Wine Dinner - Family

Wine #1 –
·         Name: Wilhelm Red, Wilhelm Winery
·         Type: Red Blend
·         Region: Hadley, PA
·         Country: United States
·         Year: 2013

Wine #2 –
·         Name: Fredonia, Wilhelm Winery
·         Type: Fredonia
·         Region: Hadley, PA
·         Country: United States
·         Year: 2013

Wine #3 –
·         Name: Kendall-Jackson
·         Type: Chardonnay
·         Region: California
·         Country: United States
·         Year: 2011

Dish #1 –

The first dish was a homemade potato salad that was meant to be served prior to the steak and brussel sprouts.   However the second dish was served with the first because we all wanted to eat the steak still hot off the grill.  The potato salad had a very neutral effect on the first and second wine.  I believe that this is because the potato salad did not have strong distinct flavors.  The both the first two wines taste very jammy with raspberry flavors. 

Dish #2 –

The second dish was the highlight of the meal.  The brussel sprouts were lightly grilled and salty.  This brought out a fruit flavors in the first wine.  The flavor of the wine reminded me of welches’ grape juice with a bit of heat in the after taste.  The steak paired great with both wines by accentuating the fruit flavors.  The Fredonia wines raspberry flavors were more pronounced with both the brussel sprouts and steak.

Dish #3 –

The third dish was a dessert.  It was a chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream.  We drank the chardonnay with this dish.  The wine had a strong nose of peaches and mangos and these smells continued  to its taste.  This wine had a creamy finish.  Unfortunately this wine did not pair well with this dish.  It lost its crisp fruit flavors when paired with the chocolate and ice cream.  However this wines creamy finish was accentuated by the ice cream.

Tasting - Peter Lehmann

Name: Peter Lehmann
Type: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $20 ($9.95 sale)













My Review:  

This chardonnay is pale and sweet.  It smell has hints of peaches blended with stronger floral scents.  It taste was crisp and had a crisp apple taste.  Similar to a sparkling cider taste.

Shop Review:

The 2010 Chardonnay presents subtle notes of spiced apple slices and ripe peaches with hints of freshly baked bread and melon. Light bodied, clean and refreshingly crisp in the mouth, it offers just enough apple and pear flavor concentration, finishing with medium-long persistence. 

Tasting - Jam Jar

Name: Jam Jar
Type: Sweet White
Country: South Africa
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95













My Review:

This wines did not have much color.  It had familiar floral and peach smells.  This wine had good balance to it sweet flavor.  It had hints of peach and honey flavors.

Shop Review:

100 % Muscat. Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise straightforward ripe peach and nectarine aromas. There’s a good balance in the mouth, with a nice acidic lift and slightly lime edge to cut the sweetness on the finish and close with the faintest hint of honeydew melons.

Tasting - Vina Borga Borsao

Name: Vina Bogia
Type: Borsao
Region: Campo de Borja
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95












My Review: 

This wine had a dark rich color.  The wine had a nose of cherries.  The wine had a sweet taste with jam flavors.  It has a smooth finish. 

Shop Review: 

Its medium dark ruby color is followed by abundant notes of strawberries and black cherries offered in a straightforward, medium-bodied, soft, hedonistic, round style. 

Tasting - Estrada

Name: Estrada
Type: Malbec
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95













My Review:

This red wine is dark and does not have any transparency.  It has smells of blackberries and black fruits.  The taste was hot and acidic which left my mouth dry.  Overall a little to acidic for my liking.

Shop Review:

Firm and structured, this is a solid wine, laced with mineral acidity and tight tannins. It has a juicy, blackberry fruit component cutting through the texture.

Tasting - "Protocolo"

Name: Protocolo

Type: Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

My Review: 

This wine was pale in color and it had a floral scents.  The taste was sweet with hints of honey that paired well with the floral scents.

Shop Review:

Mostly Airen with a little bit of Macabeo .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. A usual, this is an outstanding value.

