Tonight we will each do a blind tasting. We will talk about our thoughts and the decisions we make regarding the two wines we taste. We will use the Five-S’s. They stand for;

1. Sight
2. Swirl
3. Sniff
4. Sip
5. Savor

We start our tasting by looking at the wine. We hold the glass tilted at a 45-degree angle and view the wine over a white sheet of paper. We look at the rim of the wine. What is the color? Are there differences in the color? Can I see through the wine?

Next, we swirl the wine and look at how it attaches to the side of the glass. Does it swirl like skim milk or cream? If it looks like skim milk, it is a light-bodied wine; if it is the consistency of cream, it is a full-bodied wine. We sniff the wine.

After swirling the glass to get some air in the wine, we will stick our nose right in the glass and sniff. Swirling releases aromas. What is the first smell? Fruit, vanilla, earthiness? Sip the wine and allow it to cover the mouth. Hold it in the mouth a few seconds before swallowing. Some people like to draw in some air while the wine is in the mouth. Lastly, savor the wine and get any final impressions.

Tonight, the two wines we ended up tasting was;

1. 2019 Chateau Ste Michelle from Columbia Valley, Washington. It was purchased from Costco for $23.99. Notes of blackberries, dark cherries, vanilla, mocha, and spice. Although it is a very dark wine, it has bright acidity and herbal notes, with a touch of minerality.
2. 2018 St Francis Old Vine Zinfandel from Sonoma County. This wine was purchased for around $15.00 from Costco. It undergoes malolactic fermentation in French-oak barrels followed by 15 months of aging. 20% of the barrels are new. Aromas of wild blackberry and sasparilla. Flavors of dark chocolate, minty notes, finishes with black tea and muddled berries.

We recommend both of these wines.

Next week we are tasting three Tempranillos:

1. 2022 MonteToro 5. The wine comes from the Bodegas Ramon Ramos Toro and was purchased at WineStyles for $21.00.
2. 2018 Lucia Victoria Rioja Reserva. A $7.00 bottle of wine from Costco.
3. 2021 Two Mountain Winery Tempranillo. We purchased the wine from Winestyles for around $22.00.