Tasting - Cristalino Jaume Serra Brut Cava

Name: Cristalino Jaume Serra Brut Cava
Variety: 30% Chardonnay, 30% Xarello, 20% Macabeo, 20% Parellada
Region:  Cataluna
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95
Tasting Date: January 24, 2013
Location:  Independently tasted
Food Pairing: None 

Winery Review: Smooth and toasty with notes of almond, orange zest and honey. It's a finely textured, very dry cava that's slightly steely with light hazelnut and ripe pear notes.

My Thoughts: I did not pick up much in the aroma, mostly just the bubbles. The flavor was very dry and light. Hints of almond and citrus notes. However there was an over whelming taste of club soda. All of the "champagnes" I have tried were not overly flavorful, and not something I enjoyed. This is likely because most of them have been ridiculously cheap. 

Tasting - Bartenura Moscato

Name: Bartenura Moscato
Variety: 100% Moscato Bianco
Region: Lombardia
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95
Tasting Date: January 31, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None 

Winery Review: The inviting apricot preserves, honey, butter, and roasted almond aromas of this semi-sparkler pull you right in. It's on the sweet side, with stone-fruit flavors kept alive by decent acidity. The palate bubbles and tingles and maintains its balance. Fine as an aperitif or with dessert.

My Thoughts: Aroma of flowers, specifically honeysuckle. Some fruit mixed in as well, apricot maybe. Fruity sweet flavor accented nicely by the slight sparkling nature. Slightly creamy finish. I have now decided Moscato is a very tasty variety of wine. 

Tasting - Finca del Castillo Tempranillo

Name: Finca del Castillo Tempranillo
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $4.95
Tasting Date: January 31, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None 

Winery Review: Rooty, spicy and baked on the nose, with aromas that lean towards raisin. The palate is more gritty and acidic, with raisin, cola, and spice flavors. Darkens up on the finish, which is long and peppery, with adequate juiciness and a final note of tomato.

My Thoughts: The aroma is spicy and peppery. It has a strong alcohol nose to me. The taste starts as spicy and finishes very peppery. This tastes like most reds to me. Something I might be able to work towards, but I am not sure for now. 

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: 100% Gamay
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $3.95 
Tasting Date: January 31, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None 

Winery Review: Bright and tangy, offering a classic banana note on the nose, with flavors of raspberry, wild strawberry and light spice. Modest finish.

My Thoughts: The aroma is a very strong banana with hints of blackberry or raspberry. The flavor is an equally strong banana at the front, then a spicy bitter finish. I liked it better than most reds. The biter finish lingered more than I would like. 

Tasting - Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95
Tasting Date: January 31, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None 

Winery 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.

My Thoughts: This is the first Chardonnay I have tried. The aroma was very mild. A hint of apple and mild citrus or pineapple. The flavor is equally mild. Was dry and bitter to me. Not something I am interested in for the time being. Definitely something I should come back to in a month or two.

Tasting - La Cappuccina Soave

Name: La Cappuccina Soave
Variety: 100% Garganega
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: January 31, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None 

Winery Review: Bright straw yellow in color. Delicate on the nose, with notes of flowers and almonds. Dry, well-structured and delicately fruity, with hints of bitter almonds on the finish that is typical of Garganega-based wines.

My Thoughts: I had trouble picking out any particular aromas on this wine. A light floral scent if anything. First impression on tasting is that it is very dry and bitter. I couldn't pick out any distinct flavors, A slight lemon or apple. Finish was bitter with a slight almond flavor. I don't think i am quite ready for this wine. Still leaning heavily to sweeter or medium dry white wines. 

Tasting - Ress Hattenheimer Schutzenhaus Kabinett

 
Name: Ress Hattenheimer Schutzenhaus Kabinett
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Rheingau
Country: Germany
Year: 2006
Price: $11.95
Tasting Date: January 24, 2013
Location: Independently tasted  
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: This Riesling has the nose of a pineapple Lifesaver candy, honey and petroleum with flavors of peach, citrus and a hint of caramel. Well rounded white Riesling with crisp and refreshing acidity. Sleek mouth feel, medium bodied but a bit tart on the finish.

