The Vintage Cellar Tasting--March 24, 2016

Wine #1

Name: Tonnino Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Sicily, Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $14 (SALE: $7.95)
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Tonnino’s exotic example of Pinot Grigio has a straw to pale gold color. It is fresh and clean on the nose with fruity notes of pear, green apple and white peaches. The palate is true to the nose with a fresh acidity, coriander and lime notes followed by a crisp finish. This wine pairs well with youthful aperitifs, clams or mussels, pastas and risotto dishes."
Personal Review: This wine had a very peculiar scent, but in the good way. It was very clean smelling with hints of crisp green apple with a slight citrus twist. The taste was also very similar. Even though it smelled like it was going to be too sweet for my liking, it was surprisingly quite tart and I LOVED it. This white wine was dry, but the scents of apple and citrus followed from the nose to the tongue which was delightful. I really enjoyed this wine.

Wine #2

Name: Maipe Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Year: 2014
Price: $14 (SALE: $7.95)
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "The wine has a spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well-balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish."
Personal Review: This wine right off the bat had a very strong sugar smell with overwhelming scents of peaches and cantelope. This was even more defined with the taste, which was extremely sweet with heavy tastes of apples and rose. It was heavy and bold for a white wine, but not in the good way. It's viscosity was quite thick and I did not like it at all.

Wine #3

Name: Georges Duboef
Variety: Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais, France
Year: 2015
Price: $12 (SALE: $5.95)
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "George Duboeuf is THE king of Beaujolais.  His wines are full of pop, charm and great flavor and his Beaujolais Nouveau is no exception.  A cornucopia of expressive fruit wrapped in an almost-bubblegum-like frame; it is the flagship Nouveau."
Personal Review: This was my favorite of the five. Its smell was intoxicating with aromas of rich smells of chocolate and flowers. The taste was remarkable by alluring to the mid-palate especially with hints of plums, dark chocolate and just a tad of earthy tones. Such a good wine, especially for the price!

Wine #4

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Shiraz
Region: California
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Beautiful ruby appearance, with blackberry and pepper notes. Tannins and fruit marry well for a soft finish. This wine pairs well with sharp cheddar cheese and hazelnuts. Also try it along with roast lamb at Easter time, veal marsala, or grilled salmon."
Personal Review: With smells of bardyard and moss, the smell left a nasty residue in my nose. The taste was about the same. All I could take away from it was earthy tones of legit dirt and a goat barn. Not my favorite.

Wine #5

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "The trademark German red grape varietal Dornfelder has a lovely purity of soft red berry fruit. Integrated soft tannins combined with forward fruit flavors make for a perfectly balanced everyday sipping wine.

Great with grilled red meat, sausage and chicken. Best served slightly chilled."
Personal Review: The smells was soft with hints of blackberry and jams, and yet a subtle earthy smell. The taste was soft and caring to the palate, and I believe its tender cherry and soft tannin structure would go excellent with any kind of red meat.

March 19th, 2016 Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting: THE OLD WORLD!

Wine Number One

Name: Aveleda Praia                  
Variety: Vinho Verde blend of 40% Arinto, 
             30% Loureio, 20% Trajadura and 10% Azal

Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review:Full of fruit, a lasting peach flavor targeted with laserlike acidity through the finish. It has the bite of salty ocean air and a lot of zing. For langoustines. 
Personal Review: This wine was very acidic all the way from smell to the final taste. With strong hints of grapefuit, peach and somewhat lime, this wine was very pungint and made my mouth pucker. It was very different from normal whites, which consist of sweet, easy drinkable tastes. However, with that said, this is one of the tastiest whites I've had in a long time. If you like dry wines, you should definitely try this one.

Wine Number Two

Name: Tenuta le Velette            
Variety: Orvieto Classico blend

Region: Orvieto, Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "The Berganorio Orvieto is a subtle wine with a bright palate. It shows white flowers on the nose and light citrus notes in the mouth. Its neutral character means it can accompany a wide range of foods. A blend of 30% Trebbiano, 30% Grechetto, 20% Malvasia, 15% Verdello, and 5% Drupeggio. The estate has 103 hectares on the hill opposite the hill town of Orvieto."
Personal Review: This wine was not my favorite. With very strong hints of floral arragenments it was strong on the nose. However, when it came to taste it was quite delicate and pleasing. With a very simple and sublte smooth citrus taste, this wine would go great with any type of seafood dish and I believe it would have the flexibility of garnishing any dish it would be paired with.

Wine Number Three

Name: Bolla Bardolino                 
Variety: Blend of 60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella and 10% Molinara

Region: Bardolino, Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $9.95 for Magnum
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: A blend of 60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 10% Molinara this bright ruby red wine has hints of black cherry on the nose.  It is soft and fruit-forward, with black-fruit flavors followed by a bright and fresh finish. Serve it as the Italians do – young and lightly chilled. Pairs perfectly with fleshy fish, beef, lamb, red-sauced pastas and pizza.
Personal Review: This wine had a vibrant and rich creamy rose and cherry scent. On the palate, it was much more delicate and really brought out some soothing black-fruit tastes. This wine would proabably go well with any main meat course, and would go delightlfully with maybe steak or pasta.

