Tasting - Lubanzi Pet-Nat 2023

 

Wine: “Rainboat” Lubanzi Cuvee Pet-Nat

Name: Lubanzi Pet-Nat 2023

Variety: 100% Cinsault

Country of Origin: South Africa

Region of Origin: Coastal Region, Swartland

Vintage Year: 2023

Price: $25.99

Description: This lively Pet-Nat comes from the 12 tons of Cinsault hand harvested in late February from a block on a tiny organic farm in the heart of Swartland. Lined by conifers for wind protection and bursting with life from its rocky soils, it's a vibrant place. The equally vibrant “Rainboat” on the front of the bottle is a sign of the rocked juice inside—that “Rainboat” sketched by one of Cape Town’s best urban artists, Chris Auret, whose work embellishes bridges and buildings (and indie albums) throughout the city. Funky label from a funky artist for a funky wine from a funky vineyard, all full of personality. Wild ferment, zero added sulphur, unfined/unfiltered, bottled early in the style of Methode Ancestrale, low in alcohol and high in energy.

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: “Really bright and refreshing strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb, green apple blend together, with a slight bubblegum finish. This (not too) sweet, tart, fizzy experience is absolutely delightful! Will remember for summer sipping.” (Gus Bishop-Lee, Vivino.com)

Wine Folly: Cinsault wines seem to not usually be sparkling, which may have been why I didn’t taste any of the characteristic raspberry, red currant, tart cherry, violet, or black tea flavors. It was also much sweeter than Cinsault wine usually is. (p. 100)

My Review: The Lubanzi Pet-Nat was heavily carbonated and slightly exploded when we tried to open it. It had heavy tastes of carbonation and also tasted like peaches and the artificial flavor strawberry banana.

Tasting - Malvasia di Casorzo

 

Wine: Malvasia di Casorzo Dolce 2023

Name: Malvasia di Casorzo

Variety: 100% Malvasia

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Piedmont

Vintage Year: 2023

Price: $17.84

Label Description: Malvasia is a pleasant, sweet wine, low in alcohol content, that can be enjoyed at any time of day. Made exclusively from grapes grown in the hilltop vineyards of Casorzo and neighboring , it’s the pride and prestige of the area. It has always been the star wine of all local festivals. A comfort wine for all seasons and reasons, it has an aroma evocative of roses. The rich, aromatic wine is ruby-red, vibrant and slightly frothy. lt can be paired with desserts, fruit salads and sweets, but it can also be enjoyed as an aperitif or as a drink for any party occasion.

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: “Sweet, but not too sweet, with balanced acidity. Nice round red fruit of cherries and strawberries. Aromas of roses and a lingering fruity finish. This wine is not fully sparkling, but has a slight effervescence.” (Vintage Cellar)

Wine Folly: I noticed the similar flavors to the raspberry and fresh grape flavors that are characteristic of Malvasias from Piedmont, but I didn’t notice any rose aroma or taste. It was a sweet wine as is commonly made, but I didn’t taste a specifically noticeable level of tannins, though they may have been more subtly balancing out the sweetness. (https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/piedmont-wine-map-of-italy/)

My Review: The Malvasia di Casorzo was quite sweet and had a slightly carbonated mouthfeel. It primarily smelled of strawberries and cherries and tasted like pineapple, strawberry jam, and sweet cherry.

Tasting - Grand vin de Bordeaux Supérieur

 

Wine: Château la Roberterie 

Name: Grand vin de Bordeaux Supérieur

Variety: Blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot

Country of Origin: France

Region of Origin: Bordeaux

Vintage Year: 2016

Price: $9.95

Description: Classicus is a bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is restrained on the tannins and complex on the fruit, an enjoyable table wine for many occasions.

