Fortediga Cabernet-Syrah 2008
- Variety: 40% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Region: Maremma, Tuscany
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2008
- Price: $20 (on sale: $9.95)
- Shop review:
- 89 points, Wine Advocate
- "A wine that reveals considerable richess and depth while maintaining a pure, crystalline quality in its dark, varietal fruit. This is 40% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 6 months in used French oak barrels."
- My review:
- This wine had a bouquet of raspberry and blackberry. It tasted earthy and dry, but in combination with the fruit flavors it was very rich and bold. It would pair well with a steak dinner.
- I did not have this wine with food.
- Tasted at the Vintage Cellar tasting on 02/23/2013
Cascina Gilli Bonarda 2009
- Variety: 100% Bonarda Piemontese
- Region: Piedmont
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2009
- Price: $20 (on sale: $11.95)
- Shop review:
- "Nose of red berry fruit enriched by nuances of spice, subtle but recognizable. The slight effervescence of Moye increases the appeal of its palate, bringing out its freshness without compromising its complexity. Served chilled, it is wonderful with marinades and stews, or with Piedmont's traditional fritto misto."
- My review:
- This wine had a pleasantly fruity aroma. However, it tasted peppery and spicy. I also tasted oak or maybe a more smokey flavor. The flavors were all very strong, making this a very bold red. I was not a fan of this red; it was much too strong for my liking.
- I did not have this wine with food.
- Tasted at the Vintage Cellar tasting on 02/23/2013
Joseph Carr Pinot Noir 2007
- Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
- Region: Sonoma
- Country: California, United States
- Year: 2007
- Price: $33 (on sale: $9.95)
- Shop review:
- "Ever-elusive, our Central Coast Pinot Noir offers cherry and dark wild raspberry in both the bouquet and the taste. I also find aromatic violets, tea, strawberry seed, and hints of mushroom. The wine shows very good structure with balanced, yet approachable tannin."
- My review:
- This wine had a strange aroma; I thought it smelled like a basket of vegetables. It tasted very earthy, almost a little like dirt or mold. I think it would pair well with a red meat and asparagus.
- I did not have this wine with food.
- Tasted at the Vintage Cellar tasting on 02/23/2013
J.P. Chenet Dry Rose Sparkling NV
- Variety: 50% Cinsault, 50% Grenache
- Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
- Country: France
- Year: Non-Vintage
- Price: $18 (on sale: $6.95)
- Shop review:
- "Intense and fine, dominated by notes of red berries. The combination of fine bubbles and delicate aromas makes this a delightfully light and silky rose. Aromas in the mouth evoke red berries, cherries, strawberries: mellow and well-balanced."
- My review:
- This wine was very bubbly and not as sweet as I expected it to be. It was a little dry, with notes of strawberry and raspberry.
- I did not have this wine with food.
- Tasted at the Vintage Cellar tasting on 02/23/2013
Nopa Vinho Verde 2010
- Variety: 50% Arinto, 50% Azal
- Region: Quinta da Aveleda
- Country: Portugal
- Year: 2010
- Price: $13 (on sale: $5.95)
- Shop review:
- "The result is elegant, silky, fresh, and well balanced, with a fine citrus brightness. Ideal as an aperitif or as a perfect accompaniment to seafood, poultry, pasta, salads, spicy oriental food and grilled white meat. Enjoy in moderation and in good company. This Vinho Verde is proudly produced in Portugal."
- My review:
- This wine was very bitter, possible due to the dominant lemon and citrus notes. It tasted very fresh and bright; the fact that it was served cool greatly contributed to this. I think this wine would be good to drink with appetizers, and/or in the summertime.
- I did not have this wine with food.
