Tasting- Rosemont Estate Moscato

Name: Rosemont Estate Moscato
Variety: Moscato

Price: $3.95

Region: 

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Description: Clear, medium-lemon yellow in appearance; lovely citrus and honeysuckle aromas with lemon, honeysuckle, apple and ripe yellow plum flavours.  Serve chilled with angel food cake or fresh fruit and mild cheeses.

Yum! This wine smelled heavily of sugar and flowers. It was fizzy, tasted of honeysuckle, with hints of lemongrass. I bought a bottle (at $4, how can you not?) and would love to try it with angel food cake and fresh fruit, as suggested! 

Tasting- Garnacha de Fuego Old Vine Grenache

Name: Garnacha de Fuego Old Vine Grenache
Variety: Grenache

Price: $8.95

Region: Aragon

Country: Spain

Year: 2012

Description: 92 Points, Wine Advocate. The garanacha de Fuego, a 100% Grenache cuvee, was aged in both stainless steel and neutral French oak. There are 10,00 cases for the Unites 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 hols 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. 

I thought this red (not pictured) smelled of cedar, like hamster shavings. Like the name implies, it was very full-bodied, and actually gave me a burning sensation as I drank it. Not very enjoyable. 

Tasting- Librandi Ciro

Name: Librandi Ciro Rosso Classico
Variety: Ciro

Price: $7.95

Region: 

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Description: Don’t let the pale garnet color fool you:  this is a substantial wine.  Aromas of red fruits and spice complement undertones of cranberries, wild berries, and plums.  On the palate, ripe tannins and good body make for an incredibly rich, yet easygoing red wine.  Pair this wine with sausage, spicy curry sauces, hot soppressata, and tandoori chicken

Woody and oakey on the nose, but tannic and very berry on the palate. Like any old red wine; nothing spectacular. 

Tasting- Angove Viognier

Name: Angove Viognier
Variety: Viognier

Price: $5.95

Region: 

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Description: Bright light straw in colour with some green hues, this wine has a lush ripe tropical fruit aroma. This is a fuller bodied white which fills the mouth with heady flavours of apricot, peach and citrus.  Angove Nine Vines Viognier is perfect for today's relaxed life-style and is the ideal accompaniment to grilled prawns with chilli and garlic or roast pork.

This Viognier smelled of sweet fruit, but was dry and tannic like a red wine. 

Tasting- Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Price: $7.95

Region: 

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2012

Description: This aromatic wine shows lifted flavours of blackcurrant with underlying notes of wet stone and thyme. The palate is elegant yet full with sufficient weight and texture, balanced by a flinty minerality. This wine is a fantastic match with foods such as cheese salad, poultry dishes and a wide range of seafood dishes including freshly shucked natural oysters, prawns, green lip mussels and creamy scallops.

This wine smelled like the Payne Hall hallway...but was refreshing on the tongue. I had just eaten really salty tortilla chips in the car before the tasting, and this wine had a soft soothing effect. 

Tasting- Frascati Volpetti Malvasia, Trebbiano, Greco

Name: Frascati Volpetti Malvasia, Trebbiano, Greco
Variety: Malvasia, Trebbiano

Price: $7.95

Region: 

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Description: Straw yellow in color with a soft, delicate perfume, fruitful flavor, dry and harmonious taste. Perfect with appetizers, soups, fish.

A boring white; tasted slightly like a Pinot Grigio, but sweeter. 

Tasting- Bricco dei Tati Rose

Name: Bricco dei Tati Rose
Variety: Rose

Price: $7.95

Region: 

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Description: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals. This is ideal with shellfish, salads, chicken, and with appetizers.

Like a 90's sweet tart necklace on the nose and palate. Just sweet and tart. 

Tasting- Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Beaujolais

Price: $14.95

Region: 

Country: France

Year: 2013

Description: Balanced and lightly creamy, offering pretty flavors of plum sauce and raspberry coulis threaded with hints of ground spice. Elegant, with a floral finish. Drink now.

This wine tasted of fruity gum, which was accompanied by a strange, sweet oakey smell. It was not tannic at all, until the second sip happened and it was extremely tannic. Bought a bottle to make Sangria with it. 

Tasting- Altas Cumbres Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Altas Cumbres Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $6.95

Region: 

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Description: Intense red color with violet highlights, with clean, fresh and complex aromas of berries, plums, figs, and pepper. Strong personality is in perfect balance with a medium body and pleasant tannins. ideal for: red meats, cheeses, and strong sauces.

Blast of fermented grapes on the nose, followed by a chlorine smell. Way too spicy for me.

Tasting- Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling
Variety: Riesling

Price: $9.95

Region: 

Country: Germany

Year: 2012

Description: This drier-style Riesling is bright, fruity and floral with crisp acidity and clean flavors of apple, pear and peach that compliment its stony minerality and earthy complexity. it serves well as an aperitif and matches a wide variety of foods, like lighter salad dishes, shellfish, cream sauces and also anything with a touch of spice. 

Sickly sweet, like vomit... not a fan. 

Wine Dinner #2- Blacksburg Style

                        Wine Dinner #2 

This one a little less low-key, but just as delicious and fun as the first! Tonight's menu featured a French baguette with smoked Gouda and a Granny Smith apple slice courtesy of Kristin, paired elegantly with an Italian Pinot Grigio. As this event took place on a Friday during Lent, the main course was a vegetarian pasta bowl, with fresh spinach and zucchini over vegetable penne made by Sarah. This paired with a California Zinfandel. To finish off the meal, a light champagne paired with Nikki's signature strawberries and cream dessert. 

