Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Reisling

Variety: Riesling

Region: N/A

Country: Germany

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors. Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.

My Review: I enjoyed drinking this wine without the pairing of food. I enjoyed the crisp acidity and clean flavors of apple, pear, and peach that compliment. Though the after taste was dominated by lemon flavor. Very smooth to drink with little acidity until the end. I would recommend this wine. 

Don Ramon Tinto

Name: Don Ramon Tinto

Variety: Mix  

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo. Aged 3 months in American Oak casks. Ruby red in color with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit add some depth and complexity.

My Review: Really enjoyed drinking this wine without the pairing of food. Very little acidity taste on the palate which was a pleasant surprise. I did taste the hint of oakiness on the palate but mainly enjoyed the black cherry flavors. On the nose mainly detected a fruit salad kind of smell. 

Resonata Nero D'Avola

Name: Resonata Nero D'Avola

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background. 

My Review: This was a strong wine in my opinion. I tasted this wine with no food pairing. It came on very strong and seemed to linger for longer than I would have hope. Definitely detected the bit of spicy flavor that came with the wine. The after taste had a bit of acidity to it but overall the wine would probably taste better with it paired with meat.

Protocolo Blanc

Name: Protocolo Blanc

Variety: Blanc

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: 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.

My Review: Was relatively surprised by the taste of this wine due to the aromas on the nose. Was surprised to detect the melon flavors and also seemed to get a bit of peach. Definitely got the aroma of mint on the nose. Overall a tasty wine that I did not taste with food. 

Santola Vinho Verde

Name: Santola Vinho Verde
Variety: Portuguese White
Region: N/A
Country: Portugal
Year: N/A
Price: $7.95


Winery Review: Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.


My Review: Good tasting wine that I enjoyed with out the accompaniment of food. Definitely had the soft and creamy taste on the palate with what i believe a light lemon or citrus flavors coming on towards the end. A very refreshing drink and would recommend to anyone.

Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolce

Name: Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolce

Variety: Dolce / Sparkling

Region: N/A

Country: Italy

Year: N/A

Price: $4.95

Winery Review: Pale silvery straw color. Floral aromas of apples, peaches, and potpourri follow through on a round, frothy entry to a fruity medium bodied sweet wine with good depth and tangy peach fruit and a breezy, harmonious green apple kissed finish.

My Review: This wine needs to be paired with some dessert. I really enjoyed drinking this wine by itself but because it is so sweet I believe it would be best paired with a dessert. I'm normally not a big fan of sparkling wine but on the palate it came across so smoothly and all the flavors combined in such a nice fashion, I really enjoyed the drink. Would recommend this wine.

Charles Thomas Cotes- du- Rhone

Name: Charles Thomas Cotes-du-Rhone

Variety: Mixed

Region: Rhone

Country: France

Year: N/A

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: A blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. Well made, with loads of berry fruit and a heady, meaty, peppery nose, with a hint of Provencal herbs, the wine is fresh, lively, and best drunk over the next 2 years. 

My Review: I did not care for this wine. I felt that it was too heavy for me even if it's not supposed to be. On the nose I got a lot of the peppery smell and not enough of the berry fruit. On the palate, it came on too strong and the aftertaste lingered. I did not pair this wine with any food. 

Coreto

Name: Coreto Tinto

Variety: Mixed

Region: Lisboa

Country: Portugal

Year: 2008

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: This red from the Coreto range has loads of dark berry fruit with a hint of new oak creating a soft, velvet structure that makes it very easy to drink. Red currant and juicy acidity.

My Review: A pretty good tasting red wine. It has a medium body, and relatively smooth probably in conjunction with the low level of alcohol volume. Tp the nose it has berry fruit flavours. The aftertaste was intense which came as a shocking surprise. 

Morro Bay

Name: Morro Bay White Oak Estates

Variety: Chardonnay 

Region: Lodi

Country: California

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Vanilla cream soda nose with a slice of fresh cut pineapple. Full body, tropical fruit, spice and pleasing vanilla oak note linger in the finish. Sweet flavor on the palate is from sur-lie aging the wine on the primary yeast lees for 7 months. A versatile style of wine that can be served chilled with fine cuisine or glass with friends. Certified Green by Lodi Rules Sustainable Winegrowers.

My Review: I loved this wine! The taste was so delicious. I did not pair this with any food, but it did not need it. I definitely got the vanilla cream soda on the nose and the aftertaste was wonderful. No hint of acidity when I drank it. Would recommend to anyone. 

Cantina Villafranca

Name: Cantina Villafranca Frascati
Variety: 45% Maivasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, ect.
Region: Frascati
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95


Winery Review: Produced from a selection of the best grapes located in the Frascati Doc production area. Made from 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trabbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio, 15% Grechetto. Intense yellow color with greenish reflections. Characteristic persistent fresh and fruity armoas. Excellent as an aperitif and paired with fish, seafood or white meat.


My Review: I really enjoyed this wine by itself. Went down very smooth compared to other wines. Had a hint of acidity that i picked up but very good on the nose. Smelled of apples after swirling. I wish I could taste this wine with food because I do believe that it will make the wine taste even better.

Legaris Crianza

Name: Legaris Crianza

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Ribera Del Duero

Country: Spain

Year: 2003

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: 90 points Wine Spectator. a silky texture carries plum, tobacco, coffee, and mineral flavors over ripe tannins in this balanced red. Berry and vanilla notes linger on the finish.

