Tasting - Schumann Nägler Riesling

Name: Schumann Nägler Christopher Philipp RieslingVariety: 100% Riesling 
Region: Rheingau
Country: Germany 
Year: 2007
Price: $12


Wine review: The wine is named after two sons Christopher and Philipp. They represent the 25th generation of Schumann family winemaking. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel at closely controlled temperatures in order to maintain clean purity of the Riesling fruit. Off dry, this Riesling features a low alcohol level and crisp structure. Peach and green apple aromas are followed by citrus and mineral notes on the palate.


My review: I enjoyed this Riesling; I would rank it a 7 out of 10. The aromas were very nice, dominated mostly by crisp citrus fruits. It tasted very crisp and fruity as well, like peaches and apricots, but it also had a bit of a creamy texture. It was medium-bodied and balanced, with a good amount of sweetness, low acidity, and low heat, which made it smooth to go down with a clean finish. I paired this white wine with vegetable pot-pie and the fruity/creamy texture complimented the dish very well. I would probably try this again, though it is not my favorite Riesling I've tried so far. 

Tasting: Picpoul de Pinet

Name: Picpoul de Pinet
Variety: 100% Picpoul
Region: Languedoc 
Country: France 
Year: 2010
Price: $7.99

Wine Review: Always a great value, the new vintage of Beaulieu Picpoul is super fresh and bursting with aromas of exotic luscious mouthfuls of round, spicy fruit. According to Robert Parker, this has been a perennial BEST BUY selection from an excellent cooperative in the Languedoc. 


My review: It's very interesting because I tasted this white wine at the Zeppoli's wine tasting dinner a while ago and loved it. I bought a bottle and brought it home, kept in in a drawer until I wanted to chill it, and then tried it again. This time, I did not enjoy it at all. I would rank it about a 4 out of 10 for a white wine. Whites are my favorite, and there hasn't been one that I've tried yet that I did not enjoy, until now. I tried to figure out what had changed; maybe something had gone wrong where I stored it, or maybe since I only had a couple sips at the dinner I didn't really get to experience the whole wine. Anyway, the second time around, this white wine did not have strong aromas at all. It smelled mostly of floral and light fruits, but it was hard to get much from it. The taste was just as dull; it was bone dry and not sweet at all, which is what I prefer with my white wines. I could identify some flavors of white pepper and lime, a combination that I was not thrilled with. I did not pair it with any food, but since it is a dry white wine, it would probably go together nicely with a fish dish. Unfortunately, I will not be buying this again. 

Tasting- Rosemount Shiraz

Name: Rosemount Shiraz 
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia 
Year: 2010
Price: $9.99


Wine review: A full bodied, juicy sweet palate with cherry, chocolate and plum flavors with a smooth finish.  


My review: I liked this red wine; I would rank it a 7.5 or 8 out of 10. It had sweet, subtle aromas of dark berries and spices. It's rich flavor was dominated mostly by ripe berries and had hints of chocolate and spice. It was full bodied and balanced, with a good amount of sweetness, acidity, and heat, making for a very long and smooth finish. It also had a pretty good/high alcohol content of 13.5% but the alcohol was not overbearing. I did not pair this red with any food, and I'm pretty sure it was the first Shiraz I've tried, so I would probably try it or another type again soon. 

Tasting - Red Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Red Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon 
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Washington State
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $9.99


Wine review: Red Diamond celebrates the personality of Washington's distinctive red wines. Layers of luscious flavors are revealed in each bottle, exuding style and confidence. Our Red Diamond Cabernet is multi-faceted and complex with layers of berry, cherry, and toasty oak flavors, sure to offer an enjoyable wine experience every time. 


My review: This was an okay red wine; I would rank it a 6.5 or 7 out of 10. The aromas were very nice, but a little strong. It smelled mostly of dark berries and wood (probably the toasted oak mentioned above). The taste, however, was much too peppery for me. The wine itself was pretty dry, and it did not actually have much heat (13.5% alcohol), making it go down smoothly without much mouth puckering. The texture was nice, but the taste was not my favorite. I did not pair this with any food, which may have helped balance this wine out since it was so full bodied. I probably would not try it again. 

