Tasting--Banrock Station Shiraz 2010

The Wine...

Name: Banrock Station

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Southeastern

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: $7 (Kroger)

Critic's Review:

"Vibrant purple with deep red hues, this wine epitomises the

depth of colour and flavour Australian Shiraz’s are renowned for. Aromas of black currant, cherry and spicy oak precede a soft and supple palate. Fresh fruit characters of cherry and red berry fruits are balanced by licorice and tantalising chocolate flavours. Hints of cinnamon, vanilla and oak add complexity to this exceptional wine."--Garnet Wines & Liquors

My Review:

Upon first sniff, this wine was like a swift smack to the face with meat. The bouquet was pungent, smelling strongly of smoked meat with hints of cherry and blackberry. A color of dark ruby accented the smell, giving it a rich allure. As I took the first sip, the wine tasted very cigar-smokey with a mid-palate of blackberry that lingered into the finish. The wine was tannic but not overpoweringly so. With an alcohol content listed as 13 percent, the after effect was one of a slight burn. Despite this attribute which would drive most tasters away, I felt it did not detract from the initial taste of the wine. For roughly $7 a bottle and its versatility in flavor, I feel like this could be a house wine--good for most beef and dark meet occasions. Not a bad buy for under $10, considering the alternatives within that price range.

As always, hit up my wine tasting male counterpart, Matt's blog.

-ACB

Tasting--Poggio Vipere Chianti 2008

The Wine:

Name: Poggio Vipere

Variety: Chianti

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Year: 2008

Price: $12 ( The Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg)

Shop Tag Review:

"Ruby red color, it has a good body and persistent aroma with hints of cherry spice. In the mouth, it reveals itself as soft, fresh and pleasantly balanced."

My Review:

The bouquet of this wine had a slight hint of berries and wood with a very strong forefront of smokiness. The color of the wine, as indicated in the reflection in the picture to the right, was a deep pink, light garnet. Upon first taste, I was mostly just taken aback by the light body of the wine, not really receiving anything at all. But upon second tasting, I detected strawberry and cherry, and in the mid-palate I got sage and bay leaf. The aftertaste, and the longest lasting of the three stages, was a smokey oak. There was no burn from the alcohol, and overall, I thought the wine was good. Not my favorite of all that I have tasted, but I feel this wine would go well as a cheap take-along to any dinner. For the price, I'm sure it would please most crowds.

Check out my tasting partner, Matt's, blog.

-ACB

Tasting--Terra d'Oro Zinfandel, Amador County 2006

THE WINE:

Name: Terra d' Oro

Variety: 100% Zinfandel

Region: Amador County, California

Country: USA

Year: 2006

Price: $15 (Kroger)

CRITIC'S REVIEW:

"Fans of old-fashioned, rustic, kick-butt Zin from Amador County will find a lot to like in this ripe and rustic offering. Its ripe berry, minerally aromas are more concentrated than they are complex, and its brawny structure owes nothing to refinement, yet as we have seen with wines from this vineyard, all it takes to show them at their best is plate of sauce-slathered pork ribs hot from the barbecue." Rated: 88

- as taken from Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines via www.wineaccess.com

MY REVIEW:

This wine was my first endeavor into the Zinfandel variety of wine, and it did not disappoint. The bouquet of the wine, when first uncorked, was a strong, oak smell with hints of berry. The color was a rich purple--think the color of overripe raspberries, a dark pinkish purple. Upon first taste, as in immediately out of the bottle, the wine had a strong, oak flavor, much like a whiskey would have, minus the alcoholic burn. It was light to medium bodied with a smooth, slightly chocolate (like cocoa powder) finish. Upon the next day, the wine's bouquet was much more mellow in the oak smell, leaving a headier scent of blackberry and chocolate. The finish was much the same.

This wine was tasty, but drinker beware! If you are looking for a sweet or fruity tasting wine, then this one just isn't for you. This particular wine was very dry and tannic, leaving a dry, cocoa powder taste upon my tongue. I did not, however, try this wine with food,which might downplay some of this dryness. I believe that this wine would pair very well with a creamier cheese, such as Swiss. The finish and overall presentation of this wine would make it ideal to tote with you to dinner with anyone you hope to impress. It is a fantastic buy for under $20.

--ACB

Please check out the male's perspective (and my favorite tasting buddy's) blog review on this wine at:

harrism1-wine.blogspot.com

For the full links on the Critic's Review, please follow:

http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/product/11010986/2006-Terra-d'Oro-Zinfandel-Deaver-Vineyard-100-Year-Old-Vines-Amador-County