Tasting - Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Region: N/A

Country: Germany
Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Critic Review: Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors.Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.

My Review: This riesling had an offensive taste of musky, old boxes that have been in an attic for 50 years.  Along with this musky dust flavor, there was also a sweet, grass vegetal flavor.  While I thought this wine was a little funky, I didn't hate it!

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Don Ramon Tinto

Name: Don Ramon Tinto
Variety: Blend (75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo)

Region: N/A

Country: Spain
Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Aged 3 months in American Oak casks. Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.

My Review: I felt that this wine was very similar to the Resonata Nero D'Avola in that there was a clear cedar flavor.  The heat was too much for my preference, and was reminiscent of acetone.  Lastly, I tasted a dirt-like earthiness flavor.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Resonata Nero D'Avola

Name: Resonata Nero D'Avola

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy
Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Dense ruby red with violet reflections.
Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background.

My Review: This was my least favorite wine of the Thursday night tasting.  Both the nose and taste of the wine was very cedar-like.  The smokiness of the wine was also very unappetizing to me.  While I picked up on the spice int he wine, I did not sense a balance with heavy berry flavor as indicated in the review.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Protocolo Blanc

Name: Protocolo Blanc

Variety: Blend (70% Airén, 30% Macabeo)

Region: N/A

Country: Spain
Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value. -- Stephen Tanzer (87 pts)

My Review: Sour lemon was evident in the bouquet.  The flavor was initially unpleasant, reminding me of the smell of acetone.  I did, however, pick up on notes of sweetness paired with mint, which I liked a lot.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Santola Vinho Verde

Name: Santola Vinho Verde

Variety: Vinho Verde

Region: N/A

Country: Portugal
Year: N/A

Price: $7.95

Critic 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.

My Review: This wine was not very aromatically revealing; however, the taste was prominent.  I got a very fresh sour apple taste with hints of pear.  I did not find this wine to be very complex.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolce

Name: Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolce
Variety:  Spumante

Region: ASTI

Country: Italy
Year: N/A

Price: $4.95

Critic Review: Pale silvery straw color. Floral aromas of apples, peaches, and potpourri follow through on a round, frothy entry to a fruity medium bodied sweet wine with good depth and tangy peach fruit and a breezy, harmonious green apple kissed finish.

My Review: This wine tasted exactly like a green apple soda, if such a thing even exists.  There was also a strong pear flavor.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Charles Thomas Cotes-du-Rhone

Name: Charles Thomas Cotes-du-Rhone
Variety:  Blend (50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre)

Region: Rhone

Country: France
Year: N/A

Price: $8.95

Critic Review: Well made, with loads of berry fruit and a heady, meaty, peppery nose with a hint of Provencal herbs, the wine is fresh, lively, and best drunk over the next 2 years. -- Wine Advocate, 87 pts

My Review: Pepper was the most prominant smell and taste.  I also tasted a very strong bell pepper taste.  I did not taste a strong berry flavor.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Coreto Tinto

Name: Coreto Tinto
Variety: Tinto

Region: Lisboa Region

Country: Portugal
Year: 2008

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: This red from the Coreto range has loads of dark berry fruit with a hint of new oak creating a soft, velvet structure that makes it very to easy drink. Red currant and juicy acidity.

My Review: The evergreen flavor of this wine is reminiscent of the smell of the air during an early morning hike in an forest.  While the wine was smooth and enjoyable, there was a very unpleasant rubber aftertaste.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Morro Bay White Oak Estates Chardonnay

Name: Morro Bay White Oak Estates Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Lodi

Country: California
Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Critic Review: Vanilla cream soda nose with a slice of fresh cut pineapple. Full body, tropical fruit, spice and pleasing vanilla oak note linger in the finish. Sweet flavor on the palate is from sur-lie aging the wine on the primary yeast lees for 7 months. A versatile style of wine that can be served chilled with fine cuisine or a glass with friends. Certified Green by Lodi Rules Sustainable Winegrowers.

My Review: The sweet aroma led to a sweet taste.  Oak was prevalent as well as an earthy, moldy finish.  While this chardonnay was not crisp, I really enjoyed it.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Cantina Villafranca Frascati

Name: Cantina Villafranca Frascati
Variety: Blend (45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio, and 15% Grechetto (Greco))

Region: Frascati

Country: Italy
Year: N/A

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Intense yellow color with greenish reflections. Characteristic persistent fresh and fruity aromas. Excellent as an aperitif and paired with fish, seafood or white meat.

My Review: This wine had a very acidic, green apply flavor.  I also detected a buttery smell and taste.  The wine was very light; however, there was a bit of heat in the finish.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Legaris Crianza

Name: Legaris Crianza
Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Ribera del Duero

Country: Spain
Year: 2003

Price: $8.95

Critic Review: Opens with floral, blueberry aromas, mineral notes and a spot of jammy candy. The palate is alert and well balanced, with grab and juicy flavors of raspberry and plum offset by a wave of buttery oak. Textured, full and satisfying on the finish. Very nice wine. -- Wine Enthusiast (89 pts)

My Review: This wine had a cedar, leathery flavor.  It was reminiscent of bark from an old tree or a library with "old people smell."  I actually really enjoyed this wine; however, it was pretty heavy.  While I completely got the oak flavor, I did not pick up on specific fruits as detailed in the critic review.  

