Vintage Cellar April 21, 2016 Tasting

Wine #1:

Name: Santola
Variety: Vinho Verde
Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal
Year: ---
Price: $7.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh."

Personal Review: This wine had a very refreshing clear-green color to it. It was very smooth and silky to the nose with subtle hints of perfume and apple. The taste was very crisp and refreshing with peach and apple flavors.




Wine #2:

Name: Terranoble
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Year: 2014
Price: $8.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "This Chardonnay offers a wine with an attractive color and lovely aromas, such as ripe pear and pineapple, mixed with butter and vanilla notes. It is a fresh style of white wine, with medium persistence in mouth. Ideal as an aperitif."

Personal Review: This wine had a distinct butter smell along with a slight cherry and robust apple/pear scent. The taste was smooth like butter as well and there was a light oakyness that came out in the finishing touches.


Wine #3:

Name: Terranoble
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Cental Valley, Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "This Cabernet Sauvignon offers an intense and deep color and lovely aromas of red fruit, pepper and tobacco. It has smooth tannins, very freshness and rich fruit, which gives the wine a good balance. Pair with barbecued beef ribs, grilled sea bass, or spaghetti alla Bolognese."

Personal Review: This Cab Sauv was very fruit filled and pleasant. It had a slightly tannic structure to the taste and had quite a bit of pepper to off set the blackberries and strawberry flavors. Very delicious and rich in flavor.


Wine #4:

Name: Oasis del Cuyo
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Year: ---
Price: Regular: $12; Sale:$6.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Deep ruby color. Appealing red fruit nose with hints of tobacco. Medium bodied with a smooth and lush mouth-feel. Finishes dry with lasting flavors. Excellent choice for a young and fruity everyday wine. Enjoy as an aperitif or with meats and pasta dishes."

Personal Review: This wine had very rough and tough earthy tones in its scent. Upon arrival to the palate, you become bombarded by roasted cherries and a smoky fire, while a light oaky pepper come in last and ends the show. Would go very well with any kind of red meat and possibly even chicken.

Wine #5:

Name: Baci Dolci Mosto Di Uve Parzialmente Fermentato
Variety: 50% Marzemino, 50% Merlot
Region: Colli Euganei, Italy
Year: Non-vintage
Price: Regular: $15; Sale: $9.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "A blend of 50% Marzemino 50% Merlot. A delicate, slightly frizzante wine with an intense, ruby red color. Fresh strawberry & black cherry aromas with hints of roses. Cherry pie flavors, medium-full bodied with refreshing sparkle to balance the semi- sweet finish."

Personal Review: This wine was BEAUTIFUL in color, and it did not leave the palate wanting more. With honeysuckle, rose and even a slight cherry blossom scent, this wine had a very perfumed aroma that made me feel like I was in a garden. With earty tones in the taste along with rose and cherry, it was a delightful wine that seemed to be very well acquainted with the environment and its surrounding. Beautiful wine.

Vintage Cellar Tasting April 14, 2016

Wine #1

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto, Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $7.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "A Venetian favorite!  It is crisp and dry, rich and spicy with hints of peach and honey…perfect with salads, pasta, chicken and fish!  Musaragno is an organic wine estate near Venice, Italy."
Personal Review: This wine was quite refreshing with aromas of honey suckle and fruity spices. The taste was crisp, yet dry and left a nice peachy/apply aftertaste after introducing your palate to dry salt and spices. Would pair quite well with a Salmon and potato dinner!


Wine #2

Name: El Cortijillo
Variety: Verdejo
Region: La Monacha, Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Golden straw color. Bright, attractive, tropical aromas of creme brulee and fruit tart with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a smooth, intriguing, snappy lime and apple finish with crunchy, fruit tannins and light oak. A super smooth and pure white sipper." 
Personal Review: Very smooth wine. Very complex with tannins and oak but refreshed by apply and peachy undertones. Velvety on the palate and very intriguing.


