Tasting-Gum Drop Pink Moscato

Name: GumDrop Pink Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

Manufacturer Review: Sweet, flirty and flavorful, these are not your grandmother’s gumdrops. With a nod to the sugar-coated candies of our youth, GumDrop wines are made with the adult sweet tooth in mind. Plump, juicy grapes are picked at ideal ripeness and steel tank-fermented to retain the fresh fruit flavors and perfumed aromatics. The result is a vibrant, vivacious treat for your taste buds.

My Review: My roommate really enjoys tasting different wines and honestly she picked this one because she liked the bottle and we both like Moscato's. I was anxious to try it, especially with the nice pink hue about the wine. The aroma was a mixture of sweet and fruity and reminded me of other wines that I have enjoyed previously. The taste was fruity also and I was very satisfied with it. We both agreed we would purchase this again. 

Tasting-Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Name: Barefoot Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Manufacturer Review: Tart green apple flavors get down with a white peach undertone. Floral blossoms and citrus aromas do the tango. Barefoot’s Pinot Grigio is light-bodied with a bright finish.

My Review: The nose was immediately overwhelming with apple scents. I am very drawn in by apple flavors so considering that scent and the light white color, I was anxious to taste this wine. My roommate really enjoys it and we tend to have similar preferences when it comes to wine, which further perplexed me. The taste was also fruity and satisfying. I enjoyed this wine and would indulge again in the future! 

Tasting-Monte Aman Rosado

Name: Monte Aman Rosado
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Arlanza
Country: Spain
Year: Not listed
Price: $3.95

Vintage Cellar Review: No review given (substituted this wine in because they ran out of the others)

My Review: The nose was fruity and specifically reminded me of berries. It tasted pretty good for a rose wine, although it did have a slightly tangy feature about it. Overall, it was decent but not one that I would likely purchase an entire bottle of. That being said, considering the very low price it seemed like a decent wine. 

Tasting-Bolla 1.5L Moscato

Name: Bolla 1.5L Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Pavia
Country: Italy
Year: Not listed
Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Loaded with juicy exotic fruit, mature apricot, yellow peach and tangerine flavors, this sweet and delightful wine is perfect for Sunday brunch or picnics.

My Review: This white wine had a very sweet aroma about it. I always look forward to the Moscato's at the end of these tasting so I was anxious to try it, especially after smelling the sweet nose. It seemed to have hints of apple flavors on the taste and I enjoyed the taste overall. However, I didn't enjoy this wine as much as I tend to enjoy some other Moscato's. This could potentially be allotted to the fact that it has a higher alcohol content than your average Moscato (9.5%). 

Tasting-Monte Degli Angeli Sangiovese

Name: Monte Degli Angeli Sangiovese
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: The aromas are rich and dark, with lots of black cherry and a hint of balsamic. In the mouth the wine is round and energetic, with cherry and black raspberry fruit complemented by hints of damp earth. If you like Sangiovese-based wines like Chianti or our best-selling Colsanto from Umbria, you'll love this! The wine is ripe, fresh, and fruit-driven with a wonderful dash of earthy complexity at the end. Buy it by the case and drink with pizza, grilled poultry, and pasta.

My Review: This very dark red wine had a floral nose with hints of rose petals. However, it also gave me hints of aromas that I tend to associate with fairly dry wines. When I tasted it, there seemed to be lots of raspberry elements to the flavor. It was better than I was expecting, but not my favorite. A little bit difficult for me to drink. 

Dinner-March 14th

Over Spring Break, my parents and I cooked one of my favorite meals together and paired it with several wines that we had around. The wines we tried were a wide variety, which we purposefully did in order to recognize the contrast more. It was an interesting experience that made me realize some wines pair better with certain foods than others-just as we have discussed in class.

The main entree was New York Strip grilled to perfection by my dad.

We complimented that with delicious grilled asparagus that we prepared in a great seasoning, sauteed mushrooms and a potato casserole. And while we didn't cook it ourselves, we couldn't forget the fresh bakery bread to bring it all together.

Once all of the food was finally prepared, we all gathered around the table, ready to indulge in some delicious food and complimentary wines. The wines we had to taste included two whites and one red. I tasted the red first, because I tend to not care for them so I figured I would get it out of the way before cleansing my palate with a more favorable wine after. The red wine was a Beringer, White Merlot.

Variety: Merlot, Year: 2012, Region: California, Country: USA

While I wasn't too anxious to taste this wine, the aroma made me more intrigued than I had anticipated. It came across as being very fruity, specifically reminding me of berries. Additionally, it had a hint of a chemical aspect to the nose. Upon tasting it, it was quite sweet and much better than I was expecting. I got hints of berries on the taste and it paired quite nicely with my grilled steak.