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Into Zin Zinfandel

Name: Into Zin Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California

Country: U.S.A.
Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Spicy , jammy, ripe round plum with juicy soft finish. Goes well with marsala chicken, peppered steak or broiled lamb shank. -- Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My Review: This was, in my opinion, one of the worst wines I have ever tasted.  Initially, it smelled and tasted like meat or some sort of marinade for red meat.  The taste then became very smokey - similar to sticking your face into an ashtray at a dicey Hard Rock Cafe.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo Rosé

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo Rosé

Variety: Blend (50% Grenache, 50% Tempranillo)
Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain
Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Critic Review: A 50-50 blend of Tempranillo and Garacha, this medium rosecolored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas. -- Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My Review: This rosé  was particularly heavy with no heat.  While the wine was heavy and full-bodied, I still found it refreshing and clean.  I also tasted a floral undertone of daffodil.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Lazzaro Chardonnay

Name: Lazzaro Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina
Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Opens with mellow peach and melon aromas and some oak. The palate is round, creamy and full. Tastes of spiced, dried apple with a stalky, pithy accent. -- Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My Review: There was an obvious melon and citrus taste to the wine.  Additionally, there was a distinct acetone/nail polish remover bite to the wine, which was unpleasant.  Similar to the VC Tasting Notes, I tasted a spicy kick as the finish.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Coastal Vines Brut

Name: Coastal Vines Brut

Variety: Blend (55.7% French Colombard, 35.7% Chardonnay, 8.6% Mixed Whites)
Region: California

Country: U.S.A
Year: N/A

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Coastal Vines Sparkling Wine is a light colored wine with aromas of apple and citrus. On the palate there are flavors of melon and pear. The finish is crisp and clean. Pair with cheeses, like brie, for appetizers; grilled garlic shrimp over a bed of pasta; or with a light white cake for dessert. -- Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My Review: This wine smelled and tasted exactly like carbonated apple juice.  The bubbles were nice on the palate, and added a crispness to the wine.  There was also little to no heat.  While I thought this wine was very tasty, I found it too sweet to drink more than a tasting portion.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose

Name: Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose

Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Washington

Country: U.S.A
Year: 2010

Price: $11.00 (VC Closeout Price: $5.95)

Critic Review: A crisp wine with rose bud and watermelon aromatics. This dry Rosé has bright flavors of strawberry, melon with balanced acidity and lingering raspberry notes on the finish. 

My Review: While there was a floral scent, the wine tasted similar to very earthy, leaves.  I did not find any notes of berry fruitiness as mentioned in the review above.  The aftertaste was like that of dirt.  This wine received a Wine Spectator rating of 89 (printed on Vintage Cellar tasting sheet), which demonstrated to me that I cannot purchase wines solely on rating.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Cellar 8 Pinot Grigio

Name: Cellar 8 Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: California

Country: U.S.A.
Year: 2009

Price: $13.00 (VC Closeout Price: $4.95)

Critic Review: The Cellar No. 8 Pinot Grigio opens with aromas of honeysuckle flowers, white peach and fresh pineapple. This refreshing wine exudes flavors of melon, honey and lemon zest. Subtle hints of spice lead to a crisp, clean finish. A perfect accompaniment to Chinese take-out, or served as an aperitif.

My Review: I had a very different experience with this wine than that of the reviewer.  Smell and taste indicated a bold olive taste.  The wine was very harsh, and the oily aftertaste was very unpleasant.  I would not recommend nor purchase this wine.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling

Name: Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region: South Island

Country: New Zealand
Year: 2008

Price: $18.00 (VC Closeout Price: $9.95)

Critic Review: Light and fragrant, with pretty lime, grapefruit and elder blossom aromas and flavors that linger impressively on the extended finish. Drink now through 2013. -- Wine Spectator; August, 31 2009 (91 pts)

My Review: This wine was my first sample at the Vintage Cellar wine tasting closeout sale, and it happened to be my favorite of the night!  I first smelled a crisp somewhat sour smell.  I felt that my initial taste was musky, but after a few sips I could taste notes of fresh, citrus fruit.  After reading the critic review, I now know that the flavor I couldn't quite pinpoint was grapefruit.  I purchased this wine, and I am excited to see if my second taste is as positive as my first.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Los Alisos Syrah

Name: Los Alisos Syrah

Variety: Syrah
Region: Central Coast California

Country: U.S.A.

Year: 2007

Price: $23.00(VC Closeout Price: $7.95)

Critic Review: A good, everyday Syrah. It’s tough and dry in tannins, with a sandpapery mouthfeel, but is rich enough in jammy blackberry and cherry flavor to satisfy. --Wine Enthusiast; August, 1 2010 (SH 84 pts)

My Review: The initial flavor that I sensed was meat.  This wine was reminiscent of a marinade that should only be used for cooking - not drinking!   There was a mouth-puckering sensation at first.  I did not taste any berry notes as mentioned in the critic review.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Palos Verdejo

Name: Palos Verdejo

Variety: 100% Verdejo
Region: Vinos de la Tierra

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $15.00 (VC Closeout Price: $4.95)

Critic Review: Castellana’s 2009 Palos Verdejo is medium straw-colored with a nose of fennel, spring flowers, citrus, and apple. Crisp and vibrant on the palate, this tasty offering is a good value that will deliver pleasure over the next 12–18 months. --The Wine Advocate; June 2010 (RP 87 pts)

My Review: I did not smell or taste the crisp fruitiness as described in the critic review.  I felt the aromatics were very bold and sour.  I tasted an earthy bitterness, where a grass-like flavor hit me as an ending note.  I did not personally like these flavors, but I did, however, find the wine to be very smooth.

I did not taste this wine with food.

First post!

I am not afraid to admit that I am a novice to the world of wine.  I don't know what I am tasting or how to drink wine, but I am eager to learn more with each glass (or was I supposed to say 'class'?).  I am hoping to use this blog to document my wine tasting experiences and allow me to track my progress as the semester continues.