Tasting - Monte Aman

Name: Monte Aman
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Arlanza
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95
Tasting Date: February 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit.
Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now.

  My Thoughts: This is a wine. The color was a nice deep red. The nose is full of wood and berries, hints of vanilla and spice. My first though when tasting it was that I had licked a tree. The flavor then became cake like, except someone used sawdust for flour. There were also some hints of spice, but not much. This was a very interesting wine, and perhaps one of the first reds I have enjoyed.

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Variety: 100% Montepulciano
Region: Abruzzo
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95
Tasting Date: February 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats.

  My Thoughts: The color is a light red, looks a bit thin. Strange earthy and fruity nose, though not distinct, I would almost call it a rotten fruit. The flavor is much the same with fruit and earthen tones. Not something I enjoyed overly much.

Tasting - Maipe Chardonnay

Name: Maipe Chardonnay
Variety: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: February 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Made from 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier. 30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels. Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.

  My Thoughts: I went in expecting some interesting flavors from this wine, but I didn't pick up much. Aroma and flavors of sour apple. No vanilla or buttery flavors that I can detect. Some acidity, especially in the finish.The finish is decently long with a strange flavor I was unable to identify. Its not bad just not as impressive as I was hoping for. I still need to find a real buttery bomb from Cali to try.

Tasting - Villa d' Orvieto

Name: Villa d' Orvieto
Variety: 50% Grechetto, 40% Procanico, 10% Malvasia
Region: Umbria
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Tasting Date: February 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: It’s a blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia. Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads.

  My Thoughts: Watery clear color. Very floral nose, not very exciting. Some acidity with only mild flavors. Not picking up any fruity characteristics. Has an almost sweet feeling on the tongue. I am going to give this one a pass.

Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve
Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
Region: Penedes
Country: Spain
Year: -
Price: $9.95
Tasting Date: February 28, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes. Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and balanced acidity. A delicious sparkler for a great price!

  My Thoughts: Decent bubbles, but they fizzle out fast. Very light in color. Nose is floral with hints of apple and pears. Flavor is more apple with a rocky mineral flavor as well. Pretty decent but I think i liked the Cava from two weeks ago more. 

Tasting - Anjos Vihno Verde

Name: Anjos Vihno Verde
Variety: 40% Arinto, 30% Trajadura, and 30% Loureiro
Region: Minho
Country: Portugal
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
Tasting Date: February 23, 2013
Location: Independently Tasted
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Imported by our good friends Wine in- Motion, this is a really quality wine for the money.  A much riper and gently sweeter style, it also has a little more bubble and an all around softer attack.  I almost wonder if they do a little partial malolactic on this one?  I get:
On the nose:  Powdery white flowers, wild yeasts, plantain, white pepper and pineapple. 
On the palate:  Pineapple, apricot, fleshy sweet peaches, peach pit, mandarin orange and a long tangy and sweet finish of tropical lifesavers-orange, lime and lemon.

  My Thoughts: Lots of bubbles float up in this nice, light, golden yellow wine. The aroma contains a strong grassy floral component mingled with citrus, mostly lemon, and a mild sweetness. The flavor is light and fresh with strong notes of lemon and orange peel. Hints of pineapple as well. Nice acid all the way through and after the finish, not completely counterbalanced by the sweetness. A good example of what is becoming one of my favorite wines. 

Tasting - Tres Ojos Rose

Name: Tres Ojos Rose
Variety: 50%Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $1.95
Tasting Date: February 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My Thoughts: Scent of berry and cherry, with hints of spice. There is a toasted wooden sort of flavor with mild spice and very little fruit. No real tannin structure, short dry finish with some acid. Some alcohol burn but not as much as i expected from a 14.5% ABV. 

Tasting - Morada Sangria

Name: Morada Sangria
Variety: 100% Diluted Red Grapes
Region: -
Country: Spain
Year: -
Price: $4.95
Tasting Date: February 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Morada Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alc. It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple.

