Tasting - Atlas Cumbres Cabernet Sauvignon

Name:  Atlas Cumbres
Variety:  Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:  Mendoza
Country:  Argentina
Year:  2010
Price:  $6.95

Winery Review:  Intense red color with violet highlights,
with clean, fresh and complex aromas
of berries, plums, figs and pepper.
Strong personality is in perfect balance
with a medium body and pleasant
tannins. Ideal for: red meats, cheeses
and strong sauces.

 My Review:  In the wine glass this wine was a red/brown color.  It had a very strong smell of oak.  On the palate this wine was very dry and acidic with a medium mouth-feel.  This wine had flavors of oak and leather.  A good Cabernet to eat with red meat.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name:  Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Gamay
Country:  France
Year:  2013
Price:  $3.95

Winery Review:  Balanced and lightly creamy, offering
pretty flavors of plum sauce and
raspberry coulis threaded with hints of
ground spice. Elegant, with a floral
finish. Drink now.

My Review:  In the wine glass this wine is a lighter red color.  It smells like flowers and raspberries.  On the palate it was dry but light on the mouth-feel.  It tasted of cherries and was creamy in texture.  This was a decent red wine that is extremely cheap.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Bricco dei Tati Rose

Name:  Bricco dei Tati Rose
Variety:  100% Barbera
Region:  Piedmont
Country:  Italy
Year:  2012
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review:  Fresh with aromas of strawberries,
cherries and rose petals. This is ideal
with shellfish, salads, chicken, and with
appetizers.

My Review:  In the wine glass this Rose is a bright pink color. This wine smells of fresh strawberries and flowers.  On the palate this wine is very light, sweet, and mouth-watering.  This Rose was more of a one dimensional wine because I was only getting strawberries in the flavor.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Frascati Volpetti

Name:  Frascati Volpetti
Variety:  50% Malvasia, 40% Trebbiano, 10% Greco
Region:  Frascati
Country:  Italy
Year:  2012
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review:  Straw yellow in color with a soft,
delicate perfume, fruitful flavor, dry
and harmonious taste. Perfect with
appetizers, soups, fish.

My Review:  In the wine glass this wine is a light yellow color.  It smells of citrus and lemons and was light and acidic on the palate.  This wine tastes like honey and lemon and would be a great choice for a summer wine.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - Toso Moscato

Name:  Toso Moscato
Variety:  Moscato
Region:  Piedmont
Country:  Italy
Year:  2008
Price:  $9.95

Winery Review:  This Moscato is reminiscent of honeysuckle and rose petal. The quality is equivalent to a top level Asti Spumante DOCG.
Sweet sparkling wine obtained from a careful selection of the Moscato grapes. It has a pale straw yellow color with fine foam and bubbles. Tropical fruit flavors, refreshing.
Excellent to match desserts, fruit and dried pastries
My Review:  In the wine glass, this wine is a sparkling yellow in color.  It smells of sweet white grapes and flowers.  This Moscato was very nice.  It was sweet but not too sweet and very light on the palate.  It tasted of raspberries and white grapes.  This would be a great appetizer or dessert wine.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - James Goddard Shiraz

Name:  James Goddard Shiraz
Variety:  Shiraz
Region:  Barossa Valley
Country:  Australia
Year:  2011
Price:  $18

Winery Review:  Ripe and rich, this is dense with flavor but transparent in texture. A Shiraz of power and elegance as it plays out its cherry, black tea and spice flavors. Approachable now, but this has miles to go as it develops. Drink now through 2020.

My Review:  In the wine glass, this wine is a deep violet with a brown tint.  On the nose it smells of wood and plums.  This is a drier wine but it isn't too dry and it has a medium mouth-feel.  This Shiraz tastes of chocolate and plums. This was a good Shiraz.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting - El Sierro

Name:  El Sierro
Variety:  Cabernet - Tempranillo
Region:  Valencia
Country:  Spain
Year:  2011
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review:  Dark ruby in color with rich aromas of red fruit and light spices. It is a real knock-out with delicious flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and vanilla all perfectly integrated. The Tempranillo provides wonderful spice and fruit, while the Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and depth with the beautiful use of oak.

My Review:  In the wine glass, this wine is a violet color.  The wine smells like oak and vanilla.  This wine was dry with and medium mouth-feel and acidic finish.  This wine had prominent flavors of oak and blackberry.  This was a decent blended wine.

I did not drink this wine with food.