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Fare Thee Well... For Now

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As I write this, it is March 19th, and I have basically finished the Geography of Wine class. All my weekly wine blogs for the rest of the semester are in the can, and while still have half of the lectures to watch, I have done enough to secure an A, and will continue on merely because I enjoy the content. To celebrate, I am having a Korbel Brut Rosé California Champagne, a thing that doesn't actually exist given that it was not made in the Champagne region. A blend of many grapes, it brings about aromas of strawberry and other light fruits, and coalesces into a rich sparkle jamboree en la boca. I have no need to publish this post, but I want to in order to discuss how much this class has impacted me. As I said in the beginning, my parents have always been big wine nuts, but I never really got into it. After just a couple months of blogging and learning, I'm obsessed. The wide variety of tastes, from the sugary sweet delights, to the tannic bombs I used to hate so much, all hav...
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Columbia Crest - H3 Merlot

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                    Name:  Columbia Crest - H3 Merlot Varietal:  86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon Region:  Horse Heaven Hills, Washington Country:  United States Year:  2019 Price:  $15.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  This medium-bodied Merlot delivers aromas of spice, plum and blackberry with the perfect balance of earth, cocoa and ripe black cherry notes on the palate. The complex flavors are followed by a smooth, velvety finish. - 90 Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 132) Merlot is obviously popular worldwide, but is quite notable in the Columbia Valley of Washington state, with its wines featuring sweet fruit flavors like black cherry and boysenberry; higher acidity and lighter bodies; and notes of chocolate cream, violet, and mint. My Review:  Given that this is my final regular blog for this class, I knew there was one major varietal I had yet to discuss. Merlot is something I have been anxious to try ...
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Wild Thing - Rendezvous Rosé

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                       Name:  Wild Thing Rendezvous Rosé Varietal:  Carignane, Zinfandel Region:  Mendocino County, California Country:  United States Year:  2022 Price:  $9.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  Light cranberry color, juicy strawberry-watermelon fruit aromas, nice mineral, nice lift of spring flowers. Deep pink, light red in color and delivers excellence in flavors. Aromas and flavors of bright cherry cola. - 91 Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 90) The particular blend is somewhat of an anomaly, but the Carignane grape is typically used in rosé with hints of dried cranberry, raspberry, tobacco leaf, baking spices, and cured meat. My Review:  I figured that I should try blogging about at least one rosé before this class finishes, and luckily I had a chance to taste this one for free at the store before purchasing a well-priced bottle. What started with an aroma of light, flittering strawbe...
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Locations NZ - Sauvignon Blanc

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                      Name:  Locations NZ Varietal:  Sauvignon Blanc Region:  Marlborough Country:  New Zealand Year:  ??? Price:  $19.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  In the glass, a brilliant pale yellow reminiscent of white currants; the wine opens with an intense bouquet of gooseberries, feijoas, and ripe tropical fruits. The bright entry of fresh cut grass and preserved lemon lead to passionfruit pot de crème showcasing a long finish of fresh herbs and clean minerality. Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 166) New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is notably distinct from other more herbal varietal variations, as it prominently includes notes of tropical fruits like passionfruit and kiwi along with more residual sugar, with further flavors of pea shoot, jasmine, ripe pear, and CAT PEE! My Review:  To be perfectly honest, I mainly wanted to try this for the cat pee, because that seems so stupid yet so intriguing. ...
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Castellani Toscana - Sangiovese

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                      Name:  Castellani Toscana Varietal:  Sangiovese Region:  Tuscany Country:  Italy Year:  2019 Price:  $15.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  Perfumed nose of cedar, spearmint, morello cherry, vanilla and lemon verbena. Medium-bodied with polished tannins. Spicy character with ambitious new wood. Mocha at the end. - 91 Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 162) The workhorse grape of Italy, Sangiovese is known for its high acidity, role in the composition of Chianti, and its flavors of cherry, roasted tomato, sweet balsamic, oregano, and espresso. My Review:  With the number of remaining reviews running low, I knew it was about time I tried an Italian wine, considering they are the largest producer of the dang thing! The aforementioned acidity, particularly unusual by red standards, was the first thing I noticed upon putting the glass to my nose, along with some cherry and oregano spice. Imme...
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Santa Julia Tardío - Torrontés

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                                     Name:  Santa Julia Tard í o Varietal:  Torrontés (Late Harvest) Region:  Mendoza Country:  Argentina Year:  2022 Price:  $16.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  This late harvest Torrontés is characterized by fresh aromas of flowers and pink grapefruit, a sumptuous texture on the palate and an excellent balance between sweetness and acidity, featuring pineapple, nectarine and apricot fruit. With a very gentle finish, this delightful wine is the first one of its kind in Argentina. Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 177) While technically including three separate varietals, this Argentinian grape possesses a good sweet-dry balance, which goes perfectly with its notes of Meyer lemon, peach, rose petal, geranium, and citrus zest. My Review:  Full disclosure: this was consumed on a night where I had already been drinking, and I origi...
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Underwood - Pinot Noir

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                     Name:  Underwood Varietal:  Pinot Noir Region:  Oregon Country:  United States Year:  ??? Price:  $3.95 Winemaker Notes:  Union Wine Co. brings the spirit and character of Oregon to wines you can put on your table every day. We believe the contents are more important than the container; that good wine should be able to go anywhere. We love our wine, we just don't drink it with our pinkies in the air. #PINKIESDOWN!!! Notes: Cherry, Black Currant, Forest Floor Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 296) Oregon Pinot Noir is quite different from the same varietal produced in California, with a greater focus on light bodied allspice, tart cherry and pomegranate flavors, and a mushroomy earthiness with potting soil and vanilla. My Review:  Wine... in a can? And for that price, there was no way I could pass up this intriguing opportunity. Unfortunately, I was dumb and poured it out of the c...
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