Tasting - Tinto Figaro Nino Jesus

Name: Tinto Figaro Nino Jesus
Variety: 100% Grenache 
Region: Aragon/Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $12

My  review:

 I thought this had a tangerine flavor to it and it had a black berry/cherry hint to it. I thought it finished nicely and this wine had a nice fruity flavor to it. If i were to drink this, I would probably eat it with some kind of pasta. 





WInery Review:

4/30/2011 - JOANNEVICIOUS WROTE:

88 Points

Surprisingly dark garnet--was expecting something a little lighter.

Nose is prominent right out of the bottle. Earth. Plum fruits. Almost a touch of barnyard. And a bit of heat.

A bit of heat right out the bottle on the palate. Red fruits are very prominent. Smooth coating of the palate, a bit of bite on the edge due to the heat. Smashed red fruits w/o jam. Maybe a touch of white pepper in there to keep it balanced.

Overall, very pleasant, especially for the price.

My review: 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Beringer Merlot

Name: Beringer Merlot
Variety: 100% Merlot
Region:  Napa Valley, California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $7

Winery review: The Beringer Founders' Estate Merlot is approachable and delicious. Hints of plum and brown spice on the nose compliment the boysenberry, blackberry and blueberry finish on the palate. It's well-balanced, soft tannins make this wine a perfect accompaniment to a variety of foods, such as grilled meats or hearty vegetable dishes.

My review: This wine I thought tasted really well. It had a spicy/blackberry flavor to it and it wasn't to heavy to digest. This wine was really smooth and I recommend this wine to Merlot lovers for sure.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Honora Vera

Name: Honoro Vera
Variety: 100% Monastrell
Region: Jumilla
Country:Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $7

Winery review: 

88 Points | International Wine Cellar , September/October 2012

(15% alcohol; no oak):  Opaque ruby.  Aromas and flavors of cherry, licorice and black tea, with spice and violet accents.  Spicy and energetic, finishing with zesty cut and good lingering sweetness.  I get no heat from this appealingly open-knit wine's alcohol; it's an outstanding value.

My review: I thought this wine was really good. I tried this wine with a meal and I thought it complimented the meal really well. This wine had a black fruit zing to it and it was really spicy. It had a kick to it that wasn't too much but just right.

I tasted this wine with 16 oz. of bourbon flavored steak.

Tasting - Maiple Malber

Name: Maiple Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $13

Winery review: This Malbec has a deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum, fig, strawberry, spices and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tannins, excellent length with a distinguished character. Excellent when paired with game, roasted red meats, pasta or pizza.

My review: I really enjoyed this wine. After tasting this wine, I really want to try a greater quantity of wines from this region. I felt that this wine had a lot of flavors and it reminded me of spicy berries. I recommend this wine and I suggest you try it with steak.

I tasted this with a 16 oz. bourbon flavored steak.

Tasting - Bodegas Breca Garnacha de Fuego

Name: Garnacha de Fuego
Variety: 100% Grenache cuvee
Region: Aragon/Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $9

Winery review: "The 2011 Garnacha de Fuego, a 100% Grenache cuvee, was aged in both stainless steel and neutral French oak. There are 10,000 cases for the United States. This amazing wine boasts a dark ruby/purple color along with a sweet kiss of jammy black cherries intertwined with crushed rock notes that give the wine an undeniable minerality. As it hits the palate, a full-bodied, voluptuous texture takes hold and the flavor profile moves towards blacker fruits (ripe raspberries and black currants) intermixed with camphor and forest floor. This full-bodied, rich, glycerin-filled effort should drink well for 4-5 years, perhaps longer. "

92 Points

The Wine Advocate

My review: I thought this wine was really good. I tasted a lot of black cherries and it reminded me of trees. This dark colored wine had a nice kick to it and I definitely recommend it to everyone.

I tasted this with a 16 oz. bourbon flavored steak. I think it went really with the steak and definitely complimented its flavors..

Dinner - Home cooked meal (steak w/ red wines)

Dinner- 16 oz. bourbon flavored steak w/ red wines

I suppose it is a tradition that a good steak meal is accompanied with a good bottle of red wine. My friends and I decided that we would like to see how true this tradition is. We each whipped up 16 ounce bourbon flavored steaks and bought countless bottles of wine. We even added a little hot sauce to the steak to give it a little kick.                                                                       

Above is a picture of the 16 ounce bourbon flavored steak with a bottle of red wine. Before taking my first bite of the steak, I tried the Maipe Malbec red wine shown in the video above. It put good flavors in my mouth and made the steak taste a little better when all the flavors clashed.

