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.