Tasting - Franzia Merlot

Name: Franzia Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price:$21/5L box

Online Review (via wineaccess.com): I am simply amazed, someone told me to try this, so, I did it as a joke. It is great, has wonderfully intense fruit flavors, with some crazy roasted smokey chocolate cocoa flavor. It has a wonderful finish. I could put this in a bottle, and people would go crazy. What a find.. Put it in a bottle, and they will rave!

(via franzia.com): A pleasing dry red wine with blackberry and raspberry aromas. Serve at room temperature. Complements pork, grilled meats and sauced pastas.

My Review: Box wine, classy I know. I hadn't ever tried this wine, and some friends bought it to share, so I figured what the heck, it's worth a try. I am picky (or inexperienced) when it comes to red wines, so I was definitely not expecting much from this wine. However, it really wasn't too bad. I drank a glass without much trouble, and it did not have a super bitter taste that definitely would have turned me off. Although I wouldn't choose it for a dinner party or when in the mood for a good bottle of wine, but for a group (or people trying to get drunk...) it would really be fine.

Tasting - Castle Hill Levity Cider

Name: Castle Hill Levity Cider
Variety: 100% Albemarle Pippin
Region: Keswick, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $25

Online Review (via tastings.com): Pale straw color. Dusty apple, sesame, leather, and salt water taffy aromas with a very bracing, fizzy, bone-dry medium body and a very tart lime skin, apple core, baking soda, and cracked pepper finish. A very dry, rustic Chablis like cider. Drink now.

My Review: I also loved the Levity cider. It was different from any wine or beer I have ever tasted, and I was interested to learn that it is the only cider produced there during the summer season. It was very complex but the variety of flavors worked wonders together. I really enjoyed it and would love to pair it with different foods to see how that further enhances these flavors.

Tasting - Castle Hill Terrestrial Cider

Name: Castle Hill Terrestrial Cider
Variety: Blend of Winesap and Albemarle Pippin apples.
Region: Keswick, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $17

Online Review (via winecompass.com):
A nose of fresh apples with a hint of peach that follows through on the palate. Bright acidity gives this a clean, refreshing finish. Extremely crisp and refreshing, Terrestrial pairs nicely with aromatic dishes or makes a cleansing counterpoint to rich cheeses.

My Review: I loved this cider! It definitely was crisp and refreshing, with great flavors and a hint of sweetness. We had a variety of cheeses available during this taste, and it was interesting to observe how the taste of the cider changed slightly with the flavors and richness of each cheese. We bought several bottles of this wine to take home, end enjoyed one in our hotel that night! Kind of a sweet girly wine, but we loved it.

Tasting - Castle Hill Celestial Cider

Name: Castle Hill Celestial Cider
Variety: Blend of Ellis Bitter and Albemarle Pippin apples
Region: Keswick, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $17

Online Review (via tastings.com): Pale golden silver color. Faint aromas of dried apple, brown spices and glued balsa with a bracing bone-dry, fizzy light body and a dilute, very tart lemon pith and apple bobbing water finish.

My Review: This was a very unique cider, and although I did like it, I think it is a taste that would probably grow on me if I drank it more. We had it with bread and an olive oil/spices dip, which definitely paired well with the spice flavors in the wine. The girl helping with our tasting also suggested pairing it with dishes that incorporate rosemary. We bought a bottle of this wine and I think it would be great for a dinner party with appetizers using rosemary/basil flavors.

Tasting - Castle Hill Gravity Cider

Name: Castle Hill Gravity Cider
Variety: Blend of Grimes Golden, Pink Lady, Ellis Bitter, Dabinette, Yerlington Mill, and English bittersweet apples
Region: Keswick, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $17

Online Review (via winecompass.com): This still Virginia cider is amber in color with notes of melon, peach, and light citrus. Gravity’s hint of sweetness on the finish is balanced with good astringency.

My Review: I came to Castle Hill this weekend because my sister is thinking about having her wedding here! The grounds are beautiful even in the winter and the tasting room is open but cozy. The staff there were extremely friendly and seemed passionate about the cider that they were serving. None of us were too familiar with cider, so it was definitely fun to taste what they had while also learning about the process and the types. The Gravity cider wasn't me favorite of the bunch since it only had a hint of sweetness, but the fruits that did come through had a good flavor and I wouldn't mind drinking it again.

