Tasting- "Sonnenband Moscato"

Sonnenband
Moscato
Spain
Non-Vintage
Regular Price: $20 Sale Price: $9.95


Winery Review: This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars.


My Review: This wine was extremely floral and had strong perfume notes along with citrus on the nose. It did not smell very sweet but when I tasted it, it definitely had the extreme sweetness of a typical Moscato. It had the same flavors as present on the nose plus a very pronounced tropical fruit flavor and sweetness. This wine was definitely too sweet for my taste.


This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting- "Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon"

Neu Direction
Cabernet Sauvignon
Mendoza, Argentina
Regular Price: $15 Sale Price: $7.95
2010

Winery Review: "This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure."

My Review: This winemaker absolutely knew what he/she was doing when making this wine. This was an extremely jammy and complex wine. It is full of dark fruit, particularly blackberry, plum, and black currant, and chocolate. It did have a chewy texture and an extremely well balanced finish. This is one of my favorite wines I have tasted in a while. I bought one bottle but I wish I had bought more because I shared with friends who could not get enough of this wine! 

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting- "Champteloup Pinot Noir"

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Champteloup
Pinot Noir
Loire Valley, France
2011
Regular Price: $15 Sale Price: $7.95

Winery review: "In the heart of France’s Loire River Valley lies the Touraine wine region. 
Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine’s appeal. This wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we’ve offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his winemaking, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate"

My Review: Although the winemaker did not employ any wood while crafting this wine, I picked up a smokey oak flavor. The smell of cherry and strawberry were obvious along with other bright fruits. Like the winery review states, it had a soft and smooth palate. 

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting- "Baumann Gentil Classiq"

Baumann
Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris
Regular Price: $17 Sale Price: $9.95
Alsace, France
2012

Shop Review: "A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully."

My Review: This was a crisp and extremely well balanced wine containing my favorite white grapes--Gewurztraminer and Riesling. It was extremely floral with hints of citrus and light fruit. It had the same flavors plus a hint of stone on the tongue. 

This wine was tasted without food. 

Tasting- "Fattori Runcaris Soave"

Fattori
Runcaris Soave (Garganega)
Soave, Italy
2010
Regular Price $15; Sale Price $7.95

Wine Enthusiast Review: 86 Points "From the local Italian word for 'to work the soil,' Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine and dried herbs."

My Review: This was a very floral wine with hints of honey, citrus, and herbs. It had the same notes on the tongue. This was a solid light wine but it did leave me wanting more complex flavors to be expressed.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting- "The Royal Chenin Blanc"

The Royal
100% Chenin Blanc
2012
$7.95
Western Cape, South Africa

Robert Parker review- "One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months." 90 Points

My review: This wine was very floral with lots of light fruits. I smelled citrus, pears, and apricot. It was a medium bodied dry and fruity wine with a floral and citrus finish. I enjoyed this wine very much and would definitely like to try it on a hot day. 

This wine was tasted without food. 

Tasting- "Charles Thomas- Cotes du Rhone"

50% syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
2011
Rhone, France
$9.95

Winery Notes: "Clear ruby wine with overtones of red berry fruits. Round and supple with smooth finish. A good all around red for meat courses, poultry, and light cheese. Best drunk now while fresh with good keeping up to 4 years."

My review: I smelled lots of red fruit including black currant, raspberry, and cherry. It also had an earthy leathery smell and a strange burnt popcorn smell. It had a smooth finish. All in all this was a good wine but the burnt popcorn smell really was an interesting smell I have never come across before in wine.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting- "Codorniu Pinot Noir"

Codorniu
Pinot Noir
2013
$13.95
Cava, Catalonia, Spain

Tasting notes: "The exclusive presence of this variety epitomises the concept of producing a cava that combines an elegant and distinguished air with freshness and vigour. A cava that can be regarded as different, unique and authentic. A new cava, brimming with personality and an incomparable flavour that will be appreciated by discerning palates.

Critical Acclaim- "The Non-Vintage Codorniu Pinot Noir comes entirely from a single vintage. Cherry blossom and strawberry aromas lead to a spicy, savory dry sparkling wine that will pair nicely with jamon." 88 Points The Wine Advocate

My review: This was a very floral wine with notes of cherry, apple, strawberry, and blueberry. It had a very crisp and dry finish. This sparking wine was one of the more interesting Roses I have tried. I did enjoy this wine. 

This wine was tasted without food. 

