Tasting #34 - Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône

Name: Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône
Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $15

Wine Store Review: As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this fullbodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.

My Review: This wine was dark red in color with aromas of cherry and licorice on the nose. It was smooth and medium-bodied. I got cherry and red berry flavors. This wine finished dry with a long aftertaste.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting #33 - Lobetia Tempranillo

Name: Lobetia

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $10

Wine Store Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.

My Review:  This wine is a reddish purple in color with a peppery and cherry aroma. I got a little spicy, peppery taste along with cherries. It was medium dry and thin. It was an ok wine that I'd rate 6 out of 10.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting #32 - Lobetia Chardonnay

Name: Lobetia
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $10

Wine Store Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.



My Review: I got floral and pineapple on the nose of this pale yellow wine. It has seen oak barrel time as there was a distinct malo-lactic taste which came across as a little yeasty to me. It was sweet and also a tropical fruit taste. Pretty good wine overall. I liked the oak aged characteristics of this wine and would rate it a 7 out of 10.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting #31 - Trattoria Busa alla Torre da Lele

Name: Trattoria Busa alla Torre da Lele
Variety: Pinto Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Price: $8

Wine Store Review: Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now.

My Review: This wine was a very pale yellow and almost clear. On the nose there were citrus aromas and hints of a grass component. It was a light bodied wine along with being sweet and acidic. I got generic citrus flavors and it finished a little dry. Good wine and I rate it a 7 out of 10.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting #30 - Ruffino Chianti

Name: Ruffino
Variety: Chianti
Region: Tuscany DOCG
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $9

Winemaker's Review: Chianti Ruffino is characterized by delicate yet steady floral notes of violet which is characteristic of Sangiovese wines. The 2011 vintage offers deep, fruity hints of plum together with intense notes of sweet cherry leading to a lightly spicy finish. Medium-bodied, Chianti Ruffino is characterized by a marvelous freshness, making for a very pleasant and easy to drink wine, with a lingering, fruity finish.

My Review: Medium to dark red in color. On the nose I'm getting cherries with lots of plum. The wine is sweet with cherry flavors and it finished a little dry. Enjoyed this wine and I'd give it a 8 out of 10.

This wine was tasted with lasagna. It paired well although it wasn't anything to brag about. The tomato sauce in the lasagna helped balance the tannins in the wine which brought out more of the fruit flavors.

Tasting #29 - Crane Lake Petite Sirah

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Petite Sirah
Region: Napa and Sonoma, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $5

Wine Blog Review:  Inky, almost black, purple in color with aromas of blackberry jam. In the mouth, the wine is soft and very fruity with blueberry pie filling flavors a bit of white pepper. Some might consider this to be too simple and slightly flabby, but I think it’s varietally correct and a stunning value.

My Review: The wine was very dark in color, like an deep purple. On the nose I got a black cherry aroma. The taste was sweet with some tart cherries in there too. It was pretty tannic, medium-bodied, and finished smoothly with no alcoholic taste what so ever. I really liked this wine! It had the body of a red wine and for the same price I usually get a wine with a hot finish but that was not the case with this wine. I'd rate this wine a 9.5 out of 10.

This wine was tasted with dark chocolate and it was good!! The wine flavors changed. More fruit was present and the tannins were reduced which balanced the wine wonderfully. The dark chocolate taste was also altered. Dark chocolate is usually bitter but the wine got rid of all of that and brought out the sweetness of the chocolate. I would highly recommend trying dark chocolate with this wine!

Tasting #28 - Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Fetzer
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendocino, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $6

Wine Review: Brilliant ruby garnet color. Mild aromas and flavors of cedar and spicy, crusty dark berry pie. This has nice chewy, tart berry and citrus fruit on a rounded medium body with a zesty, cocoa accented finish.

My Review: This wine is dark red in color with strong jammy aromas on the nose. The taste was typical Cab. Sav. with jammy, cherry, and plum flavors. There was a decent dry finish. Overall I liked the wine but it wasn't a favorite. I'd rank this wine a 7 out of 10.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting #27 - Les Piliers Viognier

Name: Les Piliers
Variety: Viognier
Region: Vins de Pays d'Oc
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $15

Wine Store Review: Creamed peach and melon fruit mix with glazed pear and mango notes, while just enough bitter orange on the finish keeps this honest.

My Review: This wine is a pale gold color with very floral aromas and hints of apricots. This is one of the more expensive bottles I've had so far and I could definitely tell a difference in the body and balance compared to the five dollar wines I typically drink. I got a sort of a citrus taste along with what I can only describe as being what it would taste like to bite into a flower. I bought this wine after reading in my class textbook that it pairs very well with duck and goose. I am guessing it was the marinade I used because this wine did not compliment the meat or vice vera. The wine was much better on it's on. I liked this wine very much and will give it a score of 9 out of 10.

This wine was tasted with a duck and goose dinner.