Tasting: Sweet Blueberry Wine

 

Name: Pacific Fruit Vineyards Sweet Blueberry

Variety: Red Blend

Region: Modesto, CA

Year: not listed

Price: $6.99

Aldi review: Experience a fruity, medium-bodied wine with delicious sweet natural flavors of vibrant blueberry. Perfect complement to a delicious meal, beautiful day, fun party, or on its own. Serve chilled.

Wine Folly: This is not a very typical red wine, and it does not go into detail on what blend it is, so I'm at a loss. California produces a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah, so there is a good chance that the blend contains these. Syrah has notes of blueberry, which makes it hard to figure out if it's in there considering there are actual blueberry flavors overpowering everything else. I believe the grape used the most in this is Merlot, because its plum and chocolate notes make for a good dessert wine and it is widely available.

My review: I think I accidentally bought juice? If it didn't say 7.5% on the bottle, I would've thought this was for kids. Reminds me of Fruitscato by barefoot a bit. In terms of wine, not a good one. Can't really taste anything over the blueberry which made finding the notes for the grapes above really difficult. In terms of a good time, I think this would end in a headache but it does taste like candy!

Tasting: Bourgogne Rose

 

Name: Bourgogne Rose

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Burgundy France

Year: 2023

Price: none (free tasting)

Pro review: (this is translated from french, so kinda funky) "It is a rosé from direct pressing of Pinot Noir. Its slightly deep pink color is a reflection of its greed. It is fruity and delicate, refreshing with aromas of red fruits, sour candies and some discreet notes of liquorice. This wine is ready to drink but can still be kept for a few years. It will gain in complexity and minerality. Serve it as an aperitif, with cold cuts, snails or cheeses. It can also accompany grilled or sauced fish as well as white meats."

Wine Folly: I understand the notes of raspberry, but to me it tasted more acidic/sour like a slighlty unripe raspberry. I didn't get any clove, but I did get a bit of cherry similar to the rasberry. Very fruit forward with not a lot of complexity. This wine is from the main producer of Pinot Noir (Burgundy) so I'm a little upset that I didn't enjoy it. I will have to try another pinot noir from this region and compare. 

My review: Confusing wine. Was a very light red which I thought I would enjoy, but it was kind of just a combination of the things I don't like about white AND red. It was super acidic and I got the tannin feeling in my mouth that I don't like all at once. Very glad I didn't have to buy this one to try it, because it was a fail for me. Thank you Florida ABCs!!

Tasting: OPICI VINO BLANCO

 

Name: OPICI VINO BLANCO

Variety: 20% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Trebbiano, 40% Verdicchio

Region: Adriatic Coast, Italy

Year: No vineyard year given

Price: $12.99

Winemaker's review: "The Adriatic region of Italy has long been known for producing structured and balanced white wines from the native Verdicchio variety.  Trebbiano adds further structure to the final blend, while Chardonnay contributes the delicate fruit aromas. Dry in style with a clean, crisp citrusy finish. Packaged in a traditional ornamental fish bottle used for centuries in this region, it pays homage to the Marche’s rich history. It is also a good indication of the ideal pairing.  Serve with any and all seafood dishes.  Best when young."

Wine Folly: Trebbiano Toscano is said to have notes of lemon which makes sense because this was a very acidic wine. I could not get many notes over the acidity. Trebbiano is a grape that is very popular in Italy, so it makes sense that it would be included in a blended wine such as this one. 

My review: Too acidic for me!!! I couldn't taste anything besides straight citric acid. It was not my favorite, but that may be because I tried it with a seafood dish that was quite spicy, which made the acidity all the more intense. My boyfriend bought this bottle because it was shaped like a fish, and he and his roommates finished it off.

Tasting: Our Dog Blue Table Wine

Name: Our Dog Blue Table Wine

Variety: Mainly Riesling and Traminette

Region: Floyd, VA

Year: No vineyard year given

Price: $12.00

Winemaker's review: "This popular white wine is a semi-sweet Riesling-Traminette blend, using Vidal Blanc for added depth. Aromas of melons, citrus fruits, apricots, and delicate flowers highlight the soft finish of this soothing wine."

Wine Folly: Riesling is said to have notes of jasmine, which may be the floral notes I was getting. I did not know what floral element I was getting specifically, as my taste is not very developed and was slightly overpowered by the sweetness, it was a wonderful floral taste and aroma. I also got notes of pear/apple which is typical of a wine like this. 

My review: This is a new favorite of mine! I love that its local, I love the light floral smell, and I like that its a blend of multiple types of grape. It has a beautiful bottle and was a great match with my chicken marsala. Can't have too many glasses through as it is a very sweet wine.