Sonnenband

Name: Sonnenband 

Variety: Moscato Magnum

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: N/A

Price: $18

Professional Review: This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, an energized by citrus nectars.

My Review: This was a weird Moscato for me. The first thing that hit me from the smell were Italian herbs. It seemed salty and made me think of a the smell of a fisheman's port. I would have to disagree with the vintage cellar's review because I only got the slightest hint of honey/nectar/syrup in the smell. I didn't get any flowers, fruits or citrus. The sweetness of this wine was only present in the front palate for me. All I tasted were Italian herbs and a small, small hint of honey. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Neu Direction

Name: Neu Direction

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $15

Professional Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful wine making. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure.

My Review: This is a great Cabernet Sauvignon. It smelled like chard wood, smoke and tobacco. It was big in the mouth, a lot of body and very chewy with a lot of tannins and a great big finish. The taste was very earthy but I still got little hints of fruit, but the earthy flavor was the definite dominant component. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Champteloup Pinot Noir

Name: Champteloup Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Loire Valley

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $15

Professional Review: In the heart of France's Loire River Valley lies the Touraine wine region. Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine's appeal. This wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we're offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his wine making, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate.

My Review: Smelling this wine was like as if you were at a BBQ. It was very smokey with hints of spices and chard wood oak. I also got hints of flowers. Once again, there wasn't a lot that I tasted on this wine. It had a great balance between the acids and the tannins. The tannins were less than the acid, which is something I like. It didn't have a very long finish but I know this wine would go great with a heavy meal. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Baumann Gentill Classiq

Name: Baumann Gentill Classiq

Variety: 40% Reisling, 20% Pinot Blanc, 20% Muscat, 10% Pinot Gris, 10% Gewurztraminer

Region: Alsace

Country: France

Year: 2012

Price: $17

Professional Review: A delicious and fresh blend of Reisling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully.

My Review: I unfortunately did not get a lot of smells out of this wine. I got very small amounts of rose, specifically yellow rose. In terms of taste, it didn't provide me with much either. I was surprised to find it was dryer and had more tannins than most of the other whites I've tried. This was dry to the bone and an much tannins as I would expect from a red. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Fattori Runcaris Soave

Name: Fattori Runcaris Soave

Variety: 100% Garganega

Region: Soave

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $15

Professional Review: 86 points - Wine Enthusiast; From the local Italian word for "to work the soil," Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow roses, honey, jasmine and dried herbs.

My Review: Interestingly enough, all I could smell out of this wine was acid, which I must wasn't very appealing. I am big on aroma and need my [modern] white wine to smell like fruits or flowers. The taste was cool, crisp and acidic. It didn't have a lot of other flavors. I didn't get anything on the front palate. Everything I experienced was in the mid and also had a great finish. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Odoardi Savuto

Name: Odoardi Savuto

Variety: Savuto

Region: Calabria

Country: Italy

Year: 2006

Price: $18

Professional Review: A beefy, herb-tinged red, sporting dense layers of plum sauce, grilled fig and currant paste, stacked with notes of roasted game, rosemary and hummus. The finish lingers, despite noticeable tannins. Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Magliocco Canino and Sangiovese. 

My Review: Out of this bunch, I would have to say this wine was my least favorite. I had a very woody smell. It reminded me of the ground of a wooded area during the fall or winter. I tasted a lot of tobacco, smoke and cigar. It didn't have a lot of texture and almost no finish. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kirchberg de Barr

Name: Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kirchberg de Barr

Variety: Riesling

Region: Alsace Grand Cru

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $20.95

Professional Review: With great intensity and structure, this is a wine that's all about texture and potential. It's expressive with white fruits and perfume, but there's a richness that's still to come. Drink from 2016 and see how the minerality and acidity will come into balance.

My Review: This wine had one of the most unique smells I've experienced of any wine so far. It smelled like playdough and legos with a hint of grass. However for all the unique smell, I was disappointed when I realized it had no body, taste/flavor. It was also very dry. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

Name: Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

Variety: Malvar

Region: Madrid

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Price: $15

Professional Review: Vinos de Madrid is a region of Spain not often encountered in the US, while Malvar is considered a regional specialty but remains unknown outside of central Spain. Zesty acidity and tropical fruit make this obscure buy a great food wine. 

