Naked isn't always good...

Some things that aren't good:

-playing naked in the snow

-going to school naked (hasn't everyone had that nightmare?)

-The Naked Grape cabernet sauvignon

Brand Name: The Naked Grape (owned by Gallo)
Type: Dry Red
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

I know when I started this blog I said that I hated cabernet sauvignon, but recently I've been having some pretty tasty cab sauvs.  My sister says it's because my tastes are maturing, which is possible.  It's also possible that she just buys better wine...  Anyway.  This particular cab sauv is definitely not on my 'to buy' list.  The description on the back of the bottle says "full bodied and rich with aromas of plush dark fruit and blackberry".
My sister says that she tasted orange, apple, and pear.  She thought it would make decent sangria (but she's also had a lot of sangria lately).  I thought it was too dry to taste any fruit, but I also have a cold.
PS- if you google 'naked grape wine', there are two brands.  Remember, this is THE Naked Grape

Price online: $5.98-10.88 (most were $7.99)
Price paid: definitely less than $12, probably more than $8

Marsala, Port and Sherry Taste Test

Imported: Hartley & Gibson's
Produced and Bottled: B. Vergara
Type: Dry Fino Sherry
Location: D.O. Manzanilla, Spain around the city of Jerez
Grape: Palomino

Very pale color, smells wonderful, like nuts, raisins, and yummyness, but its too dry to appreciate the flavors

Price I paid: $11.99



Imported: Hartley & Gibson's
Produced and Bottled: B. Vergara
Type: Medium Dry Oloroso Sherry
Location: D.O. Manzanilla, Spain around the city of Jerez
Grape: Palomino

Lovely dark amber color, smells dark and mysterious like dark raisins and nuts, smells wonderful, taste is a lovely roundness of the smells with a darker hazelnut finish and is not too dry but has medium body and is nicely rounded.

Price I paid: $11.99




Imported:Dow's
Produced and Bottled: Symington Family Estates
Type: Oloroso Sherry
Location: Oporto, Portuga. Douro Vally Vinyards
Grape: any of 100 sanctioned varieties

Clear light orangy red color. I cant place the smell. It tastes like sherry smells lol and smells like shary tastes. Starts out with a light flavor then deepens and lightens again for the after taste. all around rather lovely

Price I paid: $12.99




Imported: Monarchia Matt International
Vinyard: Gelsomina
Type: Marsala Superiore Dolce (aged 2 yrs)
Location: D.O.C. Marsala Italy
Grape: Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto

Amber color that is slightly tinted with red. Smells like wood but not oaky at all its just dark and old smelling but in a pleasing way. Attack is strongish tapering off as it warms in your mouth, Not tanick but has medium body. Goes well with chicken :)

Typically Marsala is served between the first and second courses.

Price I paid: $8.99

Montepulciano de Abruzzo

Winery: Nicodemi

Type: Dry Red
Name: Montepulciano de Abruzzo DOC
Grapes: Montepulciano

Dan: thin, smells like BBQ sauce, tomato-ey, dark cherries and leather

Becky: YUM - smokey, leather, earthy finish, medium to firm bodied, tannic but pleasant, best with food

Price on winery website: $44.98
Price on random websites: $15-35
Price I paid: $20?

Apparition

Winery: Americana Vineyards
Type: Semi-Dry White
Name: Apparition
Grapes: so very confused.  The bottle says it's made of Vidal Blanc grapes, and the website says Cayuga Grapes.  Another (random) website says that it's a blend of the two.  Sooo... I guess I'll go with the last one.

mmm... very good.  It's not too sweet, and it's full of fruity flavors.  I wouldn't exactly call it crisp, but it's way crisper than any Cayuga grape wine I've ever tasted.
I just happened to have it open, and paired it with my leftover pad thai.  Not the best pairing, but acceptable.  Their website suggests to pair it with salmon or grilled pork and a fresh salad.  Sounds like a great meal to me!

Price on winery website: $13.99
Price on random websites: $12.49
Price I paid: No idea.  I bought this bottle when I went on a Cayuga Lake wine tour, and I definitely didn't remember to get the prices.

The beginning

So, I decided to start this blog because I wanted to keep track of the wines that I've tried. I have a terrible memory and though I may be able to look at a wine bottle and know that I've tried it before, I have no idea what I paired it with or even if I liked it or not.

I'm hoping to get my friend to post her wines on here as well, since we have pretty much the same tastes. The first thing I want to do is post a disclaimer: I am not a master of wines. I've taken a wine course, so I know some of the regions and terminology, but I basically memorized the information for the tests and forgot it. Also, I have a terrible nose. I can tell if a wine is fruity, not which fruits are in it (for the most part). My sinuses are basically perpetually stuffed.

Anyway. If you find that you like merlots and reislings and aren't a huge fan of anything with the word sauvignon in it, you probably will have the same tastes in wine as I do.