So, this is a young wine from the Northern region of Portugal. It is light in color and body and has a little bit of sparkle. On this seriously hot day it's very refreshing. It almost tastes as if you could serve this wine over ice (bypass the squeeze of lemon or lime though as it seems to bear this flavor already). For those of you who like the earthiness of a full bodied wine or the smooth, citrusy flavors of sauvignon you may not like this. Of course if you like champagne or have a wide appreciation for different flavors of wines than you just may. There is no real way to tell unless you try it and for 7.99 why not give it a sample.
This is the second time I bought this wine and today I went out of my way to do so.
It probably should be rated in a category of it's own, however I will stick to my standard rating system and give it the following:
5 for color, 3 for nose (because it really doesn't have much), 4 for taste and 5 for finish. With a total score of 17 this wine may be the only one I drink until the weather gets cooler. But then I wouldn't be blogging much, would I? I guess I'll just have to through a different bottle or two in the mix.
Until next bottle, cheers.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
2008 White Haven Sauvignon Blanc
Another wine from Marlborough County and another "recommended wine" (and more costly from what I am told.) I do not know why my husband insists on going beyond the 9.99 point when I have repeatedly told him that it is never necessary.
It is very hot today and the weekend is supposed to reach the 100's. I am not looking forward to it. I miss spring.
Well, back to this bottle of wine. I think the color looks to be a little dark. Oh wait, maybe I should turn on the light. OK, a bit lighter now. The aroma is of dark berries and peach with a hint of lemon. It has a strong smell to it but not unpleasant at all. The taste is quite unusual. I'm not sure what it is I taste. Definitely citrus and um...what is that other taste...cherries, I think. It's strong. ("Like things that make you go hmmmm") The finish is pretty crisp and tangy. This might be one that I will have to come back to. So far, I can't decide if I like it or love it. Give me some time to get a few under my belt. I will post the results in the next blog so tune in.
Until next bottle, cheers.
It is very hot today and the weekend is supposed to reach the 100's. I am not looking forward to it. I miss spring.
Well, back to this bottle of wine. I think the color looks to be a little dark. Oh wait, maybe I should turn on the light. OK, a bit lighter now. The aroma is of dark berries and peach with a hint of lemon. It has a strong smell to it but not unpleasant at all. The taste is quite unusual. I'm not sure what it is I taste. Definitely citrus and um...what is that other taste...cherries, I think. It's strong. ("Like things that make you go hmmmm") The finish is pretty crisp and tangy. This might be one that I will have to come back to. So far, I can't decide if I like it or love it. Give me some time to get a few under my belt. I will post the results in the next blog so tune in.
Until next bottle, cheers.
Friday, July 16, 2010
2009 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc
Friday evening and just sitting down at the "Fabulous Red Ball Bar" (our garage bar) for my first sip of wine. The garage door is up and a nice warm breeze is blowing in, thunder is off in the distance and the air is still fresh with the smell of rain. Thank goodness the rain has brought relief from the heat.
Hubby bought this wine specifically so I could blog about it so I am. It was also recommended by a family member.
I taste oranges and tropical fruit. It's crisp, citrusy and light. It has a nice clean nose with a zesty finish.
It definitely isn't a heavy wine but it is citrusy. For those of you that don't like that taste you might find it too tangy. I, however, like it and will rate this wine pretty high.
I give it a 5 for color, a nose of 4, 4 for taste and 3 for finish. Total score = 16. For $9.99 though I'm sure you can find a comparable wine to this $16.00 dollar bottle.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Hubby bought this wine specifically so I could blog about it so I am. It was also recommended by a family member.
I taste oranges and tropical fruit. It's crisp, citrusy and light. It has a nice clean nose with a zesty finish.
It definitely isn't a heavy wine but it is citrusy. For those of you that don't like that taste you might find it too tangy. I, however, like it and will rate this wine pretty high.
I give it a 5 for color, a nose of 4, 4 for taste and 3 for finish. Total score = 16. For $9.99 though I'm sure you can find a comparable wine to this $16.00 dollar bottle.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
2008 Kim Crawford Chardonnay, unoaked
My husband brought me two bouquets of colored roses and a bottle of Kim Crawford’s un-oaked Chardonnay this afternoon. I think he likes me.
I have been wondering what Kim Crawford tasted like so I was anxious to try it.
The color was a little dark, like some other chardonnay’s I’ve had in the past. As you know, I am always leery of wines that are darker. Still, you never know until you try.
