Tasting - Bolla Moscato

Name: Bolla Moscato

Variety: Muscat

Region: Pavia

Country: Italy

Year: --

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Loaded with juicy exotic fruit, mature apricot, yellow peach and tangerine flavors, this sweet and delightful wine is perfect for Sunday brunch or picnics. 

My Review: 
I sensed citrus fruits in the aroma of this wine, almost like a very sour lemon would smell. I would describe this wine as sugar-water. It was extremely too sugary with a finish of apricot notes. I did not enjoy it very much. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Monte Degli Angeli

Name: Monte Degli Angeli

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Puglia

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
The aromas are rich and dark, with lots of black cherry and a hint of balsamic. In the mouth the wine is round and energetic, with cherry and black raspberry fruit complemented by hints of damp earth. The wine is ripe, fresh, and fruit-driven with a wonderful dash of earthy complexity at the end. Buy it by the case and drink with pizza, grilled poultry, and pasta. 

My Review: 
My initial impression of the aroma of this wine was earthy, almost like wet wood chips or a forest after a rain storm. The taste was smokey and spicy, with a slight taste of blackberry. Overall, this wine was okay. It did not stand out very much to me at all. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Monte Aman Rosado Ribera del Arlanza

Name: Monte Aman Rosado Ribera del Arlanza
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Arlanza
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $11.99

Timeless Wines Review: 
It has a cherry red color, live, fresh, clean. Very fruity, berries (strawberries, cherries), elegant and surprising. The palate is well balanced and fresh wine in step, with good acidity and is pleasant and enjoyable. It should be served cold, with all types of starters, fish and light meats. 

My Review: 
The color was extremely transparent and nice rosy pink. I expected this wine to be extremely sweet due to the strong strawberry aroma I sensed, however it was actually well-balanced and even ended with some spice. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Alvarez de Toledo

Name: Alvarez de Toledo
Variety: Godello
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Clean pale yellow color. Nose fruity, persistent and elegant aromas. Good backbone on the palate. 

My Review: 
I did not enjoy anything about this wine. The aromas I detected were roasted vegetables and steamed broccoli, which I do not enjoy. It was not sweet, complex, or really anything. Very bland and one note. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Villa Jolanda

Name: Villa Jolanda
Variety: Brut
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: --
Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste. 

My Review: 
I am pleased to say that while I usually struggle with placing aromas, I distinctly smelled honey from this wine. The wine was not too sweet and left a noticeable taste on the tongue. I believe the presence of the bubbles helped to take the edge off the sweetness, as the fizz tingled and gave the illusion of spice. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Alamos

Name: Alamos
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $7.99

Total Wine Review: 
The nose offers bright black cherry aromas with light floral notes and a touch of toast. The mouthfeel is full and rich, with ripe, concentrated cassis and black raspberry fruit flavors interwoven with a touch of chocolate and sweet spice from light oak aging. 

My Review: 
I have never so strongly identified an aroma than I did with this wine. I smelled straight up roasted tomatoes and green beans, which made me think this would be a great wine to pair with steak dinner. The taste was very smokey and smooth, but not very acidic. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - The Dreaming Tree

Name: The Dreaming Tree
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15.00

Steve Reeder Review: 
The rhythm of our North Coast Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon highlights classic aromas of blackberry, cherry and herbal notes wrapped by toasted vanilla. It's an easy-drinking wine with a lot of character. 

My Review:
I enjoyed this wine, and did find it very easy to drink and enjoy. I picked up blueberry and cream aromas. The taste was sweet, smooth, and left residuals on the tongue. A lot of warmth also came through, along with black berries. The only complaint was that the wine did not have a lot of complexity in flavor and was very one note. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Horton

Name: Horton
Variety: Viognier
Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $11.99

Costco Review: 
Forward, with a nice hint of peach pit holding the yellow apple, quince and melon flavors together, followed by a juicy finish. 

