Tasting - Lost Vineyards Spumante Italiano Moscato

Name: Lost Vineyards
Variety: Spumante Italiano Moscato
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $6.95

Winery Review:
Pale color. Confected, fruity aromas of yellow apple, honeysuckle, pear tartlet, and honeydew melon with a satiny, shy, spritzy, moderately sweet light-to-medium body and a sleek, fast yellow apple, candied pear, honeycomb and sweet papaya finish with no tannins and no oak. Simple and approachable with sweet apple, melon and candied pear on a framework of gentle, delightful bubbles.

My Review:
Generally I love the sweet wines at the end of these tastings, but this one was pretty disappointing. The smell was off putting to me - kind of like a rotting fruit smell but also kind of like a fruit roll up that has been in its shiny package for a while. There was also an earthy flower aspect to the smell. When tasted, it just tasted exactly like soda to me. If I were to shut my eyes and blindly taste this, I would assume it was just Sprite with a little bit of grenadine. There were not layers in this taste at all. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Jip Jip Rocks
Variety: Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Padthaway
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $19 (Sale $8.95)

Robert Parker:
This red wine is a well above average effort with lots of flavor as well as Australia's so easily obtainable, lush fruit. The 2013 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon (55% and 45% respectively) exhibits a dark ruby/purple hue along with a layered, peppery, berry fruit-scented nose revealing licorice and meaty notes. From a much lighter vintage, it is a supple, easygoing red to enjoy now and over the next several years.

My Review:
This was a very pretty blood garnet color. The smell was pretty potent with dark bitter raspberry flavors and a little bit of peppermint at the end of the nose. It kind of smelled like it had been sitting in a dark and musty cellar for a while before we went to taste it. When tasted, there were a lot of layers in the taste which was cool to taste. Some dark fruit tones, with still that slight mint aspect were tastable. The wine was not overly bitter and had a clean finish. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Cavit Alta Luna Pinot Noir

Name: Cavit Alta Luna
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Vigneti delle Dolomiti
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $20 (Sale $9.95)

Winery Review:
On the nose cherry, plum and berry aromas mingle with notes of spice and tobacco. On the palate soft, supple tannins and refreshing acidity are beautifully balanced by ripe cherry fruit flavors on the finish which is dry, harmonious and elegant.

My Review:
This was a super "loose" wine and was very flowy in the glass. It smelled like cherry with hints of tobacco, and a little bit of pomegranate with raspberry. When tasted, this wine was fruity, beginning more bitter but was very smooth. This wine seems like it would cut through heavy food well, if you were serving it with a rich dinner meal. There were slight hints of pomegranate in the taste, but overall the finish was very nice. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - El Cortijillo Verdejo

Name: El Cortijillo
Variety: Verdejo
Region: La Monacha
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Beverage Testing Institute Review:
Golden straw color. Bright, attractive, tropical aromas of creme brulee and fruit tart with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a smooth, intriguing, snappy lime and apple finish with crunchy, fruit tannins and light oak. A super smooth and pure white sipper.

My Review:
This wine smelled like pears to me, but not sliced pears, pears that still are completely intact. This wine was a little crisp smelling and smelled fresh. When tasted, there was a clean ended on the back pallete and had flavors that were grapefruit and tarte. This wine was dry, plain, and one dimensional. Not to say this wine was bad, because it was good, it was just forgetful and nothing special. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Pinot Grigio

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $7.95

Winery Review:
A Venetian favorite: It is crisp and dry, rich and spicy with hints of peach and honey... perfect with salads, pasta, chicken and fish! Musaragno is an organic wine estate near Venice, Italy.

My Review:
This beautiful golden colored wine seemed to have more substance to it and was less "watery" when swirled around. The wine almost looked more like syrup in the class, instead of a white wine. It smelled rich and right of the vine with hints of tangerine and bread that smelled like it was freshly baked. When tasted, it was not directly full of heat but had a little bit of a metallic aftertaste. I really enjoyed this wine but the aftertaste was slightly different and definitely unexpected. This wine had hints of apple on the pallete and was not too sweet. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Fetzer Gewurztraminer

Name: Fetzer
Variety: Gewurztaminer
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $12 (Sale $8.95)

Wine Enthusiast Review:
A rainy minerality on the nose of this sweet wine manages to cut through the sugared oranges, honeysuckle and ripe, tropical white fleshed fruit, from peach to cherimoya. The palate is full of honeyed apples, white peach and pineapple, but the decent acidity and chalky element stops it short of treacly.

