Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: NV

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now.

My Review: The nose on this wine was a cool mixture of fruit juice and some metallic scents. The flavor was similar to the nose. I really didn't get any distinct flavors out of it, mainly because they weren't very profound and, as I had a cold when I tasted it and my nose was stuffed up, I couldn't really taste all that much. Overall, this wine was very fresh, and I'd like to try it again sometime.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Lobetia Chardonnay

Name: Lobetia Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $10.95

Winery Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.

My Review: The nose on this wine was very unique. It had a tight mixture of pineapple and grass. The pineapple continued throughout and it was paired with a nice earthy-ness that I found very unique. The acidity was there but it was soft enough that it didn't bother me. I was surprised by the finish, which was longer then I thought it would be for Chardonnay. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Lobetia Tempranillo

Name: Lobetia Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $10.95

Winery Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.

My Review: The nose on this wine made me think it would be a very typical tempranillo, as it had big black cherry and pepper. It was not quite what I'd come to expect from the basic tempranillo though, as It had a really great earthy quality that came through in the mid-palate to mix with the awesome black cherry that persisted throughout. It had that tempranillo spice and an awesome earthy x-factor that separated this wine from other tempranillos to me. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone 2010

Name: Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault

Region: Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $14.95

Winery Review: As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this fullbodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a  sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.

My Review: I knew this wine meant business immediately from the nose, which had big black cherry and strong violet scents. It came on strong, and was very full-bodied, with the black cherry being the most notable flavor from the attack to the mid-palate. It was spicy and hot in all the right ways, with a long finish that burned beautifully. I really enjoyed this wine. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Ksana Bonarda

Name: Ksana Bonarda

Variety: Bonarda

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2008

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: The bouquet is floral and lightly jammy, with berry aromas and a savory note or two. To the uninitiated, this is a great introduction to Bonarda. Finishes solid. Very sweet, berry smell with some rooty undertones. Kind of dry, makes your lips pucker.

My Review: The first thing I thought when I gave this wine a good sniff was damn that's gonna be pretty strong. I was not disappointed.  It had a solid level of tannic oomph that I liked and there were hints of some cool berry flavors that felt kind of just out of reach to my palate. It certainly had that cool, dry mouth-coating feeling, which I also liked. Overall, it had the tannin power but not too much else. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Concannon Shiraz

Name: Concannon Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: US

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: This is an extremely rich, full-bodied wine with a dark fruit core. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark cherry are followed by more berry fruits and chocolate and mocha on the palate. 

My Review: This Shiraz was pretty cool. The nose had some enticing spice with some of what I could only determine to be blueberry mixed in. It tasted peppery with all sorts of really dark fruit flavors. I could taste the blackberry along with a strong influence of what I believe was black currant. The finish was very smooth, which I thought was surprising for such a full-bodied wine. I will most likely buy a bottle of this stuff then next time I'm hanging around the Vintage Cellar trying to replenish the supplies in my wine cellar, (which is really more of a broom closet where I keep my wine.)

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Chandon Sweet Cuvee

Name: Chandon Sweet Cuvee

Variety: Blend

Region: California

Country: US

Year: NV

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: This wine is an innovative sparkling wine style revealing vibrant stone fruit and floral aromas with rich, luscious mouthfeel. This wine enlivens the senses and sparks spontaneous moments, complementing your passion for a good life.

My Review: I was surprised to find that I actually liked this wine, despite it being not my usual style. The nose didn't give me a whole lot, other than freshness. The most notable thing about the flavor was the very interesting bubbles, which had a cool texture and weren't actually too bubbly. It tasted like apples and fresh wildflowers with the flower stems mixed in to give it kind of a grassy component. It had a smooth, timely finish and overall I found it quite pleasing. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: U.S

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Orange blossom and citrus permeate the aromas. Alluring flavors of orange and grapefruit dominate the palate. Bright acidity balances the plush mouthfeel, resulting in a clean finish. 

My Review: After trying this and the Wilson Daniels Merlot recently, I'm pretty impressed with Wilson Daniels. The nose on this Sauvignon Blanc was very fresh, with leafy aromas and kind of a pear smell. The flavor had a lot of citrus throughout, but unlike the typical sharp sort of citrus flavor this was muted, like watering down a glass of orange juice until it doesn't make your mouth pucker. I liked the softer approach to citrus and the general tidiness of this wine and I'm totally ready to try any other Wilson Daniels wines I see, as they're 2 for 2 so far in my book.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Black Ridge White ZInfandel

Name: Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: US

Year: NV

Price: $3.95

Winery Review: This fruit forward White Zinfandel displays fresh aromas and crisp flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. It is incredibly food friendly and will pair well with burgers, sandwiches, fruit salad, and more. 

My Review: I really didn't like this wine all that much. Both the smell and flavor of it gave explosive amounts of berries. It tasted fresh but the only really flavor was the mega berry cocktail that didn't change much from the attack to the finish. It tasted very one-dimensional to me and I was not impressed. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Name: Caprice De Bastor-Lamontagne

Variety: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle

Region: Sauternes

Country: France

Year: 2004

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

My Review: This wine violated one of my palates cardinal sins; it was way too sweet. I didn't really taste any significant trace of alcohol in it and that really turned me off. That being said, it was very sweet and fruity, with a nice honey aspect that I've never really experienced before in wine. I would probably avoid this typically, as I like my wine to be pretty strong and alcohol-ey, but if I happened to be drinking with a friend who liked sweeter whites, this would be one of my first choices.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Torre Castillo Alegre

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre

Variety: 100% Monastrell

Region: Jumilla

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: 4 months in new American oak barrels. Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish.

