This was quite possibly the most daunting piece of paper I've been handed this semester, as I had not tasted most of the wines on the sheet. However, I was determined to use what we had learned in class and what I had read to make educated choices to the best of my abilities.
We were also given food to chose from to try with our wines. I tried to take a little of everything: dim sum, Gorgonzola pasta, light salad, Swiss cheese, mozzarella cheese, white crackers, and a three cheese bread.
The food actually made it more difficult because it changed the taste of the wine, drastically in some cases. The guesses were made without food, but additional notes were taken on the change in taste.
Let's see how I did:
1) What I thought it was: Pinot Grigio, 2008, 12.5% alcohol, $11.99
Unfortunately, I did not photograph this one as I was intently trying to analyze it before the next round. It had a very floral aroma, like honeysuckle and tea-roses, with hints of citrus fruits and peach. It was very light in color, almost colorless. The taste was much like the smell, fruity and crisp, but it felt a lot "hotter" than I anticipated, which accounts for my percentage guess. I tried it with the Gorgonzola pasta, which cut the acidity nicely and allowed more of the fruitiness and some hints of herbal tastes to come through (rosemary). Over all, it was enjoyable, but a little off balance. I gave it a score of 87.
What it actually was: Sierra Cruz Sauvignon Blanc, 2010, 12% alcohol, $7.99
Tasting notes summary: Chilean wine. Citrus flavors, herbal/grassy aroma. Pair with pasta sauced in pine nuts, mushrooms, and Parmesan. Wine Enthusiast scored it 90 points.
So, I was completely off in all but the alcohol content, guessing it within .5%. I did prefer it with food, as I could taste more of the flavors and less of the acid.
2) What I thought it was: Chardonnay, 2010, 7% alcohol (later revoked), $5.99
Again, no photo, as I hadn't yet gotten into the swing of sampling, smelling, tasting with food, etc. before the next round of pouring, though I must note it was very golden in color, directing me towards wanting to choose Chardonnay. The aroma of the wine was citrus and strawberry with a bit of a sour/acidic twinge. I took a few different tastes trying to pair it with dim sum, mozzarella, and lettuce, but every time I tasted pear with a metallic finish and aftertaste. It didn't taste very complex (according to my underdeveloped palette), nor did it have the warmth that I've come to expect from tasting wine. This accounts for the low alcohol percentage (later changed), the low price, and my low score of 85.
What it actually was: Lison Pramaggiore Pinot Griogio, 2010, 11.5% alcohol, $7.99
Tasting notes summary: Grown in clay, loam, and slightly alkaline. Fruity aroma when young, hay, walnut, and almond when matured. Perfect for salads, light pasta, and seafood.
I was closer this time, getting the year right and closing in on the price, though I wildly underestimated the alcohol content. I suppose the alkaline aspect of the terroire is where the metallic taste came from.
3) What I thought it was: Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, 11.5% alcohol, $11.99
Finally, we have a photo! I found this wine to have a light floral aroma with softer fruit tones, like melon. The taste was nutty with peach, melon, and honey as well. When paired with dim sum, it became very sweet and gained a slight cantaloupe flavor (richer than the melon flavor). I enjoyed this wine and scored it 90 points.
What it actually was: Leese-Fitch Chardonnay California, 2009, 13.8% alcohol, $11.99
Tasting notes summary: Aromas of tropical melon and pear, as well as chestnut, caramel apple, and French Oak. Full-bodied palate with a creamy finish.
I was surprised by the alcohol content of this one. It did not feel "hot" at all, and that may be the "creaminess" that my palette has yet to really detect and understand. I correctly guessed the price, but honestly would not have guessed this to be a chardonnay based on what we have learned.
4) What I thought it was: Moscato, 2010, 7% alcohol, $13.99
I must make a note that due to the first bottle being frozen, this wine was served last. However, it was my favorite. The low alcohol content made it quite enjoyable for an undeveloped palette. The aroma was sweet with honey, pear, and apple. The taste, while not very complex, was very enjoyable to me, as it tasted very near to sparkling grape juice and apple juice. Again, as I am new to the wine world, this wine was something that tasted familiar to me and so I was more comfortable with it. Just to be silly, I scored it 100 points, simply because it was my favorite of the evening.
What it actually was: Opera Prima Moscato Spain, NV, 7% alcohol, $5.99
Tasting notes summary: A great value. Aromas of fresh grapes, fruit syrup, and white flower petals. Silky, pleasantly sweet. Crisp and refreshing finish. Ideal on its own or with sweets and desserts.
Looking back, I would have changed the price I guessed for no other reason than the very low alcohol content. "NV" stands for No(n) Vintage, Assuming that this was made from a mix of grapes or juices. Again, I very much enjoyed this wine and, for $5.99, I feel that I will be enjoying it again soon.
5) What I thought it was: Pinot Noir, NV, 13.5% alcohol, $14.99
This was the first red wine of the evening. The aromas of this one were of darker fruits, like black cherries and blackberries with a sweet-tartness that lingered. It tasted very "hot" which accounts for my alcohol guess. Other taste elements that dominated were plum and oak, though other flavors were present that I couldn't identify, making for a complex, full-bodied wine. I scored this wine 91 points and thought it to be quite good.