My Review:
This wine smelled exactly like a fresh cut meadow and was terrific. It smelled like the middle of a spring day that hadn't gotten too war. There were not really any fruits coming out because the main focus was on a grassy smell that was not too earthy. It tasted like carbonated with the fizziness with hints of strawberry. I would like to eat pretzels with this wine to even out the super sweetness. It had a clean finish here the aftertaste didn't linger too long. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Maipe Malbec

Name: Maipe
Variety: Malbec
Region:  Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $12 (Sale $6.95)

Robert Parker Review:
The 2015 Maipe Malbec is another 100% Malbec, with a deep purple color and a style similar to the Lexicon, with chocolaty, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, as well as touches of licorice and earth. It is delicious, soft and round. 87 points.

My Review:

This wine smelled sweet with a hint of rubber sole from a shoe. There seemed to be a hint of cinnamon smell as well, except there was not outward spiciness that hits you. I would say that it was more sweet smelling like sugar rather than fruity. When tasted there were little hints of rotten strawberries with the heat on the end with a sub par aftertaste. I felt like I needed a piece of gum after drinking that because it did not end the best way it could have. There was an overall smooth flavor, but no sugar flavor. 

Tasting - Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Manoir de Carra
Variety: Beaujolais Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $12 (Sale $4.95)

Winery Review:
A pretty, floral wine, with a rose petal note underscoring the rich pomegranate and sweet plum flavors. The fresh acidity is balanced, and a light spice note lingers on the finish.

My Review:
This wine smelled just like the wash/soap you can buy and use to wash vegetables with, except with hints of cherry. The wine was almost chemical smelling but not quite fully there. There was also a little bit of burnt aspect on the nose. When tasted it was super bitter which is hard for me to get past and it seemed to cover up a lot of flavors. There was no residual sugar taste and I was not getting any fruit flavors. This was not an enjoyable wine to me. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Mapreco Vinho Verde

Name: Mapreco
Variety: Vinho Verde Rose
Region: Vinho Verde
Country: Portugal
Year: 2015
Price: $10 (Sale $7.95)

Winery Review:
The cherry color reveals a slightly fizzy wine that is a very fruitful rose made from the traditional vinho verde white grapes. Adding a splash of red to offer flavors with notes of strawberry, cherry, and berries. A delightful twist on the original.

My Review:

The smell of this wine had a hint of smelly feet, but mainly I smelled less sweet peaches - almost like peaches that were not fully ripe yet. This pretty peach colored wine had no heat on the nose which was a nice change from the Chardonnay. When tasted, you could taste rose petals and the aftertaste was like sour cream and onion yogurt dip. The aftertaste seemed to over power the other tones on the beginning of the taste. There were no real strong flavors overall, but a little bit of grapefruit and citrus in the taste. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Marz & Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars & Venus
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Winery Review:
A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortable over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp, Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple. Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.

My Review:
This wine definitely smelled like some sort of muted grapefruit. It had a weird heavy smell at the beginning - that heavy smell wasn't anything specific, but that smell muted the rest of the nose. You can also smell the heat on the end of the sniff with a touch of vanilla. One tasted, the sour smell was the only thing that stuck out. It tasted like a sour bath towel that you left in your bathroom for a while. It was super tarte and dry, and over all I did not find this wine to be enjoyable. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - The wine that opened my eyes (special edition)

Name: Alvear Solera
Variety: Pedro Ximinez 
Region: Andalucia
Country: Spain
Year: 1927
Price: $27

In the movie Sideways they talk about a bottle of wine that opens your eyes and changes your view, for me this was it. Every week this semester, my roommates and I go to Vintage Cellar for their wine tastings, and this time we got a store manager (possibly the owner) to administer our tasting. While the people at the rest of the table seemed to hurry through the tasting, we took our time, striking up a conversation with this man. At the end of it, he started talking about different wines and asked us if we wanted to taste 90 year old wine.

So I tasted this $90 year wine, in sweatpants.

