Name: El Sierro Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Variety: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Valencia
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar review: Dark ruby in color with rich aromas of red fruit and light spices. It is a real knock-out with delicious flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and vanilla all perfectly integrated. The Tempranillo provides wonderful spice and fruit, while the Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and depth with the beautiful use of oak.
My review: I think this wine is a respectable blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's fairly musty and earthy, but also has rich themes of dark red fruit on the nose. I also got a nice balance of oak along with the dirt and earth themes. I could really taste the Cabernet Sauvignon on the palette: very chewy, full-bodied, weighty, dry, very tannic, lightly acidic, and, of course, blackberry, cherries, and a variety of other, somewhat bitter, dark fruits. This is definitely a wine that would pair with an acidic tomato dish: Chicken Parmesan, stuffed shells and meat sauce, pizza, etc.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Omo Ze Bel Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Region: Sicilia
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95 (sale)
Vintage Cellar review: This bright, soft Merlot comes from a hilly vineyard on the Alcesti family estate in beautiful Sicily. It has hints of red cherries and freshly cut hay. Exceptional value.
My review: The first (and most noticeable) theme I got from the nose of this Merlot was a musty, earthy smell. It has slight hints of mildew and a woody aroma as well. This Merlot tasted very dry, fairly tannic, lightly acidic, and earthy, but the scent of mustiness and mildew I noticed in the nose appeared to stay away from the tasting experience. I would say that this Merlot also has a mid-body weight and very strong hints of blackberry. This wine would probably go well with a creamy chicken and pasta dish using Italian style seasonings.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Lagarde Altas Cumbres Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Salta (extreme northern Argentina)
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95 (sale)
Vintage Cellar review: Yellow colour with greenish nuances. Very intense aroma of fresh grapes, flower perfume and mature peaches. Fresh in the mouth. Light and easy to drink. Ideal with seafood, Thai and Chinese food.
My review: On the nose, this Torrontes is an explosion of fruit, candy, Fruitloops, Applejacks, and green apple aromas. Extreme themes of fruit and sweetness. However, it is pretty dry and mid-body weight. It tastes of fresh fruit and fruity cereal, similar to the nose. I would pair this Torrontes with a spicy Asian or seafood dish to help accentuate the aromas of the nose.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Avery Quinn Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Napa, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95 (sale)
Vintage Cellar review: The 2011 vintage marks a return to form for this great value Chardonnay. The aromas feature creamy, mellow, golden apple, pineapple, fresh butter and a touch of vanilla. Then rich, ripe, flavors of yellow pear, pineapple, fresh apple, cream and buttered toast swell up and fill your mouth before a juicy, apple and caramel inflected finish makes your mouth water (and smile!).
My review: I'm willing to say that this is one of the best Chardonnays I've ever tasted. The reason being: it actually tasted like something. It has hints of fruit and semi-sweetness, but it's mostly the aromas of cream, butter, and oak that really give this wine an excellent bouquet. Similar to the nose, this Chardonnay tastes very creamy and buttery with just the right balance of oak in the mix. It's not very acidic, but I did taste a bit of lemon peel and maybe a few hints of citrus fruits. This Chardonnay also has a very desirable full-bodied, weighty mouthfeel because of the cream and butter flavors; heavy malolactic fermentation. I would pair this wine with a spicy chicken or seafood dish because its heavy butter and cream flavors would help to add complexity to the spiciness of the dish.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Salvano Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba "Fosco" D.O.C.G.
Variety: Dolcetto
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $16.20 (sale)
Gando Italian Foods review: An intense ruby-red coloured wine with violet hues. It's aroma is sharp and persistent, with hints of violets and ripe blackberry. It has an intense, round flavour, warm and very soft with a hint of almond.
My review: This is a very gentle, smooth, and mild wine. Mostly dark fruit aromas on the nose, such as cherry, blackberry, plum, etc. While I could smell several dark fruits, this isn't a wine that is aromatically "in your face" even when it's thoroughly swirled and coated on the inside of the glass, which can be an advantage. I tasted mostly a cherry and plum component on the palette. It was pretty dry, lightly tannic, and while it is a bit higher in alcohol (13.5%), it was very smooth, balanced, and pleasant to drink. I almost think it might go well with a moderately spicy Mexican dish.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier
Variety: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% Viognier
Region: Oakville, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $13.99 (sale)
Winery review: Our distinctive blend marries the crisp, honeyed citrus fruit of Chenin Blanc with the plush body soft floral and juicy peach notes of Viognier for a lush, versatile and delicious wine. Enjoy a glass on its own or try it alongside your favorite seafood or spicy dish.
My review: I really enjoyed this Chenin Blanc and Viognier combination! I got a lot of floral and fruity notes along with a theme of light weight, fresh, warm air. On the taste, I got some great citrus fruits, not like an orange, but maybe more of kiwi or mango. I also taste a bit of honeysuckle. There is a very nice balance between the dryness and acidity of this wine. I think this wine it great by itself, but would also go well with some seafood.
I had this wine without food.
Name: Delea Bianco Di Merlot (white Merlot)
Variety: Merlot
Region: Ticino
Country: Switzerland
Year: 2009
Price: $10 - 30$ (retail)
Chain Bridge Cellars review: Delea (the producer) makes a nice line of red wines, but has also been making a white wine from Merlot for years. This isn't a rose -- the grapes are pressed right after picking, so the color is similar to a rich Pinot Gris. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied and rich, with loads of red currant, strawberry, and bright green grape fruit. It finishes dry and complex and very long. Use this like you would a Pinot Gris for sipping or pairing with rich foods with mushrooms or other earthy notes. Be bold - give it a try!
My review: At first I found it difficult to pick up the nose on this wine, but after a bit I found aromas of honey, flowers, and nearly burnt caramel. On the palate, I got a dry, lightly acidic, fruit and floral flavors. It's not a complex new world fruit bomb, but I could definitely taste several bitter fruits, such as the strawberry and green grape fruit like in the Chain Bridge Cellars review. I would also add red grape fruit. It was recommended that this wine be aged for two years before drinking; it's now five years since it's been bottled, so this wine's nose and taste are most likely not as great as had the wine been opened sooner. I would drink this wine by itself or pair it with creamy pasta dishes with earthy, Greek olives and mushrooms.
I had this wine without food.
