Finally! The last of the European "Alphabet" wines!

It has been a LONG time since my last blog and a lot of wine has been tasted over the last 5 plus months. A significant amount of wine was tasted in ITALY, where all of us on that trip agree, we NEVER had a bad glass of wine!

Today I will catch up on the European wines letters U through Z. Our creativity was challenged in finding wines using some of those letters…and as you will see, we stretched the rules a tad. We also got a little carried away trying to describe the wine using the Letter of the night. See how many of those words you can spot!

I did hear from one reader recently. She told me that she and her friends are now making comments along the lines of “This is a Karen wine…dry.” and “Becky would like this one. It has her velvet.” We hope that you have fun with your wine tasting. We know that WE do!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

‘U’ Night – Becky & Mike’s turn

1. Heredad Ugarte Crianza 2008, Spain  $12.99
   Karen: “Smells good!”
   Bob: “Has a mild smell. Are we on U’s? How did you find them? It goes up your nose.”
   Jess: “Uh, oh”
   Becky: “This is a drinking wine.”
   Jess: “Not much to say about this one. Unremarkable.”
   Bob: “But understandable.”
   Karen: “Is it more flowery than fruity?”
   Becky: “It does have a flowery essence.”
   Mike: “Good with chocolate.”
   Bob 6, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 6, Jess 6
   
   
2. Llicorella Priorat Cellers Unió Selección Especial 2002, Spain?    $39.99
   Becky: “This has a different smell.”
   Bob: “Deep. A lot of tannins.”
   Karen: “Oh my.”
   Jess: “Kind of sour.”
   Karen: “Sour?”
   Mike: “There’s a big of sour.”
   Karen: “It’s spicy, though. Too many flavors going on.”
   Becky: “I’m kind of liking this wine. It’s really different.”
   Karen: “The taste keeps changing.”
   Becky: “Really good after salami.”
   Karen: “It has a nice deep color.”
   Bob: “I’m unspoken.”
   Mike: “Terrible after chocolate. UGH.”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 6, Mike 5, Becky 7, Jess 4.5
   
   
3. Cincuenta Ugarte Rioja, Spain  $10.99
   Bob: “I think it’s going downhill from the first one.”
   Karen: “So, Mike, what’s the word?”
   Mike (blank look)Becky: “I think it’s UMMM.”
   Mike: “First word is Utterly.”
   Karen: “Underdeveloped.”
   Bob: “Underpenny. 99. Was under a dollar.”
   Mike: “Under performer.”
   Jess: “Utterly better than the last one.”
   Karen: “I like this one better. It’s dry. It doesn’t have as much smell.”
   Mike: “Utterly useless like Mike.”
   Karen: “What is that smell? It’s not bad. I just don’t know what it is. Not chocolate. Don’t write that!”
   Bob: “Now that we’re done we’re going to play some eUchre.”
   
   Bob 5, Karen 6, Mike 5, Becky 6, Jess 6.5

  

Friday, April 6, 2012

‘V’ Night – Karen & Bob’s turn

Menu: Crackers, Cheese, Fondue (YUM!), Sausage, Ham

1. Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras La Grangelière 2008, France  $17.99
   Mike: “Lighter color. Oak-y smell.”
   Bob: “Wow! That’s good!”
   Karen: “Yeah, I like this.”
   Stephen, with his fondue fork, successfully skewered cheese, sausage & cracker to much applause.
   Kara: “Great drinkability.”
   Bob: “Lite, but good flavor.”
   Stephen: “It’s good.”
   Becky: “Tastes best after ham.”
   Karen: “Not enough body for a high score. Gives me a warm feeling…like whisky.”
   Becky: “It gives me that metal taste.”
   Kara: “Yeah. Iron. Like blood.”
   Bob 7.5, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 6, Jess 7.5, Kara 6.5, Lauren 6, Stephen 6.5
   
   
2. Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007, France    $49.99
   Karen: “Smells good. REALLY good. It had better taste as good as it smells.”
   Jess: “Will you cry if it doesn’t?”
   Karen: “Yes.”
   Bob: “Mulberries.”
   Karen: “You don’t even know what a mulberry is!”
   Bob: “The finish is…EWW. Need cheese!”
   Lauren: “Drinkable.”
   Stephen: “Bad after taste.”
   Jess: “I like this one.”
   Karen: “A lot better after the veggie crackers.”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 6, Mike 7, Becky 7, Jess 6.5, Karan 4, Lauren 6.5, Stephen 5
   
