Name: Beltrame Friulano
Variety: 100% Tocai Friulano
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $15 (retail)
Vintage Cellar review: 100% Tocai Friulano Straw-coloured yellow with a pale green tint express an intense, delicately aromatic and floral bouquet. The flavour is dry, soft slightly fruity, with slightly bitter nuance in its almond aftertaste, and suggestion of peach.
My review: This is a very oaky, woody, smoky, cigar box aroma wine on the nose. It's very pleasant actually; not too much of the wood aroma, but just enough to give it great structure on the nose. It is pretty dry and light in body, again with the woody, oaky, and smoky flavors coming through very prominently. It also gives hints of earthy and floral flavors.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Mas LLunes Maragda
Variety: Grenache Blanc
Region: Emporda
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $16 (retail)
Vintage Cellar review: This Grenache Blanc is exquisitely sculpted with sharp acids and pinpointed minerals, and offers orange, melon and vanilla-honey flavors. A delight to drink, at a great price.
My review: The nose has powerful hints of citrus and pear. The taste is light in body, very dry, and acidic. It really is too dry for my taste in a white wine; I wanted it to be a bit sweeter just to take some of the dryness off.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $8 (retail)
Winery review: Perfect everyday drinking wine. A youthful fresh wine with quince and pear drop flavours. Earlier picked freshness shows on palate with crunchy green apple and grapefruit flavours. Good mouthfeel and appetisingly tangy finish.
My review: I feel that this is a very strong white wine. At first sniff it is very fruity and floral with a sour apple theme coming through on the nose. Upon tasting, it is full-bodied and well structured; it's semi-sweet, but also has a fairly large alcohol content which makes it feel heavier in body.
I had this wine with homemade pizza and garlic bread, but I really think it would go better with a spicy Asian or seafood dish.
Name: Kenwood Vineyards Yulupa Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Glen Ellen, Sonoma County, California
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $11 (retail)
Winery review: Our Yulupa Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in small oak barrels. The wine is soft and smooth with berry flavors. It makes an ideal match with full-flavored foods such as chicken, pasta, or beef.
My review: This Cabernet ages very well. The first sip I took was like a punch in the mouth. Very strong tannic and alcoholic components; large body and heaviness in the mouth. Heavy raspberry, black cherry, and black currant on the nose. It has a very large aroma presence on the nose; almost better than the flavor profile. Not the best Cabernet I've had, but much better than most.
I had this wine with homemade pizza and garlic bread and it did pair with the wine quite well, in my opinion.
Name: II Valentiano Brunello di Montalcino
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2006
Price: $60 (retail)
Winery review: At sight the wine looks clear, brilliant, burgundy with ruby light. It gives out a persisting, strong smell with nuances from the underwood, aromatic wood, soft fruit, vanilla and preserve. At taste the wine is round and full-bodied, dry with an aromatic persistence. Time is a trustworthy friend for it: in fact, if it is properly kept in a dark, cool place, with a constant temperature, and the bottle laid down, it gets better and better as the time goes by. It tastes at its best with read and roast meats, with wildfowl and furred game as well as with mature cheese.
My review: This wine is dark ruby red indicating that it has spent some valuable time with grape skins. It also means that it has absorbed a lot of the tannin component of the skins. It's not extremely acidic, but it makes up for it with a pretty dry mouthfeel. It feels heavy and full-bodied, but not so much that it feels like it needs to be chewed before being swallowed. I think this wine would pair nicely with a grilled chicken dish.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Wine Men of Gotham Shiraz Grenache
Variety: Shiraz and Grenache
Region: South Eastern Austrailia
Country: Austrailia
Year: 2011
Price: $14 (retail)
Wine critic review: This is the stripped-down, acoustic version of Austrailian Shiraz/Grenache: lower volume, less amplification, no distortion. I would never in a million years have blinded this for what it is, so if you're looking for a hefty, cheap and cheerful Shiraz to go with BBQ burgers, this probably isn't your wine. But if you want to see what else Austrailia is capable of, or if you're looking for a value-packed New World alternative to a Crozes-Hermitage of Cotes du Rhone, I think you'll be amazed with what you find in this bottle. If you don't think an Aussie Shiraz blend can be described with words like "delicate", "complex", "elegant" or "restrained", the Wine Men of Gotham have something to show you.
My review: This was my first Shiraz Grenache and I have to say that I really did like it! The nose is very pleasant and it has a delicious dark ruby red color. It's seems very earthy and smoky, though it doesn't seem to have the punch of long Oak barrel aging. While somewhat acidic, it is balanced out nicely by its tannic component. I think this wine would go well with an Italian pasta dish; I'm not sure about which type of sauce.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Castello d'Albola Vin Santo Del Chianti Classico
Variety: Malvasia, Trebbiano
Region: Chianti
Country: Italy
Year: 2001
Price: $60 (retail)
Winery review: A tradition of many centuries lives on in this wine, obtained from grapes cultivated on the estate of Castello d'Albola. Prolonged finishing in chestnut barrels (caratelli) in a special cellar (vinsantaia), where the alternation of the seasons slowly works the miracle of maturation, has conferred on it a body of exceptional finesse.
