Tasting- Slow Press Sauvignon Blanc

 

Name: Slow Pess Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Monterey, CA

Year: 2016

Price: $6.95

Shop Review: This Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc in bursting with crisp, refreshing notes of citrus and passion fruit. It is sur lie aged to bring out the fullest flavors and a richer mouthfeel, and reveals a tropical, fruit forward flavor profile. Pair with oysters on the half shell, spinach salad with goach cheese and walnuts or citrus garlic shrimp.

Wine Folly: pg 165 Gooseberry, honeydew, grapefruit, white peach, passionfruit

This wine was nice and light, I got the passionfruit flavor and could taste citrus which would have been the grapefruit.

Personal Review: This sauvignon blanc was aged over lees creating a more complex flavor. It was nice and citrusy. It had a light body to it. It was overall a pretty average sauvignon blanc, but with the small difference of being aged over lees, it stood out a bit to me.

Tasting- Chateau De Blaignac Bordeaux Rose

 

Name: Chateau De Blaignac Bordeaux Rose 

Variety: Bordeaux Blend (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot)

Region: Bordeaux, France 

Year: 2015

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: This Rose Bordeaux is pale pink in color with a strawberry tinges appearance. Fantastically fresh and vibrant on the nose with aromas of strawberries and red currant, the predominantly Cabernets blend balances intensely well with the lovely clearness of red berry fruits. Very well balanced and fresh, the wine culminates in a very aromatic and lingering finish. 80% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 

Wine Folly:

From this wine, I was able to taste the strawberry flavor from the cabernet franc. The dark fruits from the cabernet sauvignon were strong. The dry herbs and chocolate from the merlot were good, adding a bit more of a dry flavor to counteract the sweetness from the other grapes in the blend.

Personal Review: 

This was a nice light rose. It was not too sweet either which I liked. The smell was not too acidic and the flavors were nice. It was fruity, with a strong strawberry taste. At the end there were more of those drier red wines flavors sticking out. I would totally get this wine again.

Tasting- Tres Ojos Granacha

 

Name: Tres Ojos Granacha

Variety: Granacha

Region: Calatayud, Spain

Year: 2020

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: Our Tres Ojos – “three eyes” – is named after an ancient walking bridge in the city of Calatayud. The bridge’s three arches earned it the nickname ‘tres ojos’. This Garnacha is whole berry fermented, like a Cotes du Rhone Rouge. It displays a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. Fruity and juicy with a great depth, ripe tannins and length, yet wonderful elegance and lightness.

Wine Folly: pg 117 Stewed strawberry, grilled plum, leather, dried herbs, blood orange

This wine to me definitely had fruity flavors. I have not had stewed strawberries or grilled plum, but I thought it tasted a bit like cherry. The dried herb flavor was strong for me.

Personal Review: This was a nice light red that was a bit dry. There was a strong cherry smell and the flavor was full of spices. This was my first time trying this type of wine and I would try it again for sure.

Tasting- St. James Mango Sweet Wine

 

Name: St. James Mango Sweet Wine

Variety: Mangos!

Region: St. James, MO

Year: -

Price: $1.95

Shop Review: With the weather warming up, St. James Winery has the answer for the perfect tropical escape! Our new, year-round fruit wine was a past customer's favorite seasonal wine selection, Mango! This sweet wine is made from 100% pure, ripe mangos with no added artificial flavors or colors. 

Wine Folly: no grapes!

Personal Review: 

Delicious! Tasted just like the dried mango I get from Costco. It was the perfect amount of sweet and the slight carbonation made it super refreshing. I bought two cans for myself and think everyone should give this wine a try.

Tasting- Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Name: Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Maipo Valley, Chile

Year: 2016

Price: $7.97

Shop Review: Aromas of fresh berries, baking spices, and chocolate get this wine going. The palate bursts at the seams, boasting a toasty black-fruit flavor with grip and intensity. Delicate yet intense blackcurrant with hints of clove and mocha.

Wine Folly: Cabernet pg88 black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, graphite

I tasted the dark fruits especially. Also, the more earthy flavors like cedar and graphite stuck out to me.

Personal Review: This wine was not the best cabernet sauvignon I had. It had a very earthy smell and an even earthier taste. There was also a green pepper flavor. Overall, I would get a different brand of cabernet sauvignon that I know would be better.

Tasting- El Viejo del Valle Chardonnay

 

Name: El Viejo del Valle Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Maule (Central Valley), Chile

Year: 2019

Price: $7.95

Shop Review: Fresh and tasty cool-climate Chilean Chardonnay. Sourced from old vines grown on volcanic soil. A clean crisp chardonnay that is more old world in style than new world

Wine Folly: pg 96 Chardonnay- Flavors described include yellow apple, starfruit, pineapple, and butter 

This wine was an average-tasting chardonnay. It had an average acidity flavor from the pineapple and starfruit. It was not a buttery chardonnay.

Personal Review: This wine was not oaked, so it lacked a level of complexity. It was incredibly grassy and that flavor came out. It had slight acidity and body. Overall I would not pick this brand of chardonnay and would get a better kind.

Wine Dinners- March 19

 

Course 1: Chips and Salsa + Sauvignon Blanc

The chips and salsa were tasty, the chips were lime flavored and the salsa was hot. It was delicious. The sauvignon blanc was good as well. It was slightly acidic with an apple flavor. There was also a slight earthy flavor. The chips and wine paired very well together. The lime in the chips and acidity of the wine was enjoyable and brought out nice tart flavors.

Course 2: Quesadilla + Riesling

The quesadilla was delicious, it was chicken, pepper jack cheese, and spicy bbq sauce. The bbq sauce was not too spicy but the bite was good, especially with the pepper jack cheese. The Riesling was nice and sweet. There were lots of fruit flavors, such as orange and peach. When paired together, it was great. The spiciness of the quesadilla with the sweetness of the wine was very enjoyable. I thought the chicken flavor was brought out through the wine. The sweetness of the wine contrasts really well with the umami of the quesadilla. 

Course 3: Vanilla Ice Cream + Prosecco

The ice cream was good, a simple classic flavor. It was vanilla bean which makes it even better. The prosecco was very refreshing and not acidic in smell or flavor. There was a slight sweetness to the prosecco and there were A LOT of bubbles. When paired with the ice cream the combination of the creaminess from the ice cream and the bubbles from the prosecco was really interesting. It felt almost as if the bubbles multiplied by a lot. I got a bit of a coffee or smokey flavor when the two were paired together also. I would have this combination again.