Wine Tasting - Sweet Peach

 Name: Pacific Fruit Vineyards, Sweet Peach 

Variety: Mtsvane Kakhuri Grape

Region: California 

Country: USA

Year: 2021

Price: $5.99

Winery Review: "Light and refreshing with natural flavors and aromas of juicy peach layered with sweet aromatics. Hints of tropical fruit and peach blossom round out the finish. Best served chilled." (Burlwood cellar review 2021)

Wine Folly: "Mtsvane Kakhuri imparts fresh white peach, floral, citrus and tropical aromas, with a light mineral undertone. It is quite dark and will show more apricot and stone fruit character when vinified in Qvevri." (Found on Wine Folly website).

Personal Review: Hands down the prettiest wine that I have tried, the color is what drew me into purchasing this wine. This is the type of wine that you would be having on a bright summer day afternoon, probably laying by the pool. So fruity, sweet, and smooth. Such a tropical aroma as soon as the bottle was opened only drew me in more. Full peach flavor. Rate 8/10. 

Wine Tasting - Chateau Elan Duncan Creek

 Name: Chateau Elan Duncan Creek Georgia Muscadine Wine

Variety: 100% White Muscadine grapes

Region: Georgia 

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $8.99

Winery Review: "A light bodied, sweet and crisp wine with notes of fresh grapes, pineapple, mango and apricot with an accent of lemongrass and a nutty finish. This is a classic Georgia Muscadine Wine." (Total wine review 2020)

Wine Folly: "Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia) is a North American grape species that's naturally high is polyphenols (antioxidants). Wines are exceptionally challenging to make well, given that so few are doing it. Sweeter renditions of this grape would be awesome alongside a majorly flavorful dessert such as trifle, with fruit, custard and brandy." (could not find grape variety in E-book so used Muscadine | Wine Folly online)

Personal Review: This was probably the most fruity wine that I have tasted so far with some slight tannic components. When I first tasted this wine I got a banana, pineapple, and apple flavor, with hints of cranberry. I feel like this wine had a very balanced medium body, medium tannins and medium acidity. I really enjoyed the different fruit flavor with every taste. It had a nice finish that didn't make your face squinch up. Rate - 9/10

Wine Tasting - Locatour Red Blend

Name: Locatour Red Blend 

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot

Region: California 

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $14.99

Winery Review: "Low aroma but a very juicy and big taste, has the potential to be good after second or third day of opening. It has a cherry/dark fruit flavor and a dash of vanilla and oak backing". (Wine critic 2020)

Wine Folly: "The world's most popular wine is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Black that originated in Bordeaux. Wines are concentrated and age-worthy. The rich flavor and high tannin content is Cabernet Sauvignon make is a perfect partner to rich grilled meats, peppery sauces, and dishes with high flavor". (pg. 189 E-book)

"Cabernet Franc is the parent grape of both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It may have originated in the Basque country of Spain but this fact is up for debate. Higher acidity makes it possible to pair Cabernet Franc with tomato based dishes, vinegar based sauces (smoky BBQ, anyone?), or rich black beluga lentils". (pg. 185 E-book)

"Merlot is loved for it's boisterous black cherry flavors, supple tannins, and smoky or chocolaty finish. It's often found in a Bordeaux blend with Cabernet Franc. Merlot tastes grate alongside roasted foods like pork shoulder, roasted mushrooms, or braised short ribs. Try complementing the fruit notes with chimichurri sauce!" (pg.278 E-book)

My Review: To me this was a very bold tasting wine and strong tannins. It was a hard finish and had the face clenching factor as well because of how dry and acidic this wine really was. I taste the black cherry flavor and a strong oak finish. I could not taste as much vanilla has the review above was talking about, but the oak factor was there. This was another big red wine for me and I should have paired it with some good food, but sadly did not. Rate: 6/10. P.S. I was with my aunt for spring break and tasted the wines but forgot to snap a picture, as you can see my aunt in the reflection of the wines had to send me a picture of the ones we tasted at her house. 

