Tasting - Francis Ford Coppola Director's Sonoma County Merlot

Name: Francis Ford Coppola Director's Sonoma County Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: Sonoma County California

Country: U.S.

Year: 2007

Price: $7.95

Winemaker's notes: Our Francis Ford Coppola Director's Merlot is a rich, ripe and expressive wine due to its powerful fruit character. It displays a soft, velvety texture and succulent flavors of plum, blueberries, cocoa and spice. A perfect accompaniment to barbecued chicken pizza, pot roast, or a spinach salad with mustard vinaigrette. WineChateau.com

My Review: I bought this wine beginning of the semester drank it had the review done but never got the chance to post because I've been going to the wine tastings. Now this was a very good wine. I enjoyed this one a lot. It smelled fruity and smelled a little like alcohol. The taste was good it had a cherry and plum taste. It was not too sweet and just right. It also had a buttery after taste. I was lucky to have bought this wine for just $7.95.

I had this on its own without food.

Tasting - Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône

Name: Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône

Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah 10% Cinsault

Region: Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $14.95/750mL or $38.95/3L

Winemaker's notes: As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, avender, licorice and spice box are all present in this fullbodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.

My Review: Smelled like cherries and peppers. The alcohol smell was pretty strong. It tasted spicy and peppery and licorice tasted. Try to pick up anything else but it was pretty hard. I didn't really enjoy this one.

I had this on its own without food.

Tasting - Lobetia Tempranillo

Name: Lobetia Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $9.95

Winemaker's notes: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.

My Review: This wine smelled of cherries and wood. Also had a little spice smell. It tasted like it smelled. Had a lot of cherry and wood. It kinda had a tobacco taste but not much. This was just okay for me.

I had this on its own without food.

Tasting - Lobetia Chardonnay

Name: Lobetia Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $9.95

Winemaker's notes: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.

My Review: I liked the smell of this wine. It smelled like pineapples with is my favorite fruit. Tasted fruity and fresh. It had a little acidic taste but it was really good. I not a big fan of Chardonnay but I really enjoyed this one.

I had this on its own without food.

Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.95

Winemaker's notes: Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now. 

My Review: This wine smelled very fruity on the nose. It also had an acidic smell. The taste was okay. It had acidic and sweet taste also had a melon taste. I would not buy this wine but would not mind drinking it again.

I had this on its own without food.

Winery Visit - Attimo Winery

On Sunday, April 14, 2013, my girlfriend and I decide to visit a winery. We went to Attimo Winery which was only a 30 minute drive away. This was our first winery visit and was excited to learn more about wine.

The first thing that I wanted to do was go taste the wine that was made in Attimo Winery. So we went tasting area to try the wine. 

This was the wine list that they gave us and I did the standard wine tasting. The standard wine tasting was only $5.00 to try 8 wines. They had a variety of white and red wines to try. They were very nice to give us 9 wines to try instead of 8.

The 9 wines that I tried were Yesterday's Song, Sonnet 98, Off-the-Cuff, Just Kissed Blush, After Midnight, Bull Frog Symphony, Deep Silence, AD 325, and Sweet Berry Sunset. My tasting note is listed below.

• Yesterday's Song - Made from Chardonnay. Dry white, crisp, lightly oaked, pear note. 

1. My Review - This wine smelled sour and had a fresh clean smell. It had a pear tasted and was a little bitter. Also had the buttery after taste. I do not like Chardonnay that much but this was a good Chardonnay.

• Sonnet 98 - Made from Vidal Blanc. Dry white, crisp, floral, hints of fresh greens. 

1. My Review - This wine smelled buttery and clean. It had a very crisp clean taste more than the first wine. 

• Off-the-Cuff - Made from Reisling and Chardonnay. Semi-sweet white, fruity. 

1. My Review - This wine smelled like white grape jucie and a sweet smell. Tasted fruity and was pretty sweet. It also had the buttery after taste. 

• Just Kissed Blush - Made from Vidal and Raspbery. Off-dry blush, fruity; distinct berry flavors. 

1. My Review - This wine smelled like the Sonnet 98 but with more fuirty smell. It was very sweet and had a mango taste.  

• After Midnight - Made from Merlot, Zinfandel, and Blackberry. Semi-sweet red fruity flavor; velvety texture. 

1. My Review - This had a lot of berry componets. Cherry and blackberry smell was very nice. It taste semi sweet and very fruity  It had a little taste of alcohol but it wasn't bad. I enjoyed this one, so I actually bought a bottle.  

• Bull Frog Symphony - This was a blend wine. Dry red blend, peppery, Bordeaux style. 

1. My Review - This wine smelled fruity. It tasted peppery and was very smooth.

• Deep Silence - Made from Cabernet Franc. Dry red, intense berry flavors and light smoky peppery finish. 

1. My Review - This had a good cherry smell and tasted like cherries. It had the smokey peppery finish at the end.

• AD 325 - Made from Chambourcin. Dry red with bold flavors and cherry undertones. 

1. My Review - This wine also smelled like cherries. It was bitter and peppery. Had a sour cherry taste. 

• Sweet Berry Sunset - Made from Raspberry and Red Blend. Sweet red, Intense berry and fruity flavors.

1. My Review - This wine smelled very fruity. It had a strong smell of strawberries. It tasted very sweet and was a bit sour. It also had a buttery taste. 

After the wine tasting we went out to see where the grapes where made. The field were pretty big and was very beautiful to see. It was a plus since the weather was very nice.

This was a very good experience and something that I would like to do again. It was good to see how the wine were made and how they are grown. I would recommend and students at Virginia Tech to visit.

Tasting - Concannon Shiraz

Name: Concannon Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: U.S.

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95 

Winemaker's notes: This is an extremely rich, full-bodied wine with a dark fruit core. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark cherry are followed by more berry fruits and chocolate and mocha on the palate.

My Review: This wine smelled like blackberry and cherry. It had the berry taste like the one I smelled. Also was peppery and had the spice taste. Thought it was a okay because of the balance of spice and berries. 

I had this on its own without food.