Monday, April 1, 2013

Ponte Winery, Temecula CA


We had heard mixed reviews about this winery, mostly along the lines that it had worsened over time.  However, we had a 2 for 1 and decided to give it a shot.  It is located near South Coast Winery (a large, corporate winery with a hotel) and it looks like a cute, medium-sized tasting room.  Even though it was a Monday, it was absolutely packed.  It was nearly impossible to get up to the tasting bar to order a tasting, and a lot of the time it felt as though they really didn't care if you had to wait forever on them. 


This, too, is a large, more corporate winery.  However, their wines were actually pretty good.  If you don't mind fighting the crowds for a spot at the bar, and are willing to spend more time discovering the wines on your own rather than getting the spiel from the pourers, this isn't a bad place to stop.


Vernaccia Nera (2010)
  • Color - dark burgundy.
  • Aroma - bright boysenberry.
  • Taste - bright and bubbly on the front; tart but pleasant.
  • Overall - Pleasant, deeper bubbly with crisp fruity notes.
Barbera (2009)
  • Color - brownish burgundy.
  • Aroma - cherry and oak, lively.
  • Taste - complex finish, fruit forward, slightly spicy.
  • Overall - Good, spicy red.
Super T (2010)
  • Color - deep burgundy.
  • Aroma - slightly sweet, subtle fruit.
  • Taste - fruit forward, slightly tart and dry.  Plum.
  • Overall - Tart, but smooth.  Good, but only slightly fruity.
Zinfandel (2010)
  • Color - deep burgundy.
  • Aroma - bright boysenberry.
  • Taste - slight spices, cinnamon? Fruity, deeper finish.
  • Overall - Dark and complex, with a warm mouth feel.  Spicy yet smooth.
Tempranillo / Zinfandel (2010)
  • Color - deep burgundy and purple.
  • Aroma - bright black cherry and plum with some boysenberry.
  • Taste - dark fruits, slightly spicy, smooth finish.
  • Overall - Simple, tasty wine.  I crave steak with this one.  Heavy but delicious.
Syrah (2009)
  • Color - very deep burgundy.
  • Aroma - floral and light with some blackberry.
  • Taste - fruity yet dark, delicious balance.
  • Overall - Very good, dark and balanced with a slight and pleasant smokiness.
Beverino NV
  • Color - pretty garnets.
  • Aroma - semi-sweet, almost like blueberry pancakes.  Very bready with some coffee hints.
  • Taste - semi sweet and balanced.
  • Overall - Very tasty dessert wine, love! Not too powerful by any means.
Late Harvest (2010)
  • Color - deep burgundy with nice purples.
  • Aroma - slightly sweet but subtle.
  • Taste - beautiful blackberry and dark fruit, very refreshingly sweet!
  • Overall - Love! Very delicious dessert wine.  We also got to try this at room temperature, which might it slightly more buttery (in a good way).
Port
  • Color - dark burgundy.
  • Aroma - very sweet and syrupy.
  • Taste - typical port with tastes of blueberry and boysenberry, very sweet.
  • Overall - Alright in my opinion, not a bad port.
Juliet (2011)
  • Color - bright pinks with an orangish / copper tinge.
  • Aroma - slight rhubarb, crisp and refreshing.
  • Taste - sweet and refreshing, rosy.
  • Overall - Very good rose, delicious and refreshing!
Isabel (2011)
  • Color - very clear, slight hay.
  • Aroma - light and floral.
  • Taste - apricot, very subtly sweet.
  • Overall - Very mugh like a good riesling, yummy!

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