And it completely changed my viewpoint on wine. The way they age it, where it comes from - these were all things that I was completely interested in. The fact that 90 years of other people have drank this wine literally blows my mind, and I am utterly in love with it. I felt the intense need to shake the administrators hand and say thank you after I drank it - I cannot stress how cool an experience this was.

This desert wine smelled fantastic. It smelled rich with a scent that lingered in your nose for a long time. But the taste is the best part. The flavor was coffee and toffee and chocolate all rolled into a great flavor that was rich and syrupy and heavy and supremely enjoyable. The administrator said that often when he and his wife are eating simple things like nuts and chocolate they will have a little bit of this and it pairs so nicely. This desert wine can only be drunk in small batches because of its extreme richness, but I am obsessed with it. This wine changed my view on wine.

Tasting - Beringer Chenin Blanc

Name: Berginer
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Winery Review:
A fresh green-apple aroma an vivid citrus and crisp apple flavors are supported by vibrant acidity in this medium-bodied wine. The texture is smooth but crisp, making lots of good food pairings come to mind, from pre-meal cheese, to salads, seafood and veggie pastas.

My Review:
This wine tasted like pears, apples, and like grapes who have sat out in the heat that day. It has a more richer smell for a chenin blanc than I expected. The color was very translucent. When tasted it was sweet with a more bitter en taste to it. It seems like a good dessert wine cause it doesn't taste like sugar water, it actually has some substance. The aftertaste was nice as well, not too sweet or bitter. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Carraia Aglianico

Name: Carraia
Variety: Aglianico
Region: Campagna
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $15 (Sale $9.95)

Winery Review:
Produced in the Campania region of Italy, this Aglianico has delicious black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, volcanic soil and tar notes. Classic in nature, yet in a lighter, more crowd-pleasing style, the Carria is made of the ancient Aglianico grape. This black grape originated in Greece and today is widely grown in Basilicata and Campania.

My Review:
This had a more richer smell with hints of tobacco. The best descriptor would be a stale smell of an old man who had smoked for real. The label on the bottle was also pretty attractive and classic. When tasted it was super bitter with a sweet touch. The wine seemed to taste just like it smelled and they correlated. There was a tarte blueberry aftertaste. This wine seems to go bitter to sweet to sour. Not my favorite wine, and this was tasted without food.

Tasting - Siema Vino Rosso

Name: Siema Vino Rosso
Variety: Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: Unknown
Price: $10 (Sale $6.95)

Winery Review:
Intense ruby red with soft garnet nuances in the glass, the Rosso is intriguingly fresh, fruity and spicy on the nose. Perfectly round and balanced, the wine is particularly soft and dry. Pair with simple dishes like fresh cheese, ham, salami, or pizza for a divine culinary experience.

My Review:
To me, there was a lot of heat in this smell, but that is distracting from the rest of the smells that this wine has to offer. There is a little chocolate and little bit of dark red fruit like pomegranate in the smell, but those smells are very small. When sipped. there was a bitter beginning with a sweet taste on the mid palate. This wine almost had an earthy flavor, like the floor of a forest. It was enjoyable. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Dom de la Foret

Name: Dom de la Foret
Variety: Grenache Cinsault Rose de Mediterranee
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: Unknown
Price $13 (Sale $8.95)

Winery Review:
A stony, pure style, with a warm paving stone note framing the dried cherry and rose water notes. The long, watermelon rind - inflected finish is finely tuned. Shows length and cut, staying lacy in feel. 50% Cincault and 50% Grenache.

My Review:
This wine smells almost of bubble gum but not quite. It smells like a pretty peach color with a sweet pleasing hint of watermelon. It was a nice smell but nothing special, nothing really stuck out. The taste was more dry for a rose with a clean finish that is very nice. When you finish this sip, the wine is gone and the flavor does not linger. There was a little bit of watermelon flavor, but just a touch. Overall it seems this wine would pair nicely with light lunch food. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - Bricco dei Tati

Name: Bricco dei Tati
Variety: Cortese
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $10 (Sale $6.95)

The Washington Post Review:
Great value! Treat this terrific little white like a red: Don't chill it too much, then let it open for a half-our to develop its enticing tropical fruit flavors. It's dry, but the fruit gives an appealing illusion of sweetness. Great as an aperitif or with light seafood dishes.

