Tasting - Morada Sangria

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Name: Morada Sangria
Variety: Red Blend
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $4.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alc. It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple.

My Review:
This wine I was excited for. Sangria to me means sweet and fruity, and this wine didn't let me down. The Morado Sangria has a heavy aroma of lemon and orange. The smell was so citric, it reminded me of one of those car air fresheners. The citrus carried over to the taste, but the sangria also has a strawberry flavor to add. It reminds me of the Acor Strawberry-Filled Candies.

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

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Name: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 60% Shiraz, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: N/A
Country: Argentina
Year: NV
Price: $4.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry, scent. The oak is in the background. Would pair well with hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.

My Review:
This wine smells just like a cherry mead I had before. There really isn't any other way for me to describe it. The taste was made up of a dry, tart, cherry, like a pie cherry right off the tree.

Tasting - Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

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Name: Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola
Variety: Nero D'Avola
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins.

My Review:
As soon as I stuck my nose in the glass with Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola, I finally realized why it is important to have jams in your repertoire of aromas. This wine smells just like a jar of Smucker's, a very thick jam smell. On the pallet this wine offers a nice warming spice. This wine is pretty dry (again in the sweetness term), but not so bad as to need a glass of water afterwards.

Tasting - Tre Ojos Rose

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Name: Tre Ojos Rose
Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $1.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My Review:
This rose is on the darker end of the spectrum of rose wines, and the smell definitely follows suit. Tres Ojos Rose's aromas are heavy on the red and black berry side. The taste, however, is very strong. There is a strong bite that turned me away from this wine quickly.

Tasting - Les Perles Piquepoul

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Name: Les Perles Piquepoul
Variety: Piquepoul
Region: Cotes de Thau
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke. Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.

My Review:
I find this wine to be very fruity smelling. The aroma is full of peach and nectarine. It is very playful on the nose and almost equally playful on the pallet. The Piquepoul has a very light and refreshing pallet. Not very fruity, but quite enjoyable. I almost purchased this one on the spot.

Tasting - Gabriella Chianti

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Name: Gabriella Chianti
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Chianti
Country: Italy
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
This beautiful wine has the very deep red, almost purple, color that you would expect in a Chianti. The first thing you notice is the fruit, balanced by a bit of spice. It’s a good dry wine with a bold flavor. Even with it’s boldness, this Chianti is velvety smooth.

My Review:
Very strong smelling. I didn't think I would like this wine from the smell alone. Once I got into the wine, I found it to taste just as strong (alcoholic). I couldn't really find the fruit flavors at all. But I did get an acidic ashy taste in my mouth. I absolutly did not like this wine.

Tasting - Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

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Name: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico
Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
Region: Valpolicella Classico
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
The red ruby color and the dry taste give this wine joviality and cordiality. It is fresh and fruity, with lovely strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors, with nice spice and a silky texture.

My Review:
This wine has a deep fruity smell. I can definitely pick out the cherry/strawberry aromas. On the tasting side, I can almost get the same red berry flavor as well, with a kick of spice to heat things up at the end. This was the one wine i decided to buy at this wine tasting.

Tasting - Domaine De Mirail Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

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Name: Domaine De Mirail Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Variety: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
Region: Cotes de Gascogne
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
There is a fresh, crisp character to this light rosé. It is eye-watering in its refreshing character, with balancing acidity, smoothing out the edges with a touch of caramel.

My Review:
I didn't find this blush to be anything special. Very normal white wine smells. Fresh and crisp, with floral aromas. The taste was unexpectedly dry (not sweet), and very light on the palate. This wasn't a bad wine, it just didn't stick out to me.

Tasting - Bodega Norton Torrontes

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Name: Bodega Norton Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoz
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Greenish yellow with hints of gold, this Torrontés has intense aromas of white peach, rose petal, and jasmine. Norton Torrontés 2011 is pleasant and well balanced on the palate.

My Review:
This wine smelled like a moscato. Sweet peach aromas. I was quite excited to get in and taste this one. The smell, however, was quite misleading. It was very dry (this time I mean it as "not sweet"). Not much else I can say about it. I didn't like it.

Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

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Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve
Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
Region: Penedes
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $9.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
The nose offers regal yeast and richness, while the palate has complexity to prop up apple, citrus and grapefruit flavors. Solid from front to back, with health and freshness.

My Review:
This was a slightly bubbly wine. The bubbles are introduced through a second fermentation of the wine in the bottle. This must have been what gave the wine aromas of fresh bread along with the fruit of the wine. Even the taste of the wine was a little bread yeasty and a basket of fruit. This wine left my mouth feeling dry.