Tasting - Oak Leaf

Name: Oak Leaf
Type: White Zinfandel
Region: Ripon
Country: California, USA
Price: $5.00












Shop Review:

This refreshing, fruit forward White Zinfandel has aromas of ripe strawberries and raspberries with a perfect touch of sweetness.

My Review:

This wine was extremely sweet.  It had floral aromas which matched it sweetness.  Overall this wine was overly sweet and it did not retain any good distinct flavors.  It was like drinking a floral sugar water.

Tasting - "Chateau Ste Michelle"

Name: Chateau Ste Michelle
Type: Riesling
Region: Columbia Valley
Country: Washington, USA
Price: $10.00












Shop Review:

Classic Washington state Riesling in this fresh crisp and balanced style. Delicious flavors of ripe peach and juicy pear are underscored with racy acidity.

My Review:

This wine was pale in color.  Its aromas were of pear and granny smith apples.  The wine was crisp and tasted floral with hints of peaches.

Tasting - "El Sierro"

Name: El Sierro
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Tempranillo
Country: Spain
Price: $14.00












Shop Review:

Bright deep coloured wine with clean fruit and jammy aromas, fruity and pleasant.

My Review:

This wine was a fruity Cabernet.  The wine was very fruity to the nose and had scents of raspberries and black fruits.  The wine had taste of raspberry but the tannis cause the wine to have a very dry finish

Tasting - "Sonnenband"

Name: Sonnenband
Type: Moscato Magnum
Country: Spain
Price: $9.95














My Review:

This sweet desert wine is very drinkable.  It has a array of floral aromas mixed in with hints of peach.  This wine has a refreshing sweet finish which accents of citrus.

Shop Review:

This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars.

Tasting - "Neu Direction"

Name: Neu Direction
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95








My Review: 

This cabernet sauvignon has the typical scents with blackberries being over powering to the nose.  The taste is fruity and has a sour bitterness to its after taste.

Shop Review:

This wine shows very good purity of fruit and skillful wine-making.  It is full of black-fruit aromas, depth, and style.  The palate pushes ripe plume and berry-fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure.

Tasting - "Champteloup"

Name: Champteloup
Type: Pinot Noir
Region: Loire Valley
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $15












My Review:

This wine is a dark and rich red color.  It has earthy scents with hints of tobacco and leathery taste.  This wine did not have a fruity taste though hints of black cherry could be detected.

Shop Review:

Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his touch in his wine making, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness.  Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate.

Tasting - "Baumann"

Name: Baumann
Type: Gentil Classiq
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95












My Review:

This white wine was sweet and reminiscent of desert wine.  This wine has strong floral aromas.  This wine has a dry finish and has slight hints of citrus.  There are no distinct flavors in this wine as compare to many similar white wines.

Shop Review:

A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris.  Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit.  A well balanced acidity of the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully.

Tasting - "Fattori"

Name: Fattori
Type: Runcaris
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

My Review:

This white wine has a light color and had aromas of of citrus and honey.  The honey scent was especially apparent to the nose.  While this wine was had a citrus sweet taste it had a dry taste to its palate.

Shop Review:

From a local Italian word for "to work the soil," Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine, and dried herbs.

Tasting - "Chateau Pericou"

Name: Vin De Bordeaux
Type: Chateau Pericou
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Year: 2006
Price: $14.99











My Review:

This wine was dark in color almost a black.  The wine had subtle aromas of black cherry but it also had a soapy smell.  This as a dry wine and had an earthly taste to counter the cherry smells.  A good wine but I think allowing it to sit out longer before tasting it would have helped its flavors.

Shop Review:

None was made available.

Tasting - "Beringer"

Name: Beringer
Type: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $6.45












My Review:

This chardonnay was pale in color.  It had floral aromas as well as peach and apple smells.  The taste was was full of fruity flavors with hints of peach.

