Name: Heinz Eifel Shine
Variety: Riesling
Region: ??
Country: Germany
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95
Winery review: Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors. Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.
My review: Honestly smelled like vomit to me. Did not have a favorable scent at all. Did not have any heat to it. Had hints of tropical fruit and a very tangy aftertaste.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Don Ramon
Variety: Tinto
Region: ??
Country: Spain
Year: ??
Price: $7.95
Winery review: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo. Aged 3 months in American Oak casks. Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.
My review: Had a very earthy, spicy scent to it. Tasted very oaky and did not have much heat to it. Cherry was the only fruit I could really detect. Sweet mid-palette followed by a sour aftertaste.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Resonata
Variety: Nero D'Avola
Region: ??
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95
Winery review: Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouqet full of mulberries, blackberries, and spice. Harmonious and well-balanced with good berry fruit and a spicy background.
My review: Detected a hint of cream on the noise as well as a bit of raspberry. Tasted spicy and had hints of cranberry. Very creamy, smooth aftertaste. Not tannic at all.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Protocolo
Variety: Blanc
Region: ??
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95
Winery review: 87 points, Stephan Tanzer: Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value.
My review: Detected a bit of peach and apple on the nose. Very dry aftertaste despite being sweet at first. Had a bit of bite to it.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Santola
Variety: Vino Verde
Region: ??
Country: Portugal
Year: ??
Price: $7.95
Winery review: Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.
My review: Smelled plasticy and acidic. I was able to detect a hint of pear during this tasting and noticed the acidity was rather high. Had a bit of a bite to it.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Cantina Villafranca
Variety: Frascati
Region: Frascati
Country: Italy
Year: ??
Price: $7.95
Winery review: Produced from a selection of the best grapes located in the Frascati Doc production area. Made from 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio, 15% Grechetto (Greco). Intense yellow color with greenish reflections. Characteristic persistent fresh and fruity aromas. Excellent as an apertif and paird with fish, seafood or white meat.
My review: Smelled plasticy, citrusy, and had some heat to it. Tasted bitter and had a strong "white grape" accent to it. Dry but balanced.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Morro Bay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95
Winery review: Vanilla cream soda nose with a slice of fresh cut pineapple. Full body, tropical fruit, spice and pleasing vanilla oak note linger in the finish. Sweet flavor on the palate is from sur-lie aging the wine on the primary yeast lees for 7 months. A versatile style of wine that can be served chilled with fine cuisine or a glass with friends. Certified Green by Lodi Rules Sustainable Winegrowers.
My review: Smelled sweet and I could not detect any heat to it. Very dry. Tasted very earthy but not tannic. Had a little heat to the aftertaste.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Coreto
Variety: Tinto
Region: Losboa
Country: Portugal
Year: 2008
Price: $6.95
Winery review: This red from the Coreto range has loads of dark berry fruit with a hint of new oak creating a soft, velvet structure that makes it very easy to drink. Red currant and juicy acidity.
My review: Creamy/buttery scent. Hints of raspberry and cinnamon. Tasted somewhat flowery and dry. Warm and slightly creamy.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Charles Thomas
Variety: Cotes-du-Rhone
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: ??
Price: $8.95
Winery review: Wine advocate, 87 points: From a 140+ acre estate near the well-known Cotes du Rhone village of Pont Saint Esprit emerges this juicy Cotes du Rhone, a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. Well-made, with loads of berry fruit and a heady, meaty, peppery nose with a hint of Provencal herbs, the wine is fresh, lively, and best drunk over the next 2 years.
My review: Could not detect much from smelling this wine. Very tannic and dry. A possibly buttery aftertaste? Bitter but well balanced.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Lost Vineyards
Variety: Spumante Dolce
Region: ??
Country: Italy
Year: ??
Price: $4.95
Winery review: Pale silvery straw color. Floral aromas of apples, peaches, and potpourri follow through on a round, frothy entry to a fruity medium bodied sweet wine with good depth and tangy peach fruit and a breezy, harmonious green apple kissed finish.
My review: This wine appeared to have a sweet, cherry scent. Very bubbly and sweet. Had a cherry taste to follow its scent. Not very complex -- very one dimensional (fruity).
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Coastal Vines
Variety: Brut
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: ??
Price: $6.95
Winery review: Coastal Vines Sparkling Wine is a light colored wine with aromas of apple and citrus. On the palate, there are flavors of melon and pear. The finish is crisp and clean. Pair with cheeses, like brie, for appetziers; grilled garlic shrimp over a bed of pasta; or with a light white cake for dessert.
