Final thoughts

Hello,
Today was my graded blind tasting so that means the tasting part of my project is over. This experience has been an amazing for me! I was able to learn about wines, how to taste them, and how to evaluate them. This is a skill many Americans do not know how to do and I am really grateful I was able to learn about this. To think I started last November tasting chocolates and now I am writing my last wine tasting entry is crazy. I thought I would end by answering some questions my professor asked me a couple tastings ago.

Is more expensive or limited production wine actually better than less expensive, mass-produced kinds? 

I have learned that this really depends on what you are comparing. For example normally good wines come from one known region. For example you would see McLaren Vale on a bottle of Shiraz. A lot of the cheap wines contain grapes from a wide region. If you were to see Grapes of Australia or Southwest Australia this means that this grapes could have come from any place in that area and are more than likely grapes that were left over in that location. In this case that would not make for a very good wine. There are some wineries though that mass produce to make cheaper wine but the wine is still very good quality. Also some wines do get better with age and typically the longer they age the more expensive they are. Overall I would say that there is some correlation between the cost and the quality of the wine but typically a $300 bottle of wine to me does not taste that different from a $400 bottle on wine but there is a difference between $5 wine and $25 wine do to the difference in region and possible age.

Does learning the terminology and characteristics to look for add to your enjoyment of the wine? 

For me it does. I know that I go through a checklist in my head when drinking wine. I think it allows me to connect more with the wine and therefore with the meal or conversation too instead of just mindlessly drink down the wine. Also know that after this experience I have more appreciation for the the wine, and all the work and passion that goes into it. This understudying of viticulture and notching things about the wine does allow me to enjoy the wine more.

What would you say to the person who asserts "I may not know anything about wine, but I know what I like?"

 I would say that this used to be me. I used to know that I liked sweet white wine and that was it. To me though, now that I know about the styles of wine (which there are way more than I ever thought) and what the characteristics are for each wine, I feel comfortable making decisions out to eat or while purchasing wine. Also there is something about going out and knowing not only do I like sweet white wines, but also that typically a Riesling is a sweeter style of wine and I would prefer that style and flavor. Also I know I don't like oak contact as much so if someone where to offer me a Chardonnay, I could decline because even though it is a white wine I know that due to the oak contact I wouldn't care for it.  Its more than just knowing if you like it or not but its also the why.

Another this is a lot of people don't know what is out there. There are way more styles that I even thought of and it can be intimidating to try new things. I think it is important to try though because I never knew what Chenin Blanc was but when I tried it I absolutely loved it. There is just so much out there that I think its impossible for people to only have one type of wine that they like.  


UPDATE: Just found out I got an A on my blind tasting!!
Thanks for following me through this experience
~Karli

Yarra Vally Part 3-Killara

Hello

The last vineyard I went to was Killara. This was by far my favorite vineyard!! This vineyard creates Italian styled wines. Unfortunately I did not get to meet the owners due to their being a wedding on the property that day, but I wasn't to disappointed because the worker who showed us around had the most passion for wine making I had seen yet. 

The first wine was a 2015 Pinot Grigio

The core was a pale watery yellow with a pale straw yellow rim. Based on the color there did not appear to be any oak content. There were string aromas of honeysuckle and pear. On the palate though, there was a district almond flavor as well as the pear and green apple.  The wine was very soft but also heavy in weight. 

The next wine was a 2015 Moscato 

The rim was a light pale yellow and there was a watery yellow care. The wine appeared light bodied and to have no oak contact. There were floral aromas and intense dried apricot aromas. On the palate there were flavors of apricots, peach and honey. There also was some added texture from bubbles. I really enjoyed this wine and ended up buy a bottle before leaving.
The final wine was a 2011 Sangiovesethe rim was a cranberry color and the core was a deep cherry red. There were stron aromas of raspberry cherry and spice. The palate had intense cherry and raspberry flavors and along with some spice. Also there was a strange oak flavor with sawdust tannins.
Like I said this was my favorite vineyard. When the worker noticed I was taking notes her quickly came over and started explaining more about the wines to me. He would tell me to look for certain smells and flavors. The noted that the use french oak and what characteristics that would give which wines. You could tell that he really knew what hen was talking about and really cared about what he was doing. He was also more than helpful answering any of my questions.  This added so much to the wine tasting experience!!! 
~Karli 


Someday i wouldn't mind going back there because of how nice everyone was there, and the wines were very very good too!!

