Here is an update on my wine tastings I have done. I have had French,Spanish and Portuguese wines.
French Wines:Grenache/Syrah
Côtes du Rhône Parallel 45 Paul Jaboulet Aîné 2004
Grenache 60% Syrah 40%
This wine is a dark, robust wine! Smells of burnt rubber and has the same taste. Very rough on the tongue. The higher percentage of Grenache gives the wine a rich berry aroma as well.
Barton&Gustier- Chateauneuf du Pape 2007
Grenache 50% Syrah 50%
Smoother than the Parallel 45 due to the even amounts of both the Grenache and Syrah. Peppery, full of tannin flavors with hints of dark chocolate.
Spanish Wines: Albarino/Tempronillo
Martin Codax Albarino-Rias Baixas 2008
Wonderful citrus flavor(specifically lemon) with hints of honey. Feels light on the tongue and makes your mouth water. Very pleasant wine!
Encavio Tempronillo
Heavily oaked! Tastes like it had been sitting in a cider cigar box with some dark chocolate.Very bitter and leaves the tongue dry.
Portuguese Wine: Vinho Verde/Madeira/Port
Aveleda Fonte Alvarinho Vinho Verde
Such a beautiful wine! Slightly effervescent, tart and crisp. Tastes like unripe grapes, but for my pallet its a good taste. Serve Chilled, great for a summer evening! Its a adequate replacement for Asti or even Champagne!
Leacocks Rainwater Madeira/Bual
Totally a foreign taste. Its sweet and bitter and VERY alcoholic all at one time. I cant really describe the taste other than unpleasant. This one is classified by my professor as a very "un-American tasting wine." I feel as though you need to grow up drinking it to like it. Hard to believe it was the number one wine in the world at one point.
Cockburns Late Bottled Vintage Port 2004
Intense cherry notes. Very sweet with hints of spice as well as accents of plums. Leaves a strong cherry taste in mouth long after you have swallowed.
I also, on my own, bought another Australia Chardonnay(I am mildly obsessed with Australian/New Zealand Wine)
Black Swan 2006 Chardonnay
Very floral boquet mixed with a slight citrus grove smell. Wonderful pear/sour apple taste. Nice lingering floral taste on tongue. I could have drank the entire bottle, it was fantastic.