   
3. Le Nain Violet Grenache 2008 Domaine de la Pertuisane, France  $24.99
   
   Stephen: “Nice color.”
   Karen: “Smells really good. I don’t want to taste it.”
   Bob: “Karen sighed. Did you write that down?”
   Bob: “Smells strong. A weight lifter with sweat.”
   Mike: “Sour.”
   Bob: “It has vintage character.”
   Lauren: “Dry, but fruity.”
   Bob: “It’s almost Voodoo. It’s very dry. It’s almost velvety.”
   Becky: “That’s MY word – You can’t steal it!”
   Bob: “Violet. Volumptious (yes, a new word).”
   Jess: “The viscosity is visceral.”
   Stephen: “It’s Veto-able. If someone opens this wine I will veto it.”
   Karen: “It’s my fave of the night. Very dry.”
   Mike: “It’s so dry Lauren needs chopsticks.”
   Stephen: “Vengeful. The dryness is villainous.”
   Karen: “Oh man. This is so good!!”
   
   Bob 5, Karen 8, Mike 7, Becky 7, Jess 6.5, Kara 7, Lauren 5, Stephen 5
   NOTE: This wine was recommended by Tony at Super Cellar
   
   
4. Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 2006, Spain    $13.99
   Lauren: “I don’t like this one. Very dry and bland.”
   Karen: “Licorice. Anybody think licorice? I haven’t tasted it yet. I’m saying licorice. Anise.”
   Bob: “It smells like fish.”
   Becky: “It doesn’t smell like fish. Black licorice.”
   Karen: “Dry and very little taste.”
   Becky: “Iron. Vampire wine.”
   Kara: “I would have to agree with bland.”
   Jess: “Unremarkable.”
   Stephen: “It was OK.”
   Bob: “I think I’m going through puberty again. I have a pimple on my nose.”
   
   Bob 6, Karen 6, Mike 7.5, Becky 6, Jess 5, Kara 4, Lauren 4, Stephen 6.5
   
   
5. Catapereiro Vinho Tinto Vinho REgional Tejo 2008, Portugal    $11.99
   Karen: “Smells good.”
   Mike: “Fruity.”
   Bob: “It looks like Becky is having a relationship with the wine.”
   Becky: “I had to close my eyes to smell it.”
   Bob: “This is kind of mild.”
   Mike: “It’s a fruitier taste”
   Lauren: “I like it!”
   Stephen: “Very ordinary.”
   Kara: “Too fruity for me.”
   Lauren: “I like it a lot.”
   Jess: “Smell attacks your nose.”
   
   Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 7, Becky 6, Jess 5.5, Kara 5, Lauren 6.5, Stephen 5.5
   

Thursday, April 19, 2012

‘W’ Night – Mike & Becky are Up to Bat

1. 2006 Chateau Malmaison Baronne Nadine de Rothschild Moulis-en-Medoc, France  $22.99
   Karen: “Smells like Thursday.”
   Jess: “Smells like the day after Wednesday.”
   Bob: “Well ‘Wounded’.”
   Mike: “Full bodied. Nice smell.”
   Karen: “This is really dry. I’m surprised you like it so much.”
   Jess: “It won’t wet your whistle.”
   Bob: “I think it’s wonderful.”
   Mike: “I don’t think it’s dry.”
   Becky: “Earthy.”
   Mike: “It’s a wonderful wine.”
   Bob: “It Weally is.”
   Becky: “An interesting taste. Not ‘won’ dimensional.”
   Bob 7, Karen 6.5, Mike 7.5, Becky 7, Jess 6.5
   
   
   
2. Volver 2009 “Wine Advocate 90 Points” Bodegas Volver, Spain    $16.99
   Karen: “This one smells better.”
   Bob: “It does smell good. Really good.”
   Karen: “Yum. A lot more flavor.”
   Jess: “I like it.”
   Bob: “Spicy.”
   Karen: “Smoother. A lot of flavor in the mouth.”
   Becky: “I’m guessing it’s from Spain.”
   Mike: “Black Currant.”
   Bob 7, Karen 8, Mike 6, Becky 7.5, Jess 7.5
   
   
   
3. Wrongo Dongo Monastrell, Spain…. A Gift from Mike’s friend
   Karen: “This smell is in between the 1^st and 2^nd. It’s drier.”
   Bob: “I think it’s pretty good.”
   Jess: “Dry”
   Mike: “Nice smelling body.”
   Bob: Spit dry. Sandy. Desert.”
   Becky: “Fresh smell – like after a rain.”
   
