Tasting -- Mulled Wine & Orange Wine

 Jamestown Cellars Settlers' Spiced Wine

Grape Variety: Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Country & Region: Williamsburg, Virginia

Price: Reduced $6.99

Vintage: NV

Critic Review: A great fall wine, especially for thanksgiving time. Amazing value, cinnamon and cardamom shine through, especially on the nose. The alternative to mulled wine of you don't want something hot. You must try in the fall at least once.

My Tasting Experience:

This blend was full of strong and vibrant aromas and flavors. Its dark burgundy color matched its deep flavor profile. Immediately, the spices filled my nose. The cinnamon was a prominate aroma. The taste was very similar to the aroma. I could recognize a strong blend of several spices. This wine tasted like a delicous apple cider or wassail. I would prefer this wine as a dessert instead of before a meal.

Wine Folly: Could not find any information about spiced, mulled, or this kind of Virginian wine. pg 31 Wine Aromas identifies cinnamon as a primary spice aroma.

Bonny Doon Le Cigare Orange

Grape Variety: 52% Grenache Blanc, 42% Grenache Gris, & 6% Muscat Orange

Country & Region: Central Coast California

Price: Reduced $8.99

Vintage: 2023

Critic Review: Aromas of fresh apricot, citrus and tangerine blossom. Bright fresh palate with peach, apricot, and citrus peel. Textured and vibrant.

My Tasting Experience:

The orange/amber color was gorgeous! This is my first time having an orange wine, and it was delicious. I could only note a light aroma, but could not pinpoint the scent. However, the aroma was full, filling my nose with an acidic smell and feeling. The taste was different. I could only describe it as some sort of cirtus water (if a jug of water had a few lemon slices sitting in it over night). It had light body and a hint of acidity or alcohol flavor. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

Wine Folly: pg 49 "Orange" Wine -- I was surprised that Wine Folly stated that orange wines have tannin and body like red wines because this wine felt light. I may have noted slight tannins, but the body was much lighter than expected.

Gorgeous Orange Color!

The color reminded me of my friends lava lamp...

Now, off to uncork my next adventure!

RG

Tasting -- Black Box Reds

Black Box Merlot

Grape Variety: Merlot

Country & Region: California

Price: $5.99

Vintage: NV

Critic Review: Hearty plum, vanilla, and cinnamon aromas. Flavors of black cherry and red berry fruit.

My Tasting Experience:

This Merlot was deeep, dark red. At first glance it almost looked purple. This wine had some chemical aromas. It felt acidic in the nose. There was also something else that I could not pinpoint. Maybe red berry? The taste...I did not enjoy in the slightest. It was almost bitter with not a lot of body. I honestly thought it was just bad.

Wine Folly: pg 131-132 Merlot - I definitely picked up on the deep, dark fruity flavors, but I did not enjoy them. I do not taste any chocolate, vanilla, or desert dust flavors. I could appreciate the supple tannins, however.

Black Box Pinot Noir

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir

Country & Region: California

Price: $5.99

Vintage: NV

Critic Review: A solid, light-red wine emerges from this box, showing toasty, oaky aromas, raspberry and plum flavors and a rich texture. While it doesn't have a strong Pinot Noir varietal character, it's an enjoyable, mild and easy-to-drink wine.

My Tasting Experience:

This Pinot Noir was much better than the Merlot. The lighter red colors shined in the light. The aromas were full, with notes of light fruit. The taste was sweeter but still dry. Despite, I still enjoyed this wine more.

Wine Folly: pg 150-151 Pinot Noir - This pinot noir tasted sweeter, so the fruit taste of the cherry and raspberry was different than the Merlot. I am not sure if I could taste the clove, but I could definitely smelll some sort of spice. I agree with the smooth, soft-tannin finish. That was one of my favorite parts.

Now, off to uncork my next adventure!