My Review:
This wine smelled greatly of grapefruit and orange peel. This was not an outwardly fruity smell, but you can definitely smell the heat on the end of it. The taste is entirely too tarte with almost a sour flavor. So there are not any noticeable fruit flavors. This wine was pretty one dimensional and smelled better then it tasted in my opinion. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review:
The trademark German red varietal Dornfelder has a lovely purity of soft red berry fruit. Integrated soft tannins combined with forward fruit flavors make for a perfectly balanced everyday sipping wine. Great with grilled red meat, sausage and chicken. Best serves slightly chilled.

My Review:
This wine was super see through and did not really have a color. Also there was not a heavy smell to it, it smelled kind of like a penny - maybe some copper tones? But the main smell was the sweetness. When tasted, it tasted like sugar water and did not have a lot of dimensions. There were definitely pear undertones but nothing underneath. This wine was very one dimensional which made it taste somewhat good, but disappointing. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Crane Lake Shiraz

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Shiraz
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review:
Beautiful ruby appearance, with blackberry and pepper notes. Tannins and fruit marry well for a soft finish. This wine pairs well with sharp cheddar cheese and hazelnuts. Also try it along with roast lamb at Easter time, veal marsala, or grilled salmon.

My Review:
This wine hit you in the nose with the bitter smell. It also smelled strongly of tobacco with a hint of cherry. I really disliked the smell of this wine. After the initial taste, it is super bitter and sour and unenjoyable. There were small undertones of rotten cherry but overall the extreme bitterness of this wine really turned me away from it. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf
Variety: Nouveau
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2015
Price: $12 (Sale $5.95)

Winery Review:
Georges Duboeuf is THE king of Beaujolais. His wines are full of pop, charm and great flavor and his Beaujolais Nouveau is no exception. A cornucopia of expressive fruit wrapped in an almost-bubblegum-like frame; it is the flagship Nouveau.

My Review:
This was smelled just like butterscotch candies to me - specifically the ones that come in a gold wrapper! There was no heat on the smell and when I closed my eyes, it had a very velvet smell to it, meaning that it smelled smooth. When tasted, it was sweet at the beginning of the taste but sour on the back pallet. This wine was not really fruity but had a full presence and flavor that I appreciated - which is a lot because I normally favor white wines. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2014
Price: $14 (Sale $7.95)

Winery Review:
The wine has a 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.

My Review:
This wine was very sweet smelling but not sugary. It smelled almost like an over ripe apple with a touch of banana which was more fruit then I was expecting. When tasted, the wine was very dry with a very strong taste, unlike the other white wine sampled during this tasting. The wine itself as pretty tart and heat was felt when swallowed. There were no fruit flavors that stood out and it tasted almost like when you lick the outside of a sour patch kid. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Tonnino Pinot Grigio

Name: Tonnino
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $14 (Sale $7.95)

Winery Review:
Tonnino's exotic example of Pinot Grigio has a straw to pale gold color. It is fresh and clean on the nose with fruity notes of pear, green apple and white peaches. The palate is true to the nose with a fresh acidity, coriander and lime notes followed by a crisp finish. This wine pairs well with youthful aperitifs, clams or mussels, pastas and risotto dishes.

My Review:
This wine had a very potent smell; it smelled of grapefruit, and pears. The most striking thing was that it tasted very soft and like it was freshly cut from the steam. When tasted, it was a very dry wine with a touch of heat at the end of the taste. The flavor was almost a watered down grapefruit flavor. It seems like it would pair well with fish and salads since it was so dry. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Dona Sol Shiraz, Petite Syrah, and Symphony

Name: Dona Sol
Variety: Shiraz, Petite  Syrah, and Symphony
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: Unknown
Price: $6.95

Winery Review:
Shiraz has a unique jammy fruit character that is well represented in the Sweet Red. Both on the nose and on the palate, jammy fruit, like strawberries, cherry pie, and red licorice, entices the senses and pair well with cheeses and desserts.

