Tasting - Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

Name:  Sonnenband Moscato Magnum
Variety:  Muscat
Country:  Spain
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:  In the glass this wine had a yellow color.  The aroma was very sweet and had a floral smell.  This moscato was very sweet and light on the palate and tasted of nectar.  For someone who likes very sweet wines, this would be a great choice.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Neu Direction

Name:  Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:  Mendoza
Country:  Argentina
Year:  2010
Price:  $7.95

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:  In the wine glass this wine had a dark red color.  There were some pepper and oak aromas that come from the wine.  On the palate this wine was dry.  It had some dark berry flavors.  The finish was a little heavy and left an acidic aftertaste.  I think I would have enjoyed this wine more if I had drank it with food.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Champteloup Pinot Noir

Name:  Champteloup Pinot Noir
Variety:  100% Pinot Noir
Region:  Loire
Country:  France
Year:  2011
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:  In the wine glass this wine was a darker red with a tint of purple.  This Pinot Noir had a distinct strawberry smell to it.  On the palate this was a very smooth wine.  Strawberry flavors emerged that were in tune with the smells.  The finish was very smooth as well.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Baumann Gentil Classiq

Name:  Baumann Gentil Classiq
Variety:  Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris
Region:  Alsace
Country:  France
Year:  2012
Price:  $9.95

Winery 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:  The color of this wine was clear to light yellow.  This wine gave off a definite mineral aroma.  On the palate this was a pretty lightweight, semi-dry wine.  This Baumann had a citrusy grape flavor to it.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Fattori Runcaris Soave

Name:  Fattori Runcaris Soave
Variety:  100% Garganega
Region:  Soave
Country:  Italy
Year:  2010
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review:  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 wine had a very light, almost clear color in the glass.  The aroma was one of citrus and honey.  On the palate the wine was very light and crisp.  The Fattori tasted like it smelled, which was honey and white grapes.  The finish was very smooth.  This wine would seem to pair well with appetizers.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Shotfire Cabernet/Shiraz

Name:  Shotfire Cabernet/Shiraz
Variety:  56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Shiraz
Region:  South Australia
Country:  Australia
Year:  2012
Price:  $17.95

Winery Review:  91 Points - Robert Parker
 Another winner and sensational, the 2010 Shotfire Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Shiraz. A whopper of a wine, it is deep ruby/purple and possesses loads of glycerin and full body along with stunning notes of wood spice, graphite, blackberry and pepper. Rich, chewy, and dense, in a typically bold, exuberant Aussie style, this is a wine to drink over the next 6-10 years.

My Review:  The color of this wine was a dark red.  It had a woody, mineral smell.  On the palate this wine was heavier and left the mouth dry.  The wine had mostly woody and pepper flavors.  The wine had a more acidic hot finish.  Even though this wine was highly rated, it was a little too dry for my tastes.  

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Odoardi Savuto

Name:  Odoardi Savuto
Variety:  45% Gaglioppo, 15% Greco Nero, 15% Nerello Cappuccio, 15% Magliocco Canino and 10% Sangiovese
Region:  Calabria
Country:  Italy
Year:  2006
Price:  $18 --> $9.95

Winery Review:  89 - Wine Spectator
A beefy, herb-tinged red, sporting dense layers of plum sauce, grilled fig and current paste, stacked with notes of roasted game, rosemary and hummus.  The finish lingers, despite noticeable tannins.  Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello, Cappuccio, Magliocco Canino and Sangiovese.  Drink now through 2016. 14,000 cases made.

My Review:  The color of this wine was dark, almost black.  The aroma had a distinct smell of woods, mostly oak.  On the palate this wine was very heavy and dry.  It had oaky, acidic flavors with a hot finish.  I was not a fan of this wine at all.  Although I believe eating this wine with a sweeter dish would help the flavors.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling

Name:  Willm Alsace Grand Cru Riesling
Variety:  100% Riesling
Region:  Alsace
Country:  France
Year:  2011
Price:  $20.95

Winery Review:  92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
With great intensity and structure, this is a wine that's all about texture and potential.  It's expressive with white fruits and perfume, but there's a richness that's still to come.  Drink from 2016 and see how the minerality and acidity will come into balance.

