Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name: Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: Southern Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: NV
Price: $9.95

Winery 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: This sparkling Shiraz was a whole new experience for me… an oaked sparkling? Dark berries really came through on the nose for me along with a little bit of the fizzy piece. Right when the wine hit the tip of my tongue the bubbles made their presence known. I was most thrown off thought but the subtly toasty, sawdust flavors hidden in the background. Definitely wasn’t expecting that but you never know with those experimental Australians. Drier than most sparkling wines I’ve had, left a nice, refreshing, crisp feeling in my mouth.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha
Variety: Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: "This wine has a brick red color with a bougquet 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 great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc."
 
My Review: It’s weird to actually think of putting spices and pepper on your fruit but somehow they balance so nicely in a glass of wine. Very jammy/fruity with plums, black currant, and black cherry hints. Fantastic balance between acidity and tannins, I fight so evenly matched that I couldn’t even taste the alcohol. Spain just seems to be my wine money spot but this Garnacha was right on point, delivering great complex flavor profiles and deep aromas.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Montebuena

Name: Montebuena
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: "Brilliant deep ruby red color, fruity aromas . Montebuena Red has a spicy vanilla bouquet and is smooth and fruity in the mouth with some well-integrated secondary nuances, full-flavored and a persistent pleasant finish. Produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes, which are hand harvested from the Montebuena vineyard."

My Review: Bone, bone, bone dry! But I like it. Slightly hot on the nose with wafts of cherry, blackberries and plum wrapped in a great tannic structure to provide a medium body beauty. Had a spicy mid-pallet and a very peppery, leathery finish that lingered for a long time. Solid wine and I’m finding that I’ve really enjoyed every Tempranillo I’ve had.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery 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 flavour and full texture."

My Review: I really wasn’t very impressed with this blended wine, I would say it tasted a lot like the Canyon Road Chardonnay, but lacking some serious flavor. Slightly sweeter with a lighter body and more floral nose but just wasn’t doing much for me. Lack of acidity left it slightly out of balance, but overall it’s a very approachable, light wine.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Winery 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. Medium- bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice."
 
My Review: As expected this Chardonnay from Californ-i-a spewed oaky characteristics from sniff to swallow. Hidden behind that initial woody, spicy was a citrusy, lemony component that I particularly enjoyed.  Despite having a stronger body than most white wines it was still crisp and acidic leading to a smooth finish. A nice gold color and fairly dry wine, my first experience with a West Coast Chardonnay gets two thumbs up.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Potluck Sweet Malbec

Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: The darkest of the bunch this week, plum color distinguishes this plum dominated sweet wine, who woulda thought? Even those they advertise this wine as sweet I didn't really taste it, I thought it was as sweet as some of the other red wines, most notably the other wine from Mendoza, the rose. Probably the hottest sweet wine I've ever had, not too sure it was floating my boat. I prefer dry wines usually and flavors were clashing and balance was pretty off.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Domaine de Grange de Payan

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan
Variety: Blend, around 80% Grenache
Region: Côtes du Rhône
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: Skating on the Red-Ruby border, this wine screamed strawberrieys, raspberries, and blackberries. Bone dry with a little higher alcohol than I'd like but the puckering tannic component was rather tame with a spicy, peppery kick to start the after taste. Plenty going on in this complex wine, almost as much as its tongue twisting name. The heaviest body of all the wines today, I embraced all the flavors and earth tones.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Tinto Figaro

Name: Tinto Figaro
Variety: 100% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: This was my first adventure with the Garnacha, or Grenache as the French call it. On the nose it was evident that this Spanish wine has some degree of barrel aging when I picked up on a smokey, leathery hint. Got a strong cherry component with a raspberry side kicked that both ganged up for a strong backbone and lighter tannins than I would have thought given the darker red color. I'd call it medium-dry with a medium body and just a very approachable red wine overall.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Maipe Malbec Rosé

Name: Maipe Malbec Rosé
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: This elegant rose had a very cherry and plum heavy bouquet, I could even sense a little alcohol heat on the nose, which was followed up by a little heat and kick on the taste. Semi-sweet, medium-dry with light tannins and a slight spicy kick to finish off the taste! Beautiful light pink wine with a generic berry flavor, light body, and great balance of sugar, acid, tannins, and alcohol.