Wine Number Four

Name: Castello Sonnino              
Variety: Chianti Montespertoli blend

Region: Chianti, Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: A blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia del Chianti. Rich and modern, with a dark, saturated color and aromas of graham cracker and lemon rind. A juicy palate packed with plum and raspberry is carried by a creamy texture that’s rather toasty in terms of flavor. The finish is round, full and chocolaty.
Personal Review: This wine had a very distinct farm animal-like smell. Very earthy and musky smell and quite enduring and strange. The taste was very delightful though. With sublte hints of raspberry and cherries it was pleasing and would go wel with a dark/red meat dinner.

Wine Number Five

Name: Peter Mertes      
Variety: Sweet Red Dornfelder
Region: California, Germany
Year: 2014
Price: $6.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: The trademark German red grape varietal Dornfelder has a lovely purity of soft red berry fruit. Integrated soft tannins combined with forward fruit flavors make for a perfectly balanced everyday sipping wine.

Great with grilled red meat, sausage and chicken. Best served slightly chilled.
Personal Review: This wine is very strange. I have never tasted or smelled anything like this wine before and that to me was good and bad. Its smell was that of soft cherries with a delicate venture which heightened my curiosity to try it. The initial taste was the most pleasing texture and palate that I have experienced with any other wine. However, as my palate took in the taste, however, it turned very bitter and dry, with a very heavy taste of tannins with berries. The finishing tastes were quite over whelming but I kept wanting to drink more to figure this wine out. Very very complicated and intriguing wine.

Vintage Cellar March 3, 2016 Tasting

Wine Number One

Name: Quintas Melgaco Blue                             

Variety: Vinho Verde white wine
Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: Refreshingly crisp white wine from Portugal--Vinho Verde is soft, light and refreshing, and is an uncompromising and ideal wine for everyday pleasure. Its bright color and pineapple aromas are followed by citrus notes. The palate is clean and fresh. Vinho Verde is an excellent accompaniment to fish and shell fish, white meats and salads.
Personal Review: This wine was not for me. It was very sweet with hints of metallic apple as you smelled it. And the taste was much the same. I kept getting a metallic flavor and a crisp apple feel. Too clean for my palate.

Wine Number Two

Name: Prime Brume                            
Variety: Garganega
Region: Soave, Itlay
Year: 2014
Price: $6.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review:Pale color. Fruity, floral minerally inviting aromas of passion fruit, white grapefruit, spice poached pear, and papaya with a lean, racy, bone-dry medium body and a smooth, complex, long lemon, passion fruit, raw hazelnut, and wet stones finish with no tannins and light oak. From the tantalizing nose full of exotic fruit, citrus and minerality thru to the long, crisp finish, this soave can seamlessly go from cocktail hour thru to vibrantly flavored dishes.
Personal Review: This white wine was not too bad. It had a subtle aroma of fruits and floral arrangements. Grapefruit came out in the taste which made my mouth pucker. Also with sublte hints of earthy tones, such as stone and oak came through in the finish of this wine. A delight on the palate.

Wine Number Three

Name: Grand Cru                      
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Year: 2013
Price: $6.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review:This ruby-colored wine has aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of vanilla. Flavors of cherry and plum lead to a soft velvety finish. This wine can be enjoyed by itself. It is also an excellent accompaniment with Brie, goat cheese and smoked salmon. Lamb shanks and pork tenderloin are a favorite main dishes to pair with this wine.
Personal Review: This was my favorite of the four. With the Pinot Noir, it was gentle and easy on the palate. Very simple taste with hints of oak, berries, especially raspberry and black cherry. I had a hard time putting words to the aroma, but if it were a candle I would definitely buy it.

Wine Number Four

Name: Velvet Crush               
Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petite Sirah
Region: California
Year:  --
Price: $6.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review:Velvety smooth texture just like its name. Soft tannins and lush dark fruit character. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah bring backbone and character, while the Merlot balances out the blend for a soft, smooth texture.

Personal Review: This blend was very interesting for a red blend. It was kind of harsh to the nose with aromas of oak and chocolate. The taste was very bold, yet sooth and it left a very fuzzy taste/texture on my tongue when I drank it. The lingering tastes of bark and earthy tones made it hard to get out of your palate which was unappealing to my taste buds.

Wine Number Five

Name: Dona Sol                               
Variety: Shiraz, petite Syrah and Symphony
Region: California
Year:  --
Price: $6.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar
Professional Review:Shiraz has a unique jammy fruit character that is well represented in the Sweet Red. Both on the nose and on the palate, jammy fruit, like strawberries, cherry pie and red licorice, entices the senses and pair well with cheeses and desserts.
Personal Review: The professional review of this wine was spot on. It had very strong jammy fruit tastes and smells. Smells of strawberries and almost farm-animals made me curious to taste it and the only thing I could definitely say I tasted was the strawberry and almost blackberry jam like taste. Very intricate and busy wine!