   Bob 6, Karen 7.5, Mike 6, Becky 7, Jess 7

Thursday, April 26, 2012

‘X’ Night – Bob & Karen X marks the spot

1. Grand Vin de Bordeaux Chateau Lamoth de Haux 2007, France   $18.99
   Bob: “Smells good. Fruity. Smells better than it tastes.”
   Mike: “A bland, plain taste.”
   Becky: “But drinkable.”
   Bob: “Doesn’t make me x-uberant.”
   Karen: “I don’t think it’s bad.”
   Bob: “Do you think it’s x-cellent?”
   Karen: “No. I taste pepper.”
   Becky: “Pleasant. Really good with swiss.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 6.5 (the smell for Bob was an 8)
   
   
   
2. Chateau Saint Martin 2008 de la Garrigue Bronzinelle Coteaux du Lanyuede    $19.99
   Mike: “Sour. Tangy.”
   Bob: “A lot of flavor. Not necessarily good flavor. Stinks like hell.”
   Mike: “Sour Patch Kids, but not as sweet.”
   Becky: “Cloudy.”
   Mike: “It’s a seafood wine.”
   Bob: “Tamed down by the tang of the sauce (shrimp cocktail sauce).”
   Mike: “I guess I know which wine I’m buying. You guys will have to suffer.”
   Bob 5, Karen 5, Mike 7, Becky 5.5
   
   
3. Les Baux de Provence mas de gourgonnier 2009     $17.99
   
   A Short Fat BottleBob: “Don’t laugh.” (wrinkled nose when tasted) “We did not do well this week.”
   Karen: “I like this one better than the last one. Less flavors.”
   Bob: “One flavor, and it’s bad.”
   Karen: “This one IS better than the last one.”
   Mike: “No.”
   Bob: “Not good. Dry though. A dry, crap wine. But it’s bad. You’d think a short, fat wine would be good.”
   Karen: “I think that’s why I like it. It’s ‘alcohol-y’. Not a lot of flavor, but very dry. A nice color.”
   Mike: “A very nice color.”
   
   Bob 6, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 5

Thursday, May 3, 2012

‘Y’ Night – Mike & Becky were responsible for these wines!

1. Yarden Mount Hermon Galilee 2010 Golan Heights Winery   $14.99
   Rabi Avraham Oyerbach – Kosher wine “This wine is not ‘mevushal’”
   Bob: “This wine won’t make you yawn yet, but it will make one yell Yahoo!”
   Jess: “Yippee! Smells Yummy.”
   Bob: “Kind of strong – what did you think?”
   Jess: “A fruity after taste.”
   Bob: “Goes very well with the cheese.”
   Mike: “It does get better with the cheese.”
   Bob: “….is yelling for more wine. Yikes.”
   Becky: “Fruity.”
   Karen: “And a little peppery.”
   Kara: “I’m thinking blackberry.”
   Becky: “Something black – maybe black cherry.”
   Kara: “Yes!”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 6.5, Mike 6.5, Becky 6.5, Jess 6.5, Kara 5.5
   
   
   
2. Chateau D’Arvigny Haut-Medoc 2008    $15.99
   Karen: “That doesn’t smell very nice.”
   Becky: “The first smell was yucky – the second smell was better.”
   Bob: “It’s fizzy.”
   Karen: “Caramel.”
   Becky: “A harsh after taste.”
   Bob: “Eww.”
   Mike: “Yowza!”
   Bob: “Yucky.”
   Karen: “I don’t like it.”
   Bob 4.5, Karen 4, Mike 4, Becky 4, Jess 4.5, Kara 5
   
   
   
3. Senorio de Convey Cellers Unio 2008, Spain     $14.99
   Becky: “A darker color. Kind of a chocolate smell.”
   Karen nodded her head
   Kara: “Then we need to eat strawberries.”
   Becky: “Tobacco smell.”
   Mike: “A three. It’s bland.”
   Becky: “You can’t rate it already! Wine foul!”
   Bob: “A premature rating.”
   Bob 4.5, Karen 4, Mike 3, Becky 4, Jess 4.5, Kara 4

