Tasting- "Sonnenband Moscato"

Variety: Moscato

Country: Spain

Price: $20

Vintage Cellar Review: This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars.

My Review: This was overpoweringly sweet after tasting the dryer red wines of the tastings. It was also very fruity with an emphasis on the grapiness. There are also hints of citrus.

Tasting- "Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon"

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $15

Vintage Cellar Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure.

My Review: This wine smells like smokey strawberry jelly. There was a slight citrusy flavor mixed in with the extremely fruity favors which dominated the wine.

Tasting- "Champteloup Pinot Noir"

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Loire Valley

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $15

Vintage Cellar Review: In the heart of France’s Loire River Valley lies the Touraine wine region. Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine’s appeal. This wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we’ve offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his winemaking, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate

My Review: This wine had a rather smokey nose along with a slight oaky scent. There were some slight tannins in the mouth feel. 

Tasting- "Baumann Gentil Classiq"

Variety: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer,and Pinot Gris

Region: Alsace

Country: France

Year: 2012

Price: $17

Vintage Cellar Review: A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully.

My Review: Upon smelling this wine, my immediate thought was that it smelled like Fruity Pebbles. As much as it smelled like fruity pebbles, it did not taste like cereal. It had a slightly floral and fruity taste. Another fresh tasting wine. 

Tasting- "Fattori Runcaris Soave"

Variety: Garganena

Region: Soave

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $15

Vintage Cellar Review: From the local Italian word for “to work the soil,” Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine and dried herbs.

My Review: This wine definitely had a citrus aspect to it. It was very fresh and would be an excellent chilled drink for a summer afternoon.

Tasting- "Tolentino Malbec"

Due to the "Snowpocalypse" that hit Blacksburg last week, it was impossible to make it up to the Vintage Cellar for the usual Thursday tasting. Fortunately, I had planned to go up to Northern Virginia to visit some friends and went out to dinner with my aunt and uncle. They took my roommate and I out to one of their regular restaurants where we ordered three different appetizers to drink with the Tolentino Malbec. 

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $15 - $20

Robert Parker Review: The 2011 Tolentino Malbec Winemaker's Selection, which sees six to eight months in French oak, has a pinched bouquet of raspberry, mulberry and a touch of banana skin (from a little reduction). The palate is medium-bodied, with sappy, ripe red berry fruit on the entry. The acidity is well-judged and builds nicely with copious raspberry jam and boysenberry notes, towards the satisfying, structured finish that is pure and silky smooth in the mouth. This is a delicious Malbec to savor over the next five or six years. Drink now-2018.

My Review: This was a dark red almost violet colored wine which smelled somewhat fruity. One of the things my uncle pointed out was that it was slightly chilled so it was served at the optimum temperature instead of the slightly higher room temperature. It had a lot of tannins but drinking it while eating definitely helped release the flavors. It was very fruity, smelling like plum or other fruits. 

Tasting- "Fetzer Malbec"

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $15

Vintage Cellar Review: Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it’s juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.

My Review: This was my favorite wine of the tasting. This is a fruity wine with a red-violet color. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to buy a bottle. I made dinner with my friend Ginny, who is also in this class to accompany this wine. Pairing this with an appetizer of brie and bread as well as an entree of steak and with a side of kale really allowed the flavors to come out in the wine. 

Tasting: "Angove Zibbibo Sparkling Moscato"

Variety: Moscato

Country: South Africa

Price: $15

Vintage Cellar Review: This is a tasty and generous Moscato that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There’s a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling dessert wine.

My Review: This was a very sweet, fruity and flowery wine. Very good. I would recommend this if looking for a sparkling moscato. 

Tasting- "Tres Ojos Garnacha"

Variety: Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" -WineReview (December 2013), 90 pts.

My Review: This bright red wine had good body and was very flavorful. It was easy to drink and had a strong finish. Overall, very good. 

Tasting- "The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc"

Variety: Chenin Blanc

Country: South Africa

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months." (90 points- Robert Parker)

My Review: Compared to the first white wine of the tasting (Norton Sauvignon Blanc) this was a much fruitier wine that was rather smooth. Personally, I thought it was quite delicious.

Tasting- "Norton Savingon Blanc"

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $12

 Vintage Cellar Review: Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio.

My Review: For me, this was an average white wine. It tasted a bit citrusy with more of a zip in the aftertaste. Not anything spectacular. 

Tasting- "Weinkeller Erback Flonheimer Adelberg Sylvaner"

Variety: Silvaner

Region: Rheinhessen

Country: Germany

Year: 2010

Price: $18

Vintage Cellar Review: “The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen. It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile. The finish is zippy and refreshing. Perfect for party on the deck as it comes in a liter bottle!”

My Review: This is a creamier wine and easy to drink. It is a fruity tasting wine with a citrus and floral smell. It is deliciously sweet which would be refreshing on a summer afternoon.

Tasting- "Montebuena Rioja"

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "(100% Tempranillo, raised entirely in American oak): Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja."

My Review: This is a dark-red / ruby colored wine. It has a slight cherry flavor but too astringent for my tastes. In general, a good wine but not something I would seek out on my own.

Tasting- "Delaroche Cotes du Rhone"

Variety:  50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre

Region: Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" -WineReview (December 2013), 90 pts

My Review: As the first of two red wines at the tasting this week, I really enjoyed this wine. It was a light ruby red wine which smelled more grapey than the other wines this week. The taste is also very fruity and  rather refreshing.

Tasting- "Maipe Torrontes"

Variety: Torrontes

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body.  Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well."

My Review: This is another clear wine. It has a very fruity smell and a taste to match. It was a bit too sweet for my palette, although it would probably pair very well with spicy food. 

Tasting- "Cortenova Pinot Grigio"

The tastings begin with the first of many visits to The Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg. This tasting featured five different wines, all of which I drank without food. The first was Cortenova Pinot Grigio.

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Venezie

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections.
Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif."

My Review: Personally, I found this wine quite enjoyable. Although I am a bigger fan of red wines, I found this one easy to drink. It is a clear wine and smells fruity. The taste was fruity, matching the small, but also had a slightly floral taste. Overall, an enjoyable wine, but not one I would go out of my way to drink.