Wine Tasting Review April 8

Name:Chronic Cellars Sofa King Bueno

Variety: 79% syrah, 12% Mourvedre, 5% Petite Syrah, 4% Grenache

Region:Pasa Robles, CA

Year:2011

Country: USA

Price:$23.95

Wine critic review:Aromas: Black Licorice, violets, clove, bay leaves, and thyme. Tastes: fresh berries, black pepper, licorice, clove, and thyme. This wine is youthful and fleshy! Bueno has many layers that fill the nose and palate. It is a full-bodied wine with blanced tannins and different spices.

Personal Review: Deliciously spicy nose. Very spicy. Smells like hints of cayenne and black pepper. Great flavorful fruity aroma as well. Tastes of red bell pepper, plum, and blackberry. Medium bodied with lighter tannins than expected with some frequent swirling. Little high price point for the product but its a genuine Pasa Robles with some nice spice! Medium finish. Not taken with food.

Name:D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Reisling/Marsanne

Variety: Marsanne,Riesling,Rousanne,Sau

Region:Southern Australia (Fleurieu)

Year:2011

Country: Australia

Price:$13.95

Wine critic review: An unoaked blend of premium varietals which changes from vintage to vintage, but always conspires to create an excellent crisp dry, lively white, proudly named after an important South Australian invention - the stump jump plough. Many of McLaren Vale’s old vineyards were originally cleared using this invention.-Cellar 53

Personal Review: Stellar aromas of cherry blossoms and honey. Its like spring all up in my nostrils. Light bodied reisling with some subtle hints of pineapple. Like I said, great, light viscosity, light color. What was kind of disappointing was the loss of aromas on the nose very quickly after third wiff- stops opening up very fast. Not a particular favorite but a good spring/summer drinking wine none the less. No bold fruit components or grassy flavors detected. Not taken with food.

Name:Salneval Albarino

Variety: Albarino

Region:Galacia Region

Year: 2011

Country: Spain

Price:$13.95

Wine critic review:This smooth wine offers pear, dried peach and tangerine flavors, with smoky and light earth notes. Features tart acidity. -Wine Spectator

Personal Review: Great color with fine scents of rose, lavender, and other floral scents. Its like walking into a florist or opening up the floral cold-case at Kroger. Bam-rose petals. On the taste it was like licking an unsalted prezel that was rolled in dirt- but in a good way. A dirty pretzel taste. I liked it. Don't judge me. Shorter finish with subtle lighter colors. This was not taken with food.

Name:Foris Gewurztraminer

Variety: Gewurztraminer

Region:Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley

Year:2010

Country: USA

Price:$14.95

Wine critic review:Nose of rose petal and lychee that Gewurztraminer is known for as well as stone fruits and lemongrass. The palate shows good concentration but stays fresh and liveley due to its crisp acidity. We have always finished our Gewurztraminer drier than many of the more commercial bottlings in the market.

Personal Review: Like sticking some lemons and oranges up my nose, then they turn into apricots. Lots of strong citrus, mild apricot, and hints of gala or pink lady apple. Mild alcohol- I can't even taste it. Not hot whatsoever. Little spice on the back end- dry style. Alsace style from the Rogue Valley in Oregon. Much drier than Alsace styles I've had in the past but with time this wine would open up to have bigger flavors. No food taken with this wine. 

Name:Dom la Ricoune St Gervais CDR

Variety:  70% Grenache, 30 % Syrah

Region:Rhone

Year:2011

Country: France

Price:$15.95

Wine critic review:Inky. Intense and complex rose, fruity and spicy. Aromas of berries, garrigue, licorice, cinnamon, cloves. The palate is intense and fresh. Red fruits. Seductive and lingering finish.

Personal Review: Big fruity nose- berry, cassis, strawberry. Its like one of those berry medley bags you can get at the grocery store (the frozen kind). Just stick that in a frying pan or nuke it for 30 seconds and that's the smell. Its jammy, but raw jam- no fruit pectin or added sugar necessary. Nice notes of licorice (black mostly) and cinnamon. Maybe a little nutmeg too. Medium tannins and nice smooth body. Beautiful deep violet color. yum! No food necessary for me! Bolder fruit but with nice dryness.