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

‘Z’ Night – The last of the European Red Alphabet selections! With Bob and Karen

1. Izadi Reserva Rioja 2003 Spain (a duplicate!)   $19.95
   Karen: “It smells good.”
   Mike: It DOES smell good.”
   Becky: “Is it Zesty?”
   Karen/Bob: “It IS Zesty!”
   Bob: “It has a little zip.”
   Karen: “A little peppery.”
   Mike: “It has a bite at the end, but I don’t know what it is.”
   Bob: “It’s kind of blah. I’m not feeling it. No fireworks.”
   Becky: “It is MUCH better after spicy food. I didn’t like it with the cheese.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 7, Becky 6
   
   
   
2. Chateau du Souzy Beaujolais-Villages 2009, France    $11.99
   Karen: “I don’t like the smell of this one. It’s fruitier.”
   Karen made a weird face
   Becky: “Definitely fruitier.”
   Mike: “Black currant. Dark.”
   Bob: “Not bad. Not good. A musty smell.”
   Bob 5, Karen 4, Mike 5, Becky 4.5
   
   
   
3. Vina Zaco Rioja Tempranillo 2008, Spain   
   Karen: “I’m not wild about this one either.”
   Bob: “Io capiszco vino”
   That’s Bob practicing his Italian for our trip to Italy
   Mike: “Fair. A berry.”
   Karen: “More cherry than berry.”
   Bob: “Kind of ……. no pizzazz ….  doesn’t capiszco”
   Karen: “More fruity.”
   
   Bob 5, Karen 4, Mike 4, Becky 4

It's Time for European "T' wines!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

‘T’ Night with Bob & Karen

Menu: Shrimp, broccoli, cheese, crackers (Bob’s fave), pepperoni, asparagus, bread

There is some history tonight with the wine selection. One of the wines is the first wine that Karen & Bob ever had together. The year was 1982 in Williamsburg, Virginia

1. Larose – Tritaudon Haut Médoc 2005, Cru Bourgeois, France  $22.00
   
   Unanimous: “Smells good!”
   Bob: “A little tart, isn’t it?”
   Mike: “If you let it linger there’s a definite tartness.”
   Bob: “It’s like a girlfriend you can’t get rid of.”
   Mike: “Tangy, tasty, titillating.”
   Becky: “A lot of sediment in the bottom of the bottle.”
   Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 6, Becky 7
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Chateau Talbot Gran Cru Classe Saint-Julien 2006, France    $79.99!!
   Bob: “Oh, that’s dry!”
   Karen: “All right. This one’s really nice. This is your velvet. Becky.”
   Kara called (on the phone)
   Becky: “Kara, this is a wine you would like!”
   Kara is whining
   Bob: “Dusty, dry wine. I enjoyed that.”
   Karen: “Smooth.”
   Mike: “I need some more – that’s because I drink wine.”
   Bob: “Not before it’s time……It’s time!!”
   Bob 8, Karen 9, Mike 7, Becky 7.5
   
   
   
3. Tres Picos Borsao Garnacha 2009, Spain  $15.99
   
   Karen grabbed Bob’s glass to taste….
   Bob: “You can’t do that! That’s a wine violation!! I didn’t even drink it yet.”
   Bob: “This is blood red.”
   Becky: “I’m guessing this is the Spanish wine.”
   Mike: “Spicier.”
   Karen: “I agree with you. I don’t like the smell. Berry. Like cherries. Like a cordial.”
   Bob: “Tempting but not tantalizing.”
   Mike: “It has taste. The last one didn’t have any taste.”
   Becky: “Tastes sour to me.”
   Karen: “Not sour. Tart.”
   Bob: “You need another T (word). Could be terrible.”
   Bob: “Hold on. I need to decide between 9 and 6….”
   Bob 6, Karen 5, Mike 6, Becky 6

'S' Night - European Reds continued

Thursday, March 15, 2012

‘S’ Night with Mike & Becky

Menu: Sausage, veggies, hummus, strawberries, cheddar, swiss, Gloucester, crackers, bread