My Review:
This wine smelled really of melons and was not citrusy but tangy. It almost smelled like brown sugar, and you couldn't smell the heat. When tasted, it was really sweet and tasted diluted with sugar. If I was drinking it with my eyes closed, I think it would have been white wine. The only flavor is sweet with hints of strawberry but nothing stands out. This was not really a full bodied tasting wine with no heat at the beginning or end. There was a definite brown sugar aftertaste. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Velvet Crush Blend

Name: Velvet Crush
Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $18 (Sale $6.95)

Winery Review:
Velvety smooth texture just like its name. Soft tannins and lush dark fruit character. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah bring back backbone and character, while the Merlot balances out the blend for a soft, smooth texture

My Review:
This wine kind of smelled like welch's grape juice that is starting to expire. But there was also a little bit of chocolate and coffee smell. There was maybe a hint of cranberry at the beginning smell, but obviously it wasn't that powerful. When tasted, there was a sweet beginning taste ending with bitter and not overwhelming heat. There was nothing unique about this wine; if you had an idea of a general red wine in your head, this is what it would taste like. There were not enough layers to this wine. And there was no aftertaste - so when it's gone, it's gone. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Grand Cru Pinot Noir

Name: Grand Cru
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $6.95

Winery Review:
This ruby-colored wine has aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of vanilla. Flavors of cherry and plum lead to a soft velvety finish. This wine can be enjoyed by itself. It is also an excellent accompaniment with Brie, goat cheese, and smoked salmon. Lamb shanks and pork tenderloin are a favorite main dishes to pair with this wine.

My Review:
The smell of this wine was of tobacco but for once, it wasn't overpowering. There were also hints of dark fruit like cranberry and blackberry under the smell, and you could get a sense of the heat through the smell. It smelled full body, but not like trying to smack you in the face. When tasted, you tasted the heat on the beginning and it was smooth through the end. The wine was not as bitter was I expected, but it almost tasted like when you take chew out of our mouth. There was not fruity tones except for a little fruit on your back pallet. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Prime Brume Garganega

Name: Prime Brume
Variety: Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $11 (Sale $6.95)

Tastings.com Review:
Pale color. Fruity, floral minerally inviting aromas of passion fruit, white grapefruit, spice poached pear, and papaya with a lean, racy, bone-dry medium body and a smooth, complex, long lemon, passion fruit, raw hazelnut, and wet stones finish with no tannins and light oak. From the tantalizing nose full of exotic fruit, citrus and minerality thru to the long, crisp finish, this soave can seamlessly go from cocktail hour thru to vibrantly flavored dishes.

My Review:
This more yellow wine smelled exactly like super bubble gum! If I had to be even more specific it was like the bubble tape that I grew up eating which was completely unexpected. There was also a little banana flavor on the smell. When tasted, this wine was a huge let down. There was no flavor practically and it tasted very watered down. It is smooth but too tart to have a flavor. There is a little bit of banana in the aftertaste, but overall not strong flavor. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Quintas Melgaco Blue Vinho Verde

Name: Quintas Melgaco Blue
Variety: Vinho Verde
Region: Vinho Verde
Country: Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $10 (Sale $5.95)

Winery review:
Refreshingly crisp white wine from Portugal - Vinho Verde is soft, light, and refreshing, and is an uncompromising and ideal wine for everyday pleasure. Its bright color and pineapple aromas are followed by citrus notes. The palate is clean and fresh. Vinho Verde is an excellent accompaniment to fish and shell fish, white meats, and salads.

My Review:
This very white wine looked a lot like water. It smelled like pear, and potpourri mainly. This wine was very fragrant but not fruity - the only fruit smell was possibly a water melon smell. The taste was tart, a little spritzy but not overly carbonated. This wine did not have a lot of heat, and was not quite sour but well on its way. There was a sweet aftertaste. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - Crane Lake White Zinfandel

Name: Crane Lake White Zinfaldel
Variety: White Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review:
Light pink wine with floral and tropical aromas: flavors of strawberry, peach, and raspberry with a touch of sweetness. This wine is an easy sipping wine that also pairs well with a wide variety of foods ranging from crab cakes or pate to spicy Asian dishes, glazed ham, and grilled sea bass.

My Review:
This wine was a really pink and orange color. The smell was fruity and sweet - kind of like an old chapstick that I used to have growing up. The taste was surprising because it was a full body wine for a white wine. There was a little bit of a licorice after tasted, with the heat at the beginning of the sip. The finish was smoother however, and it did not have too much sweetness. A good way to describe this wine would be to say it tasted like strawberry juice in water - diluted. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Vina Galana Alicante Bouchet

Name: Vina Galana Alicante Bouchet
Variety: Alicante Bouchet
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $15 (Sale $9.95)

Winery Review:
From the rare Alicante Bouchet, one of the few grapes in the world with red flesh, this wine has a plush texture carrying flavors of brandied cherry and chocolate ganache in this round red. Light tannins and gentle acidity impart a lovely, balanced structure.

