Norwegian Cruise Line by the glass list (quick impressions)

Most of the included wines from Norwegian's beverage package. A note that Norwegian changes the vintages and even the wines that it pours without notice. A specific vintage of a French Languedoc Cabernet could be substituted without notice for a different vintage or even an entirely different Cabernet from Australia or the United States. Thus, some of these notes may be incorrectly attributed, despite my best efforts. Overall, the wine program is quite poor, even for a mid-range cruise ship.

• NV Terre di Rai Prosecco di Treviso Extra Dry

  Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Treviso

  Rich on the attack; round and big, but quickly hollows out. Just okay.

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• 2015 S.A. Prüm Riesling Essence

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Drinkable. Round, slightly chalky palate. Salty/saline. Mild, simple, and boring; very basic. A bit flabby; not much acidity. Not bad for a simple Riesling.

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• NV Lindeman's Moscato Bin 90

  Australia, South Eastern

  Nose of honey, pineapple, and melon. Lightly effervescent. Quite sweet on the attack of ripe tropical fruit and pineapple, giving way to greener fruit. Very nice acidity to tame the sugar. Pretty long finish of watermelon rind and green apple. Quite refreshing. A wine a geek would want to hate, but a surprising amount of complexity and balance in this engineered wine juice.

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• 2014 Matua Sauvignon Blanc

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Typical gooseberry on the nose and zing on the palate. Very unidimensional and quite boring. Medium finish of gooseberry, citrus, and not much else. A bit less exciting than your average inexpensive prototypical NZ Sauvignon Blanc. Okay.

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• 2014 North & South Sauvignon Blanc

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Insipid, lifeless, flabby

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• 2014 Meridian Vineyards Chardonnay California

  USA, California

  Nice nose of melon and citrus. Initially seems on the somewhat, ever-so-slightly restrained side of cheap Cali Chardonnay, but quickly the butter and oak come out to play.

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• 2013 Spellbound Chardonnay

  USA, California

  Seemingly off dry. Butter, lemon, dill. Bleh.

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• 2013 Domaines François Lurton Rosé Les Fumées Blanches

  France

  Okay; simple red fruit; bit bitter; short finish.

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• 2014 Estancia Pinot Noir Monterey County

  USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County

  Pretty, very rich nose of ripe cherries, coke, a bit of dried herbs. Silky, medium body. A simple but quite good rich Cali Pinot. Lots of cherry and cola on the palate. Good acidity. Nice.

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• 2014 Borgo Bella Chianti

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti

  Red berry compote and sandalwood on the nose. Very little tannin; tingly, but mouth-coating in the finish. Medium-full body. Red berry and a bit candied on the palate. Some sour, tart begonia. Medium acid. Bit harsh. Fairly short, bitter finish. Good.

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• 2015 Trapiche Malbec Oak Cask

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Basic dark fruited and oaky, simple, silky Malbec.

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• 2011 Gérard Bertrand Minervois Syrah-Carignan

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois

  Berries and herbs on the palate. Mouth coating. Medium-low, somewhat green, underripe tannin.

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• 2015 Gérard Bertrand Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc

  Not at all memorable - nothing off-putting, and nothing worthy of note.

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• 2014 North & South Sonoma County

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Norwegian Cruise Line proprietary label red blend. Seems like predominantly shiraz. Sour blackberry juice on the palate. Boring.

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• 2013 Rosemount Estate Shiraz Diamond Label

  Australia, South Eastern

  [Vintage uncertain] Blackberry jam and dill on the nose. Rich, syrupy blackberry jam with low, tingly tannin, a bit of herbs, and some red fruit. Seems a bit off-dry. Meh.

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• 2014 Blackstone Winery Merlot California

  USA, California

  [vintage uncertain] Sour berries; round and supple. Some light tannin. Simple. Okay.

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• NV Bodegas Hidalgo Manzanilla La Gitana

  Spain, Andalucía, Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda

  Had on two occasions and had very different experiences. Almost certainly served two different bottlings.
  
  Taste 1:
  Nice nose of almonds. Very sour; high acid. Seems flat on the palate, short, boring.
  
  Taste 2:
  Very savory, orange and citrus with a bit of Worcestershire; nuts, plums, dried cranberries. Fairly rich, with medium acid (could use a bit more). On the heavier, more syrupy side. Quite nice, but begs for a bit more acid.

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• NV Sandeman Porto Founder's Reserve

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Very simple, fruit-forward port; raspberries; very little structure, with almost no tannin and little acid.

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