Our "Scoring System"

A note about what our scores mean:
5 - Wine your kids buy for you
6 - Would drink. Jug wine. Good for parties and your kids!
7 and above - Good for ANYTHING. Would recommend to friends. The higher the better!

And for PAIRINGS the scores mean:
0 = Wine tastes best alone
1 = Wine tastes best with food #1
2 = Wine tastes best with food #2

About Me

My photo
This blog started because we needed a tenor in the church choir... Bob, Karen and I told Mike that if he joined the choir we would go out after practice every Thursday for drinks and appetizers. After a while we decided that it would be more fun (and less expensive!) to take turns hosting a "wine & cheese" night. Then Bob had the brilliant idea to "Taste the Vine" in alphabetical order. We started with Cabernet Sauvignon. The rules were simple: 1) The wine had to start with your designated letter, and 2) the bottle had to be covered up so we didn't know what we were drinking. I decided to write down our scores so that we would know which wines we liked the best....then was "forced" into writing a blog so that we could share our "finds" with our friends. So, enjoy!!

Friday, July 24, 2015

'U' Won't believe how Good these Wines are!



The Invitation:
Subject: Uletide Kickoff (official email) 
Dear Usual Suspects,
U have been deemed up to snuff to kick off the Uletide at 122 New Road, Avon where U wines will be unveiled. It has been unanimously decided that Friday, 12/19 at 7 works for all. We are undeterred by the perceived difficulty of finding this under-appreciated letter. Fun and merriment will be ubiquitous. While the evening is unstuffy, kindly rsvp so there will not be an uproar when there is an utter lack of seating :)

Uncompromisingly yours,
~jessica ​ (sean & sophia)​


The Responses:
Undoubtedly, the Ultimate Understanding of oenological experiences will occur that during this Utopia festival.  All who do not embrace this Union will face our Unbridled Umbrage.  We will Uncover Unearthly delights Ushering in Unexpected and Unforeseen hedonistic pleasures.  Ubietly we will gather at the McBee homestead with an Uncared and Unrestrained exuberance.  As always, our Uvulas will Undulate with Unrelenting oratories. 
Linda and I will Ubiquity be there

Undoubtedly the DUes will help usher in the Uletide season as the U wines are unveiled! We understand this will be a unique, unforgettable, unparalleled undertaking and look forward to seeing the usual suspects.
Dee Dee and Charlie

Ultimately it will not be a united McDonald family. Unequivocally, Andy and 
Elizabeth will attending with unfettered exuberance.  Universal and unearthly good times are anticipated.
Uniquely yours, Elizabeth 

Uncertainty of the Mealeys should be Unwavering.  Karen and Bob (the Usual suspects) will be Ushered to the Upper Class event.  I think we have been Unmistakably spelling Uletide Uniquely.  Unquestionably “Yuletide” is the Ultimate way to spell it, but that will be another Wine Night.
Unequivocally Yours. Bob

Untimely Unresponsiveness Ultimately avoided.  Our Utinam to continue our Undying Usance of Uletide celebration is Unstoppable.
Mike

Wine #1: Undurraga T.H. (Terroir Hunter) Sauvignon Blanc Leyda 2011 $23.99
Tasting comments:
Mike “Oh, we’re going with a white?”
Jess “U is a stupid letter. Hard to find.”
Mike “Crisp taste.
Elizabeth, Linda, Dee Dee “Crisp”
Linda “Tasty”
Becky “Unusually light for a red wine”
Wayne “Ultimately Chardonnay”
Bob “Is this made from white grapes?”
Andy “Lacking in Black Currant”
Elizabeth “I don’t think it tastes like chardonnay. I think it’s a Pinot Grigio.”
Bob “I think so too”
Becky “Very refreshing after a hard day of shopping”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 5, Karen 5, Mike 7, Becky 7.5, Andy 7, Elizabeth 6.5, Wayne 6, Linda 5, Charlie 6, Dee Dee 6,  Jessica 8, Sean 5, Robert 7, Bryan 7

Wine #2:  2 Up 2013 Shiraz South Australia $11.99
Tasting comments:
Karen “Oh, there’s the color!”
Mike “This one is darker than the last one”
Andy “Did it go bad?”