Some of the other wines consumed during this meal were: Garnacha de Fuego (2011) from Spain and Tinto Figario Calatayud (2009) from the Spain region as well. These spanish wines came from the regions of Argon and Calatayud respectively. I really enjoyed all these red wines present at the meal and I feel like the charcoal/grill flavor of the steak was amplified by drinking these delicious red wines. All of these wine bottles were very strong containing 14.5% alcohol each. Not counting the high alcohol content, I'm a new fan of these Spanish wines just become of the nice kick that they have and how they seem to go well with a lot meaty foods. My favorite of all was the Tinto Figaro from Catalyud. I just thought it tasted good and made the steak taste that much better.

As shown above, the meal was delicious. After drinking red wine with steak, I don't know if I ever want to eat steak again and not have red wine present. If not the first, I will gladly confirm the urban legend about red wines being awesome with steak meals.Below is a picture of my friends and I getting ready to engage in one of the best steak meals I've ever had.

Wine Region - Loire Valley

Jonathan Howard

Wine Region Blog

Loire Valley

Loire Valley is one of the four major white wine producing regions in the eastern part of France.  The valley is divided into three sections: Upper Loire, Middle Loire, and Lower Loire.

 

From archaeological finds, Romans have been predicted to be the first to plant the earliest vineyards in the Loire Valley while creating the city of Gual. Four centuries later, the viticulture flourished and was even talked about by various people. In the 11^th century, Sancerre gained fame as being of very high caliber. By the middle ages, Loire Valley wines became the most esteemed in England and France and even surpassed wines from Bordeaux.

Loire valley is known to be a mostly white grape variety region.  The three major white grapes in this region named Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Chenin Blanc. The Upper Loire valley includes the Sauvignon Blanc areas containing Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume. The Middle Loire is mostly comprised of the Chenin Blanc and Cabernet franc wines. The Lower Loire which is comprised of Melon de Bourgogne grape is known for making Muscadet.

Winemaking in France is regulated by the Appellation d’Origine Controlee. This AOC (abbreviation for Appellation d’Origine Controlee) established in the 1930’s, sets up strict government laws which winemakers must abide by.  These laws set minimum requirements for each wine producing area in France and help decipher French wine labels. Only thirty five percent of all French wines are worthy of the AOC designation and there are more than 465 AOC French wines. Examples of the controls are:

Geographic region: Chablis

Grape variety (which grapes can be planted where): Chardonnay

Minimum alcohol content (this varies depending upon the area where the grapes are grown): 10%

Vine growing practices (a vintner can produce only so much wine per acre): 40 hectoliters/hectare

Most of the wines in this region are not blends of different grape varieties. White or Red, they are mostly made entirely from Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, or Chenin Blanc. One of the more popular wines, Pouilly-Fume, gets its nose from the Sauvignon Blanc grape and the soil of the Loire valley. Also, this valley stretches along the Loire River. In this region, Loire wines tend to be fruity, fresh, and crisp. There are four styles of wine in the Loire valley region. Pouilly-Fume is a dry wine that contains more body ad concentration than any of the other wines in this region. This style of wine is made with one hundred percent Sauvignon Blanc. Muscadet is a lighter, dry wine which is made from one hundred percent Melon de Bourgogne grapes. Sancerre has a balance between Pouilly-Fume (full bodied) and Muscadet (light bodied). This style is made with one hundred percent Sauvignon Blanc. Vouvray is a style that is dry, moderately sweet to really sweet and is made from one hundred percent Chenin Blanc.  

The Loire River has a major impact on the climate of the region by adding to the temperature allowing grapes to grow. The climate is mostly cool with a frost that occasionally pops around. Winemaking in this region is usually done avoiding maloactic fermentation and barrel aging. The Loire Valley is the largest region for white wines in France and is the second   region in France for producing sparkling wine. Not only famous for its wines, this valley is also a summer retreat for royalty.

Tasting - Querceto Chianti

Name: Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico
Variety: Sangiovese (red)
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $10

Winery review: Sangiovese (or Nielluccio in Corsica), a dark-berried vine, is the most widely planted grape variety in Italy. Virtually synonymous with the red wines of Tuscany, and all the romanticism that goes with the territory, Sangiovese is the core constituent in some of the great names in Italian wine. Italy’s love affair with Sangiovese – and indeed the world’s – is generations old, though recent grapevine research suggests the variety is not as ancient as once thought. 