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: “Ripe, full and juicy, this is already a delicious wine. Firm tannins form a dry backdrop to the black-currant and berry fruits with their balanced acidity.” (Roger Voss)

Wine Folly: I didn’t taste many of the characteristic flavors of Red Bordeaux wines which are similarly made of a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot. However, I did taste the strawberry and black currant flavors prominent in Clairet Bordeaux wines which are made of the same grapes. (https://bordeaux.guides.winefolly.com/regions/bordeaux-bordeaux-superieur/)

My Review: The Grand vin de Bordeaux Supérieur wine had an overall dry mouthfeel and tasted strongly of strawberries, raspberries, and black currant.

Tasting - Marques de Grinon Rioja

 

Wine: Marques Grinon Clasico

Name: Marques de Grinon Rioja

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Country of Origin: Spain

Region of Origin: Rioja

Vintage Year: 2022

Price: $11.07

Description: This wine has oaky notes such as vanilla and tobacco. It also has red fruit notes such as strawberry and pomegranate. There are also black fruit notes such as blackberry and blueberry.

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: “Leather and caramel on the nose. Blackberry, pomegranate, and tobacco on the palate. Medium tannins and acidity. Really nice.” (Joyce Donahue, Vivino)

Wine Folly: The oaky flavors which I picked up on in the wine are most likely from the oak barrels which Tempranillo wine is usually aged in. However, I didn’t pick up on the cherry or dried fig flavors which are common in Tempranillo, but I did pick up on a bit of tobacco. (p. 175)

My Review: The Marques de Grinon Rioja had a dry mouthfeel throughout and was overall quite a dark wine. It had prominent flavors of oak and blueberry and hints of tobacco.

Tasting - Francis Ford Coppola Zinfandel

 

Wine: Paso Robles Zinfandel

Name: Francis Ford Coppola Zinfandel

Variety: 100% Zinfandel

Country of Origin: United States

Region of Origin: California

Vintage Year: 2022

Price: $16.79

Description: Diamond Collection wines come from the best growing regions in California, and reflect Francis Coppolas’s belief that fine wine enhances a well-lived life. Our Paso Robles Zinfandel bestows supple tannins and lush, jammy flavors of berries, cherries and plums along with spicy oak and notes of pepper and anise. Enjoy with barbecued spareribs or spicy lentil stew.

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: “This wine is fresh, with aromas of blackberry, cassis, allspice, toasty oak and violets on the nose. The flavors on the palate are pomegranate, dark plum and clove, layered with bittersweet chocolate, orange zest and a dry finish. Pair with weekday meals.” (Wine Enthusiast)

Wine Folly: I was unable to taste the jammy fruit flavors, but I was very much able to taste the smoky and sweet tobacco flavors which are characteristic of Zinfandel. I was also able to taste the high alcohol content of the wine. (p.189)

My Review: The Francis Ford Coppola Zinfandel was very bold and had a strong bitter and black peppery flavor. Additionally, it had some plum flavors which were a bit less strong. It also tasted a smoky and a bit burnt.

Tasting - Clos du Bois Pinot Noir

 

Wine: California Pinot Noir

Name: Clos du Bois Pinot Noir

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Country of Origin: United States

Region of Origin: California

Vintage Year: 2022

Price: $11.54

Description: Our classic Pinot Noir displays aromas of black cherry and baking spice. Luscious notes of black cherry and cranberry lead to a silky finish. Enjoy a glass by itself, or pair it with your favorite pork or bacon dishes.

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: “A wonderful Pinot Noir at a great value. This is a great value at this price point. It is very smooth with mixed berry flavor and a touch of vanilla. We just had some 2022 that compares nicely to earlier years. It has been enjoyed by our guests and will be in our cellar for some time.” (DCC1, Total Wine)

Wine Folly: I tasted the cherry and raspberry flavors which are characteristic of Pinot Noir. However, I tasted a higher tannic component than acidic component in this wine which is uncharacteristic of Pinot Noir. I also was unable to taste strong notes of clove, mushroom, or vanilla. (p. 150)

My Review: The Clos du Bois Pinot Noir had a high amount of tannins and relatively low sweetness. It also had flavors and aromas of cranberries, raspberries, and cherries.

