Name: Yellowtail Unoaked Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: New Zealand and Australia
Price: $4.95
Winery review:
Wow,
who would ever call Yellow Tail understated? But here it is. Nice but light
aromas of orange, grapefruit, apple, earth and flowers. Lemon, grapefruit, apples,
and a little lime on the light palate. Good acidity, pleasant finish, and decent
minerality.
My review: A pretty generic brand, I was excited to see what it brought to the table. Upon sniffing, I knew this would be acidic as apple and vinegar were first noticed. While tasting, grapefruit and strong acids attacked my tongue. And a metallic taste lingered.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Rosemount Diamond Label Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year: 2014
Region: Southeastern
Country: Australia
Price: $7.95
Winery review:
On
the nose fragrant red berry fruits; red cherries raspberries; supported by
sweet earthy spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate is bright and
lively with flavors of cherry and
raspberry are supported by a soft creamy texture, providing a long and elegant
finish.
My review: A pleasant strawberry and mixed red berry smell was present. This was followed by a dry, serious, and oaky taste. Towards the end it was jammy with very mild flavors overall. Nice subtle wine.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Valminor Albarino
Variety: Albarino
Year: 2015
Region: Rias Baixas
Country: Spain
Price: $9.95
Winery review:
"Gloriously
aromatic with jasmine and flint notes; very scented. Full and fleshy palate, a
mineral follow-through and intense, harmonious finish. A very lovely Albarino
that is so pure."
My review: There was a certain floral smell. It also seemed sweet and peachy to the nose. Upon tasting, a citrus taste of some sort was evident. But the aftertaste of vinegar and harsh acids ruined the fruitiness.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Variety: Montepulciano
Year: 2013
Region: Abruzzo
Country: Italy
Price: $7.95
Winery review:
Wild berry, chopped mint, sun baked earth and
violet aromas meld together on this solid savory red. The juicy straightforward
palate doles out ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, anise and cinnamon
alongside chewy tannins.
My review: A specific floral scent, otherwise just a typical dry red wine smell. When tasting, mint was apparent, which is unusual. Very dry and savory with not too much of a fruity taste.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Coastal Vines White Zinfandel
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $5.95
Winery review:
Coastal
Vines White Zinfandel is a light and fruity salmon-pink wine. Sweet, floral
aromas of jasmine and roses burst into bright flavors of apricots, cantaloupe,
and orange blossoms.
My review: I certainly tasted some citrus and other fruits. But this wine was just too sweet to really enjoy. The sweetness overpowered every flavor. It was kind of like pink liquid cotton candy.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Jam Jar Sweet White
Variety: While blend
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Price: $7.95
Winery review:
This
charming, easy-drinking Moscato offers flavors of peach, apricot, lychee and
orange blossom. A lively jolt of acidity keeps it fresh and fruity. Fancy
enough for a special occasion toast, yet sweet-natured enough to enjoy every
day.
My review: Certainly not my favorite. It was incredibly sweet and not well balanced. This wine was acidic and tasted only like apricot and lychee. Surprisingly, there was some smoke to the finish.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Fox Creek Shiraz
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale
Country: Australia
Price: $9.95
Winery review:
Bright purple. Exotic, expansive aromas of black
and blue fruit preserves, vanilla and cola, along with a peppery overtone and a
hint of violet pastille. Broad, fleshy, appealingly sweet boysenberry and
cherry liqueur flavors show excellent depth and a seamless texture. Finishes
juicy and long, with building spiciness, an echo of blue fruit and round
tannins.
My review: One thing is for sure: I smelled a lot of fruit. I think it was probably berries, particularly blackberry and raspberry. At first, when tasting, I got nutty flavors and my mouth went dry. The wine expands in the mouth to become jammy.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Candoni Buongiorno
Variety: 100% Syrah
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Price: $7.95
Winery review:
Black
ruby color. Mild, spicy, earthy aromas of spiced berries and plum with a
supple, bright, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a tingling, brisk earth
and cinnamon finish with dusty, coating tannins and moderate oak. A sturdy,
earthy red for the table.