My review: I thought this wine was ok. I'm more of a fan of white wines and a limited number of red wines. I think I just need to drink more and learn to appreciate wine more to appreciate a wine like this one. The wine was very dark and had a fruity taste. I could see myself enjoying this with a steak or lamb meal. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Concannon Pinot Grigio

Name: Concannon Selected Vineyards Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Central Coast
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $10

Winery review: Smoky grilled peach, pear yogurt aromas with a soft, dry light-to-medium body and a nut brittle and citrus accented finish. A nice choice with food. (Wine group gives it a 89 points and highly recommended)

My review:  I thought this wine was extremely good. I'm coming to find that pinot grigio my be one of my favorites of the white wines. It had a yellowish color and a peachy smell to it. It pretty much had a fruity taste with hints of pears and peaches. It also has a good amount of alcohol which I like (13%). I could definitely drink this with a good trout or mahi mahi meal. I recommend this wine to anyone and especially white wine lovers.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Avant Chardonnay

Name: Avant Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $16

Winery review: Vivid, crisp and bright - the brand new Avant Chardonnay continues the nearly three decades of pioneering distinguished varietal wines from California's cool coastal appellations. Avant is very different from KJ's traditional rich, creamy styles of Chardonnay. Avant bursts with intriguing layers of fresh pineapple, bright green apple, crisp Meyer lemon, juicy pear and wildflowers. The wine's refreshing acidity and sleek mineral notes are balanced by a rounded mid-palate and slight oakiness with a long, pure fruit finish.  (Wine enthusiast in 2010)  — 90

My review: Like every other chardonnay, this wine was very sweet.I am a fan of white wines, especially chardonnay. This wine had a strong fruit aspect to it and I could get a huge dose of apple and pears. If you are a fan of sweet fruity wines, I recommend this chardonnay. I would pair this with a fish or seafood meal for sure.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - James River White Sauvignon Blanc

Name: The Williamsburg Winery James River White Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $15

Winery review: The wine displays a wonderful floral, perfumed character with a fresh fruit forward approach. There is a creamy vanilla tone that rounds out the balance and makes for a clean fresh finish. This will pair well with many summer foods. It is 13.2% alcohol and it is dry. It is fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral french oak.  

My review: I thought this wine tasted very good. It had a very fruity aspect to it and even tasted fruity (especially hints of lemon). Though not the best of wines, I think it had a decent finish. I could pair this maybe with snack foods like grapes or a tray of cheeses. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Alamos Malbec

Name: Alamos Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $10

Winery review: Medium ruby red color, moderate aromas of vanilla, branches and almonds in the nose. Dry, medium-bodied, quite smooth acidity-wise. Tannins strong and hard, somewhat unbalanced. Very peppery and a bit green. Finished short.Felt quite closed. Retried after two days: Nose of raspberry and currants, very appealing. Fresh with black currant aromas. Decant!  (2/26/2013 Cellartracker)  — 88

My review: On perception, the color of the wine was a dark purple. On the nose, it had a very flowery smell. I tasted raspberry flavors and what seemed like chocolate. This was wine was very smooth and I recommend it to anyone. I could see myself drinking this with a good salad.

I tasted this wine without food.

Winery Visit - Potomac Point Winery and VIneyard

On Saturday, February 23, I went with my friend to a winery near his house called Potomac Point Winery in Stafford, Va. I took a tour of the winery, listened to a band play there at night, and participated in a few wine tastings.

This winery is located on 275 Decatur Rd. in an area of North Stafford known as Widewater. The place is owned by Cindi and Skip Causey. The winery is 13 acres and is beautiful inside and out. The outside of the winery reminds me of a Castle mixed with an old Italian architecture. Inside there is a tasting room, gift shop, olive oil bar, outdoor courtyard, and a D'vine room to relax and enjoy a bottle. The winery gets its fruit from leased vineyards in Orange, Virginia. However, bottled wines will be generated from the 5 acred vineyard associated with the winery once the vines have reached their maturity level.

After touring around the winery for a bit, my friend and I were able to taste some wines.
Chardonnay (2009)- This was a very good and sweet wine. It had a nose of mango which I enjoyed and it tasted really fruity.

Vin de Paille (2008)- This wine had a very tropical smell to it and a hint of honey definitely stood out. This wine was pretty sweet and I liked it.

Cabernet Franc (2008)- This was a good dark wine which had a berry flavor to it. It was pretty smooth as well and had a wood taste towards the end.

Petit Verdot (2008)- This wine had a very dark color and smelled smoky/pepperish. I really liked it alot and I could've enjoyed this with a good steak or some cheese.

