Date of Tasting: February 21, 2013
Name: Morada Sangria
Variety: Sangria
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $4.95
Shop 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% Alc. 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: On
the nose, I could detect a very citrus quality which smelt like oranges. On the palate, it was very sweet. I could taste fruity notes. This wine was pretty good!
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 21, 2013
Name:Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 60% Shiraz 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: Argentina
Year: NV
Price: $3.95
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 hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.
My Review: When tasting this wine, I could detect a smoky quality to it. It tasted a bit earthy to me. I did not really care for this wine as I thought it was too dry and bitter.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 21, 2013
Name: Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola
Variety: Nero
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year:2010
Price: $8.95
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: On the nose, this wine definitely had an earthy-like quality to it. On the palate, I did detect some acid as well as some spice to it. It had a medium finish.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 21, 2013
Name: Tres Ojos Rose
Variety: 50% Tempranillo 50% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year:2009
Price: $3.95
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: I was excited to be able to try this wine since we had just got through talking about how the color of different wines is achieved. This rose wine had complexity which I would more likely associate with some of the red wines I have tried. I could definitely detect the spicy notes on my palate. Overall, it was an alright wine for me.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 21, 2013
Name: Les Perles Piquepoul
Variety: Piquepoul
Region: Cotes de Thau
Country: France
Year:2011
Price: $7.95
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: When smelling this wine, I was able to detect some of the citrus notes as described in the shop review. To me, this wine had a very creamy texture in my mouth. It could almost be described as buttery. I also tasted fruity notes. There was some acid which could be detected on my palate. I did like this wine, but overall, I'm not sure if it's right for me yet.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 14, 2013
Name: Gabriella Chianti
Variety: Sangiovese
Country: Italy
Year:2008
Price: $7.95
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: On the nose, I smelt some berry notes. As far as on the palate, it was a dry wine that had blackberry flavors. This was definitely a pretty strong wine.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 14, 2013
Name: Lavarina Valpolicella Classico
Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, and 10% Molinara
Country: Italy
Year:2010
Price: $6.95
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 silky texture.
My Review: On the nose, I detected cherry notes. When I tasted this wine, it was a little smoky. I also noticed the cherry notes when tasting. I did not particularly like this wine probably due to the length of time it lingered on my palate after I finished tasting it.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 14, 2013
Name: Dom de Mirail Cabernet/Merlot Rose
Variety: Cabernet and Merlot
Region: Cotes de Gascogne
Country: France
Year:2011
Price: $5.95
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 was attracted to this wine based off of the color. While the aroma was not very strong, I did detect some floral notes. It had a sweet, fruity flavor. I really enjoyed this wine.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 14, 2013
Name: Norton Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoz
Country: Argentina
Year:2011
Price: $5.95
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: On the nose, I could detect some apple notes. Originally just based off of the smell, I thought it was going to be a sweet wine. When I tasted it, it turned out to be very dry.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 14, 2013
Name: Dibon Cava
Variety: Xarel-lo, Paredalla, and Macabeo
Region: Near Barcelona in Northeastern Spain
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $9.95
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: On the nose, it smelt a little soapy but also crisp. I cold smell a freshness of grape juice. On the palate, it was very rich. The wine was a little tart in my opinion.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 7, 2013
Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato
Variety: 97% Muscat and 3% Tempranillo
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $5.95
Shop 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: I really enjoyed the color of this rose-tinted wine. On the nose, it was very light and had some floral notes. On the palate, I could detect a very fruity flavor. The light carbonation was also enjoyed. I thought this wine was very good!
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 7, 2013
Name: Black Opal Shiraz
Variety: 50% Syrah, 28% Zinfandel, and 22% Pinot Noir
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australian
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95
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 follow with rich plum flavors round out the palate. Soft tannins give structure to the fruit-driven palate.
My Review: When my glass was poured, I did notice the color, and as described in the shop review, it was a ruby color. On the nose, it came off very spicy. On the palate, I was able to taste some of the berry flavors. Overall, this wasn't an overpowering red wine at least for my palate.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 7, 2013
Name: Sokol Blosser Meditrina
Variety: 50% Syrah, 28% Zinfandel, and 22% Pinot Noir
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $7.95
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: On the nose, I could smell a vinegar scent. After this smell, I was able to detect some of the cherry scent; however, it was pretty faint in my opinion. I could taste some of the "vinegar" smell that I had noted earlier. I also detected some woody aspects which made this wine a little more interesting.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 7, 2013
Name: White Men of Gotham Chardonnay/Semillon
Variety: 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95
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: The wine label on this particular bottle drew me in. The overall smell of this wine was relatively fresh and crisp. On the palate, I was able to detect some of the fruity flavors. Towards the finish, there was more of a bitter taste, which I wasn't particularly fond of. Overall, this wine was okay, but not one of my favorites of the tasting session.
With or Without Food: Without food
Date of Tasting: February 7, 2013
Name: Beringer Riesling
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95
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 do believe that this was the first Riesling that I have tasted in my wine experience thus far. I was excited to taste this wine since this particular varietal of grape has come up in several different lectures. On the nose, I was able to detect citrus smells. On the palate, I was able to detect the fruity flavor as well as some floral flavors. This wine was a good balance of sweetness. Overall, I enjoyed it.
With or Without Food: Without food
