Tasting -"First Light Moscato"

Name: First Flight Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Unknown

Country: Australia
Year: Unknown
Price: Regular price $15; Sale $7.95

Review: "Rich lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that make this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine."

My review: I smelled a lot of fruity elements in this wine. In particular, this wine smelled like lemonade. When I tasted it, it hardly tasted like wine to me. It tasted like a lemon-lime soda, and I can't decide if I liked it or not. I would have to try this wine again to decide.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting -"CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2009"

Name: CalNaturale
Variety: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Viognier
Region: Paso Robles
Country: California
Year: 2009
Price: $10.95 (1 Liter); $5.95 (500ml)

Review: "95% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish."

My review: On the nose I smelled a lot of grape and cherry scents. I thought it was going to be a pretty sweet wine. When I tasted it I noticed it was a very full body wine and was very chewy. I would want to try this wine again.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting -"Georges Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau 2013"

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau
Variety: Gamay
Region: Beajolais
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: Regular price $15; Sale $7.95

Review: "An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish." -Wine Spectator

My review: This wine had an awesome, awesome nose. It had a great scents of strawberry, banana, and I even smelled a bit of kiwi -- very tropical and nice on the nose. I tasted pomegranate a lot when tasting this wine. I would definitely drink it again. 

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting -"Beltrame Friulano 2009"

Name: Beltrame Friulano

Variety: 100% Tocai Friulano Straw
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: Regular price $15; Sale $9.95

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: I was surprised because this wine didn't have much nose when I smelled it. I tasted a lot of a lemongrass taste with this wine. Despite the lack of nose, this wine had a really lingering taste. I would like to try this wine with food and see how it changes. 

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting -"Mas LLunes Maragda 2010"

Name: Mas LLunes Maragda

Variety: Grenache Blanc
Region: Emporada
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: Regular price $16; Sale $9.95

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: When I first smelled this wine it smelled exactly like Barefoot Moscato. When I tasted it, I noticed that it tasted a lot like tangerine. This wine, despite its sweet smell, was very dry and acidic. I was not a big fan of this wine and I'm not sure I would have it again. 

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting -"Sonnenband Moscato Magnum"

Name: Sonnenband Moscato Magnum 
Variety: Moscato
Region: Unknown
Country: Spain
Year: Unknown
Price: Regular price $20; Sale $9.95

Review: "This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars."

My review: Right when I sniffed and swirled this wine, I knew it was going to be really sweet. I could smell how sugary and sweet this Moscato was, and I noted that it smelled a lot like tangerine. When I tasted it, it honestly didn't taste like wine to me, it tasted more like really sweet orangeade. I would love to taste this wine again with fruit or something similar. 

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon 2010"

Name: Neu Direction

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Review: "This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure."

My review: The first thing I noticed about this wine was how big the nose was! After sniffing it, I really really excited to taste this wine. This Cabernet Sauvignon really reminded me of a dessert wine. It was very rich, full and chewy. I noticed the strong blackberry flavors and thought it would be paired well with dessert, especially something with chocolate.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Champteloup Pinot Noir 2011"

Name: Champteloup
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Touraine
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Review: "In the heart of France's Loire River Valley lies the Touraine wine region. Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine's appeal. This wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we've offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his winemaking, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate."

My review: When I sniffed and swirled this Pinot Noir, I noticed that it smelled like nail polish remover, like Saki. I got chills when I tasted it. For the most part, I tasted cherry elements the strongest. It left a very lingering taste and I had to wait a bit longer before tasting the next wine because this one was so strong. The nose was definitely deceiving, but I enjoyed this wine despite its nose.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Baumann Gentil Classiq 2012"

Name: Baumann Gentil Classiq
Variety: Blend
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Review: "A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully."