I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: My first tasting back from break and I think I'm starting to pick up on this whole tasting thing. Without looking at the tasting notes, I wrote down floral, grassy nose with a pear/apricot mid pallet , nice and tart with a smooth, light finish. Pairs up pretty well with what the "pros" had written, who said write critiquing was tough? We must just have similar tastes but I would definitely like to try this wine with some summery, picnic foods in a couple weeks when things warm up. Great acidity and balance with a pale yellow hue.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Rex - Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Coonawarra
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "This is a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon with structure and concentration. Dark and intense in color. Hints of cedar and oak, with layers of raspberry, plum, mocha, and currant. Firm tannins with big fruit flavors lead to a lengthy and persistent finish. I love taking this wine to get together with friends. It always seems to help inspire good conversation. I probably don't need to say that a wine like this will work best with a hearty red meat dish, but I will any way."

My Review:  A swath of pleasant floral aromas dance along an enjoyable robustly bodied brew. For a baby wine this succulant concoction has a lot of deep root inside the French oak barrels. Fantab-ulous tasting with some majestic plum pulp fiction... potentially with some sublime?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c78uEWJKl2A


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - YellowTail Shiraz

Name: YellowTail Shiraz
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: Coonawarra
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Yellow Tail Shiraz has berry and vanilla aromas. Subdued earthy tones with soft ripe sweetness are displayed in perfect harmony with fine tannins. This classic red wine that goes well with a good steak or in front of a roaring fire. It's pure red goodness in a glass!"

My Review: Holy juan guacamole is this wine tasty! I didn't enjoy it at first but the flavors and tannic structure won me over in the long run! Blueberry and vanilla made a drastic punch on the bouquet and the mid pallet followed through despite the high heat of the succulent drink. Medium bodied with a fantastic balance, accentuated with great acidity. Please enjoy with "I can't Quit you Baby" by The Zep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcbTv_zNtvs

The song is just as bluesy and soulful as the wine itself, enjoy with a full dose of jammage and a full filling of great grape juice.Definitely barrel aged with a lovely hint of smokey caramel and sweet vanilla.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - YellowTail Merlot Reserve

Name: YellowTail Merlot Reserve
Variety: 100% Merlot
Region: Coonawarra
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: "This generous Merlot shows luscious and supple texture with blueberry, blackcurrant flavours and soft, dusty tannins giving structure. An elegant wine. Serve with casseroles like chicken cacciatore or veal ragu."

My Review: I'm going to throw a new idea out there that great wines don't just pair with fantastic cuisines, but they also match up (or should I say mash up) with groovy tunes. Musical wizard Carlos Santana inspired this tasting that provided the driest wine I've sampled thus far, bone, bone dry. Extremely fruity bouquet displaying hints of raspberry and blueberry from down under. I was most caught off guard by it's lingering tannic taste. Sits well on the pallet with a powerful balance and very full, big body. Very smooth, drinkable vino, especially for a massive producer. Definitely taste the wood-aged characteristics. Superb  Sunday sippin'.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Monte Aman

Name: Monte Aman
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Arlanza
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: The sweetest of this weeks red wines flaunts potent cherry through and through from nose to finish. Complimented with a stout tannic structure that alludes to eating a fruit that still needs a little more time to ripen. The okay goodness is also apparent on the long, toffee/toasty finish that seems to sneak in out of right field. Smooth with a stellar red color that soothes the pallet and escorts its to a  full bodied, well banalced Spanish wonderland, ándale!


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Variety: 100% Montepulciano d' Abruzzo
Region: Montepulciano d' Abruzzo
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: If you can pronounce the name of this wine that victory number one, but victory number two comes if you own a bottle! Hands down, this week's "pucker up" winner boasts complex tannic structure and an aromatic pear and apple bouquet. Brash and bold, fully bodied and bone dry, a classic big red. Maybe even a couple berry tones hiding underneath it all? Great balance and overall my favorite wine of the week.


I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Maipe Chardonnay

Name: Maipe Chardonnay
Variety: 85% Chardonnay and 15% Viognier
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: I know it's not from California but this oaky Chardonnay sure tastes like it! Accentuated by its deeper yellow hue, I picked up on a sea of apricots on the nose with a slight hint of cream. Very smooth drink that tickled you tongue as it went down. Fuller bodied white wine with great balance of acid and sugar. Flavorful but not overpowering the South American gem is probably my favorite Chardonnay I've tasted yet.

I sampled the wine without food.

Tasting - Villa d' Orvieto

Name: Villa d' Orvieto
Variety: Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia
Region: Umbria
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Winery 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." Vintage Cellar wine notes

My Review: I can honestly say that this is the first time I tasted a wine and thought... Where's the flavor? Did they accidentally serve me water? Very, very light, delicate wine with a semisweet vibe. Could pair nicely with some appetizers on a spring or summer picnic but just not my cup of tea. Thin body with a slight yellow sheen.


I sampled the wine without food.