Wine Tasting from the Vintage Cellar 4/5

Tasting- gPG Garganega

Name: gPG Garganega

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Prodotto

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Critic Review: gPG is from the dell Venezie regions of north-eastern Italy.  A clean and crisp palate with plenty of texture and weight follows aromas of apples and zesty lemons.  It's perfect with grilled white fish and light risotto.

My Review: I thought this wine was very refreshing.  It smelled like lemons.  It was very light and fruity.  I liked this wine.

I did not have any food with this wine.

Tasting- Oveja Negra

Name: Oveja Negra

Variety: Syrah- Cab Rose

Region: Maule Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Critic Review:Oveja Negra Reserva Rose is bright cherry-red in color and has an attractive nose with aromas of raspberries and strawberries as well as plum and a bit of green apple.  Crisp and juicy on the palate with a slight sweetness that accompanies the red fruit flavors.  Pleasing natural acidity with medium fruit flavors.  Pleasing natural acidity with medium-high intensity, nice persistence, and a fresh finish.

My Review: I did not like this wine.  I found it very bitter.  It smelled very fruity like strawberries.  I couldn't really taste anything except the bitterness of the wine.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Varas

Name: Varas

Variety: Vinho Tinto

Region: Lisboa

Country: Portugal

Year: Non- Vintage

Price: $21.95 for a 3 Liter Box ($5.49/bottle)

Critic Review: This smooth portuguese red is a blend of Castelo (45%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Tinta Barroca (20%), and Pinot Noir (10%).  The vineyards are located near Lisbon, planted in sunny gentle slopes of clay and limestone soils.  The wine was aged in oak barrels.

My Review: I really liked  this wine.  It was my favorite of the group.  It was medium-bodied and very light tasting.  It smelled fruity of berries.  It also tasted very fruity like blackberries and a bit of spice.

Tasting- Montebuena

Name: Montebuena

Variety: Rioja

Region: Crianza

Country: Spain

Year: 2007

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: 100% Tempranillo.  Dark red. Spicy red berries and cherry on the nose, with hints of cracked pepper and dried rose.  Crisp and dry on the palate, with spicy redcurrant and cherry flavors, light tannins and a fresh, energetic finish.  An excellent value, and surprisingly elegant for this price point.  

My Review: I did not like this wine.  I thought this tasted very strongly of spices.  I smelled pepper right away.  

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Cantina di Casteggio

Name: Cantina di Casteggio

Variety: Mascato di Pavia

Region: Provencia de Pavi

Country: Italy

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Bright, light golden color.  Very aromatic nose of ripe apricots, sage, honey, and a slight minerallity.  Medium bodied, sweet and fruity with flavors of apricots and tangerine.  Well balanced acidity and medium finish with layers of sweet and citrus fruit.  

My Review: This wine was very fruity smelling like apricots.  I liked this a lot.  It was very light and almost tasted like apple juice.

I did not have food with this wine.

Dinner Pairing- Zeppoli's (Italy)

On Sunday April 1, 2012 my friends Abby, Katelyn, Matt, and I attended the Zeppoli's wine pairing dinner.  The wines that were featured were all from Italy.  We tried 4 white wines and 5 red wines.  The atmosphere of the restaurant was very relaxed and everyone was very friendly.  The area we sat in was very cozy.  The wait staff was very knowledgable about wines and knew the ones we tried very well.

The front of the restaurant

The food was served in a buffet style.  We ate Mediterranean pasta which consisted of pasta, olives, onions, tomatoes and feta cheese.  This was my favorite dish by far.  I also had pasta shells with marinara sauce, brie and crackers, salad with chicken, pizza bread, and bread with olive oil baked on it.  The food was all very good and paired well with the wine.

Abby and I at dinner.

For some of the wines, we did a blind taste test where the waiter would pour one one and have us compare it with the second wine that he poured.  We would then have to guess which wine was which.  I really enjoyed this because we go into trying the wines without knowing the price or alcohol content so we see which ones we really liked without judging them first.  

wines we tasted

Here are the wines we tasted:

Fossi Bianco Table Wine: Alcohol content: 11.5%; This was good.  It had a lemon nose and was very citrusy.  It was a little bitter but overall had a very smooth finish.  I had this wine with the salad with chicken.  The chicken made it taste a little less bitter and smoother.  It was a very light and refreshing wine.  $6.99

La Fiera Pinot Grigio, 2010:  Alcohol content: 12%; This had a very floral nose with a hint of pears.  It was a little bitter also and citrusy.  I had this with the mediterranean pasta which made it taste smooth and less bitter.  It was also a very dry wine. $7.99