Tasting - Turning Leaf Vineyards Refresh Moscatos

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Name: Turning Leaf Vineyards Refresh Red Moscato (Left)
Variety: Muscat
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6.99 (Kroger)

Shop Review:
Light bodied wine with notes of red fruits, a slight sweetness and a refreshingly vibrant finish.

My Review:
I have reasently perchased a few higher end wines, that is for a collage student, and needed to find some cheaper wines that I knew I would have a great chance of likeing. Moscato! I found these two wines for 7 dollars at Kroger and had to try them. The white moscato was very refreshing, crisp, and sweet. Just as a moscato should. This wine had aromatic floral notes and a deliciouse citrus taste.

Name: Turning Leaf Vineyards Refresh Moscato (Right)
Variety: Muscat
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6.99 (Kroger)

Shop Review:
Light bodied wine with notes of red fruits, a slight sweetness and a refreshingly vibrant finish.

My Review:
I bought the red Moscato at the same time. I had never seen a red Moscato and had to try it. Like the white Moscato, this wine has the same floral notes and crisp fresh taste. However, it goes a bit deeper with a layers of fresh red fruits you only find in a red wine. I found this wine to be the best of both worlds.

Tasting - Toasted Head Chardonnay

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Name: Toasted Head Chardonnay
Variety: 96% Chardonnay, 4% Viognier
Region: Dunnigan Hills AVA, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $13.29 (Kroger)

Winemakers Notes:
This brilliant, golden-straw-colored Chardonnay has distinctive oak flavors paired with robust fruit reminiscent of white peach and Asian pear. It's a rich, crisp wine with great acidity to be easily paired with foods. Barrel fermentation and aging is obvious in the wine, with nice weight and roundness and a nicely developed toasty finish. Pairs well with poultry, seafood in lemon butter sauce, or rich creamy pastas. See the Tasting Notes PDF for more info about the 2011 vintage.

My Review:
I bought this wine with recommendation from my mother yesterday. Today, my girlfriend and I were going threw the freezer and found a 1 pound bag of shrimp and decided to pick up a bottle of white wine to make Shrimp Scampi. After a nice swirl and sniff I didn't find a whole lot special about the wine. I only got a "toasted-alcohol" smell. Even on the tongue I got a bit of alcohol flavor, but it was very smooth. It wasn't as fruity as other wines, but I could taste a hint of a few tropical fruits. I'm still not sure what part of the flavor is toasted oak, but I've been told chewing on a piece of oak might help me find it. I can't really say why, but I do really like this wine. Thanks mom.

Tasting - Opera Prima Pink Moscato

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Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato
Variety: 97% Moscato, 3% Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $5.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
This fine sparkling presents and intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flavor petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on it own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts.

My Review:
This will be the second wine I have had from Opera Prima. The first was a red sweet wine. I blogged about it here. I have also tasted a few Moscato wines as well. I have found myself really enjoying the sweet wines. So I was really excited to taste this wine. This wine smelled like a flower garden mixed with orchard trees and fresh fruit. It tasted almost the same as it smelled. It wasn't as sweet as the other Moscatos but I liked it. A little bubbly, and refreshing.

Tasting - Black Opal Shiraz

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Name: Black Opal Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
The Black Opal wines are sourced from vineyards found in South Australia along the Limestone Coast, at Langhorne Creek and in the infamous Barossa Valley. Black Opal Shiraz is rich red in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, pepper and spice followed with rich plum flavors round out the palate. Soft tannins give structure to the fruit-driven palate.

My Review:
The Black Opal Shiraz was very fruity. I could pick up the smells of blackberry and plum. The description mentioned spice, but I couldn't find it in the smell. However, I did get a hint of spice in the taste. I liked this wine, but there was to much alcohol on the tongue for me.

Tasting - Sokol Blosser Meditrina

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Name: Sokol Blosser Meditrina
Variety: 28% Pinot Noir, 50% Syrah, 22% Zinfandel
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $7.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
It’s created from the finest Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The taste is lush and velvety with expressive notes of raspberry and cherry. It pairs nicely with pasta and anything off the grill.

My Review:
I did not like this wine. It smelt like a fruity vinegar. It tasted strong of alcohol and felt like I was drinking a glass of vinegar. It was very bitter and left my mouth feeling very dry.

Tasting - Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay/Semillon

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Name: Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay/Semillon
Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
Region: Southern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Gotham’s 2008 Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish.

My Review:
This wine had a very light fruity taste, but it wasn't strong on the nose. It didn't stand out as much as other wines, so I wasn't sure what to think about of the taste. The taste on the other hand was very strong. It was very dry in the mouth, quite acidic, and it lingered quite long. The after taste was bitter, but left a little fruit flavor on the pallet. It wasn't a bad wine, but I didn't really like it.

