Allison Louie - Wine Tasting

© UnparalleledTaste LLC - 2010

We offer “Special Tasting Thanks” to Allison as our

hostess . Cheers!

About us….Gerry Whitson and Marisa Harrer are Unparalleled Taste. They are business partners who love life, good food, and great wine.  Both grew up elsewhere and now make their homes in Atlanta. Gerry is a reformed banker, who has worked as a wine educator for over 15 years and holds the Certified Specialist of Wine Designation from the Society of Wine Educators.  He's "that guy" at the restaurant who picks the perfect bottle of wine for you when you're not sure what to order.  In other words, he lives and breathes this stuff!  It's good to find your passion. Marisa is now a homemaker after having spent 20 years working corporate and private events.  She has an excellent understanding of how to make your event work for you.  She's "that gal" your friends always call to help plan a special occasion.  She is a passionate person who has also found a great passion in wine.

Our Mission ….Wine is simply the fermented juice of fresh grapes, yet the variations may be infinite. Our information is directed as an intelligent, meaningful understanding of wine, hopefully presented with occasional humor and skepticism, but without commercial "spin" or arrogant pretense.

We believe wine tasting is simple, pleasurable, fun. However, wine flavors change according to the variety of grapes, location of the vineyard, seasonal weather conditions, grape growing methods, winemaking techniques and equipment, the age of the wine, how it has been stored, the serving temperature, and even by the environmental conditions and context of where the wine is consumed.

Our goal is to share and spread wine appreciation and at the same time put a cork in wine snobbery and expose dogma that is intended to promote wine sales rather than wine understanding. We only educate about wine we don't sell anything. There's no "catch"; we simply think we will all be healthier when we enjoy a little wine every day.

Color, Swirl, Smell, Taste, and Savor

These qualities in tasting are better known as the five S’s of wine:

● See● Swirl● Sniff● Sip● Savor

The “See”

The “See” - Look at the wine in your glass.

●Hue: Its color, -- purple, red, tawny, etc●Depth: How deep the wine appears, i.e. dark, medium or light●Clarity: The transparency of the wine

The “Swirl”

The “Swirl” - Swirl the wine.

●This liberates aromas and,●Helps the wine develop with exposure to oxygen.

The “Sniff”The “Sniff” - Now take a few

short sniffs of the wine.●Intensity: The amount of lift from the glass.●Concentration: Strength of aroma.●Expression: Distinctiveness of character.●Complexity: A diversity of harmonious smell sensations.●Cleanliness: Absence of winemaking faults.

The “Sip”The “Sip” ●Intensity: The amount of flavor activity in the mouth.●Concentration: The strength of flavor.●Body: The weight displayed in the mouth. An amalgam of viscosity, flavor concentration and (in reds) astringency.●Astringency: Drying, roughing and puckering sensations derived from tannins.●Other Texture: Includes alcoholic warmth, creaminess.

The “Sip” - Continued

●Complexity: Diversity of complementary textures and flavors. Measured by how long a wine holds your interest.●Balance: A wine is in balance when no one character dominates your psyche.●Structure: An amalgam of balance and timing of the appearance of sensory characters to produce a wine that is seamless.●Persistence: The overall time that a wine impacts on the senses after swallowing or spitting.

The “Savor” The “Savor”. ●Does it entice you to take another sip?●Persistence: The overall time that a wine impacts on the senses after swallowing or spitting.

Tasting SheetOur Easy Rating System:I love this wine! 5 pointsI really like this wine! 4 pointsThis wine is good! 3 pointsThis wine is not that good! 2 pointsI don’t really care for this wine! 1 point

Wine A____ ptsWine B____ ptsWine C____ ptsWine D____ ptsWine E____ ptsWine F____ pts

Look - Best wines are clear and brilliantSmell - Best wines have intense aromasTaste - Best wines have complex structure and flavorsSavor - Best wines have a flavorful aftertaste that lingers

TerriorThe concept of terroir is critical to understanding the

very foundation of French wines.

In the context of wines, the definition of terroir is the unique and distinctive character a specific wine will exhibit due to the fact that it was grown in a specific vineyard.

The term terroir encompasses the entire physical environment in which the grapes were grown.

What the French care about more than anything else in their wine is that it reflect the terroir of its region, that it be typical of that region, and that it be authentic.

Wine Regions of France

Chateau Bellevue - BordeauxThis wine is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Wine Enthusiast Rating – 87.

Color: A red deep purple color with ruby reflections. Nose and Palate: This is a fresh wine with red and black fruit (cherry, strawberries and blueberries) and spice come together in this wine. It is structured with a core of dry tannins along with black currant fruit and a flavor of new wood. Round attack, full bodied with a very refreshing finish. Finely made, although young this wine is ready to drink. Alcohol: 14.0% Appellation: Bordeaux, France

Serve it with poultry and meats.

Domaine de la Presidente - Cotes du RhoneThe Domaine de la Présidente is an exceptional vineyard

dating back to the 18th century. This is an excellent example of what Chateauneuf is all about. 70% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 10% .

Color: Rich garnet. Dark to the rim.Nose and Palate: The wine Spectator said "An elegant Cotes du Rhone Grands Classiques. Juicy, with cherry, raspberry and blackberry fruit woven with spice and graphite notes, and a wonderful length to the finish.“ I say arresting nose of sweet spice, with a long warm blackberry and warm, spicy palate, smooth tannins and a savory palate with a little kirsch to round it all off. Alcohol: 14.5%

Appellation: Cotes du Rhone, France

I like this wine. My recommendation would be to buy it and put it in your cellar.

Chateau Bois Redon - BordeauxThis is a 2009 blend of 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet

Sauvignon. Color: Ruby rich red. Nose and Palate: Wine Spectator says "Ripe and direct, with friendly linz torte and blackberry pate de fruit flavors, all accompanied by a sleek, anise-tinged finish that keeps the toast in the background.“ I say - Dried cherry and coffee.  Lots of dry cocoa-like tannins on the finish.  Almost bitter, yet has a soft texture. Serious. Elegant.  Medium bodied.  Understated.  Tastes “tight” and when first opened, gets much better as it breathes. Alcohol: 13.5% ABV. Appellation: The property is near Saint Emillion (Bordeaux)

I say give it a try, especially if you don’t drink French wine.  

Chateau De Cornemps - Bordeaux

This wine is a pleasure it’s classic, friendly, easy to drink, and can accompany the complete meal.

Color: Rich red. Dark to the rim.Nose and Palate: Flavors of black currants with cedar notes precede a supple finish in this Merlot-based wine produced by the Fagard family. Harmonious, well-balanced, with a mix of power and length to flexibility and curvature in mouth.

 Alcohol: 13.5% Appellation: Lussac-Saint-Emilion, France

This easy-drinking wine makes a good everyday dinner choice and pairs well with steak or blue cheese.

Château Bélingard - BergeracThis is a pure Bergerac (50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot) from the world Dordogne Valley adjacent to Bordeaux.

Color: Rich red. Dark to the rim.Nose and Palate: This is a very smooth and classic tasting wine. Excellent value for money and definitely holds its own with more celebrated Bordeaux wines. Filled with berry, currant and red plum flavors with hints of anise. It’s balanced with crisp acidity, plenty of concentration and aromas of spice. A nice chocolaty note on the finish. Alcohol: 13.5% Appellation: Bergerac, France

Serve this with grilled steaks, lamb, pork, or rich creamy pasta dishes.