Bob “Did it spoil?”
Mike “A bold smell. I like it.”
Elizabeth “An Ubiquitous smell”
Andy “Complex, yet compelling. Sort of like my bride.”
Robert “It’s better after it breaths for a bit.”
Wayne “A lot of tannin”
Dee Dee “A spice smell”
Bob “It has a bite to it”
Karen “I don’t think so”
Bob “I’m getting bit…oh, it’s you!”
Linda “Nice legs”
Andy “Are you talking about the wine?”
Linda “I also think it’s getting better as it airs”
Elizabeth. “Like most wines. The more you drink, the better it tastes.”
Wayne “I enjoyed it”
Karen “Good finish”
Sean “The artichoke changes the flavor”
Charlie “Initially it’s harsh. Then it mellows out. As Linda was saying.”
Bryan “It tastes like Andy would say – it has Black Currants”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 7, Becky 7.5, Andy 7, Elizabeth 7, Wayne 7, Linda 7, Charlie 7, Dee Dee 6.5,  Jessica 7, Sean 6, Robert 7.5, Bryan 6


Wine #3:  Ugarte Crianza 2010 Rioja Laguardia, Espana $10.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “This one smells good”
Wayne “A wonderful taste”
Bob “Holy crap I like this! This is a U?!? This is Unbelievable.”
Jess “There are only 3 ‘U’ wines in all of Avon”
Dee Dee “A little bit of a spice finish”
Elizabeth “The Ultimate wine of the night”
Andy “It’s dry”
Elizabeth “Uber dry?”
Bob “Quick taste up front, but ends fast”
Wayne “A short finish”
Elizabeth “It doesn’t linger”
Wayne “Well balanced and velvety smooth”
Sean “Hey Becky….It’s Good!”
Elizabeth “Unusual eloquence for Sean”
Dee Dee “I thoroughly enjoyed it”

WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 8.5, Karen 7, Mike 6, Becky 7.5, Andy 7.5, Elizabeth 7.5, Wayne 8, Linda 8, Charlie 7, Dee Dee 8,  Jessica 7.5, Sean 8, Robert 8, Bryan 7


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Friday, July 3, 2015

Some Terrific "T" wines!



The Invitation:
Due to Two Talented Travelers (Co Workers of mine, Barry and Brandon…not to be confused with Travelers Inc.) are coming to Hartford on Tuesday October 14th,   I Thought we would host T Night at The Mealey Turf.   These Two have heard Tons about our Toasting’s That They wanted To Take part.

Please Try To Tally The Troops at 7:00pm on Tuesday 10/14.   My Totally Talented Temptress Karen will be Tempting our Taste buds with some Terrific Pasta and I will Trial some Tremendous Tannings for our Transient Tenants and our Transcendent Friends.  Please respond with your Tally.  Thanks, Bob


The Responses:
*Tally Three with Tremendous Thirst. Mike
*Two, thanks.  ‘Til tonight then, A&E
*Tantalizingly Terrific. Wayne
*As transmitted twa-earlier Dews'll be three to taste the 'T' tonight. But there's also a tune we've got to learn soon so check the attached manuscrip'T'. Charlie T(D)ew
*Top o' th'afTernoon! Twill only be this talented taster to join the turnout tonight. The other two send their tearful regreTs. ~jessica