- Tasted at the Vintage Cellar tasting on 02/23/2013
Gabriella Chianti 2008
- Variety: 100% Sangiovese
- Region: Tuscany
- 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:
- This wine packed a flavorful punch; it was very strong and very acidic. The aftertaste was warm and spicy. Because the acidic taste was so powerful it was difficult for me to taste specific flavors, but this wine was definitely tart and I thought I tasted cranberry or raspberry.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Lavarini Valpolicella Classico 2010
- Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
- Region: Valpolicella
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2010
- Price: $6.95
- Shop review:
- "The ruby red 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 was very spicy. I tasted hints of the strawberry and cherry, but I thought the spice flavors overpowered the fruit. It also seemed a little smokey or oak-y. As someone who is not a huge fan of red wines (yet), this was definitely not my favorite wine of the tasting. It was too strong and dry for me.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Dom de Mirail Cabernet/Merlot Rose 2011
- Variety: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
- Region: Côtes 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:
- This wine was more acidic and strong than I expected it to be based on appearance. I had trouble picking out specific flavors, but I thought it tasted slightly floral with hints of apple, and it was a little dry. This was not one of my favorites, I would prefer a sweeter rosé.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Norton Torrontes 2011
- Variety: 100% Torrontes
- Region: Lujan de Cuyo
- Country: Argentina
- Year: 2011
- Price: $5.95
- Shop 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:
- I really liked this wine! It was very light and refreshing because of the floral and peach flavors, although it I wouldn't consider it a "sweet" wine. I would definitely prefer to drink it chilled, probably in the summertime. I think it would pair well with appetizers.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Divon Cava NV
- Variety: 45% Macabeo, 30% Parellada, 25% Xarel-lo
- Region: Catalonia
- Country: Spain
- Year: Non-Vintage
- 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:
- There were a lot of bubbles in this wine and it was a little dry. I mostly tasted citrus fruits. Based on the Vintage Cellar review I expected it to be sweet, but it was slightly bitter (probably because of the citrus fruit notes).
- I did not have this wine with food.
Opera Prima Pink Moscato NV
- Variety: 97% Muscat, 3% Tempranillo
- Region: La Mancha
- Country: Spain
- Year: Non-Vintage
- 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 it's own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts."
- My review:
- This moscato was so refreshing! It smelled like wildflowers, but I also got a hint of (nice!) hand soap. It was very crisp and tasted like rose petals. The bubbles lingered on the palate, and in combination with the moscato being served chilled, made for a bright and "happy" drink.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Black Opal Shiraz 2011
- Variety: 100% Shiraz
- Region: Limestone Coast, Landhorne Creek, Barossa Valley
- Country: Australia
- Year: 2011
- Price: $5.95
- Shop review:
- "The Black Opal wines are sourced from vineyards found in South Australia along the Limestone Coast, at Landhorne 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."
- Note: Wines from Australia often feature/taste like darker fruits.
- My review:
- To be honest, I was not a fan of this wine. It smelled very strongly of spice. The wine itself tasted like pepper and berry. It was also very smokey or maybe oak-y. It is definitely strong and full-bodied, and not for someone who is just beginning to drink red wine like me! I thought it was very overwhelming.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Sokol Blosser Meditrina NV
- Variety: 52% Syrah, 25% Zinfandel, 23% Pinot Noir
- Region: Dayton, Oregon
- Note: Because the wine is listed as "American" on the bottle, this means that less than 90% of the grapes are from a single state. Most likely, the majority of the grapes are from Oregon but there are probably also grapes from California in this wine.
- Country: United States
- Year: Non-Vintage
- 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:
- This wine was very fruity and sweeter than other red wines I've tasted. It smelled like jam and tasted like raspberry. It was a very rich wine and I would pair it with chocolate or some sort of chocolate dessert.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay/Semillon 2008
- Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
- Region: South
- 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:
- This wine was very tart and acidic; I think it is definitely an acquired taste. It was hard to pick out the flavor notes because of the strong acidity, but I tasted melon and apple. The wine had a long finish. Because of all these characteristics I would be interested in trying it with food to see if I would like it better, maybe with steak or another meat.
- I did not have this wine with food.
Beringer Riesling 2009
- Variety: 100% Riesling
- Region: Sonoma County
- Country: United States
- 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:
- This wine was deliciously sweet and very light. It's very drinkable and I think it would be very appealing for someone who is just beginning to drink wine because it's very easy on the palate. It tasted strongly like honey, peach, and pear. I think it would be a great wine to drink with seafood or dessert.
- I did not have this wine with food.