The aroma was kind of pungent. It smells sort of like butter and plums. An unusual smell but interesting. The taste was definitely butterscotch and had a hint citrus. The finish was a bit heavier than I like.
The wine is ok, maybe not the best, but not too bad. I like it because it’s different. I probably would not purchase it again but I might choose it from a wine list depending on what I was having for dinner. I think it would go well with seafood.
This wine cost twice as much as I usually spend and that goes to show that more expensive is not always better. Thanks for the thought, honey, but you can go back to the “cheap stuff”.
I give this wine a 3 for color, a 3 of nose, a 3 for taste and a 3 for finish. Total score = 12. Not a great score, but I’ll finish the bottle.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Grüner Veltliner - Wachau, Austria
Even better than finding a new wine that I like is finding a new grape variety that I have never heard of. It’s just so exciting!
In visiting downtown Wilmington over the weekend to spend Daddy’s Day with my father, the 3 of us (Mom, Dad and myself) stopped at a local upscale bar and asked what Sauvignon Blanc they had. The bartender informed us that they were out of Sauvignon Blanc but before we could run for the door he mentioned that we might enjoy the flavor of a similar tasting grape called Grüner Veltliner. Well, “bring it on”, we said!
I thought it was excellent and kept asking the good looking bar tender to repeat the pronunciation (as he could pronounce it with a German accent). I, of course, cannot so ordering it out may take some practice.
The wine we tasted was called Hopler (a 2008) and I couldn’t wait to get home and see if I could find it at my local wine store. I gave the napkin I had written it down on to my husband. (He loves to shop for new wines for me. Such a good man.) Alas, he could not find Hopler but he found 3 different bottles, each of a different vineyard, at Total Wine. The one I am tasting now is from Wachau County, hence the name. Wachau, as I’ve discovered, produces the more elegant examples of this variety.
This wine has a light pale coloring, a fresh fruity, pepper-spice aroma, a light grassy taste with hints of peach and orange and a smooth finish. This medium bodied wine is so good.
It scores a 5 for color, a 5 for nose, a 4 for taste and a 4 for finish. Total score, 18. You must try this wine or at least the Grüner Veltliner.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
2008 Cannery Row Cellars Chardonnay
What a weekend! It was 200 degrees here in the South. My parents came to visit to help finalize the deck plans. Like crazy fools we worked in the yard staking out the deck and spa, pruning trees, pulling up decking, installing a new back door and fixing the french doors. I actually worked with my Dad installing the door. I pulled out framing scraped, nailed and installed locks. I impressed myself.
Again, we never did make it on the boat.
We tried a few new wines over the weekend but I don't remember what they were.
Today I received a new shipment, which was a surprise from my husband. Usually the UPS guy delivers the wine right at 5 but today he was early so it had some time to chill before "Happy Hour". Strangely enough the package included Chardonnay (found out later it was part of the special deal). I will either like it or use it for cooking.
The wine is from Cannery Row Cellars in Morgan Hill California. I looked it up and Morgan Hills is East of Santa Cruz.
But, let's start the sampling. It has a pale color and a light fruity smell. I can smell the oak barrel and it reminds me of the many wine tours I have been on. I always loved that smell. But here comes the real test, the taste. Hmmm….a toasty oak flavor with a touch of vanilla and plum. Not too bad. Could I actually have found a Chardonnay that I like?
I have to give this wine a 4 for color, a nose of 5, a 3 for taste and a 3 for finish. All together, this wine rates a 15. Not bad for a chard. Try it.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Again, we never did make it on the boat.
We tried a few new wines over the weekend but I don't remember what they were.
Today I received a new shipment, which was a surprise from my husband. Usually the UPS guy delivers the wine right at 5 but today he was early so it had some time to chill before "Happy Hour". Strangely enough the package included Chardonnay (found out later it was part of the special deal). I will either like it or use it for cooking.
The wine is from Cannery Row Cellars in Morgan Hill California. I looked it up and Morgan Hills is East of Santa Cruz.
But, let's start the sampling. It has a pale color and a light fruity smell. I can smell the oak barrel and it reminds me of the many wine tours I have been on. I always loved that smell. But here comes the real test, the taste. Hmmm….a toasty oak flavor with a touch of vanilla and plum. Not too bad. Could I actually have found a Chardonnay that I like?
