Pacific Northwest

Yes, yes, I know this is ridiculously late. I don't even remember what month it was from. Pretty sure it was July. Solid wines from the Pacific Northwest, two of which I have labeled as the "overall fave." Not sure which one actually won out, if there was a definitive best!

On a random note, a couple of us recently visited Blue Mountain Vineyards in PA and learned some things. I need to write it down before I lose this knowledge completely:
- Tannin comes from the seeds and oak barrel.
- The legs are caused by the alcohol; more/stronger legs = longer fermentation time, higher alcohol content, and less sugar (drier wine).
- If a wine bottle doesn't say "estate wine," they may have gotten grapes from another region and just turned it into wine in whatever area the label says it's from.
- If a wine says "aged in oak" and it's labeled with the same year that you are buying it, it was probably mixed with chips of oak leftovers during fermentation, not actually aged in oak barrels like you would like to think. This means that the oak flavor will be good right away, but it may not be present if the bottle is aged.
- A good quality wine should taste like it smells.
- The pop you hear when you uncork wine is from nitrogen in the bottle, used to prevent the wine from coming into contact with oxygen and deteriorating the flavor when it's stored.

A. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - more info

Appearance: "It's dark."

Nose: 4

Intensity: 2.5

Balance: 5

Complexity: 3.7

Finish: 4.2

Comments: "It's like a boyscout." Bill's (from Laurel) preferred. Spicy, "really good," fruit flavor. *Overall Fave*

Dan and Haley's favorite

B. 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - more info

Appearance: Black, dark, "really dark."

Nose: 2.5

Intensity: 1.3

Balance: 3.14

Complexity: 2.5

Finish: 2.7

Comments: "It's gone." Sweeter than the last one.

C. 14 Hands Hot to Trot Red Blend 2010 - more info

Appearance: Dark again, ok legs.

Nose: 3.5

Intensity: 1.5

Balance: 3.5

Complexity: 2

Finish: 2

Comments: "Kinda dank." (This comment was the result of us smelling pot wafting in from one of my neighbors.) Spice, burns a bit, would be good mulled. "It wants to be sexy, but it's just trying too hard."

D. Airlie Pinot Gris 2009 - more info

Appearance: Light yellow, a bit cloudy.

Nose: 3.5

Intensity: 2.5

Balance: 3

Complexity: 3

Finish: 4

Comments: Good with creamy things, a day-drinking bottle, odd flavor, no mint.

E. Sawtooth Riesling 2009 - more info

Appearance: Light.

Nose: 2.5

Intensity: 1.8

Balance: 3.8

Complexity: 3.2

Finish: 4

Comments: "That's a riesling." "I generally don't like rieslings, but this is good." Good with peach, good summer wine.

Jen's favorite white

F. Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2011 - more info

Appearance: Really clear.

Nose: 4 - Pretty, like us!

Intensity: 2 - Trying to be subtle

Balance: 4.8

Complexity: 3 - One beautiful note

Finish: 3 - Sour lingers

Comments: "Has an identity crisis," tastes like pinot grigio, sour, pucker, *Overall Fave*

California

Yes, I'm a slacker. California was June's selection and it's already almost August! But let's get on with it--

We did California at Dan's place so we could show off the new bar. There were a lot of people, and subsequently a large wine selection. Please do not judge us too harshly from the following image, as the empty bottles make us look a little less than classy.

A. Bohemian Highway Merlot 2009 - more info

Appearance: Dark, creepy red, scarlet, blood, ruby, garnet, cranberry (I think this was less a descriptive effort and more of people acting like a thesaurus)

Nose: 3.5

Intensity: 2

Balance: 3

Complexity: 2

Finish: 2.3

Comments: Warms the heart, had nice legs, would make a good sangria, simple.