What it actually was: Kenwood Yulupa Pinot Noir, 2010, 13.5% alcohol, $14.99
Tasting notes summary: First vintage of Yulupa Pinot Noir. From coastal vineyards. Aromas of boysenberry, strawberry, and cherry along with vanilla and spice. Smooth tannins with a hint of sweetness. 11 months in French Oak.
I was almost completely correct with this one, except for the year. I guessed NV because I tasted so many hints of different things, that I assumed it had to be from a mix of several juices. I was almost right, as this wine is 99% Pinot Noir and 1% Syrah, but I still cannot believe the complexity that this wine presented.
6) What I thought it was: Merlot, 2009, 12% alcohol, $7.99
This wine was a nice ruby red color and by far the prettiest of the evening. The aromas were light berry flavors like strawberry and raspberry and almost a little syrupy-sweet. I was surprised when I tasted it because it was much "darker" in taste than in smell. The dominant flavors were black currant and oak and it was VERY tannic. However, the wine was neither dry nor sweet, but at a nice middle point that was pleasant, especially with the Gorgonzola pasta. I scored this wine 91 points.
What it actually was: Poggio Vipere Chianti, 2009, 12.5% alcohol, $11.99
Tasting notes summary: Ruby red color, good body, persistent aroma with hints of cherry spice. Soft, fresh, and pleasantly balanced.
I swear that we were not given the tasting notes until after the meal. It looks like I was spot on with my analysis of the color and vintage, but slightly off in the other aspects. I was a little surprised by the price, but it is still relatively cheap for what I thought was a very good wine.
7) What I thought it was: Chianti, 2009, 13.5% alcohol, $7.99
No photo for this one (I was doing so well!). This wine was quite dark, almost opaque. The major aromas were strong floral, like fresh liberty roses, and dark plum. It tasted of cherries with a little oak, but was not very complex and a little disappointing compared to the deep, rich color.
What it actually was: Hope Merlot Hunter Valley, 2009 (Australia), 13.5% alcohol, $11.99
Tasting notes summary: Aroma is of dark plums and vibrant fruit. Well rounded palette of cherry, chocolate, spice, and oak. Full-bodied, rich Merlot. Dry year led to concentrated characters and complexity. Elegant Merlot with serious weight.
This is the first summary that I haven't really agreed with. I detected some of the flavors and aromas listed, but I did not find it to be a complex or "heavy" wine. I would have even called it light, despite the alcohol content. The price, for me, would be too much to pay for a wine that I didn't really enjoy.
8) What I thought it was: Malbec, 2010, 13.9% alcohol, $10.99
Placing second to the Moscato, this was my favorite red of the evening. It had a sweet, raspberry aroma that I really liked and it tasted light, but with a complex blend of fruits, including plum, blackberry, and cherry. It was very good when paired with dim sum and with mozzarella cheese and crackers, as it blended very well with the fats in each and created a very appealing sweet, fruity flavor. I scored this wine 94 points and would absolutely try it again.
What it actually was: Cholila Ranch Malbec, 2010 (Argentina), 13.9% alcohol, $10.99
Tasting notes summary: Deep purple color, aromas of ripe plum, violets, figs, and ripe black fruits. Tastes of vanilla, spice, plum, black cherry. Supple, round, and easy-going. 88 points, Wine Advocate.
Wow! The first one that I got completely right and one of my favorites of the night! It must be fate. I'd like to try this one again because there were flavors that I couldn't describe, but now that I see words like "fig" and "violet", I might be able to better identify this wine in the future.
9) What I thought it was: Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008, 14.1% alcohol, $11.99
From the get-go, I really didn't like this wine. The aroma was exactly that of several day old black currant jam, which is a very pungent and sour smell. The taste what dominantly of spicy carrots, as if someone was taken steamed sweet carrots and poured a lot of black pepper onto them and let it stew. It was very "hot" as well, accounting for my guess and overall tasted very unbalanced to be. This was by far my least favorite of the night. I must make a note, however, that it was additionally tried with Swiss cheese, which make have added some undesirable pungency to the mix, so I may have to try this wine again "clean".
What it actually was: Chasing Lions Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008, 14.1% alcohol, $13.99
Tasting notes summary: Wonderful scents of blackberries, cassis, tobacco, leather, and plums. Flavors of dark fruits, black licorice, and toasty oak. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. 60% aged in French oak, 40% aged in American Oak.
This probably explains why I didn't enjoy this wine. I do not, at all, like the smell of tobacco or the taste of black licorice, nor would I really want to use a descriptor like "leather" when analyzing my wine. I feel that this one simply is not for me, though with a more developed palette, I may appreciate it later.
Overall, this was a very good experience for my to learn about different varieties and how I personally can describe what I am tasting and smelling without the influence of a label. I hope to be able to do something like this again soon to expand the way I think about and appreciate wine.
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