Tasting - Beringer Riesling

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Name: Beringer Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
This wine is the perfect balance of honeysuckle and bright peach flavors. A perfect compliment to light fare, appetizers, or just sharing with friends.

My Review:
I found this wine to have a sweet pineapple smell. It tasted fruity as well, but with a bitter bite. The aftertaste lingered bitter on my tongue. The fruit smell made me really like this wine, but I don't think I would buy this for myself.

Tasting - Primo Amore Moscato

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Name: Primo Amore Moscato
Variety: Muscat
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Year: Non Vintage
Price: $10.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
This refreshing and fruit Moscato wine comes from the warm Southern vineyards of Puglia. Primo Amore, or first love expreses the joy of discovery experienced when a wine drinker first encounters the sweetness amd enticing fragrance of the delicate wine. ~Winery

My Review:
This wine was an extra wine during my second wine tasting at the Vintage Cellar. They were running out of the Bartenura Moscato, so they were using this Mascato for those that came in late. This wine was almost equally as sweet and fruity as the Bartenura, just a little stronger, but still almost like drinking a glass of bubbly grape juice. I did buy one of these. The next day, I found out they were out of the Primo Amore before the tasting was over and had to open another Moscato for the wine tasting. (People love sweet wines)

Tasting - Bartenura Moscato

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Name: Bartenura Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
The inviting apricot preserves, honey, butter, and roasted almond aromas of this semi-sparkler pull you right in. It's on the sweet side, with stone-fruit flavors kept alive by decent acidity. The palate bubbles and tingles and maintains its balance. Fine as an aperitif or with dessert.

My Review:
When we got to the wine tasting, there was only one bottle of this wine left, the one they were poring for the tasting. I wasn't really paying attention to this being mentioned until after I had tasted it. It smelled like a fruit cocktail. One of the store bought cans of mixed fruit where all the flavors are mixed into one fruity flavor. When I tasted it, I knew why they had no more bottles in the store. This wine is super sweet and fruity. I really wanted to buy one of these on the spot.

Tasting - Finca del Castillo Tempranillo

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Name: Finca del Castillo Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $4.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Rooty, spicy and baked on the nose, with aromas that lean towards raisin. The palate is more gritty and acidic, with raisin, cola, and spice flavors. Darkens up on the finish, which is long and peppery, with adequate juiciness and a final note of tomato.

My Review:
This wine had a nice spiced raisin smell, just as the shop review had mentioned. Even more exiting about this wine, was that it tasted like the review had mentioned as well. Someone had questioned whether or not there was a tomato taste in it, and coming from a family that grew up on vegetables, I could totally get a hint of tomato. A fresh slice of tomato sprinkled with salt and pepper. If it wasn't such a strong wine I would probably reach for this one again.

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

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Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Gamay
Region: Beaujolais Nouveau
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $3.9 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Bright and tangy, offering a classic banana note on the nose, with flavors of raspberry, wild strawberry and light spice. Modest finish.

My Review:
Before reading the shop review, one of my friends said something about bananas. I took a sniff and definitely got strawberry bananas. It wasn't a bad smell, but it didn't cover up the alcohol smell as well as some wines I have tasted lately. The taste did not go hand in had with the smell. It was not a "raspberry, and wild strawberry" flavor. I got something of a spice; more of an alcohol burn spice than anything else. This wine was very dry and very bitter.

Tasting - Mars and Venus Chardonnay

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Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple. Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.

My Review:
The Chardonnay had a very fruity smell. I definitely got the fresh crisp apple smell. I was kind of excited to taste it. After a small taste I quickly changed my opinion on this wine. It was very strong, and quite bitter. It was nothing like the shop review said. It was very acidic and dry. This was probably my least favorite of the five wines.

Tasting - La Cappuccina Soave

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Name: La Cappuccina Soave
Variety: Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Shop Review:
Bright straw yellow in color. Delicate on the nose, with notes of flowers and almonds. Dry, well-structured and delicately fruity, with hints of bitter almonds on the finish that is typical of Garganega-based wines.

My Review:
This wine tastes more like a traditional wine. Something like I would think all wines tasted like back in my ignorant days. But I did find it much smoother than most wines I had back then. The smell doesn't bring much of anything to mind. My first taste I found almost tasteless. My girlfriend decided to buy a bottle and I tasted it a second time. Again, I almost found it to be a smell-less tasteless wine. A hint of flowery smell and a slight grape flavor. This wine is easy to drink, very wet and smooth at first and quickly changes to a dry wine at the end.