Tasting-Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling

Region: California

Country: U.S.A.

Year: 2013
Price:  $5.95

Winery Review: The tradmark German red grape varietal Dornfelder has a lovely purity of soft red berry fruit. Integrated soft tannins combined with forward fruit flavors make for a perfectly balanced everyday sipping wine. Great with grilled red meat, sausage, and chicken. Best served slightly chilled. 

                  

My Review: This wine had a tropical beachy vibe in the nose with floral scents mixed with sunscreen, and strawberry margarita as well as an odd smell that reminded of a newly opened pack of diapers. Very sweet on the palate, like a sugar cube meets raspberries and mango.

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Crane Lake Shiraz

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Shiraz

Region: California

Country: U.S.A.

Year: 2013
Price:  $5.95

Winery Review: Beautiful ruby appearance, with blackberry and pepper notes. Tannins and fruit marry well for a soft finish. This wine pairs well with sharp cheddar cheese and hazelnuts. Also try it along with roast lamb at Easter time, veal marsala, or grilled salmon.
My Review: This Shiraz is a deep velvety plum in color. The nose contained deep cherry and burning fire wood, and underlying creamy notes. The palate reminded me of grapefruits ans lemon zest  as it was bitter, tart, and had a little pucker to it. 

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Georges Duboeuf

Name: Georges Duboeuf Nouveau
Variety: Beaujolais Nouveau

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2015
Price:  Regular $12, Sale $5.95

Winery Review:  George Duboeuf is THE king of Beaujolais.  His wines are full of pop, charm and great flavor and his Beaujolais Nouveau is no exception.  A cornucopia of expressive fruit wrapped in an almost-bubblegum-like frame; it is the flagship Nouveau.
My Review: This wine was deep red to almost blackish in color. The nose was overwhelming with a hint of tequila mixed with hand sanitizer, sharp cheddar cheese and peppercorn. I did not enjoy the taste of this wine as the only thing it reminded me of was a tequila shot at 10 AM. This wine was hard for me to get down personally and left me with a bitter after taste and dry mouth feel. I felt that the taste of this wine in my mouth would not go away after hours!!

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes

 

Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina

Year: 2014
Price:  Regular $14, Sale $7.95

Winery Review: The wine has a spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well-balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish.
My Review: Pale yellow to almost clear in color, the nose of Maipe reminded me of a sweet Key Lime pie mixed with Welch's grape juice. Tart, crisp apple appeared on my palate but I did not notice much body and I felt it to be very  flat. It also left a lingering bitter taste and a dry mouth feel. 

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Tonnino Pinot Grigio

Name: Tonnino
Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Sicily
Country: Italy

Year: 2014
Price:  Regular $14, Sale $7.95

Winery Review: Tonnino’s exotic example of Pinot Grigio has a straw to pale gold color. It is fresh and clean on the nose with fruity notes of pear, green apple and white peaches. The palate is true to the nose with a fresh acidity, coriander and lime notes followed by a crisp finish. This wine pairs well with youthful aperitifs, clams or mussels, pastas and risotto dishes.
My Review: Tonnino had  a nice golden yellow color. It contained a mostly fruity nose with a peach aroma exploding but I also could detect hints of basil as well as an underlying metallic note. This wine had a crisp, clean taste and almost reminded me of dewy grass. The finish was very acidic.

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Peter Mertes Sweet Red Dornfelder

Name: Peter Mertes Sweet Red Dornfelder Variety: 100% Dornfelder

Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany

Year: 2014
Price:  Regular $12, Sale $6.95

Winery Review: The trademark German red grape varietal Dornfelder has a lovely purity of soft red berry fruit. Integrated soft tannins combined with forward fruit flavors make for a perfectly balanced everyday sipping wine. Great with grilled red meat, sausage and chicken. Best served slightly chilled.
My Review: My first sniff of this wine reminded me of fruity gum blended with a raspberry scented candle. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine as it was juicy and lightly sweet through the finish and had hints of ripe strawberry, blackberry, and plum. 

