Evan Hudgins Wine Blog

Name: 2014 Penfold's Rawson's Retreat Merlot Variety: 100% merlot Region: South Eastern Australia. Grapes selected from vineyards across the region. Price: $10 " Rawson’s Retreat Merlot is the epitome of an everyd ay red.   Rawson’s Retreat Merlot has delicious red and black berry fruit characteristics with lifted herbal and floral notes, all supported by subtle cedary oak." - www.snooth.com My immediate reaction to both the smell and taste of this wine is berry. It has a much more full taste than many other wines I have tried. Good amount of tannin characteristics as I get the dry and puckering sensation with every drink.  This wine would pair very well with many foods. I like Rawson's Retreat much more than other merlot I have tried, but I still prefer the reds that aren't quite as full-bodied. If someone was looking for a bodied red wine to pair with food, I would definitely recommend.

Name: 2014 Codirosso Chianti Variety: 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 15% Malvasia Bianca Region: Tuscany, Italy Price: $11 "Dusty garnet color. Earthy aromas and flavors of dried sour cherry and sundried tomato, honey roasted mushrooms, chocolate yogurt, and hint of barnyard with a supple, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a smooth, interesting, medium-length nuts, cranberry compote, and earth finish with a suggestion of oak. A nice combination of bright fruit and rusticity will bode well for the hunter’s table." - www.tastings.com As I discussed in my intro post, my first real wine experience was in Italy and the #1 wine I had in Italy was Chianti.  I like how dry the wine is and how no flavor is overwhelming. When I first smelled this glass, it was very fruity. I definitely smelled the sour cherry and sundried tomato. The honey roasted mushrooms, yogurt, etc. are probably a little advanced for both my smell and taste right now.  When drinking the wine, I could ...

Name: 2014 Blackstone Winemaker's Select Pinot Grigio, California, USA Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio Region: Sonoma County, California Price: $10 Bottle Label - Consistent, smooth, balanced and perfect for any occasion from dinner parties to everyday enjoyment. Our Pinot Grigio shows bright flavors of crisp green apple and citrus with floral characteristics and pear notes. "Bright red fruit flavors with substantial minerality and earthiness." - www.wineaccess.com A very sweet and floral wine. My very inexperienced palate found it to be a bit sour but, at this point, I don't have a whole lot of experience to compare. The source of this sour taste could be the minerality of the wine. It didn't taste dry to me at all so not many tannins. I tasted more of the floral and mineral characteristics than the crisp green apple and fruit flavors indicated on the label. Not my favorite white wine I have tasted but certainly not the worst. I enjoyed this bottle and wou...