CONTENTS

INFORMATION

December 10, 2008, FIDO CLUB WINE TASTING RESULTS » the under 100 peso class


On December 10, 2008, about 20 people gathered at a Puerto Vallarta rooftop condo in the center of Old Town (the Zona Romantica) with the expressed purpose of sorting through and evaluating the plethora of cheap wines available in this sleepy tourist beach town.

Sixteen people of the 20 in attendance actually filled out questionnaires in this evaluation (to some degree). The results are described below. Wine judging is an extremely subjective undertaking so please take this into account when reviewing the results.

Wine tastings should present no more than 5 varieties at a sitting and we presented 16, so, perhaps, this should be the most important factor in evaluating these results. The farther down on this list, the drunker the evaluators.

We began with cheap white wines, progressed to cheap red Merlots and Cabernets and then ventured, ever so delicately into some finer sommeliered specimens. Surprisingly, some generalizations visible here, if not quite a consensus, emerge from this tasting in spite of these vagaries. It’s probably wise to not take too seriously the tabulated results of the tasting comments after #10.

We are already planning phase II of the Fido Club Wine Tasting Experience. In this next event we will be sampling the 100 – 250 peso selections. Who knows where this will end, to what heights we will aspire? We will also be open to new tastings at any level or format.

THE WHITES

1. DANZANTE Pinot Grigio, Italy (Rizo’s 119 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 6 ) ( 2 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Sweet/white grape, none, light citrus, peachy/apricot, bad nose, light, mild, not much, pineapple/fruity.”
  • TASTE: “Sweet/slight burn, mild, fruity, vanilla/pear, easy/nice, mediuim dry, sour/anise back-taste, light, slightly acidic.”
  • COMMENTS: “Like it!, smooth finish/no aftertaste, velvety/clean, sweet/not dry enough, nice clean taste, nice light wine.”
2. L.A. CETTO 2007 Chenin Blanc, Mexico (Mega 77 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 1 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Light, none, faint citrus, citrus/melon, no nose, nada, lemon/oak, nice!.”
  • TASTE: “Sweet/clean, bad aftertaste, honeydew melon/sweet, mild vanilla, pear, pine-nut, sweet with body, over-ripe apples, butterscotch.”
  • COMMENTS: “Like it!, Mild/almost fruit juice, sweet/smooth, clear distinct flavor/reminds me of Greek wines, a little sweet/good aftertaste, alcohol overpowers flavor, light metallic aftertaste, Mexican metallic aftertaste, dry/smooth.”
3. CONO SUR 2006 Sauvignon Banc, Chile (Rizo’s 91 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) ( 1 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Mild, grapefruit, pungent/muscat/kiwi, no nose, melon/caramel.”
  • TASTE: “Really Sweet, full body/very fruity, sparkle/fruity, sharp/tingly/melon, too metallic, slight oak/tang.”
  • COMMENTS: “Bitter aftertaste, dry, too sweet, nice overall/not really smooth or rough, pretty good/sweet/OK, dry/nice pucker, starting to get a buzz, medium dry/no aftertaste.”
4. DON SIMON Blanc, Spain (WalMart, 60 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 5 ) ( 1 ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Musty, cantalope/vanilla, sweet, butterscotch, non-existing.”
  • TASTE: “Sweet, lemon, apple/citrus, light/fruity/sweet, sweet and fruity, toasty, very regular.”
  • COMMENTS: “Don’t like, not great/bitter aftertaste, semi-sweet/weak finish, sticky sweet/you’d expect it to stick to the side of the glass, fabulous for in-laws, OK, too sweet for me, good breakfast wine, dessert wine, don’t buy it.”
THE REDS