My Review:
This wine had a very interesting smell; like tobacco and stale cigarettes. The best way to describe the smell would be to say it smelled like the floor of a bar - most likely Hokie House or Tots. When tasted, the tobacco flavor was entirely overwhelming and made my face physically constrict and contort. This was the worst wine I have ever tasted and I felt literally dirty after drinking it. This was wine was eaten without food.

Tasting - Tonnino Syrah

Name: Tonnino Syrah
Variety: Syrah
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $14 (Sale $7.95)

Winery Review:
An intense red color. Aromas of violet and blackcurrant enriched by hints of liquorice and black pepper. In the moth it is full, round, slightly tannic and with a spicy note on the finish.

My Review:
The smell of this wine was so strong, it cleared my sense! It smelled rotten and like it had high heat with a little bit of cranberries and earthy undertones. The flavor was bitter, not sweet, and had a mineral aftertaste. There were no fruit flavors standing out and overall the wine was kind of flat, with no dimension of flavors. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Riebeek Cellars Viognier

Name: Riebeek Cellars Viognier
Variety: Viognier
Region: Swartland
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $12 (Sale $7.95)

Washington Post Review:
This is a lucious viognier, featuring a deep yellow color that explodes with juicy peacy and honeysuckle flavors. Viognier can easily become flabby, but this one manages to keep its figure within bounds. I recommend this for immediate, lip-smacking enjoyment.

My Review:
This wine really looked like water; it was almost completely translucent and did not have any sort of definite color. It smelled peachy and sort of like the candied orange slices that you can buy in a bag for a dollar at Kroger. This was a smother wine, and you tasted a lot of orange. There was no heat in the finish and the tangy taste seemed to stick around. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Dom Michel Thomas Sancerre Rose

Name: Dom Michel Thomas Sancerre Rose
Variety: Rose
Region: Loire
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $32 (Sale $8.95)

Critic Review:
Bright orange-pink. Lively, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh red berries, orange peel and honeysuckle, with a hint of anise building in the glass. Dry and nervy in the mouth, offering vibrant strawberry and orange pith flavors and a suggestion of rose pastille. The floral element comes back on the finish, which lingers with very good spicy persistence. 90 - Stephen Tanzer

My Review:
This wine smelled greatly of tangerine, grapefruit, with a hint of raspberry, meaning while it had a very sweet smell, it was citrusy. It also had a very nice, pretty, pink color. The taste however was entirely different. It tasted tarte and super alcoholy, but not with a lot of heat if that makes any sense. While it may sound strange, this wine tasted like a sour green apple without the apple. This was tated without food.

Tasting - Crane Lake Gewurtztraminer

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Gewurtztraminer
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Slightly high-toned notions of rose petal mingle with lemon on nose and palate of this lightly sweet, richly textured yet balanced Gewurztraminer. This is not as heady as you may expect and will be a treat with spicy Asian dishes. Lychee and rose petal make another fetching appearance on the finish.

My Review: This was a very light, transparent colored wine and definitely looked like white grape juice would. It smelled super sweet and a little bit of apple. In general it was just shocking how sweet like white cane sugar it smelled. The taste matched it - making it seem like you were almost drinking sugar. The flavor was white cane sugar with no fruit and no real heat. Even for me, it was a little too sweet. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Codirosso Chianti

Name: Codirosso
Variety: Chianti
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $13 (Sale $7.95)

Winery Review: Ruby red color with purple reflections. Intense vinous bouquet with hints of violets and dark cherry fruit. The flavor is full of ripe fruit and a hint of spice. It is well balanced and dry. The finish is persistent and satisfying.