Shop Review:

This carefully crafted wine has subtle aromas of peach, apricot, and golden delicious apples.  It is balanced, juicy, and layered with ripe flavors.

Tasting - "Bay Bridge"

Name: Bay Bridge
Type: Merlot
Region: California 
Country: USA
Year: N/A
Price: $3.00











Shop Review:

The Merlot is deep and rich and comes in a real bottle, however the cork is one of those new fake ones. The nose is strong, almost a bit overwhelming. The wine itself is also quite strong, with a 13% alcohol content. It has a deep, fruity taste, with a lot of woody, oak and almost cedar tones. There is no year or vintage indicated on the bottle but after drinking I think it would benefit from some age. Everyone at the table enjoyed the Merlot and it went very well with the spicy Korean BBQ dinner we served. I think it would be a bit much for lighter fare.

My Review:

This was a sweet Merlot with real fruity aromas and taste.  It is hard to distinguish smells and taste because it has so many sweet and sugary fruit accents.  However, if a smell and taste had to be labeled it would be raspberry.  

Tasting - "Fetzer, Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Fetzer
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $6.99











Shop Review:

This cabernet sauvignon is full of black cherry flavors with hints of chocolates.  It has aromas of vanilla and spice and is matched well with chops and steak.

My Review:

This wine was a rich red color.  It was overwhelming to the nose with aromas of black cherry and raspberries.  The taste was not overly fruity despite the smell. It actually had a smooth earthly finish.

  

Tasting - "Angove - Zibibbo"

Name: Angove - Zibibbo
Type: Sparkling Moscato
Region: South
Country: Australia
Price: $7.95












My Review:

This desert wine has strong floral aromas.  However, mixed in among the floral scents you can catch hints of citrus.  The taste is crisp and the first taste is similar to a sparkling cider but then you begin to taste hints of grapefruit.  This sweet crisp wine does not linger.

Shop Review:

This is a tasty and generous Moscato that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruits.  There's a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparking dessert wine.

Tasting - "Fetzer"

Name: Fetzer
Type: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95











My Review: 

The color of this wine is a lively red.  Its aromas have hints of cherry.  The infusion of fruits give this wine a sweet and smooth finish.  The taste has a long lingering finish that does not burn the palalet.

Shop Review:

It has a vibrant red color with violet tones.  Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum, and cherry jam.  On the palate it's juicy and intense wood-like tannins that make it rustics, yet versatile wine. 

Tasting - "Tres Ojos"

Name: Tres Ojos
Type: Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95











My Review:

This wine was a bit stronger and not as sweet and fruity as many of the red wines that I have tasted in my previous blogs.  The color is a dark and deep red.  You can really smell the raspberries when you smell this wine.  This is the primary fruit taste in this spicy wine.  This strong wine burns and has a long lingering after taste.  This wine would be well complimented by food.

Shop Review: 

This wine has a brick color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper.  The pallet is incredibly concentrated and rich.  The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinary good quality.  This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. 

   

Tasting - "The Royal"

Name: The Royal
Type: Old Vines Chenin Blanc
Region: West Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95











My Review:

The aromas of this wine are sweet and had hints or melon and bananas.  The taste was extremely sweet.  This is the sweetest white wine that I have tasted thus far.  The taste match the smell and was very melony and had hint of banana in its after taste.

Shop Review:

A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears.  This medium-weight, fresh, fruity crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months.

Tasting - "Norton"

Name: Norton
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $5.95











My Review:

This a simple and lite wine on the pallet.  It has a citrus smell which lends to its crisp and fresh taste.  The taste does not linger long in the pallet.  Because the flavors are sweet citrus blend it is a refreshing drink.

Shop Review:

Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are.  This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio.

