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Norwegian Cruise Line by the glass list (quick impressions)

Jade

Tasted January 2, 2017 by indiscriminate palate with 583 views

Introduction

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.

Flight 1 (8 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. 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.
White
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.
White - Sweet/Dessert
N.V. 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.
White
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.
White
2014 North & South Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Sonoma County
Insipid, lifeless, flabby
White
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.
White
2013 Spellbound Chardonnay USA, California
Seemingly off dry. Butter, lemon, dill. Bleh.
Rosé
2013 Domaines François Lurton Rosé Les Fumées Blanches France
Okay; simple red fruit; bit bitter; short finish.

Flight 2 (8 notes)

Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
2015 Trapiche Malbec Oak Cask Argentina, Mendoza
Basic dark fruited and oaky, simple, silky Malbec.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
2014 Blackstone Winery Merlot California USA, California
[vintage uncertain] Sour berries; round and supple. Some light tannin. Simple. Okay.

Flight 3 (2 notes)

White - Fortified
N.V. 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.
Red - Fortified
N.V. 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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