Wine Tasting - Imagery 2020

Name - Imagery

Variety - Cabernet Sauvignon

Region - Napa Vally, California, USA

Year - 2020

Price - $25.99

Wine Critic Review

"Rich with aromas of dark chocolate, slate, cedar, and coffee, this youthful Cab is sassy and light on its feet, with notes of spiced blueberries and round, mocha-kissed tannins. Rhubarb and fennel come in mid-palate and stay to the finish."

https://www.wine.com/product/imagery-estate-winery-cabernet-sauvignon-2018/567190#:~:text=Winemaker%20Notes,Petite%20Sirah%20complete%20the%20wine.

One note I could not find a 2020 review but this is from 2018

WineFolly Notes

Cabernet Sauvignon's taste profiles feature heavy notes of black currant and black cherry (p.88). As this wine is from California, black currant is one of the most overwhelming flavors in the wine (p.89). I do not have a decanter at this moment so I did not decant as suggested by WineFolly. I did not drink this wine with a meal.

My Review

This was a good wine. In my short wine-drinking experience, I have found that I prefer merlot over cabernet sauvignon. This wine had heavy notes of black currant and a minor taste of black cherry. There was a defined mocha flavor and some tanginess and this wine did not leave a coating on my mouth. I recommend but not at the $25 price point. 

Wine Tasting - Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi

Name - Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi

Variety - Merlot

Region - California, USA

Year - Non Vintage

Price - $5.99

Online Review

"A flinty aroma and mineral flavor accompany good ripe fruit notes in this medium-bodied and lightly tannic wine. Dashes of cedar and vanilla give it an oaky cast."

https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/woodbridge-by-robert-mondavi-nv-merlot-california/

Wine Folly

A typical Merlot has hints of cherry, plum, and chocolate (p. 131). Merlot from California has a sweeter cherry flavor (p. 132). In my tasting, I tasted the plum and cherry, but there was a taste of blackberries. I did not decant as WineFolly suggests but at least I drank it in an actual wine glass (p.131)

My Review

I loved this wine, especially for the price point. I did not eat this with food but I had Spanish Rice and Chicken from El Rods 40 minutes prior. It was a very fruity wine and not harsh on the acidity which was nice.

Introduction to My Wine Experiences

 Hey Everyone!

My name is Kieran Traynor. I am 21 years old, born and raised in Little Silver, New Jersey. My parents are what you could call "wine snobs", well more of my dad because my mom rarely drinks anymore. So due to that, I have been exposed to wine for a couple years now, but it was my study abroad in Europe last semester that really made me like wine. I still am not the biggest wine person, I enjoy craft beers more at this time. My favorite wines are merlot's, not sure why but that's why I'm taking this class. 

Some wine tasting experiences that I have had include mainly just wine tastings in Europe that I went to last year. The picture of me that I am using was from a wine festival at the vineyards on the shore of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. That was the first wine festival I had been to, but I attended three more in Switzerland before I returned home in November. 

I like all three types of table wines but prefer red then white then rosé. I want to learn why I like these different types of wine and learn to taste the flavors of the grapes in the wines. I am also hoping to learn how to enjoy wine a bit better so I can properly enjoy expensive wines with my parents.