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!!

Thursday, February 13, 2014

"E" is for Excellent wines!

Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Becky & Mike
“E” Night


Wine #1: Earth First Malbec Argentina 2011 (in Brail!!) $12.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “Smells like perfume”
Mike “I like it”
Elizabeth “Has a hearty taste to it”
Bob “Almost has that carbonation taste”
Becky “The flavor hits you right away”
Bob “Right between the eyes”
Mike “Bold”
Bob “I’m on the fence with this one”
Jessica, Andy, Elizabeth “I like this one”
Bob “You’re pushing me over the fence”
Jessica “Tasty”
Karen “It’s good with all of the cheeses”
Andy “Excellent. Enervating.”
Mike “Elegant”
Elizabeth “Energetic”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 8, Becky 7, Andy 7, Elizabeth 7, Jessica 7

Wine #2:  Erath Pinot Noir Oregon 2011  $19.99
Tasting comments:
Karen “Very light color”
Bob “Must be a Pinot Noir”
Jessica “Looks like cranberry juice”

Bob “No legs”
Jessica “It’s a double amputee”
Elizabeth “This is light, but I like it”
Andy “Elizabeth finds it both Exotic and Ethereal”
Elizabeth “He’s good at Exaggerating. Tired of the Endless ‘E’s”
Becky “It has a big fruity after taste”
Karen “It’s very light. I don’t like it”
Andy “Enough said”
Bob “One word you won’t get from me….Eight”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 7, Karen 5, Mike 6, Becky 6, Andy 6.5, Elizabeth 6.5, Jessica 6.5

Wine #3:  Estancia 2011 Merlot Central Coast Keyes Canyon Ranches $12.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “It didn’t Ease up”
The "Wine" Journal
Karen “We got our legs back”
Becky “Earthy”
Karen “It’s Elevated”
Andy “Not equal to the others”
Karen “It’s better than the first one. Fuller, smoother, longer taste”
Eight is enough




WINE #3 SCORING

Bob 8, Karen 8, Mike 6, Becky 8, Andy 8, Elizabeth 7.5, Jessica 8










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Thursday, February 6, 2014

Alphabet Wines Continued...It's D night!

Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Karen & Bob
“D” Night

Wine #1: Decoy Napa Valley Red Wine 2010 $20.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “Smells fantastic!”

Stephen “Smells like a great start”
Mike/Karen “It does”
Bob “Refreshing”
Becky “There’s no need to drink it. The smell alone is enough.”
Elizabeth “The smell is so rich”
Jess “The smell set the taste expectation too high”
Stephen “Smells better than it tastes”
Kara “The taste is good. It just needs to be stronger.”
Elizabeth “The taste is more delicate than the smell”
Bob “Drinkable”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 7, Andy 6.5, Elizabeth 6.5, Jessica 7, Stephen 6, Lauren 6, Kara 6.5

Wine #2:  Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2011 Argentina – Mendoza $13.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “Eww”
Becky “Smells like a French wine to me”
Andy “Kind of direct….I was stretching for a ‘D’.”
Becky “Eww. The taste is bad – maybe it was something I ate.”
Bob “The taste is better than the smell. Eww. It’s hard to get past your nose.”
Stephen “You’re telling me!”
Mike “The taste is bolder”
Karen “More sour”
Kara “Musty. B.O.”
Becky “It’s growing on me. It’s better after the cracker. It is sour, though.”
Karen “Let’s get this over with!”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 5, Karen 4, Mike 5, Becky 5.5, Andy 6, Elizabeth 5.5, Jessica 5, Stephen 5.5, Lauren 4, Kara 4.5

Wine #3:  Ducceto Chianti 2011 Bartali $12.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “Oh man. I’m striking out.”
Kara “It almost feels like carbonation when you first taste it”
Lauren “Effervescent”