RG

Tasting -- Clearwater Cove Sauvignon Blanc

 Clearwater Cove Sauvignon Blanc (2023)

Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Country & Region: New Zealand, Marlborough

Price: $10.99

Vintage: 2023

Critic Review: Appearance: Bright straw with slight green hues. Nose: The nose is lifted and fresh with notes of passion fruit, blackcurrant leaves, and herbs. Palate: The sweet fruit characters and crisp acidity combine to create a palate that is fresh with a zesty mineral finish.

My Tasting Experience:

This wine had a gorgeous light golden/clear color. While there was a buttery and creamy aroma, the smell was not to sharp or complex. The taste was delightful! While it tasted dry, there was not a dry feel. This made the wine more enjoyable since there was a good balance overall. I noticed some soft fruity notes that I though could be pear. They were not strong, so it was hard to pinpoint the taste. I also noted minerals and earthy flavors that drove the taste of this Sauvignon Blanc.

Now, off to uncork my next adventure!

RG

Wine Dinner

Debonair Pinot Grigio (2022)

Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio

Country & Region: United States, California

Price: $8.99

Vintage: 2022

Critic Review: Confident, refined, and always memorable, this wine embodies what it means to be a debonair. Our Pte. Grigio is known for its breathtaking aroma, of cirtus fruits, honeysuckle notes combined with a refreshing mouthwatering finish.

My Tasting Experience:

Before Pairing: This Pinot Grigio was a very pale yellow, almost clear color. The aromas were acidic and tarte with notes of citrus. When tasting this wine, light, fruity and citrus flavors came through. There was little mouth feel although it was slightly acidic. 

Paired with Mozzarella & Goat Cheese on Crackers: When paired with the mozzarella, the two flavors did not mix. The taste was very bland and the wine flavors were muted by the cheese. However, when tasting with the CaPeachio's crakcers, the flavor was sligthly enhanced and was yummy!

When paired with the goat cheese, specifially with the buttermilk cracker, the wine enhanced the cheese's flavor, making it more creamy and smooth. Although I really enjoyed the goat cheese alone, I woud choose to pair this Pinot Grigio with goat cheese in the future!

Storyteller Merlot "Once Upon a Dream" (2022)

Grape Variety: Merlot

Country & Region: United States, Sonoma County, CA

Price: $15

Vintage: 2022

Critic Review: Dark ruby color. Vibrant aromas of herbs, chocolate mint, menthol, and blueberry crumble with a supple, dry-yet fruity medium-to-full body and a zesty dried boysenberry and brown spice finish and chewy tannins. Nice spicy flavors.

My Tasting Experience:

Before Pairing: By taking the Wine Folly recommendation, we decanted this Merlot for 30 minutes before tasting. The aroma of this wine was strong. Initially, it smelled similar to an expo marker. My nose was filled with strong tingles as if the wine was spicy, which could be contributed to menthol notes. The only fruit aroma I could identify was some type of berry. At first taste, this wine was spicy! My tounge was tingling. Additionally, I noted some oakyness while it was a little dry. Overall, the wine was compex and full-bodied. The high alcohol and low sugar seemed like it was trying to be balanced by the acid and tannins, but they were too strong.

Paired with Supreme Pizza: This pairing was great! The body of the pizza cut out the harsh dryness. However, the garlic crust made the wine tingle and sting my tounge, not pairing well.

Paired with Pepperoni Pizza: With this more simple and thin pizza, the wine was not enhanced. This pairing made the wine too tangy and strong on the tounge.

Roscato Rosso Dolce

Grape Variety: Red Blend

Country & Region: Italy, Lombardy

Price: $17

Vintage: NV

Critic Review: Light ruby red semi sparkling wine with intense blackbery, violet and berry aromas; crisp, lively palate with persistent aftertaste, fruity and deliciously smooth.

My Tasting Experience:

Before Pairing: I could not get past the strong aroma of twizzler. The only smell I could note was some sort of berry candy. When tasting, I knew I could not drink a lot because it was so sweet. However, it was quite delicious with its light bubbles and crispy finish. Very juicy taste with a hint of berry.

