Tasting- Annalisa Malvasia

Name: Annalisa Malvasia di Catelnuovo Don Bosco Malvasia

Variety: 100% Malvasia

Region: Asti

Country: Italy

Year: 2016

Price: $9.95

Review: "The perlage is fine and persistent. The color is pale pink, almost cherry. The aromatic scent is intense and reminiscent of wild berries, blueberries and wild strawberries. The flavor is sweet, slightly sparkling and full of berries. Since this is a sweet and aromatic wine is a classic to combine with fruit tarts and pastry. An ideal companion in moments of celebration, Malvasia is also a nice refreshing drink at any time of the day." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: I found this wine to be almost too heavy for me to enjoy. It smelled and tasted like berries, specifically raspberry and blueberry, and maybe some honey. It was much thicker than I expect a sparkling wine to be and found the heavy mouth feel to a little thicker than I prefer. It almost tasted like a fruity, sparkling ice wine.  

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- CK Mondavi Red Blend

Name: CK Mondavi Red Blend

Variety: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2015

Price: $9.95

Review: "Red Blend is their winemaker’s signature cuvee, an expression of five red varieties capturing the best of each vintage. It has the backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, the finesse of Merlot, the structure of Petit Verdot, the floral essence of Cabernet Franc and the boldness of Malbec. This full-bodied wine offers flavors of black cherries and plums and ends in a soft, balanced finish." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: This wine was fruity on the nose and the palette, definitely picking up hints of cherry and maybe strawberry. It had an earthy, but fairly soft finish. It was fairly easy to drink and I would be able to just sit down and drink a glass. This is my favorite wine I tried this week.

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Vigna Lenuzza Refosco

Name: Vigna Lenuzza Friuli Colli Orientali Refosco

Variety: 100% Refosco

Region: Fruili

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $5.95

Review: "Classic varietal notes of wild herbs, roasted coffee beans, leather and spices deep ruby hues while on the palate sweet spiced notes of cinnamon and cardamom, held together with lively acidity and graceful tannins." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: This wine smelled oaky, spicy, and earthy. I think it tasted like dirt or like chewing on a piece of wood. I found the tannins to be a lot and thought that this wine would be significantly improved if I had eaten it with some food. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- William Fevre La Mision Chardonnay

Name: William Fevre La Mision Reserva Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: Maipo Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2016

Price: $9.95

Review: "This La Misión Chardonnay is very fruity and highlights notes of pear, white peach, and a hint of smoke which is very characteristic of some vines from the Maipo Valley. It is very fresh and round in the mouth and has developed aromas of toasted bread and butter." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: I thought that this wine smelled like cheese and oil. However, I was surprised that it was smooth and fruity. I got strong tastes of peach and I also thought it tasted kind of smokey. It wasn’t too bold but was fairly acidic.

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Mont Pellier Viognier

Name: Mont Pellier Viognier

Variety: 100% Viognier

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2015

Price: $8.95

Review: "With abundant aromas of honey-suckle, stone fruit, apricot and tropical fruit, our Viognier finishes crisp and clean with hints of vanilla and fruit that is pleasantly balanced." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: I liked this wine a lot. It was nice and crisp and wasn’t too heavy. It smelled and tasted like citrus fruit, specifically lemon and grapefruit. It was really acidic which made my mouth water, and had a long finish that built in intensity. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Pierre Oliver Rose

Name: Pierre Oliver Rose

Variety: Tempranillo & Airen

Region: Catalan

Country: France

Year: Not provided

Price: $9.95

Review: "A blend of Airen and Tempranillo grapes with 2% raspberry juice. Pale pink salmon. Just a touch off-dry, this is a very pleasant sparkler that reveals aromas of spicy red apple with a hint of cinnamon that carry through to the palate. Well made and exceedingly pleasant to drink." From: I-Wine via Vintage Cellar

My review: I enjoyed this wine a lot. The most easily identifiable smell and flavor is raspberry. It was semi-dry, but tasted pretty sweet because of the fruit. It had a heavier body than I anticipated, but the carbonation helped lighten it up. It was acidic and spicy and really nice to drink.

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Terre dei Savoia Nebbiolo d'Alba

Name: Terre dei Savoia Nebbiolo d'Alba

Variety: 100% Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Year: 2015

Price: $6.95

Review: "Its perfume is quite complex, with spicy notes of cinnamon and vanilla, pleasant and characteristic; at the same time it is also fruity, with cherry and strawberry notes, and at the end we find dried fruit and pleasant toasted almond aroma. The palate has an interesting structure, characterized by a soft tannins, which together with alcohol and acidity, create harmonic and elegant sensations." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: I did not like this wine very much. It was very complex which made it hard to pick out individual components. It was surprisingly dark in color and looked almost like a dessert wine. It really smelled fruity, especially cherry and red raspberry. It also tasted oaky and like vanilla. It was dry and tannic and had a long finish, almost like taking a shot of alcohol. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- El Cortijillo Tempranillo

Name: El Cortijillo Tempranillo

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: La Manch

Country: Spain

Year: 2017

Price: $5.95

Review: "Vivid ruby. Pungent red berry and peppery spice scents show good focus and lift. Gently sweet and incisive on the palate, offering jammy raspberry and cherry flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Finishes taut and spicy, with supple tannins sneaking in late." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: This wine was fruity in smell and taste, especially some red berry like cherry and plum. It was jammy and the fruit is especially present in the beginning. The tannins were more present on the finish and dried my mouth out. It was very dry and medium bodied.

