2017 Urban Vintner Carménère, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Urban Vintner is an Ohio wine making wine from purchased grapes. This wine was made from grapes purchased in Chile. I tasted from a freshly opened bottle. I was told it improved greatly with air. Purple in color. The nose is all about bell pepper. Concentrated and persistent bell pepper. Maybe a bit of smoke as well. Now, a little bell pepper in a Cabernet can be charming at times, but this was unpleasant. On the palate, this has tingling acidity. Perhaps some trapped CO2. There are some plums on the palate with slight tannins. Short finish. Tastes vary and you might like this, and, perhaps it improves with air, but this wine was not a wine I would seek out.

Grade:

C+

Score:

Vintage:

2017

Current Price:

$19.00USD

Top 100 Most Influential U.S. Winemakers

Ah the ubiquitous list. Everywhere you turn these days there is a top 10, the best 50, or some iteration of a who’s who list. So we can’t resist, besides, our Top 100 Most Influential Wine Industry list scored a lot of buzz, created a lot of chatter and even made a few enemies. This list is all about winemakers, those currently making wine here in America – not the great ones who have come before, but folks who make wines you can find now. There are some 7,000 bonded wineries in the U.S., and there’s a lot of forgettable wine being made. And in a world of homogenization of wine styles and a sense that our domestic wine industry is not legitimate without a French or Italian flare, we desire to promote regional flavor profiles of all American wine craftspeople. There are names here you’ll know and recognize, and names you never heard of but everyone on this list is influencing the public, fellow winemakers and the media in large and small ways. Use this list to learn about wines, varieties and regions you may not have considered; comment on it, share it with everyone, but above all continue your joy of being IntoWine.

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Ohio State vs. Michigan: That’s Right, I’m Talking Wine

The middle of November is rivalry time in the world of college football. It is also the time of year when the retailers and restaurant start blaring “Le Beaujolais est Arrivè”. For many, there is no connection between the two, but not for my friend and wine lover Andrew Hall. You see Andrew lives in Columbus, Ohio. There may not be a city in the country more crazed over its college football team, in his case, the Ohio State Buckeyes. And, there may not be a more storied or bitter college rivalry than Ohio State vs. Michigan. So bitter is the rivalry, that the word Michigan is rarely uttered by the denizens of Columbus, euphemistically referring to them, as did former OSU coach Woodrow Hayes, as “that school up north”. The last game of the Big Ten football season always features these two teams.

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2017 Urban Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$30.00USD

Urban Vintner is an Ohio winery making wine from purchased grapes. This particular wine uses grapes from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington State. This was the best of their wines and is not only respectable but quite good. Garnet in color. The nose has black cherries with a slight herbal (chervil?) note. The tannins come on strong at first but mellow out on the midpalate and finish. There is some depth and complexity but this is young and could use a few years in the cellar. It is a quality and varietally correct Cabernet. It calls for bigger grilled or roasted foods and will also

2017 Urban Vintner Sémillon Muddy Paws, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$12.00USD

Urban Vintner is an Ohio winery making wine in Ohio from purchased grapes around the globe. Muddy Paws is their value line with $1 from every bottle going to the local animal rescue. The grapes for this wine are from Washington state. Light silvery green/gold in color. The nose has some peach and a bit of citrus. On the palate, this is slightly sweet with peach notes. There is also a bit of a minty quality on the finish. Not a lot of depth in this wine, but easy sweet wine. Those looking for this type of wine will probably like it more than I. Mostly a cocktail wine or with a nice

2017 Urban Vintner Trigger Rouge Muddy Paw, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

B-

Current Price:

$12.00USD

This is made by a winery in Ohio from California grapes. It is a Zinfandel blend made in a lighter and easier style. Light ruby in color. The nose has candies cherries. On the palate, this is sweet and almost cloying. It reminds one of home made wines made in Italian communities often self referred to as "Dago Red". Not a style that I prefer but those who like a sweet red will probably enjoy this more. Food such as pizza or cheese would certainly help.

2017 Urban Vintner Carménère, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

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2017 Urban Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

2017 Urban Vintner Sémillon Muddy Paws, USA, Ohio, Wine Review

2017 Urban Vintner Trigger Rouge Muddy Paw, USA, Ohio, Wine Review