Tasting - Primo Amore Moscato

Name: Primo Amore Moscato 

Vintage: Non-vintage

Region: Puglia, Italy

Price: $8.95

Tasting Notes: “This refreshing and fruit Moscato wine comes from the warm Southern vineyards of Puglia. Primo Amore, or first love, expresses the joy of discovery experienced when a wine drinker first encounters the sweetness and enticing fragrance of the delicate wine.”
My Review: This was the first time I had ever tried a Moscato – and it was very sweet! Which seems to be the objective with Moscato wines.  The smell was smooth and sweet.  There was a slight bubbliness to it and it had a light, fruity, sweet taste.  It was a little too sweet for my palate, but in small quantities would be a great summer and/or dessert wine.  But it did have a very nice lingering aftertaste.

Tasting - Finca del Castillo Tempranillo

Name: Finca Del Castillo Tempranillo

Vintage: 2011
Region: Spain

Price: $4.95

Tasting Notes: “Rooty, spicy and baked on the nose with aromas that lean towards raisin.  The palate is more gritty and acidic, with raisin, cola and spice flavors.  Darkens up on the finish, which is long and peppery, with adequate juiciness and a final note of tomato.”
My Review: Of the wines I tried at my first tasting, this was my least favorite.  I found the description to be pretty accurate and it seems that my palate is not very fond of spicy, peppery and acidic flavors.  The initial smell was definitely spicy and the taste was acidic, bitter, and ended with a dry note. 

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 

Vintage: 2012
Region: France
Price: $3.95
Tasting Notes: “Bright and tangy, offering a classic banana note on the nose, with flavors of raspberry, wild strawberry and light spice. Modest finish.”
My Review: This wine was made from Gamay grapes – which I had never tasted or heard of.  And I can’t say that I would try it again (at least this specific wine).  When I saw that the description said it had a banana smell, I really didn’t think that I would get that flavor.  But believe it or not, I got a lot of banana!  The smell was also sweet and smooth and I was very excited to try it.  However, even though the taste had hints of banana and berries (which sounds like something I would enjoy), I really did not like it.  It also had a weird tangy aftertaste. 

Tasting - Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay 

Vintage: 2011
Region: Spain
Price: $5.95
Tasting Notes: “A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp, Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple. Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that’s just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.”
My Review: Of the 5 wines I tasted at the Vintage Cellar, this was by far my favorite – I am definitely a Chardonnay fan.  The main scent I pulled out from the initial sniff was actually vanilla, and the smell was great!  Compared to the other white wine at the tasting (La Cappuccina Soave), this one was much sweeter.  It was also smooth, fruity, and not too strong on the alcohol side.  Overall, very enjoyable – at this price, I would probably buy this one. 

Tasting - La Cappuccina Soave

Name: La Cappuccina Soave
Vintage: 2011
Region: Veneto, Italy
Price: $7.95
Tasting Notes: “Bright straw yellow in color.  Delicate on the nose, with notes of flowers and almonds.  Dry, well-structured and delicately fruity, with hints of bitter almonds on the finish that is typical of Garganega-based wines.”
My Review: This was my first time having a Garganega wine and overall it was pretty good.  It is still difficult for me to put descriptors to the flavors I am smelling, so I didn't get any specific flavors jumping out at me upon the sniff – but I did really like the aroma.  The taste was slightly fruity, very crisp, a little sour, and bitter on the finish. 

My Background of Wine

             Well to start off, I have never created a blog before and have never actually participated in a real wine tasting, so this class will be a new experience for me.  I don’t have too much experience with wine thus far, but I do enjoy drinking wine.  So I hope this class can broaden my education and taste for wine.  I have been drinking wine for a few years on occasion – usually with my parents, however, their tastes are significantly different than me so I tend to not like their choices.  So I decided to try some lighter, fruitier white wines – which I liked a lot more.

        I would consider myself to still be in the white wine category because I still prefer the crisper, sweeter tastes.  Throughout this semester in class, I hope that I can discover what red wines I might like.  And once I find one that I do, then hopefully I can branch off and develop a taste for several other red wines.  I already I have a red wine at home to try – a Pinot Noir that got a really good rating – so hopefully I will like it.

        From this class I would like to know more about the wine production process along with what flavors and tastes come from what type of grape – I think this would help me choose some new wines to try that I might like.  Also, I think it would be interesting to know what regions make good wines and why.  And as someone mentioned in class, I think a lot of us would like to learn about local wineries and others in Virginia.  I am really looking forward to this class and hope to get a lot out of it!