Dan and Katie liked it

B. Ghost Pines Zinfandel 2009 - more info

Appearance: Blood-looking, very dark, pretty, blackberry, prune juice, purple-ish

Nose: 3

Intensity: 1

Balance: 3

Complexity: 3.3

Finish: 4.5

Comments: Pops and punches, Mike Tyson wine, blackberry and vanilla, jammy, hangs in the back, dense, fruity, dry

Jen and Dan liked it, not Ashley (2) approved.

C. Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - more info

Appearance: watery purple, between the first two, leggy

Nose: 3.5 ("Smells like communion," effervescent)

Intensity: 1.5

Balance: 2 (acidic)

Complexity: 2.7

Finish: 2 (lingers, but not in a good way)

Comments: Probably good with red meat, bacon pizza
Ashley L. and Kerri liked it.

D. Snap Dragon Red Blend 2008 - more info

Appearance: dark silk, ruby, crimson, vermillion

Nose: 2.5

Intensity:  1.2

Balance: 4

Complexity: 3

Finish: 2 (intense but quick)

Comments: "It's good," "solidly smooth," a good generic wine, good with spicy food, brings out the smokiness in barbeque.

One of Jen's go-to reds, Ashley L. likes, Michelle's fave.

E. Robert Mondavi Pinot Grigio 2010 - more info

Appearance: light yellow, straw

Nose: 3

Intensity: 2

Balance: 3.9 (watery, light)

Complexity: 2

Finish: 1.1 (no oompf)

Comments: Would go well with hearty fish, chicken, or crab. Drinkable, but not substantial on its own, tastes watered down with white grape juice.

Dan likes

F. Serafina Cellars Malvasia Bianca 2009 - more info

Appearance: same, Jewish, cloudy

Nose: 3.8 (sweet)

Intensity: 3.4

Balance: 1.5

Complexity: 4

Finish: 3

Comments: Tastes like it's mixed with cider, Welch's, coppery, mineral, flavor builds, smells sweeter than it tastes, likely good with yogurt. "I got goosebumps drinking that."

Katie and Zach's fave

G. Running with Scissors Chardonnay 2010 - more info

Appearance: golden, yellow, straw

Nose: 4 (sweet, grassy, straw, oats)

Intensity: 1

Balance: 3.9

Complexity: 2

Finish: 3

Comments: Smell is reminiscent of hay fields, taste is berry, tart.

Ashley L.'s fave, Jen likes

H. Cherry on Top white blend 2010 - more info

Appearance: yellow

Nose: 3.3 (sweet, after rain)

Intensity: 2

Balance: 3 (apple!)

Complexity: 3.5

Finish: 2

Comments: Can taste the chenin blanc, smooth, in and out really quickly, pair with french vanilla ice cream.

Jen's fave

I. Menage a Trois Moscato 2010 - more info

Appearance: yellow

Nose: 3.5

Intensity: 2

Balance: 2.2

Complexity: 2

Finish: 3

Comments: "I find this wine shallow and pedantic." "Makes a valiant effort, but it just doesn't get the job done." "We're drinking Rhianna right now..."

J. d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Sticky Chardonnay 2008 - more info

Appearance: golden, dehydrated

Nose: 1.5 (Capri Sun)

Intensity: 2

Balance: 3 (for a dessert wine)

Complexity: 2

Finish: 3.8 (long and agonizing)

Comments: Simple syrup, golden raisin, good for a dessert wine.

July's Pacific Northwest selection coming soon!

Italy

Because there's really not much else I can do right now, I decided to knock this out! Apparently my calculations went the opposite way this time-- I started with lots of decimals and then just gave up and used whole numbers at the end. Definitely some high rankings, and even our first negative with this group. Thank you Michelle & Jen B. for hosting us in your lovely home!

A. The Sopranos Chianti 2008 - more info

Appearance: Ruby red, cranberry

Nose: 3.8

Intensity: 3.14

Balance: 4

Complexity: 2.5

Finish: 2 – Bitter

Comments: Cranberry, smoky, pretty light, not fruity, a good “anytime” wine. “Better than I thought it would be for an HBO wine.”