I have to give this wine a 4 for color, a nose of 5, a 3 for taste and a 3 for finish. All together, this wine rates a 15. Not bad for a chard. Try it.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
2008 White Truck Chardonnay
OK, so I was born and raised in Pennsylvania but now I live in the south and I am proud to own a white Ford Ranger pickup truck. Of course it seems silly to buy a wine because of the label but then again, you cannot discover what you do not experiment with.
This wine has a decent color. I have found that color doesn’t mean a lot unless it is very dark. The aroma is simple. It smells of an apple orchard. I can almost envision walking through the trees and picking a ripe mackintosh. The taste is fruity, obviously, of apple and tropical fruit with a hint of citrus.
This is a good wine. It is actually a California wine from Napa. Surprise! And this is no lie, it is vinted and bottled by "Red Truck".
I give this wine a 3 for color, a 4 for the nose, a 4 for taste and a 3 for finish. Total score is 14. Let’s remember, this is my taste. I would love to hear from my followers how they like this wine. Remember, it isn’t about price, or winning award, it is about what you like. That is what wine tasting is all about. What is your pleasure?
Until next bottle, cheers!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
2009 Matua Savignon Blanc - New Zealand
It’s Memorial weekend. I hope that everyone takes time to remember that beyond all the hot dogs and hamburgers there are families who have lost loved ones that have served our country and deserve some time of prayer. Thank you to the soldiers, to the women and men who served, who fought and died, in service to America.
As for my Memorial weekend I plan to do some work in the yard, around the house and spend a little time on the Lake. I also plan to sample some new wines. I am sampling the first one now as my husband finishes up the mulch in the front beds and will be joining me soon for Happy Hour.
This wine, of course, is a Savignon Blanc. It is a wine from Marlbouro County New Zealand.
Where is New Zealand? I'll have to look that up on the map. It sounds like a place I may like to visit someday. First stop would be the wineries.
This wine has a light color to it. I smell peach and maybe asparagus. The taste is a little bitter at first but quickly diminishes leaving a touch of peaches and cherries on the tongue. It has a very nice finish to it.
I give this wine a 5 for color, a 4 for nose, a 4 for taste and a 5 for finish. Total score:18! This, in my opinion, is a very good wine.
Until next bottle, cheers!
As for my Memorial weekend I plan to do some work in the yard, around the house and spend a little time on the Lake. I also plan to sample some new wines. I am sampling the first one now as my husband finishes up the mulch in the front beds and will be joining me soon for Happy Hour.
This wine, of course, is a Savignon Blanc. It is a wine from Marlbouro County New Zealand.
Where is New Zealand? I'll have to look that up on the map. It sounds like a place I may like to visit someday. First stop would be the wineries.
This wine has a light color to it. I smell peach and maybe asparagus. The taste is a little bitter at first but quickly diminishes leaving a touch of peaches and cherries on the tongue. It has a very nice finish to it.
I give this wine a 5 for color, a 4 for nose, a 4 for taste and a 5 for finish. Total score:18! This, in my opinion, is a very good wine.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
2008 VOGA Italia Pinot Grigio
It's Wednesday night and I am trying a Pinot, for a change. My husband bought this bottle of wine for the bottle actually. At first I thought it was a bottle of water. I even thought about taking into the office and sipping on it as it would appear as if it might be a bottle of water. But with my luck I would get found out.It had a slight earthy aroma yet a crisp taste of berries and maybe fig? The finish was very clean with just a hint of fruit.
Very nice wine. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised.
I'm giving this wine a 4 for color, a nose of 4, a 4 for taste, and a 5 for finish. Total score 17. Me likes it!
Until next bottle, cheers!
Friday, May 14, 2010
2008 Le Bonheur Savignon Blanc
Happy Friday!
Maybe this blog should be about Savignon Blanc since it seems I mostly stick to this variety. Of course, I guess that would be ok since there are so many to choose from. However, I will try to add more variety to my collection.
I am drinking a bottle of Le Bonheur, opened and the 131 Main Restaraunt and, for once, not finished there. They have taken this off of the wine menu and now have a entirely new menu that I really don't like. But my favorite bartender hooks me up anyway.
With traces of tropical fruit, fig leaf and asparagus this is a nice delicate wine. It is unwooded with a very smooth finish. I am not sure how much you might pay for this. It is 24 dollars a bottle at the restaraunt so maybe it's 12 dollars in stores? I do not know. But, even at 24 dollars a bottle it would be worth it to me.
color 5, nose 5, taste 5, finish 4 (it's hard to give a perfect score. I doubt I will ever do it.) Total score 19!!! This one will be hard to beat.
