Wine Tasting - April 18

Name: Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage: 2010

Region: Central Coast, California

Price: $7.95

Tasting Notes: Orange blossom and citrus permeate the aromas. Alluring flavors of orange and grapefruit dominate the palate. Bright acidity balances the plush mouth feel, resulting in a clean finish.

My Review: The smell of this wine was had strong orange and citrus components.  The taste was tart and crisp with apple and grapefruit flavors.  I liked this wine, but it wasn’t great.

Name: Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Vintage: NV
Region: California

Price: $3.95

Tasting Notes: This fruit forward White Zinfandel displays fresh aromas and crisp flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. It is incredibly food friendly and will pair well with burgers, sandwiches, fruit salad, and more.

My Review: I hadn’t had a white Zinfandel before that I liked, but I actually enjoyed this one.  The smell was sweet with cherry aromas.  The taste was light and sweet with some strawberry and other berry flavors.  Since this wine was so good for such a cheap wine, I decided to purchase it.

Name: Chandon Sweet Cuvée

Vintage: NV
Region: California

Price: $9.95

Tasting Notes: This wine is an innovative sparkling wine style revealing vibrant stone fruit and floral aromas with rich, luscious mouth feel. This wine enlivens the senses and sparks spontaneous moments, complementing your passion for a good life.

My Review: This wine had a very sweet and fruity smell.  The taste was slightly floral but had a weird aftertaste that I did not like.  I like the mouth feel of the bubbles, but not really much else about the wine.

Name: Concannon Shiraz

Vintage: 2008
Region: Central Coast, California

Price: $7.95

Tasting Notes: This is an extremely rich, full-bodied wine with a dark fruit core. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark cherry are followed by more berry fruits and chocolate and mocha on the palate.

My Review: This one had an extremely interesting aroma! Very potent, I couldn’t quite pick out the descriptor, but I definitely got some blueberry.  The taste was slightly dirt-ish and earthy, but not too strong.  It was also slightly dry.

Name: Ksana Bonarda

Vintage: 2008
Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $9.95

Tasting Notes:  The bouquet is floral and lightly jammy, with berry aromas and a savory note or two. To the uninitiated, this is a great introduction to Bonarda. Finishes solid. Very sweet, berry smell with some rooty undertones. Kind of dry, makes your lips pucker.

My Review: I liked the smell of this wine – very jammy, sweet, and rich.  However, the taste didn’t match up – it was VERY dry, earthy and spicy and was probably my least favorite of the wines during the tasting.

Wine Dinner

Wine Dinner with the Family

            A perfect time to celebrate!  I had just been accepted into Montana State University’s Graduate program and my mom had just finished chemotherapy – so my mom, step-dad, sister, boyfriend and I all got together to have a nice wine dinner.  I picked out the three wines (one white and two reds) and my step-dad prepared the food to go with each wine.           

We started off with smoked shrimp from the grill and crackers with Havarti cheese to compliment the first wine – Chateau Ste Michelle Pinot Gris 2011 (Columbia Valley, Washington).  The smell of the wine was crisp and clean with lots of green apple aromas.  The wine itself had a slight effervescence to it that I really enjoyed along with a fruity taste and a great finish – there was no acidic “bite” at the end like I was used to.  With the cheese and crackers, the wine didn’t change much but it did compliment the food very well.  When tasting the Pinot Gris with smoked shrimp, the acidic undertones came out a bit more.  Overall this wine was a winner with the entire family (and was only about $11)!

            

Next, we had a Kenwood Vineyards 2010 Merlot from Sonoma, California.  The smell was extremely strong (which made me a little nervous) with lots of berry, oak and black cherry flavors.  However, the taste was much lighter and much more enjoyable than the smell.  It was extremely smooth and also had some hints of chocolate.  This wine also didn’t have the usual acidic alcohol “bite”.  We paired the Merlot with a nice salad with lots of vegetables.  When tasting the wine with the food, more of the fruity, plum flavors were apparent (maybe due to the earthiness of the salad).  It also made the wine slightly more dry, but not in a bad way.  Again, this wine was enjoyed by everyone (except my boyfriend, who isn’t much of a wine drinker).  

