Tasting - "Jam Jar Sweet White"

Name: Jam Jar Sweet White
Variety: Muscat
Region: N/A
Country: South Africa
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: "100 % Muscat. Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise straightforward ripe peach and nectarine aromas. There’s a good balance in the mouth, with a nice acidic lift and slightly lime edge to cut the sweetness on the finish and close with the faintest hint of honeydew melons."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Very floral and fruity on the nose, specifically hints of peaches and some plumbs.  The taste was very fruity, with hints of cream, kind of like peaches & cream.  It also had a "vacation" feel to it, as if on vacation at the beach and enjoying this bottle.  Nice sweet components to compliment the acidity.  Solid bottle, though, a little too sweet for me.  I would recommend this to my friends looking for a solid sweet and balanced Moscato though.

Tasting - "Entrada Malbec"

Name: Entrada Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: N/A
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "Firm and structured, this is a solid wine, laced with mineral acidity and tight tannins. It has a juicy, blackberry fruit component cutting through the texture."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Strong hints of berries and also hints of strawberries.  It was very appealing on the nose, but the taste was a little bit different than expected.  Less fruity than thought it would be, and had little bits of out-doorsy flavor component to it, again, kind of like being out in the woods or mountains on a hiking/camping trip.  Not a bad bottle for the price, would possibly buy for myself.

Tasting - "Vina Borga Borsao"

Name: Vina Borga Borsao
Variety: Grenache
Region: Campo de Borja
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: "86 Points – Robert Parker
Also made from 100% Grenache, the 2012 Vina Borgia was fermented and aged in stainless steel. Its medium dark ruby color is followed by abundant notes of strawberries and black cherries offered in a straightforward, medium-bodied, soft, hedonistic, round style. It is hard to believe a wine this good can sell for $7 a bottle. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Had a strong nose of dark berries, cherries, and a variety of other fruits.  A little bit of oak, but not overpowering, kind of like just being in the woods on a camping trip at night.  The taste was dark fruits and it was also very dry.  A little too dry for my taste, however, it was a solid bottle in my opinion.  I would not buy this for myself.

Tasting - "Peter Lehmann Chardonnay"

Name: Peter Lehmann Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: N/A
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $20, sale $9.95

Winery Review: "The 2010 Chardonnay presents subtle notes of spiced apple slices and ripe peaches with hints of freshly baked bread and melon. Light bodied, clean and refreshingly crisp in the mouth, it offers just enough apple and pear flavor concentration, finishing with medium-long persistence. Drink it now to 2014."

- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Hints of green apple and vegetables on the nose.  A lot less fruity than most white wines tend to be.  The taste had subtle fruit tastes, kind of like a very chill melon flavor with hints of apple and also a little oak.  Wasn't a very great wine in my opinion, but did go down smoothly and was sort of refreshing.  I would not buy this wine myself, however.

Tasting - "Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla"

Name: Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: "Mostly Airen with a little bit of Macabeo .Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value."

- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: On the nose, there were strong hints of green apple and sharp citrus.  It had a very "open" smell, almost like being outside in nature and enjoying a scenic view on top of a hill.  The sharpness was not overpowering, however, inviting.  The taste was not as attractive as the smell.  It had a very simple yet sweet taste that was not as tart as most white wines are.  It was a very simple and nice white wine. Personally, I enjoyed it, but not crazy about it.  I would probably not buy a bottle myself but would not mind drinking again.

Tasting - "R Wines Eco. Love Riesling"

Name: R Wines Eco. Love Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: South Island
Country: New Zealand 
Year: 2009
Price: $18

Winery Review: "Our South Island Riesling has a range and combination of flavors unlike any other. These flavors span citrus , root ginger, white peach, spices and florals. Eco.love Riesling is made in balance to an off-dry style. Food Pairing: Asian Fusion, Seafood, Curry, and anything spicy."

My Review:  Light and cirtusy on the nose, specifically smells of orange peels and zest.  The taste, however, was more earthy with oak and a little bit of fruit flavors on the finish.  I think this wine was too oakey for me, and personally wouldn't drink it again.  But not a bad wine for the sale price of $7.95.

Tasting - "Toschi Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Toschi Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: "Well-balanced flavors of dark berries and plums. Spicy fruit finish." 

My Review: Very strong alcohol smells on the nose, with a little bit of cherry and dirt-likeness as well.  The taste was dark berries, cherry, and a little bit of a spicy kick towards the end of the finish.  I'm not sure if I really liked it or not, but it wasn't bad and kind-of interesting to taste in a wine.  Not a bad wine overall, not sure if it'd be one I'd recommend to others though.

Tasting - "Canyon Road Pinot Noir"

Name: Canyon Road Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: "Rich, fruit forward cherry flavors, soft tannins, a medium body and a smooth velvety finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, salmon, and a savory pork dishes."

My Review: Hints of cherries and cranberries on the nose, very traditional in the dark berry smells, hints of oak and woodiness as well.  The taste backed up the nose with deep cherry flavors, to go along with a creaminess to the feel.  It was not an overbearing wine, but did have a little bit of dryness to it.  Not a bad wine, but again not one I'd buy on my own.