I made the appetizer. I sliced up a fresh French baguette, some smokey Gouda cheese, and a Granny Smith Apple. I then broiled it in the oven for about 8 minutes. We paired this with an Italian Pinot Grigio from the Vintage Cellar. The Pinot was very smooth, and really tasty. It brought out the Gouda's smokey flavor. I didn't taste much of the malic acid wine until the finish, but it was a delicious pairing!

For the main dish, Sarah made a vegetarian pasta. We used fancy vegetable-infused noodles, a garden vegetable red pasta sauce, and sauteed some fresh spinach and zucchini with it all in the pan. On top, we sprinkled fresh Mozzarella cheese. We paired this with a California Zinfandel. This red wine was big, fruity, and notably alcoholic. I also picked up on some pencil shavings and tannins. Oddly enough, the finish tasted of tuna... Regardless, this red paired well with the red sauce and pasta dish, even though there was no meat involved!

For dessert, Nikki brought her favorite dessert- a fresh strawberries and cream dessert. To pair with this combination of Angel Food Cake, fresh strawberries, and homemade whipped cream, we had a champagne. Unfortunately, it smelled of urine on the nose. Once we got past its strange odor, it was actually a quite delightful pair with the dessert. The subtle bubbliness made the strawberry flavor pop, and made the cream and Angel Food Cake sweeter. 

Can't wait for the third pairing!

Tasting- Toso Moscato

Name: Toso Moscato

Variety: Moscato

Price: $9.95

Region: 

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Description: This Moscato is reminiscent of honeysuckle and rose petal. The quality is equivalent to a top level Asti Spumante DOCG. Sweet sparkling wine obtained from a careful selection of the Moscato grapes. It has a pale straw yellow color with fine foam and bubbles. Tropical fruit flavors, refreshing. Excellent to match desserts, fruit and dried pastries.

This moscato is light, floral, and reminiscent of Sprite. 

Tasting- Thorn Clarke James Goddard Shiraz

Name: Thorn Clarke James Goddard Shiraz

   Variety: Shiraz

   Price: $7.95

   Region: 

   Country: Australia

   Year: 2011

Description: The outstanding 2011 James Goddard Shiraz (aged 14-16 months in American and French hogsheads) delivers considerable value and flavor authority. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by notes of blackberries, black currants, licorice, graphite, and subtle barbecue smoke. Rich, fleshy and dense, it is best consumed over the next 3-4 years. 

This Shiraz (not pictured) exhibited no exceptional qualities, but was tingly on the tongue and a bit smokey. 

Tasting- El Sierro Tempranillo/Cab

Name: El Sierro Tempranillo/Cab

Variety: Tempranillo

Price: $7.95

Region: 

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Description: Dark ruby in color with rich aromas of red fruit and light spices. It is a real knock-out with delicious flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and vanilla all perfectly integrated. The Tempranillo provides wonderful spice and fruit, while the Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and depth with the beautiful use of oak.

Dark, berry, and spicy, with a haunting, burning tannic finish. 

Tasting- Atlas Cumbres Torrontes

Name: Altas Cumbres Torrontes

Variety: Torrontes

Price: $5.95

Region: 

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Description: Yellow colour with greenish nuances. Very intense aroma of fresh grapes, flower perfume and mature peaches. Fresh in the mouth. Light and easy to drink. Ideal with seafood, Thai and Chinese food.

This wine smelled of melon and fruit loops, with a crisp taste. 

Tasting- Avery Quinn Chardonnay

Name: Avery Quinn Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay

Price: $6.95

Region: Napa Valley

Country: USA

Year: 2011

Description: The 2011 vintage marks a return to form for this great value Chardonnay.  The aromas feature creamy, mellow, golden apple, pineapple, fresh butter and a touch of vanilla.  Then rich, ripe, flavors of yellow pear, pineapple, fresh apple, cream and buttered toast swell up and fill your mouth before a juicy, apple and caramel inflected finish makes your mouth water (and smile!).

    This chardonnay seemed tart on the nose, but was creamy and dessert-like on the palate.

Tasting- Bellafina Pink Moscato

Name: Bellafina Pink Moscato

Variety: Moscato and Rabosos

Price: $9.95

Region:

Country: Italy

Year: 

Description: A blend of Moscato and Rabosos grapes, it has a pale rose color, notes of red berries (strawberry and raspberry), with the characteristic and fragrant bouquet and palate that is typical of the Moscato grape.

This was probably the most floral I've ever smelled on a wine. Another sniff suggested a hint of boxed fruit juice. On the palate, this Moscato was very light, very berry, and very yummy. 

Tasting- Weinert Carrascal

Name: Weinert Carrascal

Variety: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Price: $13.95

Region:

Country: Argentina

Year: 2008

Description: Aged for two years in cask, the 2008 Carrascal is a blend of 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. It has a rustic blackberry, scorched earth and leather-scented bouquet with touches of pressed flowers. The palate is well-balanced with crisp tannins, expressive black tarry fruit and a Bordeaux-like finish. Drink now-2016.

This wine smelled heavily of fermentation and earthy woods. This red tasted of leather and was very tannic. Also, the legs made a flower formation in the glass.