Wine Tasting: 2008 Fortediga Cab/Syrah

Name: Fortediga
Variety: Cab/Syrah (40% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon)
Region: Maremma, Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2008
Price: $20 on closeout for $9.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: 89 points, Wine Advocate; A wine that reveals considerable richness and depth while maintaining a pure, crystalline quality in its dark, varietal fruit. This is 40% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 6 months in used French oak barrels.

My Review: This was the last wine from the Saturday wine tasting at the vintage cellar. On the nose I could smell the oak. When I tasted the wine, the wine really coated my palate. I tasted an overall woodiness with a hint of a darker fruity flavor that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I didn't consume any food with this wine.

Wine Tasting: 2007 Joseph Carr Pinot Noir

Name: Joseph Carr
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Sonoma Coast, California
Country: USA
Year: 2007
Price: $33 on closeout for $9.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: Ever-elusive, our Central Coast Pinot Noir offers cherry, and dark wild raspberry in both the bouquet and taste. I also find aromatic violets, tea, strawberry seed, and hints of mushroom. The wine shows very good structure with balanced, yet approachable tannin.

My review: The fourth wine I tasted at the vintage cellar. This was a red wine with a dirty, earthy, musky smell on the nose. Tasting the wine brought out woody and earthy flavors and a bitter-ish flavor. This was my least favorite wine.

Wine Tasting: J.P. Chenet Dry Rose Sparkling

Name: J.P. Chenet
Variety: Sparkling Rose (100% Bobal)
Region: N/A
Country: France
Year: NV
Price: $18 on closeout for $6.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: Intense and fine, dominated by notes of red berries. The combination of fine bubbles and delicate aromas makes this a delightfully light and silky rosè. Aromas in the mouth evoke red berries, cherries, and strawberries: mellow and well balanced.

My Review: The third wine and my first sparkling wine.  It was a gorgeous pink color. On the nose, I smelled cherries and strawberries. On the taste, the tickling sensation from the bubbles and the taste of strawberries and cherries made this wine my favorite of the day. It wasn't too sweet or too dry. It was perfect. It was not consumed with food. 

Wine Tasting: 2010 Fortediga Vermentino

Name: Fortediga
Variety: Vermintino
Region: Maremma, Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $20 on closeout for $9.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: Clear yellow in color. The aromas are lifted with pleasant hints of pear and green apple. The fresh, smooth flavors on the entry persist, the structure is fine and balances well with the fruit.

My review: This was my second wine at the Vintage Cellar. It was a very pretty, clear, yellow color. On the nose, all I could pick out was an apple smell. On the taste, it was smooth and slightly bitter. With three separate sips, I struggled to put into words exactly what I was tasting. I did not consume any food with this wine.

Wine Tasting: Nopa Vinho Verde

Name: Nopa
Variety: Vinho Verde (50/50 Arinto and Azal) 
Region: N/A
Country: Portugal
Year: NV
Price: $13 on closeout for $5.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: 50% Arinto and 50% Azal. The result is elegant, silky, fresh, and well balanced, with a fine citrus brightness. Ideal as an aperitif or as a perfect accompaniment to seafood, poultry, pasta, salads, spicy oriental food and grilled white meat. Enjoy in moderation and in good company. This Vinho Verde is proudly produced in portugal. 

My Review: Recovering from that nasty cold I had last week, this is the first wine I tasted at the Vintage Cellar on Saturday. This white wine had a pretty light yellow color. On the nose, the wine smell sweet and slightly sour just like your favorite citrus fruit. I also smelled a slight floral aroma. On the taste it was smooth and fresh with a great fruity, citrus flavor. It had a nice little bite on the finish. Although I didn't consume this wine with any food I'm thinking it would go great with my chicken picatta or lemon and pepper fish! Mmmm! 

WineTasting-2010 Chocolate Box Shiraz

Name: Chocolate Box 
Variety: Shiraz
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: ~$15

Winery Review: Selected fruit from family owned vineyards in northern Barossa Valley. This wine showcases classical Barossa black fruit characters with dark chocolate flavors matured for 2 years in a combination of French and American oak barrels.

My Review: This dark red wine was paired with a lovely birthday dinner of surf and turf (filet mignon and blackened salmon). Due to a recently developed cold and a stuffy nose I struggled to pick out the different notes on the smell. On the taste, I could pick out the bitter chocolate flavors and the woodiness of the oak. It definitely burned a little around the edges of my mouth, and at almost 15% alcohol by volume, I wasn't really surprised. It paired really well with the filet mignon and is definitely a wine I want to revisit when I get my full sense of smell and taste back!