Tasting - Malbec

 

Name: Trivento
Variety: Malbec
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Vintage: 2020
Price: $11.99

Winery Review: Plum and wildberry aromas introduce this well-made, everyday Malbec. A slightly rough and scratchy mouthfeel is driven by charged acidity, tasting of blackberry and black currant backed by peppery spice notes. - Review was done by Michael Schachner on the WineMag website. 

Wine Folly: The textbook states that this is one of the most famous wines that come from Argentina and it is compared to Cabernet except that Malbec does not have a long finish. Since this wine comes from Mendoza, Argentina we should expect some characteristics of red plum, boysenberry, red pepper flake, prune, or raspberry leaf (pg 203). 

My Review: The first smell test gives me some strong aromas of the red plummy smell that was talked about in the textbook. It kind of stung my nose so I think this wine will be on the higher acidity side of red wines. This first taste test was interesting, at first, the wine left a sharp mouth feeling on my cheeks and tongue, but had a really nice and smooth finish almost like velvet. The finish of the wine also had some characteristics of vanilla present in it. The acidity that I was talking about during the smell test does not seem to be there at all, and I think this wine is good overall. I did not pair this wine with any food but if I were it would be with a nice steak, kind of similar to a cabernet.  

Tasting - Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Name: Yellow Tail
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: Australia
Region: Yenda
Vintage: 2021
Price: $10.99

Winery Review: It's a nice, little acidic wine. Was better than what I thought. Has a little pineapple on the nose, citrus too. Once I tasted it I found it a little oaky, citrus, honey. - Review is done in Vivino by Monica Sanchez.

Wine Folly: The textbook states that Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular grape variety and consists of a wine that is high in tannins and rich in flavor. Since this cabernet is from Australia the textbook states that I should be picking up on the following characteristics: black plum, white pepper, currant candy, chocolate, and bay leaf (pg 159).

My Review: The first smell test give me some strong aromas of the plum characteristics mentioned in the textbook. It has this real jammy feeling to it and I was also able to pick up on some kind of hidden chocolate undertones. The first taste test give me some pretty complex tannins present in the wine, my mouth was pretty much watering after just a sip, and it has a really nice body to it. The finish was medium and not as velvety as the wine description says it is, but overall a good wine. I did not enjoy any food with this wine but if I were to it would be a nice lamb chop to enjoy those rich flavors together. 

Tasting - Shiraz

 

Name: Yellow-Tail 
Variety: Shiraz
Country: Australia
Region: Yenda
Vintage: 2020
Price: $6.99

Winery Review: Deep red with purple reflections in color, on the nose, aromas of plum and blackberry with notes of spices. Weel-balanced in acidity. Rich and intense wine in style. On the palate, dry, oaky, bold, structured, a hint of black pepper, a touch of dark chocolate, delivers red fruit character, spicy balanced, jammy, powerful, filled with ripe, deep fruit-driven, lengthy. It has a long finish. - Review is given in Vivino by Morteza Afshar. 

Wine Folly: The textbook states that pairing this wine with some darker meat and exotic spices will bring out the fruit notes of this wine. It has a very high body, with little sweetness, and medium to high alcohol and tannins. Since this wine is from Australia it is Shiraz instead of the French name Syrah, and since it is Australia we should expect characteristics of blackberry sauce, fruit cake, sassafras, camphor, and sweet tobacco (pg 289). 

My Review: The first smell test I get some strong aromas of some berries present in the wine, I do not know if they are blackberries, however, I think they may be red berries instead. I also am able to pick up on some strong levels of acidity in the wine. The first taste test allows me to get more of that berry flavor that I was picking up in the wine. It also does not have as strong of acidity present as I thought when smelling it, instead, it has a really nice body and finish to it. I am also to pick up on some of the spices that are made into the wine as well. I did not pair any food with this wine but if I were it would be some kind of meaty food with some darker characteristics. 

Tasting - Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Name: Mondavi and Family
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: United States 
Region: California 
Vintage: 2020
Price: $5.99

Winery Review: Ruby red color, almost see-through you can see the bottom of the glass. Oak on the nose. Very sweet taste of bing cherry and oak notes. Medium tannins and acidity. - Review is done in Vinino by Yukiko Sugo. 

Wine Folly: Cabernet is one of the most popular wine varieties and normally has strong elements of tannins and is rich in flavor. Since this wine comes from California, it should give off characteristics of black currant, pencil lead, tobacco, blackberry, and mint. The California soil gives these wines a more distinct dusty and mineral character (pg 159). 

