Tasting - Javier San Pedro Randez Tempranillo

About the wine

This wine was 100% tempranillo from Trader Joe's. The region is Rioja and the country of origin is Spain. It was $7.99, is Javier San Pedro Randez Tempranillo, and the vintage year is 2020. 

Reverse Wine Snob Review

The aromas they spoke about on this review were black cherry, spice, plum, and a bit of coffee. They said the berries and spice integrated well together, it was tart, dry, and savory, and was overall a good price point for the quality. They said it was smooth and sweet and gave it an overall rating of 8.3/10.

Wine Folly Review

On page 175, Wine Folly said the notes in tempranillos are cherry, dried fig, cedar, tobacco, and dill. The body, alcohol, acidity, and tannins are all relatively high. The sweetness is low and it says to decant for 60 minutes. It is primarily from Spain, Rioja being a top region!

On page 280, it mentions that Rioja Alta wines are more elegant, while wines from Rioja Baja are richer and meatier. It also mentions aromas and tastes of leather, vanilla, and roasted tomato which is neat.

Personal Review

I liked this wine but not as much on its own for some reason. I noted the darker fruit tastes like cherry and plum, but literally nothing else. I didn't decant it which is a mistake I always make and need to take note of before having a glass of red to see if I can taste a difference. I had two glasses during the Bachelor finale (team Kelsey) and could feel it a bit more than usual so I do feel I noticed the higher alcohol content on this one. I really like tempranillos in sangria so I will probably stick to that, however, for the price it was fine. 

Tasting - Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon

About the wine

I picked this wine up from Kroger because it was high in points and it was under $20. It is the Charles and Charles Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, Washington, United States. The vintage year is 2020 and it was $11.99. The grape variety was cabernet sauvignon. 

Winemadeeasy.com Review

Since I got this wine from Kroger, I didn't talk to anyone about it. It did have a small tag on it though that emphasized the taste of red berries in the wine and that it was a good wine for a low price point. On Winemadeeasy.com, the wine enthusiast review said that there were notes of red berries, orange blossom, salted black licorice, and freshly cut grass. They said it was balanced well, with a good tannin structure and acidity. Another reviewer said the notes of black cherry are strong and good toasted espresso flavors. 

Wine Folly Review

On page 289, Wine Folly says that there is a heavy focus on cabernet sauvignon in Washington. It says that these wines offer a nice floral and minty overtone with pure black cherry fruit. On page 88, it says that the body is high for cabernet sauvignon and has flavors like black cherry. It does say it is recommended to decant for 60 minutes before serving. It also has flavors of black currant, cedar, graphite, and baking spices. 

Personal Review

I really liked this wine and am happy I tried it. The flavor profile was very good and I liked how strong the body is. I noticed the flavors of red fruit while I was trying it, but nothing else that was mentioned. The smell was strong and had a nice, clean aroma. I do agree with winemadeeasy review about it being well-balanced. It tasted as if everything was at a good level (acidity, tannins) and I think that made it taste complex which is maybe why I couldn't taste other flavors like orange blossom and freshly cut grass. I didn't eat a meal with this, but I snacked on popcorn while drinking it. The two paired well and I feel like if the popcorn was saltier, it might've brought out more flavors. I would 100% have this again! 

Wine Dinner Blog Report

Course 1: Appetizer

For my appetizer, I made a small plate of brie and rice crackers and rice crackers with mussels calabrian chiles, and lemon juice. I paired this with Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc and the vintage year is 2022. 

Excuse the low quality photo, I have an iPhone 11. HOWEVER, this pairing was super super good. The mussels were tinned and brined in olive oil and vinegar and came from Spain, specifically Galicia. The brie I picked up was softened to perfect so it was pretty easy to spread on the rice crackers. I chose rice crackers because of dietary restrictions, but I also loved the crunch of them with the soft brie and mussels. The chiles on top of the mussels were super good too and paired well. For the wine, the two paired well together! I chose Sauvignon Blanc because as we have been learning, it pairs well with seafood. I think the flavor of the mussels and lemon brought out bright, lemony, crisp flavors of the wine which was good. This wine didn't overpower at all and there was a great balance. I think that when I had it with the brie and rice crackers, it made it taste almost creamy and smooth like the brie itself. I don't necessarily think that the chiles were paired well with the wine just because it was pretty spicy and brought some heat. Followed up with the wine, it made the wine taste weird when it was in my mouth, almost like there was too much heat. The fat of the olive oil paired with the acid of the wine and lemon juice made it all a really good flavor. I would 100% have this again! I wouldn't say anything overpowered each other and it all complimented well.

Course 2: Main Dish 

For my main dish, I made pasta with ground turkey, spicy arrabiata sauce, and zucchini. I paired this with the Alaia Marisa Red Blend from Spain and the vintage year was 2020. 

This dish was really good. I used a mandolin to get my zucchini super thin and it was a great addition to the pasta. The spiciness of the meal was tolerable and added a nice kick. I really like spice so I enjoyed this! However... this dish did not pair well with the wine. I had the Alaia "Marisa" Red Blend from Spain and didn't enjoy it which was a bummer. I picked it up from the Vintage Cellar because on the label it mentioned how it was a stand out wine for the price and was pretty good. However, it had a lot of spice and pepper flavors that just didn't pair well with the spiciness of the dish. It also smelled a little bit like rubbing alcohol so I think that threw me off, too. I think that the wine was too heavy for this dish and needed to be paired with red meat like steak. The acidity was high and it tasted like the tannins were too. I usually don't mind that, but it didn't pair well. They clashed for sure. The wine had a big bitter bite to it too. The blend was 85% prieto picudo and 15% tempranillo. I have never had prieto picudo before so maybe I just don't like the grape! I couldn't find anything in the Wine Folly text giving me a descriptor on the wine, but it was tasting like it has a super unique taste that I had never had before. I felt like I was tasting notes of dark berries and graphite. 