Tasting - "Wine Men of Gotham Chard. Semillon"

Name: Wine Men of Gotham Chard. Semillon
Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
Region: N/A
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Chardonnary Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish." 

My Review:  Floral nose with hints of apple and melon, it was actually quite pleasant smelling this wine.  The taste was very strong melon, with little bits of apple thrown in.  It had a buttery almost creamy texture, that confused my pallet a little because don't really expect that from a wine.  Overall, not a bad wine but not sure if I would drink it again.

Tasting - "Indwe Sauvignon Blanc"

Name: Indwe Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Elim
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Grapes are meticulously sourced from our grape producers along the Coastal region of the Western Cape ensuring complexity and freshness in the wine. Indwe Sauvignon Blanc is full of layers, balance and persistence. The wine is imbued with tropical and citrus notes, with hints of melon and gooseberry flavors. " 

My Review: The nose was very dry and not very interesting.  Had hints of sweetness and floral smells, but did not taste like that at all.  The taste, in my opinion, was a very boring wine, with little hints of citrus on the back end. Even for the price, I don't think I would drink this wine again.

Tasting - "Meiomi Pinot Noir"

Name: Belle Glos Pinot Noir Meiomi 
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Sonoma County, California
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $19.99

Winery Notes: "This beautiful Pinot Noir produced by Caymus carries aromas of tobacco, dark red fruits and fresh berries. The rich cherry flavor is complemented by notes of cedar, raspberry and strawberry. Enjoy with turkey, salmon or beef dishes."
- Totalwine.com

My Review: On the nose, this wine stuck out with dark berry flavors, like dark cherries and blackberries.  It had a woody smell to it, which got me pretty excited cause I usually like that in wines.  The taste was a little less woody than i expected, but still solid.  It had tobacco and other outdoorsy smells, almost like being around a campfire, that taste you get in the back of your mouth when you're waiting for the fire to get big enough to cook dogs and s'mores.  The dark fruit flavors came in as you let the wine sit in your mouth, and finished off with a strong fruitiness that was nice.  This was probably the nicest/most expensive bottle of wine I've had a chance to try since starting this blog, and it was a very good one.  I don't know if I can say I'd purchase it myself, but a good bottle of wine with solid flavors.

Tasting - "Strongbow Original"

Name: Strongbow Original Cider
Variety: Hard Cider
Region: England
Country: England
Year: N/A
Price: $4.50 (on cruise)

Notes: "Strongbow is a blend of bittersweet cider and culinary apples, making it a well-balanced hard cider that’s anything but ordinary. At first sip, you’ll note a bold cider flavor from the fermented cider apples, followed by a distinct, fresh apple taste from the culinary apples. Naturally gluten free, Strongbow is served in bottles, cans and on tap. We recommend drinking it over ice for a crisp, refreshing taste that always hits the spot"
- Strongbowcider.com

My Review: Again, got to try this cider on my cruise this past week.  I didn't really know what to expect, except that I knew I just wasn't a big fan of ciders, but thought I'd give it a shot for this class.  The smell was less "cider-ish" than other ciders like Angry Orchard or Redd's, rather , I actually got hints of beer, which tricked me for a moment.  The taste, however, was straight hard cider, but with less of a sweetness than the others.  This was actually a cider that I liked, and enjoyed drinking it.  I don't know if I'd say I'd go ahead and order this again, or have it be a drink of choice, but definitely not a bad one for someone looking for a decent priced hard cider.

Tasting - "Muirwood Chardonnay Arroyo Seco"

Name: Muirwood Chardonnay Arroyo Seco
Variety: Chardonnay 
Region: Monterrey
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $13.99 

Winery Notes: "Pleasant notes of toast, butter, and citrus; smooth and creamy with no hard edges to the flavors of butter, pear, and tropical fruits; this Chardonnay delivers a lot of value."
- Totalwine.com

My Review:  On the nose, got a lot of citrus and subtle fruit flavors.  It was more along the lines of an orange-flavored air-freshener, rather than smelling a freshly peeled orange.  The taste, however, was so awesome.  It reminded me of Kohr Bros orange/vanilla custard from Ocean City, and brought me back to my childhood.  It was great, and it finished with a very smooth and pleasant finish.  Definitely was not expecting that from this wine, but loved it and would buy it again, even at almost $14.  Great wine in my opinion!

Tasting - "Foster's Lager"

Name: Foster's Lager
Variety: Beer
Region: Australia
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $7.50 (on cruise)

Notes: N/A

My Review: Had this for the first time this past week on my cruise, and I understood why everyone was getting it.  At under $8, it's almost twice the size of a normal beer can, and packed a big punch for it's buck.  It was not as thick as I had expected from looking at the can, but rather, had the feel of a light beer.  The flavors were clean and had a refreshing-ness to it, like a light beer.  Overall, not a bad selectiion, and definitely glad I had the chance to have a few of these this past week.