1. Carlos Serres Reserva 2005, Rioja, Spain   $19.99
   
   Bob: “Mmm. The sausage is a 10.”
   Bob: “Smells really good.”
   Claire: “I’m not good at descriptive words.”
   Karen: “Peppery.”
   Bob: “We can’t all like it.”
   Becky: “There’s no rule against that!”
   Claire: “Even I like it!”
   Becky: “It has a vanilla after taste. You taste the pepper first, then it relaxes into vanilla.”
   Mike: “Spendid. Sings on my tongue.”
   Jess: “Scrumptious.”
   Bob: “Makes me salivate.”
   Claire: “Stinks.”
   Bob: That was stupid.”
   Claire: “Silly.”
   Karen: “Shut up. Seriously”
   Bob: “Sausage.”
   Mike: What was it like being alone on campus during break week?”
   Claire: “It sucked.”
   Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 8, Becky 8, Jess 8, Claire 6 (because of the smell)
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Sabor Real 2008, Toro, Spain    $9.99
   Karen: “Smells like a Spanish wine – Sweeter. Definitely Spain.”
   Claire: “More my style.”
   Bob: “Bitter.”
   Mike: “Not bitter. More sour.”
   Bob: “Okay. I can be influenced. I’m a sucker.”
   Jess: “Easily swayed.”
   Bob: “It grows on you. It tastes like Mike’s sock.”
   Becky: “I don’t like it.”
   Claire: “I do!”
   Jess: “Street fight!”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 6, Mike 7, Becky 5, Jess 6.5, Claire 7
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Serrado Colheita 2008, DĀO, Portugal  $??
   
   Becky: “Looks really dark.”
   Bob: “Cuz there are no lights on”
   Africaans -> Baie_Dankie = Thank you very much
   Karen: “I do like this one. It’s dryer. Really dry.”
   Bob: “It has a bite. Snake bite. Right at my ankles. It hits my ears.”
   Becky: “Definitely dry.”
   Mike: “A good wine. A little dry. Not in the bottom 5.”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 6, Jess 6.5, Claire 6
   Mike: “Immature palates don’t know how to rank the wine!! New Rule: The person with the highest ranking has to finish the bottle. The person with the lowest ranking picks the next bottle.”
   
   
   
4. Chateau Segondignac Médoc 2006, France  $10.49
   
   Bob: “Lighter. Light red. Almost blood.”
   All: “Blood. Not funny.” (go to YouTube if you don’t get this joke)
   Bob: “Ewww.”
   Discussion about prepping for surgery….
   Bob: “Are you going to wash your hands?”
   Doctor – Opens a book.
   Bob: “Seriously?”
   Doctor: “Gotcha!”
   Mike: “We have to save this story for the ‘V’s”
   Jess: “Has a…” (sticks tongue out, scrunches nose, furrows brow)… “taste.”
   Mike: “It doesn’t smell as crisp.”
   Claire: “My hands are sweating.”
   Karen: “This is so dry. It’s almost too dry. Like persimmons – dries your mouth out!”
   Bob 6, Karen 6, Mike 5, Becky 5.5, Jess 5, Claire 5

'R' You Ready?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

‘R’ Night with Bob & Karen

Menu: Antipasto – olives, prosciutto, mushrooms, artichokes, garlic.

Cheeses: Asiago, Parmesan, Provolone, Mozarella.

Red, orange, green sweet peppers. Marinated with olive oil & olive sauce.

Supresat, Carpazzo, Salami. Crackers. Taleggio cheese.

1. Las Rocas Garnacha 2008 Viñas Vigias de San Alejandro, Spain   $19.99
   Bob: “Smells velvety.”
   Karen: “Ooh. I like this!”
   Becky: “Smells really good. Sometimes you can’t smell anything.”
   Bob: “Dark Purple or Ruby Red – the Rotund guy said that.”
   Bob: “Surprisingly mild.”
   Karen: “A velvety bold.”
   Bob: “Ravishing”
   Karen: “Fantastic smell, taste, finish. That’s why it’s a 9.”
   Bob 8, Karen 9, Mike 8.5, Becky 8.5
   
   
   
   
   