My review: Had a warm, fruity scent. Hints of peach and citrus. Was a bit dry and sour to the taste at first. Also had a very bitter aftertaste. Was fizzy and tannic.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Lazzaro
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentia
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95
Winery review: Opens with mellow peach and melon aromas and some oak. The palate is round, creamy and full. Tastes of spiced, dried apply with a stalky, pithy accent.
My review: This wine had a rather sweet, alcohol scent to it. I was also able to detect some fruit -- apple? Tasted sweet although was not as fruity as I thought it would be. Had a hot, dry aftertaste.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Tres Ojos
Variety: Garnacha Tempranillo
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95
Winery review: A 50-50 blend of Tempranillo and Garacha, this medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.
My review: Was a bit sour on the nose and I was unable to detect the scent of any fruit. Had a sweet cherry taste and seemed very buttery. The cherry taste lasted from initial sip and continued through to the aftertaste. Was a bit bitter.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Into Zin
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Lodi California
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95
Winery review: Spicy, jammy, ripe round plum with juicy soft finish. Goes well with marsala chicken, peppered steak or broiled lamb shank.
My review: Had a VERY big nose to it. The scent of butter overpowered me (not necessarily in a bad way) from the beginning. Didn't have any offensive burn on the nostrils. Tasted a bit earthy and dry. Very tannic. Still was very smooth and had a strong buttery taste/feel to it.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Legaris
Variety: Crianza
Region: Ribera del Duero
Country: Spain
Year: 2003
Price: $8.95
Winery review: 90 points, Wine Spectator: A silky texture carries plum, tobacco, coffee and mineral flavors over ripe tannins in this balanced red. Berry and vanilla notes linger on the finish. Drink now through 2012. -T.M.
My review: Had a buttery, fruity scent to it. Was only able to pick up blackberry while smelling. VERY dry and tannic. Tasted a bit earthy to me and had a fair amount of heat to it (in comparison to the previous 4 wines tasted).
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Opera Prima
Variety: Moscato
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: ??
Price: $5.95
Winery review: "This is an amazing value for an inexpensive Moscato sparkler that is great for many occasions. Its bright fruit aromas of lychee and lime are appealing and the flavors of honeydew, lime and lychee are delightful. Great for cake or fruit-based desserts."
My review: Smelled of cherry, soap (?), spice and also had a floral scent. Had a sweet, peachy taste and was a little bubbly. Very well-balanced and smooth -- no detectable heat to it.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Le Lapin - Multiplicity
Variety: Blended
Region: Paso Robles
Country: California
Year: ??
Price: $6.95
Winery review: "Multiplicity is a blend of grapes that rabbit ridge is keeping under wraps for now. The nose is black cherry, blackberry, a little plum and some spice, with a touch of forest floor. The palate is full of fruit and spice, with flavors of black cherry and a slight cranberry note. Nice firm tannins and a medium finish."
My review: Had an earthy aroma but also smelled sweet. Tasted quite tannic. Was sweet at first but then became dry. Had a noticeably strong finish.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Marques de Moral
Variety: Crianza Tempranillo
Region: Valdapenas
Country: Spain
Year: 2007
Price: $7.95
Winery review: "Medium red. Aromas of redcurrant and cherry, plus a hint of dried rose. Fleshy and smooth, with moderate depth to its slightly bitter red fruit flavors. Finishes with decent breadth and grip, with the redcurrant element joined by a hint of white pepper." - Stephen Tanzer (87 points)
My review: Buttery/creamy, sweet scent to it. Tasted dry and fruity (cherry). Was rather sweet and had a pleasant aftertaste. I enjoyed this wine.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Coldstream Hills
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Yarra Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95
Winery review: Predominantly fermented at cool temperature in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion barrel fermented in older French oak, the wine is blended, bottled and released three to four months after fermentation. The nose shows fragrant gooseberry characters with underlying passionfruit and lychee aromas. Minerally, stalky notes are evident and provide additional complexity. The palate is a fine and elegant style with zesty lemon acidity and length. Varietal characters of passionfruit pulp and gooseberry dominate with hints of lemon peel in the background.
My review: Had a flowery, sour scent to it. Tasted dry and indeed was a bit sour. Not too much heat to it. Very tannic aftertaste.
I tasted this on its own without food.
Name: Royal
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Swartland
Country: South Africa
Year: 2009
Price: $4.95
Winery review: "This wine packs a deceptive punch. And that punch tastes of apples, pears and quince, with an appealing herbal note that helps it pair well with salads and other light fare. Don't drink it too cold, or you might miss all the fruit." - Washington Post (June 2010)
My review: This wine tasted a bit bitter to me. It had a little heat to it and was rather sweet. It had a pretty strong fruit taste to it -- perhaps citrus (lemon)? It was light and refreshing.
I tasted this on its own without food.
