Berrywine Plantations 2010 – Raspberry Wine

Reason: When I first started this blog, my girlfriend said that if I was going to have a wine blog then I would HAVE to review this Raspberry wine, one of her favorites.  So here we go.  :)

Region: Mount Airy, MD

Color: Dark Translucent Rend (Looks like Cranberry Juice)

Aroma: As expected, this wine has a strong scent of red berries, mostly cranberry and raspberry, combined with pomegranate, lemon, and subtle hints of watermelon.

Taste: Based on the aroma, the taste was not surprisingly fruit forward with an almost raspberry sweet jam sensation that easily brings out the inner child. Then this flavor profile dissolves across the pallet with a tart finish, combined with a slice of granny smith apple. Over the course of the bottle, the wine starts to drink more and more like cranberry juice with a soft apple finish.

Overall: This is not a normal wine, it is exactly what one would love if they were looking for an extremely fruit forward & finish wine. It can be best enjoyed slightly chilled in, and taken out on a nice sunny day. You can drink it fine by itself, and will live your mouth watering for some more of that fresh cut fruit taste. Personally, it made me crave strawberries.

Glass Rating: 2 Glasses.

Those who enjoy this type of wine will thoroughly enjoy this wine, however it is not what I would be looking for in a normal glass of wine. You may very well feel that this wine is higher based on your own personal preference.

Cost: $14.99

Robert Mondavi 2009 - Fume Blanc "Dry Sauvignon Blanc"

Reason:

One thing that was brought up to me is that some of you may be having a hard time finding some of the wines that I have been putting on the blog. Have no fear, I was asked to try out a couple wines that you are more than likely to be able to pick up in your local grocery/beverage store. So what better to start with one of the most well-known wine makers from Napa, Robert Mondavi.

Region: Napa, CA (Oakville)

Color: Translucent White with a hint of Gold.

Aroma: Simple profile of scents of Pears & Fresh Apples.

Taste:  The aroma profile steers the taste buds in the delight full direction of apples, and pears. The wines taste makes my thoughts go to sitting on a nice warm beach where I can watch the waves while enjoying the waves of this great wine.

Each sip lingers for up to 90 seconds after tasting. This means that you can fully savor every single drop!

Overall: this Fume Blanc is a fantastic choice for a nice warm summer day. The flavors are simple but go on, and on for true enjoyment. I am very pleased with my purchase. The wine was spot on for where it should be, and was a purchase I will make again, and again. I recommend you do the same.

Glass Rating: 3.5 Glasses.  :)

Cost: $14.99

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 2008 – Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer: “Wines That Rock”

Reason:

As I mentioned previously, there is a lot going on in my family, which has inspired me to continue to push my passions more and more.  What better way to do this than to keep posting about wine, specifically to this post, journeying to the “Dark Side of the Moon.”

Region: Unknown

Color: Deep Purple to Black, with a Ruby rim.

Aroma: My nose was immediately rocked with scents of Black Cherry, mixed with a little bit of white pepper, and finished with cedar & vanilla.  This profile took me on a journey through some wonderful tasting room times of my past.

Taste:  This Cabernet is light, one of the lightest I have ever tasted. It hits the taste buds, lasts for a couple seconds, and ends with a lime taste before you even swallow.  It was a confusing experience, which to this day I am not sure how I felt about it.  There was no tannin structure, and left my mouth bland.

Overall: I feel that if I had this wine a year or more earlier it would have rocked my socks off.  If I could spin the turntable of my life in reverse to see what it would have been like, I would.  Unfortunately, I cannot, all I can say is that for the bottle I had did not have any remnants of a tannin structure, and the flavors did not last.

Glass Rating: 1.5 Glasses.

Cost: $16.99

Celebrate Today with a Cabernet

These past several weeks have been a difficult time with transitioning out of California, back into Ohio. As well as finding out that my namesake, my uncle, has cancer. My Uncle is someone who my mother named me after with the hopes that I would someone who is as light hearted, and able to follow my passions, like he always has. So after this shock, I have taken some things into perspective, and have realized I need to rekindle this blog, and other wine outlets. All with the hope of living out my passion of working in the wine industry soon. 

So as I turn over this leaf towards my future, I am humbled to inform you that today, yes today (Thursday 8/30/2012) is national Cabernet day! So take out your glassware, wine key, and open yourself up a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy it with friends & loved ones, and celebrate today!

I will be doing the same, and of course let you know all about the wine. I will be trying the Pink Floyd Dark Side Of the Moon Cabernet Sauvignon. I consider it a journey to somewhere I have never seen and have yet to experience. 

Cheers on this wonderful holiday!
-Bruce

Stanza 2008 - Cabernet Sauvignon

Reason:

I have developed a great relationship with my local wine boutique here in Ohio, and he stated that Stanza Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 is a wine that he has been enjoying this summer. As such, he recommended it based on what he knows that I like, and of course I bought it. The price point didn’t hurt either.

Overall:

Stanza Cabernet Sauvignon was a delicious wine to enjoy on the evening, while cooking, with steak, and hanging out after. An all around great buy that is simple to enjoy, and I think you will too!

Region:

Lodi, CA

Aroma:

This Cabernet has a subtle aroma of cedar, dark berries, with a black pepper finish that will perk up your nose in a delightful manner. This aroma will quickly leave the senses, awaiting to be  enjoyed for its taste.

Taste:
For this 2008 wine, it has aged exceedingly well, it is softer on the pallet, and the subtle tannins finish out well with the fruit forward essence of the wine. Upon first sip your mouth will be filled with a mix of black plum, black cherry, black currant, some smokiness from the toasting of the barrel, and will be rounded out by the flavor of black pepper elevating the wine off of your tongue. Leaving nothing more than a wonderful essence of wanting the next sip. This taste will last on the pallet for about 30 seconds, which is great that you can enjoy it for this long in its physical absence, I only wish this lasted longer.

Price:

$14.99

Glass Rating:

3 Glasses

 






Next Week's Wine:
Berrywine Plantation 2010 - Raspberry Wine

Next Post Wednesday

Today is my last full day in California for a while, and I must move back to Ohio tomorrow evening. This makes it a little difficult to put up a new post. However, you need not worry, there will be a wonderful post this Wednesday night to celebrate "Wine Wednesday." Stay tuned! :)

-Bruce

“Glass Rating”

One thing that I thought would be helpful if I was to have a rating system for the wines I try, but what to do…. Points? Overly done…. Stars? since when does wine have stars…. then it hit me!

Each normal 750ml bottle contains 4 glasses of wine, perfect! Starting with my previous post I will be adding a glass rating to each wine I try. This rating system goes from zero glasses to four glasses, with four glasses meaning that the wine is absolutely outstanding, and zero meaning I will not suggest the wine.

I want to recognize the fact that, like any other rating system, this rating is based on my personal tastes. However, I want you to know that I have been tasting lots of different wines, and I take every aspect of with wine (except price) into consideration when providing you a rating. The reason I do not take the price into consideration of the rating, is because of the fact that I want you to enjoy a wine by what’s in the bottle. Do not be scared of the price point, I am working hard to find you wines that you will enjoy regardless of price. The more open you are to expanding your possibilities, the more opportunity you have to find some hidden wine gems, but rejoice in the fact that there are some delicious wines at extremely cost effective prices. J

Moreover, I am open to suggestions on wines that you would like me to try, and gladly welcome your comments of your thoughts on the wines I’ve tried. Wine can, and should be enjoyed with others, so let’s ThinkWine together!

Cheers!

-Bruce