My Thoughts: This was interesting. Fruit punch mixed with lemonade. Not getting any flavors I would associate with wine. A sort of medicine cherry flavor. Coats the palette a bit like cough syrup too. It could be good cold on a warm summer's day, but then again I could have a Vihno Verde and be very pleased.

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 60% Shiraz, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: -
Country: Argentina
Year: -
Price: $3.95
Tasting Date: February 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry, scent. The oak is in the background. Would pair well hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.

My Thoughts: On the nose there was mostly earthy tones with a hint of spice, not getting much fruit at all here. Flavor is dry and earthy with a tomato aspect, hints of oak near the finish, very dry. Not a lot here, might be something to try with food. 

Tasting - Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

Nmae: Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola
Variety: 100% Nero D'Avola
 Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95
Tasting Date: February 21, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins.

My Thoughts: The aroma is cherry licorice with mild spice and earthy notes. The flavor is a light spice with hints of nut, only mild tannins. The finish is short but leaves a lingering taste of cherry and berries. 

Tasting - J. & P. Matheus Riesling Kabinett

Name: J. & P. Matheus Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett
Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: Mosel
Country: Germany
Year: 2009
Price: $14.95
Tasting Date: March 3, 2013
Location: Tasted Independently
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: This Goldtröpfchen ranks as an unofficial "Grand Cru", delivering a light floral and fresh green apples, apricot and citrus peel bouquet. Superb intensity of citrus, green apple tang and lip-smacking minerality makes this Riesling very versatile; enjoyable alone or when paired with food.

  My Thoughts:The color is a nice deep gold. The aroma is filed with miled citrus, minerals, floral and honey notes, honeysuckle even. It has a thick feeling in the mouth with decent amounts of sweetness. Flavors of apple and minerals with some acid in the finish. Overall I liked it. Favorite is still the Ress Hattenheimer Kabinett I had at the beginning of the semester, but this one was well worth my time.

Tasting - Norton Torrontes

Name: Norton Torrontes
Variety: 100% Torrontes
Region: Mendoz
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95
Tasting Date: February 14, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Greenish yellow with hints of gold, this Torrontés has intense aromas of white peach, rose petal, and jasmine. Norton Torrontés 2011 is pleasant and well balanced on the palate.

My Thoughts: The aroma is very floral with hints of apple. Flavor is dry with hints of apples and pear. Overall much better than the Alamos Torrontes, much more flavorful.We have found it is best when chased with a rum and coke.

Tasting - Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

Name: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico
Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
Region: Valpolicella
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95
Tasting Date: February 14, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: The red ruby color and the dry taste give this wine joviality and cordiality. It is fresh and fruity, with lovely strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors, with nice spice and a silky texture.

My Thoughts:The aroma is very earthy with hints of spice and cherries. The flavor is fairly dry with mild tannins and spicy, some amount of cherry and berries at first. The finish is earthy and smokey. tasted pretty good to me, I will have to see how well it pairs with food.

Tasting - Sokol Blosser Meditrina

Name: Sokol Blosser Meditrina
Variety: 23% Pinot Noir, 52% Syrah, 25% Zinfandel
Region: Oregon
Country: United States
Year: -
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: February 14, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: It’s created from the finest Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The taste is lush and velvety with expressive notes of raspberry and cherry. It pairs nicely with pasta and anything off the grill.

My Thoughts: The aroma is a strong butterscotch with hints of fruit, raspberry maybe. The taste is medium dry with a good amount of spice. Hints of berries here as well. The finish is a spicy wooden flavor. I don't generally go for reds but I didn't mind this one. Might try a bottle in the spring when grilling weather sets in. 

Tasting - Dibon Cava NV

Name: Dibon Cava 
Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
Region: Penedes
Country: Spain
Year: -
Price: $9.95
Tasting Date: February 14, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo The nose offers regal yeast and richness, while the palate has complexity to prop up apple, citrus and grapefruit flavors. Solid from front to back, with health and freshness.

My Thoughts: The aroma is a nice yeasty pear with hints of citrus. The flavor is a little dry, yet smooth and crisp with a light citrus flavors. I have nto tried many other sparkling wines, but I did enjoy this one. 

