JakeBryantWine.com

Name: Castico Original Rose Portugal Variety: Rose Region: Portugal Country: Portugal Year: NV Price: $5 Winery Review: "A blend of 40% Baga, 30% Tourgia Nacional, and 30% Merlot, this wine boasts a pink salmon color and intense fresh red fruit aromas of strawberry and raspberry. The palate is fresh and fruity with a slight effervescence that brings out crispness and elegance." Wine Folly: In page 134 of Wine Folly , it states that Rose is surprisingly light and has flavors of strawberry. Personal Review: This was my favorite wine of the tasting at the Vintage Wine Cellar. It had a nice flavor and the right amount of fruity/sweetness. I could definitely taste the strawberry notes and a touch of the raspberry. I enjoyed this tasting so much that I ended up buying a bottle of it. $5 for some good tasting wine? Can't beat that!  

Name: Korbel California Champagne Variety: Blanc de Noirs Region: California Country:  USA Year: Not sure, didn't see it on the bottle Price: $14.95 Winery Review: "Boldly perfumed aromas of raspberry and spicy nuts lead to easy going flavors of pear, pineapple, and anise." Wine Folly: In Wine Folly , it states that champagne often caries a taste of "Golden Raisin". Personal Review: I enjoyed this champagne very much. Pear was very evident in the taste, and the sparkle of the champagne was a special little gift. It did kind of sit heavy on my stomach at the end, but I enjoyed it too much to have that ruin it for me.

Bay Ridge Pinot Grigio Colombard: Provolone: I don’t think this paired well with the Pinot Grigio. Since the Pinot Grigio was so bitter, the provolone actually canceled that out a little bit, but kind of made the wine taste watered down. Even though Pinot Grigios pair well with Nutty, Hard cheeses (Page 60 Wine Folly ), I still didn’t enjoy it very well. Fontina: I didn’t really like this pairing either. The fontina was very strong so it overpowered most of the Pinot Grigio, which was a good thing because it masked the bitterness. But, the mixture of both these cheeses made a sour taste. I think both the strength of the cheese and the bitterness of the Pinot Grigio made for a bad combination. Asiago: This cheese was kind of weak compared to the other ones, but I liked the pairing. I could still taste the bitterness of the wine, but the cheese had a good enough flavor to make a balance between the two. Because asiago is pungent, it goes with sweeter wines like Pinot Grigio. This is w...

                              Name: African Dream Premium Vintage Sauvignon Blanc Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc Region: Western Cape Country: South Africa Year: 2021 Price: $7.32 Winery Review: African Dream Premium Vintage Sauvignon Blanc is a highly sought-after wine that showcases the best of African winemaking. Produced in a renowned appellation, this wine is crafted from grapes grown in exceptional vineyards. The vineyard features unique terroir, with a combination of soil and climate that imparts distinct flavors and aromas to the wine. The winemaking process is carefully executed, ensuring that the wine retains its vibrant and refreshing character. With its crisp acidity and lively citrus notes, this Sauvignon Blanc embodies the classic style of the varietal. African Dream Premium Vintage Sauvignon Blanc is a true testament to the quality and craftsmanship of African wines. Wine Folly: From page 1...

Name: Peter Mertes Platinum Riesling Spatlese Variety: 100% Riesling Region: Rheinhessen Country: Germany Year: 2021 Price: $9.00 Winery Review: "Hints of rye and caraway lend a spicy, savory tone to this herbaceous semi-sweet Riesling. Juicy and ripe with a pleasant stone-fruit flavor, it finishes brisk and crisp." With hints of earthy, tree fruit, and citrus notes. Pairs well with pork, shellfish, spicy food, poultry, and cured meat. Wine Folly: From page 158 of Wine Folly , it states that Rieslings can be produced from bone-dry to very sweet. The off-dry Rieslings make a perfect pair with spicy Indian and Asian cuisines. Wine Folly shows that Rieslings can have flavors of lime, green apple, beeswax, jasmine, and petroleum. Rieslings from Germany are noted for their sky-high acidity, high aromatic intensity, minerality, and balanced off-dry style. Personal Review: This was a greenish-yellowish white and smelled like a pear or an apple, just like the winery review h...

  Name: Beringer Founders’ Estate Pinot Noir Variety: 100% Pinot Noir Region: Napa, California Country: USA Year: 2020 Price: $9.95 Tasting Notes: Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir is immediately fruit forward with bright flavors of red cherry and currant, beautifully complemented by cedar and cinnamon spice. It is a perfect pairing with grilled salmon, roast turkey, or brie cheese. Wine Folly: From page 151 of Wine Folly , Pinot Noirs from the Coast of California have hints of cherry, raspberry sauce, plum, vanilla, and allspice. I definitely was able to taste the cherry and plum in this one. Another cool thing about growing Pinot Noir in California, is that the Pacific Ocean creates a fog in the morning that makes the vines cool enough to grow. Personal Review: Very red and purple in color, as well as a strong aroma. I am not a huge red guy, so the smell was pungent to me at first. Plum was the first flavor I recognized when tasting, which was very bold and powerful on my to...

                                                        Name: Fairbanks Cellars California Sherry Variety: 100% Sherry, either from Palomino or Pedro Ximenez  Region: McFarland and San Martin, California Country: USA Year: 2021 Price: $7.00 Winery Review: Balance dry and moderately sweet. Notes of nutty, buttery, and honey flavors. More of a cooking wine than drinking wine. Wine Folly: From page 170 of Wine Folly , a dry style of Sherry, such as an Amontillado, is slightly bolder and has a nutty style. This is definitely what I got from this tasting. Sweet styles give off caramel flavors and smells which is also what I got off of this Sherry. Personal Review: The first thing I noticed was that the wine looked like whisky when I poured it in the glass. It has that same lig...