The last wine of the night was a Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Napa, California.  The aromas on this wine were strong, like the Merlot, and had spice, berry, and vanilla flavors.  When I tasted this wine, I couldn’t believe the smoothness!  All the Cabernet’s I’ve had to this point were very bitter, acidic and hot (from the alcohol), but this one was so drinkable and enjoyable!  This was then paired with a nice, juicy steak and baked potato.  This complimented the wine very well but I didn’t really detect any significant changes of the flavor profile. 

Overall, this was the best wine experience I have had throughout the semester in Geography of Wine.  It was great to spend time with my family talking about the wines and sharing the knowledge I had gained from the class – they were very impressed.  I don’t know if I just happened to pick out three good wines or if the “feel good” site and situation affected my perception of the wines – but either way I really enjoyed them and had a great time.

Wine Tasting - April 11

Name: Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage: 2009

Region: California

Price: $7.95

Tasting Notes: This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple and has hints of hibiscus blossoms. The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind. The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more.

My Review: The aromas were very heavy on the green apple and there was a slight floral component.  The wine was tangy, fruity (melon) and had decently strong acidity.  Overall, this wine wasn’t bad at all, but not something I would buy.  

Name: Bricco Dei Tati Rosè

Vintage: 2012
Region: Italy

Price: $6.95

Tasting Notes: 100% Barbera. Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers.

My Review: The smell on this wine was really strong and smelled very concentrated – heavy on the strawberries and cherries.  The taste was sweet(ish), had hints of berries, was smooth and had a clean finish.  I thought this was a very interesting rose that I enjoyed.

Name: Wilson Daniels Merlot

Vintage: 2010
Region: Central Coast, California

Price: $7.95

Tasting Notes: Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is full-bodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with vanilla and toast.

My Review: This wine had black cherry and jammy smells.  There was vanilla and toastiness on the palate, so I am assuming it was slightly oaked.  It was fairly silky, but also had a little too much heat.  Not one of the better merlots I’ve had.

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre

Vintage: 2010
Region: Jumilla, Spain

Price: $9.95

Tasting Notes:  100% Monastrell. 4 months in new American oak barrels. Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish.

My Review: This was probably the most interesting aroma on a wine I have ever smelled! It was definitely very strong on licorice, wood and smoke.  The taste was very similar – extremely smoky (and I did not like it!).  It also had a dirt/earthy/green component to it.

Name: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Vintage: 2004
Region: Sauternes, France

Price: $7.95

Tasting Notes: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle. Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

My Review: I was excited to try this wine just because of the grapes used to make it.  However, I didn’t get anything from it besides the intense sweetness because of the really overpowering tastes from the previous wine residue in the glass.  I was fairly disappointed in that. 

Wine Tasting - April 4

Name: Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Vintage: NV

Region: Spain

Price: $3.95

Tasting Notes: Rosé salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubble that forms “lace” and “rosary”. In the nose is complex and elegant with red fruit, citric, exotic, fresh flowers, and notes of dry fruits and dry flowers. Fresh, gentle, and alive. Perfectly integrated “perlage” with serious and subtle flavors of dry fruits, pomegranate and lemonade. Long lasting scent of flowers and herbs.

My Review: This wine smelled very floral and citrusy.  It tasted tart and it nice, light and bubbly.  However, there isn't much else to say about this wine, because there was nothing that really stood out to me – the wine wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't great either.

Name: Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Vintage: 2010
Region: Granada, Spain

Price: $3.95

Tasting Notes: Fresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rosé offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy.

My Review: The aromas of this one included fruit and berries and I also felt like I could smell the acidity.  The taste was nice and light with some fruit and some herbs, and had a decent finish.  This wasn’t one the best rosé’s I've had.

Name: Cresta Azul

Vintage: NV
Region: Spain

Price: $5.95

Tasting Notes: Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo. Peach, orange cream and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white. Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish.

My Review: This was my favorite wine of the day – I could definitely smell the orange on the nose.  And the flavors were very fruit forward with lots of peach mixed with some vanilla.  There was just the right amount of sweetness in this wine for me.

Name: Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Vintage: 2010
Region: Corbieres, France

Price: $4.95

Tasting Notes: Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange. Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee. The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla. This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins.