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Castello Sonnino Chianti Montespertoli

Name: Castello Sonnino Chianti Montespertoli Variety: Sangiovese; Canaiolo, Trebbiano, Malvasia del Chianti

Region: Chianti
Country: Italy

Year: 2010
Price:  $ 8.95

Winery Review: Rich and Modern, with a dark, saturated color and aromas of graham cracker and lemon rind. A juicy palate packet with plum and raspberry is carried by a creamy texture that's rather toasty in terms of flavor. The finish is round, full and chocolaty.
My Review: The nose of this wine reminded me of a cherry flavored juice box or Capri Sun mixed with a burnt toast essence. This wine was tannic and had a dry chalky feel on the finish. There were notes  of milk chocolate mid-palate.

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Bolla Bardolino

Name: Bolla Bardolino Magnum Variety: 60% Corvina; 30% Rondinella; 10% Molinara

Region: Bardolino
Country: Italy

Year: 2013
Price:  Regular $18; Sale $9.95

Winery Review: A bright ruby red wine has hints of black cherry on the nose. It is soft and fruit-forward, with black-fruit flavors followed by a bright and fresh finish. Serve it as the Italians do- young and lightly chilled. Pairs perfectly with fleshy fish, beef, lamb, red-sauced pastas and pizza.
My Review: A bright beautiful red in color. Hints of juicy sweet blackberry and other dark fruits on the nose. It had a light and watery texture on the tongue and I had a hard time deciphering taste, there was a bitter aftertaste similar to that of young, unripe fruit. 

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Tenuta le Velette Orvieto Classico

Name: Tenuta le Velette Orvieto Classico Variety: 30% Trebbiano; 30% Grechetto; 20% Malvasia; 15% Verdello; 5% Drupeggio

Region: Orvieto
Country: Italy

Year: 2011
Price:  $ 6.95

Winery Review: The Berganorio Orvieto is a subtle wine with a bright palate. It shows white flowers on the nose and light citrus notes in the mouth. Its neutral character means it can accompany a wide range of foods
My Review: The smell of alcohol is subtly masked with hints of silky chocolate raspberry. The palate was unnoticeable and flat. I almost got the impression of grass water.

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Aveleda Praia

Name: Aveleda Praia Vinho Verde
Variety: 40% Arinto; 30% Loureiro; 20% Trajadura; 10% Azal

Region: Vinho Verde
Country: Portugal
Year: 2013
Price:  $ 8.95

Winery Review: Full of fruit, a lasting peach flavor targeted with laser like acidity through the finish. It has the bite of salty ocean air and a lot of zing. For langoustines. 92-Wine & Spirits.
My Review: Watery pale yellow in color. There was a melon nose most noticeably cantaloupe. Peach or nectarine flavors with a very acidic and sour taste. The acidity was almost a little overbearing for my taste. 

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting- Dona Sol

Name: Dona Sol 
Variety: Shiraz, Petite Syrah, & Symphony

Region: California
Country: U.S.A.
Price:  $ 6.95

Winery Review:  Shiraz has a unique jammy fruit character that is well represented in the Sweet Red. Both on the nose and on the palate, jammy fruit, like strawberries, cherry pie and red licorice, entices the senses and pair well with cheeses and desserts.
My Review: A deliciously sweet red wine. The nose of this wine contained dark cherry and hints of milk chocolate. This wine was the most peculiar sweet wine i've ever tasted. It was not obnoxiously sweet but was very smooth and creamy and reminded me of raspberry sorbet. An alcohol taste was hardly noticed. A very interesting blend of flavors! 

Food?:  did not pair with food.

Tasting-Velvet Crush

Name: Velvet Crush   
Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petite Sirah

Region: California
Country: U.S.A.
Price:  Regular $18; Sale $ 6.95

Winery Review:  Velvety smooth texture just like its name. Soft tannins and lush dark fruit character. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah bring backbone and character, while the Merlot balances out the blend for a soft, smooth texture.

My Review: This wine has a dark fruit nose, and also gave me the idea of blueberry scented multi-purpose cleaner. The flavors are sweet, but there is also a tea like taste that reminded me subtlety of sweet tea, when the flavors entered my palate it began with a very luscious and juicy taste but then drastically turned dry. Offered a clean finish. 

Food?:  did not pair with food.