Peter Mertes

Name: Peter Mertes
Variety: Liebfraumilch
Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Leibfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts. The original wine was named after the Leibfraumilch monastery in Worms, where the monks were the first wine growers and produced an unusually pleasing wine. Wines of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate are noted for their aroma, well- balanced harmony, and fragrance. Leibfraumilch, as all excellent white wines is best served chilled. We suggest serving with cold entrees, as well as poultry, such as chicken or turkey, or even with a mild Cheddar, mellow and slightly nutty with a medium consistency.


My Review: I really enjoyed this wine without the pairing of food. On the palate it was very clean and crisp. On the nose I got aromas of fruit salad with blackberry's. The acidity was very refreshing on this wine and there were traces of apple on the palate. I would recommend this wine!

Col Des Vents Corbieres

Name: Col Des Vents
Variety: Corbieres
Region: N/A
Country: France
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah. Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper...all are present in this authentic French country wine.


My Review: This wine was somewhat of a disappointment to me. I drank this without the pairing of food.  On the nose I detected great aromas of jam, raspberry, and pepper components. On the palate however, the taste while smooth was very dry and did not enjoy the aftertaste. Overall the wine was okay but not what I was hoping. 

San Elias Carmenere

Name: San Elias
Variety: Carmenere
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: The grapes for this Carménère are selected from vineyards in the Central Valley. Beautiful red fruit aromas. Supple and round in the mouth, the wine pairs well with full flavored cheeses and lamb.


My Review: I enjoyed this wine without the pairing of food. On the nose i did get the red fruit aromas along with some peppery components. On the palate, it seemed to be a full bodied wine with just the right amount of acidity to it. I would recommend this wine for the price. 

Estrella Chardonnay

Name: Estrella
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Intensely flavored and balanced with layers of vanilla, butter and pear, followed by apple, banana and oak.

My Review: The price of this bottle of wine is suiting due to the lack of intensity.  On the nose I got aromas of vanilla and that was about it. On the palate, I could not pick out any one flavor specifically but the I did not enjoy the aftertaste. I would not recommend this wine.

Zonin Pinot Grigio

Name: Zonin Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Pale straw-yellow color with brilliant reflections. Delicately fruity bouquet, with outstanding finesse and marked hints of almond blossom and peaches. Elegant, soft and well- structured fruit on the palate, with remarkable freshness and a clean, persistent aftertaste.


My Review: Delicious wine that I tasted without the pairing of food. On the nose, aromas of peaches and other fruits were detected. I would have loved to have tried this wine with an appetizer. On the palate, it seemed to be of medium body without much acidity. Very smooth. I would recommend this wine. 

Estrella

Name: Estrella
Variety: Merlot
Region: Napa, California
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: This ruby colored Merlot has a raspberry jam aromas with a subtle hint of spice. Layers of vanilla, plum, and fig are revealed that linger ever so slightly on the palate.

My Review: For the price this wine was surprisingly good. I tasted this wine without the pairing of food and found it to be an enjoyable experience. The taste was not too strong with very little hints of acidity. I really enjoyed the vanilla taste on the palate. On the nose the aroma of a jam was overwhelming in a good way. I would recommend this wine for the price.

Doural Red Tinto

Name: Doural Red Tinto
Variety: Red Blend
Region: N/A
Country: Portugal
Year: 2009
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: This Portuguese tinto(red) blend exhibits a deep red color with violet hues. The nose is vibrant and fruity. The palate offers notes of spice, cherry, and dark berry supported by good structure. Pairs well with red or game meat, cheese, and fish.

My Review: I was not thrilled with this particular wine. I drank this without the pairing of food but would definitely agree that it would go well with a steak. I got the dark berry on the palate but came on too strong on the aftertaste. The nose offered a very dark fruit aroma.

Oxford Landing

Name: Oxford Landing
Variety: Viognier
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Bright and lively, this white is appealing for its pear, lychee, and sweet spice character which comes together smoothly against a silky texture.

My Review: This was a decent wine that I drank without the pairing of food. It has aromas of lifted musk and honeysuckle. The palate is very rich with a hint of acidity on the aftertaste. Would be a good wine to pair with vegetables.