My review: I really enjoyed this wine, and found the blend to be very smooth. The nose was very flowery, and I was extremely satisfied by the citrus tastes on the pallet. It was a very smooth wine. I noted a hint of honey that helped confirm the overall sweetness of this wine. I would definitely drink it again.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Fattori Runcaris Soave 2010"

Name: Fattori Runcaris
Variety: 100% Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Review: "From the local Italian world for "to work the soil," Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine and dried herbs." 86 points -- Wine Enthusiast

My review: This wine was very subtle on the pallet. I found it to be very light, but also managed to have a lingering taste. I liked this wine, despite its subtlety, but I think I would need to taste this wine with food to have a better concept of its taste.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Tres Ojos Garnacha 2011"

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha 
Variety: 100% Old Vine Garnacha (40-50 year old vines)
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Review: "Made from 100% Old Vine Garnacha (40-50 year old vines). The wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length and yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc." -I-WineReview (December 2013), 90 pts. 

My review: The Tres Ojos Garnacha is unlike any wine I've ever tasted. I twas very juicy, but light at the same time. The juicy flavors made this wine extremely easy to drink and very enjoyable. I would definitely drink this wine again.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Fetzer Malbec 2011"

Name: Fetzer Malbec 2011
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoze
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: Regular Price - $15; Sale - $7.95

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 is a wonderful red wine. I noticed cherries as the primary tone coming through. This wine was very smooth and to me, it had a very velvety taste. This was refreshing wine that I believe I would drink again.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2012"

Name: The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2012
Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Review: "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, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months." - 90 points - Robert Parker 

My review: I didn't notice anything particularly special about this Chenin Blanc. It was extremely dry and had a very muted taste. I don't believe I would drink this wine again, as it was too plain and flavorless for my taste.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Norton Savignon Blanc 2012"

Name: Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoze
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $5.95

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: I really enjoyed this Sauvignon Blanc. The lemon and pineapple flavors stood out the strongest to me. What I found extremely interesting about this wine was how long the taste lingered after I tasted it. This is a wine I would definitely drink during the summer because of its citrusy flavors.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato"

Name: Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: Unknown
Price: Regular price - $15; Sale - $7.95

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: I absolutely loved this sparkling Moscato. I could really taste the smoothness of the honey and the carbonation provided a fullness to this. This reminded me of other sparkling wines that I've had before, but this is definitely my favorite. I really enjoyed the carbonation with the syrupy taste. I will definitely drink this wine again.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Delaroche Cotes du Rhone 2011"

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

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 a very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from roganically grown grapes. Incredible value!" -I-WineReview (December 2013), 90 points. 

My review: This is my least favorite of the wines that I have tasted for far. I'm typically partial to French wines and was looking forward to tasting this wine in particular. This wine had a very spicy taste too it and smelled and tasted peppery. I was surprised by how spicy this red was, and I am not sure if I would drink it again. 

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Montebuena 2010"

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

Review: "(100% Tempranillo, raised entirely in American oak): Vivid ruby. Rope 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: I really liked this red Spanish wine. It tasted very similarly to Cherry Republic wines that I've had. While the Montebuena is 100% Tempranillo, it tasted like it was a true cherry wine. This had a very smooth taste, and I would definitely drink it again.

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg Silvaner 2010"

Name: Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg Silvaner 2010 
Variety: Silvaner
Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany
Year: 2010
Price: $18 (Regular price), $4.95 (Sale)

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: Since tasting this wine, I have bought a bottle of it twice. It is easy to drink and I really enjoyed the smooth lemony taste. This wine is not too sweet and not to acidic, so it's great to drink, whether you want one glass or more. I had never had a German wine before this, so it was nice to try one and be happily surprised by how much I liked it. 

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Maipe Torrontes 2013"

Name: Maipe Torrontes 2013
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Salta
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

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 cheese, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well."

My review: This was one of my favorite wines that I tasted. Upon smelling it, I realized it smelled like Blue Moon. When I tasted it, I noted all of the different citrusy flavors, and confirmed my sensing of a Blue Moon-like flavor. The floral and citrus elements made the wine very drinkable and enjoyable. 

I tasted this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - "Cortenova Pinot Grigio 2012"

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

Review: "Brilliant straw color with emerald reflection. Fresh and floral banquet 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: I thought this was a very smooth wine. It tasted much like many of the Pinot Grigios that I have previously had. I really noticed the taste of pears in the wine when I tasted it. I would drink it again!

I tasted this wine on its own without food.