Name: Loredona Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: Monterey, California
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $15
Winery Notes: "If you like your Rieslings on the sweet side, this pretty wine is for you. It's brisk in Central Coast acidity, with citrus, peach, honeysuckle and spice flavors that finish clean and long."
- The Vintage Cellar
My Review: A solid selection for those looking for a fruity and citrusy wine. The nose came off very floral and candy-like. The taste backed that initial nose off, with a very sweet and candy-like flavor on the back-end of the taste buds. It was a very subtle sweetness, however, not over-powering but inviting. A good wine, especially those looking for that sweet, citrusy-flavor.
Name: Maipe Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
Winery Notes: "Deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum, fig, strawberry, spices and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tannins, excellent length with a distinguished character. Excellent when paired with game, roasted red meats, pasta or pizza."
- The Vintage Cellar
My Review: YES. This was by far my favorite wine of the group this week. Very nice and inviting dark fruit flavors in the nose; specifically dark cherries and raspberries. The taste was that of any dark berries I've ever had in my life, almost like an explosion of wild and unique berry flavors in my mouth. It resonated with a tartness factor, like that of sweet tarts, both sour and sweet, which was an interesting yet delicious finish to the wine itself. Definitely a wine that I would recommend to both friends and family.
Name: Villa d Rosso Toscano
Variety: Sangiovses
Region: Montepulciano
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95
Winery Notes: "100% sangiovese grapes and is a wonderful rendition of a velvety Tuscan red."
- The Vintage Cellar
My Review: This is a very nice wine. It stuck initially with a very strong sense of grape and cherry in the nose, coming off sweet and nice. The taste, though, was bitter, but not overly empowering. It was a little more dry than expected or preferred but not too much to make it unappealing. Overall, I liked this wine a lot and would definitely recommend to friends.
Name: Arnold Palmer Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $20
Winery Notes: "A vibrant Chardonnay from vineyards in cooler climates of California. Chardonnay is well known for its characteristic fresh apple fruit aromas and rounded, rich flavors. Weather during 2011 harvest provided ideal growing conditions for lush, yet perfectly balanced fruit."
- The Vintage Cellar
My Review: A very sweet, apple-like smelling wine. The nose was very vibrant, like candy and other brightly sweet scents. the taste actually was kind-of spicy, and had a strong kick, while refreshing. This wine was very interesting with the contrasts of sweet and spicy. Definitely a wine worth trying, but just for exactly that. Wouldn't plan on buying a bottle myself, even though it has the name "Arnold Palmer", which would usually appeal because I love the sweet tea/lemonade drinks.
Name: El Sierro Macabeo/Chard.
Variety: Macabeo
Region: Northern Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95
Winery Notes: "In the glass, there is a bright and shiny white wine with an incredibly welcoming, fresh appetizing aroma reminiscent of ripe tropical fruits. The Flavor is rich, balanced and extremely comfortable. The near-perfect all-purpose white wine. As an additional benefit, and good evidence that El Sierro reflect the new Spain, the bottle is sealed with technical viewed perfect screw cap that at once eliminates any risk of cork flavor and keeps the fruit and the wine fresher for longer time."
- The Vintage Cellar
My Review: This wine was a very interesting wine for me. It smelled very grassy, and peppery, with special notes of green pepper and other bell peppers. It seemed like it would be very bland, however, the taste was very sharp and sour, almost of a lemon. Overall, it was a good tasting wine, and finished with a very strong citrusy note, which complimented the grassiness of the wine very well. A good wine that I would definitely try again.
Name: First Light Moscato
Variety: Muscat
Region: Australia
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $15
Winery Notes: "Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine."
-Vintage Cellar
My Review: This wine is slightly bubbly, which makes you really think about it in general. On the nose, there were hints of lychee fruit and peach, very subtle, yet well balanced. It reminded me of a handful of Asian candies that I used to try growing up, that exotic/unique fruit flavor, rather than standard fruits that are common here in America. The taste, obviously, was enhanced by the bubbles, and had kind of a soda-like feel to it. Again, hints of now Asain soda's came to mind, like a very popular Korean soft-drink called Milkis. This wine was very tasty, and had an interested feel due to the bubbles. I would definitely buy it again to share with my parents and other of my Korean friends to see if they also get the reminders of the hint of the Asian candies and drinks that I got.
Name: CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, California
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $16
Winery Notes: "95 % Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish."
-Vintage Cellar
My Review: Earthy and rustic initial smell. Could smell things like sage and even olives on the nose, with a hint of dark fruits, like wild berries. Both the smell and the taste had a very soft and smooth finish, very woody taste, something that I actually really enjoy. Overall, I liked this wine, but not something I went crazy for. A good wine for those looking for that earthy and rustic taste, rather than a sweeter variety.
