Tasting- Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name: Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: Yarra Valley
Country: Australia
Year: NV
Price: $9.95

Winery review: A relatively light, fresh style of sparkling Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish.

My review: This wine had an aroma of the floral persuasion that also had a light sweetness to it.  After tasting, I got a lot of the berry flavor, with a slight apple tinge to it.  It was also slightly sour but balanced it out with a light sweetness as well.  This wine was alright, nothing spectacular though.  I would consider trying it again.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Montebuena

Name: Montebuena
Variety: 100% Termpranillo
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Winery review: Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it’s an excellent value for Rioja.

My review: The nose brought along a strong sour cherry.  It also had a jammy quality to it.  Then tasting it brought a smooth and sweet jammy black fruit that was very sticky.  This wine was pretty good and would consider trying it again at a later date.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha
Variety: 100% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Winery review: The wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc.

My review: This wine started with a strong raspberry scent that had a light sweetness to it.  Then the tasting brought a sticky, fruity flavor with a long lasting finish.  Nothing specific stood out, so I wasn't a huge fan of it.  I would consider trying it again but was not overly impressed.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery review: Bright salmon pink; typical of the fresh but warm Provence style. Refined and complex on the nose, with summer fruit and floral notes. Dry and crisp, with a delicate flavor and full texture.

My review: This wine had a bouquet of sweet, crisp flowers.  Then after tasting, I got a semi-dry crisp fruity flavor.  There wasn't anything spectacular about it, but it wasn't bad at all.  I would consider trying it again.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Winery review: Medium- bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice. Delicious complement to grilled chicken, lighter pasta dishes or mild cheeses.

My review: This wine started with a nose that was high in apples that had a twinge of sweetness to it.  Upon tasting, I got a citrusy dry flavor that had slight hints of cinnamon and honey.  I liked this wine a lot, and bought a bottle to enjoy at a later time.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Potluck Sweet Malbec

Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Deep red brilliant with violet hints. Complex, fruity, and predominant red fruits. Easy to drink, round with persistent sweetness, very well balanced with sweet tannins.

My review: This wine had an aroma of the floral persuasion that also had a light sweetness to it.  After tasting, I got a lot of the berry flavor, with a slight apple tinge to it.  It was also slightly sour but balanced it out with a light sweetness as well.  This wine was alright, nothing spectacular though.  I would consider trying it again.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Domaine de Grange de Payan

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan
Variety: Grenache blend
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery review: Intensely spicy and precise, with lively red berry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The Grenache, which makes up the majority of the wine, is deeper and more powerful, offering cherry and black raspberry qualities lifted by zesty minerality.

My review: The nose of this wine gave me a very light berry, with maybe some oak aromas.  After tasting, I found that there didn't seem to be much to this wine.  I got a little of a dark berry flavor that finished with a long almost spicy taste.  Not a huge fan of this wine, as there wasn't anything spectacular to it.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Tinto Figaro

Name: Tinto Figaro
Variety: 100% Grenacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95

Winery review: Figaro is 100% Garnacha, made from a selection of the best grapes grown in the oldest vineyards. While not truly an “oaked wine”, a short stay in oak barrels provides a nice spicy flavor boost. Bright violet. Dark berry and cherry aromas show a jammy aspect. Supple and gently sweet, with good lift to its black raspberry and boysenberry flavors. Smooth and broad on the finish, leaving behind a hint of spiciness. Extremely easy to drink and an excellent value.

My review: This wine had a very dark jam, almost woody aroma.  Upon the tasting, I got a light sweet and spice balance that had more of a cherry flavor.  The wine ended with a soft finish that left an almost peppery flavor.  I didn't mind this wine and would consider trying it again in the future.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Maipe Malbec Rose

Name: Maipe Malbec Rose
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Intense pink color with violet hints. Fresh red fruit bouquet, strawberry and cherry flavors, balanced acidity, dry and lingering finish. Excellent with tuna or green salad, pasta, spicy Asian dishes.

My review: This wine started with a light berry, almost floral scent.  I also got a hint of cherry.  Upon the taste, I got a very dry, lightly acidic dried cherry flavor.  It was somewhat tart and finished with a long lasting flavor in my mouth.  I actually didn't mind this wine, which is interesting due to my feelings on dry wines so far.  I would consider trying it again, and maybe purchasing it in the near future.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.

Tasting- Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Gris/ Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi, spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine  Perfect also as an aperitif.

My review: The nose of this wine gave me an a very crisp almost grapefruity tint.  The tasting brought a very light fruity dryness.  It also gave me a slight tart hint to make my mouth pucker.  It had a very light, almost non-existent finish.  I would most likely not try this wine again, as it was too dry with not a whole lot going on for it.

This wine was tasted on its own with no food.