After the tastings, the winery had a nice band come to the courtyard and perform music for the crowd. It was very relaxing music that helped make the night perfect while sipping on some wine. I loved this winery because it was a beautiful place and had a lot of good scenery. They also had a myriad number of wines ranging from white to red. I recommend everyone to go if they ever get the chance.

Wine film review: Blood into Wine

Jonathan Howard

 Movie Review

Blood into Wine

                        The movie was called “Blood into Wine” and it was made by Ryan Page and Christopher Pomerenke. The movie focuses on Maynard James Keenan and his counterpart, Eric Glomski, in starting this vineyard in Arizona. Arizona has a world class wine region on the slopes of Verde Valley that has unique soil and environmental characteristics. The film highlights the grape growing process at Caduceus Cellars and the Merkin Vineyards.

            One key theme throughout the movie is how the soil and environment that the vineyards are planted in plays a huge role into the flavors that come out when you drink the wine. The unique natural environment where this vineyard is planted gives the wine a taste like no other and gives it distinct flavors only recognizable from that region. Another prevalent theme throughout the movie is that anyone can obtain a passion for wine and making wine regardless of their history/background. Maynard James Keenan was a rock star for a band called Tool and was known for being wild and crazy. Now, he focuses on growing his vineyard in peaceful Arizona which proves the point that anyone can gain an interest in the wine business. Another theme in the film deals with family and roots being emphasized in the wine making process. Keenan’s grandfather, ‘Spirito’ Marzo had owned vineyards in Italy back in the day. Keenan also talks about spreading his mothers, Judith Marie, ashes over the vineyard to honor her death. His first batch of wine was made with those ashes and named Nagual del Judith. Lastly, another key theme is the concept of ‘trial and error’ in relation to learning the grape growing process. He talks about dealing with animals eating the grapes, harsh weather conditions, and grape vines and how he’s had to alter his vineyard to account for these variables.

            The plot of this movie really is taking a look into Keenan’s vineyard and seeing the hardships that go along with trying to start a vineyard. There are also very comedic scenes where two guys interrogate Keenan in an attempt to make fun of his wine. I believe they make fun of him because so many people don’t take him serious for entering the wine industry after being a rock star. The movie discusses how Keenan links up with his mentor, Eric Glomski, and how they interact with each other. Throughout the movie Keenan talks about the area where he started his vineyard and how he chose that area based on the unique scents/aromas found in that environment. Keenan also talks about getting dirty and laboring hard to ensure that his vineyard comes out to become a success. Some of the chores he talks about performing are watering/pruning the vines, monitoring the acidity in the soil, harvesting, fertilizing, processing, and protecting the vineyard from animals and such. In conclusion, Keenan transitioned from being a rock star into a vineyard owner and is working on making a top notch vineyard in an area where no one thought it could be possible.

            The Verde Valley which is where this movie takes place would not be your first choice to grow grapes since it’s in south-central Arizona which is known to be a dry and humid place. In Arizona, the soil is volcanic and rocky mimicking areas like California and Washington State. Although the soil is unique, it also proves to be a challenge for the grape vines and it makes it hard to survive the Arizona climate. Glomski, Keenan’s partner, talks about the quality fruits along the waterways in the Verde valley and how he was drawn to this valley.

            From class, I remember learning about the fermentation and harvesting process and the film has several scenes where this takes place. Glomski pushes down the cap and shows how the tannins and juices all come together to make the wine. The film also talks about how the grapes have to be picked from the stems and then mushed into must. Keenan is also shown displaying how the vines have to be separated so they don’t tangle with one another stunting growth of the vines.

            Personally, I never listened to the music group Tool or knew who Maynard was before this movie. The fact that his passion for wine took him from a crazy rock band to growing grapes and making wine is amazing to me. I recommend this movie one hundred percent just because it shows the hardships of owning a vineyard and how anyone can do anything they want if they put their mind to it. Keenan in the movie talks about how he put his all into his music and now in this new chapter in his life, he’s putting his all into growing grapes and making wine. 

Tasting - "Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon"

Name: Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Semillon
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $9

Winery review: Chardonnay and Semillon are two old French grape varieties that are only blended together in the New World.Chardonnay, from its home in Burgundy, and Semillon, from Bordeaux, are both weighty white-wine grapes so it is not surprising that the resulting blends fall on the heavier end of the spectrum. (wine searcher)

My review: Of all white wines, I think chardonnay might be my favorite. I thought the wine was really sweet and even though I am not a fan of really sweet things, I liked this wine. I could see myself eating this with a good chicken ceasar salad. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.