2. Côtes du Rhône 2007 – Appellation Coôtes du Rhône Contrôlée, France    $14.99
   Bob: “Eww. We’re done.”
   Karen: “It’s a pretty color, though.”
   Mike (poured a lot): “Becky, this is your glass. I have too much.”
   Bob: “Smells yeasty.”
   Becky: “Which one is it? The one with the sock?”
   Karen: “It’s dry. I like it.”
   Becky: “I don’t think it’s that bad.”
   Karen: “This is a good drinker.”
   Mike: “It has gotten better than the first taste.”
   Bob: “Kind of rosy. A rosy radiance.”
   Mike: “It’s resounding. You have to get past the smell.”
   Becky: “Has the metallic/iron taste.”
   Karen: “I don’t like the smell.”
   We talked about work…blah, blah, blah, blah.
   Bob 6.5, Karen 6.5, Mike 6.5, Becky 6
   
   
   
3. Museum Real Reserva – Cigales 2005 Tempranillo, Spain  $29.99
   Best Label! Awesome!!
   Karen: “We’ve had all dark ones.”
   Becky: “Eww.”
   Mike: “Are you swirling? Are you going clockwise or counterclockwise? You have to go counterclockwise.”
   Bob: “Didn’t I say it can only go down from here?”
   Karen: “The taste is not unpleasant.”
   Over the lips & through the gums, look out stomach here it comes.
   Bob: “It’s not bad. It is dry. You taste the fruit.”
   Becky: “I can’t get past the smell. I haven’t tasted it yet…. It tastes better than it smells.”
   Counterclockwise is harder with your left hand.
   Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 7, Becky 7

It was Quite a Quest to find Q's from Europe

Thursday, March 1, 2012

‘Q’ Night hosted by Mike & Becky but held in the home of Bob & Karen

Bob: “Claire is Q-less.” Mike: “That’s the quote – Claire is here but has no ‘Q’s.”

Claire in pain after her operation, and unable to taste the Q’s tonight.

1. Château Queyssard 2005 Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, France   $13.99
   Bob: “Basic.”
   Becky: “Thin.”
   Karen: “Smells lighter than it tastes.”
   Jess: “Not my favorite.”
   Karen: “Not bad after the salami.”
   Bob: “It’s not bad, it’s just not good.”
   Karen: “I’m liking it better with food.”
   Jess: “I agree.”
   Mike: “I haven’t found the right food. yet.”
   Bob: “Quaint.”
   Mike: “Quick.”
   Jess: “Quiet.”
   Karen: “Quirky”
   Becky: “Not queenly.”
   Bob: However, I’m going to drink it because it’s going to quench my thirst.”
   Bob 6, Karen 5, Mike 5, Becky 6, Jess 5
   
   
   
   
   
2. Quasar Gran Reserva from Chile…Oops! Not European    $11.99
   Becky: “Look at the color!”
   Karen: “It’s darker.”
   Mike: “I have a lot.”
   Becky: “You have quite a lot.”
   Karen: “PLEASE taste as good as it smells…Quality.”
   Bob: “Look at it. It quakes.”
   Karen: “Yum.”
   Bob: I’m with her. You’re not going to get a quarrel out of me.”
   Jess: “I quite agree.”
   Bob: “You know what’s interesting? It’s Q night and you may go watch Quidditch!”
   Becky: “This one is queenly.”
   Mike: This was worth the quest.”
   Jess: High quality.”
   Karen: “It has enough dryness. It has a nice finish.”
   Becky: “It has a beautiful color.”
   (Mike: “Take the bus.” Jess: “Where do I catch it?” Bob: “At said bus stop.” Becky almost spits wine out.)
   Bob 8, Karen 8, Mike 7, Becky 7.5, Jess 8
   
   
   
   
   
3. The Spanish Quarter 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon tempranillo, Spain  $9.99
   Karen: “What is that smell? I don’t want to taste it yet. Licorice?”
   Bob: “Clove.”
   Karen: “Yes! Clove!” (Karen brought out cloves to smell)
   Jess: “It’s pretty good.”
   Bob: “It’s not bad.”
   Mike: I like it. I’m quaking.”
   Becky: “This does have a little spice to it.”
   Mike: “The taste at the end is better. But no quake.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 7.5, Becky 7.5, Jess 6.5
   
   
   
4. Clos des Quatre Vents – Fleurie 2009 George Duboeuf, France  $18.99
   Becky: “Wow! Look how dark that is!” This is the metallic smell.”
   Bob: “Eww. What is that? Smells like big balls.”
   Karen: “I don’t like this. I don’t want to drink it. Who wants it?” (pours her wine into Bob’s glass)
   Mike: “I don’t think it’s that bad.”
   Bob: “Tastes like those chips. Tastes like olives.”
   Bob 5, Karen 4, Mike 7, Becky 3, Jess 6