Yarra Vally Part 2-Hanrahan Vineyard

Hello
The second stop of the tour was Hanrahan Vineyard. This Vineyard was family owned and operated any you could tell that the moment you walked up. You were instantly greeted by the owners, and you were treated like family. The owners here are involved in every step of the process of wine making from planting, to pruning, to picking, to making the wines. There were able to tell me things like that they only use french oak barrels on there wines, or that there is a difference between the 2012 and 2013 Shiraz due to the change in climate that season. You could tell that they really loved making wines. While we were here we got to sample three wines.
The first wine was a 2011 Chardonnay.
The core was a very pale watery yellow and the rim was a pale golden yellow. There were no green hues so it is not a young wine. There were intense peach and pear aromas. There also seemed to be slight passion fruit and honey aromas with maybe some oak. On the palate there are string oak flavors. There is also intense peach and pear flavor with some texture in the back palate. I found out that this Chardonnay has very light french oak contact to give it its secondary flavors.
Next we got to try the 2013 and 2012 Shiraz
The 2013 had a cranberry rim with a deep cherry red core. The wine seemed young, vibrant, and was medium bodied. There were strong oak, cherry and plum aromas. On the palate there was strong oak flavors, but also cherry flavors. The wine was slightly acidic and had powdery tannins and a long persistence.
The 2012 Shiraz was more full bodied that the 2013 and it appeared more aged with sight tawny characteristics. The core was a deep plum and the rime was a cherry color. There were strong oak aromas and subtle cherry and peppery aromas. The wine tasted very peppery. There was also strong oak flavors and some subtle cherry aromas. The tannins were also softer and more suede like.

Overall I thought the wines were very good and I loved the vibe of the winery. It was fun to interact with the owners and see there input and facts about the wines.

One more vineyard to go
~Karli

Yarra Vally Part 1-Dominique Portet

Hello,
While in Melbourne, I decided to do a wine tour of the famous wine region known as the Yarra Valley.  The first stop was to a winery called Dominique Portet. Here we sampled three wines, a Chardonnay, a Brut Rose and a Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The first wine was the 2012 Dominique Portet Chardonnay.

The core was clear and the rim was a pale watery yellow. There were slight green hues suggesting this is a young wine. Due to the light color there also does no appear to be oak contact.

The aromas were quite subtle but contained scents of passion fruit, tropical fruit, and honey. 

There was little texture and little flavor in the wine. There were some subtle fruity notes but it was overpowered by the acidity. There did appear to be some oak flavor. There was a good persistence of the wine.
The second wine was a Cabernet Sauvignon 
The rim was cranberry in color suggesting a young wine. The core was a dark blood red color. Overall the wine was slightly opaque but also vibrant. There were strong cherry, plum, and oak aromas in the wine. On the palate the wine was quite drying with powdery tannins. It contained a strong oak taste but subtle cherry flavors.


I thought all of the wines lacked flavor and intensity. The did not seem like the award winning wines the worker was telling us about. Also I really did not care for this winery. Wine tasting should be a fun experience where the workers should be able to show you the wine and describe it for you. It should be easy to see there passion for it. Here it seemed like they were more interested in selling the wine than giving you a great experience. They moved so fast that I didn't even get to take notes for the Brut Rose. After the tasting, I even went up to ask questions and the worker responded that she really didn't have time for questions. We were supposed to come, sample the wine, then play a game, eat lunch and leave before the next group got there. During lunch however, the owner noticed I was taking notes and came over to talk. It was very hard to understand him though with his thick French accent but It was nice that he came over and tried to make a conversation. Overall though I thought the wines were just ok and the place did not give off a friendly atmosphere. It didn't give me the wine experiences I was really looking for.