Tasting - Potomac Point Petit Verdot

Name: Potomac Point Petit Verdot
Variety: Petit Verdot, Red
Region: Potomac Point Vineyards, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $24.99



Online Review (via tastings.com): Aromas of wild mushrooms, chalk dust, and clay follow through on a round supple entry to dry medium-to-full body with raw meat and green tomato notes. Finishes with a dry, powdery tannin fade. An earthy food wine, try with boar.

My Review: Personally, I did not like this wine at all. This may be because I prefer sweeter wines, but this was bitter and tasted more like chalk and clay (as in the description). May be a well-made or prestigious wine, but it's definitely not one that I would pay $25 dollars per bottle for. The entire tasting at Potomac Point was successful and we really enjoyed it, but I would not want to drink this specific wine again.

Tasting - Potomac Point Cabernet Franc

Name: Potomac Point Cabernet Franc
Variety: Cabernet
Region: Potomac Point Vineyards, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $22.99

Online Review (via cellartracker.com):  Strawberry and heat on the nose, good dark fruit forward, vegetal midpalate with lots of acidity behind it, and tons of black, black pepper on the finish. There's pretty good tannin structure here, and I bet it will be more interesting in a year or two.

My Review: This wine definitely has an aroma of darker fruits with some leathery/herd nose. The flavor was creamy and rich and I enjoyed it more than most red wines I have had. The woman helping us mentioned that it pairs well with dark chocolate, and my mom happened to have a few Dove chocolate squares in her purse, so we tried them with the rest of our taste, and it was wonderful! Something about the slight sweetness of the chocolate and the dark fruit flavors was a great combination, and we bought a bottle to take back to my dad, who is a big fan of many different red wines.

Tasting - Potomac Point La Bella Vie

Name: Potomac Point La Bella Vie 
Variety: Blended White Wine (41% Vidal Blanc; 34% Chardonnay; 15% Traminette; 10% Viognier)
Region: Potomac Point Vineyards, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $12.99

Online Review (via thegoodwineguru.com):  Slight floral notes with flavors of melon and citrus and a hint of sweetness.  Pairs well with white meat, appetizers, spicy food, and hot summer days. The hint of sweetness won’t turn off any but the most ardent red wine drinkers, and it’s ability to be paired with spicy food is a nice bonus

My Review: This white wine is slightly sweet and has more of a floral smell and taste rather than fruity. I enjoyed this wine because although I usually choose sweeter wines, this has a wonderful flavor without being overly sweet. I also detected some of the melon flavor, and I would like to try this again while sitting out on the winery's patio during the summer. It seems like a wine that would be more enjoyable during the summer rather than inside while it is cold.

Tasting - Potomac Point Richland Reserve Voignier

Name: Potomac Point Richland Reserve Voignier
Variety: Voignier
Region: Potomac Point Vineyards, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $24.99


Online Review (via tastings.com):  Golden yellow color. Complex aromas of exotic tropical fruits like dragon and cashew fruit with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a creamy coconut custard, slate, and spicy apple-peach tart accented finish. A tasty sipper or pair with grilled Latin langoustines.

My Review: This wine had a slightly fruity aroma and a creamy taste. The fruit (citrus) was definitely present, but was accompanied with a fresh and smooth taste rather than bitter or too sweet. I had not tried this wine before, and enjoyed tasting a new wine. I would like to have this again with recommended foods to see how they enhance the flavors in the wine.

Tasting - Potomac Point Chardonnay

Name: Potomac Point Chardonnay
Variety:Chardonnay
Region:Potomac Point Vineyards, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $16.00



Their Review:  Our most versatile wine is crisp and refreshing. Nicely balanced with toasty notes and aromas of pear and mango in the bouquet. Beautiful fruit followed by a lingering finish.

My Review: During this tasting, I enjoyed their Chardonnay. Although this variety is not my favorite since I prefer very sweet wines, this one had a good balance of sweetness and toasty flavor. I could definitely taste the fruit, but without overpowering sweet tones. It would not be my first choice to drink, but I definitely would not mind drinking it again, and I liked it more than other Chardonnays I have tasted in the past.

Tasting - Robert Mondavi Pinot Nior

Name: Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Nior - 91% Carneros (Napa Valley), 5% other Napa Valley Vineyards, 4% selected Russian River - Sonoma County vineyards
Region: Napa Valley
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $25

Online Review (via robertmondavi.com): Vibrant with considerable substance and structure. Aromas and flavors of dark fruits—black plum and jammy black cherry—merge with notes of spice, herbs and subtle oak. Fine-grained tannins lead to a long, smooth finish. A richly satisfying wine.

