Tasting - High Table Cabernet Sauvignon

 Name: High Table

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country / Region: France

Vintage: 2023

Price: $10

Wine Review: I wasn't able to find a review for the vintage year of 2023 but I was able to get some for the 2022, 2019, and 2018 vintage years. According to some users on the website, Vivino, the wine had a "nice full buttery flavor... hints of strawberry and raspberry also maybe some peach or some other flavors." Another common review I saw was that it was a "nice old world wine... nice complex and dry" (“High Table Cabernet Sauvignon”).

Wine Folly: As said in the Cabernet Sauvignon general section in Wine Folly, Cabernet Sauvignon is a "natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc" with "rich flavors and high tannin content." It has flavors of black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, and graphite, and is typically higher in alcohol content with a big body and high tannins. Finally, because of all of these things food like "rich grilled meat" is a great pairing ("Wine Folly").

Review: Comparatively to the other reds I have had before this is by far the best. The fruitiness of cherry and spices was clearly evident in the taste and aromas of this particular wine. However, one thing I didn't see mentioned anywhere in Wine Folly or the reviews online was a toffee taste. This may be an after-taste specific to this wine but it paired very nicely with the taste of berries and the buttery flavor of the overall wine. An amazing tasting and will definitely buy it again.

I did not taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Debonair Cabernet Sauvignon

 Name: Debonair

Variety: Blended (Doesn't say on bottle)

Country / Region: United States

Vintage: 2023

Price: $7

Wine Review: I wasn't able to find a review for the vintage year of 2023 but I was able to get one for a 2022 vintage year. According to some users on the website, Vivino, the wine had tastes of "blackberry, dark cherry and smoke" along with aromas of "velvet charred oak and raspberry" (“2023 Debonair Cabernet Sauvignon | Vivino Suomi”).

Wine Folly: As said in the Cabernet Sauvignon general section in Wine Folly, the wine is a "natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that both originated in Bordeaux... the rich flavor and high tannin content make it a perfect partner to rich grilled meats, peppery sauces, and dishes with high flavor." This wine, in particular, comes from California which is noted to have more of a "minerally character" and "offer more black cherry with lush tannins" compared to its counterparts being grown in other locations ("Wine Folly").

Review: It was great! The last red wine I tried was a classic Bordeaux and I felt overpowered by the acidity and tannins within it. However, for this wine, it was the opposite. I tasted a lot of the fruitiness mentioned (mainly the cherry) and also caught some aromas of oak which was nice. Along with this, the tannins weren't as overpowering allowing me to drink it without needing to pair food alongside.

I did not taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Chalkboard Rose

Name: Chalkboard

Variety: Blended (Doesn't say on bottle)

Country: France

Vintage: 2023

Price: $8

Wine Review: I wasn't able to find a review for the vintage year of 2023 but I was able to get one for a 2019 vintage year. According to some users on the website, Vivino, the wine tastes like a "blend of fruit. More dry than sweet... Strong strawberry with some citrus and pear and grapefruit... for a very inexpensive Rose, this one is great. Nice aromas, nice color, with a bit of peach, nectarine, and citrus. Very easy to drink and enjoy with almost anything" (“2019 Chalkboard Rosé”).

Wine Folly: There was no specific Rose page in the Wine Folly textbook since it's mainly a blended wine and the bottle itself doesn't mention what grapes are in the wine. However, I did find some good pairings for Rose's, those being salty cheeses, blue cheese, and sour cream and cheese to list a few. I also learned that to create a Rose maceration is performed which is where "red grape skins are left to macerate in juice for a short time" until the desired color is reached and then the "fermentation is completed like a white wine" ("Wine Folly").

Review: It was good! Very dry aroma but also some fruity notes to bring out some sweetness. Specifically, I smelled pears and apricots mainly and I noticed this in the taste as well. It starts off dry but immediately turns sweet until the taste subsides and it's fully sweet. Along with this, I agree with some of the reviews online that I found, the blend of fruit for the taste and smell is good and I can see this wine being a great refreshing drink to have in the summer.

I tasted this with some chips. 

