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.

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Variety: 100% Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: $14.00 (On Sale for $3.95)

Winery Review: Balanced and lightly creamy, offering pretty flavors of plum sauce and raspberry coulis threaded with hints of ground spice. Elegant, with a floral finish. Drink now.

My Review: The nose of the wine was pleasant, with an aromas of plum present. The palette of this wine was dry and full of spice. Overall, an average wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Bricco dei Tati Rosé

Name: Bricco dei Tati Rosé

Variety: 100% Barbera

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals. This is ideal with shellfish, salads, chicken, and with appetizers.

My Review: Upon smelling this wine, I noticed a strong essence of perfume.  However, the taste of this wine included a heavy dose of cherries, as well as strawberries and lavender.  I would definitely try it again!

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Frascati Volpetti

Name: Frascati Volpetti

Variety: 50% Malvasia, 40% Trebbiano, 10% Greco

Region: Frascati

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Straw yellow in color with a soft, delicate perfume, fruitful flavor, dry and harmonious taste. Perfect with appetizers, soups, fish.

My Review: The nose of this wine provided many floral, as well as tangerine notes.  I thought that this wine was extra sweet and I particularly noticed flavors of lime, citrus, and orange.  A decent wine with a very unique grape blend.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Toso Moscato Dolce

Name: Toso Moscato Dolce

Variety: 100% Muscat of Alexandria

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: This Moscato is reminiscent of honeysuckle and rose petal. The quality is equivalent to a top level Asti Spumante DOCG. Sweet sparkling wine obtained from a careful selection of the Moscato grapes. It has a pale straw yellow color with fine foam and bubbles. Tropical fruit flavors, refreshing. Excellent to match desserts, fruit and dried pastries.

My Review: This was one of the better Moscatos that I have tasted.  The sweetness wasn't overpowering and I tasted some refreshing orange peel and citrus notes.  I would recommend it!

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - El Sierro Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: El Sierro Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Valencia

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Dark ruby in color with rich aromas of red fruit and light spices. It is a real knock-out with delicious flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and vanilla all perfectly integrated. The Tempranillo provides wonderful spice and fruit, while the Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and depth with the beautiful use of oak.

My Review: The nose of this wine was very powerful with huge notes of plum and cherry.  The palette of this wine provided tastes of blackberry, cherry, and plum.  A very decent wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Omo Ze Bel Merlot

Name: Omo Ze Bel Merlot

Variety: 100% Merlot

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: This bright, soft Merlot comes from a hilly vineyard on the Alcesti family estate in beautiful Sicily. It has hints of red cherries and freshly cut hay. Exceptional value.

My Review: I found this Merlot to be rather bland and mellow.  The nose was light with a very slight aroma of cherry.  The palette was also hard to distinguish.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Altas Cumbres Torrontés

Name: Altas Cumbres Torrontés

Variety: 100% Torrontés

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Winery 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: The nose of this wine was full of lavender and floral notes.  The palette was very sweet with notes of earth, citrus, and pineapple present.  A very good value!

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Avery Quinn Chardonnay

Name: Avery Quinn Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: Napa Valley, California

Country: United States of America

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: The 2011 vintage marks a return to form for this great value Chardonnay.  The aromas feature creamy, mellow, golden apple, pineapple, fresh butter and a touch of vanilla.  Then rich, ripe, flavors of yellow pear, pineapple, fresh apple, cream and buttered toast swell up and fill your mouth before a juicy, apple and caramel inflected finish makes your mouth water (and smile!).

My Review: I enjoyed this buttery, creamy Chardonnay.  It provided a nose of green apples and cream.  The palette was crisp with notes of buttered toast and pear apparent.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Bellafina Pink Moscato

Name: Bellafina Pink Moscato

Variety: A Blend of Moscato and Rabosos

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: A blend of Moscato and Rabosos grapes it has a pale rose color, notes of red berries (strawberry and raspberry), with the characteristic and fragrant bouquet and palate that is typical of the Moscato grape.

My Review: This wine didn't really differentiate itself from any other Moscato.  It had a floral bouquet, as well as a sweet, floral palette.  A very mediocre wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Weinert Carrascal

Name: Weinert Carrascal

Variety: 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2008

Price: $13.95

Winery Review: Aged for two years in cask, the 2008 Carrascal is a blend of 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. It has a rustic blackberry, scorched earth and leather-scented bouquet with touches of pressed flowers. The palate is well-balanced with crisp tannins, expressive black tarry fruit and a Bordeaux-like finish. Drink now-2016.

My Review: I thought that this wine was fantastic!  I noticed a very mellow nose of earth and tobacco in this wine.  However, the palette of this wine provided notes of oak, firewood, and scorched earth, which really enhanced this wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Santa Julia Malbec

Name: Santa Julia Malbec

Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: The nose is full of mellow raspberry and cherry, while the palate is fleshy and round, with blackberry and a touch of raisin. Plump, not edgy, and ready to drink, with coffee and mocha notes on the finish.

My Review: On this particular wine, I noticed a dark fruit nose, with a particular emphasis on plum.  The taste of this Malbec was similar, with blackberry and cherry more prevalent.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Gouguenheim Torrontés

Name: Gouguenheim Torrontés

Variety: 100% Torrontés

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: The 2012 Torrontes comes from Chilecito in La Rioja. It has a light floral nose with touches of lemon peel and nectarine. The palate is crisp and taut, showing far more vivacity and fruit that the nose implied, finishing with a flourish of apricot and white peach. Drink now.

My Review: I thought the nose of this wine was a little musky.  The palette of this wine was very refreshing, with notes of lemon and lime present in this wine.  A great value!

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Santa Julia Pinot Grigio

Name: Santa Julia Pinot Grigio

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2013

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Light and clean, which compared to other Argentine Pinot Grigios is not something to dismiss. Feels solid and punchy, with orange and mango flavors. Has nice overall clarity and balance, with a citrusy finish.

My Review: The nose of this wine provided floral hints, as well as the aroma of orange peel.  The palette of this wine included notes of orange, citrus, and tangerine.  Overall, a very pleasing wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.