My review: This is a wine that really needs to be served with a dessert, as it suggests on the back label. It is very sweet on the nose and on the palate and strong hints of the chestnut barrels it is aged in certainly do come through. Some hints of Kentucky Bourbon, cheese Danish, and cinnamon bun are noticeable. It feels fairly light in body since it's a white and not very acidic or tannic; just very sweet. I really wouldn't drink this wine just by itself; I'd ideally like to have dessert or other food with it to offset the intense sweetness.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Placido Chianti D.O.C.G
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Chianti (Tuscany)
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $18 (retail)
Winery review: Ruby red. Intense aroma that hints of violets. Dry and well balanced with black fruit flavors followed by a long finish. Placido Primavera Chianti is the perfect accompaniment to meats, pastas and spicy foods.
My review: This Chianti is smoky, earthy, and light bodied. The finish doesn't seem to stick around for too long, in my opinion. It's fairly dry, but it isn't overly acidic. I would really like to try this wine with food to discover how it's flavors and aromas are affected.
I did not have this wine with food.
Name: Definitive Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Napa, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $25 (retail)
Winery review: Racy cherry, cola, raspberry and strawberry fruit flavors are layered upon denser brooding flavors with spice, smoke, slight meatiness, and darker blackberry and black cherry flavors. Dark chocolate, sandalwood, violets and a slight earthiness add layers to the rich fruit. Nuances of smoke, toasted wood and baking spices linger in the finish. The wine will continue to develop in the months and years ahead. Drink now or age 5 - 9 years.
My review: I really tasted the blackberry and black cherry in this wine. A pleasant, casual drinking wine, I think it tastes full-bodied on the palate and has just the right spice and acidity as an aftertaste. I think this is a great Pinot Noir and I'd definitely drink it again!
I had this wine with snack foods and Cherry Yum Diddily Dip. The choice of foods was not ideal and it was probably bad for the taste of the wine.
Name: Childress Vineyards Three Red Table Wine
Variety: Red Table Wine
Region: North Carolina
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $19 (retail)
Winery review: Three Red Table Wine is an easy-drinking smooth wine, bursting with cherry flavors and is as memorable as its namesake, the legendary No. 3 car owned by Richard Childress. Three is an excellent choice with spicy fare, or on its own.
My review: This red table wine was way to sweet and not acidic enough for me. In contrast with a Merlot and Malbec that I had earlier in the evening, it almost made me want to vomit. It was overwhelmingly cherry-flavored; if one is used to drinking red table wine, it's fine, but I wouldn't pair it with acidic wines at all.
I had this wine by itself without food.
Name: Blackstone Winemaker's Select Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Country: South America
Year: 2011
Price: $13 (retail)
Winery review: This wine is blended in the signature Blackstone style: smooth, flavorful and balanced. Subtle aromas of rose petal are complemented by the rich fruit flavors of plum and blueberry. The finish is lush and spicy, with hints of vanilla.
My review: I had a Night Harvest Merlot right before this Malbec and I was especially impressed with how the body and the acidity changed from one type of grape to another, but also with the price of one bottle to another. This Malbec has a full and balanced body and a soothing acidic mid-palate and aftertaste.
I had this wine with smoked cheddar and bacon flavored cheese and Club crackers. The cheese really helped to differentiate my taste from the wine so I could start with a fresh palate every time I wanted to search for a different flavor in the wine.
Name: Night Harvest California Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $18 (retail)
Winery review: Deep ruby in color, this inviting Merlot offers bing cherry, sweet cedar, and raspberry aromas that precede rich plum and black cherry flavors. The finish is mellow and delicate with a hint of oak.
My review: I definitely liked this wine for the price! While not as full in body as some more expensive wines, this Merlot deserves some credit. I had it as an "after dinner" wine; it had a very earthy taste and the flavor of blackcurrants was heavy. It finished off with a lightly acidic after taste. I would definitely drink this wine again!
I had this wine with smoked cheddar and bacon flavored cheese and Club crackers and it definitely to clear my palate when I wanted to try and taste something different in the Merlot.
Name: Bogle Vineyards California Petite Sirah
Variety: Petite Sirah
Region: Clarksburg, California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $11 (retail)
Winery review: Voluptuous and full-bodied on the entry, the heady aromas of black currants and plums awaken the senses. Lusciously jammy and inky in appearance, the concentrated fruit wraps itself around tones of pipe tobacco, leather and cocoa, to mesmerize the palate. Juniper and spice seduce the supple tannins, as this wine finishes long and lingering, but not before a final touch of acidity charms the balanced mouthfeel yet again. Food Pairing: Try this unique wine with rich meat dishes of lamb, pork or game and their hearty sauces.
My review: This wine seemed fairly light in body to me, much lighter than the Cabernet Sauvignon that I'm used to. A little acidity was there, but it just wasn't as acidic as Cabernet Sauvignon. I was really able to taste the black currant and plum flavors, though. However, I'm still honing my tasting skills and I'm still trying to get good at pulling out specific flavors.
I had this wine by itself without food.