Some 'P'leasing European reds

Thursday, February 23, 2012

‘P’ Night with Bob & Karen

1. Chateau Pas de Rauzan 2008 Bordeaux Superieur, France   $11.99
   Karen: “I don’t know if I like this one.”
   Bob: “Doesn’t smell bad.”
   Becky: “Sewer smell.”
   Karen: “Sea smell – on the beach, in the sand, on the porch.”
   Becky: “Tastes like it too! Stuff on the beach.”
   Mike: “A bad first taste.”
   Bob: “I’m not disappointed. I’m not in the sewer with the rest of you.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 5, Mike 5, Becky 5
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Camins del Priorat 2009 – Alvaro Palacios, Spain    $??
   Becky: “Pretty color. Deep.”
   Karen: “Smells similar to the first one. Is our aerator bad?”
   Becky: “This is better.”
   Bob: “Tasty.”
   Mike: “My headache is gone. It’s growing on me. Better than the first one.”
   Mike: “It’s a pleasing perfumed palate pleasure.”
   Becky: “Thtat doesn’t make any sense.”
   Bob: “Just write it down.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 6
   
   
3. Prado Rey Crianza 2005 Tempranillo, Spain  $19.99
   Becky: “Smells really good.”
   Karen: “A really good smell.”
   Mike: “Pleasurable Plum” (before even tasting)
   Bob: “Not Plum.”
   Mike: “P for Perfect”
   Becky: “Spicy.”
   Bob: “Did you write down Purple?”
   Karen: “The smell is awesome.”
   Bob: “Perfect? Peppery? Somewhat potent isn’t it?”
   Bob: “It kind of makes you a little Parched. What is it called when you do this with your lips?”
   Becky: “Pucker?”
   Bob: “Yes! I’m pleased.”
   Mike: “Plethora of Purity. Pleasing.”
   Bob 7, Karen 7.5, Mike 7, Becky 7

'O' My! Some more European red wines...

Thursday, February 16, 2012

‘O’ Night with Becky & Mike

1. Ostatu 2006 Rioja Alavesa, Spain   $15.99
   Mike: “Hmmm.”
   Karen: “Smells good.”
   Bob: “Tastes like bubblegum.”
   Dane: “No.”
   Karen: “I kind of like it.”
   Bob: “Cuz it’s Juicy Fruit.”
   Jess: “It’s not Juicy Fruit.”
   Karen: “No, it’s not sweet.”
   Mike: “I can’t figure out that taste.”
   Becky: “Light. Not sweet.”
   Becky: “Bob’s off his game.”
   Bob: “No I’m not. I’m just getting picky.”
   Bob 6, Karen 7, Mike 7, Becky 7, Jess 7, Dane 6
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Onix Priorat 2006, Spain    $14.99
   Dane: “This one is better.”
   Mike: “More flavor.”
   Jess: “It goes pshesss in your mouth. A party in your mouth. Draw a can.”
   Karen wrinkled her nose: “This is NOT better than the 1^st one. Sweater. Not dry. Peppery finish.”
   Mike: “Tobacco.”
   Bob: “Karen, do you want more?”
   Karen: “I do not want it” (with a flare she poured the bottle into Bob’s glass)”
   Becky: “A spicy smell.”
   Bob 6, Karen 4.5, Mike 7.5, Becky 6, Jess 6, Dane 7.5
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Oniro 2008 Alicante red wine, Spain  $9.99
   Bob: “Three strike outs today. Are you sure this isn’t a ‘K’?”
   Karen: “I like this better than the 2^nd one.”
   Mike: “An oak-y taste with licorice & black cherry.”
   Bob 6, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 5, Jess 6.5, Dane 7
   
   
   
   
   
4. Chateau Festiano 2005 Minervois, France  $6.95
   Dane: “This one’s good!”
   Becky: “I like the smell.”
   Mike: “Licorice.”
   Becky: “This one is the best one of the night.”
   Karen: “Tastes like chocolate. Mocha.”
   Mike: “It’s not chocolate. I don’t buy chocolate wine.”
   Bob is pissy tonight.
   Becky: “Smooth.”
   Karen: “And chocolate-y. I’m sorry.”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 6, Mike 6, Becky 7.5, Jess 7, Dane 7.5