Tasting - Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc, Oak Vineyard Chardonnay, Tres Ojos Old Vines Garnacha, Faraway Farms Shiraz, Primo Amore Moscato

Tasting #1: Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: N/A
Country: South Africa
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc is the ideal summer wine and smacks of crisp tropical fruit with a smattering of gooseberries and fig. If you're planning a night out with mates - don't forget to bring along a bottle of this yummy potion!"

My Review: This wine had a very nice aroma of apple on the nose. Fruity nose in general, but the apple especially stuck out for me. It was actually a very nice sauvignon blanc! Very light, crisp, and fruity with a nice lip-smacking tang to it! Definitely a good summer wine!

Tasting #2: Oak Vineyard Chardonnay

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: Napa & Sonoma, California

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Quite an interesting Chardonnay, in an era when so many are too sweet and extracted. There's plenty of orange and apricot fruit flavor, but also a brilliant streak of minerality, like a lick of cold steel, and the overall taste is dry. Really easy to like, with lots of complexity to warrant repeated sipping."

My Review: Like the write-up on this wine said, I also thought this was an interesting Chardonnay. It actually had a little floral bouquet on the nose, which I don't think I've ever experienced in a Chardonnay. It had a little vanilla-y type flavor and mouthfeel (that creaminess). I couldn't pick out too much from this wine but it was nice.

Tasting #3: Tres Ojos Old Vines Garnacha

Varietal: Grenache

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Bright ruby color. Primary dark berry aromas are simple but offer very good purity and focus. Juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are youthfully tangy, with good back-end acidity adding snap. The clean, brisk finish leaves behind notes of sweet dark berry preserves and cracked pepper."

My Review: Seeing that this was a Grenache, I was a little afraid, given my past experience with Grenache. Not to mention the fact that the lesson this week talked about the lack of oomph this grape has. I was absolutely shocked when the man doing the tasting said this was their best selling wine in the history of the store! A Grenache?! Whoa! Upon tasting it,  I was pleasantly surprised! It had a little sweet, with a hint of vanilla, on the nose. The flavor was spicy with an overwhelming amount of pepper, smooth, with great tannins that gave it a spectacular velvety mouthfeel, and also some cherry flavors. It reminded me a lot of a Vina Borgia. Very nice surprise here!

Tasting #4: Faraway Farms Shiraz

Varietal: Shiraz

Region: N/A

Country: South Africa

Year: 2008

Price: $5.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Fresh, modern style, with lots of plum pudding, sweet chocolate, mocha, blackberry and boysenberry flavors supported by round, sweet tannins and toast."

My Review: This definitely had a strong blackberry aroma coming off the nose which was quite nice, but it also had a very smoky scent to it as well which was odd. Then, it actually tasted smoky! It was bizarre for me. I'm not a fan of smoked anything (cheese, meats, or wines). The smoky flavor was so overpowering for me that I couldn't taste anything else. I was not much of a fan of this one.

Tasting #5: Primo Amore Moscato

Varietal: Moscato

Region: N/A

Country: Italy

Year: No vintage

Price: $8.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Straw-yellow with golden reflections and a delicate mousse. Fruity and very inviting, with intense scent of peaches and exotic fruit. Fresh and pleasantly sweet with a taste that reveals its varietal characteristic."

My Review: As you would imagine, this had a very floral and fruity nose. It actually smelled quite nice, but it was WAY too sweet for me. Like sickeningly sweet. I couldn't drink more than 2 sips. This is the first wine I have had that I couldn't finish the amount in my tasting glass. The carbonation was quite nice and I could certainly imagine if I liked Moscato, that it would be a great wine for the summer.

Tasting - Zonin Pinot Grigio, Estrella Chardonnay, San Elias Carmenere, Col Des Vents Corbieres, Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitatswein

Tasting #1: Zonin Pinot Grigio

Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

"Vintage Cellar" 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: Wow. This wine is a ridiculous deal. The bottle is huge at about 1.5 liters and it's only $5.95! You must be thinking - this is going to be a terrible wine. Nope! It was actually very nice! It had some chardonnay qualities on the nose, which I sometimes find with pinot grios. It was medium to full bodied but it didn't feel heavy making it very easy to drink. Great fruitiness gave it a nice sweetness. We picked up a bottle of this baby!

Tasting #2: Estrella Chardonnay

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: Napa, California

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

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

My Review: Without even looking at the description, the first thing I wrote down for this wine was "banana on the nose." It wasn't overwhelming but definitely noticeable for me. I have never experienced that in a wine so it was a little odd. I didn't actually pick up much of the banana on the palate, however. I did taste the vanilla. It was very different than any chardonnay I've had before, that's for sure!

Tasting #3: San Elias Carmenere

Varietal: Carmenere

Region: N/A

Country: Chile

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "The grapes for this Carmenere 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: This was my first experience (and the first time I had even heard of) Carmenere. It was very different. To me, it had smoke and vanilla really coming across on the nose. However, in the palate, it had flavors of pepper, sweet vanilla-y flavor, and a very vegetal quality coming across. My boyfriend said he could taste green peppers. I didn't get that, but it definitely had a very distinct quality to it.

