Angove Zibibbo

Name: Angove Zibibbo

Variety: Sparkling Muscat

Country: South Australia

Year: Not Listed

Price: $18

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: The Zibibbo variety is noted for its delightfully fresh aromas and light fresh palate making it the ideal variety to use in sparkling wine. The variety is part of the Muscat family and is delightfully fresh, this frothy, sweet ‘alfresco’ sparkling wine displays crisp floral aromas with citrus peel and creamy flavors on the palate. Pale straw in color, the wine shouts of celebration and exuberance, and with a modest 8% alcohol, is ideal on a lazy sunny afternoon with friends.



My review: South Australia would make Vegas proud with this Sparkling Muscat! This is definitely more of a dessert wine. It's sweet and light, tasting like fresh, crisp white grape juice (partly due to the lower alcohol content.) Imagine hiking in Red Rock Canyon in the early morning, and as you finish your long hike, the sun begins beaming down with intense heat. You drive quickly home and take a dip in the pool, and immediately after cooling off, you graciously imbibe this crisp sparkling wine alongside some apple slices dipped in caramel and some small-bites of chocolate. Survive the Vegas heat the right way.

Rating: 

Four of a Kind

Five Rivers Merlot

Name: Five Rivers

Variety: Merlot

Region: Monterey

Country: California

Year: 2011

Price: $18

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: Ripe cherry and blackberry fruit stars in this easy-drinking wine, with oak providing toasty sweetness. It’s an everyday, cheeseburger-friendly Merlot.



My review: Five Rivers produces with this great, cheap Merlot. Very smooth, it's a great start to an evening. The nose brings a great cherry/plum aroma with a blackberry and blueberry taste. Not too strong on the mid palate but its finish leaves you wanting more. This is a great choice for a relaxing show or musical at The Smith Center. With this wine, you can be classy (for cheap).

Rating: 

Four of a Kind

George Duboeuf Beaujlais Nouveau

Name: George Duboeuf Beaujlais Nouveau

Variety: Beaujlais Nouveau

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2014

Price: $14

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: Balanced and lightly creamy, offering pretty flavors of plum sauce and raspberry coulis threaded with hints of ground spice. Elegant, with a floral finish.



My review: This wine is like an off-the-strip casino. It sounds promising, but leaves you disappointed. Not a complete disappointment, I did like the red berry tones, it was not quite tart as raspberry but not as sweet as strawberry. All in all, however, this was too fruity of a medium-bodied wine for me, and like most off-the-strip casinos, I will not revisit this wine.

Rating: 

Two Pair

Rubus Rosado Prieto Picudo

Name: Rubus

Variety: Rosado Prieto Picudo

Region: Tierra de Leon

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $14

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review:  Bright clean strawberry rose color.　In the nose it is intense and fresh, with strawberry aromas and slight citric hints. In the mouth it is fresh, strong and tasty, emphasizing a delightful tingle due to its carbonic residuals. The name Prieto Picudo means "tight & pointy" (more or less). This is due to the tightly formed bunches and the slightly oval/pointy shape of the grapes. The bunch shape is reminiscent of Tempranillo; the berries are thick skinned, and dark blue-black in color. Prieto Picudo is well adapted to the difficult growing conditions in Castilla y León province - not a lot of rain, very cold winters and scorching hot summers. The vines tend to relatively low yields, with lots of color, concentration and good acidity. Also, it's the same grape as Alfrocheiro Preto in Portugal. Alfrocheiro is an important variety in Dão region of Portugal.



My review: Prieto Picudo is a rare grape, making this an interesting wine to try. Typically this is not my type of wine, although I did enjoy the rosy nose. On the tongue the wine bounces with strawberry notes and ends with a refreshing finish.

Rating: 

Flush

Lagosta Vinho Verde

Name: Lagosta

Variety: Vinho Verde

Region: Vinho Verde

Country: Portugal

Year: N/A

Price: $12

Bottles Finished: 0 (Tasting only)




Wine review: Fresh and juicy, with fresh-cut apple and gooseberry flavors that feature notes of citrus and light spice on the finish. The name “Lagosta” means “lobster,” and this would be a great seafood accompaniment.




My review: This is a very light white wine that gives off a nice aroma. Slightly citrusy and clear tasting of fresh apple, this wine is begging to be paired with homemade mahi mahi tacos topped with an apple slaw and a drizzle of lime juice. Serve as lunch poolside to ease your guests into their Vegas vacation before a night on the town.

Rating:

Straight

Baby, I Can Explain...

Wine. Casinos. Lights. Gambling. Wine. Circue du Soleil. Wine. Clubs. Blackjack. Wine. Wine. Wine. Grandeur. Money. Fame. Wine. Wedding Chapels. Wine. Parties. Shows. Crazy Nights. Las Vegas, baby.                 Aaaand some more Wine, please.

Photo by Caleb Hopler

I am crazy about Vegas and I am crazy about wine. With Vegas my hometown and wine my homeboy, I'm ready to do some pairings! Each wine I try, I will give a review, rating, and comparison to the great Las Vegas. These comparisons will cater to every aspect of Vegas, the shows, the grandeur, the seedy, the casinos, the Vegas life, and even the great films about Vegas!

Now, I admit I am somewhat new to the wine game. As a senior at Virginia Tech, I am currently taking a wine course called Geography of Wine, so as my semester progresses, expect my reviews to improve. I enjoy wine several times a week, if not daily, and have enjoyed (or disliked) wines worth anywhere from $4 to $1,000 per bottle. (My wine reviews will cover a broad range of wines.) To enjoy my Vegas nights, I much prefer to ease into my evening with a Merlot, then a Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon with dinner, then wind down with a Pinot Noir or Shiraz. Obviously, I prefer medium to full-bodied red wines, I am none too keen on white wines, though they sometimes have their place for me, such as being served poolside at the Bellagio with fish hor d'oeuvres.

Rating Note:
I will rate my wines 1-10 based on poker hand rankings in descending order:
10 - Royal Flush
9 - Straight Flush
8 - Four of a Kind
7 - Full House
6 - Flush
5 - Straight
4 - Three of a Kind
3 - Two Pair
2 - One Pair
1 - High Card

Enjoy and VINO LAS VEGAS!