My Review: I really liked this wine, mainly because it was one of the first that gave me a really notable tobacco flavor. The scent was either too simple or too complex for me to get any particular flavors our of it, but the taste was easier to analyze. It gave off a lot of smoky, tobacco flavor, which reminded me a lot of a wine flavored Black and Mild. From the mid-palate to the finish it started to give me a lot more cherry, which was an interesting twist coming out of the tobacco flavor. I thought this wine was pretty cool and I'd like to try it while smoking a wine Black and Mild one day. 

I did not try this with food

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name: Wilson Daniels Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: US

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is fullbodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with vanilla and toast. 

My Review: As a big fan or Merlot, I was not surprised that I liked this wine. It gave off plum and black cherry from the nose to the finish, which I've always found to be an awesome combo. Starting in the mid palate and moving into the finish the sort of mixed berry jelly flavor came through pretty clearly and I liked that a lot. The finish had a bit of a bite, but not so much as to be off-putting. I would certainly drink this again. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Bricco Dei Tati Rosè

Name: Bricco Dei Tati Rosè

Variety: 100% Barbera

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers.

My Review: I found the smell of this wine to be particularly more interesting than the taste. The nose gave me the distinct impression of standing over a swimming pool filled with berries; it had the fresh berry flavors but kind of laced with a chemically, chlorine scent. I found it very interesting. The taste was fairly one dimensional, in my opinion, with some nice berry and cherry flavor and soft tingles. Overall, I'd prefer if it had a cool flavor to go along with the wicked cool aroma. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: California

Country: U.S

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple and has hints of hibiscus blossoms. The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind. The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more. This wine pairs beautifully with a grilled prawn salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette, veggie spring rolls or grilled tilapia with mango salsa

My Review: The word I would use to describe this wine is fresh; the nose was wicked fresh and that taste was very fruit-forward and fresh throughout. The attack was a nice blend of pineapple and flowery flavors and it blended into a slightly more tart apple flavor towards the mid-palate. The finish was short and smooth and left me wanting more. Whenever I'm in the mood for a fresh glass of white wine after a long day in the hot sun, I certainly wouldn't mind a bottle of this. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Ruta 22 Malbec

Name: Ruta 22 Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

Year: NV

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Stout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas. Despite being a bold and dark Malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Good on the finish, with candied fruit and caramel sweetness. 

My Review: This Malbec was pretty cool. It smelled flowery, but unlike the typical sissy flower smell in fruity whites these flowers were ass-kicking, like a field of huge, chunky roses covered in fresh rain just punching me in the face with rich, dark flower power. The attack had lots of berries and fruit but towards the mid-palate I was pleased that it morphed back to the beefy man-flowers. It delivered one final tannin kick towards the end before fading away somewhat slowly. I liked this wine so much that I've decided I'm going to keep buying Malbecs whenever I get the chance to find out if Malbec could possibly replace Tempranillo as my favorite type of wine. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Château Serres Sainte Lucie Corbières

Name: Château Serres Sainte Lucie Corbières

Variety: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre

Region: Corbieres

Country: France

Year: NV

Price: $4.95

Winery Review: Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange. Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee. The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla. This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins.

My Review: This wine featured some really new flavors that I enjoyed immensely. It came across with some clear fruit flavors that hid a chocolaty mocha undertone. It had a nice thickness to it and just the right amount of vanilla. Overall, it was pretty awesome. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Cresta Azul

Name: Cresta Azul

Variety: Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo

Region: Spain

Country: Spain

Year: NV

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Peach, orange cream and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white. Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish. 

My Review: This didn't taste a whole lot like wine to me. The nose gave me nothing but juicy freshness and bubbles. I barely tasted any alcohol among the creamy vanilla and citrus. It tasted like I would imagine creamsicle soda tastes like, if that even exists. As I typically like my wine with a little bit more kick, I didn't really enjoy this one.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Name: Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $3.95

Winery Review: Fresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rosé offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy.

My Review: This wine was alright but in my opinion it didn't have enough of the flavors typically found in a Tempranillo. It had an unremarkable nose that I couldn't really get any flavors from. The taste offered a huge berry kick but not nearly enough spiciness for me. The finish was dry and a clear continuation of the berry assault. I didn't particularly like this wine.  

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Name: Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Year: NV

Price: $3.95

Winery Review: Rosé salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubble that forms “lace” and “rosary”. In the nose is complex and elegant with red fruit, citric, exotic, fresh flowers, and notes of dry fruits and dry flowers. Fresh, gentle, and alive. Perfectly integrated “perlage” with serious and subtle flavors of dry fruits, pomegranate and lemonade. Long lasting scent of flowers and herbs.

My Review: This rosé was extremely interesting from start to finish. The nose was kind of earthy and fruity and had some almost metallic qualities. The first thing I noticed about the taste was the careful tingling that I found very different and cool. It was fresh, with just the right amount of fruit and the finish was tart and dry. There was one flavor in it that I found excellent but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: US

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

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

My Review: As expected, this California Chardonnay was oaky. I liked the apple flavor that came through all the way from the nose to the finish. The finish was where I tasted the oak, but it wasn't the typical overly buttery oak flavor, and it paired nicely with the strong apple flavor. I liked this slight departure from the usual mega-buttery oak blast I get from most California Chardonnays.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes De Provence
Variety: Granache, Sryah, Cinsault

Region: Provence

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Bright salmon pike, 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 featured an extremely aromatic nose with strong flower scents. The attack came through with clear fruit and berry flavors which were weak at first, but intensified through the mid-palate. The color of this wine made me think it would be softer in it's approach and I was pleasantly surprised by how full the fruit flavors were. 

I did not try this with food.