Tasting - Vintage Cellar on 2-23-12

Name: Santola Vinho Verde

Variety: Still Wine

Region: Vinho Verde

Country: Portugal

Year: n/a

Price: $7.95

Winery 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:  The aroma of this wine came off as being filled with fruit.  I could detect pear and some sort of citrus, possibly lemon.  The taste of the wine was very smooth.  It had a nice little bitter aspect to it, but at the same time was quite refreshing.  Pear was the obvious flavor.  I didn't have this wine with food

Name: Protocolo Blanc

Variety: White (other)

Region: Spain

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Winery 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 had a very interesting aroma.  Unlike most wines I've tried in the past, the aroma wasn't fruity, but instead citric.  I could smell lemon predominantly.  The taste of the wine was actually quite enjoyable.  It had a nice lemon flavor, but with a cooling aftertaste.  It was quite dry though.  I didn't have this wine with food.

Name: Resonata Nero D'Avola

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Winery 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:  The aroma was overpowering with the scent of berries, reminded me of raspberry jam.  The taste was very enjoyable.  As with the aroma, I was hit head on with the taste of berries, however the aftertaste was very intriguing.  It a spicy taste, possibly cinnamon.  I didn't have this wine with food.

Name: Don Ramon Tinto

Variety: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Winery 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:  Personally, I didn't really enjoy this wine too much.  It's aroma was pleasant, filled with cherry and grassy scents.  The taste of the wine was a little bitter to me.  It started off fine, but the aftertaste wasn't too my liking.  It left my mouth filled with a bitterness.  I didn't have this wine with food.

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Region: Pflaz

Country: Germany

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Winery 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:  The aroma of this wine was very pleasant.  I could detect apple, pear, and pineapple, each making the aroma better.  The taste was fantastic.  This was by far my favorite wine of the day.  It sweet, but not overly so that it made it unpleasant to drink.  The apple and pear flavors really came out, as well as a some sort of citrus flavor.  I didn't have this wine with food, but could imagine it pairing well with some Asian cuisine.  

   

Tasting - Vintage Cellar on 2-16-12

Name: Cantina Villafranca Frascati
Variety: Malvasia Bianca
Region: Frascati, Italy
Country: Itlay
Year: n/a
Price: $7.95

Winery 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:  This wine had a very pleasant aroma.  I could detect mostly the scent of fruits, possibly that of pears and melons.  The taste of the wine was quite refreshing.  It seemed pretty crisp to me, and went down pretty smoothly.  It had a slight bitterness to it, but it wasn't overwhelming.  I didn't have this wine with food, but can imagine it would pair well.





Name: Morro Bay White Oak Estates Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery 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: I can only describe the aroma of this wine as very enticing.  The moment I took a whiff of it, I was sold.  I could instantly smell pineapple and cream.  The taste of the wine was very smooth.  It was bursting with flavors.  The most prevalent was the vanilla.  However, the taste of spices was also a nice touch.  I didn't have this wine with food.





Name: Coreto Tinto
Variety: Tinto
Region: Lisboa Region, Portugal
Country: Portugal
Year: 2008
Price: $6.95

Winery 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 interesting.  It had a very strong aroma, mostly of berry but there was also a pretty distinct smokey smell.  The taste was somewhat bitter, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.  The berry flavor really was evident, and I found the aftertaste was a little too smokey for me.  I didn't have this wine with food.

Name: Charles Thomas Cotes-du-Rhon
Variety: Cotes-du-Rhon
Region: Rhone, France
Country: France
Year: n/a
Price: $8.95

Winery 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: I had a hard time detecting  a distinct scent in this wine.  It just seemed kind of bland.  The taste was interesting.  I could taste something fruity, only to have it change to spices and herbs.  I didn't have this wine with food.







Name: Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolc
Variety: Spumante Dolc
Region: ?
Country: Italy
Year: n/a
Price: $4.95

Winery 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: I found this wine quite refreshing.  The aroma was that of peaches and other fruits, but also the fresh scent of flowers.  The taste was very sweet.  It was crisp and delicious.  The peach flavors came out instantly, and were the dominant taste.  I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Vintage Cellar on 2-09-12

Name: Coastal Vines Brut
Variety: Brut
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011?
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Coastal Vines Sparkling Wine is a light colored wine with aromas of apple and citrus. On the palate there are flavors of melon and pear. The finish is crisp and clean. Pair with cheeses, like brie, for appetizers; grilled garlic shrimp over a bed of pasta; or with a light white cake for dessert.

My Review: This wine was had a very strong aroma of fruit.  I could easily smell apples and possibly a lemon.  As for the taste, it was decent.  It is a sparkling wine, so the feeling is different on the palate.  However, I think that the carbonation actually helps bring out the flavor.  It almost seemed as with every popping sensation, more of a fruity taste was released.  I didn't have this wine with food.

Name: Lazzaro Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Opens with mellow peach and melon aromas and some oak. The palate is round, creamy and full. Tastes of spiced, dried apple with a stalky, pithy accent.

My Review:  The aroma of this wine was very pleasant.  I could detect the smell of a melon, almost like a cantaloupe.  As for the taste, I found it very smooth.  It had a nice rich flavor, but wasn't overpowering.  This was probably one of my favorites that I tried.  Again, I didn't have the wine with food.








Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo Rosé
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Calatayud, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Winery 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:  Having been to Spain in the past, I was excited to read the winery review.  The aroma of the wine was very distinct.  I could detect berry and the smell of spices really caught my attention.  The taste of the wine was slightly bitter in my opinion.  However, I still really enjoyed it.  It had a taste of fruitiness to it, but at the same time was dry.  I unfortunately didn't have it with any food, but could imagine it tasting fantastic with some tapas.




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

Winery Review: Spicy , jammy, ripe round plum with juicy soft finish. Goes well with marsala chicken, peppered steak or broiled lamb shank.


My Review: This wine had a very strong aroma.  It was filled with the scent of spices, along with some sort of fruit.  The taste itself was very smooth.  I found that it tasted somewhat fruity but interestingly had a very smokey after taste.  I did not have this wine with food.







Name: Legaris Crianza
Variety: Crianza
Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2003
Price: $8.95

Winery 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: This wine was filled with so many aromas.  I could detect everything from fruit to smoke to spices.  As for the taste, it was fantastic.  It had a very nice berry flavor, but at the same time I could
almost detect the taste of a nut.  I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Opera Prima Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Castilla la Mancha, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2011?
Price: $5.95

Winery Review:  This is an amazing value for an inexpensive Moscato sparkler that is great for many occasions.  Its bright fruit aromas of lychees and lime are appealing and the flavors of honeydew, lime and lychee are delightful.  Great for cake or fruit-based desserts.

My Review:  This was by far the sweetest of the five wines I tried.  Its' aroma was filled by the smell of fruits, with a slight hint of lemon or lime.  The taste was quite different than any of the other wines.  This is largely due to the sweetness, and the fact that it was carbonated.  Its fruity taste almost made it seem as though it was some sort of carbonated juice.  I ended up buying a bottle of this for my girlfriend, and she loved.  In fact, she went back and bought two more bottles!  Again, I didn't have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Le Lapin Multiplicity

Name: Le Lapin Multiplicity
Variety: Multiplicity? 
Region: Paso Robles, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011?
Price: $6.95

Winery Review:  Multiplicity is a blend of grapes that rabbit ridge is keeping under wraps for now. The nose is black cherry, blackberry, a little plum and some spice, with a touch of forest floor.  The palate is full of fruit and spice, with flavors of black cherry and a slight cranberry note.  Nice firm tannins and a medium finish.

My Review:  This wine had so many different aromas.  I could detect everything from fruits, to flowers, to a hint of spices.  I guess this makes sense since it is a Multiplicity.  As for the taste, I enjoyed it a lot.  As with the scent, the flavor had a variety of different tastes.  It was almost like a Dr. Pepper, you can never tell exactly what flavors it contains.  Although I didn't have it with food, it seemed pretty full bodied, and I can imagine it would go well paired with a meat of some kind.

Tasting - Marques de Moral Crianza Tempranillo

Name: Marques de Moral Crianza Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Valdepeñas, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2007
Price: $7.95

Winery Review:  Medium red.  Aromas of redcurrant and cherry, plus a hint of dried rose.  Fleshy and smooth, with moderate depth to its slightly bitter red fruit flavors.  Finishes with decent breadth and grip, with the redcurrant element joined by a hint of white pepper. - 87 Points, Stephen Tanzer

My Review:  I found that this wine was probably the most bitter, at least in my opinion of the five I tried.  It had a nice flowery scent, and some sort of berry was definitely evident in its' flavor.  It went down pretty smoothly, and there was virtually no burning sensation.  I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Yarra Valley, Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95

Winery Review:  Predominantly fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion barrel fermented in older French oak, the wine is blended, bottled and released three to four months after fermentation.  The nose shows fragrant gooseberry characters with underlying passionfruit and lychee aromas.  Minerally, stalky notes are evident and provide additional complexity.  The palate is a fine and elegant style with zesty lemon acidity and length.  Varietal characters of passionfruit pulp and gooseberry dominate with hints of lemon peel in the background.

My Review:  The smell of this wine consisted of a nice blend of fruits (berries mostly).  I could also detect a slight hint of something tart, possibly a grapefruit or lemon.  As for the taste, I found this wine quite enjoyable.  It was filled with a fantastic blend of fruits, but also has a somewhat bitter taste.  These contrasting flavors worked in its' favor very well.  Although, I didn't purchase a bottle, it is something I'll definitely keep in mind for the future.  I had this wine without food.

Tasting - Royal Chenin Blanc

Name: Royal Chenin Blanc
Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
Region: Swartland, South Africa
Country: South Africa
Year: 2009
Price: $4.95


Winery Review:  This is an unwooded Chenin Blanc, and is made from 48 year old vines in the Swartland wine growing region.  "This wine packs a deceptive punch.  And that punch taste of apples, pears, and quince, with an appealing herbal note that helps it pair well with salads and other light fare.  Don't drink it too cold, or you might miss all the fruit." - Washington Post (June 2009)


My Review: After swirling the wine, the first aroma that came to mind was that of melons.  It had a very strong fruity scent, but also a slight hint of flowers.  The taste of the wine was quite delicious.  It was somewhat sweet, but there was also a slight bitterness to it.  I think that this bitterness was essential to the fruity flavoring of the wine.  It went down really smoothly, and there was no burning sensation at all.  Overall, I really enjoyed this wine and ended up buying a bottle of it.


I tasted this wine without any food.