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!