Wine Tasting - Storyteller Cabernet Sauvignon

 Name: Storyteller 'Got Away' Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Sonoma County, CA

Country: USA

Year: 2021

Price: $21.88

Wine Store Review: (Wine Enthusiast review), "This is the kind of Cabernet Sonoma County produces so effortlessly. It's full-bodied, dry and smooth, with a touch of smoky oak. The cherry and blackberry fruit is ripe and luscious. An easy wine to drink now."

Wine Folly: Cabernet Sauvignon originates in France and tends to be full-bodied, has high tannic composition, and high alcohol content. The dominant flavors that present include black cherry, black currant, red bell pepper, baking spices, and cedar. The warmer climates, including California, tend to produce Cabs that are more fruit-forward, with flavors of black fruits, black pepper, and cocoa powder. (Kindle version pages 136-138)

My Review: This wine is certainly very full-bodied and has extreme tannins that come through right away. On the nose, there are hints of blackberry and cherry, but also a peppery smoky smell, almost like a campfire log. The taste was sharp at first with the fruitiness and the high tannic structure, but the finish was smooth and left a smoky/oaky flavor behind. I enjoyed this wine a lot!

Tasting Blog - Scout Wild Sauvignon Blanc

 Name: Scout Wild Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Napa Valley, CA

Country: USA

Year: n/a

Price: $18.99

Wine Store Review: "Our 100% Sauvignon Blanc is fruity and crisp with bright notes of lemon, white peach, and tangerine. It has beautiful layers of tropical flavors with exotic floral aromas. You can pair our crisp Sauvignon Blanc with seafood, goat cheese, or watching the sun set."

Wine Folly: Sauvignon Blanc originates from France and tends to be a fruitier, high acidity wine. The dominant flavors that can be present in a sauvignon blanc are gooseberry, green melon, grapefruit, white peach, and passion fruit. A regional difference is that sauvignon blancs from CA tend to have heavy white peach flavors. (pages 64-66 on Kindle)

My Review: On the nose, this wine is extremely floral and fruity. I get notes of lemon, orange, and peach right away, and it is really pleasant. The taste however is not my favorite. This wine seems to be on the extremely acidic side, with an overwhelming citric taste. There is not much within it to round it out or give it any depth. I wonder if this wine has been in an oak barrel, because if it was, I certainly cannot detect any creamy, oaky, rich flavors. The citrus fruit flavor profile is just too overpowering for me. 

Wine Tasting - Dark Horse Rose

 

Name: Dark Horse Rose

Variety: Tempranillo and four other varieties

Region: Madesto, Central Valley, California

Country: USA

Year: 2022

Price: $8.99

Wine Store Review: (From Wine.com): "Dark Horse Rose is a dry, fruit-forward Rose that is brilliant ruby red in color. The Rose offers aromas of strawberry, pomegranate, and rose petals. Layers of red berries, watermelon, hibiscus, and a hint of orange zest brighten the palate. This summer sipper is juicy and beautifully balanced."

Wine Folly: Rose wines range in taste from dry to sweet. They tend to be medium-bodied and have high fruit flavor profiles. The most dominant flavors within a Rose tend to be strawberry, honeydew melon, rose petal, celery, and orange peel. (pages 92-95 on Kindle)

My Review: This wine proved to be a lot more complex than I had expected. On the nose initially, the main aromas that stuck out to me were fresh berries (raspberries in particular), orange, lemon, and even a hint of sweet vanilla. The taste profile that I got steered me far away from the vanilla notes I was smelling, and led me more towards the citrus lane. There are strong flavors of strawberry, orange, and cantaloupe. There is a slight bitterness and sharpness to the finish, with strong acidity and dryness. This wasn't my favorite Rose I have had, but I did enjoy a few glasses!

Wine Tasting - Yellow Tail Chardonnay

 Name: Yellow Tail Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay Grape

Region: Yenda

Country: Australia

Year: 2023

Price: $7.49

Wine Store Review: (ABC Fine Wine & Spirits) "The perfect balance of citrus, melon, and peach flavors combine with a creamy mouth feel to a long lingering finish of peach and white spice. This is a lovely fresh and zesty wine that is also supported nicely by subtle, toasty oak."

Wine Folly: Some dominant flavors found within Chardonnays include yellow apple, starfruit, pineapple, butter, and chalk. It tends to be a fuller-bodied, mild acidity, fruity wine. It originated within France and stands today as the world's most planted white grape. (pages 72-74)

My Review: On the nose, I felt this wine smelled like a mandarin orange cup with a hint of something deeper, like a musky vanilla. There are definite fruity scents emanating through, like citrus, peach, and for me, a tropical fruit like pineapple. Despite all of the fruity aromas hitting me up front, the main profile I taste does not have a super attacking acidity. There are major notes of apple and pineapple for me, and a definite creamy finish that has an oaky and vanilla essence to it. Overall this is a delicious and smooth wine that I really enjoyed!