Tasting - " Sawtooth, Trout Trilogy"

Name: " Trout Trilogy"
Type: Malbec
Region: Snake River Valley
Country: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Year: 2011
Price: $19.95

My Review:

Excellent wine.  It was smooth and extremely drinkable maybe the best wine I have tasted so far.  The scents were not overly fruity like most of my previous wines but it did have hints of cherry.  I enjoyed how this wine was smooth and did not taste sweet like many cheaper wines.  The wine was not bitter to the pallet with a mild after taste.

Shop Review:

Pure fruit flavors just rounding into maturity are at the heart of this outstanding 100% Malbec.  Details and highlights of tobacco and herb add to the mix berry, cherry and plum fruits.  The finish comes to a narrow focus and linger gracefully.

Tasting - "Sawtooth Riesling"

Name: Sawtooth
Type: Riesling
Region: Snake River Valley
Country: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Year: 2011
Price: $13.95

Shop Review:

Spicy and substantial, this authoritative Reisling snaps into tight focus around apple and melon flavors.  Hints of clove and ginger add complexity.

My Review:

This was another good white wine that proved my opinion of white wines was incorrect.  This wine had a smooth sweet taste which reminded me of sparkling cider.  There was no acidic or tart after taste.  Instead it there was a sweet buttery after taste.  The smell was light and fruity with a hints of pear.

Tasting - "Flondheimer Adelberg"

Name: Flonheimer Adelberg
Type: Silvaner
Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany
Year: 2010
Price: $18
Sale Price: $4.95

Shop Review:

The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balanced and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen.  It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit., and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile.  The finish is zippy and refreshing.

My Review:

My original opinion of white wine was wrong; it based off to small a sample size.  This wine was acidic and had a tartness to it after-taste.  This after-taste balanced of the initial sweet taste.  It had a refreshing smell which had hints of pears and other light fruits.  Overall, this wine provided good refreshment without to much sweetness.

Tasting- "Arrow Creek"

Name: Arrow Creek
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $8.59

Shop Review:

A tribute to coastial California's distinguished reputation for fine wines this Cabernet Sauvignon embraces ripe, fruit-forward aromas of blackberries, dark raspberries and a hint of earthly terroir.  The tannis are soft and the mature berry favors are evident throughout the lingering finished.

My Review:

This wine was smooth and sweet.  When I smelled the wine I did recognize a hint of raspberry mixed in with the common grape scent.  The wine had a dark red tint.  The wine had a strong fruit flavor which provided its sweetness; it was not bitter.

Tasting- "Duck Commander"

Name: Duck Commander
Variety: Red Blend
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $9.99

Shop Review: 

This Red Blend exposed the fresh, ripe, jam like fruit that is the calling card of California wine.  This medium bodied wine is fruit forward, silky and soft with smooth tannins.

Personal Review:  

I enjoyed this wine, it was smooth and when down easily.  It had a fruity hint but I was unable to determine the specific fruit flavors.  It was not as sugary as many cheap wines but the fruit flavors gave it as sweet taste.  The smell did not have any distinguishable qualities and smell allot like most red wines I have tried.

Initial Wine and Tasting Experience:

Thus far in my life, my experience drinking wine is limited to drinking cheap wine and brutal hangovers.  Most of my tasting experience has involved tasting beers.   My family loves going to beer tastings and visiting micro-breweries around the state.  Through these experiences I have tasted a wide variety of beers.  Despite my experience tasting beer I have essentially no experience tasting wine.

My current pallet has not developed an understanding for the taste for wine.  I cannot detect flavors in wines like I can in beer.  However, I have discovered I prefer red wines as oppose to white wines.  This is based solely on the fact I have founded that white wines tended to be sweeter.   I prefer the dry smooth taste of red wine.  

Most of my wine drinking has been socially among friends with very little attention to the taste of the wine. Over the past semester my roommates and I have started to mix in wine during the week. I really enjoy the buzz provided by wine and I would like to gain a good understanding of the wines I am drinking. I am hoping that by taking this class I can learn to understand regional differences in taste and how to differentiate flavors.  By the end of the semester I am hoping to have close to the same understanding of wine as I do beer.