My Review: 
Again, this was another wine based on the tasting notes I thought I would enjoy. I hated it. The aroma was crisp and tickled the notes with citrus, and the color was a medium yellow. The taste was like drinking cat urine. I could not even finish my glass. It was sour in the wrong way, and very one note. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Primus

Name: Primus The Blend 
Variety: Blend of Cab Sav, Carmenere, Syrah, & Merlot
Region: Colchagua Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $15.59

Costco Review: 
Expressive and aromatic with notes of blackberry, strawberry and blueberry, mixed with hints of cinnamon, clove, pepper, rosemary, and bay leaf. Elegant, with flavors of plum and strawberry enveloped in soft velvety texture. 

My Review: 
Based on the tasting notes alone, I thought I would really enjoy this wine (especially more than Rustenberg) however I was dead wrong. Perhaps because it was a newly opened bottle but the wine was extremely acidic and spicy, that left a tart taste in my mouth. I really did not enjoy this wine. The berry aromas came through, as well as the cinnamon. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Rustenberg

Name: Rustenberg John X Merriman
Variety: Bordeaux Blend
Region: Stellenbosch
Country: South Africa
Year: 2011
Price: $19.99

Costco Review: 
The palate is full-bodied with firm, dry, grippy tannins and a lot of tobacco-tinged black fruit. It expresses commendable definition and freshness with a nice touch of austerity that should see it age over 7-10 years with ease. 

My Review: 
I think I have found a new favorite red! The color of this wine was a nice dark red, with aromas of blackberry and cherry. The taste was not very acidic, which I have discovered I prefer, and the berries really came through. It was dry, smooth, and left behind a strong residual taste on my tongue.

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Crane Lake (II)

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Punchy lime and lemon mark this off-dry Riesling with a staccato rhythm, adding edge to honeyed tones of peach and honeysuckle. Exceptionally priced, it's satisfying and elegant. 

My Review: 
The aroma of this wine was slighty floral to me. It was very light and sweet, but was not very residual on the tongue. Tasting it more, I did taste the honeysuckle notes found in the wine. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Crane Lake

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Petite Sirah
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Shows a certain rustic simplicity now, with youthfully jammy flavors of blackberries, cherries and currants, sprinkled with cocoa and pepper and wrapped into dusty tannins. 

My Review: 
I very much enjoyed this wine. So much so, that I eneded up purchasing it. To start, the color of the wine was a gorgeous purple-red, berry color. From the aroma I could sense the blackberries right away. The taste was smooth, dry, and I tasted a hint of vanilla. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Yellowtail Reserve

Name: Yellowtail Reserve
Variety: Merlot
Region:South Eastern
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $12.00

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Round, velvety and mouthfiling, this is a satisfying Merlot at a bargain price. Aromas of black cherries and herbs fold in hints of cinnamon and mocha, while the flavors are generally fruits, but with a slightly tomatoey note. Soft on the finish. Drink now.  

My Review: 
The color of this Merlot was a brown-red. In the aroma I sensed capers, which may be the tomatoey note the Vintage Cellar mentions above. I could clearly taste the cinnamon spice to the wine, and sensed that this wine would probably be good to pair with vegetables. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Takutai

Name: Takutai
Variety: Pinot Gris
Region: Nelson
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2009
Price: $21.00

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Since this wine weighs in at 14%, the fruit was clearly very ripe. That ripeness is reflected in the flavors as well, which feature nectarine and honey accented by hints of white pepper. It's full bodied and lush, with a long finish that mingles the sensations of sweet and spicy. 

My Review: 
Initially smelling the wine, I sensed a pear aroma with some spice. The taste wasn't as sweet as the Mars & Venus. I would more so describe it as tart. I enjoyed this wine much more than the Mars & Venus because it had more complexity and depth. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine. 

Tasting - Mars & Venus

Name: Mars & Venus
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 
Citrus and gooseberry aromas are mild but typical of variety. A basic citrus palate delivers modest tangerine and nectarine flavors which lead to a mild, pithy finish showing light citric notes. 

My Review: 
Mild is a very good word to describe this wine overall. There was an orange, citrus aroma but the taste was barely there. I really struggled to taste any complexity of flavor. It was extremely light. 

I did not have any food while tasting this wine.