My Review: The smell of this was cool, crisp, flowers. I also tasted a bit of apricot in there as well. There was nothing much to say in terms of taste because no flavor stuck out to me. It didn't have a lot of body but had a great finish. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Domaine Descroix Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Domaine Descroix Beaujolais Nouveau

Variety: Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: $15

Professional Review: Gamay is a dark-skinned grape variety famous for producing the light-style red wines of Beaujolais. While the variety offers fresh red fruit and candied aromas, it typically delivers little in the way of flavor concentration and body weight.

My Review: This was one of the most unique smelling red wines I've had so far. It smelled like yogurt, specifically strawberry yogurt with fruit at the bottom. It also had a very unique color. It was bright violet, not the usual black or dark red. I liked the taste of it. It didn't have a lot of tannins but had a great finish. I like this red wine. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Variety: Cava

Region: Penedes

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Professional Review: Light apple aromas are elegant and not over the top, while the tangerine and orange flavors are lean and focused. This is a light-framed Cava with a clean, fast, tasty profile and finish. Not yeasty or heavy at all. 

My Review: I definitely have to agree with the vintage cellar's review. All I noticed was a light apple, fruity aroma. I could also identify the higher level of acidity in the wine from the smell and taste. This wine was dry to the taste and was hoping for a little more sugar content. Didn't get much of a finish, it was short and bittersweet. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Mascato

Name: Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Mascato

Variety: Moscato

Region: South Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Price: $15

Professional Review: Zibibbo is one of the traditional "Mascato" varieties and produces fresh lively wines with lifted floral and spice aromas. The effervescence in the wine provides a sparkle for the mouth and fills it with mouth watering tropical fruit flavors with a sweet, luscious finish. This is a tasty and generous Mascato that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There's a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling desert wine. 

My Review: So, I like Mascato... This is a great Mascato. I've never tired a sparkling Mascato till this one. Like all Mascatos, this one was very fruity and flowery. The taste was like juice with no burn of alcohol because it at a the very light 8% alcohol. It was smooth at the front of the tongue, full fruit on the mid palate and bubbly in the back. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Fetzer Malbec

Name: Fetzer Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $15

Professional Review: Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it's juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.

My Review: This wine felt like a softer version of the Tres Ojos Garnacha I tried right before this one. I could smell a lot of the cherries , violets and berries. It was fruity, but there was almost no real taste for me. It reminded me of a Chardonnay. No real flavor to the taste. This specific bottle had very light tannins even though the tasting sheet said it would have intense wood-like tannins. I do agree with the sheet about the long finish though. I could feel the light cool burn for a solid min after my sip. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha

Variety: Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Professional Review: This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvee of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich notes. Made from organically grown grape. Incredible value!

My Review: This was good for a red wine - I have yet to find a red wine that I really like - so this is a great compliment for a red wine. It had a very oaky, fruity, berry smell. The taste was very oaky and earthy with very high tannins. The texture was kind of crisp which surprised me because I was expecting something more thick and viscous. If this wine was decantered over night, I would have a better opinion on the wine. It received 90 pts by I-WineReview (Dec. 2013). I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

The Royal Old Wines Chenin Blanc

Name: The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Variety: Chenin Blanc

Region: South Africa

Country: South Africa

Year: 2012

Price: $12

Professional Review: One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months.

My Review: This Chenin Blanc was similar in smell to the Sauvignon Blanc I tasted right before this one. It had a very fruity, apple smell to it. The texture was thin and didn't have a finish which I was a little disappointed with even though it had 13% alcohol like the Norton Sauvignon Blanc. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Norton Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $5.95

Professional Review: Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio.

My Review: I really like Sauvignon Blancs. It smelled very tropical, flowery, cool and crisp. It had a very fruity taste. I could definitely identify the pineapple. It was viscous, had a great texture and had a great finish. I could feel the burn from the alcohol for a while after the sip. It was great. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Zaca Mesa Mesa Reserve Syrah

Name: Zaca Mesa Mesa Reserve Syrah

Variety: Reserve Syrah

Region: Santa Barbara County

Country: U.S.

