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.