Stevie's Wine Blog

Name:  Palacio de Menade Variety:  Verdejo Region:  Castilla y Leon Country:  Spain Year:  2021 Price:  $14 Wine review: If you’re a fan of the increasingly brilliant, Sauvignon-like whites of northwest Spain, you’ll adore this gem from Castilla y León. It's made nearly all from local hero Verdejo, with a touch of Sauvignon and Viura, all grassy fresh and lemony. (BBC Good Food and Wine Club) Wine Folly:  According to wine folly, Verdejo is dry and has primary flavors of lime, green melon, grapefruit pith, fennel, and white peach with light body, no tannins, and medium high acidity. (https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/tasters-guide-to-verdejo-wine/) All I could really taste was lime and it was slightly herbaceous (no herb in specific just general herby flavor). On top of that it was definitely medium high acidity and had no tannins. However, I feel like the body was medium-light and I'd say this wine was slightly sweet (not dry but not necessarily sweet). My review: I don't qu

Name:  Purple Owl Variety:  Pinot Noir Region:  California Country:  United States of America Year:  2021 Price:  $12 Wine review:  Purple Owl is no ordinary Pinot Noir – grapes for this juicy berry red are sourced from vineyards mostly in California’s prized Lodi region. A gentle pressing and careful vinification capture all its layers of vibrant cherry and raspberry fruit. (BBC Good Food and Wine Club) Wine Folly:  According to wine folly, Pinot Noir is dry and has primary flavors of cherry, raspberry, mushroom, clove, and hibiscus with medium body, low tannins, and medium-high acidity. (https://winefolly.com/grapes/pinot-noir/) I primarily tasted raspberry with floral notes and a little bit of clove spice. I also felt like it was dry, had a medium body, no/low tannins, and had medium acidity.  My review: This was my favorite red I have had so far. It was significantly better than the Bordeaux. I am a big fan of raspberries and the lack of tannins made this a very pleasant red for me

  Name:  Stellenrust Heritage Collection Variety:  Chenin Blanc Region:  Stellenbosh Country:  South Africa Year:  2021 Price:  $18 Wine review:  The nose is wonderfully expressive with notes of jasmine, citrus, peach, pineapple and some leesy complexity. The palate meanwhile is just about pitch perfect – fantastic fruit concentration offset by tangy acidity. A perfect aperitif, or a fine match for shellfish. - 91 points (The Wine Cellar Group) Wine Folly:  According to wine folly, chenin blanc is dry and has primary flavors of quince, yellow apple, pear, chamomile, and honey with medium-light body, no tannins, and high acidity. (https://winefolly.com/grapes/chenin-blanc/) I personally could taste apple, pear, and a little bit of honey flavor but didn't get much chamomile and I don't know what quince tastes like, so I am unsure if it tastes like that. I also felt like it wasn't extremely dry, was acidic but not too acidic, had no tannins, and had a decent body to it (defini

I haven't been much of a wine drinker before in my life; however, in my experience there have been wines that taste amazing to me and wines that I can barely get down. That is one of the main reasons I decided to take this course because upon better understanding the aspects of wine and wine selection, I feel that I can learn to appreciate wine better and come to love it. The only times when I actively drank wine were on vacations in Italy and in California, and that was purely because those areas were known for their wine so I felt obligated to drink wine there. Through those trips I found that I tend to like white wines more than red wines and any wine that is high in tannins is not wine that I enjoy. However, apart from that I was just drinking the wine for the experience and not necessarily because I was interested in exploring wine and figuring out what I like and don't like. The main thing I want to learn from this class is the different types of wine and pair that with t

  Name: Fifth Note Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Variety: Sauvignon Blanc (with a touch of Pinot Grigio) Region: Sonoma County, California Country: USA Year: 2019 Price: $24 Wine review: Floral in jasmine and orange blossom, this white is blended with 8% Pinot Grigio. The strong aromatics belie a simple, straightforward palate of melon and apple that shows moderate acidity - Virginie Boone S.H. - 84 points Wine Folly:  Sauvignon Blanc is dry and has primary flavors of gooseberry, honeydew, grapefruit, white peach, and passion fruit with medium-light body, no tannins, and high acidity. (https://winefolly.com/grapes/sauvignon-blanc/) Pinot Grigio is dry and has primary flavors of white peach, lemon zest, cantaloupe, raw almond, and crushed gravel with medium-light body, no tannins, and medium-high acidity. (https://winefolly.com/grapes/pinot-gris/) My review: This wine is great! The main flavor I got off of the first sip was passionfruit which is one of my favorite fruits. It is also very

Name:   Chateau Le Coin Bordeaux Variety:  Bordeaux Blend (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) Region:  Bordeaux Country:  France Year:  2020 Price:  $12 Wine Review:   Chateau le Coin is a classic Bordeaux blend of soft, plummy Merlot, firm Cabernet Sauvignon, and spicy Cabernet Franc, it’s made for enjoying with food, and boasts a freshness that’ll have you coming back for a second glass. Look forward to bright aromas of bramble fruit, dark plum and baking spices. On the palate, ripe black fruit and touches of vanilla and clove continue to please through the smooth, elegant finish. - Oak&Barrel Wine Folly:  Bordeaux is a red blend that’s dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, along with several other grape varieties native to the Bordeaux region of France. It is very dry and has primary flavors of Black Currant, Black Cherry, Graphite, Chocolate, and Dried Herbs with a full body, high tannins, and medium acidity. (https://winefolly.com/wines/bordeaux-blend-red/). To