Paired with Chocolate Brownies: I think this pairing went well! The brownie definitely overpowered the wine but in a good way. The chocolate was able to cut down the sweetness of the wine making it more pleasant. In the end, the pairing tasted like fizzy water with delicious chocolate.

Here's me and my friends finishing off our second course!

Now, off to uncork my next adventure!

RG

Tasting -- Sutter Home Pinot Grigio

 Sutter Home Pinot Grigio

Grape Variety: Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris

Country & Region: United States, St. Helena, CA

Price: $6.99 (4 bottles, 187ml)

Vintage: NV

Critic Review: It's a surprisingly decent wine considering the price and mini-bottle packaging. i got notes ofmelon, tropical fruit leading with pineapple, caramel, and sea salt, and found it to be anice pre-dinner sip.

My Tasting Experience:

This wine had a strong aroma that was apparent a few inches away while swirling. The aroma was fruity, light, and not acidic. I picked up the slightest hint of what I though was banana which could be the tropical fruit noted on the label. The taste was surprisingly not too dry and was slightly sweet; a nice balance of the two. Overall, I really enjoyed the sweet, crisp, and fruity taste!

Wine Folly: pg 149 Pinot Gris - I picked up on the fruity notes, but not the raw almond or crushed gravel. I am still unsure what those nutty and earthy notes should taste or smell like.

Now, off to uncork my next adventure!

RG

Tasting -- Bay Bridge & Bonterra Chardonnay

 Bay Bridge Chardonnay

Grape Variety: Chardonnay

Country & Region: United States, Central Valley, CA

Price: $3.99!

Vintage: NV

Critic Review: Straw color. Aromas of ripe pear, yellow plum, vanilla-vcaramel, and fried sage with a satiny, crisp, fruity light-to-medium body and an even, interesting, breezy marshmallow and lemon jellies finish with a suggestion of oak flavor.

My Tasting Experience

This chardonnay was a light, straw yellow with a strong acidic and tart smell. The aroma lacked different layers and smells, as the acid overpowered any fruit. Similarly, the taste did not have a lot of different flavors and lacked complexity. However, this did not make the wine taste bad. It seems  unbalanced.

Wine Folly: pg 96 Chardonnay General - I could not taste any of the common flavors such as pineapple or vanilla. I agree that the sweetness and tannins are low while the acidity and body were higher.

pg 294 Central Coast, CA - Again, I could not pick up the common flavors of a Central Coast Chardonnay which are often rich and oaky.

Bonterra Chardonnay (2022)

Grape: Chardonnay

Country & Region: United States, Mendocino County, CA

Price: $16

Vintage: 2022

Critic Review: This wine is refreshing on the palate, with a minerality that is both bright and clean, drawing you into a vibrant tartness and lemon zest.

My Tasting Experience:

The color of this wine was a darker yellow or a golden hay. While doing the sniff and swirl, the aromas were very fruity. I seemed to pick out some apple or pear notes in the aroma. This Chardonnay tasted less acidic, making it softer on the tongue. While the first taste was a little sweet, there was a slight butter wholeness as an aftertaste. I definitely liked this one better because the acidity was not as overpowering.

Wine Folly: pg 96 Chardonnay General - The aroma and taste of the yellow apple was the strongest flavor for me. I also experienced a butter taste that provided nice body to the aftertaste. 

pg 292 North Coast, CA - A North Coast Chardonnay has common notes of apple, baked pear, and butter, which I experienced with this wine. However, I did not pick up on any almond cream, pineapple, haselnut, or caramel.

Now, off to uncork my next adventure!

RG

Wine and Cheese Pairing

 

For this wine and cheese pairing, a group of friends and I tried three different wines and four different cheeses. We enjoyed the wine and cheese with some bread and olive oil in between pairings.

Cheeses (Before Pairing):

Fontina

This cheese was light and buttery. It was my favorite out of the four cheeses. According to Wine Folly, delicate, buttery cheeses pair great with sparkling, white, and dessert wines.