Year: 2009

Price: $44.95

Professional Review: This wine displays rustic blackberry, cassis, mocha, cedar and our signature sage spice aromas and flavors. The finish lingers from the ripe tannins and smoky oak. This full-bodied wine should be enjoyed over the next ten years.

My Review: This Reserve Syrah reminded me a lot of the smells from the Viognier but the tastes from the Z Cuvee. It had a very fruity, flowery smell, specifically blackberries and violets. It had a lot of acidity and nice tannins which I felt was a very good mix. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Zaca Mesa Syrah

Name: Zaca Mesa Syrah

Variety: Syrah

Region: Santa Barbara County

Country: U.S.

Year: 2009

Price: $22.95

Professional Review: Our Syrah was hand harvested, gently sorted and de-stemmed, patiently fermented, and then aged for 16 months in French oak barrels. This full-bodied wine has dense blackberry, white pepper, cassis, mocha, our signature dried sage aromas and flavors with ripe tannins for a long lingering finish. Savor it over the next ten years with grilled and roasted meats or bold cheeses.

My Review: Now, generally, I haven't been a real fan of Syrahs. This one gave me almost no aromas or smells right of the bat. It had a very oaky, woody taste with quiet a bit of tannins. I also tasted various spices.  I really don't have much to say about this Syrah. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Zaca Mesa Z Cuvee

Name: Zaca Mesa Z Cuvee

Variety: Z Cuvee

Region: Santa Barbara County

Country: U.S.

Year: 2009

Price: $18.95

Professional Review: Our Z Cuvee is 53% Grenache, 39% Mourvedre, and 8% Syrah. Each grape adds its own character. Grenache's racy raspberry, Mourvedre's rustic blueberry, and Syrah's dense blackberry and smooth tannins. This versatile wine pairs with a wide variety of foods, from mushroom pizza to rosemary crusted rack of lamb. Enjoy it now or cellar for up to seven years.

My Review: This was the first Z Cuvee I've ever tried. It had a real earthy smell and taste. Very oaky and woody with a good blend of tannins. I could smell black cherries and black berries, with a few violets as well. It was dry and could use a few hours of decanting to have it flow a little easier but the tannins weren't really that bad. It was just right. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Zaca Mesa Viognier

Name: Zaca Mesa Viognier

Variety: Viognier

Region: Santa Barbara County

Country: U.S.

Year: 2011

Price: $16.95

Professional Review: Our Viognier started fermentation in a stainless steel tank then moved to 10+year old French oak barrels for 3 months to develop a rich mouth feel. This wine has bright citrus blossom and honeysuckle aromas followed by lush white peach, lychee flavors and a long, crisp finish with a hint of minerality. Enjoy this wine over the next 2 years with grilled trout and Asian or spicy cuisine.

My Review: This was the first Viognier I've tried. It had lots of fresh fruit and honey smells, but there was definitely a kick to the taste. It was very sharp. It didn't taste like what it would have from the smell. Now even though this has the same alcohol content as the Zaca Mesa Chardonnay at 13% by vol., there was absolutely no burn at the finish. I am a fan of the crisp, light, cool burn of the alcohol. I was disappointed I couldn't feel it in this one. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Zaca Mesa Chardonnay

Name: Zaca Mesa Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Santa Barbara Country

Country: U.S.

Year: 2011

Price: $16.95

Professional Review: Our Chardonnay was hand harvested, whole-cluster pressed and fermented then 53% was aged in stainless steel tanks and the remaining 47% was aged in French oak barrels for 10 months. This wine has racy tropical and tangerine flavors with subtle hints of yeast, minerality and toasty oak on the finish. Enjoy it over the next several years with shellfish or light pasta.

My Review: The smell was tropical and citrusy. There wasn't a lot of flavor to it like other Chardonnay's I've tried. It a nice finish, a good alcoholic burn at 13% alcohol. The texture was light, cool and crisp. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

GR-174 Casa Gran del Siurana Priorat

Name: GR-174 Casa Gran del Siurana Priorat

Variety: Priorat

Region: Priorat

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $17.95

Professional Review: The 2011 GR-174 was tasted from barrel and was due for bottling the following week. It has a more extravagant bouquet than the 2010 with kirsch, blood orange and blueberry. The pallet if full-bodied with a sweet entry. It is very extravagant with precocious red fruits and a smudge of alcohol towards the finish. It is a bit of a hedonist, but one that comes at a decent price.

