Wine Tasting - 19 Crimes Snoop Cali Rose

 

 

Name: 19 Crimes Snoop Cali Rose. 

Variety: Merlot. 

Region: California. 

Country: United States. 

Year: 2020. 

Price: $10.99. 

Winery Review: Clive Clifford starts us off strong: "As mentioned, strawberry, melon, and another aroma I couldn't place were plentiful. 19 Crimes hasn't made a really bad wine yet and this is no exception." A gentleman by the name of "The Coyote" states: "Wine fest notes. OK Snoop, put your hands up. Sweet, but has something to offer past that. Melon stonefruit and apple go well with a smooth finish." Finally, David writes: "Style #248 orange pink. 11% ABV. Nose of strawberry, watermelon, and mandarin. Palate of strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, and a touch of citrus."

Wine Folly: (Page 51) Look, Hue & Intensity - "Rose Wines: Since color intensity in rose is controlled by the winemaker, a deeper color simply means the wine was macerated in grape skins for longer." (Page 56) - "Medium Pink - Garnacha Rose."  

My Review: I had to do it; This one was a rite of passage. If I hadn't done it sooner, it would have been one of the last wines I tasted for this course. This floral rose, citrus grapefruit, raspberry, strawberry, peach, melon, and dare I say pineapple (if chilled correctly) flavored wine is definitely up there in my favorites as of a couple minutes ago. You can pair Snoop's wine with whatever you'd like, but for tonight I enjoyed it on its own. It's a nice change of pace compared to some of the other wine's I've tried recently, but its body is balanced just enough where no aspect (acidity, tannins, sweetness, etc.) overpowers the other. For $10.99, I'm glad I let my gut feeling lead the way this time. 

Wine Tasting - Stella Rosa Green Apple

 

 

Name: Stella Rosa Green Apple. 

Variety: Moscato. 

Region: Piemonte, Northern Italy. 

Country: Italy. 

Year: 2023. 

Price: $11.99. 

Winery Review: One wine critic, Anfrew Horn, detailed the wine as follows: "Very nice light sparkling white wine. Perfect amount of bubbles. Not overly sweet. The green apple flavors are obviously there but are not overpowering." A second wine critic defines the wine to be "A white wine with natural flavors of green apple that is rich and full bodied with a hint of sweetness. Serve with fruits, cheese, spicy cuisine, and desserts."

Wine Folly: (Page 510) Green Apple - "Pino Grigio - In Northern Italy is where you'll find Italy's top examples of Pino Grigio (a.k.a. Pinot Gris). Wines have subtle tart fruit characteristics supported by delightfully high, tingling acidity. The best regions include Alto Adige and Collio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia."  

My Review: This one was a shot in the dark. In my last few reviews, or should I say most, I have been trying to obtain one new red and one new white wine each week. This time around, I stumbled upon Stella Rosa which jumped out at me at my local Kroger. Most of the wine's I've tried have been of a higher standard, at least from my wine-free past. This sweet wine did NOT taste like wine. Try it for yourself, you'll get a dominant green apple flavor. It bubbles just like champagne, tastes like green apple juice, and has a very, very slight hint of lemon to it. Combine a light body with a naturally acidic, low tannin, and sweet flavor with this wine and you can't go wrong. For only 500 calories in the total 750mL bottle, this one will be gone within the next couple days.

Wine Tasting - Jacob's Creek Classic Shiraz

 

Name: Jacob's Creek Classic Shiraz. 

Variety: Shiraz. 

Region: South Eastern Australia. 

Country: Australia. 

Year: 2020. 

Price: $8.99. 

