Thomas' Wine Blog

Name: Bota Mini Chardonnay Variety: Chardonnay Country: United States Region: California Vintage: Unknown Cost: $5 Wine Sh op Review: " Bota Box Chardonnay presents bright citrus, green apple and honeysuckle aromas. This light-bodied wine is refreshing and crisp with vibrant flavors of lemon, lime, green apple and pineapple leading to a juicy finish." - TotalWine.com   Wine Folly: pg. 96 ""One of the most popular grapes... pairs best with subtle spices and flavors" My Review: - Color: Nearly clear white, slight yellow - Smell: fruity, soft, citrus - Taste: Sweat, Full body, smooth - Overall: This is an easy drink, I would consider purchasing it again

Name: Black Box Pinot Noir Variety: Pinot Noir Country: United States Region: California Vintage: 2021 Cost: $5 Wine Sh op Review: " California - Features enticing aromas of strawberry and red cherry with complementary notes of toasty oak. Fresh berry and cocoa flavors lead to a delicate, lingering finish." - TotalWine.com Wine Folly: pg. 150 "The world's most popular light-bodied red is loved for its red fruit and spice flavors" My Review: - Color: Dark Red - Smell: Fruity - Taste: woody, buttery, fruity - Overall: Decent wine, nothing spectacular but not terrible. if offered a glass i would not refuse, but I probably won't rebuy.

 Step 1: Taste the wine Color: Blood Red Smell: Medium, Spicy, Fruity Taste: Smooth, Spicy, Dry after taste Step 2: Wait 2 hours Color: Blood Red Smell: Medium, Spicy, Fruity Taste: Smoother than before, fruitier Step 3: Wine & Cheese (Parmesan) Taste: The Cheese absorbs the spice and the dryness and allows the fruit to come to the forefront Step 4: Try with Food (Pepperoni) Taste: The spiciness compounds of the wine and the pepperoni seem to stack on each other and muliply

Appetizer  Wine 1: Bay Bridge Pinot Grigio Colombard Smell: Fruity, Citrusy Taste: Smooth, Fruity, Citrusy Food 1: Genoa Salami & Provolone Taste: The alcohol reduced the spiciness of the salami Entrée Wine 2: 2016 Valvirginio Chianti Riserva Taste: Dry, Spicy Smell: Tannic, Cherry, gooseberries, Food 2: Pasta with Meat Sauce Taste: The meatsauce (made with the chianti) seems to intensify the flavors  Dessert Wine 3: Taylor Port Smell: Sweet, Slight cherry smell teste: grape flavor nerds Food 3: Apple pie taste: the combo creates a cherry medicince flavor

Cheese 1: Supreme Brie Cost: $16.99/lb Cheese 2: Murray's aged Manchego Cost: $19.99/lb Cheese 3: Whiskey Maple Gouda  Cost: $15.99/lb Wine 1: Black Box Merlot Cost: $5 Wine 2: Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon Cost: $5 Wine 3: Schmitt Sohne Riesling Cost: $8 Riesling alone: Taste: Pungent, slight sour, tickle on the tongue Smell: Light Fruity smell Riesling Brie: Taste: the cheese smooths out the wine, reducing its bite Riesling Gouda: Taste: The pair has a little interaction, the wine is mellowed by the gouda, but the gouda is the dominant party of the aftertaste Riesling Manchego: Taste: The pair doesn't seem to interact. each has its own 'time in the sun'. the wine hits you hard early and the cheese comes around for a second punch Cabernet alone:  Taste: sour, dry, woody, buttery Smell: Fruity Cabernet & Brie: Taste: little interaction, the wine overpowers the cheese. Cabernet gouda taste: little interaction. two separate flavors Cabernet Manchego: Taste: The cheese

Name: Provisions Chardonnay Variety: Chardonnay Country: Chile Region: Central Valley Vintage: Unknown Cost: $5 My Review: - Color: pale yellow - Smell: fruity, some sort of berry  - Taste:  a bit sour with a woody aftertaste, a little smokey even - Overall: Decent, could drink again, but probably won't. Wine Sh op Review: " lively boysenberry, crushed lilacs, black pepper, and cola on the nose. Being young, it still has strong tannins despite a relatively light body, with olallieberry and dried violet flavors proving interestingly Rhône-like in style." - Drizly.com Wine Folly: pg 215 "The cooler coastal areas is where you'll find the best chardonnay. The most popular style is buttery from oak aging and comes from Casablanca and san antonio valleys. the outer regions of limari and Aconcagua offer the most minerality and are uniquely salty."