Stephen “I could like chug 2 bottles of this and not know it. It’s like drinking water or Bud Light!”
Elizabeth “Not offensive but not delicious”
Bob “Maybe it’s because we like cabs so much”
Becky “We’ve had good non-cabs before”
Bob “You’re not helping me out Becky. I was trying to defend myself.”
Stephen “It’s better than the last one”
Kara “I wouldn’t drink the last one because of the smell”
Becky “Iron after taste”



WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 5, Karen 5, Mike 5, Becky 5, Andy 5, Elizabeth 5.5, Jessica 5, Stephen 5.5, Lauren 5, Kara 4

BONUS WINE (Lauren & Stephen’s ‘D’ wine):  Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico 2010 $12.99
Tasting comments:
Karen “Smells good”
Jess “Good smell”

Bob “I must be in a beer mood tonight. This wine stinks.”
Elizabeth “Rich flavor. Bold.”
Becky “Has a very dry finish”
Andy “A little harsh”
Karen “A very nice dry finish”
Andy “And of course I taste currants”
Bob “Or is it dates?”

BONUS WINE SCORING

Bob 6, Karen 7.5, Mike 5, Becky 6, Andy 6, Elizabeth 6.5, Jessica 6.5, Stephen 6.5, Lauren 6.5, Kara 6.5

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Come and Check out the "C" wines! Classy, Cool, Complex.

Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Elizabeth & Andy
“C” Night


Wine #1: Capezzana – Barco Reale di Carmignano 2010 Italy $15.99
Tasting comments:

Bob “Interesting smell”
Andy “Seams heavy or thick”
Mike “Not sweet. Has a little sour taste. Not spicy”
Bob “It’s good”
Becky “Deep flavor with a dry finish”

Karen “Blackberry aroma”
Jessica “The food sharpens the taste”
Sean “I don’t like the sweet flavor that the cheese gives the wine”
Bob “Not good after the bleu cheese”
Everyone agreed that the wine was best by itself
Then Andy said “I need some further research” and poured more into his glass
Elizabeth “This wine isn’t bad!”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 8, Karen 7, Mike 7.5, Becky 7.5, Andy 7, Elizabeth 6.5, Jessica 7, Sean 5.5

Wine #2:  Catena Malbec 2011 Argentina – High Mountain Vines   $19.99
Tasting comments:
Mike “Sweeter”
Becky “Has that iron after taste”
Bob “A chocolate aroma”
Karen “Really sweet”
Sean “Stays in your mouth”
Jessica “Lingers in your mouth – the taste doesn’t go away”
Elizabeth “The meat smoothes out the taste”
Karen “A lot better with the meat. Takes the sweetness out. Not good with the cheese.”
Sean “It’s good with the chunky looking cheese.” (*note: this cheese is Sartori)
Becky “Good with the spicy pepperoni too”
Elizabeth “Much better with the meat”
Andy “Good. But not as good as the first. The finish is too long.”
Sean “Not bad after the olives”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 6, Karen 5.5, Mike 6, Becky 7, Andy 6, Elizabeth 6.5, Jessica 6, Sean 7

Wine #3:  Coto de Imaz Rioja 2005 – Spain    $23.99
Tasting comments:
Karen “Yum”
Becky “Sometimes the smell is enough”

Sean “Leaves a thick line at the top”
Becky “Smooth with a bite”
Andy “Complex”
Jessica “I love the smell”
Andy “I think I like this wine the best”
Elizabeth “Amazing aroma. A smooth taste.”
Bob “My panties are up in a roar…Fresh taste, but I’m not thrilled with it.”
Andy “Very flavorful”
Bob “Not Catastrophic”
Elizabeth “But it has great Character. It doesn’t make you Catatonic.”
Karen “Very smooth with a nice dry finish. Classy. My fave of the night.”
Andy “It’s as Cool as the other side of the pillow.”
Mike “I don’t like the smell.”