Wine #1: Chateau LaRose-Trintaudon Haut- Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2011 $18.99
Tasting comments:
Dee Dee “Dark”
Wayne “Earthy. Leather.”
Elizabeth “Nice rich aroma”
Barry “This tastes better than the first glass I had!” (The first glass was “Bob” wine)
Brandon “Not as searing as the first one”
Tyler “Smells better than it tastes”
Wayne “Weak on the finish”
Charlie “Starts out bold and ends up weak”
Andy “Tinny”
Elizabeth “The tantalizing smell was tarnished by the taste”
Bob “It’s a little tiny, Becky”
Brandon “Timid”
Karen “It has an earthy smell, wet bark/woody, light, quick finish. A little dry at the finish.”
Wayne “Front of the tongue”

Jessica “It’s almost tart”
Dee Dee “Weak”
Wayne “A timid finish”
Becky “A little sour aftertaste”
Robert “The smell is taunting”
Karen “I like the dry but not much taste”
Wayne “I am guessing that this is a Zin”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 6, Karen 6, Mike 6, Becky 6.5, Andy 6, Elizabeth 5.5, Wayne 7, Linda 7, Charlie 5, Dee Dee 6,  Jessica 6.5,  Robert 6, Tyler 5, Brandon 6, Barry 5, Lauren 6, Kara 7

Wine #2:  Totally Trick Zin 2012 Zinfandel Russian River Valley $16.99
Tasting comments:
Wayne “Alcohol forward smell. Bigger finish.”
Jessica “Sits on the tongue nicely”
Andy “Interesting?”
Bob “Does anyone else like the smell like me? Cherry Chocolate Cordial.”
Lauren “Doesn’t have a lot of smell. Strong taste. Dry. Currants.”
Linda “Nice legs”
Charlie “Creamy and fruity”
Bob “Creamy, tasty package”
Wayne “Black fruit with coffee undertone infused with smoke. And a moderate tannin finish that is elongated.”
Linda “Doesn’t have the tannins. Dry. Threaded with the cherry finish.”
Tyler “Tastes like cherries”
Mike “I like it”
Barry “Truly tasty”
Dee Dee “Cherry with chocolate and coffee”

Becky “It has a sweetness to it”
Karen “Earthy smell. Dark cherry. Nice dry finish. Not as dry as I like, but nice.”
Kara “It’s dry for the amount of fruitiness. I taste cherry.”
Robert “More flavor and more finish”
Brandon “A lot of fruit. I don’t love it.”
Wayne “I am guessing Merlot or Cab”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 7.5, Andy 8, Elizabeth 7, Wayne 8, Linda 7.5, Charlie 7.5, Dee Dee 7,  Jessica 7.5,  Robert 7.5, Tyler 6.5, Brandon 6, Barry 7.5, Lauren 8, Kara 6


Wine #3:  Tommasi Viticoltori 2012 Valpolicella “Ripasso”  $21.99
Tasting comments:
Karen “When you hold this in your mouth it hits everywhere!”
Elizabeth “Full mouth”
Wayne “Dark burgundy color. Spice.”
Andy “This is good”
Barry “It keeps going up, but we haven’t reached the pinnacle”
Brandon “This is why we came to wine night!”
Bob/Charlie “Top of the Tally”
Lauren “Perfect complete wine. From the smell to the finish”
Mike “Terrific”
Karen “The driest of the 3”
Linda “Full, spicy, drier”
Wayne “Bold, spicy, tannin wine”
Jessica “The finish is dry”
Kara “I like the spice. I wish it was drier.”

Dee Dee “Spicy, Cinnamon”
Elizabeth “Teases the tongue with it’s spices”
Tyler “Spicy and best of the night”
Karen “Has an earthy smell. Full taste with a spicy, dry finish”
Andy “It’s spicy, teasing and full bodied. What’s not to like?!?”
Wayne “I am guessing Temporillo”

WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 7.5, Karen 8, Mike 7.5, Becky 8, Andy 8.5, Elizabeth 8, Wayne 8.5, Linda 8, Charlie 8, Dee Dee 8,  Jessica 8.5,  Robert 8.5, Tyler 7.5, Brandon 8, Barry 8.5, Lauren 9, Kara 7



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