Friday, January 23, 2015

Tasting - Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato

Name: Angove Zibibbo  
Variety: Sparkling Moscato
Region: S. Australia  
Country: Australia  
Year: Unknown  
Price: $18 sale $4.95   
Shop/wine critic/winery review:   
The Zibibbo variety is noted for its delightfully fresh aromas and light fresh palate making it the ideal variety to use in sparkling wine. The variety is part of the Muscat family and is delightfully fresh, this frothy, sweet ‘alfresco’ sparkling wine displays crisp floral aromas with citrus peel and creamy flavors on the palate. Pale straw in color, the wine shouts of celebration and exuberance, and with a modest 8% alcohol, is ideal on a lazy sunny afternoon with friends.  
Your Review: 
No.  It tastes like stereotypical college wine.  Syrupy and sugary.  I guess the sparkling flavor makes it slightly more intriguing.  
I did not taste this with food.

Tasting - Five Rivers Merlot

Name: Five Rivers 
Variety: Merlot 
Region: Monterey 
Country: California 
Year: 2011 
Price: $18 sale $7.95 
Shop/wine critic/winery review:   
Ripe cherry and blackberry fruit stars in this easy-drinking wine, with oak providing toasty sweetness. It’s an everyday, cheeseburger-friendly Merlot. 
Your Review:  
I really dislike cherry.  And I don't eat cheeseburgers.  This is really not the wine for me.  The cherry has a strong flavor, which is probably really nice for some people. The smoky flavor is usually ok with me, just not with cherry. 
I did not pair this with food.

Tasting - Beaujlais Nouveau

Name: George Duboeuf
Variety: Beaujlais Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais 
Country: France 
Year: 2014 
Price: $14 sale $3.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review:
Balanced and lightly creamy, offering pretty flavors of plum sauce and raspberry coulis threaded with hints of ground spice. Elegant, with a floral finish.
Your Review: 
Again, additional fruits are noted. It was interesting that this wine is not aged, so it affects the flavor.  Not necessarily to my liking, but I guess this is a wine for the holiday season with the intention that it is new and different.  I like that.  
I did not pair this with food.

Tasting - Rubus Rosado Prieto Picudo

Name: Rubus Wine Selections
Variety: Rosado Prieto Picudo
Region: D.O Tierra de Leon
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $14 sale $3.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review
Bright clean strawberry rose color. In the nose it is intense and fresh, with strawberry aromas and slight citric hints. In the mouth it is fresh, strong and tasty, emphasizing a delightful tingle due to its carbonic residuals. The name Prieto Picudo means "tight & pointy" (more or less). This is due to the tightly formed bunches and the slightly oval/pointy shape of the grapes. The bunch shape is reminiscent of Tempranillo; the berries are thick skinned, and dark blue-black in color. Prieto Picudo is well adapted to the difficult growing conditions in Castilla y León province - not a lot of rain, very cold winters and scorching hot summers. The vines tend to relatively low yields, with lots of color, concentration and good acidity. Also, it's the same grape as Alfrocheiro Preto in Portugal. Alfrocheiro is an important variety in Dão region of Portugal. 
Your review:
This is definitely sweeter.  It tastes fruity, specifically berries.  I do really like this wine, but the "carbonic residuals," was a little much.  That sharp, almost carbonated flavor, makes this not something I would enjoy regularly.  I just kept thinking this is a wine my aunts would like. 

I did not pair this with food.