Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name: Emeri de Bortoli

Variety: 100% Shiraz

Region: South Eastern

Country: Australia

Year: N/A

Price: $9.95

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: The addition of the CO2 to the Shiraz really had a large impact. The wine tasted very nice. Similar to an alcoholic cherry soda if you asked me. Overall the wines flavor was nice and the finish was sweet. This is a wine I would recommend purchasing.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha 

Variety: 100% Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Review: This 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: The peppery taste in this wine turned me away from its flavor at first. However the fruity flavors provided a nice balance to the wine. Overall this is not a wine I would buy.

Tasting - Montebuena

Tasting - Montebuena

Name: Montebuena

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

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: This red wine was very nice out of the bottle. I cant say it was the best red wine i have tried so far this, however with some decanting it may come close. The wine definitely finished sweet which was a nice touch. The wine was not peppery at all so if pepper is not your preferred taste in a red wine give this a try.

Tasting - Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

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

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 was the best rose I have had thus far! The color was beautiful, emitting a salmon colored hue. The taste of the wine reminded me of strawberries and summer fruits. The wine was definitely dry and left little to no aftertaste. From me to you, this is a recommended buy.

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

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 was a very nice chardonnay. The flavor of this wine was better than other chardonnays I have had. I did not notice any cinnamon spice like the maker review indicates. I would recommend buying this California white wine.

Tasting - Potluck Sweet Malbec

Tasting - Potluck Sweet Malbec

Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec

Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

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 was an easy to drink red wine. The fruity flavors paired with the sweetness were unusual to me in a red wine. There wasn't a good mix of fruity flavor to sweetness. Something just didn't mix in this wine. It was good to taste a wine like this, but if you want a fruity wine go with a sangria or one of many white wines, or a rose.

Tasting - Domaine de Grange de Payan

Tasting - Domaine de Grange de Payan

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan

Variety: Blended Grenache

Region: Côtes du Rhône

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $8.95

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: This wine tasted awful! Spice dominated the flavor. Do not buy this wine.

Tasting - Tinto Figaro

Tasting - Tinto Figaro

Name: Tinto Figaro

Variety: 100% Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

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 was a nice red wine. It only had a slight taste of spice which appealed to my taste. The taste of raspberries and cherries was predominate in the wine. Overall, this was a rather good buy for the price. I would recommend the wine.

Tasting - Maipe Malbec Rosé

Tasting - Maipe Malbec Rosé

Name: Maipe Malbec Rosé

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

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 was a very nicely colored Rose. On the nose, floral scents were readily apparent. The taste of the wine was crisp with strawberry flavors. I would definitely recommend paring this wine with tuna. This combination would be fantastic!

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Variety: 100% Pinot Gris

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

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: This was a very nice Pinot Grigio. It was very light in color containing a pleasant aroma. I noticed hints of pear and apple in the taste and very little to no after taste. This was by no means my favorite Pinot Grigio however it would be a nice selection for anyone looking to try one.  

Tasting - Monte Aman

Tasting - Monte Aman

Name: Monte Aman

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Arlanza

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Review: Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit. Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now.

My Review: This wine was another good red wine. I have tried reds which have a spicy flavor. The spice in this red was much less overpowering than others. The spices were mild, leaving me to taste the other flavors in the wine. The plum smell was noticeable alongside other berries. I would recommend this wine to others.  

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Variety: 100% Montepulciano d' Abruzzo

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Review: Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats.


My Review: This is one of the best red wines I have tried so far. I felt that the wine was lighter and smoother than other red wines I have tried. I did not try this wine with food, however, I would buy to pair it with a nice steak. For seven bucks everyone should try this red wine.

Tasting - Maipe Chardonnay

Tasting - Maipe Chardonnay

Name: Maipe Chardonnay

Variety: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Review: 30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels. Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.

My Review: This Chardonnay was really good! Apples and pear were apparent when smelling the wine. The taste was really nice, filled with fruit bursts in addition to hints of oak. The wine was smooth seeming to have low acidity. This is a nice buy for someone looking to try a white wine or more specifically a Chardonnay.

Tasting - Villa d' Orvieto

Tasting - Villa d' Orvieto

Name: Villa d' Orvieto

Variety: Grechetto, Procanico, and Malvasia

Region: Orvieto

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Review: It’s a blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia. Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads.



My Review: This wine was nothing out of the ordinary. Its taste seemed to be watered down. This caused the flavors in the wine to be suppressed. In my opinion this wine may be better with foods because the taste is not as apparent, but there are better wines you could get for your seven bucks.

Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada

Region: Penedes

Country: Spain

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $9.95

Review: Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes. Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and balanced acidity. A delicious sparkler for a great price!

My Review: This wine had a very nice taste, however, the bubbles were overpowering. In fact if it wasn't for the high amount of carbonation I would recommend this wine. The wine had a pleasant and light fruity aroma which corresponded with the taste.