Wine Tasting 3: at the Vintage Cellar

The third week of wines at the Vintage Cellar, same rules as last time. The wines are meant to be both cheap and well crafted to appeal to the college aged budget. All of the wines are Under $20 normally and under $8 on sale at the Vintage Cellar. This week featured a balance of reds and whites and finished with a Muscato which is becoming a tradition.

As a note I will review each wine separately giving both my impression of the wine and the description from the winemaker themselves. Following that I will rate each wine on a scale [-2, 2]. Where:

-2: Bad wine, undrinkable

-1: Disliked, but drinkable

 0: Okay wine, neither disliked or liked

 1: Good wine, might buy

 2: Great wine, definitely will buy

Wine #13

Name: Hugl
Variety: Grüner Veltliner 
Region: Niederösterreich
Country: Austria
Year: 2013
Price: $14 (Sale $7.95)

Winery review: "A fresh scent of green pears greets the nose. What follows comes in a light, crisp citrus vein, supported by a rounded mouthfeel. A refreshing wine for immediate drinking. - Anne Krebiehl, MW"







My Review: Fruity, sweet and sour taste with hints of pears and green apple. There was a small amount of alcohol heat on the tongue and a peppery zing. Overall a decent white wine for the price.

Rating: .5

Wine #14

Name: Maipe
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza 
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish.








My Review: Strong smells of fresh spring flavors, this wine has a greater heat on the tongue and a small amount of fruity peppery finish.

Rating: .5

Wine #15

Name: Canyon Road
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: US
Year: 2013
Price: $12 (Sale $6.95)

Winery review: Rich, fruit forward cherry flavors, soft tannins, a medium body and a smooth velvety finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, salmon, and savory pork dishes.

My Review: An extremely smooth, soft wine. It comes with some cherry vanilla flavor. This wine comes off as a sweeter red wine while still having some of the complexity red wines have to offer. I liked it a lot as a "starter" red wine.

Rating: 1.5

Wine #16

Name: Resonata
Variety: Nero D’Avola
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $14 (Sale $6.95)

Winery review: The grapes are soft pressed and the juice is placed in stainless steel along with the skins for a maceration of 8 to 10 days with daily pumping over of the juice to extract more color and sweet tannins. Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background. Excellent with lamb, grilled and barbecued meats, dishes with olives or capers and seasoned cheeses.

My Review: A dark fuity red wine it brings hints of earthy smelling fruits, has the tastes of a younger non-oak aged wine as well as some licorice components. Neither good or bad this wine just is.

Rating: 0

Wine #17

Name: Canyon Road
Variety: Muscat
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $12 (Sale $6.95)

Winery review: Floral, with tea rose and cherry blossom notes, this balanced Moscato shows flavors of ripe white cherry, candied plum and almond on the smooth finish. 







My Review: A very sweet wine this moscoto is extremely zingy with floral notes of oranges and maybe some slight vanilla. It has a almost candy-like flavor of a creaminess lingering in the background.

Rating: 1