The 24nd Wine Tasting (2013-06-15) - Botrytized Dessert Wines

It was an excitement to host this wine tasting. Thanks to Norbert, my friend, who brought back two wine from Hungary and Germany.

" Are dessert wines very sweet?"

Dessert wines are more than sweet wines. Balance among rich and complex aroma, sugar contents, and acidity is the beauty of dessert wines. We tasted the particular type of dessert wines, which is made from the grapes are infected by a grey fungus called Botrytis Cinerea. The infected berries are also known as Noble Rot. This gentle fungus adds unique flavor to wines. It can infect various grapes. For example, we had Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Furmint.

The 23nd Wine Tasting (2013-05-17) - Italy (Super Tuscan)

Sangiovese, is from the Latin sanguis Jovis, which means the blood of Jove. Jove (or Jupiter) is the god of sky and thunder (equivalent to Greek Zeus). It's also the most important grape variety in Tuscany (in Italy: Toscana). We tasted Super Tuscan, an non-official category from Tuscany. Regardless of the Chianti regulation, Super Tuscan wine producers had experimental wine-making to use either 100% Sangiovese, or blend with any number of local or international varieties: for instance, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.

The 22nd Wine Tasting (2013-05-17) - France (Bordeaux Right Bank)

I had a very tough month, busy at work and defeated by allergy attack. Words can not describe my happiness of survival, and these wines were the best rewards.

The 21st Wine Tasting (2013-04-20) - Hungary - (Red)

Siege of Eger (1552), it was a major victory during the war between Hungary and Ottoman Empire. During the Siege of Eger, soldiers were supported and motivated with food and a lots of red wines. There was rumors among Turkish soldiers saying Hungarians drink bull's blood, so theyare tough and resisted firmly. Finally, the Turkish troops gave up at the moment. No one can explain this mystery victory. As a result, red wines in Eger earned the name, Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood). Regarding history, Ottoman empire still conquered Hungary few years later.

Tasting Note: Pinot Nior (2013-04-10)

Speaking of my favorite wines, Pinot Noir is always on top of any reds. Four years ago, I was about to get home, and one of my neighbors just opened a bottle of American Pinot Noir. I smelled the most breathtaking perfumed aromas, so I drank my first bottle of Pinot Noir. Then, I started a long journey of Pinot Noir tasting for one year. Some wines are just perfect, but you can't sense its heart; some wines touch your soul with illusion. This is a matched wine I'm looking for.  I don't like the following quote, but it is so true about Pinot Noir: "the most romantic of wines, with so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, and so powerful a punch that, like falling in love, they make the blood run hot and the soul wax embarrassingly poetic." (an American men's fashion magazine)

The 10th Wine Tasting (2012-07-13) - Italy - (White)

When Italian wines are mentioned, it always remind me Roman Empire. I can almost say that the wine making history in Europe can be related closely to Roman Empire. Interesting fact, Etruscans and Greek settlers produced wine in Italy before the Romans started their own vineyards in the 2nd century BC.

The 20th Wine Tasting (2013-04-06) - USA (California) - Chardonnay (White)

After a month of break, this is the first wine tasting after wine club reorganization. I'm pretty happy with the re/new-sign up members right now. It was really successful. I will do my best to offer my humble service.

The 9th Wine Tasting (2012-06-29) - New Zealand - (whites & red)

New Zealand considered as one of the New World Wine producing countries. It started growing vines in the mid 1800s. The oldest vine was planted by French Roman Catholic missionaries in Hawkes Bay. Even though the wine making history is short, New Zealand's Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough has earned its recognition internationally; "arguably the best in the world" (Rachman, British wine critic, 1990s ).

Tasting Note: Chinon AOC (2013-03-28)

I just finished another 3 days tasting this week. This week, I picked wines from the Chinon, where is part of the Loire Valley (France). My decision happened when I wrote the review of Loire whites. It is unusual for the Loire Valley (known as whites) that the Chinon produces mostly red wine, 2 to 5% rosé, and a little white wines. Plus, I had a good Chinon dinning with a friend. Therefore, the Chinon reds were served.

The 8th Wine Tasting (2012-05-18) - France (Burgundy) - (White)

Burgundy (Bourgogne), one of my favorite wine region in the world. There is no fancy aroma, but its backbone, which stands. For whites, my favorite is Chablis; For reds, I'm still looking forward to meet her.