Wine and Cheese Pairing #1

 

The wines which we chose consisted of a 2019 Alcesti Nero d’Avola from Sicily Italy, a 2019 Sideshow The Charmer No.3 Shiraz from South Eastern Australia, and a 2018 Willm Gewürztraminer Réserve from the Alsace region of France. The Nero d’Avola and Shiraz were both full red wines and the Gewürztraminer was an aromatic white wine. The cheeses which we chose consisted of a Parmigiano Reggiano, an aged cheddar, and a triple crème brie. The Parmigiano Reggiano was dry, salty, umami cheese. Similarly, the cheddar was a fruity, umami cheese. The brie was a delicate, buttery cheese.

Left: 2019 Sideshow The Charmer No.3 Shiraz, Middle: 2018 Willm Gewürztraminer Réserve, Right: 2019 Alcesti Nero d’Avola

Top Left: Parmigiano Reggiano, Top Right: Aged Cheddar, Bottom: Triple Crème Brie

The 2019 Alcesti Nero d’Avola was a very acidic and dry wine with slight hints of sweetness and spiciness when drunk alone. It was quite woody and had prominent blacksburg and cedar flavors. The Nero d’Avola paired fairly well with the Parmigiano Reggiano which made the wine taste a lot sweeter and brought out the jammy flavors and lessened the woody flavors. The Parmigiano Reggiano may have overpowered the Nero d’Avola a bit. The Nero d’Avola also paired quite well with the aged cheddar which made the wine taste a bit sweeter in a more subtle way than the Parmigiano Reggiano and brought out both the raspberry and cedar flavors by tempering the acidic flavors of the wine. Neither the aged cheddar nor the Nero d’Avola overpowered each other. The Nero d’Avola paired fairly poorly with the triple crème brie which didn’t seem to lessen the tannic or acidic flavors and may have actually brought them out more. This caused them to further overshadow the fruity and woody flavors of the wine. The Nero d’Avola seemed to overpower the triple crème brie.

The 2019 Sideshow The Charmer No.3 Shiraz alone was quite dry and tannic with very little sweetness. It had strong flavors of blackberry and pepper spice and more subtle flavors of licorice and stone fruits, like plums. The Shiraz paired fairly well with the Parmigiano Reggiano which tempered the dryness and tannic components of a wine a bit and made it taste sweeter. It didn’t change the flavors which were brought out, but they were more prominent due to the lessening of the strong tannic flavors. Neither the Shiraz nor the Parmigiano Reggiano overpowered each other. The Shiraz paired quite well with the aged cheddar which also tempered the dryness and tannic components and made the wine feel much smoother and taste sweeter. It brought out the blackberry flavors and the fattiness of the cheese paired well with the peppery flavors. Neither the Shriaz nor the aged cheddar overpowered each other. The Shiraz paired fairly well with the triple crème brie which made the wine taste dryer and smokier. It also made the wine taste a bit jammier on the aftertaste. The increased smokiness brought out the pepper spice flavor and the jammier aftertaste brought out the blackberry flavor. The Shiraz may have overpowered the triple crème brie a bit, but it still affected the wine a bit.

The 2018 Willm Gewürztraminer Réserve alone was quite smooth and light with delicate flavors of pear and lychee. We had it chilled and that seemed to accentuate the lightness and pear flavor. The Gewürztraminer paired fairly well with the Parmigiano Reggiano which made the wine taste more acidic and brought out mineral flavors which didn’t seem apparent before. It was still fairly smooth, but it tasted overall stronger. The Parmigiano Reggiano may have overpowered the Gewürztraminer a bit. The Gewürztraminer paired fairly well with the aged cheddar as well which also made it taste stronger and more acidic similar to the Parmigiano Reggiano. However, it also made the wine taste sweeter and didn’t seem to slightly overpower the Gewürztraminer as the Parmigiano Reggiano did. The Gewürztraminer paired pretty well with the triple crème brie which brought out the lychee flavors and brought out mineral flavors which were previously much less apparent. The pairing also made the triple crème brie feel and taste smoother, which was the only strong effect which I noticed the wine had on the cheese. Neither the Gewürztraminer nor the triple crème brie overpowered each other.

