Tasting: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve
Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarello, 30% Parellada
Region: Penedes
Country: Spain
Year: Non-Vintage
Price: $12.50

Wine Enthusiast Review: "Dibon is new to us, and after tasting this complete, well-made Cava we are happy to make its acquaintance. The nose offers regal yeast and richness, while the palate has complexity to prop up apple, citrus and grapefruit flavors. Solid from front to back, with health and freshness." 88 points.

My Review: Super dry, but delicious sparkling wine! Smells mineral-like. The flavors of grapefruit stuck out to me the most while drinking it. This wine was crisp and had a very short finish.

I tasted this on its own, with no food.

Tasting: Chateau Guiot Costieres de Nimes

Name: Chateau Guiot Costieres de Nimes
Variety: Grenache, Syrah-Shiraz
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $10.95

MajesticWine Notes: "Deep purple hue, a beautifully scented nose with herby aromas, lashings of juicy forest fruits and spicy, rich berry flavours on the palate and a good, smooth finish."

My Review: Faint on the nose. Medium-bodied and slightly dry. Flavors of chalk and black pepper on the mid-palate. Finishes with a taste of cherries.

I tasted this wine with chocolate. The sweetness of the chocolate made the chalk and pepper become replaced by flavors of oranges and ripe cherries.

Tasting: Terranoble Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Terranoble Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Central Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2013

Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Notes: "This Cabernet Sauvignon offers an intense and deep color and lovely aromas of red fruit, pepper and tobacco. It has smooth tannins, very freshness and rich fruit, which gives the wine a good balance. Pair with barbecued beef ribs, grilled sea bass, or spaghetti alla Bolognese."

My Review: I loved this cabernet! I definitely want to go back and buy this sometime. It was full-bodied, while also being extremely smooth and balanced. It smelled like ripe strawberries and cherries. It tasted like dark berries at the start, and finished with a light taste of vanilla.

I tasted this on its own, with no food.

Tasting: Santola Vinho Verde

Name: Santola Vinho Verde 

Variety: Loureiro and Pederna 

Region: Vinho Verde

Country: Portugal

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Notes: "Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh."

My Review: This wine smelled and tasted very citrusy, lemon and lime in particular. It was refreshing and slightly acidic. I also tasted zesty and mineral-like flavors.

I tasted this on its own, with no food.

Tasting: Baci Dolci Sweet Kiss

Name: Baci Dolci Sweet Kiss

Variety: 50% Merlot 50% Marzemino

Region: Colli Euganei

Country: Italy

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: Regularly $15.00, Sale Price $9.95

Vintage Cellar Notes: "A blend 50% Marzemino 50% Merlot. A delicate, slightly frizzante wine with an intense, ruby red color. Fresh strawberry & black cherry aromas with hints of roses. Cherry pie flavors, medium-full bodied with refreshing sparkle to balance the semi-sweet finish."

My Review: The smell of this wine reminded me of cotton candy--it was so sugary and sweet. The wine tasted like strawberry jam. I felt like I was drinking a glass of Welch's grape juice rather than wine. 

I tasted this on its own, with no food.

Winery Visit: Beliveau Estate Winery

     Today my roommate Olivia and I ventured out to the Beliveau Estate Winery in Blacksburg. Believeau Estate Winery is in a beautiful picturesque location that is great for a wedding or relaxing weekend stay at their Bed & Breakfast. We got to do a wine tasting, hear live music, and roam freely around the estate. It was a beautiful spring day, and we got to enjoy our wine tasting before a bunch of large crowds starting showing up.

The vineyard (left) and the winery (right)

I really liked getting to taste wine that is grown and made right here in southwest Virginia. Beliveau does not offer tours of their property, so we did not get to see where the wine is produced. However, we did a self-tour and got to walk through the vineyards to see where the grapes are grown. 

Where the grapes are grown

During our wine tasting, we learned that the estate opened up in the spring of 2012. The wines are handcrafted by Yvan Beliveau, who is also the owner of the property. Many of the grapes are grown onsite and some are shipped in from California. The Beliveau wines have won many medals individually and the winery was voted Silver Best Winery by Blue Ridge Country Magazine in 2013.

Wine menu with descriptions

      We chose to do the "dry" wine tasting, which consisted of seven different wines in this order:

1) Pristine 2013: A dry unoaked Chardonelle. This was crisp and slightly acidic. I tasted sour flavors like lemon and green apple. It was very refreshing and a good wine to start with.

2) Mystique 2012: A dry oaked Chardonnay. This had an interesting underlying taste that was a bit hard for me to describe--kind of like artificial butter.  

3) Mystique 2013: A dry unoaked Chardonnay. I tasted this and immediately thought of ginger ale. I preferred this vintage over the 2012 vintage. 

4) Reflection 2013: An off-dry Traminette. This tasted exactly like a Muscat. It was a little too sweet and fruity for me.

5) The Reserve 2012: A Cabernet Sauvignon. I was surprised to learn this was a Cabernet because it was so light. It was very smooth and tasted a bit watered down.

6) Soul Singer 2013: A Chambourcin Reserve. The various spice flavors were very prominent. The nutmeg flavor reminded me of Egg Nog. I liked this and it was very different from the wines I am used to drinking. 

7) Sunset Sipper 2013: A red Zinfandel Reserve. Delicious! One of my favorites of the day. I tasted flavors of strawberries and cherries mixed with a bit of spice. 

A wall of wines in the tasting room

Olivia and I shared a cheese plate that had olives, nuts, crackers, Brie, a sharp Cheddar, and a cream cheese with tomato sauce. The Brie was soft and creamy--definitely my favorite of the three cheeses. 

The cheese plate-- with Brie (left), Cheddar (right), and cream cheese (top).

After the wine tasting was finished, I got a glass of a 2014 wine called Warm Glow to sip on as we walked around. This was a semi-sweet Chambourcin and my favorite wine of the day. Warm Glow was the first Chambourcin that I have ever tried and I loved it! This was a nice balance between sweet and dry. It was light and had soft tannins. 

My glass of Warm Glow (left) next to Olivia's glass of Sunset Sipper (Right).

I was too busy taking pictures of the mountain views to get any of myself, except for this one that Olivia took...

Exploring the property

Tasting: Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2014
Price: $8.99

Winemaker Notes: "Sourced from the South Island of New Zealand, this Sauvignon Blanc exhibits complexity and a vibrant zing. Flavors of Meyer lemons and Key limes integrate with hints of grapefruits, gooseberry and citrus, culminating in a long, creamy finish. Long, cool seasons in New Zealand's Marlborough region allow our grapes to mature slowly and gain character and complexity. The grapes are harvested at night and gently crushed before undergoing cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. An extended fermentation sur lie adds richness and softness, complementing the fruit's natural zest and acidity."

My Review: This wine was very citrusy--I picked up flavors of lemon and lime juice. The acidity and tartness make it light and refreshing. Would be a good pair for grilled chicken.

I tasted this on its own, with no food.