Tasting - Noble Vines 337

Name: Noble Vines 337

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: LODI, California

Country: U.S.A.

Year: 2010

Price: $12.00

Wine review: The 2010 vintage exhibits appealing aromas of black cherry, ripe currant and lightly roasted coffee. Supple tannins and balanced acidity support core flavors of black cherry and blackberry intertwined with sweet herbs and accents of black pepper spice.

Noble Vines 337 Cabernet Sauvignon can be enjoyed on its own or with grilled tri tip, BBQ and blue cheeses.

My review: When I smelled this wine from the wine glass, it smelled strong of alcohol. After 30 to 40 seconds of coating the glass, I took a sip and it was indeed hot. It also tasted a bit spicy and sweet at the same time, and left a very tart aftertaste. I feel that this wine needs to be consumed with some kind of savory/greasy food, such as steak, ham, or BBQ. Due to its strong alcohol contents and smell, I personally would not drink this wine by itself.

I drank this wine with  crab cake, and Cheddar cheese sausage. This combination actually worked out pretty well since these were both savory and a bit on the greasy side. 

Tasting (3) - Cupcake Vineyards , Vineyards Creek, Bay Bridge

Today I will be reviewing three white wines my wife and I tasted over dinner. (homemade shrimp and veggies pizza)  

Cupcake Vineyards 

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand

Year: 2012

Price: $7.47

Wine review:  This wine is reminiscent of a lemon chiffon cupcake. The aromas are integrated, delighting the senses with flavors of Meyer lemons, Key limes and a finish that awakens the appetite.

Serve chilled with oysters on a half shell or with a rich, creamy lobster risotto.

My Review: The first wine I will be reviewing is the "Cupcake" Sauvignon Blanc.  The most obvious descriptions that came to me initially were: Fruity and crisp. Not very sweet as the name implied at first, but as we continued to drink it, there actually was an element of sweetness to it, as well as a bit of a citrusy, lime undertone.     

The label on the back of the bottle suggested pairing with oysters or a"rich creamy lobster risotto," so I was hoping it would be a pretty good match with the shrimp pizza, however, we did not notice anything outstanding.  Overall, the wine was not bad but too citrusy for my taste and not something I would consider buying again. 

Vineyard Creek

Pinot Grigio

Region: California, U.S.A.

Year: UNK

Price: $6.99

Wine Review: not available online

My Review: The second wine is the "Vineyard Creek" Pinot Grigio. Despite the fact that we bought this for cooking purposes, it was actually pretty pleasant to drink.  It was light, which I liked a lot, sweet, smooth and simple tasting.  It went pretty well with the shrimp pizza unlike the previous wine which was too overpowering for me.  I would drink this wine again with a seafood dish. 

Bay Bridge 

Pinot Grigio

Region: Central Valley, CA

Year: UNK

Price: $8.00

Wine Reveiw: not available online

My Review: The third wine is the "Bay Bridge" Pinot Grigio. This is a cheap wine my wife bought for cooking, and it surely tasted cheap too.  The alcohol taste was very strong, (hot?) there was almost this chemical taste to it.  It was also pretty bitter/sweet, couldn't really enjoy it, and didn't want to! Recommended for cooking only!

My Wine Story Begins Here...

I was never a wine drinker before I started this class, so initially my level of comprehending the flavor/smell of each wine will be quite limited. 

I was more of a "beer person" and  never attempted to enjoy, nevertheless try drinking wine simply because I did not think they tasted very good, and felt they were overpriced.

When I signed up for this class, I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but I decided to give wine a chance, once and for all. 

As the semester goes on and my experience in wine tasting develop, I hope my ability to taste, distinguish, and describe wines will become more complex, mature and in depth, so that I will be more comfortable and familiar with wine and eventually become "a wine person."