My Review: At a dinner party last weekend, I had the chance to try several new wines including this one. Since I am more accustomed to sweet wines, but trying to develop my palate and get into new varieties and flavors, I was excited to try a few of the typically more bitter wines. Although this was very different from what I usually drink, I think it is something that I could get used to. I could actually smell some blackberry and cherry aromas, which led me to detect more of that in the flavor of the wine. I paired it with some chicken curry appetizers and a slightly spicy quinoa and zucchini salad that were provided, and really enjoyed the wine with both of these flavors. I would love to try it again with other food pairings.

I also found the Robert Mondavi website very interesting. Information is provided regarding the production and fermentation, which was helpful in relating to class lectures.

Robert Mondavi 2008 Pinot Noir 

Fermented in open top stainless steel, standard stainless steel and standard wood uprights

Select Burgundian yeasts for enhanced complexity and character

20 days skin contact (maceration) to soften tannins

100% in-barrel malolactic fermentation

6 months aging in toasted Burgundy barrels (27% new oak)

Tasting - Sutter Home Sweet Red

Name: Sutter Home Sweet Red
Variety: Blend of California red varietals with a touch of sweet white wine
Region: Napa California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $7

Online Review (via sutterhome.com): This carefree, uncomplicated red wine brings together all the refinement of Merlot, the sensual spirit of Zinfandel and the lovely floral notes of Moscato in a most delightful and unexpected way. Our rich blend of premium California wine is crafted in an easy-drinking style with a luscious mouth feel and natural residual grape sweetness that delivers a velvety smooth finish. Voluptuous and smooth, this is the kind of everyday wine that goes well with just about everything. Try our softer-styled red served chilled as an apéritif or with grilled meats, delicately–spiced Asian cuisine, and light cheeses.

My Review: Personally, I really enjoyed this wine. I am sometimes hesitant about red wines because I am not used to the bitter aspect, so this wine allowed me to get a sense of red wine flavor with an added sweetness that I prefer. It definitely does have a fruity, fresh berry flavor to it and a heady peach aroma. I think that by drinking wines similar to this one, I may be able to more easily convert over to red wines. I would absolutely love to try this wine again with the foods recommended online.

Tasting - Beringer Pink Moscato

Name: Beringer Pink Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Napa California
Country: USA
Year: Unknown

Online Review(via citywinecellar.com): The historic Beringer Vineyards brings you another great way to enjoy this storied grape variety with Pink Moscato. This is a fun, lighthearted wine bursting with the signature aromas of Moscato, with a hint of tropical fruit notes and a smooth and refreshing finish. Serve chilled.

The historic Beringer Vineyards brings you another great way to enjoy this storied grape variety with Pink Moscato. This is a fun, lighthearted wine bursting with the signature aromas of Moscato, with a hint of tropical fruit notes and a smooth and refreshing finish. Serve chilled. - See more at: http://citywinecellar.com/dessert-wine/moscato/beringer-pink-moscato-1-5l.html#sthash.LNnn6iY1.dpuf

The historic Beringer Vineyards brings you another great way to enjoy this storied grape variety with Pink Moscato. This is a fun, lighthearted wine bursting with the signature aromas of Moscato, with a hint of tropical fruit notes and a smooth and refreshing finish. Serve chilled. - See more at: http://citywinecellar.com/dessert-wine/moscato/beringer-pink-moscato-1-5l.html#sthash.LNnn6iY1.dpuf

The historic Beringer Vineyards brings you another great way to enjoy this storied grape variety with Pink Moscato. This is a fun, lighthearted wine bursting with the signature aromas of Moscato, with a hint of tropical fruit notes and a smooth and refreshing finish. Serve chilled. - See more at: http://citywinecellar.com/dessert-wine/moscato/beringer-pink-moscato-1-5l.html#sthash.LNnn6iY1.dpuf

The historic Beringer Vineyards brings you another great way to enjoy this storied grape variety with Pink Moscato. This is a fun, lighthearted wine bursting with the signature aromas of Moscato, with a hint of tropical fruit notes and a smooth and refreshing finish. Serve chilled. - See more at: http://citywinecellar.com/dessert-wine/moscato/beringer-pink-moscato-1-5l.html#sthash.LNnn6iY1.dpuf

My Review: I actually agree with the online reviews that I read about this wine. It has a light, fruity, sweet taste that I personally enjoy. It is probably too sweet for some people's tastes, but probably because I have not had a very large range of wines, I like the sweetness and fruity taste of Moscato. It is one that doesn't need food to accompany it because of the flavor that it has on its own. I would drink this again, probably out with friends or before dinner, but maybe not with a meal.