This wine is so good that it is almost tragic.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Maybe this blog should be about Savignon Blanc since it seems I mostly stick to this variety. Of course, I guess that would be ok since there are so many to choose from. However, I will try to add more variety to my collection.
I am drinking a bottle of Le Bonheur, opened and the 131 Main Restaraunt and, for once, not finished there. They have taken this off of the wine menu and now have a entirely new menu that I really don't like. But my favorite bartender hooks me up anyway.
With traces of tropical fruit, fig leaf and asparagus this is a nice delicate wine. It is unwooded with a very smooth finish. I am not sure how much you might pay for this. It is 24 dollars a bottle at the restaraunt so maybe it's 12 dollars in stores? I do not know. But, even at 24 dollars a bottle it would be worth it to me.
color 5, nose 5, taste 5, finish 4 (it's hard to give a perfect score. I doubt I will ever do it.) Total score 19!!! This one will be hard to beat.
This wine is so good that it is almost tragic.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
2008 Kenwood Savignon Blanc
I worked all day today and it's Saturday. I do have the luxury of working from home but still, I worked 44 minutes past wine time!
I am now sitting at the island in the kitchen, a nice breeze coming through our new french doors, and listening to the ice cream truck repeat the songs of "London Bridge", and "Deck the Halls" (yes, it is far from Christmas time...don't ask me why it's playing that one). Of course, it is kind of cool that we still have an ice cream truck that comes through our neighborhood. Trying to catch him, however, is a different story all together.
But back to the wine and the reason we're here.
I am enjoying my first glass of Sauvignon Blanc. It was many years ago when I visited Kenwood vineyards in Sonoma Valley but I remember it fondly. Of course there aren't many vineyards I didn't like on that first trip.
This wine has a good color and a lightly "peared" aroma. I taste fresh berries with a slight tang. It is somewhere between a light and medium bodied wine. It has a refreshing, smooth taste with a good finish. It does not dwell on my taste buds for long which I really like. In fact, I must give this wine a definite ...mmmm....good!
A 3 for color, 4 for nose, 4 for taste, and 5 for finish. That makes this wine, with a whopping "16", a new favorite of mine. This wine cost me $9.99 at Harris Teeter. I would definitely recommend!
Until next bottle, cheers!
I am now sitting at the island in the kitchen, a nice breeze coming through our new french doors, and listening to the ice cream truck repeat the songs of "London Bridge", and "Deck the Halls" (yes, it is far from Christmas time...don't ask me why it's playing that one). Of course, it is kind of cool that we still have an ice cream truck that comes through our neighborhood. Trying to catch him, however, is a different story all together.
But back to the wine and the reason we're here.
I am enjoying my first glass of Sauvignon Blanc. It was many years ago when I visited Kenwood vineyards in Sonoma Valley but I remember it fondly. Of course there aren't many vineyards I didn't like on that first trip.
This wine has a good color and a lightly "peared" aroma. I taste fresh berries with a slight tang. It is somewhere between a light and medium bodied wine. It has a refreshing, smooth taste with a good finish. It does not dwell on my taste buds for long which I really like. In fact, I must give this wine a definite ...mmmm....good!
A 3 for color, 4 for nose, 4 for taste, and 5 for finish. That makes this wine, with a whopping "16", a new favorite of mine. This wine cost me $9.99 at Harris Teeter. I would definitely recommend!
Until next bottle, cheers!
Monday, April 12, 2010
2008 Martin Ray Chardonnay - Unoaked
Ah, Monday. I worked from home today and we had a few contractors come out to discuss landscape ideas and putting in a new in ground pool. As my husband says, we haven't won the lottery ...we just act like we have. My backyard will look so beautiful whether in my dreams or in my new debt.
Anyway, with work and everything else, happy hour comes at 4:00 today.
Tonight it is "2008 Martin Ray Unoaked Chardonnay" A medium yellow color, a very nice fruity, earthy aroma with a taste of figs. A good finish with little aftertaste. Not a bad wine at all. I give it a 3 for color, a 4 for aroma, a 4 for taste and a 4 for finish. Total score 15.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Anyway, with work and everything else, happy hour comes at 4:00 today.
