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.

Australia/New Zealand

Today's ACTUAL foray into the realm of wine led us to Australia and New Zealand (the last post was a catch-up from the previous tasting). We went with whites first. Today, MV taught us that you can see the amount of tannin in a wine by looking at the vertical streams in the glass after you swirl it. Who knew?! Here's some other interesting stuff about tannin.

EDIT: The lines are actually created by the alcohol-- more lines = more alcohol = drier wine.

A. Mohua Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - more info
Appearance: blonde, clear, straw-colored
Nose: 4
Intensity: 1
Balance: 3.5
Complexity: 3
Finish: 4
Comments: Tart, crisp. Would go well with sharp cheese, fish, or crab.
Jen's favorite white

B. Yellowtail Moscato - more info
Appearance: "Miller High Life," slightly bubbly, more golden
Nose: 2.5
Intensity: 1
Balance: 4.257
Complexity: 1.7
Finish: 3
Comments: "Golden Delicious" apple-dapple, "sugar in a glass," "it's good, man."

C. Starborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - more info
Appearance: blonde
Nose: 4.5
Intensity: 1
Balance: 3
Complexity: 3
Finish: 3
Comments: smells more alcoholic, like grass, doesn't follow through-- it smells better than it tastes. Good with cheeses and creams. More sour than tart, but better as you drink it. Good with onion rings!

D. Royal Bitch Reserve Merlot 2008 - more info
IT'S A TRAP! This wine is actually from Chile, but we rated it anyway.
Appearance: intense, formidable, deep red, garnet
Nose: 5
Intensity: 3
Balance: 3.8
Complexity: 3.14
Finish: 4
Comments: pair with something heavy, "warm and fuzzy," more with-dessert wine.
Bryan's favorite

E. Robert Oatley Tempranillo 2009 - more info
Appearance: really dark, cherry
Nose: 4.2
Intensity: 3.5
Balance: 4.5
Complexity: 3.5
Finish: 3
Comments: "more for a winter's day than a summer evening," "it's strong, but it's not long."
Jen's favorite red

E. Layer Cake Shiraz Vintage 2009 - more info
Appearance: deep, almost purple/black, cranberry
Nose: 4.2
Intensity: 4
Balance: 4.8
Complexity: 4
Finish: 4
Comments: spicy, strong, smoky, savory, steak wine (or lamb), dark fruit. "I feel like I should be a vampire."
Dan, Haley, and Pete's favorite

Spanish Wines

Based on a conglomeration of various wine rating charts around the web, these aspects were chosen for our rating system:
- color depth and hue
- aroma nose (1=oxidized, 3= acceptable, 5=intriguing)
- aroma intensity (1=light, can only smell with nose in the glass, 5=pronounced, can smell when held at shoulder level)
- balance (5=perfectly balanced among fruit, tannin, acidity, sugar, alcohol, delicacy, and structure)
- complexity (1=simple, 3=interesting, 5=dynamic with many flavors)
- finish (1=none, 2=short/bitter, 3=medium, 4=long, 5=long with delicious aftertaste)

A. Muga Rioja Rose 2010 - more info
Appearance: light rose
Nose: 3.5
Intensity:2
Balance: 3
Complexity: 3.5
Finish: 3.5
Comments: Clean and crisp, a bit spicy; I, personally, became obsessed with this wine... it's one of the best roses I've had.

B. Savory & James Amontillado Medium Sherry - more info
Appearance: medium golden brown
Nose: 5
Intensity: 4
Balance: 2
Complexity: 5
Finish: 5
Comments: 20% alcohol! Like whiskey, flavors of maple, mocha, and chocolate.

C. Celler Piñol Terra Alta Nuestra Senora del Portal 2009 - more info
Appearance: Yep, it's white.
Nose: 3
Intensity: 1.5
Balance: 3
Complexity: 2
Finish: 2
Comments: Strange finish, acidic, more flavor with finish than sip, mild, good dinner wine.

D. Tapeña Verdejo 2009 - more info
Appearance: Also white. (We didn't get very creative with the whites.)
Nose: 4
Intensity: 2 
Balance: 4
Complexity: 3 
Finish: 3.7
Comments: Smooth, mellow, but not mild, summer wine, good, drinkable, very enjoyable all around.

E. Arroyo de la Vega Verdejo 2009 - more info
Appearance: White. (No sh*t!)
Nose: 2 
Intensity: 2.35
Balance: 3.89 
Complexity: 2.97
Finish: 2.83
Comments: Obviously we couldn't all agree on ratings for this one. Slightly acidic, "meh," standard issue table wine.

F. Dominio de Eguren Protocolo Tinto Vino de la Tierra Castilla 2009 - more info
Appearance: Very dark red, almost black
Nose: 4
Intensity: 4
Balance: 3.5
Complexity: 4
Finish: 4.8
Comments: MUST let it breathe. When we first opened it, it smelled very much like vinegar. Goes well with chocolate cake, not as smooth, but has "zing," initial bite.

G. Red Guitar Navarra Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha 2008 - more info
Appearance: deep red
Nose: 4
Intensity: 3
Balance: 4
Complexity:  3
Finish: 3.95
Comments: Nice, like the bottle, festive (we did this one last, can you tell?), probably good with steak. Very drinkable red.