Tasting - "Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay"

Name: Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonna
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Washington
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $7.97

Winery Notes: "This well-crafted Chardonnay opens sharp and spicy, with light buy juicy fruit. Flavors of clean apple and pear run into hints of peach, then resolve with a creamy finish."
- Totalwine.com

My Review: On the nose, definitely got hints of pear and green apple, but not sour but more on the freshness side of things.  It was a very pleasant nose so got me more excited to try it.  The taste, however, was a little disappointing.  I didn't get as much "fresh" flavors as I had expected, but more along the lines of what I was used to in a cheaper bottle of wine.  There were still solid hints of pear and other nice subtle fruit flavors, but just not what I had hoped for.  Overall, not a bad bottle of wine and something that I wouldn't mind having again for under $8.

Tasting - "The Naked Grape Pinot Noir"

Name: The Naked Grape Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Modesto, CA
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $5.99

Winery Notes: "Unlike its big, bold, in-your-face counterparts, The Naked Grape Pinot Noir is the quiet-type –a soft, smooth red that's full of black cherry & blueberry aromas. Pair it with anything and this varietal will complement and enhance, then leave you with the perfect note. So Let's raise a glass and observe the greatness of the observant. Bare it all."
- The Naked Grape

My Review: Very interesting on the nose, flavors that I actually never got before from a wine, was berry-like but very different than what I'm used to.  The taste was very smooth, again, not like what I was used to in red wines.  The taste was initially cherries and blackberries, but that slowly shifted to more of a strawberry and raspberry-flavor-like smoothie, kind of like a berry smoothie from West End.  Overall, not a bad bottle of wine.  Pretty good for it's price and had nice strong and solid flavors to it.

Tasting - "Las Nencias"

Name: Valle Las Nencias Malbec Reserve
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2008
Price: $14.99

Winery Notes: "Vine growers for four generations, the Gaiola family (Angel and daughter María) have made another terrific wine from their old vines in the Uco Valley. Hector Durigutti continues to consult on this wine. As with all of Durigutti's efforts, the wine is fermented only with indigenous yeasts and the oak (8-12 months in two-year-old French) is very well integrated. Soft blue and purple fruits are pure, with just a hint of spiciness and violet floral notes, balanced nicely with fresh acidity. The fruit purity, weighty mid-palate and overall balance all speak to the Uco Valley, some of the best land in Argentina for making delicious Malbec with a true sense of place. Possibly the finest Malbec I've had all year (and yes, I do prefer this to its ever popular sister wine we recently emailed, also from the Uco Valley!)"

- K&L Wines

My Review: On the nose, this wine was very oaky and dark, with dark berries sticking out to me.  It wasn't as dry as i expected the taste to be, but it was still solid.  The flavors that really popped out were dark fruits, like cherries, black berries, etc. and had a spicy kick to it on the back end.  Overall, this was a very good bottle of wine that I would definitely buy again.  Solid all around.

Tasting - "Barefoot Pinot Grigio"

Name: Barefoot Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $7.97

Winery Notes: "This is a fruit-driven style of Pinot Grigio with citrus and apple flavors. The finish is crisp and refreshing. Barefoot Cellars continues to put good juice in bottles for a very fair price."

- Totalwine.com
My Review: The reason why this wine cost a little more than a normal barefoot is because it's actually a larger bottle, so I wasn't expecting it to taste all the great either.  Especially after trying the moscato.  The nose was a little lighter than I'd expected it to be, with nice orange and lemon flavors popping out right away.  The taste was very refreshing and actually had hints of apple and light grape flavors.  Overall, not a bad bottle of wine, but not my favorite either.

Tasting - "Barefoot Moscato"

Name: Barefoot Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $6.99

Winery Notes: “Barefoot Moscato is a sweet wine with delicious mouth watering flavors of juicy peach and apricot.  Hints of lemon and orange citrus complement a crisp, refreshing finish.  Barefoot Moscato is perfect with spicy Asian cuisine, light desserts, fresh fruit and mild cheeses.”
My Review: On the nose, this wine was very very sweet, and had touches of candy-like smells and notes.  The taste, backed that up completely.  It was a very sweet and tart tasting wine, a sweetness that you get when you're eating like a cherry lollipop or something.  I thought this wine was too sweet for my taste, and was much too light for me.  It definitely did taste the price, however, and most likely would not buy another one though.

Tasting - "Banyan Gewurztraminer"

Name: 2012 Banyan Gewurztraminer
Variety: Gewurztraminer
Region: Monterey County
Country: California
Year: 2012
Price: $14.99

Winery Notes: "Thai-American winemaker Kenny Likitprakong crafts this dry, light Gewurztraminer to go with the cuisine of his heritage. From the cool climate of Monterey County, it gives great complexity and finesse at a low price. A nose of lemongrass and citrus leads to a palate of lychee, lime, notes of watermelon and lemon zest, backed by bracing acidity and quartzy minerality. Drink it with green, red, or yellow curry, lemongrass chicken, or a plate of seasonal fruits."

- winfieldflynn.com

My Review: On the nose, this wine was very fresh and had a nice sweetness to the smell.  The taste, however, was a little stronger, with hints of green apple and other sharp fruit flavors popping out.  It wasn't an overly sweet taste, but a nice and strong fruit-flavor that gave this wine a nice touch.  Overall, a solid bottle of wine and not bad in my opinion.