Tonight it is "2008 Martin Ray Unoaked Chardonnay" A medium yellow color, a very nice fruity, earthy aroma with a taste of figs. A good finish with little aftertaste. Not a bad wine at all. I give it a 3 for color, a 4 for aroma, a 4 for taste and a 4 for finish. Total score 15.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Friday, April 9, 2010
2007 Fog Alley Unoaked Chardonnay
I ordered this one from Wine Insiders (a place my Mom and Dad recommended to us), actually my husband picked it out. He ordered six bottles so I sure was hoping it is was good. I figured I could always save it for drinking after I've had enough that it just didn't matter any more. And you always need some wine around for cooking since everything tastes better cooked in wine.
This wine is from California's Central Coast. It has a good color. A bit on the lighter yellow side (as I like), a very bold earthy aroma and a crisp 'fruity-but -not-too-fruity' flavor. It has a very refreshing and smooth finish. The finish is something that I find to be really important. I don't like something that lingers too long on my taste buds.
This is a wine that could be a definite favorite for me. I give it a 4 in color , a nose of 4, a 4 in taste and a whopping 5 for the finish. Total score - 17. I would recommend this wine to anyone who doesn't like the oakiness in Chardonnay.
Until next bottle, cheers!
This wine is from California's Central Coast. It has a good color. A bit on the lighter yellow side (as I like), a very bold earthy aroma and a crisp 'fruity-but -not-too-fruity' flavor. It has a very refreshing and smooth finish. The finish is something that I find to be really important. I don't like something that lingers too long on my taste buds.
This is a wine that could be a definite favorite for me. I give it a 4 in color , a nose of 4, a 4 in taste and a whopping 5 for the finish. Total score - 17. I would recommend this wine to anyone who doesn't like the oakiness in Chardonnay.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Nobila 2008 Pinot Grigio New Zealand
Happy Friday! It's wine time!
This Pinot Grigio is from New Zealand's 'Regional Collection'. It's a representative of the unique and diverse qualities of several vineyards throughout New Zealand. The label notes in particular, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough. Marlborough is a name I recognize from my recent trip to Disney World. It seems that whenever I really liked a wine there it was from Marlborough.
I have just poured the wine and the first thing I notice is that the color is a little on the darker yellow side. I wrinkle my nose a bit because that's usually a sign that I don't like. Let's taste and find out...
A few sips later...
I can definitely taste oranges in this wine but I wouldn't really call it citrusy like the grapefruit flavor of most Savignon Blancs. It has a crisp light finish with a smooth and slightly buttery taste. Normally the buttery taste is OK for one glass but after the second I find it to be overbearing. I'll need more than one glass to rate this wine. I'll return mid-bottle after I have conducted further analysis. Mid- bottle for me is about 2 glasses, by the way. My husband and I watched an episode of Cougar Town with Courtney Cox the other night (not a show we usually watch). Courtney's character was trying to stop drinking wine for a month (which she didn't accomplish, by the way). Her pours were in large glasses and filled to the very top. So full, in fact, she had to bend to take a sip before lifting the glass. So, in our house an "over-pour" is now the "Courtney pour".
After a glass and a half...
I give this wine a 3 in color, a nose of 4, a 3 in taste, and a 4 in finish. Total score = 14. It's not a bad wine. I may not purchase it over some of my favorites on the market but it's a nice change. Maybe I need to sample more Pinot Grigios in order to do a better comparison. For those who don't like the grapefruit flavors I think you might like it.
Until next bottle, cheers!
This Pinot Grigio is from New Zealand's 'Regional Collection'. It's a representative of the unique and diverse qualities of several vineyards throughout New Zealand. The label notes in particular, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough. Marlborough is a name I recognize from my recent trip to Disney World. It seems that whenever I really liked a wine there it was from Marlborough.
I have just poured the wine and the first thing I notice is that the color is a little on the darker yellow side. I wrinkle my nose a bit because that's usually a sign that I don't like. Let's taste and find out...
A few sips later...
I can definitely taste oranges in this wine but I wouldn't really call it citrusy like the grapefruit flavor of most Savignon Blancs. It has a crisp light finish with a smooth and slightly buttery taste. Normally the buttery taste is OK for one glass but after the second I find it to be overbearing. I'll need more than one glass to rate this wine. I'll return mid-bottle after I have conducted further analysis. Mid- bottle for me is about 2 glasses, by the way. My husband and I watched an episode of Cougar Town with Courtney Cox the other night (not a show we usually watch). Courtney's character was trying to stop drinking wine for a month (which she didn't accomplish, by the way). Her pours were in large glasses and filled to the very top. So full, in fact, she had to bend to take a sip before lifting the glass. So, in our house an "over-pour" is now the "Courtney pour".