My Review:  The color of this Riesling was a light gold.  The aroma was very floral and sweet.  On the palate this wine had medium texture but with an extremely smooth finish.  Even though the smell was distinctly sweet, the wine only tasted semi-sweet.  The wine tasted of grapes and apples, but with a finish of minerals.  Overall, I was a huge fan of this wine.  This is a wine where one could drink many glasses.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Jesus Diaz Vinos de Madrid

Name:  Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid
Variety:  Malvar
Region:  Madrid
Country:  Spain
Year:  2010
Price:  $8.95

Winery Review:  Vinos de Madrid is a region of Spain not often encountered in the US, while Malvar is considered a regional specialty but remains unknown outside of central Spain.  Zesty acidity and tropical fruit make this obscure buy a great food wine.

My Review:  The color of this wine was light yellow in the glass. It had some very fruity aromas of grapes and melon. On the palate it had a medium body, with a dryer mouth-feel.    The taste was similar to the aroma which was one of a dry melon.  Overall, I did not find this wine to be particularly memorable.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Name:  Dibon Cava Brut Reserva
Variety:  45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
Region:  Penedes
Country:  Spain
Price:  $9.95

Winery Review:  Light apple aromas are elegant and not over the top, while the tangerine and orange flavors are lean and focused.  This is a light-framed Cava with a clean, fast, tasty profile and finish.  Not yeasty or heavy at all.

My Review:  This wine was almost clear in color.  The aroma smelled of crisp apples with a floral bouquet.  On the palate this was a light, sweet wine with carbonation.  It had very zesty orange flavors.  This Cava was very simplistic and was reminiscent of Champagne.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato

Name:  Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato
Variety:  Moscato
Region:  South
Country:  Australia
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review:  This is a tasty and generous Moscato  that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There’s a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling dessert wine.

My Review:  This wine has a yellow-green color in a wine glass.  Its smells distinctly of sweet white grapes.  On the palate this wine is very thin and sweet.  There are notes of fig and honey in the wine.  It tastes like a white grape juice and the alcohol is hardly noticeable.  This is not my favorite because it is an incredibly sweet wine.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Fetzer Malbec

Name:  Fetzer Malbec
Variety:  100% Malbec
Region:  Mendoza
Country:  Argentina
Year:  2011
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review:  Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it’s juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.

My Review:  In a wine glass this wine is a deep red.  The aroma is very sweet with an overwhelming scent of cherries.  On the palate this had a smooth, medium mouth-feel.  This Malbec had an initial taste of cherries, but finished off with an oak flavor.  I really enjoyed the smoothness and complexity of this wine.

I did not eat food with this wine.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name:  Tres Ojos Garnacha
Variety:  100% Grenache
Region:  Calatayud
Country:  Spain
Year:  2011
Price:  $6.95

Winery Review: 100% Grenache.  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!"

My Review:  In the wine glass this grenache has a very deep color, almost a purple.  This wine has a heavy, dry mouth-feel and it brings some heat.  Upon first sip, the fruity flavors of blackberry emerge.  The finish leaves the mouth feeling very dry.  This is a more dynamic wine, for a cheap price.  The alcohol hit me harder than I would have liked.

I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Name:  The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc
Variety:  100% Chenin Blanc
Region:  Western Cape
Country:  South Africa
Year:  2012
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review: 90 Points – Robert Parker

"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." 

My Review:  In the wine glass the color appeared to be a light yellow.  This Chenin Blanc has a nice floral aroma.  It has a medium mouth-feel, but is very drinkable.  It has some fruity flavors with pears being the most noticeable.  Overall, this was a very crisp and pleasant wine and I liked it enough to buy a bottle.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Name:  Norton Sauvignon Blanc
Variety:  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region:  Mendoza
Country:  Argentina
Year: 2012
Price:  $5.95

Winery Review:  Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio.

My Review:  In the glass this wine was very light, almost clear in color.  It has a very sweet lemon aroma.  On the palate there was a slightly acidic taste and was semi-dry.  There was a very thin mouth-feel.  Overall, this wine was good and had a nice zesty flavor that correlated with the lemon smell.  This wine would be very easy to drink on a warm day.

I did not taste this wine with food.