Name: Tres Ojos Rose
Variety: 50% Garnacha, 50% Tempranillo
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $3.95
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: Slight butter on the nose but over powered by cherry aromas. Bitter and acidic taste. Flavors of sour apple and sour cherry. Pretty hot and alcoholic for a rose. Not very sweet at all.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
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: Decently high butter aromas but blend really nice with the apricot smell. Pretty sweet taste and a little heat on the end with the spiking alcohol. 12% alcohol content. Flavors of Granny Smith Apples.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Gabriella Chianti
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Chianti , Tuscany
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: Deep aromas. A lot of berries and cherries coming through but also a bit of house hold cleaner smells. Tastes quite dry. There are very deep berry flavors with a bit of sourness. Almost like a stale berry.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Lacarini Valpolicella Classico
Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
Region: North of 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 a fresh and fruity, with lovely strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors, with nice spice and a silky texture.
My Review: This wine has a spicy aroma to the nose. Not fruity, more earthy nose. Tastes a bit acidic but dry. Didn't really get many berry flavors. Surprisingly dull taste. Might be better with food.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Dom de Mirail Cabernet/Merlot Rose
Variety: Cabernet, Merlot
Region: Cotes de Gascogne [South of Bordeaux]
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95
Winery Review: There is a fresh, crisp character to this light rose. It is eye-watering in its refreshing character, with balancing acidity, smoothing out the edges with a touch of caramel.
My Review: A very orange colored Rose. Doesn't really smell good though. Almost like windex or some other household cleaner. Tastes rather dry and really does well coating the palate. A lot of sour apple flavors.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Norton Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
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: This wine doesn't have much color. Very clear. Smells of peach come through. But not very strong at all. The taste is pretty dull and a bit of heat comes through.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Dibon Cava
Variety: Xarel-lo, Parellada, Macabeo
Region: Catalunya
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $9.95
Winery Review: Xarel-lo, Parellada, Macabeo. 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: This wine has a very buttery smell. It tastes like apple cider. I get a lot of acid immediately but that fades off. This is a decent sparkling wine. I'd prefer it a little bit dryer.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Opera Prima Pink
Variety: Moscato
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $5.95
Winery Review: This fine sparkling presents and 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 own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts.
My Review: This wine has a very fruity smell. Lots of Strawberry scents. It tasted very sweet. Too sweet for my liking. Very kool aid like. A bit of watermelon on the palate as well.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Black Opal Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
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 Langhome 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: This wine smells a lot like tar. Like a burnt rubber tire was in the barrel before it was bottled. This wine is not good. It really just tasted like dirt. Not many berry flavors, just dirt.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Sokol Blosser Meditrina
Variety: 28% Pinot Noir, 50% Syrah, 22% Zinfandel
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: NV
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: This wine has a really bitter smell to it. The taste started soft but came at me with a quick bite on the mid palate and then a softer finish.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Wine Men of Gotham
Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95
Winery 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 didn't have a very pleasant smell. It was highly acidic and really had an alcoholic bite to it. But what a cool label!!
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Beringer Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95
Winery Review: This wine is the perfect balance of honeysuckle and bright peach flavors. A perfect compliment to light far, appetizers, or just sharing with friends.
My Review: This wine had a peachy and honey smell. It was a very soft taste on the palate. Not too many flavors really jumped out at me.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Dancing Bull
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $9.99
Winery Review: At Dancing Bull, we are proud to offer award winning wines selected from the best vineyards throughout California. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is rich with black cherry and blackberry flavors, firm tannins and a hint of mocha. The perfect pairing for grilled foods.
My Review: Looking at the wine in the class it looks like a very dark, complex wine. It smells of blackberry and a bit of earthiness. It can be a little sour on the nose. Once tasting I get bitterness right away. As the bitter recedes the berry flavors come through incredibly strong. It really coats the palate with berry. Finishes on the dry side.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Bartenura Moscato
Variety: Muscat
Region: Lombardia
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95
Winery Review: The inviting apricot preserves, honey, butter, and roasted almond aromas of this semi-sparkler pull you right in. It's on the sweet side, with stone-fruit flavors kept alive by decent acidity. The palate bubbles and tingles and maintains its balance. Fine as an aperitif or with dessert.
My Review: This wine definitely has an apricot smell to it. Lots of honey right away when tasting but then it dies quick to a softer grapefruit flavor.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Finca del Castillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $4.95
Winery Review: Rooty, 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: Spicy on the nose for sure. A very subtle start to the taste becoming more acidic and then back to a modest finish.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Gamay
Region: Burgundy
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: This wine smells AWFUL! ...almost like manure being held up to your nose. It had a very dark taste right from the start and finishes on the sugary side.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
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, pineapple. Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.
My Review: Not a very strong scent. Quite a spiced taste to it that lingers til the finish. Definitely grabbed tastes of the alcohol at the finish.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: La Cappuccina Soave
Variety: Garganega
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: Bright straw yellow in 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: Smells of butter. Very sweet taste. A bit of apricot comes through. I'm not very fond of this wine.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Pezzalunga Oltrepo Pavese Rosso
Variety: Blended [Barbera, Bonarda, Uva Rara, Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon]
Region: Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $17.95
Winery Review: Here's an utterly awesome pizza red from the southern part of Lombardy. It's a distinctive blend of Barbera, Bonarda (Croatina), Uva Rara, Pinot Nero, and Cabernet Sauvignon that delivers a big mouthful of black raspberry and tart cherry fruit. Super juicy and fresh, there's a touch of herb to go with the cherry/berry fruit and a mouthwatering finish. Pizza with spec and rocket comes immediately to mind!
My Review: WOW! This is a great red wine. Very rich in flavor. This is what I expect out of a red. A very deep and lingering flavor. I could really see myself drinking this wine while eating a steak.
I did not eat while tasting this wine.
Name: Tres Ojos Rose
