Sunday, January 31, 2016

Tasting - "Butterfly Kiss Moscato"


Name: Butterfly Kiss Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Valle Central
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $5.95

Wine Critic Review:
argonautliquor.com
"Lovely and bright, our 2012 Moscato dances with aromas of honeydew and apricot, gently kissed by orange blossom, candied pineapple and hint of lime zest. The palate is silky and lush, combining rich stone fruit and fresh melon flavors lifted by a vibrant zing of lemon-lime, which extends across the mouthwatering finish. Served chilled on a hot summer's day, paired with spicy Asian foods or grilled prawns."

My Review:
This is a good wine to drink at the end of a meal because it is so sweet. This wine had scents of flowers and honey suckle. I tasted mango, citrus, honey dew pineapple and a faint hint of lime. It was a very sweet and fruity desert wine. I did not have food with this wine. 

Tasting - "Purple Paws, Zinfandel Lodi"


Name: Purple Paws, Zinfandel Lodi
Variety: zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Wine Critic Review:
timelesswines.com
"Purple Paws Zinfandel 2012 exhibits hints of cherry on the front of your palate and vanilla on the finish. It pairs well with good friends and barbecue."

My Review:
This wine had a spicy punch to it. I smlled hints of sour cherry and pomegranate in this wine. The spicy mid palette created a bitter, tasty finish. I did not have food with this wine. 

Tasting - "Purple Paws, Cabernet Sauvignon"


Name: Purple Paws, Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lodi California
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Wine Critic Review:
timelesswines.com
"Our 2012 Lodi Cabernet has all the classic notes of a California Cabernet Sauvignon. Cloves, olives, and oak with a no nonsense, fruit forward finish remind you why this, the heaviest wine in the Purple Paws line, lends itself to pairings of robust steaks or lamb."

My Review:
I smelled hints of berry, plum, black cherry and cranberry in this wine. It had a rich red plum color. This wine was slightly bitter with a spicy mid palette and a tasty finish. I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Rosemount Estate Chardonnay"


Name: Rosemount Estate Chardonnay"
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $5.95

Wine Critic Review: 
http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2013/10/best-cheap-wine-rosemount-estate-australia.html
"This wine has a peachy scent and smooth texture; it's a little perfumey for us, but far from the worst Chardonnay you can get for under ten bucks at your local liquor store. It tastes as if the peach purée has already been added, so put this to use in your fruit-filled sangria."

My Review: I smelled hints of nectarine and peach in this wine. It had a faint smell of oak and an overall tropical scent. This wine is very easy to drink and had a great finish. I did not taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - "La Lejania, Sauvignon Blanc"


Name: La Lejania, Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Valle de Maule
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: It is a straightforward, light and enjoyable wine. Flavors of citrus, pear and peaches are infused into this wine. Spicy foods, salads, fresh berries or fruit tart compliment this wine.

My Review:
This smelled very fruity, specifically I smelled pear and grape. The wine was very clear and refreshing. It was very smooth to drink and had a crisp finish. I did not have food with this wine tasting.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Wine Me Up

Let's see, my experiences with wine...
Most of my wine experiences have come out of a double bottle of moscato. It's tasty and sweet, and its what we classy college kids drink. Here are some tips that I have learned about wine:
1. Sipping moscato directly out of the bottle ensures that no one will take the ten dollar bottle.
2. Drinking out of the bottle expedites the drinking process.
3. Carry a wine opener at all times, not everyone is as posh as you.
4. About halfway through the bottle, I like to think that I too have now become tasty and sweet.
5. In Europe men think women who drink wine are more attractive.
6. Once you finish the bottle, you ARE more attractive.

Not all of my experiences with wine have been with a cheap bottle of Barefoot moscato. In fact, I am a wine connoisseur. Having visited the Chianti vineyards in Italy, I experienced a variety of wines. White wine, red wine, aged wine, desert wine, and very concentrated wine that had a similar taste to scotch. On this wine tour, we were told that in Italy, people do not get drunk off of wine, they only drink it socially. So naturally, at every club we went to absolutely no Italian was drunk, ever. Furthermore, at the end of this wine tasting, absolutely no one felt even slightly inebriated when purchasing multiple forty dollar bottles of wine.

When I came back to America I wanted to share everything I learned about wine with everyone. So, while sipping moscato, once again, at a college apartment party I made the announcement that I was going to teach everyone the proper way to taste wine. I took the bottle of Barefoot, poured a bit into a clear wine glass and said,  "you are supposed to hold the glass at the stem guys, so you don't mess up the temperature". First, you stick your nose far into the glass and breathe in the sweet smell of the wine, pretending as if you can really smell the grapes. Then, you take a small sip, but before you swallow the wine you must sort of gargle it in the pallet of your mouth. This is a very important step of tasting the wine so I demonstrated it longer than usual, really articulating the gargle sound. Then you must swish the wine around, to taste all the different flavors. Finally, you have the choice to spit it out, or swallow it, which ever is most appealing to you. What I learned from tasting Barefoot Moscato this way, is that you should never try to teach people how to taste wine at a party, it won't make you any new friends.