5. GAETANO D’AQUINO Merlot, Italy

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 5 ) ( 2 ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Light Red Grape, none, chemical, heavy/smooth, on real aroma, acrid, rubber tires, medicinal, non-existing.”
  • TASTE: “Lingers on tongue, thin/watery, W.P., smooth/heavy, bitter, tart, oak/tannin/sour.”
  • COMMENTS: “Low tannin, bad, bitter aftertaste, no finish/thin, too light/thin, full-bodied/dry, very nice/strong yet smooth, coal in your stocking, dry but not heavy, not nice, why bother?, lousy, awful, ordinary.”
6. CONCHA y TORO SELECCION Cab-Merlot, Chile (Costco, 30 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) ( 2 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Slight flower, rich bouquet, oaky/leather, strong to powerful, very nice, fruity, blue cheese, musty.”
  • TASTE: “Medium body, full bodied/rich, blackberry/tobacco/leather, currants, oak/smoke, musty with tangy finish.”
  • COMMENTS: “Slightly dry/good overall, not bad for the price, medium-body, sharp/too much tannin, good-looking wine, too dry and strong, goes down easy/no bite/slight after-sting, dry/a little bite, not bad/mellow/slight pucker/dry, good for Calimocos, tangy, good year.”
7. VINAS del VERO 2003 Crianza (Tempranillo 60%, Cab 40%) Spain (Sam’s Club, ?)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Strong, thin, vanilla/leather, strong/clean, tart, pine/herbal.”
  • TASTE: “Woodsie, berry/oak/vanilla, dry patchouli, smooth, medium dry/metallic aftertaste, sour/spicy, fruity aftertaste, cherry aftertaste.”
  • COMMENTS: “Tannin/dry/burns, Acid/dry aftertaste, light body/peppery finish, dry/nice legs, smooth/dry, quite strong/a little too much flavor or strength, Sahara dry, a good one, dry/tannic/no distracting aromas or flavors, tiring, acidic.”
8. L.A. CETTO Cabernet, Mexico (Rizo’s, 88 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) ( ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Rich/sweet, citrus, no nose, great fragrance, blackberry/pipe smoke, none.”
  • TASTE: “Very smokie/dry, full-bodied, apple, full-bodied, good, a little dusty, oak/smoke.”
  • COMMENTS: “Very dry, bitter, not great, nice and smooth/full-bodied, burned after down, a little harsh, tannin medium high/good body/lots of legs, tastes like stomped with old sandals.. but good, beef-stew wine, a wine with shoulders, I can’t tell anymore….”
9. VINA CHILCAYA Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile (Mega, 99 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 3 ) ( 1 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Acid smell, musty, no nose, fruit/tannin, smoke/tomato.”
  • TASTE: “Full body/dry, peppery/plum, oak, middle-of-the-road taste, mellow, blackberry/smooth/semi-weet/chocolate, berries.”
  • COMMENTS: “Strong tannin/yuk!, like this, Very nice/no bad aftertaste, don’t like aroma but taste ok, too tart, dry/quite smooth, enjoyable/a little kick/would buy, I like it (easy), medium pucker, tannic/dry/OK, spaghetti wine, full bodied/round tones.”
10. LEON de TARAPACA Cabernet, Chile (Mega, 80 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 5 ) ( 2 ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Strong, bad smell, sewer, no nose, light, cat piss, yucky/slight toilety-ish.”
  • TASTE: “Full-bodied, dirty socks, OK, bitter, oak/sharp, complete/really good aftertaste.”
  • COMMENTS: “Strong tannin/gross!, dry/moldy, no aftertaste, taste ok but aroma is off, tart/sharp, a strong and powerful dry wine/I kind of liked it, didn’t survive the summer.”

NOTE: This is where the rating system starts falling apart….

11. L.A. CETTO Cabernet Sauvignon, Mexico (Costco, 180 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 8 ) ( 2 ) ( ) ( ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Strong/burns nose, rich cherry/oak, oak/blackberry/vanilla, fruity, very nice, melamine, rubber/vinegar/bandaid, mild.”
  • TASTE: “Mellow, woodsy/smooth/dry, smooth/sweet, oakish/full-bodied, dry/chalky, berries (-black/-straw)/nuts/citrus, no aftertaste.”
  • COMMENTS: “Not much tannin, very good/good legs, too sweet for a cab, excellent/smooth/mellow, very good wine, smooth/yum, good tannin/smooth, nice/smooth, lovely wine.”

12. VINA ALARDE BERBERANA, 2005 Tempranillo Rioja, Spain (Costco, 100 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 1 ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Sweet, sour, musty-W.P., full/smooth, glue, art-gum erasers.”
  • TASTE: “Light tannin, dry, dry cherry, OK, fungal, school paste/berries/cranberry with lingering nut/tempe.”
  • COMMENTS: “Good overall, poor/dry/thin, maybe needs air, thin/Ugh!, has a kick, very-very good/smooth yet full-bodied, OK/a little flat, not much body or pucker, definite Spanish medicinal aftertaste.”

13. ARNEGUI RIOJA, Spain (Mega, 65 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 1 ) ( 4 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Clear sinuses, sweet, eggs/chemical, kind of dusty, tart, vanilla/Jergen’s lotion.”
  • TASTE: “Ear wax, sweet, nondescript, too dry, tastes like Gallo/a little lighter than burgandy, jamaica.”
  • COMMENTS: “Above average, mellow/a little thin, bad, too strong with no positive flavor/would not recommend, not bad but wouldn’t buy, not much body, pucker/not dry, Okay!, best!.”
14. ALTOS de TAMARON 2004 Crianza, Spain (Costco, 100 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Hurts my nose, Deep/rich, oak/vanilla, great, maple syrup/cherries/army worm.”
  • TASTE: “Full-bodied/butternut, vanilla, vinegar, lots of flavor, bitter, creamy.”
  • COMMENTS: “Very good, medium-body/best buy, nice to drink, high tannin/very dry/good body/good pucker, heavy tannin/astringent, lively.”
15. FINCA SIMONASSI 2004 Malbec, Argentina (Mega, 76 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( ) ( 5 ) ( 2 ) ( ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Don’t like smell, OK, great nose, paste/sauted mushrooms.”
  • TASTE: “Mellow, nice body, pleasant, nice.”
  • COMMENTS: “Dry aftertaste, well-rounded, good/full-bodied, too strong without a positive flavor/not a bad wine but would not buy, nice aftertaste, heavy taste/feel, okay.”
16. UMANI RONCHI 2004 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, Italy (Rizo’s 101 pesos)

  • OVERALL: GOOD ( ) ( 2 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( ) BAD
  • AROMA: “Musty, spicy, strong/metallic.”
  • TASTE: “Tannin flavor, musty/nice aftertaste, apple/plum.”
  • COMMENTS: “Smooth/dry, different/nice, smooth/dry/peppery, wold buy to have with food, really dry and good, nych!”
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