Wine Blog: 2015

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Wine Tasting- Hahn Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling

Wine Tasting- Hahn Piesporter Michelsburg Riesling

Name: Hah Michelsburg

Variety: Riesling

Country: Germany

Year: ???

Price: $9.95

Winery Review:

This wine’s light, airy mouthfeel belies its sweetness and intensity of flavor. Honeyed pineapple aromas; similar flavors on the palate, adding gentle citrus notes toward the long, sweet finish.

My Review:

As usual, Rieslings are one of my favorites. On the nose I get something similar to candied pineapples and apricots. On the palate in similar fashion, I get apricots yet again but with definite hints of honeysuckle, orange peel, and slightly above the usual amount of sugar makes this wine really sweet and pleasant to drink along with a dessert.

Wine Tasting- Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos

Variety: 85% Grenache, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Tempranillo, 1% Syrrah

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

Winery Review:

The wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness.

My Review:

First off, that is a crazy combination of grapes up there and to be honest, I have absolutely no idea how it affects the wine considering I haven't even had a Grenache until this point. Anyway, thick on the aromas, really strong on the jammy side of things with definite raspberries and peppers, and even some dark currant. On the palate, really fruity, almost overpowering save that the acidity is just enough to bring it down enough to actually make the body of the wine itself into something smooth and silky.

Wine Tasting- Torre Castillo Monastrell

Wine Tasting- Torre Castillo Monsastrell

Name: Torre Castillo

Variety: Monastrell

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Winery Review:

100% Monastrell, aged in American oak for four months. Bright ruby. Powerful, spicy aromas of dark berry preserves and lavender. Fleshy and round on the palate, offering spicy blackberry and blueberry flavors and gaining sweetness with air. Finishes smooth, long and slightly warm.

My Review:

Again, I had absolutely no idea what Monastrell was before I tried it. On the nose, I definitely get a floral component with just a hint of jam and spice. On the palate, spicy yet not all that overpowering. An interesting combination with flavors that are surprisingly not quite as jammy as I would have expected. Overall, pretty good.

Wine tasting- Chateau Suau Bordeaux Rose

Wine Tasting- Chateau Suau Bordeaux Rose

Name: Chateau Suau
Variety: Bordeaux
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery Review:
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Light, lurid pink. Tangerine, raspberry and white pepper on the fragrant nose. Juicy and focused in the mouth, offering zesty red berry flavors with a refreshingly bitter edge. Closes clean and tight, with lingering spiciness and a touch of orange zest.

My Review:
Definitely the lightest Cabernet I've ever had. On the nose, I get a lot of berry with just a touch of spiciness. I don't know what white pepper is but there's something there that gives this wine just the slightest kick on the nose. Body wise, surprisingly big considering it's a Rose. Definitely sweet and jammy but not approaching anything close to what the archetypal Cabernet is like which I feel gives it a crisper, and smoother finish that a more concentrated Cabernet just doesn't have.

Wine Tasting- Laude Pecorino

Name: Laude
Variety: Pecorino
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

Winery Review:
Bright and savory, this floral scented Pecorino offers juicy tropical fruit and lemon drop sensations accented by notes of mint and thyme. The ripe fruit is balanced by brisk acidity that leaves the palate feeling cleansed and refreshed.

My Review:
I can honestly say I've never heard of Pecorino before but not a bad first time experience. The bouquet comes across pretty strong in this one. The body is nice and light which complements the the acidity of the wine. Reminds me almost of a lemon and honey flavored hard candy.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Wine Tasting- Carlo Rossi Paisano

Name: Carlo Rossi
Variety: Paisano
Country: United States
State: California
Year: 2014
Price: $12.99

Winery Review:
A clean, easy-to-enjoy style and crisp raspberry taste. Smooth, semi-dry red wine.

My Review:
Generic table wine! Well, I've never had Paisano before but boy is this wine jammy. The body is a little lighter than I would have liked and it is a fairly jammy wine. However, it is a really smooth wine with a clean finish. The semi-dry is also really nice, works well with this wine. I had this wine with roast chicken, rice, and Sirracha sauce and boy was it awesome.

Wine Tasting- Mirassou Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Country: United States
State: California
Year: 2012
Price: $11.99

Winery Review:
The MacMurray Ranch 2013 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a rich expression of this celebrated appellation, with its elegant palate of citrus and lemon crème, underscored by hints of pear and green apple. Subtle notes of sweet caramel and vanilla from oak aging are framed by a luxurious mouthfeel

My Review:
So a Riesling that isn't from Germany, interesting. Well, on the nose, I get honey, some apple, and really just a powerful bouquet. The citrus and lemon creme really come through although I definitely don't get some of the vanilla flavors. Surprisingly complex, a good Riesling that isn't from California.

