Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Elizabeth and Andy
Featuring 4 wines from Spain plus a BONUS wine from Italy
Wine #1: Carlos Serres Crianza 2008
Tasting comments:
Bob “That’s a nice aroma!”
Becky “I’m guessing it will be spicy”
Linda “I’m not getting spicy”
Mike “Me either”
Bob “I like this one”
Wayne “Me too”
Becky “Oooh. That’s nice! It’s a surprise”
Andy “It is. It’s kind of interesting”
Becky “It’s almost my velvet”
Karen “Smokey”
Becky “Like a smoking jacket”
Karen “A red velvet smoking jacket”
Elizabeth “Subtle. I like it!”
Bob “I’m eating too much. It’s about the wine”
Bryan “Better by itself than with the cheese”
Jessica “Smooth”
Linda “Very light”
Wayne “Medium bodied with a hint of vanilla”
Elizabeth “I thought it was on the light side”
Wayne “Do you taste the vanilla Karen?”
Karen “Yes”
Andy “We’re suggestible”
Winemaker notes:Color rojo picota con ribete púrpura, limpio y brillante. Aromas a fruta roja madura sobre un fondo especiado, con ligeras notas de regaliz. En boca presenta una buena estructura, sabroso, fresco, frutal, con un final persistente y goloso. Perfecto par acompañar platos de la cocina mediterránea. Frituras, verduras a la parrilla, arroces, pasta legumbres, carnes blancas y rojas, quesos suaves o de media curación.
WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 7.5, Karen 7.5, Mike 7.5, Becky 8, Andy 7.5, Elizabeth 7.5, Wayne 8, Linda 7.5, Jessica 7.5, Bryan 8
Wine #2: Beronia Rioja Reserva 2007
Tasting comments:
Bob “This smells good”
Mike “Very good. Not as smooth as the first one”
Bob “Now you get the pepper”
Elizabeth “Has more bite to it”
Jessica “A stronger taste”
Andy “Younger. More direct.”
Elizabeth “What the ‘heck’ does that mean?”
Andy “Not aged and not as mellow as us”
Wayne “The salty cracker turned it sweet”
Bryan “has the perfect amount of spice”
Jessica “A nice balance”
Karen “Sweet..Not sweet. The pepper goes away with the salt. Fuller than the first one”
Wayne “Fills your mouth”
Karen “Full, dry, great finish”
Wayne “Pepper forward. Satin finish”
Winemaker notes:Cherry red in color with a garnet rim. Complex aromas with great intensity. The blackberry, licorice and black fruits really stand out and are mixed with chocolate and clove over a mineral base. A powerful wine, lively with a pleasant structure. On the mouth the licorice, chocolate and sweet spices stand out. A balanced and fresh wine.
WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 6, Karen 8, Mike 7, Becky 7.5, Andy 7.5, Elizabeth 8, Wayne 7.5, Linda 7, Jessica 7.5, Bryan 8.5
Wine #3: Bodegas Olara Cerro Anon 2006 Reserva
Tasting comments:
Wayne “Look at the color of that one!”
Bob “Very mild. Of course I just ate salami and cheese”
Linda “Went up my nose”
Karen “They all have a similar smell”
Elizabeth “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but it’s very dark”
Bob “Interesting flavor”
Andy “Inky”
Elizabeth “Kinky?”
Bryan “Seems like it’s a wine that would own fluffy handcuffs”
Wayne “Pepper is on the side of the tongue”
Karen “Tart”
Linda “A strong finish”
Wayne “Becky , this is a redhead. Tobacco?”
Jessica “It’s more brothel”
Elizabeth “Black cherry”
Wayne “Sweet. Sugar. I’m hallucinating.”
Karen “His mouth is doing something. I don’t know what it is”
Wayne “It’s not a dry wine”
Karen “I hate to say tart when I’m talking about red wine”
Wayne “Are we recommending wine therapy?”
Becky “Absolutely”
Elizabeth “I always practice wine therapy”
Andy “Deep and inky. Not as accessible”
Becky “Has an iron back taste”
Winemaker notes:
"Deep ruby. Pungent aromas of cherry-vanilla, mocha and floral oils, with a smoky topnote. Lush and expansive, offering sweet red fruit flavors and a strong jolt of vanilla. Finishes smooth and sweet, with very good energy and juicy persistence."
WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 6, Karen 6, Mike 6, Becky 6, Andy 6.5, Elizabeth 7, Wayne 7, Linda 6, Jessica 6.5, Bryan 6.5
Wine #4: Marques de Caceres Crianza 2008 Rioja
Tasting comments:
Jessica “Dry”
Wayne “A I wrong, or is this wine bland? Not a bad flavor, just not enough”
Linda “Yes. Bland”
Karen “Tart”
Becky “Definitely dry”
Karen “Sour. Tart.”
Jessica “Tart like the other one. Lackluster wine.”
Mike “Under performing”
Elizabeth “No sparkle”
Andy “Good but nondescript”
Wayne “The ultimate insult - It’d be good in Sangria.”
Bryan “A good flavor. Just not enough”
Becky “Sour”
Winemaker notes:
Intense ruby color. Expressive bouquet with notes of raspberries, bilberries and cherries, enlivened by a touch of spice and a depth of vanilla. Charming fruit in the mouth with good structure that highlights concentrated flavors and fleshy tannins. Nice complexity on the tasting resulting in good length. This Crianza is made from our best "cuvees" from the 2008 vintage and conserves in full the character derived from top quality grapes.
WINE #4 SCORING
Bob 5.5, Karen 5, Mike 5, Becky 5.5, Andy 6, Elizabeth 6, Wayne 5, Linda 5.5, Jessica 5.5, Bryan 6
Wine #5: Caparzo 20110 Sangiovese Toscana Red Wine
Tasting comments:
Becky “Fruitier than the other wines”
Karen “Fruity”
Andy “I don’t particularly care for this one”
Wayne “Fruity”
Karen “It does have a dry finish”
Bryan “Mom, Mom, Mom! It’s fruity with a dry finish”
Elizabeth “I like it better than the last one”
Wayne “Not bad for a screw-top (if I want to be snooty)”
Winemaker notes:
Round, with blackberry and black cherry flavors, this is a juicy red. There are firm tannins lurking beneath the surface, adding texture to the finish.
WINE #5 SCORING
Bob 6, Karen 6, Mike 6.5, Becky 6.5, Andy 5.5, Elizabeth 6.5, Wayne 6.5, Linda 6, Jessica 6, Bryan 6.5
Karen “It
has a very earthy smell. That’s why I like it.”
