Vintage Cellar Tastings: April 9

Name: Terre di Poggio

Variety: 100% Laude 

Region: Terre di Chieti   

Country: Italy 

Year: 2013

Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "Bright and savory, this floral scented Pecorino offers juicy tropical fruit and lemon drop sensation accented by notes of mint and thyme. The ripe fruit is balanced by brisk acidity that leaves the palate feeling cleansed and refreshed." 
-Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg 

My Review: The nose was really tart with some hight heat. Almost spicy with high heat on the front palate, warm finish. Grapefruit notes possibly, but overpowered by the heat. 

Tasted without food. 

Name: Chateau Sau Bordeaux Rose 

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  

Region: Bordeaux 

Country: France 

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Shop Review: "100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Light, lurid pink. Tangerine, raspberry, and white pepper on the fragrant nose. Juicy and focused in the mouth, offering zesty red berry flavors with a refreshingly bitter edge. Closes clean and tight, with lingering spiciness and a touch of orange zest." 
-Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg 

My Review: Floral notes on the nose along with berries and maybe rose? The floral and strawberries carry over into the taste; really clean and refreshing with light rose notes on the end.  

Tasted without food. 

Name: Torre Castillo Cosecha Monastrell

Variety: 100% Monastrell 

Region: Jumilla 

Country: Spain 

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Shop Review: "100% Monastrell, aged in American oak for four months. Bright ruby. Powerful, spicy aromas of dark berry preserves and lavender. Fleshy and round on the palate offering spicy blackberry and blueberry flavors and gaining sweetness with air. Finishes smooth, long, and slightly warm. 
-Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg 

My Review: This wine...almost all smoke flavor! And something on the nose made me think of green olives. ??? Anyway, the taste was strong with a really warm mouthfeel, some spice notes. Possibly licorice? 

Tasted without food. 

Name: Tres Ojos Grenacha

Variety: 85% Granacha, 15% Tempranillo  

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain 

Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

Shop Review: "The 2012 Tres Ojos Granacha contains 15% Tempranillo (I wonder wy), and unoaked cuvée of 200,000 bottles that matures in vat for at least seven months before bottling. What I tasted was a very honest, fresh and fruit-driven red with aromas of cherries, garrigue, and thyme with a medium-bodied palate, some weight and tannins that would do better with food. This is a red that sells for a song." 
-Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg 

My Review: More fruit and berries than the previous wine. Dark cherries and lots of plum notes come through on the front and mid palate.  

Tasted without food. 

Name: Hahn Piesporter Michelsberg

Variety: 100% Riesling 

Region: Piesport

Country: Germany

Year: -

Price: $9.95

Shop Review: "This wine's light, airy mouthfeel belies its sweetness and intensity of flavor. Honeyed pineapple aromas; similar flavors on the palate, adding gentle citrus notes toward the long, sweet finish." 
-Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg 

My Review: Getting some slight vanilla undertones and berries. Floral, sweet flavors right up front; almost something like vanilla ice cream on the back palate; the berries and vanilla carry through. 

Tasted without food.