My review: While the wine smelled sweet like strawberries, the taste of the wine was more dry. There was certainly some taste of flowers. Perhaps roses. I also tasted some oak and toward the end I got apple.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Maipe Torrontes
Variety: 100% Torrontes
Region: Salta
Country: Argentina
Year:2016
Price: $7.95
Winery review:
Spring-like
nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of
jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and
acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well-balanced, this wine
displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish.
My review: There was a pleasant peaches and floral like rose scent. Upon tasting, oranges, peaches, and apricot were the first fruit flavors. It turned into sweeter fruit on the pallet, perhaps honeysuckle, lilac or something similar.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Oxford Landing Viognier
Variety: 100% Viognier
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year:2014
Price: $13
Winery review: This
wine may not be quite as rich or expressive as the other Viogniers in the
Yalumba stable, but it's still an attractive effort. Pineapple and apricot
flavors pick up hints of gingery spice on the vibrant finish.
My review: It smelled very much like citrus, possibly grapefruit and lime. It was pretty acidic yet very fruity. Most of the fruit I tasted was grapefruit and other tropical fruits like pineapple. Overall, I think I liked this more than most other white wines.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Crane Lake Gewurztraminer
Variety: 100% Gewurztraminer
Region: Ceres, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $5.95
Winery review:
This
floral wine has notes of rose, peach, and apricot, with a smooth, lingering
finish. This wine pairs well with both smoked Gouda and Munster cheeses. Also
try it along with roast pork, turkey, red snapper or sautéed abalone.
My review: It's so much fun to say. But not as exciting to drink. While the floral scents were nice to the nose, the wine was not well balanced. It was incredibly sweet with nothing balancing it out. Fruit flavors were burried by the overwhelming sugar.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: El Ganador Malbec 2015
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year:2015
Price: $7.95
Winery review:
Garnet color. Aromas of black cherry, plum jam,
rich dark soil, and violet honey with a lightly tannic, lively, dry
medium-to-full body and a tingling, complex, medium-long black cherry, rich
garden soil, crushed plum, and cinnamon toast finish with medium tannins and
moderate oak. Dense, dark and chewy with earthy complexity, balancing the
luscious jammy fruit qualities of new world with earthy qualities of old world
wines. 87 - Beverage Tasting Institute
My review: Generic berry and smoke characterized the smell. Tart cherry and a jam of other fruits were evident. The tannins were strong and sucked your mouth dry. This wine was okay but the short lived tastes of fruit followed by overwhelming tannins I found to be unpleasant.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Grand Cru Pinot Noir
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Sonoma, CA
Country: USA
Year:2014
Price: $5.95
Winery review:
This
ruby-colored wine has aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of vanilla.
Flavors of cherry and plum lead to a soft velvety finish. This wine can be
enjoyed by itself. It is also an excellent accompaniment with appetizers and
main courses. This wine goes well with Brie, goat cheese and smoked salmon,
lamb shanks and pork tenderloin.
My review: I always love Pinot Noir and this one was no exception. Delicious scents of sweet jammy strawberry and blackberry. Hint of smoke. Upon tasting, tannins were mouth puckering in this very dry younger wine. The berries of the jam were evident mixed with black pepper.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Douglass Hill Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100%Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Napa Valley, CA
Country: USA
Year:2014
Price: $5.95
Winery review: This light crisp Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of grapefruit, bell pepper, and asparagus. On the palate, hints of floral and honey are revealed to yield a well-balanced refreshing wine.
My review: Strong scents of flowers led to a pleasant taste of lavender. Smooth buttery start led me through notes of citrus. Perhaps, lemon and grapefruit. The wine was well balanced and not too sweet, yet refreshing.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Brume Soave Garganega
Variety: 100% Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $6.95
Winery review:
"Brilliant emerald straw
color. Aromas and flavors of brazil nuts, creme fraiche, and kiwi and starfruit
with a silky, lively, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and an effortless,
engaging, medium-length watermelon, yellow apple, and clementine finish. A
delicious, artfully balanced soave with a great range of fruit flavors."
My review: Interesting strong smell of ethanol with some lingering fruit. Upon tasting, fruits rushed to the front of the pallet. They were tangy and there was possibly some citrus or something in there. The finish was smooth and buttery or nutty.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
