Tasting- The Naked Grape Pinot Noir

 Name: The Naked Grape Pinot California Pinot Noir
Variety:Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $6.99

Wine Critic review: This is a light, jewel red colored wine with gads of ripe red fruit on the nose.  The aromas are primarily cherry and red plum, but there’s also a Diet Coke characteristic to the nose.  The palate is fresh and fruity with ripe cherry and pomegranate flavors.  The tannins are a little too light, in my opinion, but the acidity is good.  The finish, short.  Very short.  But, if fresh and fruity is what you like, then you may enjoy this pinot noir.  It doesn’t have the depth or elegance to make it a rock star, but for the $9.00 price it’s a tasty wine.

My Review: This red wine had a smell that was similar to that of a spicy fruit. I could also smell some cherries and an assortment of different berries. The main smells were of something sweet and spicy though. As I tasted it, the sweetness went away quickly. There was a strong berry flavor that my palate quickly picked up, and that lasted until a bitter and dry finish. There wasn't a lingering finish and overall this wine wasn't bad. I paired the Pinot Noir with lasagna, which I didn't enjoy that much. In my opinion, this wine does better on its own.

Tasting- Sutter Home Red Moscato

Name: Sutter Home Red Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Napa Vally California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $6.71

Shop Wine Review: Something about the sweet, creamy, peach flavor makes you feel like maybe it shouldn't pair with dessert so much as replace it.

My Review: My first wine taste of the semester went well. I enjoyed this red wine, much more than my previous experience with red wine. It was very sweet and I gathered a hint of cherries. There was a strong taste of grapes and apples as well. The taste was smooth at first, with a sharp bite in the middle but not really any lingering taste. I did not have this wine with any food.
This wine was pleasant and I look forward to many more tastings.

No Experience

       I have only tried wine twice in my life, and one tasting occurred a short twenty minutes ago. The first time I tried wine I was probably 16 years old, and I remember the experience very well. The red wine barely had time to touch my tongue before I promptly spit it back out. It was an awful experience and I had no desire to drink wine for many years after that. Now a junior in college, and enrolled in a Geography of wine course, I thought I should give it another shot.
       Professor John Boyer told us in class that white wines were a much better starting spot and after my tasting this evening, I agree. After tasting the White wine this evening, I am very excited to try more. I have had very little experience with wines so far in my life, but hopefully that will change this semester. I hope to take many trips to local winery's as well as the ones we have back home, to see what they have to offer.
        I hope to understand more about wine and its many flavors in this class. I want to broaden my pallet so that I can fully enjoy all of the tastes that wines present. I would also like to learn about the production of wine and the economic value that it holds. I am a geography major so I am naturally drawn to the spatial patterns and regions in which wine are grown as well. I hope to learn a lot in these next few weeks and look forward to sharing my thoughts.