My Review: This wine once again had a very fruity smell to it but couldn't taste much on the pallet. I could taste dark berries but nothing out of the ordinary. It was a little sharper than I had expected and felt very lite in texture. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

La Posta Cocina Malbec Mendoza

Name: La Posta Cocina Malbec Mendoza

Variety: Southern Rhone Blend Red

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $14.95

Professional Review: The 2011 Cocina Malbec is from La Consulta, Altamira and Vista Flores in the Uco Valley and sees some French and American oak (20% new). It has a tight nose of black cherry and boysenberry fruit with hints of violet. The palate is medium-bodied with full tannins. The finish is smooth and there are some pleasant mulberry and dark plum notes on the aftertaste. This constitutes easy-drinking Malbec.

My Review: I unfortunately didn't have much to say about this one. The smell really hit it off right. It smelled like flowers but it tasted bland compared to the way you'd expect it to taste. It was slightly dry. Tannins were rather high but was lite in texture. I was expecting it to be much heavier. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Domaine de la Guicharde Cotes du Rhone

Name: Domaine de la Guicharde Cotes du Rhone

Variety: Southern Rhone Blend Red

Region: Southern Rhone

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $12.95

Professional Review: Very bright and exuberant, offering lots of violet, anise and blackberry aromas and flavors, with a good lacing of firm cherry pit keeping this honest through the finish.

My Review: This was one of the first blends I've tasted. It consisted of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre in different proportions with Grenache and Syrah being the dominant components. Since my nose is more attuned to fruits, all I could smell was black cherry and berry flavors. It tasted slightly acidic and not very viscous. I felt it was a bit sharper than necessary. I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Foris Rouge Valley Oregon Gewurztraminer

Name: Foris Rouge Valley Oregon Gewurztraminer

Variety: Gewurztraminer

Region: Rogue Valley, Oregon

Country: U.S

Year: 2012

Price: $14.95

Professional Review: Labeled dry and tasting very much so, this clean, floral-scented Gewurztraminer. has a pleasingly dusty aspect; rose petals with a thin veneer of incense. Long and complex. 

My review: The smell was incredibly fruity and sweet. It was like I was smelling a fresh bed of wild flowers and fruits. Although, when tasting, I was surprised at the lack of flavor. It didn't taste like anything in particular, although that could be because I haven't developed my pallet for wine yet. It was rather dry and crisp. In a nutshell, great smelling wine, not too much in the taste.  I had this wine at a tasting without a meal.

Vaishnav's Wine Blog - Introduction

Hi,

My name is Vaishnav Krishnan and this is the introduction to a series of blogs I'll be writing about wine. I am taking Boyer's Geography of Wine class here at Virginia Tech, where we learn about wine. We'll be tasting 65-75 different wines this semester because drinking wine and exposing ourselves to as many wines as possible is the best way to understand, and learn what we like and dislike. I have more experience consuming liquor than wine but I hope to change that in the near future. I hope to become more educated in wine through the accomplishments of certain, specific goals.

I consider myself a liquor guy. I dislike beer (!). I enjoy rum and bourbon. My go to/favorite has to be Captain Morgan Original Spiced or 100 proof and The Kraken. I recently, (within the past 8-10 months) started enjoying more wine. I've been always told wine is an acquired taste. I tried wine for the first time about two years ago and disliked it very much. I went through a lot of different types of wine until realized I have a very feminine palet. I enjoy more fruity, lighter, crisper, sweet wines. I have yet to find a red wine that I actually enjoy. I hope to switch my liquor and wine preference and make wine my go to choice in the future. Beer, I'm sorry, you'll always be in 3rd place for me.

I have a few goals I want accomplish by the end of this course. I hope to be able to look at wine labels and know the type of ingredients and processes used to make that specific wine, in order to predict whether I'd enjoy that wine or not. I would like to be able to recommend specific wines to people when they describe what flavors or aromas they enjoy. I want be able to improve the distinct flavors and aromas my palet can differentiate and identify. Lastly, I want to find a red wine that I like.

Yours truly,

Vaishnav Krishnan