Nals Margried Pinot Grigio, 2010: Alcohol Content: 14% This wine had a very fruity nose that smelled like apples.  It was medium bodied but really refreshing.  It had a little bit of a "hot" finish.  I tried this with the mediterranean pasta.  $14.00

Lodali Moscato D'Asti 2011: Alcohol Content: 5.5% This had a very intensely fruity nose.  It was very fruity tasting as well and had hints of apple on the nose and taste.  I liked this wine.  I tried it with the salad with chicken. $12.99

Luca Primitivo del Salento Puglia: Alcohol Content: 13% This wine was very smooth.  It had a very heavy and musty nose.  It tasted like berries.  I couldn't really pick up what it smelled like because the mustiness overpowered my nose.  I tried this with the pasta with marinara sauce. $8.99

SUD Primitivo Pulgia, 2010: Alcohol Content: 13.5% This had an extremely vanilla nose.  It was a little hot on the finish.  It also tasted a lithe like berries and spices.  I also tasted this with the pasta with marinara sauce.  $11.99

Morli Neri Chiante DOCG, 2009: Alcohol Content: 12.5% This was a very smooth wine.  It was a little chalky tasting.  I detected hints of blackberries in this.  I liked this wine.  It is a medium-bodied wine.  I tried this with the pizza bread.  $9.99

Bibi Graetz Casamata Toscana 2010: Alcohol Content: 12%  This had a very berry nose.  It was very smooth and medium bodied.  It was a little spicy.  It was also very earthy tasting.  I had this with the pizza bread.  $12.99

Lodali Nebbiolo D'Alba Sant Ambrogio, 2009: Alcohol Content: 13.5% This wine was described to us as a Borolo wine but it could not be called this because it did not follow the laws that are placed for Borolo wines.  I thought this wine was ok.  It had a weird aftertaste to me.  It was very fruity and smooth with a hint of sweetness. $17.99

Winery Visit: James River Cellars Winery

On March 3, 2011 my friends Matt, Keith, Katelyn, and Abby visited James River Cellars Winery in Glen Allen, Virginia.  This winery was right off the main road.  The grape vines that they had in front of their wine tasting area was visible from the road which was easy to spot.  As we approached the area for the wine tastings we saw a big storage unit to the left where trucks were shipping bottles out of.  There were also more fields of grapes beyond this.  Upon walking up to the yellow house where the tastings were, the feel became less quaint and elegant and sophisticated.  We walked into a room where there was a bar lining a wall where the tastings were done.  While we were tasting our wine, a black cat walked into the room and it was explained to us that this was the winery's mascot which was interesting.  They even have a picture of it on their website!

Sign in front of the winery

James River Cellars Winery grows 80% of its grapes on site and the rest of the grapes are grown in a neighboring county of Montpelier which is about an hour away.  They grown 11 varieties of grapes comprising of 6 reds and 5 whites. Many of the wines produced are unfiltered It is family run and operated.  The winery was first opened in 2000 so it is fairly new.  The wine is made on site but as stated before some of the grapes have to be shipped into the winery from other field sources.

root stock that was seen from the road

Unfortunately the winery was such a small one that they did not offer guided tours.  However the older gentleman who poured our wines, Keith was very knowledgable about the winery.  He was very friendly and joked around with us.  We tried 13 different types of wines that James River Cellars Winery makes.  One was even warmed up so we could try it both room temperature and hot!

Wines that we tasted

Here are the wines that we tasted:


2010 Cardonnay: This was a very light bodied wine.  It has been aged in a stainless-steel barrel for a clean, crips finish with green apple and pear aromas.  It was very fruity smelling like apples.  It tasted of citrus flavors.  It had a very smooth finish. $12
2009 Gewiirztraminer: This smelled very florally like roses.  It also had a hint of spices upon smelling it.  When tasting it however it tasted very tropical.  The wine was smooth and light bodied. I did not like this wine very much. $15
2010 Chardonel: The wine was one of the Gold Medal Winners and I really enjoyed it! It was very fruity and dry.  Lemony-citrus flavors with a floral nose.  This type of wine was created at Cornel.  I had crackers with this wine which enhanced the flavors of it.  $14
2010 Vidal: Peach and Grapefruit flavors hit my nose right off the bat.  It was light and smooth tasting.  It would pair well with chicken. I liked this wine. $17
2010 Rad Red: This wine has 12% alcohol content.  It has 0 sugar added.  It is a 50/50 blend of Cab Franc and Merlot grapes.  It has soft tannins and acids.  The wine had a blackberry smell.  It was smooth and medium bodied with a little bit of a peppery aftertaste. $15
2008 Cabernet Franc: I liked this wine.  It had a berry smell with hints of pepper.  It was medium bodied and the taste was a little spicy like black pepper. $16
2008 Merlot: This wine was one of the wineries Gold medal winners.  It was medium bodied and smelled like cherries.  It had nice round tannins with a very smooth finish. $18
2008 Hanover: This is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Chancellor grapes.  It is a semi-dry wine with black currant, cherry and cedar flavors.  It had a little sugar with a very smooth finish. $14
2010 Chambourcin: This wine is also a Gold Medal Winner.  It is a very sweet red wine.  Keith had us drink the wine, then taste a chocolate chip, then drink the wine again.  The sweetness of the wine really came out and the fat in the chocolate made the wine very smooth.  The wine that we tried was only 4 1/2 weeks old so it is meant to be consumed very quickly after it is bottled. This has been called the "baby-maker" by the winery.  $15
      We also had this wine heated up.  It smelled absolutely delicious.  The sweetness of the wine came out even more.  It had a little bit of a tart finish however but over all it was smooth.
2008 Colonial Red: This was my favorite wine of them all.  I ended up buying a bottle of it for myself and my mom. It is 100% merlot infused with cinnamon.  I could definitely pick up on the cinnamon in both the tasting of the wine and the smell of it.  It would go great with apple pie. $10
2008 Montpelier Blush: This is a mixture of Chardonay, Chardonel, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc grapes.  It was very sweet and refreshing.  It had hints of strawberry and cherries in it.  I liked this wine as well. $12
2010 Hanover White: This was made with Moscato and Chardonel grapes.  It has a 5.5 sugar content.  It was very sweet and tasted and smelled like pear. $15
2010 Divino: This is an ice-styled wine.  The winery picked the grapes off of the vines and frozen in a truck immediately after they were picked.  It has a 12.5 sugar content and 12% alcohol.  It tasted like syrup.  It smelled intensely of fruit and flowers. The winery has called this a "diabetic coma" in a bottle. $20

place where we tasted the wines.

I really liked this winery.  I enjoyed that they allowed us to taste 13 wines and one of them twice.  After we tried them, Keith also allowed us to retaste some of them if we wanted to.  I would definitely go back to this winery with my parent and other friends.

Winery Visit: Grayhaven Winery

My friends Keith, Matt, Abby, Katelyn, and I went to Grayhaven Winery in Gumspring, Virginia on March 3, 2012.  After driving down many roads that looked to be deserted, we arrived at the winery.  Walking up to the house where the tastings were going to take place had a deserted feeling as well.  There were old medal playground and this tiny house.  We also saw one field of of dead looking grape vines in the distant.  As we approached the house the feeling changed into more of a rustic feel and inside everything was wooden looking.  They had these awesome stools for sitting down that were comfortable and had handles on the side of them. 

This is the house where the tasting was done.

Our tour guide's name was Bunni and she absolutely loves her job.  Unfortunately there were not guided tours since the winery is so small but she explained in detail to us about the rootstock and the making of the wines.  Buni has been working at the winery for 8 months and was very knowledgeable about it.  Grayhaven planted its first root stock in 1978 which makes it the 6th oldest in the state of Virginia.  They have 26 varietals of grapes which is more than any other winery in the state of Virginia.  

This is one of the fields where the grapes are grown

Grayhaven produces over 33 types of wine per year and makes about 4,000 cases of wine a year.  Most of their wines are unfiltered so there are sediments at the bottom of the wine bottle but they add more flavors to the wine.  They do not add any sugar or sulfites to the wine.  Only four or five of the varieties of wine made are oaked in oak chips and not barrels. 

These are the wines that we tasted.

Here are a list of the wines that we tasted:


