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, April 24, 2014

Blind Wine Tasting - “H” Night



Invitation and Response:
It's a Heck of a night to have some Heavenly wine after a Heartfelt choir practice...but we're HERE for you :)  It's H night tonight at the Vortherms house. Please let us know if you will have any additional Hands on wine tasters tonight. Looking forward to seeing you all! 

Heartily happy to attend tonight!  Hope it’s great!  No additional hands from our family.  Ho-ho-ho.  Andy

How could we Hold out of sucH a Happy Holiday event!!!! The Mealey HouseHold will be Honored to Have tHree at the VortHerm’s House tonight!!!!!

Holy Hell! tHis is Hopefully going to be anotHer Hilarious Happening! How lovely! Hang on to your Hats, McBees on the Horizon! ~jessica

Wine #1: Handcraft – Artisan Collection – Petite Sirah – 2011 California $10.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “Tastes better than it smells”
Andy “It had to”
Elizabeth “Better with cheese”

Becky “First taste – fruity. Better with the crackers.”
Karen “This is a South American/Chilean wine. It has that musty smell & taste.”
Elizabeth “The smell isn’t one I care for, but the taste is better. Smells like musty socks.”
Bob “I can live with the stinky feet. I have for years.”
Becky “It is good with the cheese”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 6, Karen 4, Mike 5.5, Becky 6, Andy 6, Elizabeth 5.5, Jessica 6, Sean 5, Kara 5.5

Wine #2:  Hahn Estate 2011 Pinot Noir – Santa Lucia Highlands $19.99
Tasting comments:
Karen “Smells a lot better than the first one”
Becky “The smell gets better”
Elizabeth “A lot bolder. Not committed on the taste yet.”
Becky “It hits you right away. Has a harsh after taste.”
Jessica “The first taste I didn’t like at all, but it’s growing on me”
Mike “It came out of hibernation”
Becky “What does that mean?”
Mike “It’s getting better”
Sean “It’s not my cup of tea”
Karen “The finish is good, but the start is too sweet”
Kara “Ho hum”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 6, Karen 5, Mike 6.5, Becky 5.5, Andy 6, Elizabeth 5, Jessica 5.5, Sean 3, Kara 5

Wine #3:  Horse Heaven Hills – Columbia Crest 2010 Merlot $13.99
Tasting comments:
Karen “Is it vanilla?”
Elizabeth “I think it’s chocolate”

Karen “I like this one the best so far”
Becky “Smells like caramel”
Jessica “I can see that! This one is drier. I like it.”
Andy “This is the best yet”
Kara “I agree”
Sean “It’s all right”

WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 7, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 6, Andy 7, Elizabeth 6.5, Jessica 7, Sean 6, Kara 6.5




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Thursday, April 3, 2014

G is for Good wines at a nice price!

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


Wine #1: Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico 2008 DOCG $20.39
Tasting comments:
Becky “The first taste was delicious”
Mike “It is a good one”
Sean “I like it”
Jessica “A really smooth taste”
Bob “I think this wine is great. It grows on you.”
Karen “Full flavor. Not fruity. Nice dry finish.”
Jessica “A soft dry”
Kara “Not dry, but also a little blah”
Wayne “It’s a Gonzo wine”
Linda “Very mild. Tastes good, but doesn’t fill your mouth.”
Wayne “It’s a pizza wine”
Robert “It’s good”

WINE #1 SCORING:
Bob 8, Karen 7.5, Mike 7.5, Becky 7.5, Jessica 8, Sean 7.5, Wayne 7.5, Linda 7, Kara 6, Robert 8

Wine #2:  Joel Gott Zinfandel 2011 $16.14
Tasting comments:
Karen “Pretty color”
Bob “Uh oh. Not a fantastic smell.”
Kara “It almost has a bit of carbonation to it”
Bob “It tastes like the wine from yesterday. Young.”
Jessica “Berry tasting. Not geriatric.”
Wayne “Not in my wheelhouse. A syrupy taste.”
Linda “Yes. Sweet.”
Sean “Might taste good on ice cream”
Becky “Has a coffee taste”
Bob “It grows on you”
Kara “Like the wine last night”
Robert “Definitely sweeter”
Becky “It’s a little harsh”
Jess “Yes”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 6, Karen 5, Mike 6, Becky 6, Jessica 6, Sean 6, Wayne 6, Linda 6, Kara 5.5, Robert 5.5

Wine #3:  Murphy-Goode 2010 Merlot Carlifornia $13.59
Tasting comments:
Wayne “This is much better”
Bob “That’s a good one”
Karen “This one is a lot better”
Linda “I still don’t think it has a lot of zip to it”
Wayne “Full bodied, aromatic wine”
Karen “This is Andy’s black currant start, full bodied, with a very nice dry finish”
Sean “Tasted great”
Jessica “A lot drier than the other ones”
Mike “It’s fair”
Robert “Gorgeous flavor”
Wayne “This is G-G-G-Great!”

WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 7.5, Karen 8.5, Mike 7, Becky 7, Jessica 7, Sean 8, Wayne 8, Linda 7.5, Kara 7.5, Robert 7.5
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Sunday, March 2, 2014

It's "F" night with Andy & Elizabeth

Blind Wine Tasting hosted by Elizabeth and Andy
“F” Night

Wine #1: Figaro 2011 Calatayud Spain $12.99
Tasting comments:
Bob “Good smell. Not a fruity smell.”
Mike “Smells sweet”
Karen “I was going to say Earthy”
Bob “Like manure?”
Sean “Soil. I like it.”
Bob “It’s good”
Karen “It doesn’t taste like it smells. It tastes fruitier.”
Andy “F’ing good”
Elizabeth “Has a full taste”
Bob “I don’t like it with the bleu cheese”

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

Wine #2:  St Francis 2009 Sonoma County ‘Old Vines’ Zinfandel $17.99
Tasting comments:
Mike “Not dry. Tastes like the last one.”
Becky “This wine is a little sharp.”
Bob “Refreshing. Fortified with fruit.”
Elizabeth “Has a little bit of a bite at the end.”
Karen “Sweet start with a nice finish”
Andy “Fair to middling”
Elizabeth “More Fair than Fantastic”
Bob “Kind of Faint”
Karen “No dryness. That’s what everyone is missing”
Sean “I like it a lot”

WINE #2 SCORING
Bob 6.5, Karen 6, Mike 6, Becky 6, Andy 6, Elizabeth 6, Jessica 6, Sean 8

Wine #3:  Fess Parker 2010 Syrah Santa Barbara County $20.00
Tasting comments:
Bob “Oh-this really does have a Fart smell”

Mike “I think we’ve had this one before”
Bob “A morning fart”
Karen “I’m not drinking it…” as she pushed her glass to Bob… “It’s a stinky wine.”
Elizabeth “Bold”
Becky “It’s not as bad as it smells”
Sean “Smells like baby diapers, but tastes good”
Karen “Tart and hits the back of your throat”

WINE #3 SCORING
Bob 6, Karen 4, Mike 4, Becky 5, Andy 5, Elizabeth 6, Jessica 6, Sean 7





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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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