Next, I sampled the "Hokie Bird" white wine. Our neighbors had given it to us this winter and we never broke into it so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Variety: "Rare white blend", Year: Not listed, Region: Virginia, Country: USA

The aroma of this wine was an appealing mixture of apple and pear with a slight hint of a chemical aspect. I was anxious to taste it but it turned out to be extremely dry. I don't think I've ever had a white wine that seemed quite this dry before. I was not a fan and didn't choose to continue drinking it with the dinner. Especially after already enjoying the pairing of the red wine with the steak.

Finally, we had a nice white wine from the Biltmore, an estate in North Carolina. This is one of my Mom's favorite wines but I had never personally tried it before.

Variety: Pinot Grigio, Year: 2012, Region: North Carolina (Ashville), Country: USA

This wine smelled delicious and came across as encompassing strong components of apple with some hints of orange. The great smell only made me more anxious to finally try out this wine. The taste was somewhat tangy but it went down very smooth. Ultimately, I enjoyed this wine.

I mostly stuck to the Pinot and the Merlot for dinner and left the Chateau Morrisette out. Both of these wines paired nicely with the dinner we were having.

All in all, it was a great evening spent with my parents! I really enjoyed pairing the wines with food and seeing how that provided it with more character. So far this semester, I've mostly had the various wines at the wine tastings so this was a nice change of pace. I definitely plan to have another dinner to further explore the wine/food pairings very soon!

Tasting-Villa Pozzi Moscato

Name: Villa Pozzi Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: Not listed
Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Loaded with juicy exotic fruit, mature apricot, yellow peach and tangerine flavors, this sweet and delightful wine is perfect for Sunday brunch or picnics.

My Review: My first impression of this wine was that it smelled pretty sweet with hints of various fruits. Specifically, I picked up on orange-like flavors. I was anxious to taste this wine because the Moscato's are typically some of my favorites. The taste turned out to be much lighter than I expected. It was very sweet, smooth and easy to drink. I would definitely drink this again in the future! 

Tasting-Paul Laureano Tinto Classico

Name: Paul Laureano Tinto Classico 
Variety: 40% Trincadeira, 40% Aragonez, 20% Alfrocheiro
Region: Alentejano
Country: Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Paulo Laureano’s Classico is a delicious blend of the native Portuguese varietals Trincadeira (40%), Aragonez (40%) and Alfrocheiro (20%). This is a full bodied red that reveals all that the terroir of Portugal has to offer. Light cigar tobacco and soft leather present beautifully on the nose. Dark, black fruits fill the mouth, but the wine flows smoothly over the palate, with a good bit of spice on the finish. Pair with spicy, cured meats and hard cheeses.

My Review: This red wine essentially smelled like most other red wines I've tasted. This one also reminded me of berries to a certain extent, although not quite as potent. The taste was quite dry and really was not appealing to me. This was one of the wines that was harder for me to finish so I probably would go a different direction when purchasing wine. 

Tasting-Bodegas Atalaya Laya

Name: Bodegas Atalaya Laya
Variety: 70% Garnacha Tintorera, 30% Monastrell
Region: Almansa
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review (written by Stephen Tanzer): A blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera, a.k.a. Alicante Bouschet, and 30% Monastrell; fermented in stainless steel, followed by four months in French oak.  Bright purple.  Cassis, blueberry, pungent herbs and mocha on the nose.  Smooth and open-knit on the palate, displaying fresh cherry and dark berry qualities and a hint of black pepper.  Finishes with gripping tannins and good length, leaving a subtle floral note behind.

My Review: The color of this wine was very dark red. To the nose, there was a strong berry smell about it. The taste was slightly more sweet than most red wines I have tasted which was satisfying to me. Although it had a better taste than some other reds, I still didn't love it. 

Tasting-Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Vintage Cellar Review: A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp, Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple.  Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.

My Review: The nose had a potent smell of alcohol or chemicals about it. Therefore, I wasn't too eager to try it out. At first, I was very pleased with the smooth taste, however there was a bit of a tangy-ness on the after taste. Although, in the end, it did leave me with hints of apple tastes which I enjoy. This was a decent wine that I enjoyed enough. 

Tasting-Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste.

My Review: The initial smell on the nose was a certain mixture of fruity and sweet. It reminded me of a blend of apples with a hint of oranges. The smell drew me in, however, the taste was a little spicier than I was anticipating. Overall, the taste was fruity and the wine was smooth. I would drink this wine again in the future.