Tasting - Barao de Figueira

Tasting: 3/23/17

Name: Barao de Figueria

Variety: 100% Siria

Region/Country: Doc Beira Interior, Portugal

Year: 2014

Winery Review: I found this a pleasant white, with flavors of yellow and white melon / pear, with a little green melon and minerality on the finish.  The fruit is soft and slightly creamy, with a nice fruit / acid balance.  Similar to the red, I’m not totally wowed by it, but it is quite pleasant and tasty wine for the price, and an interesting new varietal to me.  If I had tasted this blind, my best guess would have been that it’s a Grenache Blanc. (site)

My Review: Hints of pear, apple, and honey. Acidic around the tongue with an almost refreshing taste. Well structured with a nice minreally feel.

Tasting - Alvarez de Toledo

Tasting: 3/23/17

Name: Alvarez de Toledo Mencia Roble 2009

Variety: 100% Mencia

Region/Country: Beirzo, Castilla Leon, Spain

Year: 2009

Winery Review: Our wine stands out because of its marked fruity character which brings out all the qualities and characteristics of the Mencia variety. Its time in the barrel accentuates these qualities by providing subtlety, elegance and complexity. In mouth is silky, fruity, with persistence and great kindness. (site)

My Review: Stands out with lots of cherry & dark fruits while you can smell the tannin. There was a taste of leather with a medium dry finish.

Tasting - Crane Lake

Tasting: 3/16/2017

Name: Crane Lake

Variety: Riesling

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Winery Review: Pale golden silver color. Muted aromas and flavors of nut brittle and caramel apple with a soft, shy, off-dry light body and a swift finish. A pleasant patio wine. 82 points (site)

My Review: It smell resembles peach, floral, mid-fruit, and  coconut cream pie. Tastes medium sweet, balanced, and slightly acidic. 

Tasting - Vinedos Real Rubio

Tasting:3/16/2017

Name: Vinedos Real Rubio

Variety: Temprenillo Blend

Region: Rioja, Nothern Spain

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Winery Review:Lightly baked berry aromas vie for attention with leather, spice and mild earth notes, and the result is disjointed. On the palate, this is tight as a drum initially, but more expansive as it unfolds. Cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and woodspice flavors finish pure, clean and easy. This is a fine yet manageable Rioja that's not trying too hard. 90 points - (site)

My Review: Smells sweet with honeysuckle & floral aromas. It was slight dry, medium sweet while there was a taste of cherry and spices.Very good red & would probably be better with a classic Spanish dish.

Tasting - Barao de Figueira

Tasting: 3/16/2017

Name: Barao de Figueira Reserva

Variety: Red blend

Region/Country: Beira Interior, Portugal

Year: 2013

Winery Review: This is a rich and spicy wine that has a pure streak of fruit freshness and a firmly tannic core. It is perfumed from Touriga Nacional in the blend, with red berry and black plum flavors coming through strongly along, balanced by acidity.88 points - Wine Enthusiast (site,site2)

My Review:It smells meaty with a hint of raspberry & pomegranate. Its not very strong but has a dried fruit taste  with a medium balance with high viscosity.

Tasting - Garnacha de Fuego

Tasting: 3/16/2017

Name: Garnacha de Fuego

Variety:

Region:

Country:

Year: 2015

Winery Review: It has a light, almost neon-pink color and delicate strawberry and cranberry fruit notes, with a hint of pomegranate. It is fresh, lively, ripe, medium-bodied, and has more texture and length than one usually expects in a rose. RP 90 points. (site)

My Review: It has a light pink color and hinted delicate strawberries & pomegranate. It's fresh, live, medium bodied has more texture than you would expect in a rose.

Tasting - Villa Vitas

Tasting: 3/16/2017

Name: Villa Vitas

Variety: Ribolla Gialla

Region/Country: Italy

Year: 2014

Winery Review: Fresh and floral bouquet and a consistent and rightly acidulous taste. Its pleasant freshness and fruity notes of green apple are enhanced by its characteristic acidity. 87 pts - Robert Parker (March 2016).

My Review: Smells sweet with a touch of flowers, and oak. It was very balanced with a smooth, and slightly acidic taste.