Tasting - Rosemount Estate Moscato

Name: Rosemount Estate Moscato

Variety: 100% Muscat of Alexandria

Region: South East Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Price: $12.00 (On Sale for $3.95)

Winery Review: Clear, medium-lemon yellow in appearance; lovely citrus and honeysuckle aromas with lemon, honeysuckle, apple and ripe yellow plum flavours. Serve chilled with angel food cake or fresh fruit and mild cheeses.

My Review: This was one of the better Moscatos that I have had.  It was too overwhelmingly sweet, but at the same time provided a refreshing, soft taste of lavender and flowers.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Garnacha de Fuego Old Vine Grenache

Name: Garnacha de Fuego Old Vine Grenache

Variety: 100% Grenache

Region: Aragon

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: 92 points, Wine Advocate. The Garnacha de Fuego, a 100% Grenache cuvee, was aged in both stainless steel and neutral French oak. There are 10,000 cases for the United States. This amazing wine boasts a dark ruby/purple color along with a sweet kiss of jammy black cherries intertwined with crushed rock notes that give the wine an undeniable minerality. As it hits the palate, a full-bodied, voluptuous texture takes hold and the flavor profile moves towards blacker fruits (ripe raspberries and black currants) intermixed with camphor and forest floor. This full-bodied, rich, glycerin-filled effort should drink well for 4-5 years, perhaps longer.

My Review: This wine seemed to have an almost tequila-like nose. The palette of the wine was full of earth and pepper.  I thought it was a very interesting wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Librandi Cirò Rosso Classico

Name: Librandi Cirò Rosso Classico

Variety: 100% Gaglioppo

Region: Cirò

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $14.00 (On Sale for $7.95)

Winery Review: Don't let the pale garnet color fool you: this is a substantial wine. Aromas of red fruits and spice complement undertones of cranberries, wild berries, and plums. On the palette, ripe tannins and good body make for an incredibly rich, yet easygoing red wine. Pair this wine with sausage, spicy curry sauces, hot soppressata, and tandoori chicken.

My Review: This nose of this wine provided aromas of blackberry and cherry.  I tasted a dry wine with flavors of plum, blackberry, cranberry, and cherry present.  I would drink this wine in the future.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Angove Nine Vines Viognier

Name: Angove Nine Vines Viognier

Variety: 100% Viognier

Region: South Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2009

Price: $15.00 (On Sale for $5.95)

Winery Review: Bright light straw in colour with some green hues, this wine has a lush ripe tropical fruit aroma. This is a fuller bodied white which fills the mouth with heady flavours of apricot, peach and citrus. Angove Nine Vines Viognier is perfect for today's relaxed life-style and is the ideal accompaniment to grilled prawns with chili and garlic or roast pork.

My Review: I thought that this wine had a rather bland nose.  In addition, the palette was full-bodied with peach and orange flavors present.  I did not particularly enjoy this wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Yealands Estate Seaview Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Yealands Estate Seaview Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Marlborough

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2008

Price: $21.00 (On Sale for $7.95)

Winery Review: This aromatic wine shows lifted flavours of blackcurrant with underlying notes of wet stone and thyme. The palate is elegant yet full with sufficient weight and texture, balanced by a flinty minerality. This wine is a fantastic match with foods such as cheese salad, poultry dishes and a wide range of seafood dishes including freshly shucked oysters, prawns, green lip mussels and creamy scallops.

My Review: This particular wine provided an earth-like nose with a specific emphasis on green peppers.  The palette was smooth with notes of various vegetables and black pepper present.  A decent sauvignon blanc.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: Pfalz

Country: Germany

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: This drier-style Riesling is bright, fruity and floral with crisp acidity and clean flavors of apple, pear and peach that compliment its stony minerality and earthy complexity. It serves well as an aperitif and matches a wide variety of foods, like lighter salad dishes, shellfish, cream sauces and also anything with a touch of spice.

My Review: This was one of the best Rieslings that I have ever had.  The nose was refreshing with hints of apple and honey present.  The palette was semi-sweet, with the tastes of green apple and pear apparent.  I would recommend this wine!

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Altas Cumbres Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Altas Cumbres Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $15.00 (On Sale for $6.95)

Winery Review: Intense red color with violet highlights, with clean, fresh and complex aromas of berries, plums, figs and pepper. Strong personality is in perfect balance with a medium body and pleasant tannins. Ideal for: red meats, cheeses and strong sauces.

My Review: The nose of this wine was one of the most intense noses I have ever smelled.  The palette was also strong with notes of firewood and earth present.  Finally, I noticed a strong peppery finish.

I tasted this on its own with no food.