Wine Tasting - Match Book Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Name: Match Book Estate Bottled Red Gravel Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 

Region: Dunnigan Hills Vineyard, California 

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $16.99

Winery Review: "The 2020 Matchbook Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from grapes grown on the red gravel soils in the winery's Dunnigan Hills vineyard. The wine opens with classic Cabernet aromas of chocolate, tobacco, violets and leather. Plush flavors of blackberry, black cherry and mocha are backed with sweet oak and vanilla. The juicy texture is mouth filling and mingles with the fine, dusty tannins in the finish". (Wine Critic published 2020)

Wine Folly: "The world's most popular wine is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that originated in Bordeaux. Wines are concentrated and age-worthy. The rich flavor and high tannin content in Cabernet Sauvignon make it a perfect partner to rich grilled meats, peppery sauces and dishes with high flavor". (pg. 189 E-book) 

My review: This deep red wine gave off a huge blackberry and plum flavor. I would also describe this leathery wine as "earthy". It did have a smooth finish and a nice texture. I did not pair this with food but I know it would have tasted better with a red meat dinner. This was probably the biggest red wine I have tasted so far. Rate: 8/10.  P.S. I was with my aunt for spring break and tasted the wines but forgot to snap a picture, as you can see my aunt in the reflection of the wines had to send me a picture of the ones we tasted at her house. 

Tasting - CK Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: CK Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 

Region: California 

Country: USA

Year: 2019

Price: $5.49

Winery Review: "Black ruby color. Aromas of compressed watermelon, pickling spices, and black tea with a satiny, vibrant, fruity medium body and a smooth, interesting, medium-lengthy berry compote on vanilla gelato and tobacco finish with heavy oak flavor. A rock solid fruity and oaky Cabernet for anytime". Wine critic 2019. 

Wine Folly: "The world's most popular wine is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that originated in Bordeaux. Wines are concentrated and age-worthy. The rich flavor and high tannin content in Cabernet Sauvignon make it a perfect partner to rich grilled meats, peppery sauces, and dishes with high flavor" (pg. 189 online book).

Personal Review: This wine was actually quite tasteful. The fruity sweet taste was delightful, and it was a smooth finish. The unique aroma caught my attention, and the taste did not disappoint. The smooth finish did come with an oaky aftertaste, but it was not over the top in my opinion. Overall 7/10. 

 

Tasting - Pinetti

Name: Pinetti Notte Primitivo Puglia IGT 

Variety: Zinfandel  

Region: Puglia   

Country: Italy 

Year: 2020

Price: $4.99

Winery Review: "Enjoyable drier red wine with some mild spice. Not amazing, but certainly one worth buying again, especially for the price. Fruit forward nose, red fruit (and potentially raisins) to tastes with an earthy finish, some hints of pepper or some spice. Drier, medium bodied, with mild tartness". From wine critic 2020.   

Wine Folly: "A fruit-forward yet bold red that's loved for its jammy fruit and Smokey, exotic spice notes. Originally from Croatia, Zinfandel is related to Croatia's #1 red, Plavic Mali. Zinfandel is ideal with Turkish, Moroccan, and Arabic cuisine, which bring out the grape's cinnamon-like spices. Try it with Asian barbecue". (pg. 396 Online book).

Personal Review: This wine was too bold and dry for my liking. It was hard for me to finish the glass that I started. The peppery aftertaste made me cringe, and I don't think I will be buying anymore of this even though the price was amazing. I am more of a sweet, smooth wine type of person, but I thought to expand my horizon. Overall 2/10. 

 

Tasting - COCOBON

 

Name: Cocobon Red Blend 

Variety: Merlot, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah grapes 

Region: Central coast, California 

Country: United States

Year: 2015

Price: $9.99

Winery Review: "A very deep red color catches the attention. Next, strong, wild aromas like smoke and black rubber lead to a rather fruity but still firm tannic texture. The flavors are more like blackberries and blueberries, but the overall effect is slightly viscous" Tasted 2015 from wine enthusiast.  

Wine Folly: "Merlot is loved for it's boisterous black cherry flavors, supple tannins, and smoky or chocolaty finish. It's often found in a Bordeaux blend with Cabernet Franc. Merlot tastes great alongside roasted foods like pork shoulder, roasted mushrooms, or braised short ribs. Try complementing the fruit notes with chimichurri sauce" (pg. 278 online book). 

"A fruit-forward yet bold red that's loved for its jammy fruit and smoky, exotic spice notes. Originally from Croatia, Zinfandel is related to Croatia's #1 red, Plavic Mali. Zinfandel is ideal with Turkish, Moroccan, and Arabic cuisine which bring out the grape's cinnamon-like spices. Try it with Asian barbecue." (pg. 396 online book).

"Petite Sirah is loved for its deeply colored wines with rich black fruit flavors and bold tannins. The grape is related to Syrah and the rare French-Apls grape, Peloursin. Given Petit Sirah's sometimes aggressive tannin profile, it pairs best with fat and umami driven dishes - be it steaks from the grill or a plate of beef stroganoff". (pg. 310 online book)

Personal Review: This wine was anything but sweet. It had a deep taste that followed with an aggressive aftertaste. I paired this wine with swiss and American cheese and crackers with roasted almonds. This red blend had a bold character with a dry smoky finish. Overall 5/10.