B. Da Vinci Chianti 2010 - more info

Appearance: Crimson, darker, blood red

Nose: 3.2

Intensity: 1.1

Balance: 4.5

Complexity: 3.33 (I couldn’t find a way to put a macron on top to truly indicate 1/3!)

Finish: 3.33

Comments: More drinkable, good table wine, not a good cheese wine overall, but good with ricotta. “Not what I was expecting.”

Jen’s favorite red

C. Corte Giara Pagus Soave 2008 - more info

Appearance: Yellow, “golden apples”

Nose: 3.8

Intensity: 1.3

Balance: 3.5

Complexity: 1 - Apple

Finish: 3

Comments: Smells like apple juice, tastes like apple juice, tingles, apple juice finish.

Haley and Dan liked this one

D. Kiwi Cuvée Pinot Grigio 2010 - more info (2009)

Appearance: Very light, straw, pale gold

Nose: 4 - Plum

Intensity: 2 - Tickles nose

Balance: 5 - “Ooh!”

Complexity: 2.5

Finish: 3.4 - Better flavor on finish, strawberry

Comments: Good with pasta or fish, very drinkable.

Jen’s favorite white; Haley liked this one, too.

E. Clara C Fiori di Prosecco Cuvée NV - more info

Appearance: Like champagne, clear

Nose: 4

Intensity: 1.5

Balance: 5

Complexity: 2.1

Finish: 2 - Sparkle kills finish

Comments: Leaves an appropriate amount of vagueness.

Michelle’s favorite.

F. La Marca Prosecco NV - more info

Appearance: Also clear

Nose: 3 - “Smells silly” - Lucas, age 2

Intensity: -.5

Balance: 5

Complexity: 3.2

Finish: 4.7

Comments: Better than the last one, honey, peachy, very good!

Mike and Jen B.’s favorite.

G. Bartenura Moscato 2010 - more info

Appearance: Very, very slight golden tint

Nose: 3 - Kind of spicy

Intensity: 3

Balance: 2 - Very fruity, sweet

Complexity: 2

Finish: 3

Comments: Very sweet, even more so than the apple juice Soave, sugar in a glass, peachy, tastes like peach ring candy, definitely moscato.

Chile/Argentina

I am such a slacker that I waited until after the April event (last night) to post things from March! Ugh!

Anyway, we did Chile and Argentina... a good combination, I think, because it resulted in us getting a pretty good variety of wines. It was VERY difficult to choose favorites from this bunch. We rated many of them highly. Thanks to Mike and Beth for hosting and making us delicious food! Oh, pictures are now a thing now, so we'll be having them with (hopefully) every post.

A. Antigal Uno Malbec 2008 - more info
Appearance: Pretty red, good legs, looks burgundy
Nose: 3.5
Intensity: 2.25
Balance: 3
Complexity: 3
Finish: 3
Comments: "It should be wearing a kilt." "Or stilettos." Pretty dry, spicy, notes of vanilla, cheesy, has a pretty good burn, goes well with salami.

One of Michelle's favorites-- apparently she's starting to like reds after last time!

B. Bodega Carmine Granata El Libre Malbec 2010 - more info
Appearance: A little lighter than the other one
Nose: 4.2 - Fruity
Intensity: 2.5
Balance: 3.7 - "Ooh!"
Complexity: 3
Finish: 2.3
Comments: Raspberry, a little tart, not too spicy.

One of MV and Pete's favorites.

C. Trapiche Malbec 2010 - more info
Appearance: Very dark, good legs, blood color
Nose: 4
Intensity: 2.4
Balance: 2
Complexity: 2.2
Finish: 3 - "It doesn't call you the next morning."
Comments: Chewy, has a bite, acidic.

D. Root:1 Carmenere 2010 - more info
Appearance: Red, slight hint of bluish-black, anticlimactic, "It foreshadows the bruise I will get from walking into furniture."
Nose: 4 - Salty
Intensity: 2.7
Balance: 3.2 - "Woah!"
Complexity: 2
Finish: 3.5
Comments: Brassy, citrusy, zesty, weaker, "meh," underwhelming.

