This Week's Tastings

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

Winery 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: After a few sniffs it just smells like your typical white wine, with some light and sweet aromas jumping out. It is slightly sweet to the taste with a slight alcohol kick at the end. It is a 12% alcohol and I can tell. Not terrible but definitely noticeable.

Name: Tres Ojos Rose
Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $1.95

Winery 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: very very sweet smelling with lots of strawberry and red fruit aromas jumping out at me. I wasn't expecting much for how cheap the bottle was but damn! This was pretty decent tasting for only $1.95!Definitely worth the price tag, a subtle sweetness with just a touch of dry. Two dollars for 14.5% alcohol content in a decent tasting wine, I bought 5 bottles.

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

Winery 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: Dark color, smells very "berryful". There is a very subtle start to the taste then ending with an explosion of fruits and spices. One of the better reds I have tasted, definitely one of the top.

Name: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 60% Shiraz 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year: NV
Price: $4.95

Winery 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 a hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.

My Review: very similar scent to the villa pozzi, but smells like it may be a little more on the dry side. Taste is extremely similar to the villa pozzi, but without the spice towards the end, definitely not as good, but still decent.

Name: Morada Sangria
Variety: Sangria
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $4.95

Winery Review: Morada Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% alcohol. It is a very refreshing sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana, or apple.

My Review: Lots and lots of citrus and lemon flavors/scents jumping out at me here, doesn't even smell like a wine. Almost smells like a soda. Taste is extremely sweet and almost too sweet for my liking, yes even me. I love sweet sodas and sweet wines but this Sangria just is not for me.
 

Tastings: This Week

Name: Dibon Cava
Variety: Xarel-lo, Parelllada, and Macabeo
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $9.95

Winery 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: Smells like your standard white/champagne, very fruity. Smells like it should taste a bit on the dry side. Tart to the tongue, with many hints of peach and melon. Seems to be very acidic and not as dry as I had anticipated. Decent to my tastes, what I would expect from a fairly cheap bottle of sparkling.

Name: Norton Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoz
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95

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

My Review: Very peachy scent. Nice subtle sweetness on the nose. Smells slightly similar to a Riesling. A bit on the dry side, not as I was anticipating. Not as sweet as the scent had made me think it should be.

Name: Dom de Mirail
Variety: Cabernet/Merlot Rose
Region: Cotes de Gascogne
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price:  $5.95

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

My Review: Light pink in color but smells very much like a white wine. Sweet to the nose. Taste does not match the scent, is not exactly dry but something different about it. definitely not as sweet as the previous two wines and tastes as though they a bland white wine and a bland red wine and simply mixed them together.

Name: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico
Variety: 65% Corvina Varonese, 25% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
Region: Verona
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Winery 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: Bursting with strawberry flavors and smells absolutely amazing. Extremely dry taste with not as many of the flavors jumping out at me when it hits my tongue. There is a little strawberry, and a little cherry, but the dryness almost overtakes the flavors.

Name: Gabriella Chianti
Variety: Chianti
Region: Italy
Country: Italy
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95

Winery 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 rich and dark in color, almost a purple or brown. Not too many scents jumping out at me with this one. A little hint of spice on the tail end of the sniff. My palate just did not agree with this wine. The spice was pretty overwhelming and gave it a flavor I just could not stand.

Balthasar Ress Riesling

I bought this bottle a little more than a week ago and finally decided to open it tonight. All I can say is WOW! This is by far my favorite wine to this point. I had visited the Vintage Cellar and had them recommend a wine to me based on my tastes, and ended up with this. Originally a 25 dollar bottle on clearance for 12!

This wine literally just blew my mind. I still cannot get over how great it is. Any Riesling lover would absolutely fall in love with this wine. At first sniff I picked up a lot of pineapple notes, then maybe some kiwi and a bit of lemon. Very sweet smelling. The taste is just phenomenal. A subtle fruity flavor at first that almost bursts into a zesty, tangy aftertaste. I will definitely be searching for this bottle again very soon.

This Week's Wine Tastings

Name: Beringer Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: U.S.A.
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery 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: A lot of peach notes with a slight touch of honey. Not as sweet as your typical Riesling and a lot more dry than what I'm used to. Not a bad taste, just not what I was expecting from a Riesling as they are usually one of my favorites.

Name: Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay/Semillion
Variety: Chardonnay/Semillion
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Gotham's 2008 Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillion is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillion. 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: Extremely potent scent. Smells like shit to be honest. Reminds me of the bad odor when you first arrive at the beach. Taste is a bit different than the smell. Lots of tropical flavors jump out at me but yet still nothing incredibly sharp. Almost dull tasting. A little on the dry side but not too terrible overall. Unbalanced as far as comparing scent to flavor. Overwhelming scent, flavor is the exact opposite.

Name: Sokol Blosser Meditrina NV
Variety: Syrah, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: No Vintage
Price: $7.95

Winery 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: Extremely strong cherry scent, but not too overwhelming. The taste was very balanced with the scent, nice cherry flavor without an overwhelming strongness. Not bad at all for a red, which I am usually not too fond of. Lots of flavor here folks.

Name: Black Opal Shiraz
Variety: Syrah
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95

Winery 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: A lot of berry hints, but I can't quite pick one out in particular. Smells like it will be a dry wine. Taste is a little on the dry side but not too bad. Not a lot of flavor bursting out at me but has a decent taste. Also not bad for a red, but not as tasty as the Sokol.

Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato NV
Variety: Moscato
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: No Vintage
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: This fine sparkling presents an 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 its own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts.

My Review: Smells very clean, not crisp. Smells way too clean if you ask me. Almost smells like a home cleaning product, potent. Not as sweet tasting as I was anticipating. A good, clean taste, just not a moscato that I am fond of. It lacks that crisp, acidic taste. Not a fan at all.

Wine Tastings From This Past Week

Name: La Cappuccina Soave
Variety: Soave
Region: Verona
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price:  $7.95

Winery Review: Bright straw yellow inrd 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: Very strong hints of apple scent, crisp to the nose. Lots of fruits jumping out at me. Not as crisp of a taste. Very unbalanced to me. The scent did not match the taste, it was very dry to my palette.

Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95

Winery 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: Very dull scented compared to the Stoave, not a strong scent at all and just very bland and boring. Maybe a very slight scent of banana. Taste seemed to match the smell, dull and boring taste. Really not much there at all.

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $3.95

Winery 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: Very berry like scent. Lots of strawberry and raspberry present. Smell is just amazing. Very acidic taste, lots of tannins present, makes your mouth almost chalky. Sharp flavor.

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

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

My Review: Fairly similar to the Beaujolais Nouveau, much more of a dull scent. Still very berry-like. Can definitely smell the hints of raisin. Tastes very much like it smells, dull taste with not a lot of flavor.

Name: Primo Amore Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Primo Amore expresses the joy of discovery experienced when a wine drinker encounters the sweetness and enticing fragrance of this delicate wine. Moscato, known for its fruit-forward notes of melon and citrus, pairs well with salads, flatbreads, chicken and fish dishes, as well as desserts.

My Review: An extremely sweet and crisp smell. hints of tropical fruits are also very present. Tastes exactly like it smells, bursting with flavor and very sweet to the tongue. By far my favorite wine of the day. A slight hint of carbonation is also present.