Five Wines to Taste at Least Once in Your Lifetime

I’m excited to share this blog written by Heidi Jones (please see her bio at the end). Wine tasting is an art, requiring concentration, vivid memory and sufficient imagination skills. The good news is that the more wine you try, the better you get at tasting. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to 5 wines to taste at least once in your lifetime. I hope my article motivates you to go out and do some special tastings.

2018 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

My personal favorite on my “5 wines to taste at least once in your lifetime” list is the 2018 Caymus Cabernet. Caymus Vineyards is a signature name in the wine industry. According to the winemaker, “Caymus has a signature style that is dark in color, with rich fruit and ripe, velvety tannins – as approachable in youth as in maturity. We farm Cabernet grapes in eight of Napa’s 16 sub-appellations, with diversification enabling us to make the best possible wine in a given year. Our Cabernet offers layered, lush aromas and flavors, including cocoa, cassis, and ripe dark berries.”

According to wine.com, “This wine is ripe, smooth, and delectable. Enjoy its lovely aromas and flavors of ripe fruit and oak with a well-seasoned roast leg of lamb.” It retails for around $90.

A Vintage 40-Year-Old Tawny Port

According to Ted Loos of Departures, “Forty-year-olds are simply more interesting…The rare and sought-after 40-year-old fortified wines represent the apogee of the form, full of characteristics that invite contemplation after a meal. Whereas vintage port relies on the immediate winemaking to succeed, tawny is all about blending and is essentially a creation of a cellar master. The blending renders a producer’s house style ever more individual; like people, tawnies come into their own as they age.” Forty-year-old Tawny Ports range in price from $100 to $250.

The First and the Second Bordeaux

Bordeaux, a port city on the Garonne River, is the home of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. From as long ago as 1855, Bordeaux came up with a wine classification approach that is still in use to date. The first growths go for a premium price in comparison to the second and third growth, but all three growths are pretty similar. When it is time to taste, look for an old bottle to challenge your taste buds. Examples of first growths are Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Margaux. The second growths include Chateau Montrose, Château Pichon Baron and Château Léoville-Barton.

Riesling

Riesling is one of the top wines in Germany. It dates back to the 15th century, and its place of origin is the Rhine Valley. In an article Betty wrote 10 years ago (!), she said that “Riesling’s food friendliness and refreshing qualities come from a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Even with the sweetest of Rieslings, you are still likely to experience a puckering sensation as the wine goes down your throat. Riesling’s cleansing acidity leaves you wanting to take a bite of food, and after taking a bite of food, you’ll want a sip of wine. A tasty exchange.” If you steer clear of Riesling because you think of it as a syrupy sweet wine, please try some drier Rieslings. You’ll be in for a treat.

German Pinot Noir – Spatburgunder

If you are a lover of red wine, then Spätburgunder is a famous wine and has won several awards  like the Decanter Awards in Germany. All 13 German wine growing regions cultivate Pinot Noir, with each area producing a different taste due to soil and climate differences. The most common variety is savory in taste, giving you that elegant feel. The German Spatburgunder is light in color with low levels of acidity.

I hope I’ve inspired you to try these 5 wines to taste at least once in your lifetime. If you have others to add to the list, please share them with us. Thanks.

Cheers!

Author Bio

Heidi Jones is a full-time content marketing specialist. She has been closely following the liquor industry trends for quite some time. A frequent contributor to several blogs and websites, she has dabbled in various domains before the wine and gastronomy industry. On her off days, she likes to spend her time at the nearest animal shelter, enjoy a glass of wine with family or be nose deep in a novel.