WINE #3 SCORING

Bob 6, Karen 8, Mike 6, Becky 8, Andy 8, Elizabeth 8, Jessica 7, Sean 7.5
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Thursday, November 7, 2013

'B' is for a Beautiful Bountiful Bouquet

Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Becky & Mike
“B” Night


Wine #1: Blackstone Merlot B Reserve 2010 Sonoma $15.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “This smells good” (said in his low bass voice)
Mike “Nice dark color”
Elizabeth “It has a rich smell to it”
Bob “A beautiful bountiful bouquet”
Karen “A great bouquet”
Becky “Grape bouquet”

Karen “Great”
Karen “It was better before the food”
Jessica “It’s good by itself”
Becky “Tastes tart to me. Maybe because of the food?”
Mike “It’s a ‘by itself’ wine. Not a dinner wine.”
Karen “Nice legs though”
Bob “It still has a great smell”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 6.5, Karen 7.5, Mike 6, Becky 6, Andy 7, Elizabeth 6, Jessica 7

Wine #2:  Bogle Petite Sirah 2011  $11.99
Tasting comments:
Currants. Grapes. Coffee. Dirt.
Elizabeth “I just took a sip and I like this one better than the first one”
Becky “A lot smoother”
Andy “More to it. More complex.”
Jessica “Smoother than the first one”
Karen “Full taste. Nice start. Dry finish.”
Mike “I’m blushing”
Bob “It’s because your beautiful”
Elizabeth “A wine in bloom”
Andy “Berry good”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 7, Karen 8, Mike 7, Becky 7.5, Andy 7.5, Elizabeth 7.5, Jessica 8

Wine #3:  Blackstone Pinot Noir 2011 $8.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “It sucks”

Jessica “Hold back Bob!”
Bob “I’ve tasted better”
Mike “It’s not a vinegar smell…but…”
Karen “Smells like the second one. No…it doesn’t”
Andy “This is not good. It’s really bad.”
Bob “It blows”
Elizabeth “I’m going to have to pour mine into Mike’s glass”
Becky “It smells like toilet cleaner”
EVERYONE poured their wine into Mike’s glass

WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 4, Karen 2, Mike 4, Becky 4, Andy 4, Elizabeth 4, Jessica 4
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Friday, November 1, 2013

Back to the Alphabet!! A is for AWESOME

Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Bob & Karen
Back to the Alphabet!!
The new alphabet rules are:
  1. Back to the “Alphabet”
  2. Pick 3 Red wines for tasting
  3. The 3 have to be different vintages (i.e. Merlot, Shiraz, etc)
  4. CANNOT BE A CABERNET SAUVIGNON
  5. One “extra” wine of choice – we will not rate this wine. It can be any kind of wine and does NOT have to start with the alphabet of the week
 
Bob & the Wine Journal
Wine #1: Atalon – Napa Valley – Pauline’s Cuvee 2010  $27.99
Tasting comments:
Karen/Bob “Smells good”
Karen “Smells Awesome!”
Elizabeth “A nice smooth flavor”
Mike “Smells like velvet”
Becky “Has a little spice at the end. I feel it on my lips.”
Karen “Really warm. I like that”
Mike “I like it with the tomato basil cheese”
Tomato Basil Cheese
Kara “Good. Nothing bad. Nothing special.”
Elizabeth “I liked it better by itself”
Andy “It’s a good wine if you’re just drinking and not eating”
Jessica “A hint of dryness at the end”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 6.5, Karen 7.5, Mike 6.5, Becky 7.5, Andy 6.5, Elizabeth 7, Jessica 7.5, Kara 7