Tasting: "Borsao Garnacha"

Borsao 

Grenache

Campo de Borja, Spain

2012

$7.95

Winery Review: "Harvested from the vineyards that lay under the watchful eye of the region's highest mountain, Moncayo, Borsao is a carefully crafted wine from the birthplace of Garnacha, Aragon. Vinified to highlight the grape's rich color and deepest flavor Borsao can be enjoyed on its own or with a broad range of foods."

My review: I would absolutely buy this wine again. This was a very dark wine you definitely could not see through. It was an extremely complex wine, particularly considering the price, with cherry, raspberry, violet, other dark fruit, and various spices on the nose. On the mid-palate it had all the flavors of the nose with a hint of earthiness and vegetation. It was a bit acidic but I only ran it through an aerator so I likely should have let this breathe a little longer. This very full bodied and complex wine is the exact wine I am looking for at my price point.  

This wine was tasted without food 

Tasting- "Ilauri Extra Dry Prosecco"

Ilauri
Glera (Prosecco)
Prosecco, Veneto, Italy
2013
$13.95

PSP Imports review: "Zesty and stylish, Ilauri Prosecco is the quintessential sparkling aperitif. Enjoyed with a wide range of different dishes, it best pairs with lightly grilled vegetables, smoked salmon or Asian delights such as spring rolls, steamed dumplings and chow mein.
Straw-lemon with a fine perlage, fresh, fragrant aromas of ripe fruit with hints of apple, pear and peach. The palate tastes fresh and fruity with a pleasant vein of acidity and a lively finish.
100% Glera"

My review: I thought this was a rather mediocre wine. I smelled some green apple, pear, peach, apricot and some lemon but I felt like none of the layers were really layered well to create any sort of complexity. On the tongue I only tasted the peach and apricot. I did feel it had a crisp and refreshing finish but other than that I remained unimpressed.

I tasted this wine with a champagne cheddar cheese. I thought the cheese complimented the wine and had a nice tang when combined with the bubbles of the wine. It also brought out a tartness in the wine (in a good way) that actually gave this wine a little personality. I would pair this cheese with other sparkling white wines in the future.

Tasting; "Celeste-Crianza

 
Celeste-Crianza
(Tempranillo) "Tinto Fino"
Ribera del Duero, Spain
2010
Gifted (retails for approximately $18.75-$24)

Winery review: "Intense blackberry colour. Spicy and intense nose, with liquorice and black pepper hints on a base of well ripened fruits (blackberry and cherry). On the palate, very fruity at first with ripened tannins, also persistent and full bodied."

My review: "I absolutely loved this wine.It was a very big red with lots of spice and obvious licorice and dark fruit notes, particularly blackberry and cherry. This was a complex, full bodied wine, with a very intense and deep ruby color and strong finish. I first tried it while preparing the meat alone, then later paired it with with my meal once I was finished cooking. It was a bit tannic so I ought to have let it breathe longer before I drank it but by the end of the meal, the flavors really opened up and some of the overwhelming tannic sensation had settled down. 

This wine was paired with beef tenderloin and Bearnaise sauce, asparagus, and french fries. The pepper on the steak and asparagus highlighted the spiciness of the wine. The blackberry complimented the steak very well.

Tasting- "Jacob's Creek-Pinot Grigio"

Jacob's Creek
Pinot Grigio
South Eastern Australia, Australia 
2012
$6.99

Winemaker's notes: "Colour: Light straw yellow. Bouquet: Fresh cut pear and red apple with hints of lemon sherbet. Palate: Classic apple and pear flavours are carried across the palate by the lively acidity of this wine. The wine finishes with lingering fresh lemon citrus flavours."


My review: I was surprised by how much I liked this wine because I just picked up the cheapest Pinot Grigio I could find to cook into a scallop and mushroom risotto. The apple, citrus, and pear were strong on the nose which helped balance out the acidity. It complimented the risotto very well and I ended up cooking a Bearnaise sauce to accompany a delicious beef tenderloin steak with this wine as well. This may become my new go-to cooking wine and it surprisingly pleasant to sip on at the price point as well. 

This wine was originally tasted without food but was later paired with the risotto. The wine and risotto complimented each other very well. The risotto brought out the citrus flavor and helped tone down the acidity. 