Tasting - Barefoot Sweet Red Blend

 

Wine: Sweet Red Blend

Name: Barefoot Red Blend

Variety: Blend with Pinot Gris

Country of Origin: United States

Region of Origin: California

Vintage Year: NV

Price: $15.09

Description: Barefoot sweet red blend is a smooth and sweet red wine blend with luscious aromas and flavors of black cherry and plum. This wine pairs well with marinated flank steak, grilled vegetables, and all spicy treats!

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: “In the glass, this wine is light garnet in color.  A pretty good amount of light shines through, leaving dancing red lights under the glass. The wine appears quite thin with no apparent legs at the outset.  However, it became more leggy with air and time. Very little alcohol was noted in the aroma.  I would describe the aroma as raspberry candy with cherry mixed in. Barefoot Sweet Red Wine alcohol content 10.5% per the bottle. As the name suggests, this wine is sweet in flavor.  It’s actually extremely sweet.  Similar to Beringer White Zinfandel in terms of sweetness. The flavor is a combination of raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate.  Truthfully it’s a sugar bomb and you’ll find no dryness in this wine at all. The wine has a delicate syrupy mouthfeel.  Very slight tannins noted on the palate. Barefoot Sweet Red’s finish was medium to long.  Shorter when chilled.  Given the abundance of sweetness, I was surprised the finish wasn’t longer. Overall, I didn’t like this wine.  For a sweet red I’d prefer something with at least a little dryness like Cupcake Red Velvet. I found Barefoot Sweet Red to be too sweet for my tastes.  It certainly delivers on its promise as a sweet red wine.  And, it might be good for someone who really really likes their wine sweet.  But, to me this was comparable to a fruit wine, given its juicy pomegranate flavors. I also wasn’t pleased there was no way to tell what the varietals were.” (Jon Rogers, Honest Wine Reviews)

Wine Folly: I didn’t taste any of the characteristic flavors of white peach, lemon zest, cantaloupe, raw almond, or crushed gravel which are characteristic of pinot gris which was supposedly one of the grapes in this blend. (p.149) This is likely due to there being a lot of different red grapes in this blend and potentially some added sugar which overwhelmed any of the more nuanced flavors.

My Review: The Barefoot Sweet Red Blend was both quite sweet and maybe a bit dry. It had primary aromas and tastes of raisins and blackberry. It also had some flabby and kool-aid like qualities due to the high levels of sweetness.

Tasting - Pink Rinaldi Piemonte Rose

 

Wine: Piemonte Rose

Name: Pink Rinaldi

Variety: Blend of Moscato and Brachetto

Country of Origin: Italy

Region of Origin: Piemonte

Vintage Year: NV

Price: $7.99

Description: This wine, with light rose color, strikes for its scent of spices and fruits. Its acid freshness suits its sweetness and offers a well balanced wine.

Shop/Wine Critic/Winery Review: "This is an addictive, light pink-colored, frothy rose that is quite low in alcohol, with deliciously sweet strawberry and cherry notes intermixed with hints of peach and apricot." (Wine Advocate, Piedmont, Italy)

Wine Folly: I tasted the sweet and strawberry flavors characteristic of Brachetto wine from Piedmont. However I didn’t taste or smell the aromas of rose, mandarin orange, cotton candy, and lychee which are characteristic of Moscato wine from Piedmont. (https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/piedmont-wine-guide/)

My Review: The Pink Rinaldi Piemonte Rose was quite sweet and had a smooth mouthfeel throughout. It smelled and tasted primarily of strawberry and apricot.