I decided to attend an event named the California Wine Brand Tasting this Autumn, just five (5) days before my blind tasting exam for Wine Expert. I thought it was the perfect event for me since I am planning on importing wines from California and could use the blind tasting practice at the same time.
Each attendee received a nice booklet that has a wine list and all of the importer's information. There were 680 wines from 50 importers. Mmmmmm... I decided to start tasting from the booth in the corner and work my way through the crowd!
Unlike wines from France, the etiquette (wine label) from the USA is written in a way that is very easy to understand. For example,
I found this Pino Noir very nice. It has a deep reddish purple color and a sweet black berry aroma. The attack is very fruitful, but not too assertive; it is elegant. The mild acids and delicate tannins give this wine a good balance.
My favorite white wine was this one, the Madison's Ranch 2013 Chardonnay Napa Valley. Rich gold yellow shows that the grapes used ripped well, and the color of the wine reflected the sweet aroma of apricot and nectar. The attack was very fruitful and rich, yet the acidity gives it a smooth clear finish. Yum!