My Review: The first smell test goes not give me many aromas that are present in the wine, it is more of some decently high levels of acidity in it instead. Upon repeated smells, however, it becomes more apparent that there are some earthy elements that are in the wine from the smell test like some tobacco. The first taste test gives me a very full body feeling in the mouth that is extremely smooth and has a nice velvet finish to it. The wine has some medium tannins and low acidity on the tongue. I did not enjoy this wine with any food but if I were it would have to be another nice steak. 

Tasting - Cabernet Sauvgnon

Name: Nighthawk Black
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: United States
Region: Manteca, CA
Vintage: NV (non-vintage)
Price: $17.99

Winery Review: Fruit-forward with little dryness on the backend. Subtle vanilla on the nose with rhubarb on the palate. As a boxed wine, never get tired of this wine. Good flavored wine to drink on a repetitive basis. Review from Vivino by AB. 

Wine Folly: The textbook states that this grape variety is one of the most popular grapes in the entire world. It has high tannin levels that will leave your mouth watering and asking for some rich flavors of food to be paired with it as well. Since this wine comes from California we should be expecting some black currant, pencil lead, tobacco, blackberry, and mint flavors coming from it (pg 159). 

My Review: The first smell test gives me some strong fruity smells of blackberry present in the wine. It also seems to have this tart aspect to it. I am also getting some underlying earthy elements present in the wine. The first taste test gives me a very full body with a nice and easy soft finish in the mouth. The tannins that are present in the wine are too aggressive and I would say are between middle and low levels of tannins. Almost no acidy that I can taste in the wine, and it seems to be balanced with not much sugar either. I did not pair this wine with any food but if I were it would be a nice steak that would pair well with the rich components present in the wine. 

Tasting - Barbera

 

Name: Bricco Del Tati
Variety: Barbera
Country: Italy
Region: Mombaruzzo
Vintage: 2017
Price: $7.00

Wine Review: "This is a young, fresh, lively Barbera with a persistent and attractive bouquet of black cherries and a bit of spice on the palate. It has few tannins which are typical of the Barbera varietal and a medium finish. Delightfully approachable, it is great with medium to strong cheeses, barbecue, and game." - Wine review done by vivino.com. 

Wine Folly: The textbook states that Barbera is the "everyday drinking red wine of Piedmont", and that this wine is very approachable with a decently high level of acidity. It suggests that you try this wine variety with some vegetable-driven dishes and that most of this wine is grown in Italy (pg 125). 

My Review: The first smell taste gives me the aromas of some strong tart cherries. The tartness of these cherries really comes alive on the nose, and I think I am also getting some hints of spices apparent in the wine. The first taste test was pleasant for one second until the rush of acidity hit my tongue, my god. The cherries that are present in the wine are the first things that I taste until the high levels of acid hit the back of my throat. It is kind of hard to distinguish much else from this wine because of how high the acid levels are. I did not pair any food with this wine but if I were to it would be food high in fatty and creamy levels in order to balance out that acid. 

Tasting - Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Name: Matthew Fox 
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: United States
Region: California 
Vintage: NV (non-vintage)
Price: $4.00

Wine Review: "This cabernet sauvignon presents aromas of red raspberry and toasted oak. The wine is remarkably smooth with red fruit and vanilla flavors that linger through a pleasing finish. Matthew Fox cabernet sauvignon pairs well with beef and other full-flavored red meat entrees." - Review done by Roth's Fresh Markets. 

Wine Folly: The textbook states that this grape variety is one of the most popular grapes in the entire world. It has high tannin levels that will leave your mouth watering and asking for some rich flavors of food to be paired with it as well. Since this wine comes from California we should be expecting some black currant, pencil lead, tobacco, blackberry, and mint flavors coming from it (pg 159). 

My Review: The first smell test gives me some strong aromas of some distinct berries that are present in the wine. I smell some raspberries as stated in the winery review along with some more earthy elements. The earthy elements seem to be some tobaccoy flavors. The first taste test gives me a very smooth feeling went coming into contact with my tongue, and a little of a rough finish once it leaves the mouth. I get some pretty strong tannin components as well, leaves my mouth tingling and sort of salivating. I did not eat any food with this wine but if I were I think I would try a nice steak with it just because of how strong the tannin finish was on my mouth, the steak would go great with this wine.