My Thoughts: Aroma of citrus. Hints of pineapple and lemon. Smooth, light mouth feel. Tart with flavors of lemon, grapefruit, and passion fruit. Very tart finish. Overall very light and crisp. More bitter than the other Rieslings I have tasted. Thumbs up, need to find more tart whites to drink.

Tasting - Johannes Egberts, Burg Layer Schlosskapelle Spatlese

Name: Johannes Egberts, Burg Layer Schlosskapelle Spatlese  
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Nahe
Country: Germany
Year: 2007
Price: $3.95
Tasting Date: January 24, 2013
Location: Independently tasted  
Food Pairing: Shortbread

Winery Review: Fresh and fruity with some of the grassiness and bulb flower aromas of a German cross varietal like huxel. Good and sweet nose./ And palate. Spatlese sweet. Flavors of peach, apple, honey, chamomile, talc, and tea. Soft, fresh, and very pleasant indeed.

My Thoughts: Mildly acidic smell. Hits of pear, apple, a little orange. Tastes more of lemon. Tasted it with shortbread. The sweetness of the cookies brought out a more bitter flavor in the wine. Finish is a little muted or musky. I like it, but definitely not my favorite Riesling.

Tasting - Opera Prima Sweet Red

Name: Opera Prima Sweet Red
Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Cabernet
Sauvignon
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95
Tasting Date: January 24, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Doesn’t try to hide its warm-climate terroir, with a soft texture framing jammy-sweet black raspberry, cherry, red currant, root beer and sweet tea. Drink now.

My Thoughts: Smell is very sweet and full of berry.Tastes even sweeter. Very similar to a raspberry jam. Easy for me to drink, unlike most reds. Though I feel its cheating, since it tastes more like Kool-Aid than wine. Need to try it with a slice of chocolate cake.

Tasting - Maipe Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Maipe Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: January 24, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Yellow color with green hints. Expressive wine, fresh, very aromatic. This Sauvignon Blanc displays grapefruit flavors, with hints of melon and honey. It finishes with bracing acidity and fresh mouth feels that make it a terrific aperitif and an excellent accompaniment to virtually all seafood, especially shellfish.

My Thoughts: A little dry for my tastes. Fairly acidic in the mouth. Tastes of lemon, orange, maybe a little grapefruit. Not something i liked at first, would likely be better if I had it with dinner. Definitely a variety to look into more.

Tasting - Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde

Name: Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde
Variety: 80% Loureiro, 20% Trajadura
Region: Minho
Country: Portugal
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95
Tasting Date: January 24, 2013
Location:  Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Pale golden silver color. Bright floral aromas of peaches, raspberry and honeysuckle with a soft, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, tart citrus and talc accented finish. A delightful sipper that is sure to please.

My Thoughts: Tasty. Feels light and citrusy, not quite sweet but easy to drink. Has a light flavor, almost like lemonade, with a mix of fruits I can't quite make out.Very gentle on the mouth. Definitely something I will drink again.

Introductions

Hello and welcome to my blog for Geography of Wine.  I have always liked the idea of wine. It strikes me as being very classy and sophisticated. Thus far my experiences with wine have not been positive, I am hoping that through the course of the semester this will change.

As mentioned, I have had very limited experience with wines. My first experiences with wines occurred three or so years ago. I tasted a few cheap champagnes my friends had. I have also had a few Rieslings and reds I cannot remember. Most experiences were negative. My first positive experience was a wine tasting last fall. I tried a variety of wines, including some sweet whites, which I liked very much.

Thus far my tastes lean heavily towards sweet white wines. Red all tastes the same to me. They have very earthy tones with an almost smoky quality, which as of now is not pleasing to my palette.My short term goal is to find more wines I like, specifically some drier whites. Hopefully with time I can acquire a taste for red wines.