Wine #2:  Acrobat 2010 Oregon Pinot Noir $18.99
Tasting comments:
Elizabeth “Looks like a Pinot Noir”
Becky “Has a lighter color”
Cheddar and Honey. Yum!
Bob “I think the church used this on Communion Sunday”
Becky “Tastes thin”
Jessica “That’s an apt description”
Elizabeth “A little acid aftertaste. A little bitter.”
Kara “Yes. Bitter.”
Mike “Better with the cheese”
Karen “Good with the meat”
Elizabeth “Better with the cheddar”
Andy “Good with the salami and the cheese. The other one you wanted to drink alone in the kitchen.”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 5, Karen 5, Mike 5, Becky 5, Andy 6, Elizabeth 5, Jessica 5, Kara 5

Wine #3:  Villa Antinori Toscana 2009 $20.99
Tasting comments:
Becky “Darker. Looks better.”
Nuts are always good
Bob “We’re back in the ranking!”
Karen “Smells nice”
Elizabeth “Rich aroma. Dark cherry. Chocolate.”
Andy “Currants”
Bob “Black or red currants?”
Elizabeth “I’m getting tobacco. Smoky tobacco.”
Mike “Dry”

WINE #3 SCORING

Bob 7.5, Karen 8, Mike 7.5, Becky 8, Andy 8, Elizabeth 8, Jessica 8, Kara 7.5

Three Empty Bottles!

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Thursday, October 3, 2013

Ooo La La....Three Red Wines from France


Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Elizabeth and Andy

Featuring 3 wines from France
 
 
 
Wine #1: Cotes du Rhone – E. Guigal – Red Wine - France
Tasting comments:
Karen “Smells good”
Bob “Really good with the Pate”
Becky “It is good with the Pate. It was a little “tinny” by itself. Really good with the pepperoni, too.”
Karen “It has a very earthy smell. That’s why I like it.”
Jessica “My fave food with it is the Duck Pate.”
Andy “Is this pepperoni? It’s very good with the wine.”
Elizabeth “I loved it with the duck pate. Earthy but a little light. But it has substance.
Karen “I like it by itself. It has a nice, dry, peppery finish.”
Mike “Medium. A little spice at the end.”
Andy “Good. Balanced. But it doesn’t knock me out.”
Bob “Apparently it’s a table wine” due to the fact that Elizabeth spilled the bottle on the tablecloth.

Bob “The socks are slippery. We need socks with grips.”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 7.5, Karen 7.5, Mike 7, Becky 7.5, Andy 7, Elizabeth 7.5, Jessica 7

 

Wine #2:  Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2011 Grande Reserver
Tasting comments:
Karen “Black cherry”
Bob “It could be currants. Andy?”
Andy “It could be currants. Syrupy”
Elizabeth “A full mouth wine”
Karen “I really like it because it’s full with a dry finish”
Becky “Fruity”
Jessica “I don’t like the taste at the end. Bitey. Dry on my tongue.”
Andy “Thick. Syrupy.”
Mike “It’s not dry”
Elizabeth “Deep cherry flavor with a dry finish”
Jessica “Not as bitey with the cheddar”
Karen “A lot of black cherry in the front”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 7, Andy 6.5, Elizabeth 7, Jessica 7

 

Wine #3:  Crozes-Hermitage 2008 – Les trios Chenes – Emmanuel Darnaud
Tasting comments:
Jessica “This smells really good!”
Bob “It smells like the last one”
Becky “Smells earthier than the last one”
Elizabeth “Pretty smooth”
Andy “Smooth and less syrupy”
Mike “Still black currant”
Becky “Has a dry finish”
Jessica “But not as dry as the last one”
Becky “Has a tart element to it”


WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 7, Andy 6.5, Elizabeth 6.5, Jessica 6.5

 

After the tasting tonight we made “new” rules for the next tastings. The rules are: 
 
  1. Back to the “Alphabet”
  2. Pick 3 Red wines for tasting
  3. The 3 have to be different vintages (i.e. Merlot, Shiraz, etc)
  4. CANNOT BE A CABERNET SAUVIGNON
  5. One “extra” wine of choice – we will not rate this wine. It can be any kind of wine and does NOT have to start with the alphabet of the week
 

 

 
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