohol heat.  It seemed like it would pair very well with a summer salad.  As there were hints of honeysuckle in the taste of the wine.
Sombras Del Sol Chardonnay (year not provided)- This Chardonnay comes from Valle Central in Chile.
Zeppoli's review: This refreshing Chardonnay has intense aromas of sweet tropical fruit and notes of vanilla and chestnuts.  A blend of freshness and creaminess, the citrus character comes through along with seet fruit on the palate.
My description: This wine is one of the few wines that does not go through malatic fermentation.  The wine had a fruity smell that reminded me of cherries.  The taste of this wine did not translate those fruity smells.  Instead there was more of an oaky, wooden spoon taste.  This wine did not have much of an alcohol burn that the previous wines had.

 Switching to the red wines!

Allamand Malbec (2010)- This 100% Malbec comes from the Valle de Uco in Argentina. 
Zeppoli's review:  Located at the foot of the Andes range, more than 3,150 ft above sea level, this region produces some of the most refined and elegant Malbecs from Argentina.  Deep purple color, lots of violets in the nose, and natural great acidity, are the typical characteristics of this typical Uco Valley "appellation" Malbec.
My description: I could definitely smell dark fruits like black currants.  The taste of the wine was very smooth, but with a hint of acidity.  I could also sense a bit of spice in the taste of the wine.
 Crucero Carmenere (2010)- This wine comes from Colchagua Valley, Chile.
Zeppoli's review: Herbal, powerful and varietally on the money, with common but well-executed aromas of earth, blackberry and olives.  The palate offers proper weight and intensity, while the flavors of black plum, raspberry and tea are just herbal enough to scream out "Carmenere."  Tasty and consistent from nose to finish.
My description: This wine smells like alcohol.  The taste though was smooth.  There was a combination of all spice and pepper, which was a nice balance.
Maipe Cabernet Sauvignon (2010)- This richly colored Cabernet comes from the Mendoza regio of Argentina.
Zeppoli's review: This Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense ruby red color with aromas and flavors of ripe blackcurrant, red pepper, mint, chocolate and vanilla hints.  The fruit and tannins are perfectly balanced to give a wine of excellent structure making it ideal for grilled meats, game, pasta or pizza.
My description: This wine smelled strongly of tobacco and had some musky undertones.  While tasting this wine I picked up on the blackcurrant flavors as well as some other fruit flavors such as cherries.  I also picked up on some pepper and spices as well.  It was a little dry and was kind of sticky on the palate.
Gen 5 Cabernet Sauvignon (2009)- This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Lodi region of California.
Zeppoli's review: Taking Lodi into a whole new level, the finely-tuned '09 Gen 5 Cebernet shows intricate and complex flavors; ripe for sure, yet classy and refined; long finish
My description: I could sense the ripe fruit that was described in the Zeppoli's review.  It was faintly of dark fruit.  It was a rather dry wine, that was a little sticky.  This wine also tasted of fruit like cherries.

Enjoying the wine and delicious food!

 

Surprise dessert that was made for the last wine tasting

Rinaldi Red Dream, Filtrato Dolce (year not provided)- This is a 100% Malvasia Nera grape and this wine comes from the hills of Alto Monferrato.
Zeppoli's review: The wine is ruby red but not too deep, fruity and pleasant.  It's a dessert wine, it is possible to appreciate it at it's best if you serve it chilled.  This frothy and fruity red wine delivers flavors of honeysuckle and black pepper.  Light, fun and exciting; it's great for parties and light fare.
My description: This wine has a very sweet, almost sno-cone-y smell.  There are also hints of berries in the scent of the wine.  This wine is sticky sweet in taste.  There is a little hint of berry in the sweetly fizzed wine.  

Some of the red wines that we sampled throughout the evening.