 

Tasting - Pinetti Notte Pinot Grigio

Name: Pinetti Notte

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2023

Price: $8

Wine Review: I wasn't able to find a review for the vintage year of 2023 but I was able to get one for a 2012 vintage year. According to user Mike Kopanski on the website, Cellar Tracker, "this is a solid 86 point wine. The color is a clearish golden. The pungent nose has shale minerality with crushed lemon rind and some earthy elements. The green apple, white pear and grapefruit is swimming in a mixture of lanolin and spice... Very respectable for the price point" (“2012 Pinetti Notte Pinot Grigio, Italy, Lombardia, Provincia Di Pavia IGT - CellarTracker”). 

Wine Folly: Pg 149 Pinot Gris in general - Pinot Grigio's are well known for their zesty white wines that span from both sides of the spectrum with some being pretty sweet and others dry. Wine Folly mentions Pinot Grigio's make excellent pairings with "white meats, seafood, and other types of food" due to the acidity of the wine and the sweetness that can sometimes be present. Typically coming from Italy, Pinot Grigio's are also common in the United States and Germany. This bottle specifically is from Italy and showcases the fruity aromas commonly found.

Review: It was great! The smell of grapefruit and melon was heavily present from the beginning. Taste wise the wine was fairly dry at first but had a nice fruity aftertaste to it. This was also the first wine that I tried with food as I paired it with some beef tacos that my roommate made. I felt like the pairing was very good as the citrus and melon flavors refreshed my palette after each bite. Overall a great wine for the price, and would recommend it for others to try.

I tasted this with some beef tacos. 

Tasting - Dark Horse Pinot Grigio

 Name: Dark Horse

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Country: United States

Vintage: 2023

Price: $10.00

Wine Review: The website Fine Wine and Good Spirits has multiple reviews on this particular wine. One user wrote, "really good flavor with hints of fruit, but a little tangy going down" while another mentioned, "a solid, dry, well priced Pinot Grigio. Very drinkable and good for cooking. It's a little sweeter than most Pinot Grigios, but not overwhelmingly" (“Dark Horse Pinot Grigio”).

Wine Folly: Pg 149 Pinot Gris in general - Pinot Grigio's or Pino Gris is a mutation of Pinot Noir that, according to Wine Folly, is "famous for its zesty white wines that range in style from dry to just plain sweet." The book also mentions it makes excellent pairings with "white meats, seafood, and other types of food" due to its sweetness and nice acidity. The wine typically comes from Italy but is also common in the United States, like this bottle, and Germany. Also present are aromas of citrus fruits and apples or pears.

Review: I really enjoyed it! The smells of apples and fruits like lemons and limes were noticeable off the bat when performing the sniff and swirl. I also found many of the tastes that were described through Wine Folly with notes of zesty fruitiness and acidic dryness. Almost reminded me of a drier apple juice with an alcoholic kick at the end. I will definitely be looking for another bottle of Pinot Grigio along with trying it's close variant a Pinot Noir.

I tasted this on its own with no food. 

Tasting - Chateau La Roberterie Bordeaux Superieur

 Name: Bordeaux Superieur

Variety: 100% Merlot

Region: Juillac

Country: France

Vintage: 2017

Price: $20.00

Wine Review: The La Roberterie winery website mentions, "rich and complex on the nose with berry fruits and jammy fruits... that will increase with aging. The oak is remarkably well balanced, with a smooth perception of vanilla and smoky notes" (“Primus 2017 - Château La Roberterie”).

Wine Folly: Pg 83 Bordeaux Blend (Red) in general—Bordeaux's are a "red blend that's primarily Varbet Sauvignon and Merlot along with several other grape varieties." They are typically high in tannins and bring out tastes of dried herbs, black cherry, and graphite. This bottle was prominently on the more dried herb's side and showed a lot of the acidity and "restrained fruit flavors" that were described in Wine Folly.

Review: This was the first red wine I tried this semester and really ever, and I didn't enjoy it. The descriptions for the wine that I found were mostly correct. However, I found more dryness in this bottle along with a strong alcohol and woody taste. There were some notes of spices and fruitiness, but overall, the dryness of the wine caught me off guard, and I didn't enjoy it. I will continue my journey with red wines but so far white wine is my clear front runner. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.