VAWC Wine Tasting Challenge
February 16th we held the first ever VAWC wine tasting challenge. It was a great evening full of laughs and surprises. The scores were tight but in the end only one team could walk away with the prize.
Each team, after having tasted the wines blind, had to identify the country and region of origin, the grape or blend, the approximate price and the characteristics associated with the wine/grape.
The first wine the Italian Pinot Grigio everyone did quite well at guessing the region and grape, the new world Chardonnay also quite unmistakable (although the price threw most off) the Sancerre also saw high marks, the New Zealand Pinot Noir stumped most, although some were spot on with the price. The winning group scored an amazing 21 out of 30, with only the final wine, the Rioja throwing them off, they guessed it was a US, Cabernet Merlot.
Below are the wines we tasted that evening:
Wine 1 : Pinot Grigio, Alois Lageder, Alto Adige
Producer: Alois Lageder
Region: Italy, Alto Adige
Supplier: De Gouden Ton
Grape varieties: Pinot Gris
Vintage : 2005
Price: € 13.95
Extra info
Brilliant straw yellow with a green shimmer. Quite pronounced and expressive aroma with flowery and somewhat spicy notes. Rich flavored in the mouth, with a slight smokiness at the back and a good, fresh finish.
Wine 2 : Sancerre Cuvée Réservée ‘Silex’
Producer: Domaine Serge Laloue
Region: France, Loire
Supplier: De Gouden Ton
Grape varietie s: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage 2004
Price € 17.50
Extra info
Rich, concentrated , and vinous, it is packed with minerals, stones, and copious quantities of assorted candied citrus fruits. It is a rich, super-ripe Sancerre that is shockingly good. (Robert Parker)
Wine 3 : Chardonnay "Carneros"
Producer: Schug Winery
Region: California, Sonoma
Supplier: De Gouden Ton
Grape varieties: Chardonnay
Vintage 2004
Price € 23.95
Extra info
A wine with the powerful elegance of the finest white Burgundy. It has a ripe, spicy tropical bouquet with flavors that suggest citrus, pear and apple-butter. Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food.
Wine 4 : Matua Valley Pinot Noir
Producer: Matua Valley
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Supplier: Bordelais, Leiden
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir
Vintage 2004
Price € 15.95
Extra info
Wine makers notes: Deep red in colour, the wine shows ripe rich dark fruits and savoury characters within a solid tannin structure. New oak is evident on the nose resulting in a powerful Pinot, generous in its intensity.
Wine 5 : Crozes Hermitage
Producer: Maison J. Vidal-Fleury
Region: France, Rhône
Supplier: De Gouden Ton
Grape varieties: Syrah
Vintage : 2004
Price €17,50
Extra info:
An elegant wine full of ripe fruit aromas with spicy smoked nuances.
Wine 6 : Artadi Viñas de Gain
Producer: Artadi
Region: Spain, Rioja
Supplier: Gouden Ton
Grape varieties: Tempranillo/Tinto Fino
Vintage 2004
Price € 17.95
Extra info:
Aromas of violets and herbs sit beautifully with the fruit, and the warmth of the vintage is evident but not over-bearing.