我覺得我很幸運，從開始學習品酒的時候只是一張白紙，由一個熱愛義大利酒、活在自己世界的怪老頭幫我帶路。這wine club可算是我的品酒學習之旅。從開始看著酒標都像是blind tasting到現在，這都要感謝一路支持各位。

The 7th Wine Tasting (2012-05-04) - Spain (Rioja) - (Red)

I still can remember my first red wine; I didn't like it, but I don't remember why? Either my dad added water to my wine, or it's not possible that an elementary school kid would like wines. However, I do remember when and where I started to enjoy wines again. CORRAL DE LA MORERÍA in 2005, the restaurant in Madrid where I discovered the joy of wines; a Spanish Wine. 2008, my friend bought me a bottle of US Tempranillo, and I knew I'm close. 2011, a gift from Rioja guided me to the endless journey.

每個旅途都有起點，不時想起出發的原因，就算置身茫茫大海也不會迷路。現在和我一起辦品酒的人，雖然我們的起點不一樣，但結果都是在這條偉大的航路上相逢了。他因為葡萄酒愛上美食；我因為美食愛上葡萄酒。2005西班牙馬德里，我喝下了這條不歸路的起點，我當時並不知道，只是第一次覺得葡萄酒這麼好喝，這是一道料理時間非常長的一道菜。我並沒有馬上就開始品酒，但已經不時將葡萄酒加到生活當中。不知不覺就蓋起了這扇以葡萄酒為記憶鑰匙的門。中間曾經很接近過，在我找到這鑰匙之前最常喝的是葡萄牙的酒，終於，2011開始了謙虛的學習之旅。

The 6th Wine Tasting (2012-04-13) - USA (California) - Cabernet Sauvignon (Red)

Tonight, I met some people from west coast. They asked me to pair wines for food. We went to a French restaurant, so I picked 4 bottles of European wines (including French wine). I didn't pick wines from California, so I was joking: "I know a French Chief's pride because I'm a chief." Anyway, we talked about the NAPA Valley tour, and and some west coast wines; as well this, the tasting note for California Cabernet Sauvignon.

 加州的Cabernet Sauvignon在新世界裡已經闖出了一片天空。有些人喝時候會說這果然是加州CS的味道，有些人會說加州的CS喝起來都差不多。雖然說CS的味道一部分取決於葡萄的成熟度，但還有很大一部分決定在釀造技術，還有釀造者的心。在這八瓶酒裡面，就有兩瓶，儘管過了一年我看到酒標，就可以想起來喝的時候的感動，是獨特的。我不需要完美的酒，而獨特的酒值得反覆品嘗。

The 5th Wine Tasting (2012-03-02) - France (Loire Valley)- (White)

The Loire Valley, follows the Loire River, is an important wine region in west France. Loire river flows from east to west about 1000 kilometers long. From west to east, the climate progressively changes from maritime climate to continental climate. Various soil and climate have added vivid element to wines from Loire Valley.

Tasting Note: Meritage (2013-03-20)

After I mentioned the Bordeaux blend, it just remained me an American blend that I have never tried, Meritage. Therefore, I went to the store nearby and found these two bottles.

The 4th Wine Tasting (2012-02-03) - Argentina - Malbec (Red)

Argentina is one of the biggest wine-producing country. Most vineyards are located around dry mountain area, and Mendoza is the most important wine region. Lujan de Cuyo in Mendoza became the first officially recognized controlled appellation in 1993. The most famous and widely grown grape variety is Malbec; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Torrontés follow closely.

The 3rd Wine Tasting (2012-01-13) - Germany - Riesling (White)

German wine has a long history. The Romans established vineyards around Trier on the Mosel River. Riesling is the greatest variety in Germany, and it is originated in the Rhine region. The earliest documentation we can find is in Rheingau in 1435, and then in Mosel lately. This tasting is an introduction of German Riesling. Wines that we selected were from Pfalz, Rheinhessen, and Mosel.

Sub-region of German wines (online resource: Google Images)

The 2nd Wine Tasting (2011-12-09) - France (Southern Rhône Valley)- (Red)

The Rhône Valley is one of the key wine region in France, locates at southeastern France. The Rhône is divided into two sub-regions, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. They are separated by a 25-mile (40-km) gap, where almost no vines are grown. This gap not only separate the geography, but also grape varieties. All the affect the quality and quantity of wines produced. This wine tasting was only focus on Southern Rhône red wines.

The 1st Wine Tasting (2011-11-18) - Chile - (White)

This was my first wine tasting of my wine club back in 2011. Unfortunately, I lost my original tasting sheet, so I lost my notes. Look on the bright side, I can taste Chilean white wines again to make up my lost notes.

A little bit story of Chilean wines.