Tasting - Crucero Syrah Reserve

Crucero Syrah Reserve

Variety: Syrah (100%)

Region: Colchagua Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2008

Price: $13.95

Shop review: Syrah, the legendary grape of the Northern Rhone AOC's of Cote Rotie, Hermitage, and Cornas delivers ample flavor for a reasonable price. This Reserve Syrah is aged in French oak for 6 months. The wine exhibits ripe black fruit flavors and a touch of white pepper. This medium bodied red wine will age well for 3 - 5 years. Serve with red meat, game, and stews.

My review: The nose is rich with earthiness and dark cherries. There is a fruity chocolate taste to it. A dry feel, almost like the bitterness.dryness you get from drinking coffee. 

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Atlas Cumbres Torrontes

Atlas Cumbres Torrontes

Variety: Torrontes (100%) - signature white grape of Argentina

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2009

Price: $8.95

Shop review: Yellow colour with greenish nuances. Very intense aroma of fresh grapes, flower perfume and mature peaches. Fresh in the mouth. Light and easy to drink. Ideal with seafood, Thai and Chinese food.

My review: Peach and canteloupe come through on the nose. Very aromatically unique. If I concentrate my nose real hard, it smells like rubber. There is a unique floral smokiness on the mid-palate. 

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Crucero Sauvignon Blanc

Crucero Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)

Region: Central Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2011

Price: $9.95

Shop review: Sauvignon Blanc is the fabled grape of both Bordeaux Blanc and the Loire Valley (Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume). This varietal exhibits aromas of musk melon, pine, and grass. The finish is zesty and citrus-like, and goes very well with chicken and seafood.

My review: Very clean on the nose. You can smell sweetness, honeysuckle, and hints of lemon on the nose. On the mid-palate, the taste of lemon and a delightful blend of citrus come through. Very enjoyable to drink. My favorite tasting of the wines I sampled - purchased a bottle.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Perle le Roseline Cotes Provence Blanc

 Perle le Roseline Cotes Provence Blanc

Variety: Ugni Blanc, Rolle (100%)

Region: Provence

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $14.95

Shop review: Chateau Sainte Roseline is a very ancient Abbey (XII century). Founded by a hermit named Roubaud who, seduced by the beauty of the place, calmness and presence of an abundant source, decided to retire. Roseline, daughter of the Marquis de Villeneuve, Lord of the Arcs, was the Mother Prioress of the Abbey from 1300 to 1329. Very pious and generous, it marked strongly the local population and it is natural that gave the place its name.

My review: Very light and clean color. On the nose, smells like dish soap with a light sweetness. Very smooth and easy to drink. Just the right amount of sweet, not too overwhelming. Light hints of honey notes.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Crucero Merlot Reserve

Crucero Merlot Reserve

Variety: Merlot (100%)

Region: Colchagua Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2007

Price: $13.95

Shop review: Aged in 50% oak barrels (American and French) for 10 months. A red ruby color, complex aromas with hints of black fruits, confiture and some spicy aromas in perfect harmony with the wood. The palate displays juicy and soft tannins that makes the wine very easy to drink. A long and persistent finish. Pairs well with chicken, game, pasta.

My review: Smells like chocolate cherries on the nose. It is velvety on the tongue with a strong peppery mid-palate and dry finish. A very rich and smooth wine.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Risata Moscato d'Asti

Risata Moscato d'Asti

Variety: Moscato (100%)

Region: Asti, Piedmont 

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $15.95

Shop review: This Moscato d'Asti is fresh, fragrant, and frizzante with vibrant, flavors and aromas of ripe stone fruit, tangerines, and honey. The wine is concentrated and flavorful, but not overly rich or heavy; sweet, yet balance.

My review: A rich blend of sweet honeysuckle, honey, and apricots. Apricot notes really come through on the nose. Tastes like ripe sweet strawberries. Very easy to drink. A little overly sweet for my liking though. I don't think I would be able to have more than one glass at a time.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Valley of the Moon Cuvee de la Luna

Valley of the Moon Cuvee de la Luna

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (15%), and Malbec (5%)

Region: Sonoma County, California

Country: United States

Year: 2005

Price: $23

Shop review: A unique blend of four of the seven traditional red Bordeaux varietals. The black cherry, vanilla and sweet tobacco aromas are enhanced with rosemary and baking spice notes. Complex and concentrated black cherry and red currant flavors are integrated with rich oak and dark chocolate on the finish. Supple tannins and balanced acidity provide excellent structure to this elegant and complex blend.

My review: Strong cherry scent on the nose. Hints of a richly wooded forest throughout. There's a medium heat complexity. A very rich and elegant wine. One of the more enjoyable wines I sampled during the tasting.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - DeLoach Pinot Noir

DeLoach Pinot Noir

Variety: 

Region: Russian River Valley, California

Country: United States

Year: 2009

Price: $12.95

Shop review: On the nose, savory aromas of smoked meats and fragrant herbs are touched with the scent of mouthwatering ripe berries. Flavors of liqueur-soaked dark cherries, with pancetta and rosemary support smooth tannins that precede a long, silky finish.