My Review: This was an okay wine. It was smooth and rich in taste. The nose has raisiny, black cherry smell to it. I did get a hint of coffee in there. On the palate it had decent balance and acidity was just right. Did not like the after taste much. Drank this wine without the pairing of foods. 

Into Zin Zinfandel

Name: Into Zin

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Spicy, jammy, ripe round plum with juicy soft finish. Goes well with marsala chicken, peppered steak, or broiled lamb shank.

My Review: Best red wine I have tasted so far. Was a very clean and smooth wine on the palate. Drank this without the pairing of food.  Had a hint of smokiness to it which I liked and came on strong at the end. Overall a good wine for the price. Would love to try it with a steak.

Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo, Grenache

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: A 50-50 blend of Tempranillo and Garacha, this medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My Review: Not a good wine in my opinion. Was not good on the nose or the palate. Very overpowering on the nose, and felt acidity on the palate. I did get the flavors of red berry but it was not a good taste. I did not have this wine paired with foods. 

Lazzaro Chardonnay

Name: Lazzarro Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Opens with mellow peach and melon aromas and some oak. The palate is round, creamy, and full. Tastes of spiced, dried apple with a stalky, pithy accent.

My Review: Another delicious wine! Loved the aromas on the nose after swirling. The taste was very smooth but the after taste had some remnants of acidity. The apple came out stronger than the other flavors in the wine. Another good wine for the price. I drank this wine without pairing food.

Coastal Vines Brut

Name: Coastal Vines Brut
Variety: Sparking Wine
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: N/A
Price: $6.95


Winery Review: Coastal Vines Sparkling Wine is a light colored wine with aromas of apple and citrus. On the palate there are flavors of melon and pear. The finish is crisp and clean. Pair with cheeses, like brie, for appetizers; grille garlic shrimp over a bed of pasta; or light white cake for dessert.


My Review: Was a very good wine just to drink by itself. The wine showed very little acidity which was nice. The flavors mixed together amazingly. I did get a hint of apple on the palate which I liked a lot. Overall a very good wine and a good buy for the price.

Opera Prima Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Moscato

Variety: Moscato

Region: Castilla-La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: N/A

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: This is an amazing value for an inexpensive Moscato sparkler that is great for many occasions. Its bright fruit aromas of lychee and lime are appealing and the flavors of honeydew, lime, and lychee are delightful. Great for cake or fruit based desserts.

My Review: A very light and delicious wine.  Extremely fresh and vibrant. Smell of ripe strawberry/raspberry with hints of peach and apple blossoms. The light bubbles keep in the sweetness. Overall a very fruity and smooth wine. Drank this wine with no food.

Le Lapin Multiplicity

Name: Le Lapin Multiplicity
Variety: Zinfandel Blend
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $6.95


Winery Review: Multiplicity is a blend of grapes that rabbit ridge is keeping under wraps for now. The nose is black cherry, blackberry, a little plum, and some spice, with a touch of forest floor. The palate is full of fruit and spice, with flavors of black cherry and a slight cranberry note. Nice firm tannins and medium finish.


My Review: Did not enjoy this wine very much. Definitely rich, thick and heavy. Smell of strong fruit, with a smooth finish. This wine is probably better suited to drink when paired with foods. Alcohol is present with the taste but not too overwhelming.

Marques De Moral Crianza Tempranillo

Name: Marques De Moral Crianza Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Castilla-La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2007

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Medium red. Aromas of redcurrant and cherry, plus a hint of dried rose. Fleshy and smooth, with moderate depth to its slightly bitter red fruit flavors. Finishes with decent breadth and grip, with the redcurrant element joined by a hint of white pepper. 

My Review: Not one of my favorite wines. Felt as though the smell was very overbearing and really difficult to get past. Definitely got the flavor of dried rose but not much more than that. Would not recommend just as a drinking wine with out food. 

Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Victoria
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95


Winery Review: Predominantly fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion barrel fermented in older French oak, the wine is blended, bottled, and released three to four months after fermentation. The nose shows fragrant gooseberry characters with underlying passionfruit and lychee aromas. Minerally, stalky notes are evident and provide additional complexity. The palate is a fine and elegant style with zesty lemon acidity and length. Varietal characters of passionfruit pulp and gooseberry dominate with hints of lemon peel in the background.


My Review: A good wine in my opinion. It is a fine and elegant style with zesty lemon taste included. Feel as though it would be a better wine to have with food to compliment. Packed quite an unsuspecting punch for a wine that is fairly smooth to drink.

The Royal Chenin Blanc

Name: 2009 Valley Vineyards Chenin Blanc The Royal

Variety: Chenin Blanc

Region: Coastal Region/ Swartland 

Country: South Africa

Year: 2009

Price: $4.95

Winery Review: This is an unwooded Chenin Blanc. and is made from 48 year old vines in the Swartland wine growing region. This wine packs a deceptive punch. And that punch tastes of apples, pears, and quince, with an appealing herbal note that helps it pair well with salads and other light fare. Don't drink it too cold, or you might miss all the fruit.

My Review: Very tasty wine! Definitely has a good tannin structure. I was able to taste the richness of the wine through the fruity flavor but still enough punch to make it interesting. Thought there was a hint of banana in it which really set off the flavor as well. I tasted this on its own with no food and enjoyed it.