Wine Essentials: Parts V and VI

I've been told that my synopses of three of the Institute of Culinary Education's six Wine Essentials classes (I missed the third session) are unnecessarily long and slightly boring. I won't name any names because I partially agree. For parts five (Spain and Australia) and six (the final installment- California, Oregon and Washington) I've decided to spare us all (or maybe just the one of you that actually reads my posts), combine both classes into one post, and include some of the most interesting comments that came out of those two classes followed by the names of the wines we tasted*.

- Of Spain's "solera system", the method of aging wine through fractional blending of various vintages making it impossible to determine how old the final wine is: "It's like the ketchup bottle at a restaurant, constantly topped off so you never really know what you're getting."
- Of the 2007 Albarino: "This is a great slosh it back before dinner wine."
- Of the 2007 Condrieu: "This wine smells like a grandmother's perfume."
- Of the 2000 Imperial Rioja Reserva: "It tastes like decomposing organic matter."
- Of the 2004 Priorat: "It smells like dark red."
- Of drinking in the United States during Prohibition: "If you knew a priest and had a little cash, you could find some bad wine."
- Of the 2007 Viognier: "This wine will make you hungry for dinner."
- Of the 2006 Chardonnay: "It tastes like movie popcorn with fake 'golden topping'." "This would be nice with a tender beer-can chicken for Sunday brunch."
- Of the 2005 'Le Mistral': "It tastes like alcohol."
- Of the 2005 Zinfandel: "It smells just like IHOP's boysenberry syrup."
- Of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon: "This smells black." "Cabernet sauvignon in all it's strength and glory."

*Wines in the fifth class included:
1. Jerez, Manzanilla, 'La Gitana', Bodegas Hidalgo ($20.00);
2. Rias Baixas, Albarino, Pazo Senoras 2007 ($25.00);
3. Condrieu, E. Guigal 2007 ($50.00);
4. Rioja, Vina Tondonia Blanco Reserva, R. Lopez de Heredia 1990 ($40.00) ;
5. Rioja Reserva, 'Imperial' CUNE 2000 ($50.00);
6. Ribera del Duero, Montecastro y Llanahermosa 2005 ($50.00);
7. Priorat, Finca La Planeta, Pasanau 2004 ($50.00);
8. Crozes Hermitage, 'Domaine de Thalabert', P. Jaboulet 2005 ($35.00);
9. Barossa Valley, Shiraz, 'Entity', J. Duval Wines 2006 ($35.00); and
10. Jerez, Matusalem Oloroso Dulce Muy Viejo, G. Byass (375 ml bottle- $33.00).

*Wines in the sixth (and final) class included:
1. Napa, Brut, Blanc de Noirs, Schramsberg 2005 ($40.00);
2. Mt. Harlan (San Benito), Viognier, Calera 2007 ($35.00);
3. Chalk Hill (Russian River), Sauvignon Blanc, Chalk Hill Winery 2006 ($30.00);
4. Columbia Valley, Riesling, 'Eroica', Dr. Loosen, Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 ($23.00);
5. Napa, Chardonnay, Grgich Hills Estate 2006 ($43.00);
6. Oregon, Pinot Noir, 'Signature Label', King Estate 2006 ($33.00);
7. Carneros (Napa), Pinot Noir, Acacia 2006 ($27.00);
8. Monterey County, 'Le Mistral', Joseph Phelps 2005 ($45.00);
9. Napa, Zinfandel, Chateau Montelena 2005 ($30.00);
10. Oakville (Napa), Merlot, Swanson 2005 ($40.00); and
11. Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon, 'Georges de Latour Private Reserve', Beaulieu Vineyard 2005 ($80.00).