Maybe that will happen at the next place :)
~Karli

Shiraz

Hello,
Today we talked about Shiraz and we talked about food pairing. Shiraz was first found in France but since that is has been planted in California, Argentina, and South Africa. In Australia it is found all over  the country. Some noted regions are McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, Langhorne Creek, the Yarra Valley, and Great Western Valley. The Shiraz vines though can grow a lot and often there can be canopy issues if the vines are not controlled. The color is normally a dark red to a deep plum and it will show tawny colors with age. The typical aromas for Shiraz is Black pepper is if is  a warmer climate, white pepper if it os cooler climate, plum, blackberry, cherry and tar. The app late experience can change because there are many different styles. Typically though it is full bodied and has high levels of alcohol. There are normally fruity and American oak flavors along with spicy flavors.

1) Annie's Lane
    Made in: Clare Valley 2014
    Alc/vol:14
    Price: $15

Appearance: This wine has a violet colored rim and a deep deep cherry core. This wine seems full bodied due to it being opaque. There is also a violet rim so you can tell that it is a young wine. This wine has good clarity and shine.

Aroma: The primary aromas are intense plum, blackberry and some general spice aromas. There are also some intense secondary oak aromas which makes the wine complex. There are also some subtle cherry aromas.

Palate: The most intense flavor is the oak with some subtle spice, cherry, and plum flavors. Overall the wine seems soft but it has grainy rough tannin. It is also heavy on the tongue.The flavor is persistent in the mouth. Also the flavor starts in the front palate, builds on the mid palette and then falls in the back palate.

Food match : This sort of wine needs a heavy dish to compliment the heaviness of the wine. I would pair it with slow cooked beef brisket . There would also be a rich BBQ sauce to go with it as wel. The sauce would increase the sweetness and spiciness of the wine which would compliment and enhance the wine. Also the juices from the beef would pair nicely with the drying effect of the tannins. A side of roasted vegetables, such as peppers, onions and carrots, that were cooked on the grill with olive oil and salt would pair nicely with the spicy flavors of the Shiraz as well.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hello,
Today we learned about Cabernet Sauvignon.Typically it is grown in France but recently there have been many plantings in California, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa. In Australia it is typically grown in South Australia in McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, and the Yarra Valley. Vines are normally low yielding compared to other grape varieties. Also the flavors take time to develop so they are best suited for cooler climates. The color is normally a deep purple that turns into a brick red with age. The aromas can change with the region but typically there is tomato bush, bell pepper, blackberry, and cherry aromas.  The palate can have very aggressive tannins if it is a young wine and also have high acidity. There me be a lack of intensity in the mid palate as well. As wines develop the tannins can soften and the flavor can increase.

1) Wynn's " The Siding"
    Made in: Coonawarra
    Alc/vol:13.5
    Price: $14

Appearance: The rim id s light cranberry and the core is a dark ink black color. The wine appears to be full bodied do to its opaque color but still looks youthful due to the violet hues. It is vibrant and has good clarity.

Aroma:This wine has an intense primary aroma of black currant and has a secondary aroma of oak, which makes the wine complex. There are also some subtle leafy and earthy aromas.

Palate: The wine taste like you are licking the woods. There is intense oak flavors and also intense tomato leaf and earthy flavors. There is also a good persistence in the wine. The flavor starts out on the front palate and the drops in the mid palate, and they grows again in the back palate.

Merlot

Hello,
Today we talked about Merlot. This wine is best known for growing in the Bordeaux region of France. It is also found in Spain, Italy  the Napa Vally in the USA, and Margret River in Western Australia.  The color of the wine is typically a medium red with purple hues when you an and then a brick red with brown spots with age. The normal aromas are plum, herbs, mint and raspberry. On the palate it is normally soft with rounded tannins.


1) Grant Burge "Hillcot"
    Made in: Barossa
    Alc/vol: 14
    Price: $18

Appearance:The rim is a cranberry color where the core is a deep blood red. This is a young wine due to the violet hues it contains.

Aroma: There are intense plum and mulberry aromas as well as some subtle black olive and herbal aromas. There is also a strong oak smell making this a complex wine.

Palate: This wine is very heavy and it was also very soft/silky in the mouth. There is an intense flavor of mulberry and plums. The tannins are also very silky but leave a saw dust feeling in the mouth. There is some intensity of the mid palate and then it builds to a greater intensity in the back palate.

Thank you
~Karli