Tasting - "Butterfly Kiss Moscato"

5. Butterfly Kiss Moscato:
a. Variety: Moscato

b. Region: Chile

c. Country:Chile

d. Year:2012

e. Price: $5.95

Moscato is my fiance's favorite wine so we had fun tasting this one. This wine was very floral with string notes of what seemed like mango and kiwi. The flower smelled like a rose and was lovely back drop for the fruits, none of it was over powering though,all the scents played together nicely. The fruitiness comes out very well in the taste. You can taste the fruity sweetness of a grape. That fruitiness makes the moscato very refreshing without becoming to overpowering. The main contributor to the sweetness, however, is the honey flavor. it tasted not like the rich bee honey though, it was more like mellow honey suckles. Over all the wine has many flavors that could be very powerful on their own but are all very mellowed out. Because of all the fruity flavors this may be a wine better suited to fit with a spicy meal a dry meat with a dry chile rub and some herb rice.

What Others Say: This is a great review of the wine. The review talks about the honey flavor in the wine as wells as citrus and sweet fruit flavors in the wine. They also attest to the wines mouth watering finish brought about by melon and lemon lime flavors. They say to pair the wine with spacy asian food or grilled prawns.

Tasting - "Purple Paws Zinfandel"

3. Purple Paws Zinfandel:
a. Variety: Zinfandel

b. Region: Lodi, California

c. Country:USA

d. Year:2013

e. Price: $7.95 (on sale from $15)

Zinfandel is among my favorite wines so I was looking forward to this one. The Zinfandel had a nice mixed dark berry aroma. The best part to me is the strong smells you can get, there was no hint of any flavors they all come through very boldly. The wine was dryer than the previous three I had tasted and there was a slight spiciness to it. I liked drinking this wine but in thinking about what I'd have it I realized that it was too flavorful to e paired with anything complex. A simple sharp cheese like a Parmesan cheese or a sharp cheddar. The wine stands alone with many unique and enjoyable flavors but could benefit from the substance found in sharp cheeses.

What Others Say: Sadly for how much I like this wine there were no reviews I could I find. The Vintage cellar was that is smells like ripe boysenberries and cherries. It tastes generous and broad without being too full bodied. It finishes with fruit notes and a little spice.

Tasting - "Purple Paws Cabernet Sauvignon"

3. Purple Paws Cabernet Sauvignon:
a. Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

b. Region: Lodi, California

c. Country:USA

d. Year:2013

e. Price: $7.95 (on sale from $15)

The cute lab on the label of their wine is a great indicator of the wines taste, soft and a bit playful. At this point I wanted to take more time to smell the wine as our attendant was giving us a wealth of information. It had a fruity and mellow smell with a hint of floralness to it. I have had experience with bourbon before and sensed a resemblance to the type of smell. The oak barrels used to age Makers Mark can give a nice vanilla smell and smoothness to the aroma, I had that same sensation with this wine. The taste was much the same with hints of fruit and flowers. In this wine there was much more dark fruit tones (like a blackberry or a blue berry that leaves your mouth a tad dry). It was a tad tart but the body of the wine went down very smooth. It wasn't hard to taste. Again, the food I'd have. This one was a bit more tricky because there was a lot going on. This one I'd have with some sharp cheese or some sardines. The playful fruitiness would pair well with something that was sharp and rich. This wine was more along the lines of something I'd drink to relax. 

What Other Say: Again I couldn't find a proper online review, but I do remember getting told about it from the Vintages Cellars point of view. The Cabernet is smooth and creamy  offering plenty of fruit flavor, smooth tannins that coat the mouth. There is a plush texture that keeps the wine from being harsh. The wine has a light body, soft mouthfeel and lingering finish.

P.S. Just remembered that the man I talked with is named Randell. Ask for him he was incredibly helpful and even brought out a book to show me an my friends the many different types of grapes, where they come from and whats unique about them.

Tasting - "Rosemount Chardonnay"

2. Rosemount Chardonnay:
a. Variety: Chardonnay
b. Region: Southern Australia
c. Country:Australia
d. Year:2013
e. Price: $5.95

This was also a white wine like the sauvignon blanc, but I liked this one much better. When I smelled it, it was much more inviting than the sulfurous smell I had just had. It was very fruity but had bit of emptiness to it. I recalled this being a sign that it had been aged in something metal. I find the smell very refreshing. The taste was refreshing as well. There was slight tartness in the wine though that made it seem sharper. It wasn't the kind of sharpness you find in a grape fruit though, more like an apple. I liked thinking about the food last time so I gave it another try. I'd have it with a sea food again but something with more flavor like a lobster or another shellfish. It had a nice smooth flavor that could act as a back drop but not enough to over power so it needs something with a bit more flavor. Over all I found it nice but lacking in experience. It was like having a glass of milk: sure its sweet and refreshing but dammit I want a cookie.

