Tasting - Butterfly Kiss Moscato

Name: Butterfly Kiss Moscato 2012
Variety: Muscat Blanc
Region: Chile
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $13.00

Shop Review: Aromas of honeydew and apricot, gently kissed by orange blossom, candied pineapple and a hint of lime zest.

My Review: This wine was very light yellow, almost clear in color. There were strong aromas of what I felt were mangoes and cranberries. A very refreshing, crisp aftertaste with a smooth mouthfeel. I also seemed to get a hint of honey left on the palate. This is definitely a wine that can be had by itself and I would like to have this again. This was tasted by itself, without food.

Tasting - Purple Paws Zinfandel

Name: Purple Paws Zinfandel 2012
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15.00

Shop Review: It smells like rope boysenberries and cherries, and tastes generous and broad without being too full bodied. It finished with more fruit notes and those who love a little spice and smooth tannins will be happy.

My Review: The color of this wine was a beautiful, bright red. An aroma of dried fruit was present; prunes and dried berries are what came to mind in particular. I felt that this wine had a more fuller body than the others presented at the tasting. There was a taste of cherries and a slight bitterness left on the palate, but it was not overpowering. This was tasted by itself, with no food.

Tasting - Purple Paws Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Purple Paws Cabernet Sauvignon Non Vintage
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: Non-Vintage
Price: $15.00

Shop Review: If a Cabernet can be smooth and creamy, this one is. It offers plenty of fruit flavors, smooth tannins that coat the mouth in a good way, plus a plush texture that keeps it from being even a bit harsh. With light body, a soft mouthfeel and lingering finish, there's much to like.

My Review: This wine was a medium, purple-red color. It had an aroma of pepper which made my nose slightly itchy. Upon tasting, I got a strong taste of leather and more pepper. I did not like that the taste lingered long after; it seemed to take over the entire palate and mouth. This is certainly a wine that should be had with a steak dinner. This was tasted by itself, without food.

Tasting - Rosemount Chardonnay

Name: Rosemount Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $10.00

Shop Review: This world-renowned wine shows peachy tropical fruit and melon characters on the nose, with a hint of citrus freshness and judicious use of oak. The palate is generous and soft with full, ripe tropical flavors folded into a creamy backdrop that is beautifully structured with a long satisfying finish.

My Review:  This wine was a light gold in color with a grapefruit aroma. A very dry taste that lingers long after on the palate, just as the shop review suggested. There was some acidity in a light body. The long finish of this wine is a slight shock to the taste buds and suggested to me that it would be nice to have food with this wine. I would not enjoy drinking this again. This was tasted by itself, without food.

Tasting - La Lejania Sauvignon Blanc

Name: La Lejania Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Country: Chile
Year: 2015
Price: $10.00

Shop Review: A light, refreshing, balanced sparkling wine with fruit flavors and aromas of citrus, pear and peaches, followed by a nuance of spice. Enjoy this sparkling wine as an aperitif, or with salads and spicy dishes, especially those using citrus fruit. For dessert, this wine pars well with fresh berries or a fruit tart.

My Review: A wine with a light, golden, almost clear color. Had strong aromas of pears and a hint of apples. A light body with a smooth and refreshing taste that lingers on the palate. There was a very dry, slightly spicy taste in the mid-palate which makes me think that this is a higher tannin wine. I think this is a wine that would definitely pair well with a cool, fruit dessert because of its freshness and is also one that I would like to have again. This was tasted by itself, without food.

Figuring out How to Wine

I can count my past experiences with wine on one hand and although they have been few, I can clearly remember each wine I've tasted. This is pretty much due to the fact that I didn't enjoy about half of them. From my limited experience with red wine, I've found out that I am not a big fan of them. White wines are a lot different though. From the few that I've had, I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

Even though I know there are millions of wines around the world, I think that I've gotten a better enjoyment from white wine. It always seems to taste crisp and refreshing. It doesn't hurt that of the white wines I've tried, they were usually more sweet in comparison with the reds I've tried. From the red wine, I have been able to taste more of a smokey flavor (I can't think of a better word to describe the taste). They also have a bolder taste which sometimes makes me feel like I'm shocking my taste buds.

Each time I've tried wine, it has been at some sort of special occasion, except for my first time. The first time, my friends and I had a movie and wine night which is where I had a red wine that tasted very earthy and I just didn't like. The next time, I was at a dinner event where a port wine was served. That wine really packed a punch and was kind of painful for me to drink. Other times, I've had white wines at formal events held at Beliveau Winery here in Blacksburg. This was the first time I tried white wine and I enjoyed it so much more.

From this course, I'm hoping to add a little more sophistication to my 22-year-old self. I know wine is just like beer in the sense that you can make it millions of ways and have millions of tastes and flavors. I bring this up because I've come to be pretty fond of the different beers and their tastes and always want to taste more. So I'm hoping that I can develop the same curiosity and taste for wine because maybe before, I just wasn't doing it right. And I also think it looks pretty intelligent and classy when you can have an intellectual discussion on the taste of wine (I'm thinking about the one scene in "The Parent Trap" when Hallie's pretending to be Annie in England and shows off her taste for wine to her Mom and Grandpa).