Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name:  Emeri de Bortoli

Variety:  Sparkling Shiraz

Region:  South Eastern

Country:  Australia

Year:  NV

Price: $9.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 March 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review:  A relatively light, fresh style of sparkling Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish.

My review:  On the nose, there are nice raspberry aromas and a hint of chocolate.  I've never heard of or tasted a sparkling shiraz but not surprisingly, it tasted like champagne.  It was sweet on the mid-palette and overall very refreshing.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Tres Ojos

Name:  Tres Ojos

Variety:  Garnacha

Region:  Calatayud

Country:  Spain

Year:  2011

Price: $6.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 March 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review:  This 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 wonderful elegance and lightness.  Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc.

My review: This was another wine that was not strong on the nose.  You really had to get in the glass and to be honest the most noticeably smell was the alcohol.  This like wine like the Sainte Victoire Cotes is a high-alcohol wine.  You don’t taste the heat though.  It has spiciness on the mid-palate.  The finish is bitter, which I didn't like.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Montebuena

Name:  Montebuena

Variety:  100% Tempranillo

Region:  Rioja

Country:  Spain

Year:  2010

Price: $6.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 March 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review:  Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth.  Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy.  Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip.  Still on young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so decanting; it’s an excellent value for Rioja. 

 My review: This wine like the Sainte Victoire Cotes is subdued on the nose.  The tannins definitely come through initially and on the mid-palate.  This is a high-alcohol wine and you can taste some of the heat. Otherwise this was a balanced wine that I would recommend.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Name:  Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Variety:  Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault

Region:  Provence

Country:  France

Year:  2011

Price: $8.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 March 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review: Bright salmon pink; typical of the fresh but warm Provence style.  Refined and complex on the nose, with summer fruit and floral notes.  Dry and crisp, with a delicate flavor and full texture. 

  

My review:  This wine like Canyon Road had a nice fruity aroma but more subdued.  It was definitely dryer than the Canyon Road and had an understated taste. Overall this was an interesting Rose but not particularly exceptional. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name:  Canyon Road

Variety:  Chardonnay

Region:  California

Country:  USA

Year:  2011

Price: $6.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 March 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review: Medium-bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice.  Delicious complement to grilled chicken, lighter pasta dishes or mild cheeses.

My review: This wine has a nice fruity aroma.  The taste was sweet and the spices really come through.  The acidity was balanced.  This was a good wine. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon

Name:  Excelsior

Variety:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Region:  Cape Town

Country:  South Africa

Year:  2011

Price: $8.99

Tasting Date and Location: 10 March 2013 at home

Winery review:  Crammed with abundant blackcurrant aromas, this full-bodied wine is a mouthful of plum flavours.  Delightfully versatile, it makes a delicious partner to a variety of foods, makes a delicious partner to a variety of foods, including red meats, and rich pasta dishes.

My review: This was the first South African wine I’ve tried since starting this blog. It had a nice, welcoming but not overwhelming aroma.  I thought it was very balanced and did in fact go very well with dinner.  It did have a little bit of heat but I didn’t mind that with dinner.

I tasted this with a dinner of rice, meatloaf, and greens.

Tasting - Macaron Pinot Noir

Name:  Macaron

Variety:  Pinot Noir

Region:  Venice

Country:  Italy

Year:  2011

Price: $12.99

Tasting Date and Location: 10 March 2013 at home

Winery review:  Seductive aromas of ripe cherries, seductive cola and cocoa mingle into a silky, lingering finish.

My review: It turns out I’m really not a fan or maybe can’t appreciate a light-bodied wine just yet.  This wine was extremely hollow and tasted about as cheap as it gets—even though it wasn’t quite as cheap as it gets.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Capriforno Chianti

Name:  Capriforno

Variety: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo nero

Region:  Tuscany

Country:  Italy

Year:  2011

Price: $10.99

Tasting Date and Location: 9 March 2013 at Gourmet Pantry

Winery review: Vivacious and intense. Its perfume is characterized by hints of mature black and red berry fruits.  The palate presents as fresh, fruity and harmonious. Good flavored balance.