I did not have food with this wine.

Wine Tasting- MacMurray Pinot Noir

Name: MacMurray Estate Vineyards
Variety: Pinot Noir
Country: United States
State: California
Year: 2013
Price: $14.99

Winery Review:
Classic aromas from the cool micro-climates of the Central Coast, this wine showcases flavors of red cherry, cola and briar complemented by nuances of sweet vanilla and oak.

My Review:
For once, I got absolutely none of the listed flavors (oak aside). This wine had a tannic structure that was a little more robust than the Mirassou and that's fine, it was still a good wine! In terms of taste, I got that cherry I usually do for Pinot. Instead of some of the listed flavors, I got a much more kind of plum flavor. Much jammier and a little bit more powerful than the the Mirassou.

I did not have food with this wine.

Wine Tasting- MacMurray Chardonnay

Name: MacMurray Estate Vineyards
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: United States
State: California
Year: 2013
Price: $18.99

Winery Review:
The MacMurray Ranch 2013 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a rich expression of this celebrated appellation, with its elegant palate of citrus and lemon crème, underscored by hints of pear and green apple. Subtle notes of sweet caramel and vanilla from oak aging are framed by a luxurious mouthfeel

My Review:
Again, really soft wines so far this week. On the nose, I got really light apple and lemon. Now, this was oak aged but much more so elegantly than the Toasted Head I had a few weeks ago, the oak came through really subtly and didn't over power the wine. I do like a nice oaked wine but there is a right and wrong way to do it and this is it. I definitely got all those citrusy flavors but I also got peaches in the finish. Overall, really good.

I did not have food with this wine.

Wine Tasting- Mirassou Pinot Noir

Name: Mirassou Winery
Variety: Pinot Noir
Country: United States
State: California
Year: 2013
Price: $10.99

Winery Review:
Fruit forward and approachable in style, our 2013 Mirassou Pinot Noir has flavors of cherry, strawberry and red currant, which are supported by light vanilla and oak notes. This wine is well balanced with a round, full mouthfeel.

My Review:
This wine was really smooth. Much softer and more complex than what I usually have and I really do appreciate it for that. On the nose I got cherry and vanilla but much softer than usual, the two almost seemed to meld together. The berries are really subdued by the really soft tannic structure and they really do show through on the after taste.

I did not have food with this wine.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Wine Tasting- Milbrandt Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Milbrandt Vineyards
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: United States
State: Washington
Year: 2012
Price: $14.79

Winery Review:
Our 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth and rich with classic aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, dried herbs and hints of vanilla and espresso. This wine is dense with chewy tannins on the mid-palate giving way to a touch of vanilla and toast on the lingering finish

My Review:
I really liked this wine. Really big bodied with robust flavors, the tannins really come through on this one. and the heat is just perfect at a %13.5. On the nose, that vanilla comes through and as well as an earthy kind of leather (dried herbs seem to elude me). Really reminds me of an Old World wine on the nose. On the tongue, this is a really jammy wine with all sorts of herbs that are complimented by a creamy, vanilla finish. I really liked this one.

I did not have food with this wine.

Wine Tasting- Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio

Name: Ecco Domani
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $11.29

Winery Review:
Notes of light citrus and delicate floral aromas are complemented by hints of tropical fruit flavors. The wine is medium-bodied, with a pleasantly soft palate and crisp, refreshing finish.
My Review:
Right off the initial smell I knew this was going to be far too citrusy for me. Strong hints of pineapple really overpowered this for me. I absolutely despised the finish but this has always been an issue between me and pinot grigio. It just reminds me too much of cat urine. Well, technically, there isn't anything wrong with it. Just not a fan of grigio

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting- Thorny Rose Red Blend

Wine Tasting- Thorny Rose Red Blend

Name: Thorny Rose
Variety: Red Blend with Cabernet, Malbec, and Syrah
Country: United States
State: Washington
Year: ???
Price: $10.79

Winery Review:
*Stuff*

My Review:
So the description is notably lacking here since the back of the bottle wasn't really explaining anything, only with random descriptors such as, "chocolate:" and, "unwind". Well, I definitely see where they got some of these so it isn't completely silly. This wine is obviously oaked, giving the rich, red body a hint of vanilla. I got hints of coffee on the palate and only very faintest traces of cinnamon and brown sugar.

I did not have this wine with food.

Wine tasting- Peter Mertes Riesling

Wine Tasting- Peter Mertes Riesling

Name: Peter Mertes
Variety: Riesling
Country: Germany
Year: 2013
Price: $6.97

Winery Review:
Crafted in the well-respected Rheinhessen region of Germany, this quality Riesling is crisp, clean and easy drinking. Floral and fruit aromas suggest sweet melon and honey with enough acidity to ensure a beautifully balanced and versatile wine.