Tasting - Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato
Variety: 97% Moscato, 3% Tempranillo
Region: Oregon
Country: United States
Year: -
Price: $5.95
Tasting Date: February 14, 2013
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: This fine sparkling presents and intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flavor petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on it own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts.

My Thoughts: It's a sparkling moscato, there is only so much to say.  Very bubbly and a bright pink color. The aroma and flavor are a delicious citrus and grapefruit. Slightly more acidic and less sweet than the other moscatos I have tried. Overall i liked it very much.

Tasting - Alamos Torrontes

Name: Alamos Torrontes
Variety: 100% Torrontes
Region: Cafayate, Salta
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $9.99
Tasting Date: February 4, 2013
Location: Independently Tasted
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Torrontes has a unique expression in Argentina and has often been called the country's signature white varietal. Alamos Torrontes captures all of the explosive aromatic character of this Argentine grape, with lively notes of citrus and peach fruit interwoven with delicate layers of jasmine blossom fresh herbs. Light and fresh on the palette, it finishes long and lingering with fresh, balance acidity.

My Thoughts: Light yellow color. The aroma is nice. Delicately floral with hints of citrus and pear. First flavors are similar to the aroma. Light fruit flavors with mild citrus. The mid palette and finish are dominated by alcohol. This is one of the last bottles in a series bought from Kroger as an experiment. If anything I have proven to myself that cheap wines from the Vintage Cellar are exponentially better. I am not sure if I just don't like floral/perfumey wines, I think I will get a better quality Torrontes to be sure.

Tasting - Octave Vihno Verde

Name: Octave Vinho Verde
Variety: 100% Albarino
Region: Minho
Country: Portugal
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Tasting Date: February 2, 2013
Location: Independently Tasted
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Another light, refreshing summer drinking wine. This comes in at only 9% alcohol, so this definitely qualifies as a pool wine. Not much color. Not much structure. Has a nice little spritz that actually interferes with the already minimal pear and citrus fruit. Very light in the mouth. Not even medium bodied. Barely enough acid to keep things interesting. Even though this is a super value wine, I think we can spend that money on a wine that has a lot more flavor for the buck.

My Thoughts: Very light yellow color. Slight bubbling. Aroma of citrus with a hint of pear. First flavor is a citrus lemon, the finish is almost flavorless with a slight grassy hint. This is not what I was expecting from a Vinho Verde. The Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde I had a few weeks ago was much better and cheaper too.

Name: Lindeman's Bin 95 Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: South Eastern Australia 
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $6.49
Tasting Date: January 31, 2013
Location: Independently Tasted
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: Light pale straw with highlighted white gold edges. The bouquet shows typical fresh, floral, herbaceous and
grassy Sauvignon Blanc fruit characters with a touch of
the tropics. Light to medium bodied with gooseberry, grassy and tropical fruit flavours on the palate. The finish is long and
elegant with crisp acidity and good length.

My Thoughts: Light color, almost a greenish tint. Aroma is a very strong grass scent with hints of citrus mixed in. The flavor is fairly dry with a prevailing grassy and citrus flavor. For a cheap Sauvignon Blanc it seems decent. I do not like it as much as the Maipe Sauvignon Blanc  I had a week ago. I need to try a few more wines in this variety.

Tasting - Zonin Primo Amore Moscato Puglia

Name: Zonin Primo Amore Moscato Puglia
Variety: 100% Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains
Region: Apulia
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $10.95
Tasting Date: January 31, 2013  
Location: Vintage Cellar
Food Pairing: None

Winery Review: This refreshing and fruit Moscato wine comes from the warm Southern vineyards of Puglia. Primo Amore, or first love expreses the joy of discovery experienced when a wine drinker first encounters the sweetness and enticing fragrance of the delicate wine.

My Thoughts: Strong melon aroma, hints of pineapple and citrus, lime or grapefruit. Very bubbly. Tastes of a melon soda. Very sweet and easy to drink. Unfortunately not very alcoholic, btu I enjoyed it more than the Bartenura Moscato. Still a variety I like very much.