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Tres Ojos Rosado

Name: Tres Ojos Rosado

Variety: 70% Gamach 30% Tempranillo

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2017

Price: $6.95

Review: "Medium pink. This is Garnacha rosé made in a fruity, easy drinking style. Showing ripe strawberry fruit, its moderate acidity and suave texture makes it the perfect sipping rosé. A blend of 70% Garnacha and 30% Tempranillo grown on limestone, marl and slate soils and made by the San Gregorio cooperative, which includes about 900 ha of 40+ year old vines. 14.5% alc." From: I-Wine via Vintage Cellar

My review: I thought that this wine smelled and tasted like cheese. It was light, not too bold, and easy to drink. I tasted some red berries, maybe like raspberry and definitely strawberry. I also thought it was kind of woody, maybe a smoky flavor.

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Barth Rene Pinot Blanc

Name: Barth Rene Pinot Blanc

Variety: 100% Pinot Blanc

Region: Alsace

Country: France

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Review: "This is a crisp, fresh Pinot Blanc. It has a light touch of spice, although the wine is really dominated by tight green apples and fragrant acidity. It is ready to drink now." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: This wine was dry, but well balanced. It was acidic in smell and taste. I tasted some kind of tropical fruit, like maybe passion fruit or pineapple. It was dry, but because of the sweetness of the fruit it wasn't overwhelmingly dry. It also had a fairly light body. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Fratelli Blaze

Name: Fratelli Blaze

Variety: Cabernet Sauvingon, Pinot Noir

Region: Not provided

Country: Ukraine

Year: Not provided

Price: $8.95

Review: "Sweet blackberry and blueberry notes are deeply concentrated on the nose and palate of this Ukranian semisweet red sparkler. Softly petillant, it’s unabashedly fun and fruity, and an enjoyable choice for casual entertaining." From: Wine Enthusiast via Vintage Cellar

My review: This wine was fruity and floral both on the nose and in taste. I tasted berry, specifically red raspberry. It was sweet and sparkling and fairly light. It was a little sweeter than I usually prefer for any wine, especially sparkling.

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Eikeboom Pintoage

Name: Eikeboom Pinotage

Variety: 100% Pinotage

Region: Western Cape

Country: South Africa

Year: 2015

Price: $6.95

Review: "This dark-colored 2015 possesses cranberry and cherry richness intermixed with some spice box, earth and herbs. It is fresh, medium-bodied and could be served chilled if readers desire, given its Beaujolais-like weight and texture." From: Wine & Spirits via Vintage Cellar

My review: This wine was very fruity both in smell and taste. I mainly could identify cherry and dark berry, maybe black berry or black currant. Although this was a dry wine, the fruitiness made it sweet. I also tasted some earthy elements and it was a little bit spicy. It was fairly tannic but not too bold or full-bodied. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Jekel Monterery Pinot Noir

Name: Jekel Monterery Pinot Noir

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Monterery 

Country: California

Year: 2015

Price: $9.95

Review: "This medium weight Pinot Noir is rich with layers of bing cherries, rosehips, and lavender herbs. Its opulent richness will exceed your expectations--lingering just a bit until an inevitable smile appears."

From: Vintage Cellar

My review: I enjoyed this wine a lot. I got notes of fruit on the nose and it smelled very jammy. It tasted fruit, especially cherries, and oak. I also got some earthy notes, particularly smoky. It was dry, but not too tannic, and had a fairly light body. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Les Caprices d'Anais Bordeuax Rose

Name: Les Caprices d'Anais Bordeuax Rose

Variety: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvingnon

Region: Bordeuax

Country: France

Year: 2017

Price: $7.95

Review: "Medium pink salmon. Reticent nose of minerals, flowers, and a hint of red berries. Savory, serious, and spicy in the mouth with minerals and red currants showing. A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from 30+ year old vines. This is a serious, food wine with a good backbone." From: I-Wine via Vintage Cellar

My review: I liked this wine. I wasn't sure I would like it after I smelled it because it smelled pungent and not good. However, the taste was surprisingly light, very spicy, and slightly fruity. It was dry and light bodied. It was a little bold to drink by itself, but paired with some food I think this would be a great wine. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.

Tasting- Cantina Villafranca Frascati

Name: Cantina Villafranca Franscati

Variety: 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio, and 15% Grechetto

Region: Lazio

Country: Italy

Year: 2016

Price: $5.95

Review: "This luminous, golden wine shows fragrant aromas of honeysuckle, white melon, peach blossom and almond." From: Vintage Cellar

My review: I thought that this wine smelled really sweet, and was surprised at how acidic it actually was. It tasted fruity (like citrus or apples) and floral (like honeysuckle). I also thought it tasted kind of woody and earthy. It was light bodied and easy to drink. Overall, I really liked this wine. 

Food Pairing: I did not drink this with food.