E. Nativa Terra Reserva Carmenere 2009 - more info
Appearance: Darker than others, "It's dark like moose blood," weak legs.
Nose: 4
Intensity: 2.8
Balance: 4.5
Complexity: 3
Finish: 2.5 - "Meh"
Comments: "Fabulous," smells more fruity than it is, good table wine. 

Dan's favorite, one of Jen's favorites.

F. Santa Rita 120 Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 - more info
Appearance: Really freaking dark.
Nose: 3.5
Intensity: 3
Balance: 4.5
Complexity: 4
Finish: 4
Comments: "I like it!" Tasty, ridiculously balanced, pleasing, but not overly lengthy.

Michelle and MV claimed it as one of their favorites, Dan and Jen *almost* named it a favorite, too, but the others won out.

G. Royal Bitch Reserve Shiraz 2011 - more info
Appearance: Light, thin legs.
Nose: 3.5
Intensity: 3
Balance: 4
Complexity: 4
Finish: 4
Comments: Sweeter, not good with cheese, raspberry, fruiter, "It's gone!"

Mike's favorite, one of Jen and Pete's favorites.

South Africa

I actually did a bit of research on South African wines before this party. And by "research," I mean I read one chapter about it from the book Educating Peter, by Lettie Teague. It was useful, but did not give me very high hopes, as Pinotage, the "only truly South African grape," was described as tasting reminiscent of animal pelt.

Even though the book didn't have much good to say about Pinotage or Chenin Blanc (and made me worry that these varieties will soon be extinct), we did enjoy the unique taste of those wines. And look, we have a picture this time! They're even in order of drinking.

A. Mulderbosch Sauvingnon Blanc 2010 - more info
Appearance: White, pale
Nose: 4
Intensity: 3.3
Balance: 4
Complexity: 2
Finish: 2
Comments: Semi-dull, has a bite, fresh, minerals, tart finish. "Better than I thought, but I don't love it." "I can feel it more than I can taste it."
Michelle's favorite white


B. Indaba Chardonnay 2010 - more info
Appearance: More hay, less straw
Nose: 2.5
Intensity: 1.7
Balance: 3
Complexity: 3.4
Finish: 4.1
Comments: Finish is better than the sip.


C. Indaba Chenin Blanc 2011 - more info
Appearance: Pale, good legs, transparent
Nose: 4
Intensity: 1.3
Balance: 3
Complexity: 3
Finish: 2.6
Comments: Unassuming, apples and leather, gets better the more you drink it, biggest taste at mid-palate, could go well with red meats.


D. Kanu Chenin Blanc 2009 - more info
Appearance: fizzy, cloudy
Nose: 5 - "Oh!!"
Intensity: 2.6
Balance: 3.7
Complexity: 3.2
Finish: 3.1
Comments: Like champagne, more bold, it rises, has a lot of texture, wavy finish.
Andy's favorite, MV and Jen's favorite white, Michelle's other favorite white.


E. Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards Theta Syrah 2003 - more info
Appearance: Deep, chocolatey, opaque, leggy, dark
Nose: 5 - Chocolate, wood
Intensity: 4
Balance: 3
Complexity: 5
Finish: 3.8 - Dry
Comments: Smokey, beefy, earthy. "It's kinda like dirt... I like it." "Candlewax, campfires, and apples."
The only red Michelle has ever liked.


F. Goats in Village Shiraz Pinotage 2008 - more info (This link doesn't offer price, but it does have the story, which you will need to read to understand the comments.)
Appearance: Translucent, dark, angry, "I see a lot of AIDS, but not many goats."
Nose: 4 - Smokey
Intensity: 3.5
Balance: 5
Complexity: 4.2 - Bursts
Finish: 4 - Tasty but subtle
Comments: It has AIDS and goats. Highest entertainment value per dollar. Likely good with chocolate or steak.
Dan and Haley's favorite. Jen's second favorite red. 

