first wine tasting! jan 28

Name: Three Finger Jack Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country: USA

Region: Lodi, California

Year: 2019

Price: $15.98 

Critic Review: Natalie Maclean Wine Reviews & Pairing Courses reviewed this wine on October 22, 2022 and granted a 90/100 score. Natalie described the wine as “... a Full-bodied, nicely balanced California Lodi Cabernet bursting with smoky, supple fruit. Pour with Hickory smoked barbequed ribs.” Natalie further suggests pairing the wine with meat pie, lamb stew, or beef and lentil casserole. 

Winery Review: Three Finger Jack Winery suggests polished tannins and flavors of black plums and cherries spiced with coffee and black pepper make this wine ideal to serve with steaks, lamb chop, and aged cheeses. 

Wine Folly: The wine had a primary aroma of blackberry and black currant followed by smoke and black pepper secondary aromas. The tertiary aromas described on page 31 which best describe this wine are cedar and coffee. This cabernet sauvignon had primary notes of black plum, black cherry, and black pepper followed by secondary note of smoke. The tertiary tasting notes described on page 89 which most describe this cabernet sauvignon are cedar and coffee. 

Personal Review: Upon first sip, I could not identify any taste beyond the great acidity and tarteness of this wine. I noted that I would without any doubt, never drink this wine again. I further stated I “have tasted better wine from a box” and was confused of its somewhat salty aftertaste. Ultimately, this bottle confirmed that I am certainly not a fan of dry red wines. 

Name: Yaiza Blanco Seco

Variety: Malvasía Volcánica grapes

Country: Spain

Region: Lanzarote

Year: 2023

Price: 19,00€

Winery Review: The wine provides taste sensations which include persistence, freshness, and a medium structure. A high aromatic intensity, with notes of mango, guava and lychee, combining all of the typical aromas of Malvasía Volcánica. Little by little it evolves towards white pulp fruits, with notes of citrus and orange blossom.

Wine Folly: The wine is a pale yellow color best described as ‘straw’ by the Folly text. The primary aroma listed on page 30 which best describes the wine is mango and a bit of lychee, followed by secondary notes of volcanic rock and tertiary notes of coconut and vanilla. 

Personal Review: This wine was much sweeter and much less acidic than the dry red we tried previously, solidifying my belief that sweet white wines suit my palate better. The wine tasted very fruity and light, especially in comparison to the dry red. The wine was pretty balanced and lingered in the palate long.

my very limited wine experience

 When it comes to wine, I lack experience beyond the occasional glass in less-than-ideal circumstances —specifically, in frat basements. The wine I encountered there was typically (extremely) cheap, sickly sweet, and was poured from a plastic bottle or large box. Often, it was drank directly from the spout of a wine bag my friends provided. As a senior in college, I have still not developed a refined palate or strong opinions on different wines. I mainly associate wine with sicky floors, humid environments, loud EDM music, and plastic cups, which likely isn't the experience wine connoisseurs rave over.

Despite not giving wine a fair shot, I do not think I will ever enjoy it. I have tried a decent variety of cheap reds, whites, dry, and sweet wines from Kroger, While I disliked nearly every bottle I have tried, I heavily disliked red wine more than white. Red wine always tastes relatively vinegar-ish to me, and I find it difficult to taste any flavor besides fermented grape. White wine is my preferred variety as I favor a sweeter and less acidic-tasting wine. Ultimately, my favorite wine I have tasted is the Barefoot fruitscato line.

From this course, I hope to understand what constitutes a ‘good’ wine and how to recognize different flavors (besides fermented grapes) in wine. I would like to learn more about food pairings and the process of fermentation. Hopefully, I will find a variety of wine by the end of class that I can enjoy and develop an appreciation for wine beyond what is being served in a basement.