Tasting - Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Region: Pfalz

Country: Germany

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Wine critic review: Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors.Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.

My review: This riesling was pretty dry with a somewhat high level of acidity. This wine was very crisp and tasted of apples, pears, and peaches. Definitely very fruity and citrusy. The aroma was also delightful and smelled of lime. I enjoyed this wine and while I did not pair it with food I think it would go great with a light salad or some shellfish. Would be great as an apertif.

Tasting - Don Ramon Tinto

Name: Don Ramon Tinto

Variety: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo

Region: Campo De Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Wine critic review: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo. Aged 3 months in American Oak
casks. Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.

My review: The cherry aroma in this wine was very obvious. It was the first aroma I noticed and it turned me off a little bit because I am usually not a huge fan of wines that have a very strong black cherry taste. However, I really enjoyed this wine. It was a very deep wine with a soft, rich finish. I hope that me liking this wine means my pallette is starting to expand! Definitely a great wine for it's price and I will remember this in the future. I did not pair this wine with any food.

Tasting - Resonata Nero D'Avola

Name: Resonata Nero D'Avola

Variety: 100% Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Wine critic review: Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background.

My review: To be honest, I did not enjoy this wine at all. Not even a little bit. The combination of berry and spice didn't suit my pallete. The aromas I caught were of floral and berries and the taste was again strong of berries. This wine was very smooth and had an interesting finish. I didn't pair this wine with food but I imagine if I had liked it that it would go good with roast or steak.

Tasting - Protocolo Blanc

Name: Protocolo Blanc

Variety: 70% Airen and 30% Macabeo

Region: Could not find

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Wine critic review: 87 Points, Stephan Tanzer - Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value

My review: This wine has a stong fresh fruit element. In the nose I could immediately smell lemon paired with a minty smell as well. Then when tasting I was able to gather some citrus flavors (lemon) as well as some berry flavors. This wine was sweet, but not too sweet which I enjoyed. However, a little dryer than I typically prefer. Overall a nice wine that I would recommend, but not one that I would purchase. I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - Santola Vinho Verde

Name: Santola Vinho Verde 

Variety: Vinho Verde

Region: Santola

Country: Portugal

Year:N/A

Price: $7.95

Wine critic review: Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this
is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.

My review: This wine makes me ready for summer or at least warm weather! I can imagine drinking this wine on the beach or on my patio at home. It's very light and crisp and has some great peachy flavors and aromas that truly are wonderful. The little bit of sparkling action is also very refreshing. When the weather gets nice I will remember to buy this wine! I didn't pair this wine with any food but I would like to drink it with some fresh fruit.

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolce

Name: Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolce

Variety: Sparkling Wine

Region: N/A

Country: Italy

Year:N/A

Price: $4.95

Wine critic review: Pale silvery straw color. Floral aromas of apples, peaches, and potpourri follow through on a round, frothy entry to a fruity medium bodied sweet wine with good depth and tangy peach fruit and a breezy, harmonious green apple kissed finish.

My review: Oh how I love it when I love a cheap wine! This sparkling wine was fruity all around. The aromas I got from it were peach, mango, and apple. I will say that the fruity smell was almost overpowering as I didn't even have to get too close to the glass before I could already smell it. The fruit flavor obviously carried over into the taste which was more than enjoyable. I could hardly tell there was any alcohol in it at all. Overall a very refreshing and delicious sparkling wine! Something I would consider purchasing once I finish the moscato in my fridge :) I did not pair this wine with anything.

*Note: was unable to find a picture

Tasting - Charles Thomas Cotes-du-Rhone

Name: Charles Thomas Cotes-du-Rhone

Variety: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre

Region: Rhone

Country: France

Year: 2009

Price: $8.95

Wine critic review: Wine Advocate , 87 pts - From a 140+-acre estate near the well-known Cotes du Rhone village of Pont Saint Esprit emerges this juicy Cotes du Rhone, a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. Wellmade, with loads of berry fruit and a heady, meaty, peppery nose with a hint of Provencal herbs, the wine is fresh, lively, and best
drunk over the next 2 years.

My review: The nose of this wine turned me off from the start. It was peppery and I was not a fan of that at all. I don't know if it's because the nose turned me off that I didn't enjoy the taste either or that the taste was just not pleasing to my palate either. This wine was a little too much for me and a little too strong for my still pretty immature palate. Everyone else I was with at the tasting really enjoyed this wine though. I did not pair this wine with any food.

Tasting - Coreto Tinto

Name: Coreto Tinto

Variety:Portuguese Red

Region: Lisboa

Country: Portugal

Year: 2008

Price: $6.95

Wine critic review: This red from the Coreto range has loads of dark berry fruit with a hint of new oak creating a soft, velvet structure that makes it very to easy drink. Red currant and juicy acidity.

My review: This wine was very smooth and consisted of black berry and raspberry flavors. It's body wasn't too deep and was very easy to drink with quite the finish at the end. The aromas were also of berry with a hint of something woody. I didn't pair it with anything but I could see this wine going well with a nice steak dinner or a roast.