What Others Say: The link here takes you to a great website where there is an in depth, and much more affluent, review of many rosemount wines. They attest to the fruityness and the smoothness of the wine with a bitter bite at the end. They say to have the wine with a puff pastry. Maybe I could have a cookie with the wine instead.

Tasting - "La Lejania Sauvignon Blanc"

1. La Lejania Sauvignon Blanc:

a. Variety: Savignon Blanc

b. Region: Central Vally

c. Country:Chile

d. Year:2015

e. Price: $6.95 (On sale from $10)

This one was pretty good. Kind of a big leap of faith, though, when I took the first sip because of the smell. It smelled a bit empty and eggy (sulfurous). There was however a hint of citrus. I didn't let the wine sit for a bit after it was poured though or give it a long sniff so it may have not had time to open up and bring out the fruitiness. As for taste it was tart. It was not an overwhelming tartness because of the nice citrus flavor. You'd get the same sensation from a sour candy. I hadn't been eating at the time but I am an avid food critique so what I would eat it with did come to mind. I'd have it with a white fish and a mild side (rice or steamed veggies). It's taste was a tad lingering and overwhelming for anything that would have a lot going on but would pair nicely with that kind of fish. My fiance was there tasting with me and was later able to identify the sulfurous smell as cat pee. Don't let that turn you off of it though I still liked the wine overall. I just wish I had something to go with it

What Others Say: Couldn't find an official review of the wine, but the man in charge of the tasting made some good points.He said the wine would have aromas of green apple and citrus as is present in a classic Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Straight forwards wine with a modest mineral taste make it enjoyable. The citrus and berry flavors make for a refreshing taste

First Week of Wine

This week was step one on my journey of understanding wine. I went to a wine tasting at the Vintage Cellar on Main street in Blacksburg (side note I'm the guy with awkward facial hair not the kind woman in the background). Had a great time, the wine was good and the staff was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I had the following wines:
1. La Lejania Sauvignon Blanc
2. Rosemount Chardonnay
3. Purple Paws Cabernet Savignon
4. Purple Paws Zinfendel
5. Butterfly Kiss Moscato
All good, but I'm going to take a swing at describing them myself with my limited knowledge. Excuse my inexperience if shows at any point. I come from a house where the average bottle was  around $20 so this list of wine seems more on the speed of someone no wanting to spend too much and is just starting to get into wines. I will say before I get started that these wines were a good intro into the world of wine. If your thinking of getting into wine too then I recommend these wines.

The why of Quinn

Wine is a recent addition to my life, but one that may be the longest lasting. One year ago a good friend of mine started having a fun wine tasting night at his house where he went over lessons he had learned in the VT Geography of Wine class. I was introduced to many flavors of wine and wine tasting habits that I had never even heard of, nor thought about. I learned about pairings and how to taste the wine but the biggest lesson I learned was how to love it.

My parents always drank wine and it's a common place item back home. They lived in California for a time and have many stories about vineyard tours and tastings. So it goes without saying that I tasted it before, but, like many people, never took the time to acquire the taste for it (probably because I was too young). Over the past year I've gotten over my old distaste and have started trying different wines both good and bad so I can know more about them. I try to always have a bottle of wine in the apartment to have with dinner or to relax before I go to bed. I've developed a taste for reds, specifically zinfandel, but am never too afraid to try a white wine I've never had before. Recently I've gotten the funds to buy more cheese from that fancy section in Kroger so I started trying to pair on my own.

Despite all the trials and different wines, however, my pallet hasn't expanded much. I don't have the same guidance I had a year ago when I was second hand taking the wine class through my friend. This semester I've taken the initiative to enroll in the wine class myself and learn all the things my friend couldn't remember for me. I also want to know what I'm getting into when I buy a new type of wine, as I often don't. Too often do I look at a bottle of wine and have no clue what to expect based on the name and the description. I also pine for the days of drinking with my friend at his house. I hope to learn about wine pairings so I can treat my friends to the same lessons I learned before.