Tasting - Urban Riesling

Name: Urban Riesling Nik. Weis Selection 
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Mosel
Country: Germany
Year: 2010
Price: $11.99


Wine review: Urban Riesling is a contemporary wine with traditional roots. The best grapes available from our neighbors' vineyards are selected to produce a wine which reflects the authentic taste profile of top quality Mosel Riesling; racy and spritzy with ripe aromas, smoky and floral in the nose, with brilliant fruit and the typical Mosel slate minerality. Delicious on its own, or a perfect accompaniment to light or spicy dishes, Urban Riesling is a sensory delight.


My review: This is definitely my favorite white wine that I have tasted so far; I rank it a 9 out of 10. It had very appealing aromas of florals and fruits, mostly dominated by pears. It also tasted sweet and fruity with a crisp finish, as the typical Riesling does. I first paired the wine with fried raviolis, asparagus, and pasta which worked very well. Then I tried the wine again a couple of days later on its own and it had matured to taste even better than the first time. The scents and flavors were more accentuated, yet it was still sweet, not acidic, and did not have much heat (9% alcohol). The bottle has a screw top instead of a cork, which may be one of the reasons why it held up so nicely after some time. I will definitely drink this wine again. 

Tasting - R. Stuart Big Fire Pinot Noir

Name: R. Stuart Big Fire Pinot Noir 
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $19.00

Wine review: Voluptuous, ripe. Coquettish. Vibrant, playful, warm. Honest, mysterious.

Wild rose, tea leaf, mushroom, violet and spice. Pomegranate, tarragon, red plum and cranberries. So soft! With Piquant Cioppino. With eggplant & tofu with tomato curry sauce.

My review: This red was very interesting; I would rank it a 7.5 out of 10. It smelled very strongly of spices and pepper. It had a big kick to it when tasted, probably because it had strong hints of pepper and was very spicy like cinnamon. I paired it with pizza, which worked very well. I wanted to try an Oregon Pinot Noir because it was mentioned in class, and I am glad that I did because this one was an interesting wine. It did have a lot of heat and a very full body, but I would probably have it again if I was in the mood for a spicy wine. 

Tasting - Casa Bella Mont'arquato Unoaked Chardonnay

Name: Casa Bella Mont'arquato Unoaked Chardonnay 
Variety: 100% Chardonnay 
Region: Piacenza
Country: Italy
Year: 2008
Price: $11.99


Wine review: Montarquarto's Chardonnay emanates a straw yellow color with golden accents. On the nose, it is persistent with notes of white flowers and fresh peaches. The taste is elegant and harmonic, while still maintaining a full-bodied presence. Best served with appetizers and light dishes. 


My review: I really enjoyed this white wine, ranking it an 8 out of 10. It had a very soft, yellow color to it and nice aromas of sweet, local fruits. It also tasted sweet, mostly like peaches and green grapes. It was not acidic and did not have much heat, with 12.5% alcohol, so it's body was moderate and balanced. I paired it with Italian appetizers, like fried mozzarella, zucchini, and mushrooms,  which worked perfectly. I would definitely try this white again. 

Tasting - Casa Bella Mont'arquato Cabernet-Sauvignon Barbera Blend

Name: Casa Bella Mont'arquato Cabernet-Sauvignon Barbera Blend 
Variety: 85% Cabernet, 15% Barbera 
Region: Piacenza Country: Italy 
Year: 2008
Price: $11.99


Wine review: Full-bodied and well balanced, this blend is overflowing with sabory tastes of wild berries with a rich velvety finish. The nose is persistent, with delicate hints of chocolate and roses. Serve this wine with hearty meat dishes and stews.


My review: This red wine was pretty good; I ranked it an 8 out of 10. It was a very hearty, dry wine, that paired very well with the Italian food (garlic bread, pasta and breaded fish) that I tasted it with. It's aromas were mostly florals, but there was a hint of dark chocolate. It tasted mostly of dark berries and did not have much heat, despite it's alcohol content of 13%. I would definitely try this wine again.