Wine Tasting Week of 2.4

Had a few friends over for Wine and Cheese Night. What a great way to get school work done and hang out. Food spread included: Brie with herbs, goat cheese, Swiss cheese, mozzarella, Persian cucumbers with spicy siracha chilli yogurt, vegetarian quinoa cheese bites, table grapes, strawberries, fig preserves, pumpernickel chips, and water cracker. So swanky!

 

Name:Espuela Del Gaucho (Gaucho Spur)

Variety: Malbec

Region: Province/the Andes!

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $13

Wine Critic/Review: Light berry aromas mix with brine, cumin and sweet spice on the nose. In the mouth, it’s rather lean and juicy, with sharp acidity creating fresh red berry flavors and tang. Turns more piercing and citrusy the longer it airs out.(Wine Enthusiast)

Personal Review: I think the review is totally on point with airing this wine out. The more the wine swirled in my glass, the more mellow and citrusy the wine was. I didn't think it had too sweet of a nose. Smooth taste and easy to drink. I would definitely buy it again. It was a fairly decent Malbec for the price and I think because I preferred the deep rustic red color that made it taste better.

Ate with: goat cheese and water crackers

Name: Pensador (the Thinker)

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $13

Wine Critic/Review: Snappy cherry and berry aromas have the slightest accent of mint and grass. It feels fresh, forward and tight, with plum and spicy berry flavors. The finish remains fruity and firm. (Wine Enthusiast)

Personal Review: Spicy berry flavors. It tasted much better after the second glass about 2 hours later and mixing it with other foods. It was definitely fruity as I could taste and smell some cherry and even blueberry flavors.

Ate with: herb brie and water crackers

Name: Bodega Norton

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $7

Wine Critic/Review: Lively red color with hints of violets, this Sangiovese wine is very fresh on the nose with aromas of red berries, strawberries and raspberries. Norton Sangiovese 2008 is a soft and round wine that is easy to drink. (TGIC Importers)

Personal Review: Yum yum this wine was so easy to drink and did not have the bold tannins I was expecting. It had very manageable acidity and paired well with the light spread of herbed cheeses and other snacks. I could smell the strawberry accents and the bright color made it even more pleasing.

Ate with: herbed brie

Name: Simply Naked

Variety: Unoaked Moscato

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2011

Price:

Wine Critic/Review: Ripe pear, pineapple & creme brulee with a lightly creamy texture, lemon curd and vanilla pudding. Well balanced with a medium finish that has just enough acidity, although a touch on the fruit forward finish. (Tastings.com)

Personal Review: I realize how much my palate has changed since taking this class. I agree with Professor Boyer and my classmates- wines like Simply Naked really taste like Kool-Aid. I'm not a particular fan of the lemon notes but the pineapple scent was pleasing. This wine is best drank extra cold and does not have a long shelf life. Drink now or forever hold your peace.

Ate with: goat cheese and water crackers

 Name: Tapena

 Variety: Garnacha

Region: La Tierra de Castilla

Country: Spain

 Year: Vintage 2010

Price: <=$15

Shop/wine critic/winery review: This wine is as flamboyant as a red polka dot dress. Garnet colored, its lush and sultry. Bright aromas and flabors of fresh blackberries and cherries fill the glass. The finish is velvety with whispers of pepper and exotic Spanish spice. Tapena dances best with pork tenderloins, grilled rib-eye, and roast chicken. (back of the bottle)

Wine Review II: Tapeña Wines, produced by the Ferrer family in Spain, are fresh and fruit-forward. Made to pair well with tapas (small plates), Tapeña wines feature a distinctive fork on the label.  100% Garnacha (Grenache). Medium ruby red in color. Aromatic with black cherry and a touch of barnyard on the nose. Fruit-forward with cherry, licorice, and earth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish. (Wine Peeps) 

Personal Review:  Soft tannins and yummy cherry and licorice scents.Mellow peppery and slightly earthy first and finishing tastes. I love this wine! Probably one of my favorites so far. Smooth finish- seriously.

No food.