Wine Tasting 2/9 Vintage Cellar

Coastal Vines Brut (year not given)- This was a sparkling wine from California.
Vintage Cellar reviews: Coastal Vines Sparkling Wine is a light colored wine with aromas of apple and citrus. On the palate there are flavors of melon and pear. The finish is crisp and clean.   Pair with cheeses, like brie, for appetizers; grilled garlic shrimp over a bed of pasta; or with a light white cake for dessert.
My description: I could not really detect any real pungent smells.  I got a sense of fruit from the smell that was reinforced when I first tasted this wine.  When I tasted the wine I could taste apples.  This wine was rather crisp and light.

Lazzaro Chardonnay (2010)- This Chardonnay comes from the Mendoza region of Argentina.
Vintage Cellar reviews: Opens with mellow peach and melon aromas and some oak. The
palate is round, creamy and full. Tastes of spiced, dried apple with a stalky, pithy accent.
My description: I got strong citrus smells from this wine.  The peach elements that the Vintage Cellar review highlighted really came across in the smell of the wine.  This wine did have a lingering after taste, but the initial taste was really fruity and those peach elements were prevalent.

Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo Rose (2010)- This is a 50/50 blend of Tempranillo and Garacha grapes coming out of the Calatayud region of Spain.
Vintage Cellar reviews: A 50-50 blend of Tempranillo and Garacha, this medium rosecolored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas. 

My description: This wine had a very off putting smell.  It smelled kind of burnt and smokey.  Not necessarily something I would attract me to taste this wine.  However, the taste was significantly better than the smell.  It was sweet, but still dry.  There was also a light fizz from the rose, that was enjoyable.

Into Zin Zinfandel (2008)- This is a 100% Zinfandel from Lodi, California.
Vintage Cellar reviews: Spicy, jammy, ripe round plum with juicy soft finish. Goes well with marsala chicken, peppered steak or broiled lamb shank.
My description: This was my favorite wine of the tasting.  I loved the familiar caramel smell of the wine.  While it was kind of a heavy scent, it was very inviting.  The taste of the wine was even better.  This zinfandel was very smooth and had hints of fruit.  I could still get some of the caramel in the taste, but the dominant taste was of dark fruits.

Legaris Crianza (2003)- This wine made from Tempranillo grapes is from Ribera del Duero, Spain.
Vintage Cellar reviews: 90 Points, Wine Spectator.  A silky texture carries plum, tobacco, coffee and mineral flavors over ripe tannins in this balanced red. Berry and vanilla notes linger on the finish. Drink now through 2013.
My description: This wine had an overpowering coffee smell.  While I like the smell of coffee, this was too much.  The wine did not taste as much as coffee as the smell would have made me think.  There was more of a burnt, smokey taste to this wine.  However, the wine was smooth and did not leave a strong taste lingering, which was nice.

Wine Tasting- Vintage Cellar 2/2

Royal Chenin Blanc (2009)- This wine comes out of the Swartland region of South Africa.  It is comprised of 100% Chenin Blanc grapes and had the aroma of fresh fruit.  When tasting the first thought that came to mind was clean.  The wine came across the palate smooth and was refreshing to taste.

Coldstrean Hills Sauvignon Blanc (2009)- This wine comes from the Yarra Valley region of Australia and is an interesting Chardonnay.  This wine smelled earthy and recalled the image of a child playing in dirt.  When tasting this wine, I could sense the heat from the alcohol.  To me, it also tasted the way it smelled, like dirt.

Marques de Moral Crianza Tempranillo (2007)- Coming out Valdepenas, Spain, this wine is comprised of 100% tempranillo grapes.  The wine smelled like creamy.  It also had hints of caramel and dark fruits.  When drinking the wine, I could taste the strong tannins.  It also tasted homey, while I could not sense caramel, there was a smooth finish to the wine.

Le Lapin Multiplicity (year not given)- Coming out of Paso Robles, California, this red wine smelled strongly of alcohol.  It has Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Caberney Sauvignon, Syrah, and Refosco.  The wine smelled like alcohol but tasted like olives and different spices.  This wine tasted much better than it smelled.

Opera Prima Moscato (year not given)- This is a sparkling wine from Spain.  I thought that this wine had a very floral smell.  When tasting it, I did not pick up the floral elements.  It did tasting light and fresh.  While there wasn't much of the floral tastes, the wine was very refreshing across the pallet.