After a glass and a half...
I give this wine a 3 in color, a nose of 4, a 3 in taste, and a 4 in finish. Total score = 14. It's not a bad wine. I may not purchase it over some of my favorites on the market but it's a nice change. Maybe I need to sample more Pinot Grigios in order to do a better comparison. For those who don't like the grapefruit flavors I think you might like it.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
2009 Bliss Savignon Blanc - California
Does one have to be in a calm or good mood before critiquing wine or is it OK to do so after a long, painful, glad I don't own a weapon drive on the interstate? I hope the latter is true because I am now relaxing with a glass of "Bliss" as the day is behind me and I can feel my heart rate returning to normal. This California wine seems to be just what my nerves needed. It is a blend of citrus and melon with a hint of the outdoors. Not so much of a woodsy flavor but more of a grassy, flowery taste. I like it. I think I will give this wine a rating of 16, losing a point for the very slight bitter after taste.
Until next bottle, cheers!
Until next bottle, cheers!
Monday, March 29, 2010
2007 Estancia Savignon Blanc
So, my hyacinths are really starting to bloom. I cut several on Sunday and stuck them in small vases around the house. WOW! They really have an aroma! My house is full of the wonderful smell of lavender with a hint of something else. Hmmm...what is that?
I had to hide in the closet in order to conduct my tasting tonight. Remember that you need to be aware of the scents around you before smell and taste can truly be detected.
I am sampling a 2007 Estancia Savignon Blanc from Monterey County. This wine has a very light color. I can definitely smell pear. The taste was a bit surprising. I tasted fruit (apples and pears?) but there was a strong taste of earthiness, maybe hickory? Not unpleasant like I find the oak in Chardonnay. It has a pretty smooth finish. I give this wine a 14. It's not a wine I would choose to buy again but it is a wine I consider different and pleasing for a Monday night of TV reruns.
Until next bottle, cheers.
I had to hide in the closet in order to conduct my tasting tonight. Remember that you need to be aware of the scents around you before smell and taste can truly be detected.
I am sampling a 2007 Estancia Savignon Blanc from Monterey County. This wine has a very light color. I can definitely smell pear. The taste was a bit surprising. I tasted fruit (apples and pears?) but there was a strong taste of earthiness, maybe hickory? Not unpleasant like I find the oak in Chardonnay. It has a pretty smooth finish. I give this wine a 14. It's not a wine I would choose to buy again but it is a wine I consider different and pleasing for a Monday night of TV reruns.
Until next bottle, cheers.
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Journey to Switch to White
I have always been a red wine drinker, that is when I would drink wine. For most of my drinking life so far I have been a beer drinker (light beer mainly). Every now and then, however, I would enjoy a nice Cabernet while sitting in front of a fire in my fuzzy socks. In that situation a beer just won't do. Also, fancy dinners and special occasions would usually call for the vino as well.
My first real wine experience probably came to fruition after visiting Napa Valley. I came home quite the connoisseur knowing all there was to know about real wine. And of course real wine could only come from California. Although the years have taught me otherwise I must say the one thing I learned on that trip still holds true for even a novice like myself and that is White Zinfandel is a "wine on training wheels!"
Somewhere in the last year I decided I would learn to like white wine. I can't really remember why (my memory is fuzzier these days). Maybe it was because my family drank more white wine than red, maybe because beer was too filling. The point is, I can now call myself a full fledged white wine drinker.
I started with a wine journal recording the wine variety, the vintage, the vineyard, the region and notes on what I thought of the wine. I started out with comments like "I loved this wine. It was easy to drink the entire bottle" or "I didn't like this wine very much. It took me more than two days to go through the bottle". Now I write things like "With an aroma of citrus and berries this wine has a light, crisp taste of grapefruit and strawberries with a hint of oak and a smooth finish". Of course, when I look back over my journal (and there are many entries) they all seem to sound similar.