Winery Review: One wine critic, Erik Tregaard, detailed the wine as follows: "Acceptable shiraz, but nothing special. Powerful cassis and spice. Vanilla and oak. Medium-full body, medium tannins, medium acidity." A second wine critic, Haley Marie, defines the wine to be "Honestly, not bad for such an inexpensive wine. Ruby with bluish hues. Sniffs of blueberry, dark fruit, smoke, cured meat like prosciutto. Tobacco and vanilla. As you sip the fruit is more cherry, strawberry, blueberry, more tobacco, smoke and vanilla. Medium acid, low-medium body, low-medium tannin. Smooths out as it opens. Short finish… easy drinking"

Wine Folly: (Page 377) Shiraz - "A rich, powerful, and sometimes meaty red wine that originated in the Rhone Valley of France... Darker meats and exotic spices bring out the fruit notes of Syrah"  

My Review: In searching for a new dessert wine, I've decided to try out a syrah/shiraz variety. It has been known to lean towards the blueberry, plum, milk chocolate, and tobacco aromas. This brand in particular would go very well with any red meats, although not so well with penne alla vodka this night around. For an inexpensive wine, I'll probably finish off the bottle tomorrow evening with a different dish.  

Wine Tasting - Starborough Sauvignon Blanc

 

Name: Starborough Sauvignon Blanc. 

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc. 

Region: Malborough. 

Country: New Zealand. 

Year: 2022. 

Price: $12.99. 

Winery Review: One wine critic, Doug Walker, detailed the wine as follows: "Another of neighbor Bob's fine wines on the patio. A terrific way to spend a sunny summer afternoon. Classic NZ SB. Dry. Light to medium bodied. Crisp. Acidic. Zesty. Citrus especially lemon and grapefruit. Grass. Minerality. Hint of pineapple. Delicious." A second wine critic, Lisa Hatchett, defines the wine to be "Excellent Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp but not harsh. Strong grapefruit and citrus flavors. Smooth feel without being sweet or heavy..."

Wine Folly: (Page 362) Sauvignon Blanc - "Sauvignon Blanc is a wonderful pairing partner with herb-driven sauces, salty cheeses, light meats, and last but not meats, Asian foods." Moreover, this variety is defined as a unique-tasting white wine with strong herbaceous flavors that are derived from compounds called methoxypyrazines (also found in bell peppers!).  

My Review: In my ventures for a new flavor to pair with my usual penne alla vodka, I looked overseas. I believe I had not tried a sauvignon blanc up until now, so I settled on Starborough Sauvignon Blanc. It's high acidity and unique taste paired very well with my dinner, so much so I was actually able to tell the difference a bit clearer between the wine acidity and any recognized flavors. I picked up a hint of sour apple and peach along with the description detailed lemon, lime, and grapefruit standards. Pineapple was not too present in the mix, but I'm sure other drinkers might pick up on it here or there. It seemed very clear cut, very simple, and very enjoyable this Sunday evening. Should you choose to drink it as well, I hope you enjoy. 

Wine Tasting - Apothic Red (Winemaker's Blend)

 Name: Apothic Red (Winemaker's Blend). 

Variety: California Red Blend - Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvigno, Zinfandel. 

Region: California. 

Country: United States. 

Year: 2021. 

Price: $9.99. 

Winery Review: Brad Frey from the United Kingdom was short and blunt in his review of this wine. He states: "Big bold wine with a huge amount of vanilla, with blackberry and leather. The vanilla makes the wine, but could be toned down slightly." 

Wine Folly: (Page 293) Merlot - "Merlot is loved for it's boisterous black cherry flavors, supple tannins, and smoky or chocolatey finish." It's most prominent flavors, in my opinion were blueberry, blackberry, cherry, and vanilla. I suppose that's what I get for purchasing a blend such as this one.

My Review: I decided to pair this sweet wine with black cherry sorbet. While one of foods is superior in sugar content, I had to finish my wine before I could pair it with the sorbet itself. However, I did end up mixing a splash of this blend with the sorbet for a fruity berry, floral rose and violet finish. It held up its end of the bargain as a sweet wine. 

PHOTOS: [Link to 3 items.] Unfortunately for some unknown reason, I was having trouble uploading the photos before. I've hyperlinked them in brackets. Apologies for the inconvenience. 

Wine Tasting - Anciano No.5 Crianza Tempranillo

Name: Anciano No.5 Crianza Tempranillo. 

Variety: Tempranillo. 

Region: Rioja. 

Country: Spain. 

Year: 2020. 

Price: $12.99. 

