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.