What I have discovered, so far, is that I am not fond of Chardonnay. I used to think it was because it was too dry until someone mentioned that it might just be that I didn't like the oak flavor that most Chard's have. When I buy Chardonnay now I look for the "un-oaked" varieties and I do like them much better. These varieties are hard to come by, at least in my experience. These are typically your French wines but you can find others if you look. A couple you might try are 'La Vuelta' from Argentina and 'Elderton' from Australia. These rated a '13' out of '20' in my rating system and although this may sound low it is an average wine in my book.
I score wine base on color, nose, taste and finish with the highest number in each category being a '5'. I have yet to give any wine, with the exception of Barton and Guestier's 2005 Bordeux, a '5' rating in any category. I gave B&G the highest rating in both nose and finish with a total score of '18'. I would say in general though, I think anything from '14' to '16' is a pretty decent bottle of wine.
I admittedly am nowhere near a wine expert and really, who is? I think when it comes to wine it is all a matter of personal taste. I do swirl, I do sniff and I do savor the wine in my mouth before swallowing. I do not make a production out of it, however. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It just doesn't do anything for me. I can just as easily swirl the wine right out of the glass, onto the floor and still find the taste to be the same. Of course I probably wouldn't do that because I like my glasses oversized and my pours to be 1/4 of the way full. It's an aesthetics thing really. It has nothing to do with not finishing the bottle in one sitting. In fact, I find that not finishing an open bottle is a hard thing to do.
Well, that is enough about me and my wine adventures for now. I have never had a blog. I don't even know why I started writing this. Maybe I was bored, maybe the 2008 Blackstone Sauvingnon Blanc made me do it or maybe I just ran out of pages in my wine journal. Whatever the case is, I am glad I am here and I look forward to recording my journey into the wonderful and exciting world of white wines.
Until next bottle, cheers!
My first real wine experience probably came to fruition after visiting Napa Valley. I came home quite the connoisseur knowing all there was to know about real wine. And of course real wine could only come from California. Although the years have taught me otherwise I must say the one thing I learned on that trip still holds true for even a novice like myself and that is White Zinfandel is a "wine on training wheels!"
Somewhere in the last year I decided I would learn to like white wine. I can't really remember why (my memory is fuzzier these days). Maybe it was because my family drank more white wine than red, maybe because beer was too filling. The point is, I can now call myself a full fledged white wine drinker.
I started with a wine journal recording the wine variety, the vintage, the vineyard, the region and notes on what I thought of the wine. I started out with comments like "I loved this wine. It was easy to drink the entire bottle" or "I didn't like this wine very much. It took me more than two days to go through the bottle". Now I write things like "With an aroma of citrus and berries this wine has a light, crisp taste of grapefruit and strawberries with a hint of oak and a smooth finish". Of course, when I look back over my journal (and there are many entries) they all seem to sound similar.
What I have discovered, so far, is that I am not fond of Chardonnay. I used to think it was because it was too dry until someone mentioned that it might just be that I didn't like the oak flavor that most Chard's have. When I buy Chardonnay now I look for the "un-oaked" varieties and I do like them much better. These varieties are hard to come by, at least in my experience. These are typically your French wines but you can find others if you look. A couple you might try are 'La Vuelta' from Argentina and 'Elderton' from Australia. These rated a '13' out of '20' in my rating system and although this may sound low it is an average wine in my book.
I score wine base on color, nose, taste and finish with the highest number in each category being a '5'. I have yet to give any wine, with the exception of Barton and Guestier's 2005 Bordeux, a '5' rating in any category. I gave B&G the highest rating in both nose and finish with a total score of '18'. I would say in general though, I think anything from '14' to '16' is a pretty decent bottle of wine.
I admittedly am nowhere near a wine expert and really, who is? I think when it comes to wine it is all a matter of personal taste. I do swirl, I do sniff and I do savor the wine in my mouth before swallowing. I do not make a production out of it, however. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It just doesn't do anything for me. I can just as easily swirl the wine right out of the glass, onto the floor and still find the taste to be the same. Of course I probably wouldn't do that because I like my glasses oversized and my pours to be 1/4 of the way full. It's an aesthetics thing really. It has nothing to do with not finishing the bottle in one sitting. In fact, I find that not finishing an open bottle is a hard thing to do.
Well, that is enough about me and my wine adventures for now. I have never had a blog. I don't even know why I started writing this. Maybe I was bored, maybe the 2008 Blackstone Sauvingnon Blanc made me do it or maybe I just ran out of pages in my wine journal. Whatever the case is, I am glad I am here and I look forward to recording my journey into the wonderful and exciting world of white wines.
Until next bottle, cheers!
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