Wine #3

Name: Cavit Alta Luna
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Italy
Year: 2011
Price: Regular $20; Sale $9.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review:"On the nose cherry, plum and berry aromas mingle with notes of spice and tobacco. On the palate soft, supple tannins and refreshing acidity are beautifully balanced by ripe cherry fruit flavors on the finish which is dry, harmonious and elegant."
Personal Review: Aromas of black cherries and plums with simple tones of cinnamon and forest floor. However, the palate becomes softly introduced to cherry blossoms and honey velvet. Would be great for sipping on a relaxing afternoon.


Wine #4

Name: Jip Jip Rocks
Variety: Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Padthaway, Australia
Year: 2013
Price: Regular $19; Sale $8.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "This red wine is a well above average effort with lots of flavor as well as Australia's so easily obtainable, lush fruit. The 2013 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon (55% and 45% respectively) exhibits a dark ruby/purple hue along with a layered, peppery, berry fruit-scented nose revealing licorice and meaty notes. From a much lighter vintage, it is a supple, easygoing red to enjoy now and over the next several years."
Personal Review: I was very interested in this wine. The Shiraz and Cab Sav. went very well with each other. The Shiraz brought dry earthy and spice tones, while the Cab Sav. brought along a great blend of fruits such as strawberries, apples and a little bit of maraschino cherries. Great blend of wine!


Wine #5

Name: Lost Vineyards Spumante Italiano
Variety: Moscato
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Year: -Non Vintage-
Price: $6.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Pale color. Confected, fruity aromas of yellow apple, honeysuckle, pear tartlet, and honeydew melon with a satiny, shy, spritzy, moderately sweet light-to-medium body and a sleek, fast yellow apple, candied pear, honeycomb, and sweet papaya finish with no tannins and no oak. Simple and approachable with sweet apple, melon and candied pear on a framework of gentle, delightful bubbles."
Personal Review: Very rich moscato. With butter and almost corn scents, it was very different on my palate than other moscatoes. Tastes of apples, pears and  a little bit of celery invade the palate and it is intriguingly delicious. Very nice moscato!

Vintage Cellar 4/7/2016 Tasting

Wine #1

Name: Mars & Venus
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: La Mancha, Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional 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."
Personal Review: This wine was very crispy and apply in its taste and smell. It also had subtle hints of pineapples and dried mangoes as it hit the mid-palate. I believe it would go great with any white meat or fish dinner; however, it would also be great for just enjoying for a night with friends.



Wine #2

Name: Mapreco
Variety: Vinho Verde Rose
Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal
Year: 2015
Price: $7.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "The cherry color reveals a slightly fizzy wine that is a very fruitful rosé made from the traditional Vinho Verde white grapes. Adding a splash of red to offer flavors with notes of strawberry, cherry and berries. A delightful twist on the original."
Personal Review: This wine had quite a beautiful full rose color. This wine had hints of strawberries, honey, cherry and I even got some watermelon on my palate. It wsa a delightful blend of flavors, even though it was a tad too sweet for me.


Wine #3

Name: Manoir du Carra
Variety: Beaujolais Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais, France
Year: 2014
Price: Regular:$12; Sale: $4.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "A pretty, floral wine, with a rose petal note underscoring the rich pomegranate and sweet plum flavors. The fresh acidity is balanced, and a light spice note lingers on the finish."
Personal Review:  This whine was light and refreshing with effervescent strawberries and black cherry flavors to it. A little bit of spice gets through in the ending tastes, but a very good wine.



Wine #4

Name: Maipe
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: Regular: $12; Sale: $6.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "The 2015 Maipe Malbec is another 100% Malbec, with a deep purple color and a style similar to the Lexicon, with chocolaty, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, as well as touches of licorice and earth. It is delicious, soft and round."

Personal Review: This wine was quite exquisite and right up my alley. It had vibrant black cherry, chocolate and almost even a red meat taste with strong spice flavors following. With very earthy tones as well, this wine would probably not be good to drink alone, but it would pair well with a red meat or maybe even salmon dinner.