 Name: Dark Horse Sauv Blanc Variety: Sauvignon Blanc Country: United States Region: California Vintage: Unknown Cost: $5 Wine Sh op Review: " California- A deliciously refreshing Sauvignon Blanc offering bright citrus and tropical fruit, with a crisp, juicy finish. Perfect as an aperitif or paired with grilled fish or pasta."   - TotalWine Wine Folly: "A unique tasting white wine with strong herbaceous flavors that are derived from compounds called methoxypyrazines" -pg. 165  My Review:  Color: Pale White Smell: Not very strong smelling (went to my spice cabinet to confirm I could smell at all). I may detect grapefruit but only after being prompted by the book. Taste: Strong sour taste in the corners of my cheeks. Certainly fruity, but I cannot name which ones.  Overall: I am not a big fan. I am willing to try a different winery's attempt but it's unlikely that I purchase this exact wine again.

 Name: Dark Horse Pinot Grigio Variety: Pinot Grigio Country: United States Region: California Vintage: Unknown Cost: $5 Wine Shop Review: " California- Dark Horse Pinot Grigio is a bold wine with a big personality, offering notes of apple and hints of lemon, complemented by a subtle minerality and an elegant finish." - Totalwine.com Wine Folly: Pg 149 "Zesty white wines that range in style from dry to plain sweet" My Review: Smell: Very pungent smell of alcohol, maybe a hint of fruit. smells very much like white wine and its hard for me to detect anything past the alcohol. Color: Very light, can almost be mistaken as clear in some lighting. Taste: Sweet, warm, creamy with a bit of a bite on your tongue. There is a slight hint of apple, but I'm not sure I would detect it if I had read that it was supposed to have that taste. Overall: It's a decent drinking experience, but I believe that this is only something to drink while on a budget. 

 Name:  2006 Betz Family Winery Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Country: US Region: Washington Columbia Valley Vintage: 2006 Cost: $109 Wine Shop Review: " Red - Bold and Structured "  - WineSearcher.com Wine Folly: pg 88 "World's most popular wine... rich flavor and high tannin content"                         pg 298 "most planted variety... noted for rich raspberry black cherry and cedar flavors that have yogurt like creaminess" My Review: Smell: Cherry, Dark Chocolate,  Visual: Dark Red Taste: Dry but much less so than the 2008. Strong Cherry Taste but less than the 2008. There is also some other fruity flavor. Overall: Very nice drink. I personally would not pay the price but I would drink again if offered.

 Name:  2008 Betz Family Winery Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Country: US Region: Washington Columbia Valley Vintage: 2008 Cost: $76 Wine Shop Review: " Red - Bold and Structured"  - WineSearcher.com Wine Folly: pg 88 "World's most popular wine... rich flavor and high tannin content"                         pg 298 "most planted variety... noted for rich raspberry black cherry and cedar flavors that have yogurt like creaminess" My Review: Smell: Cherry Visual: Dark Red Taste: Very Dry. Strong Cherry Taste. Leaves a sensation of licking a piece of wood on your tongue. Overall: Very Dry. The taste is ok. Probably not worth the asking price personally.

 Name: Hetszolo Tokaji Forditas 2017 Variety: Fortidas Country: Hungary Region: Tokaj Vintage: 2017 Cost: $15 Store: Acquired in Hungary Wine Shop: "What does the wine taste like? Vanilla, Tobacco, Clove, Lemon, Orange, Marmalade, Nutty, Hazelnut, Walnut, Elderflower, etc"   -Vivino Wine Folly: Pg. 247 "During the 1700s, Tokaji was one of the most important wine regions of the world. The production of Tokaji depends on necrotrophic fruit fungi." "[Forditas] is produced by blending the used pomace from an Aszu fermentation with non-Aszu grapes." My Review:  - Smell: Fruity, Nutty - Taste: Very Smooth. Very Sweet. Caramel, Nutty, Raisin,  - Visual:  White Apple Juice Gold - Overall: Very pleasant drinking experience. I would drink again.