'F' is for Fine wines from France, Portugal and Spain

Thursday December 15, 2011
‘F’ at Bob and Karen’s
We had 3 guest tasters this evening: Kara from St. Francis, Claire from South Africa, and Carissa from New Zealand. Carissa gave up after the first 2 wines. She is still developing her palate.

1. A Fuga – Ribeira Sacra Denominacion de Orixe Spain $15.99
   Karen: “Doesn’t smell bad. Fruity.”
   Claire: “I like it. It’s not dry. Delicious.”
   Bob: “Sparkly.”
   Mike: “A Christmas sparkle.”
   Becky: “Like a fruit punch.”
   Karen: “It’s almost fizzy. Not what I was expecting.”
   Kara: “Fruity. I don’t like the smell. Not dry.”
   Bob 6, Karen 5, Mike 7, Becky 6, Kara 2, Claire 7
   
   



2. Chateau de Flaugergues 2007 France $21.99
   Claire: “This one is darker.”
   Karen: “Not a lot of smell.”
   Bob: “Mild smell.”
   Claire: “It smells like something I’m not going to like.”
   Bob: “Nice!”
   Mike: “Drier.”
   Claire: “Yeah. That’s the problem.”
   Mike: “Karen will rank this one higher.”
   Becky: “This tastes more like wine, not ‘punchy’ like the lst one”
   Bob 7, Karen 6.5, Mike 6.5, Becky 6, Kara 7, Claire 4.5, Carissa 1
   
   ****Christmas Music was playing in the background…Kara held a note for LONG time…much to everyone’s distress******
   



3. Herdade Fonte Paredes – Cabernet Sauvignon Aragoñes 2005 Portugal $17.99 Bob: “Lively”
   Karen: “Smells bad”
   Mike: “Mellow”
   Kara: “What is that smell? Garbage?”
   Claire: “It burns your nose if you inhale a lot. And, it tastes like it smells!”
   Mike: “It tastes BETTER than it smells.”
   Bob: It has a good flavor, though.”
   Kara: “I don’t like the smell, but I like the taste.
   Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 6.5, Kara 6, Claire 4
   



4. Chateau La Fleur Haut Carras 20098 Red Bourdeaux France $35.99
   Mike: “A Karen wine”
   Karen: “This is AWESOME!”
   Claire: “I think if I had had this one first I wouldn’t like it. But I Like it!”
   Kara: “It’s like bread in the oven.”
   Karen: “Oh my gosh, this is SO much mine!”
   Claire: “This isn’t dry is it? I like it!” Note: Claire does not typically like dry wines
   Bob to Claire: “Do you have any idea what your taste buds are?!?”
   Bob 7, Karen 8, Mike 7, Becky 7, Kara 8, Claire 6.5