Tasting - "Atlas Cumbres Torrontes"

Name: Atlas Cumbres Torrontes 
Variety: Torrontes
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."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Very nice fruity flavors, with sweet melon, mango, and a floral aspect to the nose.  Mango is actually one of my favorite fruits so this wine appealed to me very much just from the smell.  The taste had that nice subtle fruitiness, peachy, and almost perfume-like taste.  The finish was almost bitter, but wasn't overpowering of the fruit flavors.  Overall, a very good wine that I would definitely purchase for the cheap price.  I liked this one a lot.

Tasting - "Avery Quinn Chardonnay"

Name: Avery Quinn Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Napa, California
Country: United States
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!)."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Off the bat, there was a very bright and citrusy aspect to the nose, that stood out with very strong flavors.  The taste followed up on that nose with bits of sour apple and lemon.  The citrus turned from a bright mellow to a sour finish on the back-end, and followed up with a nice a subtle fruitiness that was mixed with some sort of creaminess that was very nice.  This wine is not a bad choice, and I wouldn't mind drinking it again, however, probably wouldn't purchase a bottle myself. 

Tasting - "Bellafina Pink Moscato"

Name: Bellafina Pink Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
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."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Very floral and sweet on the nose. If the color "pink" were a fruit, this is exactly what I would expect it to smell like.  Almost like a fresh fruity air freshener-like smell.  The taste was light but with nice fruitiness.  Carbonation/bubbles added a nice texture to the wine.  Tasted like pink/strawberry starburts.  A nice bottle of wine.

Tasting - "Weinert Carascal"

Name: Weinert Carascal
Variety: Carascal
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."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Woody, earthy, strong camp fire, leathery, tar, and burnt rubber on the nose.  Very strong and overwhelming almost.  The taste was that of when you breathe in cow manure at a farm, mixed with petroleum or oil, gasoline, and wet dirt and mulch.  This is one of the first wines I've tasted at the Vintage Cellar where I didn't want to finish the small taste.  Repulsive to an extent, but just my opinion.  Not a good bottle of wine at all, and definitely not worth $14 in my eyes.

Tasting - "Santa Julia Malbec"

Name: Santa Julia Malbec
Variety: 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."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: Very strong berry flavors, raspberries, dark cherries, and some hints of blueberries as well.  It was very balanced on the nose, nothing overpowering, but very inviting almost.  The taste was GREAT, light tartness, strong dark berry flavor, and the finish had almost a sort of strawberry-cream pie flavor which was amazing.  The creaminess from the finish mixed with the subtle fruit made this wine one of my favorites I've tried this semester.  Definitely would buy this bottle again.

Tasting - "Gougenheim Torrontes"

Name: Gougenheim Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: N/A
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."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: The smell of this wine was very floral and sour, like lemons or even some lime. Very mellow sweetness to the nose, so not overly sweet, but rather just a subtle scent.  The taste was very tart, crisp, and finished with a subtle sour taste in the back of the tongue. It was a nice bottle of wine, but not one that I'd buy for myself.

Tasting - "Santa Julia Pinot Grigio"

Name: Santa Julia Pinot Grigio
Variety: 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."
- The Vintage Cellar

My Review: On the nose, this wine was very bright and fruity. It had nice aromas of citrus and other sweet tasting fruit smells that made it very attractive.  The taste was tart, citrusy, and again of bright fruits.  It was a very nice tasting wine, pleasant on the pallet, and overall a solid bottle.