                              

Course 3: Dessert

For my final course and dessert, I had a slice of limoncello cake that I picked up from Earth Fare! I paired this with a small bottle of Italian sparkling wine, Villa Jolanda I LOVE YOU wine. 

This pairing was interesting. The cake was a lot sweeter than I expected. I was excited for a bright lemon flavor and it lacked on that. The sparkling wine was good, but I don't think the two paired well. The wine was not very crisp but was also sweet, so when pairing it with the cake, the flavors weren't really complimentary of one another and I feel like they were almost drowned out. The wine was bubbly, fresh, and had notes of fruits like apples and pears. I think if it was more crisp, it would've paired better. The sweetness of the cake didn't pair well with the fruity flavors of the wine. It wasn't acidic at all and pretty mellow which I was a little disappointed in. It tasted like the two overwhelmed each other and I couldn't get a good read on either! I also think the bubbles were a little too much for me and something like a crisp white would've been better with this. 

Tasting - Les Portes de Bordeaux

About the wine

This wine is from Trader Joe's and is named Les Portes de Bordeaux. It was $7.99, was 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot grape varieties. The vintage year is 2022, and is from Bordeaux, France!

Cork and Fizz Review

Since I bought it at Trader Joe's, I didn't speak to anyone about the wine. I picked it up because I really like cabernet sauvignon and thought I would give it a try. Cork and Fizz said that this wine is a "swell" and they would recommend it to friends. They said that it had notes of cherry, blackberry, and strawberry. They mentioned it was very fruit forward and was lighter than they expected. Pairing wise, Cork and Fizz said it would be good with meat like a meat pizza or a burger. 

Wine Folly Review

On page 219, Wine Folly says that Red Bordeaux Blends have savory flavors including graphite, black cherry, and cigar. It says that it is supported by firm but balanced tannins. On page 88, it recommends to decant for 60 minutes which I did not do. 

Personal Review

Overall, I really liked this wine. For the price, it was good and a solid wine. I wish I had decanted it because I wonder if it would bring out more of the flavors. I tasted the darker fruit like cherries and blackberries, but none of the graphite or cedar aromas. It smelled good but honestly, I didn't get much aromas from smelling it. I had never had a red bordeaux blend so I am happy I tried it. I didn't eat this with anything but after reading Cork and Fizz and Wine Folly, I wish I tried it with a red meat. 

Tasting - Honig Sauvignon Blanc

 About the wine

I tried out the Honig Sauvignon Blanc which is 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The vintage year is 2022, it originates from the North Coast region in California, from the United States, and retails for $21.99. 

Bountyhunterwine.com Review

According to Bounty Hunter Wine, this wine has notes of honeysuckle and has a tropical taste. They said it is "elegant and rich" with a crisp, smooth taste. They also said it is a brighter wine and has notes of stone fruit and citrus. There wasn't much of a review on this page, however, they said it was a really good varietal year that built up their reputation. 

I found this wine in my house when I was home for spring break so I didn't have much to go off of, however, online it had good reviews but I decided to choose this one!

Wine Folly Review 

On page 165, Wine Folly says that the acidity is high in Sauvignon Blanc's. The flavors that were notes are: gooseberry, honeydew, grapefruit, white peach, and passionfruit. 

On page 230, Wine Folly sais that they are well known from vineyards in France such as the Pouilly Fumé and Sancerre. Although this Sauvignon Blanc is from California, it seemed comparable because it was good. 

Personal Review

I really enjoyed this wine! It was really cold when I had it so it was crisp and refreshing. I didn't taste any of the specific flavors mentioned in the Wine Folly text, however I did note the crispness of it and citrusy taste. This wine seemed better than what I usually have for Sauvignon Blanc's because I usually go pretty cheap, so it was fun to enjoy one of a little better quality it seemed. I had this on its own in the afternoon but with a salty cheese I feel like the two could've paired well together. All in all, it was good but I personally wouldn't buy it because of the price point being a little steep for my college-aged self. 

Tasting - Santa Julia Malbec

About the wine

I found this wine at Kroger for $12.99! It was listed at $18.99 and was on sale and I was looking for a red and snagged this one. It is the Santa Julia Malbec from Argentina, specifically the Mendoza region/city. The vintage year is 2022 and the grape variety is 100% malbec.

Wine Transit Review

Since I got it from Kroger, I had to look up another wine review online which isn't as helpful. Wine Transit gave the wine 90 points. It noted the dark cherries, blackberries, and cassis. It said it was a medium body and that it was fruity and delicious. It also noted the creamy texture of the wine and finely grained tannins. Grown from organic grapes, too, which is cool! 

Wine Folly Review

On page 125, it says that malbec's have notes of red pumy, blackberry, vanilla, cocoa, and sweet tobacco. The tannin and acidity level are in the middle of the road and the body is higher. On this page, it says that it is good to decant the wine for 30 minutes and should be served at room temperature. It also says it commonly is grown the most in Argentina and Mendoza is a noted region

Personal Review

I really enjoyed this wine and it might've been my favorite yet. I was really excited because when I was drinking it, I could taste the plums and different fruity flavors. This is the first wine I could actually taste the flavors that were noted in the Wine Folly so it was fun. I prefer red wine over white right now so it was super good. The flavor was nice and the body was strong and good. In my opinion, the tannins were high and the body was high too. I wish I knew to decant it because I would have tried that but a note for next time! I didn't have it with food, just on its own and it was still delicious.