Tasting #20 - New Age Tinto Dulce

Name: New Age

Varietal: 70% Bonarda & 30% Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: N/A

Price: $11.99

Professional Wine Review: This bright red wine displays lots of tiny bubbles when first poured. It opens with an orange and red cherry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is very light bodied and frothy. The flavor profile is a slightly sweet strawberry and loganberry blend with notes of cherry and a twist of orange. The finish is remains slightly sweet and its fades away nicely. This is a good and easy to drink wine. It will appeal to the spritzer crowd. It is also very low in alcohol at 6% [1].

Wine Folly Review: This wine has the interesting trait of being a very sweet red blend. The Bonarda grape produces flavors of plum sauce, cherry, cardamom, fig pasta, and graphite. The question is which of these flavors will be exemplifed when combined with the Malbec grape. The Malbec introduces red plum, blackberry, vanilla, sweet tobacco, and cocoa. With Bonarda's bone-dry nature and Malbec's dryness, this blend is made out to be very dry. The medium and high characterics of both grapes collide together to make this wonderful red blend [2], [3].

Personal Wine Review: Ahhhh Sangria. My father has always told me to NEVER by bottles sangria, ALWAYS make it yourself. My family special Sangria does not include either Bonarda or Malbec, only Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. Our Sangria is also brewed for several hours to allow the fruit that is pressed and added to the mixture is able to integrate itself with the wine. At the end, it is always served cold with the pulp of the fruit. Now this Sangria was most interesting. It was a sparkling red blend! It was soooo interesting, but it was not better than my family's Sangria. I found it to be strong and very sweet and fruity, which is good. I also found hints of raisin in the aroma, but not in the taste. To my tongue, it was very sweet and specifically centered itself around strawberry. It had an excellent finish. I would have this again if it were presented to me, but I would prefer a homemade Sangria.

References:

[1] https://www.kenswineguide.com/wine_review/Valentin-Bianchi-New-Age-Tinto-Dulce-Naturally-Sweet

[2] https://winefolly.com/grapes/bonarda/

[3] https://winefolly.com/grapes/malbec/

Tasting #19 - Setzer Gruner Veltliner

  

Name: Setzer

Varietal: Gruner Veltliner

Region: Weinviertel

Country: Austria

Year: 2021

Price: $10.99

Professional Wine Review: Setzer Gruner Veltliner feels different from anything else – one feels the elevation in the slightly higher level of acidity making this wine “sing in a different register”. The texture runs more to light to medium in body for GV and often shows floral notes in conjunction with classic straw, wheat and savory flavors that the variety is known for. [1]

Wine Folly Review: Stated as having primary flavors of starfruit, gooseberry, green bean, white pepper, and crushed gravel to the tongue. In the world of the nose, the main way we humans examine taste you would be able to find hints of lime, lemon, and grapefruit. Wine Folly states that in the warmer regions of Austria you would be able to find a more rip fruit flavor on your palate. A medium to light bodied dry wine with virtually no tannic components creates room for a large acidic presence. [2]

Personal Wine Review: When I held this wine in my hand and performed the smell test, itself appear as full and acidic. With aromas such as apple and nature-adjacent like gravel, you would assume you are about to embark in a complicated tasting for your tongue. But no. I would the wine to be light providing flavors of banana and pear. It did not disappoint in being acidic and it was thankfully not too overwhelming. Served chilled, I think I would sip on this wine again, but I wouldn't aim on finishing the entire bottle or most of it. 

References:

[1] https://www.agedcork.com/product/setzer-gruner-veltliner/

[2] https://winefolly.com/grapes/gruner-veltliner/