My Review:
I liked this wine. It had a good body and a really nice, floral bouquet. The honey was really strong with this one but it worked as the finish was nice and clean. Additionally, got some apricot and apple but the melon still eludes me. Overall, really good.

I did not have this wine with food.

Wine Tasting- Chocovine

Tasting- Chocovine

Name: Chocovine
Variety: Supposedly Cabernet
Country: Holland
Year: ???
Price: $12.99

Winery Review:
ChocoVine is a fine French Cabernet subtly combined with a rich dark chocolate from Holland, paired together to create a decadent, silky smooth drink. It can be served on the rocks or as the main ingredient to an array of sinful cocktails.

My Review:
Blech. Perhaps my first big mistake here was thinking, "hey, I like these two things on their own, this sounds like a winning combination!" Well, no, it really isn't. I get chocolate milk on the nose and there isn't even the hint of Cabernet somewhere in there. It tastes like Bailey's but with a 14% alcohol percentage, there's some noticeable heat behind it. Well, if you plan on cooking with it, fine. Otherwise avoid.

I did not have this wine with food. Probably a mistake.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Wine Tasting- Sheffiel Cellars Silver Lane Oak Mellowed Marsala

Tasting- Sheffield Cellars Silver Lane Oak Mellowed Marsala

Name: Sheffield Cellars
Variety: Marsala
Country: United States
State: California
Year: ???
Price: $5.99

Winery Review:
*NOTHING TO ADD HERE*

My Review:
Yeah, that's right, a wine that isn't trying to sell itself. Weird, huh? Anyway, this was my first introduction to fortified wine. Holy cow is that a lot of alcohol and boy do I burn for it. Anyway, heat aside, it came to my intention that most people usually cook with this wine only after I tried it. Um, I got alcohol on the nose. Really, not a whole lot else I can add here. I got a super jammy red currant and cherry behind all that heat. Overall, I would use this for cooking, just not drinking.

I did not have this wine with food.

Wine Tasting- Blufeld Riesling

Tasting- Blufeld Riesling

Name: Blufeld
Variety: 100% Riesling
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel
Year: 2013
Price: $8.99

Winery Review:
The 2013 blüfeld medium sweet Riesling exhibits aromas of white ﬂowers, lime, and ripe apricots. In the mouth, juicy acidity balances very well with the sweetness. A distinct minerality reminds us of the origin of this wine. blüfeld Riesling is light, bright, and precise, perfect for everyday enjoyment. Enjoy on its own or perfectly paired with spicy Asian cuisine, mild Indian dishes, sushi, salads, light appetizers, and, of course, German-style meals.

My Review:
Well, not bad for my first encounter with a Riesling. I can definitely see where the descriptor summery comes from. This wine was just extremely floral on the nose. Don't ask me which ones. I don't know anything at all about flowers. Anyway, the wine was sweet but not overpowering with a nice body. I got apricots, lime, and even some apple although not listed.

I did not have this wine with food.

Wine Tasting- Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting- Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Gnarly Head
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: United States
State: California
Year: 2013
Price: $9.79

Winery Review:
Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon is King - big, gallant and powerful. This dark, bold Cabernet has solid tannins and jammy fruit, with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, freshly-cracked black peppercorn, violet and charred notes. On the palate, flavors of dense black fruit compote and currant followed by a trio of clove, spice and earth, lead to a generous, lingering finish.

My Review:
Well, I didn't really like my first encounter with Gnarly Head but this went slightly better. Slightly. Ignore what the review says, it isn't king (but it isn't bad). The problem with this wine is that it's just too damn powerful for its own good. Way too jammy and nothing really subtle about this one. However, it is flavorful and in no way shape or form bad....other than at being subtle. Anyway, I got the peppercorn, blackberry, and black cherry. I got some nice spicy taste on the palate, blackberry too despite not really being listed.

I did not have this wine with food.

Wine Tasting- Toasted Head Merlot

Tasting- Toasted Head Merlot

Name: Toasted Head
Variety: 100% Merlot
Country: United States
State: California
Year: 2012
Price: $12.69

Winery Review:
Aromas of cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate-dipped cherries give way to flavors of bing cherries, sweet anise, vanilla, and roasted coffee. The color is bright-to-dark ruby red.
My Review:
I really liked this. I've had some prior experience with Toasted Head and while I did enjoy their chardonnay, I really liked their Merlot. I got cinnamon and chocolate on the nose and I definitely got almost this creamy, vanilla and coffee flavor to it. Full bodied too which was a nice change in pace from other wines this week.

I did not have this wine with food.