Tasting- "Primal Roots White Blend"

Primal Roots-White Blend
50% Viognier, 20% French Colombard, 15% Reisling, and 15% Gewurztraminer
Acampo, CA, United States
2011
$10.99

Label review: "Sensual and beautiful wines rooted in the art of winemaking. This intriguing fusion of wine begins with Viognier, French Colombard, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, which is artfully blended to create a mouthwatering, sensual wine. The sweet floral aroma of honeysuckle leads to crisp and refreshing flavors of peach, apricot and lychee that are truly captivating."

My review: This wine was somewhat sweet and very floral, a little sweet for my taste. The honeysuckle, apricot, and peach hit me immediately. Once I reread the description, I then tasted the lychee.  It was a medium bodied white and I would agree this wine was very crisp and refreshing--it would have been perfect for a summer evening.

This wine was tasted without food. 

Tasting- "Bella Sera Chianti"

Bella Sera Chianti
100% Sangiovese grape
Chianti, Italy
2012
$8.54

Winery review: "Made with 100% Sangiovese grapes from Italy's famed Chianti region, this wine has inviting flavors of fresh red cherry and spice. Pair with pork pizza or spicy tomato sauce."

My review: This wine had a very deep red color. On the nose, the cherry and pepper/spices were very apparent. I also smelled some black currant and other dark fruit along with a licorice smell. It was a very full bodied wine with a strong acidic finish. I probably should have let this wine decant before drinking it.

This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting-"Wein Keller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg"

Wein Keller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg
Sylvaner
Rheinhessen, Germany
2010
$18 (on sale for $4.95) for 1 Liter

Store review: “The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen. It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile. The finish is zippy and refreshing. Perfect for party on the deck as it comes in a liter bottle!”

My review: On the nose the first thing that hit me was extreme sweetness. I definitely picked up the lemon/light fruits and floral notes but I honestly have no idea where the reviewer picked up green tea from. I was pleasantly surprised, despite my first sniff, to find this wine was not sweet at all on the tongue and on my second sip I actually found it to be semi-dry. I prefer dryer wines so this is a dessert wine that is definitely more my style than many others I've tried. I had very low expectations for this wine from my first sniff but am very glad I gave it a fair try. It was so cheap at the sale price I ended up buying two.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting-"Montebuena Rioja"

Montebuena
Tempranillo
Rioja,Spain
2010
$8.95

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar review from September 2012:"(100% Tempranillo, raised entirely in American oak): Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja." 90 pts

My review: I very much liked this wine. It had obvious notes of blackcurrant which is one of my favorite flavors in a red. It had good body and more complex flavors than the "Delaroche Cotes du Rhone" I tried just before. It was a bit on the acidic side at the tasting but I definitely enjoyed it anyway. This wine was so well priced I just had to pick up a bottle to drink at home enjoy with a deserving steak. I would definitely agree it needed some extra time to breathe before drinking but it's still enjoyable no matter when you take your first sniff and sip. 

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting- "Delaroche Cotes du Rhone"

Delaroche
50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
Rhone Valley, France
2011
$8.95

I-WineReview review from December 2013: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" 90 pts

My review: This was not a bad wine by any means but it was not my favorite. I was so excited to taste it based on the review but it left me wanting more complex flavors and body. I picked up black currant and other dark fruits on the nose but I felt it was a fairly hollow wine. I will acknowledge that the finish was very well balanced which may explain the high rating. I would recommend this wine to friends that enjoy reds but do not enjoy a hot finish, something I do not mind myself.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting- "Maipe Torrontes"

Maipe Chakana Wines
Torrontes
Mendoza, Argentina
2013
$7.95

Shop review: Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body.  Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well.

My review: The peaches, pears and green apple hit me immediately on first sniff. On the second sniff, I got a hint of citrus and could tell there were some other light fruits but I couldn't pick out anything specific. This was a well balanced wine with good body and I didn't mind the acidity. This wine furthered my scampi craving.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting-"Cortenova Pinot Grigio"

Cortenova
Pinot Grigio
2012
Venezie, Italy
2012
$7.95

Shop review: Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections.
Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif.

My review: On the nose I definitely got pears and apricots with other lighter fruits. I was looking for the banana since it was specifically mentioned in the shop review but I was unable to pick it up. This wine had a crisper and cleaner finish than many other Pinot Grigios I've tried. Pinot Grigio, admittedly, is not my favorite wine variety but I could see myself pairing this particular bottle with seafood in the future. All I wanted to do after the tasting was to bring a bottle home and eat some shrimp scampi!

This wine was tasted without food.