Tasting - Toscana Appassite Duca di Saragnano

Name: Duca di Saragnano Toscana Appassite

Variety: 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Price: $14.99

Winery Review:  Deeply intense dark red colour with delicate purple hues. Aromas of cherry and black cherry, complemented by complex bouquet of sweet spices and vanilla jump from the glass. This is a full-bodied and elegant wine, enveloping and velvety on the palate with its smooth and structured tannins.

Wine Folly: pg. 162 Sangiovese - grape variety with mid tannins, high acidity, mid to high body, and very low to no residual sugars. Notes of cherry and black cherry on the nose. A slight sweetness immediately on the palate although it fades quickly, turning into a darker fruity flavor with higher tannins. Wine folly mentions other notes of roasted tomato and sweet balsamic although I did not notice them. We drank this wine right out of the bottle and did not decant the suggested 30 min.

My review: This may be the best red wine I've had so far this semester. I really enjoyed the aroma of the wine: fruity, floral, and complex. I also liked the flavors this wine displayed with the tannic cherry and subtle sweetness at the beginning. The high acidity was noticeable but well balanced by initial sweet punch. This wine was great and for the price. Will definitely be buying again and recommend.

I tasted it on its own without any food pairings.

Tasting - Willi Haag Riesling Spatlese

Name: Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese

Variety: Riesling Spatlese
Region: Brauneberger, Mosel

Country: Germany
Vintage: 2021
Price: $37.99

Critic Review:  A very bright and energetic Mosel Spatlese with a very wide spectrum of fruit aromas from nectarine to passion fruit via blackberry with a touch of mint. Joyful freshness and vitality, this leaps and bounds over the palate. Super-fresh and long finish with a ton of wet stone minerality. Excellent aging potential. Drink or hold. JS - 95

Wine Folly: pg. 239 Spatlese - "Late Harvest" grapes, sweetness level from mid-sweet to sweet. Definitely agree here, I thought it was more on the sweet side, almost a dessert wine. Pg. 158 Riesling - an aromatic white wine with ranging levels of sweetness and high acidity. Could taste the high acidity right off the bat. Notes of pear and some honey on the nose, but sweet apple, green apple on the palate. The sweetness was well balanced and complimented the flavors very well.

My review: A little too sweet for my taste, but extremely well balanced. Not too much a fan of sweet wines, but for how sweet this wine was it quite nice. Great aroma with the pear and honey notes, and a well balanced green apple flavor. I think the sweetness complimented the palate very well and if sweet wine is your thing this wine would be great for you. Impressed with this one, and definitely going to look for the Kabinett version of this.

I tasted it on its own without any food pairings.

Tasting - Brotte Côtes du Rhône

Name: Brotte Creation Grosset Cairanne Cotes-du-Rhone 2020

Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Vintage: 2020
Price: $17.99

Critic Review:  Offers a stream of juicy cassis, fresh red currant and dried herbs that race alongside smoked sandalwood and pencil lead shavings, with incense and floral notes adding lift. Well-built, with a firming frame of tannins bringing shape and a salty mesquite note at the close. WS - 90

Wine Folly: pg. 156 Rhône / GSM Blend - a mix of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with mid to high alcohol, body, and tannins. I noticed the higher levels of tannins and a fuller body in the wine. Hints of raspberry and strawberry on the nose which changed to flavors of blackberry on the palate. Well balanced, but not too complex. Wine folly also mentions rosemary and baking spices which I did not detect.

My review: Great wine, thoroughly enjoyed this one. We discovered this wine at a local tasting and had to buy a bottle. The aromas are fruity and floral and flavors of blackberry and strawberry complement them well. Higher tannins although they are balanced well with the sweeter darker fruit flavors. Not too pricy either, a good steal under $20.

I tasted it on its own without any food pairings.

Tasting - Andre Brut California Champagne

Name: Andre Brut California Champagne

Variety: Champagne (Sparkling Wine)
Region: California
Country: United States
Vintage: 2024
Price: $7.99

Seller Notes: This wine is crisp, simple & slightly sweet. This sparkling wine is made from a blend of white grapes from California. Its refreshing & versatile with fruity notes of green apple, pear and sweet lemon. Andre California champagne is a classic choice for toasting & celebrating. Total Wine

Wine Folly: pg. 94 Champagne - Normally made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We served in a flute glass as recommended to observe the bubbles and artistic effect of the sparkling wine. We did not chill as recommended which was a HUGE mistake. Lots of citrus and lemon on both the nose and the palate as expected and some pear on the palate right when it hits the tongue. Wine folly mentions hints of cream, almond, and toast, which I did not pick up on.