My review: The nose was not overwhelming and neither was the taste.  It just didn’t make much of an impression on me.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Cellars of Fairbanks Port

Name:  Cellars of Fairbanks Port

Variety:  Port

Region:  Northern California

Country:  USA

Year:  NV

Price: $5.99

Tasting Date and Location: 10 March 2013 at home

Winery review:  Made in Traditional Port Style, this wine is rich and smooth.

My review:  Again I’m a big fan of ports and I’d never seen one priced as cheaply as this. Saw it at Kroger’s and decided to get it a try.  To be honest, it doesn’t taste all that different from much more expensive ports that I’ve had.  It’s not quite as full-bodied as others I’ve tasted and curiously it comes in a much bigger volume that you typical see with ports.  If you’re on a tight budget, it works.

I tasted this after dinner.

Tasting - Horton Vineyards Pear Port

Name:  Horton Vineyards Pear Port

Variety:  Pear

Region:  SW Virginia

Country:  USA

Year:  NV

Price: $17.95

Tasting Date and Location: 9 March 2013 at home

Winery review: This is a one of a kind wine. A rich, full bodied, sweet (very sweet) dessert wine, loaded with the flavors and aromas of very ripe pears with a touch of brandy. Even chilled, this wine will warm you up. Source: Salut! Wine Market

My review: I really like ports and I’d never heard of a pear port so was a nice and unexpected find at Vintage Cellar.  It didn’t disappoint.  Tasted like a hard apple cider with the creaminess and smoothness of a port.  I’ll definitely get more of this and may even take the trip to Lynchburg to check out the Horton Vineyards.

I tasted this after dinner.

Tasting - Monte Aman

Name:  Monte Aman

Variety:  100% Tempranillo

Region:  Arlanza

Country:  Spain

Year:  2009

Price: $5.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 Feb 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review:  Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature.  Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market.  Inky ruby.  Ripe cherry and plum on the nose.  Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise.  A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit.  Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now.  

My review:  This one had a stronger aroma than the Cortenova.  It had lots of tannins and an oaky spicy character.  This was another solid wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Cortenova

Name:  Cortenova

Variety:  100% Montepulciano d' Abruzzo

Region:  Abruzzo

Country:  Italy

Year:  2010

Price: $6.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 Feb 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review:  Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats.

My review:  This had a nice fruity aroma.  I thought was very approachable and balanced.  Appreciated the soft tannins. Thought it was a solid wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Maipe Chardonnay

Name:  Maipe Chardonnay

Variety:  85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier

Region:  Mendoza

Country:  Argentina

Year:  2012

Price: $7.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 Feb 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review:  30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels. Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.  

My review:  This one was dryer than the Villa d' Orvieto.  The acidity was noticeable.  Otherwise, didn’t really make much of an impression on me.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Villa d' Orvieto

Name:  Villa d' Orvieto

Variety:  Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia

Region:  Orvieto

Country:  Italy

Year:  2011

Price: $6.95

Tasting Date and Location: 28 Feb 2013 at Vintage Cellar

Winery review:  It’s a blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia.  Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads.  

My review:  Upfront, I should say that for me, it’s tough tasting all these white wines in the middle of the winter.  So that said, this wine had an enticing fruity aroma.  The taste was sweet and refreshing.  Will try this one again when the weather gets warmer.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Vega Escal

Name:  Vega Escal

Variety:  60% Carinena, 30% Garnacha, and 10% Syrah

Region:  Priorat

Country:  Spain

Year:  2008

Price: $40.00

Tasting Date and Location: 1 March 2013 at Veritas Wine Bar, Washington, D.C.

Winery review:  Enticing aromas of garrigue, lavender, incense, plum, and black cherry lead to a racy, intense, impeccably balanced, lengthy wine that can be approached now but will provide enjoyment for another 6-8 years.  Wine Advocate #194, May 2011

My review: Decided to stop in at one of my old DC hangouts—Veritas Wine Bar. Turned out that Vega Escal was one of the least expensive bottles on the menu.  This wine had a nice fruity aroma.  It’s a high alcohol wine and you could definitely taste the heat. The finish was slightly tart but smooth.  I enjoyed the wine and relatively speaking, it was a good value.

I tasted this on its own with no food.