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.