My review: Pretty good for a $8 bottle of sparkling wine advertised as champagne. I liked the hints of pear at the beginning of the tasting although it was not balanced very well and quickly got drowned out by the lemon citrus taste. Quite dry with limited residual sugars and was not overly carbonated. Overall a good purchase to have for a larger group when price per bottle would come into play.

I tasted it on its own without any food pairings.

Tasting - Cinquesegni Primitivo Puglia

 

Name: Cinquesegni Primitivo Puglia IGP 2023

Variety: Primitivo
Region: Province of Taranto, Puglia
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2023
Price: $13.99

Winery Notes: Intense purple colour, tending towards amber with ageing. This wine has a very solid structure due to the elevated alcohol and the balance between the soft tannins and acidity, with a distinctive note of the barrel ageing. Cinquesegni

Wine Folly: pg. 260 Primitivo - Very fruity with notes of strawberry on the nose. The fruitiness continued on the palate followed by an earthy/smokiness taste. The book highlights baked blueberry, fig, leather, blackberry, and clay pot (whatever that means). Very smooth with little tannins and mid to low levels of acidity and bitterness. Overall very smooth and easy to drink. The book refers to Primitivo and Zinfandel interchangeably so not sure if there is a difference here.

My review: I liked the smoothness of this wine, but in comparison to other Italian reds, it lacked a depth of flavor and punch. I liked the fruitiness and earthy tastes. Other than that, the wine seemed simple and was not impressed. Much better options for the price of $13.99.

I tasted it on its own without any food pairings.

Tasting - Toscana IGT Sir Passo 2022

 

Name: Toscana IGT Sir Passo 2022 Duca di Saragnano

Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2022
Price: $14.99

Winery Review: Sir Passo by Duca di Saragnano is a blend of red berried grapes born from the desire to experiment with new flavours, new aromas and new scents that can surprise and amaze from the first taste. Luca Maroni - 98

Wine Folly: pg. 87 Tuscany Italy - Increased tannins which were definitely noticeable and came across overpowering the flavor profile of the wine. I tasted cherry and a hint of strawberry which the book noted. Supposedly the palate is also made up of licorice and coffee which I missed. pg. 162 Sangiovese - Higher acidity and low sweetness. Tasted the cherry but not the roasted tomato, sweet balsamic, or espresso. Did not let the wine decant for the suggested 30 min.

My review: Let down by this wine. Honestly seemed a little too light and lacked complexity. High in tannins without the balance of much noticeable flavor and a little too bitter for my liking. I did enjoy the cherry and strawberry however. Not deserving of the 98 points given to it by the ITALIAN wine critic.

I tasted it on its own without any food pairings.

Tasting - Chateau Jalousie Beaulieu Bordeaux

Name: Chateau Jalousie Beaulieu Bordeaux Superieur

Variety: 83% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Year: 2022
Price: $16.99

Critic Review: A bright and vivid Bordeaux with currants, fresh earth and flowers on both the nose and palate. Medium body. Firm, fine tannins and a clean finish. Linear and refined. Drink or hold. JS - 91

Wine Folly: pg. 83 Bordeaux Blend (Red) - A blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv. Definitely high tannins noticeable right off the bat. Medium acidity and mid to high bitterness. On the nose it smelled quite sweet, almost raspberry-esque, but was much more bitter on the palate, more of a bitter blackberry. Wine Folly says to expect black currant, black cherry, graphite, chocolate (noticeable as well), and dried herbs. We did not decant the suggested 60+ minutes.

My review: I liked this wine, but it seemed a little simpler compared to other Bordeaux's I have tasted. I enjoyed the chocolatey start and more bitter, tannin-full blackberry flavor that followed. I was expecting the flavor of the fruity notes to come across a little stronger, but they were still noticeable.

I tasted this with simply seasoned steak (medium rare) and they complimented each other very well. The wine softened with the meat and allowed the fruitiness to flourish. Suggest this or a similar food pairing.