Tasting - Morro Bay Split Oak Estates Chardonnay

Name: Morro Bay Split Oak Estates Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Lodi, California

Country: United States

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Wine critic review: Vanilla cream soda nose with a slice of fresh cut pineapple. Full body, tropical fruit, spice and pleasing vanilla oak note linger in the finish. Sweet flavor on the palate is from sur-lie aging the wine on the primary yeast lees for 7months. A versatile style of wine that can be served chilled with fine cuisine or a glass with friends. Certified Green by Lodi Rules Sustainable Winegrowers.

My review: This wine had a very notable finish. It was crisp, clean, and enjoyable. There was a little acidity present in this wine but it was followed by a nice fruity taste with yeast undertones. I imagine these yeast undertones were derived from sur-lie aging the wine. This was something I haven't come across yet in wine tasting and I have to say, it was definitely interesting on my palate. I would consider this wine for a future purchase as it is definitely in a college student price range. I did not pair this wine with food.

Tasting - Cantina Villafranca Frascati

 

 

Name: Cantina Villafranca Frascati

Variety: 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio,15% Grechetto (Greco)

Region:Frascati

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Wine critic review: Produced from a selection of the best grapes located in the Frascati Doc production area. Made from 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio,15% Grechetto (Greco). Intense yellow color with greenish reflections. Characteristic persistent fresh and fruity aromas.Excellent as an aperitif and paired with fish, seafood or white meat.

My review: Red apples and other fruity aromas were very powerful in the nose of this wine. It had a creamy mouth feel with a little more acidity than I have experienced in other wines but nothing too terrible. I didn't like the wine enough to buy it but I liked it enough to recommend to someone I thought would enjoy it. I didn't pair it with food, but I think it would taste well with some pasta with a creamy sauce and garlic bread.

Tasting - The Naked Grape Pinot Noir

Name: The Naked Grape Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: Non-Vintage (no year listed)

Price: $9.00

Wine critic review: This is a light, jewel red colored wine with gads of ripe red fruit on the nose.  The aromas are primarily cherry and red plum, but there’s also a Diet Coke characteristic to the nose.  The palate is fresh and fruity with ripe cherry and pomegranate flavors.  The tannins are a little too light, in my opinion, but the acidity is good.  The finish, short.  Very short.  But, if fresh and fruity is what you like, then you may enjoy this pinot noir.  It doesn't have the depth or elegance to make it a rock star, but for the $9.00 price it’s a tasty wine.

My review: I'm not mad that I spent money on this wine, but I don't know that I would buy it again. The taste was a little too bitter for me and I wasn't a big fan of the finish. The aromas were pretty pleasant and smelled of plum with a more bitter smell on the nose. I didn't pair it with food so maybe I would have liked it better if I had, but I don't think I'll give it another try.

Tasting - Legaris Crianza

Name: Legaris Crianza

Variety: Crianza

Region: Ribera del Duero

Country: Spain

Year: 2003

Price: $8.95

Wine critic review: 90 Points, Wine Spectator - A silky texture carries plum, tobacco, coffee and mineral flavors over ripe tannins in this balanced red. Berry and vanilla notes linger on the finish. Drink now through 2013. –T.M.

My review: Yet again I am noticing that I am already becoming better with my wine smelling ability. I could smell blackberry with a hint of wood on the nose. My immediate taste of the wine put me off a little but then it had a cooler finish which brought out the more fruity flavors which I enjoy. The tannins were also really noticeable in this wine. I don't know if it is a wine that I would spend my hard earned money on, but that's not to say that I didn't enjoy it.

Tasting - Into Zin Zinfandel

Name: Into Zin Zinfandel
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95


Wine critic review: Into Zin 2008 Zinfandel is a crisp, red wine with plum, blackberry and black cherry influences. Its spiciness is just the right amount to balance the fruit, so it isn't too sweet or too dry. Pairing suggestions include steaks, lamd, hamburgers, and chicken marsala. I truly enjoyed this wine, and I think you will too. So, for those nights where you put together a nice dinner, be sure to pair it with a glass of Into Zin 2008 Zifandel!
 
My review: Unlike the previous wine I tried, I enjoyed this wine a little more. The spiciness and fruitiness were more balanced for me, so I didn't find the spiciness as overpowering. I like Zinfandel in general so this was no exception. It had a really soft finish and a fruity/floral smell. I did not taste this with food but would be interested to try it with the recommended chicken marsala!

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo Rose

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo Rose
Variety: 50% Tempranillo 50% Garacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95


Wine critic review: A 50-50 blend of Tempranillo and Garacha, this medium rosecolored 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: I was really hoping to enjoy this wine since it is well within my budget, but I'm sad to say that I did not. From the smell I thought I would enjoy it as I was able to really pick up on the fruitiness of it, however the spiciness of the taste was not to my liking and I found it to be a little bitter. I didn't taste this wine with food, however I think it would be good with grilled pork and veggies. Maybe if I pair it with food I will be more fond of it!