Tasting- Querceto Chianti

Spring Break

Name: Querceto Chianti

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Year: Unknown

Price: $20 a glass (WAY overpriced.... ugh.)

Food? Paired with cheese- see Cheese Pairing post

Description from Castello di Querceto: 

"Type of wine: red wine

Denomination: Chianti Docg
Production zone: Colline del Valdarno
Grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano
Fermentation: maceration on the skins for about 7 days at 28°C. (82°F.)
Alcohol: about 12,5% 
Color: brilliant ruby red 
Bouquet: youthfull with scents of ripe fruits
Flavor: medium body, vinous, lightly tannic 
Food matches: pasta, white meats

Serving temperature: 18°/20°C"

My Review: My friends and I had this wine at Epcot at Disney World, and I found it underwhelming. The bottle was brought out to us straight from the refrigerator, and the cold masked every smell or taste note I would've expected. It was smooth and buttery, but, other than that, unremarkable.

Tasting- Feudo Arancio Stemmari Nero d'Avola

Spring Break

Name: Feudo Arancio Stemmari Nero d'Avola

Variety: Nero d'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: Unknown

Price: $10 a glass (overpriced.... ugh.)

Food? Paired with cheese- see Cheese Pairing post

Description from the Winery: 

"Color: Deep ruby-red with pleasant reflections of violet.

Bouquet: Intense and covered, notes of currant stick out, wild strawberries, and pomegranate.

Flavor: Soft and velvety. Distinct characteristics of fruitiness come forth."

My Review: My experience with this wine could not be more different than the description from the Winery. I loved this wine because of its earthiness and charcoal profile.

On the nose, I picked up herbaceous notes and hearty earthy notes. Mushroom and earth were very present, and it reminded me of a wood fired pizza. The taste was exactly in line with the scent, as well. The wood fired pizza sensation was a novelty on the palate- my friends and I got a kick out of how much it reminded us of that taste. I would love to have it again, if it was guaranteed to taste like my previous glass, rather than the fruity description from the winery.

Tasting- Fazi Battaglia Verdicchio

Spring Break

Name: Fazi Battaglia Verdicchio

Variety: Verdicchio

Region: Marches

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $11 a glass

Food? Paired with fettuccini and shrimp- it was beautiful! The briney lobster butter sauce really let the wine shine and brought out the savory notes.

Description from the Vineyard: "The grapes are carefully selected by hand during a 20-25 day harvest in estate vineyards. Each of the 12 single vineyards is studied for the optimal harvesting moment, as the winery can rely on a crew of 200 workers. The grapes are subsequently softly pressed and fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel vats for 15-18 days. Then, the wine is left to rest for several months in temperature controlled stainless steel vats to produce complexity on the palate and ripeness on the nose. A 30-day bottle rest follows."

My Review: The wine had a very bright, distinct smell that was acidic, briney, and almost earthy, like mushrooms and earth. The taste of the wine could not have been more different though! Fruity notes, especially pear, warmed up in the mid and back palate. The wine was very dry.

Tasting- Alvear Pedro Ximinez 1927 Solera

Week 7

Name: Alvear Pedro Ximinez 1927 Solera

Variety: Pedro Ximenez grape

Region: Montilla-Moriles

Country: Spain

Year: 2015

Price: $48

Food? No

Description from the winemaker: "The vineyards, located at an elevation of 1,050 feet, are comprised of the famous chalky soil called Albariza and the 40-year old vines produce extremely low yields. The grapes were hand-harvested at the peak of maturity and dried on mats in the sun. This is one of the oldest wines in the cellar since Solera was started at the beginning of the last century."

My Review: This wine was SUCH a treat! It is a blended white variance wine, mixed with every previous year since its conception. The wine is a rich brown at this point. The smell is intense with raisins, and it has such a beauitful lingering  raisin taste. This is a great way to experience back palate taste. This wine tasted a lot like Sam Adams Utopias. 

Tasting- Pirovano Sangiovese Romagna

Week 7

Name: Pirovano Sangiovese Romagna

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Emilia-Ramogna

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Food? No

Description from the Vintage Cellar: "Aromas of bright berry fruit and violets merge with zesty spice and intense juicy flavors of ripe raspberry, plum and black cherry in this medium-bodied, food-friendly wine. Pairs perfectly with a variety of foods such as spicy pastas, red meats and poultry, as well as aged cheeses."

My Review: The berries are very forward in both scent and taste. This wine felt heavy and unbalanced, though. The spice and tannins overpower the fruit notes, which makes the wine bitter. 

Tasting- Entrada Chardonnay

Week 7

Name: Entrada Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Mendoza

Country: Chile

Year: 2013

Price: $5.95

Food? No

Description from the Vintage Cellar: "Fruity and floral on the nose and rich but not heavy on the palate. Wonderful tropical fruit flavors are balanced by just a touch of French oak to round out the finish."

My Review: I picked up lots of green apple and Anjou pear in this wine. The wine felt oily on the palate, which was wonderfully refreshing. The oak was a nice addition to this wine. It was nothing phenomenal thogh- it didn't stand out as a forerunner for the style. 

Tasting- Protocolo White

Week 7

Name: Protocolo White

Variety: 90% Arin, 10% Macabeo

Region: Tierra de Castilla

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $6.95

Food? No

Description from the Vintage Cellar: "Pale yellow. High-pitched aromas of lemon zest and white flowers, with a piquant mineral overtone. Dry, racy and focused, offering tangy lemon zest and green apple flavors and a touch of bitter herbs. Closes with good clarity and cut, leaving a tart citrus fruit note behind. This is pretty grown-up for the price, not to mention a superb value."

My Review: This wine was fantastic! I loved the white flower/honeysuckle notes in both the nose and palate. The minerality was crisp and refreshing, and the wine was nicely balanced. I would love to have this again.