My Review: This wine had the weirdest smell I had ever experienced in a red wine! And unfortunately the taste matched the smell – I couldn't quite pick out the exact taste, but I think it was very close to the taste of soap, and I did not like it.  It also had some spice and vanilla aspects to it.

Name: Ruta 22 Malbec

Vintage: 2011

Region: Patagonia, Argentina

Price: $7.95

Tasting Notes: Stout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas. Despite being a bold and dark Malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Good on the finish, with candied fruit and caramel sweetness.

My Review: The smell of this wine was mainly fruit and berries, but nothing too exciting.  The taste wasn't bad but nothing really jumped out at me, but it definitely had a different taste to it.  

Grape Varietal Report

Grape Variety Report: Semillon

By: Lauren Yokley

            Semillon is a white grape variety that is popular in France, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and California.  Semillon grapes originated in France in the 1800s and they are the majority white variety in Bordeaux, Graves, and Sauternes.  However, Chile has more acreage of Semillon planted than anywhere else in the world, yet it ranks third among their other grapes – just behind Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  During the early viticultural development of Australia, Semillon was the dominant white grape variety.  But it is now overridden by Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  South Africa also has a similar story – it used to be the most abundant white grape (also known as Wyndruif), but today it only accounts for less than 1% of plantings.  In California, total Semillon plantings have fluctuated over the past several decades by thousands of acres.  Today, it is mainly used as a blending wine for Sauvignon Blanc as a dry table wine. 

            In France, Semillon is often used as a blending grape for Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, especially in Bordeaux to make a more complex wine.  It is also the dominant grape variety used in the sweet French Sauterne wines which are very famous worldwide.  Sauternes is the world’s most renowned and longest-living unfortified dessert wine. 

            The Semillon grape can produce these amazing sweet wines because it is so prone to develop Botrytis Cinerea, or more commonly known as “noble rot”.  This disease is actually a blessing to these grapes because it produces very high sugar levels.  When the grapes are attacked by this rot, they shrivel on the vine.  They dry out and lose water, but become extremely concentrated with sugars and creates sweet fruit, roasted nut, and tropical flavors.  The sweet aromas and flavors can also be achieved by leaving the grapes on the vine longer for a late harvest that will allow more sugar build-up and leave some residual sugars after the fermentation process.

            There are about 35,000 hectares of land dedicated to growing the Semillon grape variety.  Semillon grapes have a rich yellow color when mature and with high amounts of sun exposure, they may turn amber-pink.  In warm climates, sunburn and raisining are hazards.  This grape variety typically has large berries, thin skin, and is a pretty vigorous grape that can be grown in many different climates to produce slightly different aromas and flavors depending on soil type, temperature, length of growing season, and amount of rainfall.  

            General flavor descriptors of Semillon wines include: apple, peach, pear, grass, lemon, pineapple, and asparagus.  These grapes have an affinity for oak which accentuates subtleties.  If the wine is aged in oak barrels, the flavor profile will include more vanilla, toast, and oak flavors.  As a young varietal, the Australian version is fuller-bodied and has more fruity flavors (like apricot and mango) than the Bordeaux Semillon.  Wines dominated by Semillon may lack much youthful aroma, but they tend to be full-bodied and low in acidity – they may even be “oily” or “fatty” at times.  

            A varietal Semillon wine pairs best with medium to full-bodied savory dishes like heavier fish, chicken, and pork with buttery and creamy sauces.  Also goes well with pastas that have pesto or cheese sauces.  The late harvest (sweet) wines are dessert wines meant for sweet dishes. 

In conclusion, Semillon grapes were once an incredibly popular white wine varietal but have declined significantly over the past several decades and have become more of a grape used for blending into other white wines.  It can be produced as a dry or sweet style depending on location and type of wine desired.

Sources:

http://www.winetasteathome.com/Varietals/Semillon.html

http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/semillon.htm

http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-topics/wine-educational-questions/grapes-for-wine-making-flavor-characteristics-explained/semillon-wine-grapes-flavor-character-and-history/

http://www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk/DWBase/jsp/templates/wineguide/grape-detail.jsp?genericGrapeId=20