Wine Tasting #3 - 2/19/15

Meredith and I braved the (well below) freezing temperatures and the mounds of snow today to go wine tasting yet again!  Today we learned the correct way to swirl your wine glass: place it on the table, place your pointer and middle finger on either side of the stem, and swirl in circles.  We also tried the following wines:

Wine #1

Name: Le Jade
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: 89 Points - Beverage Testing Institute.  "Silvery straw color.  Lively aromas and flavors of pineapple, yellow apple, melon, and Meyer lemon with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tingling, complex, medium-long finish with notes of lemongrass, pear, and lemon with no tannins and no oak.  Bright and crisp with layers of juicy pineapple, pear, lemongrass and ripe melon make this perfect for repeated sipping or enhancing fresh farm to table cookery."  12.5% alc.
My review: Pale yellow with hints of peach in color, almost creamy.  Smelled like lemon and pear, citrus peel, and a little bit of crushed grass.  Tasted like lemonade with out the sugar with a really nice lingering citrus aftertaste.  The heat broke through on the swallow.
Paired with: nothing


Wine #2

Name: Petrucco
Variety: Ribolla Gialla
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: 87 Points - Wine Enthusiast.  This well-priced Friulano would pair nicely with spicy Indian or Thai food thanks to the creaminess and richness of its mouthfeel.  In addition, the wine offers a solid bouquet of peach and melon that would not compete with fragrant ingredients.  100% Ribolla Gialla.  13% alc.
My review: This wine was clearer with hints of green.  It smelled over-archingly like honey and green apple, so I see what they meant by it not competing with fragrant ingredients.  This wine was less acidic at first taste than the first, and I found it to be semi-sweet with a nice vanilla and butterscotch taste that lingered.  Does this mean I'm finally tasting oakiness????!
Paired with: nothing

Wine #3

Name: Riebeek Cellars
Variety: Shiraz
Region: Swartland
Country: South Africa
Year: 2013
Price: $6.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: Often referred to as Shiraz Country, the Riebeek Valley is renowned for exceptional Shiraz wines.  The Riebeek Shiraz is a lively rich wine, full bodied with a subdued smokiness on the nose and a pallet of ripe fruit and interesting spice.  14% alc.
My review: This was a garnet/brownish red colored wine that smelled like mud and cherries headed on the path to rottenness.  It tasted smokey and tart, with pepperyness on the tongue.  Mild tannins nicely dried out my tongue.  I wouldn't call the smokiness subdued, because I really couldn't taste much other than it.
Paired with: nothing

Wine #4

Name: Cortenova
Variety: Primativo (Zinfandel grape)
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $10 regular, sale for $6.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: Dark, ruby-red color with violet highlights.  Intense and fragrant bouquet with a rich array of red and black fruit aromas and flavors.  Harmonious and velvety on the palate.  Great balance and structure.  100% Zinfandel.  13% alc.
My review: This was an even darker red that smelled like cloves with hints of black cherry.  It tasted spicy with notes of bacon, tomato, and smoke.  The tannins made me want to drink this wine with a big hunk of cheese.  I find that my pallate is overwhelmed by smokiness and I totally miss the fruit notes when it comes to tasting.
Paired with: nothing

Wine #5

Name: Opera Prima
Variety: Pink Moscato
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: not given
Price: $10, sale for $6.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: A blend of Muscat 97% and Tempranillo 3%.  This fine sparkling presents an intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flower petals.  Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish.  Ideal on its own, as an aperitif, or with all types of sweets and desserts.  Serve it very cold, between 7 and 9 degrees (Celsius?).  7% alc.
My review: Nice bubbles!  This Moscato smelled like rain, grass, and crushed mint.  It had a lovely soft pink color.  It tasted like lemon peel and honey with hints of licorice.  Meredith tasted orange blossom as well, but I'm not sure I'd know what that smells like to begin with.  This wine was refreshing to drink, but left the mouth feeling like it was coated in sugar.
Paired with: nothing