Brie

Similar to the Fontina, this cheese was soft and light. I also enjoyed this cheese very much. Since Brie is also a delicate, buttery cheese, it should also pair great with sparking, white, and dessert wines.

Sharp Cheddar

I did not find the Sharp Cheddar as appealing as the first two cheeses, but it was still quite tasty alone. This cheese was sharp and strong on my tounge. Wine Folly has cheddar under the fruity, umami cheeses, which pair great with medium-bodied and full-bodied red wines.

Blue Cheese

Even though I have not liked Blue Cheese in the past, I decided to give it another taste. Unfortunately, I though the taste was way to strong and, honestly, gross. As a pungent Blue Cheese, Wine Folly suggests pairing this cheese with aromatic white wine and dessert wine, and said to stay away from light- and full-bodied white for red wines. I tried the blue cheese with a few of the wines, but did not find any of the tastes appealing. There will be no further notes on this cheese.

Wines:

Bell'Agio Chianti (2022)

Grape Variety: Sangiovese, Canaiolo

Country & Region: Italy, Tuscany, Chianti

Price: $16

Vintage: 2022

Critic Review: Has a fresh and floral aroma with hints of ripe berries and plums and just a touch of oak. Bursting with fresh raspberries, the firm tannins and good balancing acidity round out this wine that has a lot of flavor in it. There is some cuisine that pairs well with this delicious wine.

My Tasting Experience:

Before Pairing:

This wine had a sweet, but strong aroma. The taste alone was more earthy and had a tannic aftertaste. Athough sweet, the dryness filled my mouth. Overall, I enjoyed this wine.

After Pairing:

The Fontina cheese paired the best with this wine! The flavor of the wine seemed to spread across the tounge after eating this cheese. The flavor was definitely enhanced with this pairing. While the Sharp Cheddar tasted good with the wine, this cheese had an overpowering aftertaste. Finally, the Brie was a mad match for the Chianti. The two flavors just did not mix well.

Barefoot Merlot

Grape Variety: Merlot

Country & Region: United States, California

Price: $12

Vintage: NV

Critic Review: Luscious wine with alluring flavors of boysenberry and split cherries followed by hints of silky chocolate for a decadent finish.

My Tasting Experience:

Before Pairing:

When first smelling the aromas of this wine, a stronger grape smell was present. I could not pick out any other smell, since this grape was so overpowering. When tasting, the Merlot was sweet and not dry. I picked out a delicious plum/jam taste which could be attributed to the boyseberry and split cherries.

After Pairing:

I thouroughly enjoyed the Sharp Cheddar with this wine. It made the flavors very smooth in the mouth. The Fontina also had a smooth taste, but the aftertaste was strong, overpowering the wine. The wine seemed to greatly affect the taste of the Brie. The pairing was sour and not appetizing.

Maipe Malbec

Grape Variety: Malbec

Country & Region: Argentina, Maipu Valley

Price: $10

Vintage: 2019?

Critic Review: This Mallbec has a deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum, fig, strawberry, spices, and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tanins, excellent length with a distiguished character.

My Tasting Experience:

Before Pairing:

This Malbec had strong grape aromas mixed with another smell I could not identify, although pleasant. The taste was overall delicious! This wine was definitely more complex and fuller-bodied.

After Pairing:

Unfortuately, I did not find a cheese that I thought paired well with this wine. The Fontina did not cause an unpleasant taste, but I did not feel as if this cheese was meant to be paired with this wine. The Sharp Cheddar also did not mix well, overpowering the wine. When tasting the Brie, the wine caused the cheese to be too milky and pulled out the moldy, poor tasting parts of the cheese.

My friend recently bought a decanter, so we decided to let the Malbec decant for a few hours. I am unsure how this affected the taste, since we did not taste the wine beforehand. However, I could see the oxygen mixing with the wine as we swirled the vessel, and I feel the aromas became more powerful. We will be using the dacanter for future tastings as well!

Now, off to uncork my next adventure!

RG