My Review: This wine smelled mainly of blueberry, blackberry and a bit of pepper... but only just a hint of pepper. This doesn't smell as warm as a red wine, like I would expect. It obviously didn't outwardly smell like a red though, the body was just smaller in aroma. There were some fruity after tones when drinking this wine and this wine ended smooth with the heat at the beginning. The end is almost sour and there was a sort of chalky aftertaste that seemed to dry out your mouth at the end of the sip. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Indwe Pinotage

Name: Indwe
Variety: Pinotage
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2013
Price: $12 (Sale $5.95)

Robert Parker Review: A disclaimer: I have never cared much for Pinotage, the indigenous South African grape variety, but this 2013 Pinotage from Indwe, named after the country's national bird, the blue crane, comes across like a light Pinot Noir. Subtle notes of cherries, spice and forest floor are followed by a round, light to medium-bodied, pure, seductive, well-crafted wine.

My Review: This wine had a very deep, not transparent color. The smell was a mix of bitterness, spicy and leather all at the same time. Just from smelling it, I felt like I should drink this in mad men in a black leather room. There were some cranberry tones at the end of a sniff I could also get. When I drank it, the heat was focused at the end of the sip. There was a touch of cranberry taste, but there was a spicy after taste. It kind of tasted like a bad cherry medicine you had to drink as a child. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Palacio de Bornos Verdejo

Name: Palacio de Bornos
Variety: Verdejo
Region: Rueda
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $12 (Sale $5.95)

Winery Review: Zesty and clean, with pure grapefruit and passion fruit aromas. It's charges up but perfectly balanced, with bright, focused citrus and pineapple flavors. Lemony acidity keeps the finish rolling, then throw in some chive and fresh greens and you have a spot-on Verdejo.

My Review: This white wine had a noticeably more golden colors then other wines. It also had a richer smell for a white wine - smelling mainly of nectarines but not outwardly citrusy flavors. When tasted, it was more bitter of a taste with a little heat at the beginning. This wine had a crisp taste at the end and the tartness of a grapefruit. If you are going to drink this wine, this definitely seems like a lunch time wine. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Tonnino Grillo

Name: Tonnino Grillo
Variety: Grillo
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $14 (Sale $7.95)

Winery Review: Fruit-forward and tangy, this light-bodied, snappy white offers flavors of guava, apricot, candied grapefruit zest and stone. Drink now. 20,000 cases made.

My Review: Upon first sniff, I mainly just smelled pear. It smelled very sweet but still had underlying heat to it. When tasting it, it tasted like an underripe pear. Along with that flavor was a nutty weird after taste that seemed to linger. However there was no real heat tasting to this wine. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - Peter Mertes Platinum Riesling

Name: Peter Mertes
Variety: Riesling
Region: Mosel
Country: Germany
Year: 2014
Price: $18 (Sale $9.95)

Winery Review: Light-bodies slightly sweet white wine; medium pale slightly greenish yellow. Inviting fresh white peach aroma and flavors. Easy to drink and not complicated, but what's there is very pleasant, and flavors develop in the glass.

My Review: Having tasted this wine before, I thought I knew what to expect however after really taking the time to go through the "proper" tasting steps I got many more flavors. The light colored wine smelled really fruity - citrus and orange tones mainly. The flavor was super similar to grape juice in which the heat wasn't that noticeable and it was really sweet. This was the best wine I tasted this tasting. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - Crane Lake Petite Sirah

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Petite Sirah
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: This wine is ruby-purple colored; notes of blackberry, plums and spice predominate the nose and flavors. The tannins give a soft, full mouth feel.

My Review: This dark red wine smelled really earthy. Not quite the muddy mix, but more of like a garden. The taste of this wine almost tasted like iron with a few dark fruit undertones. The after taste was bad in this wine and I did not enjoy it. This was tasted without food.

Tasting - El Cortijillo Temperanillo

Name: El Cortijillo
Variety: Temperanillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $9 (Sale $5.95)

Winery Review: Bright purple. High-pitched red berry and floral scents display good charity and a hint of cracked pepper. Shows a touch of jamminess to its pliant black raspberry and cherry compote flavors, with a spicy quality adding vibrancy. Finished with good focus and no obvious tannins, leaving a sweet berry note behind.

My Review: This wine is a pretty dark cherry color and smelled of burnt timber, a little cherry, and a little bit of a cedar wood. When tasted, this wine surprisingly was very smooth, I expected it to be more bitter. The wine had clearly cherry undertones and there was a sweet flavoring at the beginning. However, there was a noticeable heat at the end. This was not tasted with wine.

