Tasting - Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Cider

Name:  Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Cider

Variety: Apple Cider

Year:  2013

Region:  Ohio

Country:  USA

Price:  ~$10.00/six pack

Winery Review:  "Our Apple Ginger cider is a unlike any other cider. The addition of Nigerian ginger flavor adds a spiciness and warmth to the cider. The fresh ginger and apple flavors blend together for a sweet, yet slightly tart taste with a distinct ginger aroma. The result is a smooth, refreshing, slightly sweet cider with a subtle dry, yet complex, warming finish from the ginger."

My Review:  This cider had the perfect blend of sweet and bitter.  I immediately picked up with the ginger flavor, which pairs perfectly with the tartness of the apples.  The finish was dry, which was surprising for a cider.  I did not taste this with food.

Tasting - Barefoot Moscato

 Name:  Barefoot Moscato

Variety: 100% Moscato

Year: no year given

Region:  California

Country:  USA

Price:  $6.99

Winery Review:  "Delightfully sweet with lush fruity aromas. Hints of citrus skip across flavors of juicy peach and ripe apricots. A bright, crisp finish dances in at the end. It’s a bit sweeter than our Riesling."

My Review:  This white wine has a very citrus sweet flavor.  When I tasted it, I immediately picked up on apricots, and possibly peach.  Like most moscatos it was very sweet, with little acidic flavors.  I did not taste this wine with any food.

Tasting - Annalisa Moscato

Name:  Annalisa Moscato

Variety: 100% Moscato

Year: 2011

Region:  Piedmont

Country:  Italy

Price:  $12.99

Winery Review:  "A fresh, easy-drinking white with aromas of peach blossoms and citrus wrapped around a softly sweet, luscious palate filled with nectarine and apple notes. Ideal with dessert or fresh fruit."

My Review:  I had this white wine with dinner the other night.  It was definitely a sweet dessert wine.  I picked up the apple and peach notes right away.  The bubbles were gentle and added a slight tang to the very smooth wine.  I had steak and potatoes for dinner, which I think made the wine taste even sweeter than it would have on its own.  I would have much rather paired it with fresh fruit.

Tasting - Black Box Sauvignon Blanc

Name:  Black Box Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 98% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Other Wine

Year:  2012

Region:  Valle Central

Country:  Chile

Price:  $24.99

Winery Review:  "This Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing and zesty wine that was 100$ fermented in stainless steel.  Featuring stone fruit aromas, this wine blends crisp acidity and the sweetness of peaches with slight floral notes.  Herbaceous undertones accentuate its freshness, ending with a clean, dry finish.  This delicious wine pairs well with most foods, especially white meat, green salads, and seafood dishes."

My Review:  This white wine had an extremely bitter taste.  It was very acidic, and the finish was strongly asparagus.  It was also very dry on the palate.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Old Vine Zinfandel

Name:  Bota Box Old Vine Zinfandel

Variety: 100% Zinfandel

Year: 2011

Region:  California

Country:  United States

Price:  $20.99

Winery Review:  "Bota Box Old Vine Zinfandel is rich in color with aromas of blackberry bramble, red currant and a touch of spice. Concentrated and fruit forward, Bota Zin showcases black cherry fruit and toasted oak on the palate, with hints of black pepper that carry through to a long, lingering finish.  Nicely balanced acidity and supple tannins make this medium-bodied wine an ideal partner for roasted pork tenderloin studded with garlic and rosemary, grilled burgers topped with blue cheese, or even chocolate brownies."

My Review:  This wine had a very high acidic finish, which left a bitter taste on the palate.  There were slight cherry notes that were accented by a lingering wood taste.  Overall, the wine needed to have a slightly more sweet or less acidic taste, but it would have been better accented with the food.

Tasting - Angove Zibibo Sparkling Moscato

Name:  Angove Zibibo Sparkling Moscato

Variety: 100% Zibibo

Year: no year given

Region:  South Austrailia

Country:  Australia

Price:  $7.95 (sale)  $15 (regular)

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:  The smell of the wine was not very strong, but the taste was delicious.  The bubbles were small, which added to wine’s velvety texture.  Overall it had very heavy fruit flavors, with no tartness, making it a very good dessert wine.  I did not taste this wine with food, but I could easily drink a glass rather than eat dessert after a meal.