Tierra de Luna Torrontes

Name: Tierra de Luna Torrontes
Variety: Mix of Torrontes and Chardonnay
Region: Uco Valley
Country: Argentina
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Fresh and crisp with floral aromas and flavors of quince and pear, this wine is a versatile companion to informal meals, and is excellent as an aperitif.

My Review: I really enjoyed tasting this wine with out the pairing of food. I felt that this wine was very crisp and clean. It was light on the palate with the taste of pear. Feel that this wine would go well with salads. This wine was also very pleasant on the nose.

Simonet Blanc de Blancs

Name: Simonet Blanc de Blancs
Variety: Champagne
Region: Champagne
Country: France
Year: N/A
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: On the nose there is some bread-yeast and some toast, same on the palate. Great for an everyday bubbly or for mimosas.

My Review: This was a very bubbly champagne that I tasted with out the pairing of food. There was definitely buttery taste on the palate and the aromas were sweet. I enjoyed tasting this wine and would recommend it for the price.

Ebano Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo

Name: Ebano Ribera del Duero
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Ribera del Duero
Country: Spain
Year: 2007
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: The 2007 Ebano 6 is 100% Tempranillo aged 4 months in French oak. Dark ruby red in color, it displays a pleasant bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium- to full- bodied on the palate with savory flavors and plenty of spice, this racy, vibrant Tempranillo has enough structure to drink well over the next 5-6 years and is a very good value.


My Review: I really enjoyed this red wine without the pairing of food. I felt that this wine had great aromas of black cherry and other berries. On the palate i definitely got a lot of spice which was nice. There was a hint of acidity but not overpowering the flavors. I would recommend this wine for the price it costs. 

Lost Vineyards vinho de Mesa Tinto

Name: Lost Vineyards
Variety: Red Blend
Region:  N/A
Country: Portugal
Year: N/A
Cost: $3.95


Winery Review: Pours a light garnet color with a nice crisp zest, with aromas of cranberries and orange peel on the nose. Drinks smooth with a briary of mild cherries, wild strawberries and raspberries along with a note of rhubarb. Pairs particularly well with wild game and heavy fish such as salmon.


My Review: Well to be honest I was unsure what to expect with this wine. Obviously you should not judge a wine by the price but in this case it is noticeable that this wine is cheap. I was happily surprised that it tasted better than some other red wines but overall not the best wine. I got a fruity aroma on the nose with a hint of orange. On the palate the wine was relatively smooth but not much flavors to speak of. For the price this wine would be a good day drinking wine. I drank this wine without the pairing of food. 

Torrent Bay Chardonnay

Name: Torrent Bay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: South Island
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95


Winery Review: Fleshy, melony aromas cuddle some fresh oak. The palate has decent acidity so there’s freshness along with weight, resiny oak flavors, lemon and green apple.


My Review: I did not care for this wine all that much when drinking it without the pairing of food. I found that the flavors came on too strong and I had a difficult time really drinking this. I did however enjoy the aromas of melon on the nose but when it came to the palate it was just too acidic. The aftertaste was not smooth either. 

Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Spanish Vines
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $4.95

Winery Review: Apple and floral notes and then an almost buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors.

My Review: This wine was interesting tasting especially since it is so inexpensive. Overall I enjoyed drinking this wine with out the pairing of foods. There were great aromas on the nose with apple. I did however not get a baked apple flavor on the palate but instead tasted kiwi. This wine was relatively acidic tasting. I would recommend this wine.

Muscanti Brut

Name: Muscanti Brut

Variety: Sparkling Wine

Region: Girona

Country: Spain

Year: N/A

Price: $7.95 

Winery Review: Lemon blossoms, green apple, toast and honeydew melon are front and center in this crisp refreshing Spanish Sparkler. Silky supple with lingering flavors, yet a tingle of citric acid on the finish. A combination of traditional cava grapes but this wine is not made in the traditional méthode champenoise (which is required by Spanish law to be called Cava). This is made with the Charmat process so this wine may only be called ‘Spanish sparkling wine'.

My Review: I thought this wine was an average overall. I did not pair this wine with food and found that the taste was bitter in some regards. There was a good amount of sweetness to this wine which I enjoyed but overall the taste was dry. On the nose this wine was much more promising than the taste.