Wine #5

Name: Fetzer
Variety: Gewurztrsminer
Region: California
Year: 2014
Price: Regular: $12; Sale: $8.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "A rainy minerality on the nose of this sweet wine manages to cut through the sugared oranges, honeysuckle and ripe, tropical white fleshed fruit, from peach to cherimoya. The palate is full of honeyed apples, white peach and pineapple, but the decent acidity and chalky element stops it short of treacly."
Personal Review: This wine was a bit harsh for my liking, but that was somewhat expected with German grapes. Very earthy and almost minerally taste that hits you hard in the beginning. after this however; after the initial earth tones, all these different fruits come through, such as cherries, pomegranate and some cantelope. Quite an interesting wine, and very different on the palate.

Vintage Cellar 3/31/2016 Tasting

Wine #1

Name: Bricco dei Tati
Variety: Cortese
Region: Piemonte, Italy
Year: 2013
Price: Regular: $10; Sale: $6.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: “Great Value! Treat this terrific little white like a red: Don’t chill it too much, then let it open for a half-hour to develop its enticing tropical fruit flavors. It’s dry, but the fruit gives an appealing illusion of sweetness. Great as an aperitif or with light seafood dishes.”
Personal Review: This was my favorite of today's tasting, and in fact I bought my own! For a white wine, I was very impressed. The scent was very clean and effervescent with hints of pear and spring showers. The taste was also very clean. It was not overly hot. It was not weighted down with sugars and spices. This wine had a very delightful, entangled taste of pear and almost kiwi. Delicious wine!


Wine #2

Name: Dom de la Foret
Variety: Grenache Cinsault: Rose de Mediterranee
Region: Provence, France
Year: ---
Price: Regular: $13; Sale: $8.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "A stony, pure style, with a warm paving stone note framing the dried cherry and rose water notes. The long, watermelon rind—inflected finish is finely tuned. Shows length and cut, staying lacy in feel. 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache."
Personal Review: This rose blend of Grenache and Cinsault was quite pleasing. I'm used to drinking Garnache by itself; however, I may have to switch to blends because this wine was intriguing. The Cinsault took away a lot of the heavy spices and tannins of the Grenache and they complemented each other in a clean, honeysuckle-like taste and aroma. Beautiful pale pink too, so it must have only had a little time with the skins, explaining the relaxed tone of this wine. So tasty!

Wine #3

Name: Siema Vino Rosso
Variety:  Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo
Region: Piemonte, Italy
Year: 2013
Price: Regular: $10; Sale: $6.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Intense ruby red with soft garnet nuances in the glass, the Rosso is intriguingly fresh, fruity and spicy on the nose. Perfectly round and balanced, the wine is particularly soft and dry. Pair with simple dishes like fresh cheese, ham, salami, or pizza for a divine culinary experience."
Personal Review: This wine was hard on the nose and palate. With very distinct tastes of tannins, spices and a lot of earthy tones, this wine would pair well with any type of red meat. Not my favorite though.

Wine #4

Name: Carraia
Variety: Aglianico
Region: Campagna, Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $9.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "Produced in the Campania region of Italy, this Aglianico has delicious black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, volcanic soil and tar notes. Classic in nature, yet in a lighter, more crowd-pleasing style, the Carraia is made of the ancient Aglianico grape. This black grape originated in Greece and today is widely grown in Basilicata and Campania."
Personal Review: This wine was very abrasive yet intriguing. It had barnyard smells and lots of black pepper. The taste was remarkably seasoned with pepper and had almost an onion taste, leaving a very strange taste in your mouth. This wine had lots of tannin and was very acidic. Strange wine.

Wine #5

Name: Beringer
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: California
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95
Shop: The Vintage Cellar
Professional Review: "A fresh green-apple aroma and vivid citrus and crisp apple flavors are supported by vibrant acidity in this medium-bodied wine. The texture is smooth but crisp, making lots of good food pairings come to mind, from pre-meal cheese, to salads, seafood and veggie pastas."
Personal Review: This wine was a classic white wine. With berries in the smell and taste, it was full of left over sugars, which made its viscosity quite high and unpalatable with me. It would go well with any light meal, but probably not red meat or any kind of marinara sauce.