Tasting - The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Name:  The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Variety:  100% Chenin Blanc

Year:  2012

Region:  Western Cape

Country:  South Africa

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:  When I first smelt the white wine, I thought it was floral and fruity.  I tasted a slight floral, but not as strong as I imagined it would be.  Overall the wine was refreshing, and not very acidic.  It did not have anything special flavors, and would describe it as a generic white wine you could casually drink with friends.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name:  Tres Ojos Garnacha

Variety:  50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre

Year:  2011

Region:  Calatayud

Country:  Spain

Price: $6.95

Winery Critique:  "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée 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:  This red wine had a very strong sweet smell.  When I tasted it, it was surprisingly hollow, with a slightly acidic aftertaste.  I picked up some cherry or berry flavor throughout the wine, and a slightly dry finish.  I did not taste this wine with food, but I think it would pair nicely with chocolate, or mix well into a homemade sangria.

Tasting - Fetzer Malbec

Name:  Fetzer Malbec

Variety:  100% Mendoza

Year: 2011

Region:  Mendoza

Country:  Argentina

Price:  $7.95 (sale)  $15 (regular)

Winery Review:  "Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet 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 wine had a very alcoholic smell, which seemed to mask any of its underlying flavors.  After I tasted it, I noted how smooth the wine was.  The texture, along with the slight cherry taste, tended to linger on the palate.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Year:  2012

Region:  Mendoza

Country:  Agrentina

Price: $5.95 (sale) $12 (regular)

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: 

This white wine was surprisingly rough on the palate, while still having a light texture.  It started very acidic, bitter, and tart, and ended dry.  Overall I did not enjoy the wine, but I think this is a wine that would benefit from a food pairing (which I did not participate in). 

Tasting: Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg Sylvaner

Name:  Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg Sylvaner 
Variety:  100% Silvaner
Region:  Rheinhessen
Country:  Germany
Year:  2010
Price:  $4.95

Shop Review:  “The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen. It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile. The finish is zippy and refreshing. Perfect for party on the deck as it comes in a liter bottle!”

My Review:  When I first sniffed this wine, I thought it smelt like rotten fruit.  I was pleasantly surprised by the slight green tea taste (which I think accounted for the smell).  The wine was smooth and full bodied, which combined with the fruity taste, made the wine very refreshing.  I did not taste the wine with food, and I do not think I would need to in order to enjoy the wine.

Tasting: Montebuena Rioja

Name:  Montebuena Rioja
Variety:  100% Tempranillo
Region:  Rioja
Country:  Spain
Year: 2010
Price:  $8.95

Shop Review:  "(100% Tempranillo, raised entirely in American oak): Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (September 2012), 90 points

My Review:  This red wine had a very acidic taste that was accented by citrus flavors.  I immediately tasted sharp woody flavors, and it was slightly dry on the palate.  The wine was very smooth, but the acid was overwhelming.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Delaroche Cotes du Rhone

Name:  Delaroche Cotes du Rhone
Variety:  50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre
Region:  Rhone Valley
Country:  France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Shop Review:  "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée 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 points

My Review:  This red wine was surprisingly light.  It had a slight cherry taste that was sweet, but also a little bitter.  It felt hollow and dry on the palate.  I did not taste this wine with food, and I felt it might have paired well with a chocolate that would accent the cherry flavors.

Tasting: Maipe Torrontes

Name:  Maipe Torrontes
Variety:  100% Torrontes
Region:  Mendoza
Country:  Argentina
Year:  2013
Price:  $7.95

Shop Review:  "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. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well."

My Review:  This white wine was a little heavy for my taste.  I got a strong taste of apricot, but not in a very sweet way.  The wine was acidic and bitter, not light and refreshing like I imagined a white wine would be.  I did not drink this wine with food, but I think it would have paired well with something fatty or rich that could be cut with the acidity of the wine.

Tasting: Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name:  Cortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety:  100% Pinot Grigio
Region:  Venezie
Country:  Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Shop Review:  "Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections.  Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots, and bananas.  Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif."

My Review:  This white wine had a refreshingly light taste.  There were hints of fruit, and overall the wine did not have a very strong acidic taste to it.  The sweetness of the wine was very enjoyable, and I could see myself drinking it again in the future. I did not drink the wine with any food, but I think the wine's taste was good on its own.