Tasting #4: Col Des Vents Corbieres

Varietal: Carnigan, Grenache, Syrah

Region: N/A

Country: France

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

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

My Review: Something about this wine made me want to smack my lips and tongue like you do when you drink grape juice. My guess is that would be the tannins talking? I'm not sure. This wine was pungent and bitter for me. I didn't have too much else to pick out or say about it. Maybe it's the grenache in it (which I have not liked in the past)?

Tasting #5: Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitatswein

Varietal: Liebfraumilch

Region: Rheinhessen

Country: Germany

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "Liebfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts. The original wine was named after the Liebfraumilch 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. Liebfraumilch, 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: This was another first for me. It was actually quite nice! This wine had a really gorgeous fruity bouquet on the nose. It was filled with so much fruitiness, I couldn't even distinguish which ones were in it! It reminded me a lot of the way a Moscato or sweet Riesling hits your nose. That just super in-your-face smell. However, unlike those two (which I do not prefer), this did not taste sweet on the palate. The fruit played itself out in a much more complex and almost dry way. It was really interesting! We picked up a couple of these puppies too!

Tasting - Simonet Blanc de Blancs, Tierra de Luna Torrontes-Chardonnay, Oxford Landing Viognier, Doural Red Tinto, Estrella Merlot

Tasting #1: Simonet Blanc de Blancs

Varietal: Simonet
Region: N/A
Country: France
Year: No vintage
Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" 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: I didn't have a whole lot to say about this wine. It was light in both flavor and body. Had nice carbonation. I didn't find it very complex or deep in flavor so not much to say here.

Tasting #2: Tierra de Luna Torrontes-Chardonnay

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: N/A

Country: Argentina

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" 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 thought this was nicely oaked and had that distinct chardonnay nose. It was actually a little light in body for a chardonnay which might make it a good summer wine. It was served slightly warm for my taste but not so much that all the flavors were highly pronounced.

Tasting #3: Oxford Landing Viognier

Varietal: Viognier

Region: N/A

Country: Australia

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "88 points, Wine Spectator. 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: I am starting to be able to distinguish the smell of a viognier. This wine had the same distinct viognier smell as others. It had a really rich golden color and a dry flavor. It gave off a weird aroma and flavor on the palate. Not sure what it was. This was a little disappointing for me.

Tasting #4: Doural Red Tinto

Varietal: Tinto

Region: N/A

Country: Portugal

Year: 2009 

Price: $8.95

"Vintage Cellar" 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, cheeses and fish."

My Review: I'm not a huge fan of the tintos so far. This one seemed like other tintos I've had so far in that it was strong in pepper and cherry flavors. This had really nice vanilla in it, I thought. I actually thought the spice in this one was a little overwhelming and may be better if paired really well.

Tasting #5: Estrella Merlot

Varietal: Merlot

Region: Napa, California

Country: United States

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "This ruby colored Merlot has 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: Jam flavors really came out in this wine for some reason! It was actually pretty sweet and fruity for me. It wasn't like my other experiences with merlots. It had a nice vanilla hint in it. This was definitely a different merlot!

Tasting - Muscanti Brut, Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc, Torrent Bay Chardonnay, Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto, Ebano Ribera del Duero Tempranillo

Tasting #1: Muscanti Brut

Varietal: Moscado
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: No vintage
Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" 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 methode 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: This wine definitely smelled like a traditional brut. It had really nice carbonation but bordered on being a little too much fizz. It had a very nice, dry, crisp, melon flavor. I liked it!

Tasting #2: Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $4.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "85 Points, Wine Enthusiast. Apple and floral notes and then an almost buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors."

My Review: This had a very strong alcohol smell that made the nose a little unpleasant. There was another strong smell on the nose, almost like a gasoline smell. It had a nice color but a weird flavor both at the beginning and during the aftertaste. I don't think it was served cool enough to get the appropriate nose and flavor. Not a fan though.

Tasting #3: Torrent Bay Chardonnay

Varietal: Chardonnay

Region: Torrent Bay

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

"Vintage Cellar" 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 wasn't very fond of the aromas coming off this wine. However, once I tried it it had a nice buttery, oaky, smooth body and flavor. I didn't think it was stand-out for me but it definitely had some distinct flavors that I couldn't quite pick out.

Tasting #4: Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto

Varietal: Tinto

Region: N/A

Country: Portugal

Year: No vintage

Price: $3.95

"Vintage Cellar" 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: This wine had some nice vanilla and cherry notes and a very overwhelming pepper flavor. It had a semi-smooth mouthfeel and a medium body. Not bad for being $3.95, especially if you like peppery wines.

Tasting #5: Ebano Ribera del Duero Tempranillo

Varietal: Tempranillo

Region: N/A

Country: Spain

Year: 2007

Price: $7.95

"Vintage Cellar" Review: "87 Points, Robert Parker. The 2007 Ebano 6 is 100% Tempranillo aged 4 months in French oak. Dark ruby red 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: This wine smelled like a cabernet sauvignon to me (which I love)! It was very dry and smooth with a little currant flavor. It was a little tart for me but I think that may be alleviated by perhaps letting this wine breathe for a bit.