G. Barista Pinotage 2009 - more info

Appearance: Similar to the last one, cherry, not as viscous
Nose: 5 - Spicy and grassy
Intensity: 2.7
Balance: 4
Complexity: 5 - "What is that?"
Finish: 5 - "Long and luscious"
Comments: Grassy, coffee, mocha, cherry, meadow, open field, snakes and butterflies, staccato, sensuous.
Kerri's favorite. Jen's favorite red.



H. Graham Beck The Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - more info
Appearance: Purple, confident and sexy (in a Scottish accent)
Nose: 3.6 - Molasses, honey
Intensity: 2.4
Balance: 4
Complexity: 2.95
Finish: 4.2
Comments: Hippie wine, berry, vaguely smokey, chewy, round.

Asia/Sake

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, we decided to do Asia for our January tasting. Yes, Asia. Yes, I know that Asia is not a single country. This was all about easy access to the thing that most screams "Asian alcohol"-- SAKE! (And plum wine.) So, after we had our fill of delicious food, we began.

However... we ran into a little bit of a predicament. Sure, we can pretend that regular wine ratings work for the plum wines, but how do we rate sake? A quick trip to the internet gave us our answer. I found eSake's guide to be the most comprehensive and easy to follow; the following variables and descriptions were snagged from their website.

- fragrance (1=none, 5=prominent fragrance)
- impact (1=quiet, 5=explosive)
- sweetness (1=sweet, 5=dry)
- acidity (1=soft, 5=puckering)
- presence (1=unassuming, 5=full)
- earthiness (1=delicate, 5=heavy)
- tail (1=quick, 5=pervasive)


A. Momokawa Silver Junmai Ginjo Sake - (more info)
Fragrance: 1.8
Impact: 1.4
Sweet/Dry: 3
Acidity: 1
Presence: 2
Earthiness: 2
Tail: 2.4
Comments: Floral and fruity fragrance, refreshing, watery, clean, not overpowering. "Like vodka spraypaint." (But subtle!)


B. Kizakura Carbonated Nigori Sake - (more info)
Fragrance: 1
Impact: 1.758
Sweet/Dry: 2.5
Acidity: 1
Presence: 1.8
Earthiness: 1.5
Tail: 2
Comments: Hits sweet, finishes dry. Fizzy, very mild. "Really enjoyed it."
Everyone's favorite sake, I think.

C. Gekkeikan Horin Sake - (more info)
Fragrance: 3.7
Impact: 4
Sweet/Dry: 4
Acidity: 3.5
Presence:  4
Earthiness:  3
Tail: 4
Comments: "I feel like it bitch-slapped me." Definitely not a beginner's sake, or for those looking for something mild. Regardless, good flavor.

D. Gekkeikan Kobai Plum Wine - (more info)
Appearance: whiskey, apple juice, thin and golden
Nose: 4
Intensity: 3
Balance: 2
Complexity: 2
Finish: 4
Comments: Apple juicy with an aroma of amaretto. "Oh damn!"
Ashley's favorite


E. Fuki Plum Wine - (more info)
Appearance: thin simple syrup, thick water
Nose: 4
Intensity: 2.4
Balance: 2.78
Complexity: 2.86
Finish: 4
Comments: Cherry, delicious, "yum," "good," easy to drink


And now for something completely different:

F.  Naylor Red Raspberry Wine - (more info on the vineyard)
Appearance: very red, cranberry juice
Nose: 2.4
Intensity: 1.7
Balance: 2
Complexity: 2
Finish: 3
Comments: Crisp, tart with an earthy aroma, "like eating a raspberry off a wild bush."
Jen's favorite

G. Naylor Intimacy Ice Wine 2007 - (see above for info)
Appearance: yellow, wine-ish
Nose: 2.7
Intensity: 1
Balance: 2
Complexity: 3
Finish: 4.6
Comments: Honey aftertaste, marshmallow-y and then honey.