Winery Review: Adnan Qalbani reviewed this wine as the following: "Pomegranate, cooked, strawberry and cranberry, red cherry. Baking spice. Despite the ripeness there's a nice freshness and medium plus acidity. Medium tannin. Outstanding value. At this price it's a table wine and damn good one." Another reviewer, Pedja Ljubojevic, writes: "Strawberry, cranberry, jam, black pepper and some cherry notes. Dry and medium on the acidity. Very well balanced. Typical tempranillo!"

Wine Folly: (Page 383) Tempranillo - "Spain's top variety, made famous by the wines of Rioja, where wines are classified by how long they age in oak... Fresher styles match well with baked pasta and other tomato-based dishes." I'll say the match was on par with the pasta I made, adding a little of this wine into the sauce. It definitely performed as expected. 

My Review: I was looking for a wine for myself right off the shelf, not looking to spend all that much considering I had a second wine on the way. The bottle stuck out to me but what really sold me was the label. I haven't had a tempranillo before. From the label, "A smooth, mellow red wine with bright fruit flavors and subtle hints of oak. Drink with tapas, lamb, and other grilled red meats and mature cheeses." I had paired this with a homemade Italian dish of whole wheat penne with Italian sweet sausages, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, salt, pepper, canola oil, and a drizzle of the wine itself. It made me feel right at home back in New York. 

Wine Tasting - Criserà Luna Nuova Single Vineyard Nero d'Avola

Name: Criserà Luna Nuova Single Vineyard Nero d'Avola. 

Variety: Nero d'Avola. 

Region: Terre Siciliane, Southern Italy. 

Country: Italy. 

Year: 2019. 

Price: $9.99. 

Winery Review: This wine is said to pair well with beef, pasta, and lamb. In my opinion lamb and chicken are quite close in texture so I presume that's why I felt it did so well with my dinner. However, one wine reviewer determined the following in his review of the bottle: "Exceptionally smooth, with flavors of black cherry and plum. Slightly earthy and minimal tannins add a nice touch of body. Easy to drink alone or with food." Now that West River mentions it, I also got a hint of black cherry maybe along with the blackberry. 

Wine Folly: (Page 321) Nero d'Avola - From what was available in the textbook, it seems that this variety is specially known for its black cherry scent. "Nero d'Avola is a great wine to pair with rich meaty meats."

My Review: At first taste, this is what I always imagined wine would taste like from a very young age. It was very fruity, moreover having a scent of blackberries and also a floral hint of rose. It was also a little sweet like caramel but not entirely woody with a hint of vanilla to top it off. The glass in the picture is from my previously blogged bottle, but I can assure you both bottles paired just as well with my chicken and rice dinner that night with a side of carrots and broccoli. 

Wine Tasting - Masseria Pertuso Avelium Blanco

Name: Masseria Pertuso Avelium Blanco. 

Variety: Chardonnay & Bombino Bianco. 

Region: Puglia, Southern Italy. 

Country: Italy. 

Year: 2023. 

Price: $8.99. 

Winery Review: One reviewer, Kevin Vincent wrote the following about this brand: "Dry. The grapes used are predominantly Bombino Bianco which lends notes of melon and other fruit but the Chardonnay balances the taste. Very refresh and refreshing. We rarely finish a bottle with a meal and usually save a couple glasses in the fridge for later, but we polished this off." I can also testify that this bottle does not tend to remain full after a well-balanced meal.  

Wine Folly: (Page 125) Pairing Tips - From what was available in the textbook, I was told that "The wine should be more acidic..., sweeter than..., have the same intensity as the food." As I was just starting off on my wine journey, I can ensure this little piece of advice goes a long way.

My Review: The wine itself went down very, very smooth alongside a homecooked meal of chicken, rice, carrots, and broccoli. This bottle was light enough to not overpower the food flavors and just dry enough to still remind you that you are actually drinking wine! I had asked for a second opinion and ensured this wine would pair well with the above-mentioned dishes as well as alongside spices of paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, ground cumin, poultry seasoning, and minced onion. On its own, however, it seemed like it would be appropriate to have a glass of this one in your own personal study in front of a calm fire.