Moonlight- This was a white pinot gris wine.  It was oaked using the oak chips.  It smelled like peaches.  It had a lemon flavor and was very light and dry.  I enjoyed this wine the most. $16
Eventide Sangiose Rose- This wine was unfiltered.  It tasted like apples and smelled of pear and floral aromas. It would go well with delicate food and is very versatile.  It can also go with chocolate. $20
Trekker Marechel Foch 2011/ Cabernet franc 2009 blend- This was a red wine that takes nine years to ferment.  It has a very small opportunity for the grapes to ripen so they have to be watched carefully on the vine.  It has very little making.  It smelled of black cherries and spices.  It was somewhat dry and medium bodied.  It had a short smooth finish and did not have an aftertaste but fell almost flat.  I liked this one. $24
Sojoun Marechal Foch/ Petit Verdot 2012- Petit verdot softens the flavor of the Marechal Foch.  This was a red wine with a smoky flavor.  It smelled deeply of spices.  It had a deep purple color.  It was a bigger bolder red than the previous one and had more of a mouth feel.  It smelled like blah cherries and spices.  It was a little citrusy and had deep woody flavors.  $26
Rendezvous- This was 100% Petit Verdot.  The vintages of the grapes was both 2010 and 2011.  Between medium and full bodied.  It smelled like chocolate.  The wine tasted a little of spices and earthy tones but had a very smooth finish. 

Tasting room

There was one more wine that Grayhaven usually has to taste which was their Pinotage.  Unfortunately there was a drought three years ago and they lost the vines in it so it will be a couple more years until this grape is ready for harvest.  After tasting all of the wines, Buni told us that we were free to walk around the vineyard and give ourselves our own tour of the property.

Us in front of the Winery

Overall I thought this winery was ok.  Even though it is very small scale I was impressed on how old the root stock was.  They had a lot of varieties of wines and grapes for such a small scale winery.  I did think that it was kind of run down looking upon arriving to it with the old medal playground.  

Wine Tastings from the Vintage Cellar 2/23

Tasting- Santola


Name: Santola

Variety: Vinho Verde

Region: 

Country: Portugal

Year: Non-Vintage

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 smelled like lemons to me.  It was very smooth and refreshing.  It tasted a little like lemons also with a bit of an acidic bite to it.  It had a very light body.  It had a bit of an oaky flavor as well.  I liked this wine.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Protocolo

Name: Protocolo

Variety: Blanc

Region: 

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price:$6.95

Critic Review: 87 Points, Stephan Tanzer. Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle.  Dry, understanding 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.

My Review: I did not really like this wine.  It smelled of oranges and honeysuckle.  It was very dry.  It tasted citrusy.  It had a heavier body than the first wine.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Resonata

Name:Resonata

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: 

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: It smelled like blackberries with a hint of spices.  This wine had a medium body.  The taste was like blackberries as well.  It was very smooth.  I thought this wine was ok.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Don Ramon

Name: Don Ramon

Variety: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo

Region: 

Country: Spain

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo.  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: This smelled like cherries.  I could pick up the oak flavors when i tasted it.  I was not the biggest fan of this wine either.  
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Heinz Eifel Shine

Name:Heinz Eifel Shine

Variety: Riesling

Region: 

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 wine smelled like limes with a hint of floral aromas.  It was very smooth and light and was a bit sweet.  It tasted very sweet and fruity.  Overall this was my favorite wine of the tastings.

I did not have food with this wine.

Wine Tasting from the Vintage Cellar 2/16

Tasting- Cantina Villafranca

Name: Cantina Villafranca

Variety: Frascati

Region: Frascati

Country: Italy

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Produced from a selection of the best grapes located in the Frascati Doc production area.  Made from 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Mavasia del Lazio, 15% Grechetto (Greco).  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 was very lemony smelling and tasted a little like lemons also.  It had an acidic taste and was very light in body.  I thought this wine was ok.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Morro Bay

Name: Morro Bay White Oak Estates

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Lodi

Country: United States, 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: It smelled like pineapple and vanilla.  It was medium light body with a very smooth taste.  It also had hints of vanilla upon tasting it.  I enjoyed this wine.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Coreto

Name: Coreto

Variety: Tinto

Region: Lisboa

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 easy to drink. Red currant and juicy acidity.

My Review: I really enjoyed this wine.  It smelled like berries and also tasted like them.  It had a medium body and was very easy to drink.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Charles Thomas

Name: Charles Thomas

Variety: Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre

Region: Rhone

Country: France

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $8.95

Critic Review:Wine Advocate, 87 points.  From a 140+ acre estate near the well-known Cotes du Rhone village of Point Saint Esprit emerges this juicy Cotes du Rhone, a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre.  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.

My Review: This wine smelled a little peppery with a hint of berries.  It was very smooth tasting.  It tasted like blackberries and I really like this wine as well.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting- Lost Vineyards

Name: Lost Vineyards

Variety: Spumante Dolce

Region:

Country: Italy

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $4.95

Critic Review: Palate 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 was very sweet smelling.  It smelled of flowers.  It was very sweet tasting like peaches as stated above.  This was my favorite wine of the five I tried.
I did not have food with this wine.