My review: Rich earthy sandalwood mid-palate. Strong spices come through. Very smooth and silky finish. A unique and enjoyable wine.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - One Hope Chardonnay

One Hope Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay (100%)

Region: Napa, Sonoma

Country: United States

Year: 2009

Price: $11.95

Shop review: Winemaker Rob Mondavi Jr. hand-crafted with a blend of grapes from select vineyards throughout Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast of California. Our Chardonnay is blended with Muscat and Chenin Blanc displaying a pale gold color with aromas of fresh apple blossom and honeysuckle. Flavors of crisp pear and apple are vibrant on the palate, while its balanced oak and bright acidity makes this wine a great match with broiled or grilled seafood, poultry dishes and a wide assortment of cheeses. 

My review: A nice blend of fruit and earthy tones. A delightful taste of golden fruits with a light oak finish. A nice drinkable wine. Supports a great cause - fight against breast cancer.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Cinco Joses Chardonnay

Cinco Joses Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay (100%)

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $10.00

Shop review: Drinking this white is like French-kissing a tropical fruit salad. Mango, banana, and papaya duel it out to a finish that leaves you breathless. Well, not really. But it's darn good.

My review: Strong burn on the nose, possibly from the alcohol. Floral and tropical fruity notes come through on the nose though. Taste of banana and light melon come through on the mid-palate. There's a soft-sweetness in the taste. There's a light alcohol-burn undertone throughout, you can feel it in the finish but it fades quickly into a smoothness.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Innocent Bystander Moscato

Innocent Bystander Moscato

Variety: Muscat Gordo and Black Muscat

Region: Victoria

Country: Australia

Year: 2011

Price: $15.95

Shop review: The focus of Innocent Bystander is to produce quality, flavor-driven wines from carefully selected vineyards in the Yarra Valley and beyond. Over time Steve Flamsteed and his team have increased the level of complexity and texture in the Innocent Bystander wines with greater use of wild fermentations and restrained oak handling.

My review: Comes in a bottle with a fun soda-pop type top. It has a beautiful soft rose color. On the nose, there is a rich smell of raisins with a hint of raspberry. The light bubbles make this wine very happy and enjoyable to drink. It has just the right amount of sweet, not too overdone. It tastes of light strawberries and honey. This wine was one of my favorite to taste that day.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Antano Crianza

Antano Crianza

Variety: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $8.95

Shop review: What a terrific value in everyday Rioja! Based in the beautiful small town of Briones in Rioja Alta, Antano's rioja is delicious and offers wonderful typicity in a crianza style Rioja: loads of fresh, spicy black cherry and hints of vanilla and toast combine with fresh acidity in a medium-bodied, textbook crianza that is perfect for a nicely balanced, delicious house red.

My review: A very earthy and soil-like smell. Smooth mid-palate with a short finish. A leathery and rustic taste. A good satisfying wine, I could image having a bottle of this handy at home.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Cuilleras Cote du Rhone

Cuilleras Cote du Rhone

Variety: 

Region: Rhone

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $11.95

Shop review: Le Deves is a wine with great lively acidity which gives it great freshness. You'll taste lots of black cherry and currant fruit with some notes of licorice and minerals. You will be transported to the south of France. Now, that is a trip I never mind taking.

My review: Has a strong smell like cough syrup. A smooth mid-palate with a cedar-like finish. Definitely one of the stronger wines I have sampled so far.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Frisk Prickly Riesling

Frisk Prickly Riesling

Variety: Riesling (89%) and Muscat Gordo (11%)

Region: Alpine Valleys, Victoria

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: $11.95

Shop review: Leave to the Aussies to come up with a tasty value wine with a sassy descriptive name. Frisk is a frisky Riesling with a pleasing level of prickly spritz lifting the ample fruity flavors. It has a pale straw color, lively bubbles, loads of tropical fruit and jasmine aromas, off-dry fruity flavors, a refreshing 9.8% alcohol and a sweet/tart finish; and all that Australian goodness.

My review: A sweet and fruity, almost like apricot, smell. It has a very uplifting taste, likely from the light carbonation. A very smooth and delicate, pleasing wine to drink. You can taste the pretty blend of light fruits.

I did not have food with this tasting.

Tasting - Leese Fitch Sauvignon Blanc

Leese Fitch Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $10.95

Shop review: 90 points (Wine Enthusiast). A lovely Sauvignon Blanc, dry, crisply acidic and clean, with complex citrus, flower and mineral flavors. A great value for the money.

My review: The smell reminds me of pure Dawn dish soap. The mid-palate is clean but empty, almost no taste, as if watered down. The finish is very clean. Not exactly the taste nor smell I was expecting. 

I did not have food with this tasting.