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.