Name: El Sierro
Variety: 95% Macabeo, 5% Chardonnay
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95
Winery review: 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 bootle is sealed with the technical viewed perfect screw cap that at once eliminates any risk of cork flavor and keeps the fruit and the wine fresher fro longer time.
My review: This wine was a nice light wine. It had a pear and apple nose to it. It was a bit tarty, but it had good balance about it. Overall, I thought this was a nice wine.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Arnold Palmer
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $20
Winery review: 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 the 2011 harvest provided ideal growing conditions for lush, yet perfectly balanced fruit.
My review: This light colored wine had a distinct smell. The peach smell was very pleasing with a hint of popcorn. The tastes of apple and butter were nicely blended to give a creamy, smooth wine.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Villa d'
Variety: Rosso Toscano
Region: Montepulciano
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95
Winery review: 100% sangiovese grapes and is a wonderful rendition of a velvety Tuscan red.
My review: This wine had a distinct dirt and root smell to it. The wine was smooth to the taste with some tannin hints.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Maipe
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $8.95
Winery review: 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.
My review: The wine had a deep purple color to it along with a nice plum aroma. The tannins did come through on this wine. It would have been better chilled in my opinion.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Loredona
Variety: Riesling
Region: Monterey, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $15
Winery review: 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.
My review: This wine did not have much of a smell to it with the exception of some floral aspects. It did have a nice sweet citrus taste to it. The light color of this wine was tainted by the previous red wine.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Bodega Norton Colección Varietales
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $12
Winery review: Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio.
My review: I did not enjoy this at all. It was very dry and acidic. The alcohol was very strong and overbearing to me. It came across as tarty and that overwhelmed any potential flavors.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: The Royal Old Vines Stenn
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: Southern Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Winery review: 90 Points - Robert Parker "One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months."
My review: This was much better than the first white I tasted. I was not as strong or acidic. However, because of this I could not taste the "flavors" mentioned. To me it was just a sweet, drinkable wine.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Tres Ojos
Variety: Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Winery review: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvee of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" - I-WineReview (December 2013), 90 pts.
My review: I detected a sort of plum-type smell to the wine. I could not taste any alcohol, which is pleasing for me. I also tasted a spicy mid pallet. I am still having trouble detecting the individual flavors and giving a name to the taste. Overall, I enjoyed this wine and preferred this to the whites.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Fetzer Mendoza
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $15
Winery review: Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violent tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it's juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.
My review: This red was a little darker than the previous wine and it had less of a spicy flavor. I could taste more of the fruit in this one and I had a taste of cherry. Because I could taste more of the flavors in this one, I preferred the Malbec to the Garnacha.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Angove Zibibbo
Variety: Sparkling Moscato
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $15
Winery review: This is a tasty and generous Moscato that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach, syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There's a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling dessert wine.
My review: I really enjoyed this wine. It was my favorite. It was very fruity, both in smell and taste. For me, the fruit I was trying to place with this wine was apple, but I was having a hard time placing what I was tasting.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: El Sierro
Name: Villa d'
Name: Loredona