Tasting - Les Clos Francs Vovray Chenin Blanc

Name: Les Clos Francs Vouvray
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Loire Valley
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $21 (Sale $7.95)

Winery Review: The cool climate in the Vouvray appellation area insures good acidity, which is balanced by the distinctly fruity character of the Chenin Blanc and the mineral qualities imparted by the soil. Thanks to these natural elements, the Vouvray combines elegance and vigor with honey dipped pears and inherent freshness.

My Review: This light yellow colored wine has a very potent alcohol smell, making it difficult to really smell any undertones. There might have been hints of apricots, but overall, it smells of alcohol. When tasted, the heat was almost overwhelming and I could taste a hint of pear, but just a small amount. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - La Lejania Chardonnay

Name: La Lajania
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2015
Price: $10 (Sale $6.95)

Winery Review: A refined and suave style, with a rich array of white fruit and cream flavors, featuring a plush texture. Ripe citrus and pear notes fill the smooth finish.

My Review: This was a really light colored wine that smelled very fruity. I smelt mainly apples, with a little cantaloupe and no berry tones. This wine however didn't have too much of a fruity flavor. The fruit flavor was more of an aftertaste and when I drank it, the main flavor I tasted was honey. This wine was tasted without food, and I prefer more of a moscato.

Tasting - Yellow Tail Red Moscato Bubbles

Name: Yellow Tail Red Moscato Bubbles Non Vintage
Variety: Moscato
Region: Riverina
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $10 (Sale $5.95)

Winery Review:
With a gorgeous deep pink hue, this is a wine that offers scrumptious aromas of lifted tropical fruits, ripe fresh strawberries with black currant and raspberry texture. Its flavor is a vibrant Moscato, with fresh forest fruits and strawberries and a nice dose of sweetness.

My Review:
I enjoyed this wine so much that I purchased a bottle for myself! When poured into the glass, it foamed up, which is drastically different from other red wines. It smelled of berry, strawberry jam, kiwi and had a little bit of bitter undertones. When tasted, the bubbly flavor was dominant, bringing out berry tones, a little apple flavor, and these fruit really mask and heat that the wine had. (This was tasted without food).

Tasting - Beringer Smooth Red Blend

Name: Beringer Smooth Red Blend
Variety: Blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Sirah
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15 (Sale $5.95)

Winery Review:
Without a doubt, very smooth and uniquely balanced. Not too dry but not too sweet. Has a foundation of raspberry and blackberry that lingers in the finish. A slight hint at vanilla and some spice when it touches your tongue.

My Review:
This lighter red colored wine smelled faintly of strawberry and mostly earthy to me. From the smell, you also sense that this wine held a fair amount of heat. The taste was earthy with no fruit undertones. The flavor wasn't overly bitter like I am used too as far as red wines go. But after drinking it, I could tell that I had bad breath. (Not tasted with food).

Tasting - Yellowtail Cabernet/Merlot

Name: Yellowtail Cabernet/Metlot
Variety: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Riverina
Country: Australia
Year: 2014
Price: $10 (Sale $4.95)

Winery Review:
A classic blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium-bodied and very approachable with soft tannins. Fruit-forward flavors of plum, cherry and blackberry are accented by notes of spice with more juicy berries on the finish.

My Review:
The smell of this wine was generally warm. You could get a little hint of fire or logs toasting, and after smelling it a few times, you could get some sort of fruity flavor but the fruit wasn't tart enough to identify. The taste held some heat at the beginning. I sensed a little muted blueberry flavor and the aftertaste matched the smell, meaning that there was a burnt aftertaste.

Tasting - Be Bright Pinot Grigio

Name: Be. Bright Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $10 (Sale $5.95)

Winery Review:
This effortless Pinot Grigio keeps things light, with sun-ripened citrus flavors and a crisp, fresh finish. An instant taste of optimism, perfect for setting a carefree mood at any occasion. Serve chilled for total deliciousness.

My Review:
This wine had a lighter color than the previously tasted sauvignon blanc. From the smell, there is no other way to describe other than grapes (and I know this sounds silly). But it smelled like the bad of light green grapes you can get from Kroger. The taste wasn't as tart as I was expecting, and in general tasted sweet but not sugary sweet. There was no high heat and no fruity flavors jumped out. This seems smooth for a white wine. (This was not tasted with food).

Tasting - Dynamite Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Dynamite Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Lake County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $13 (Sale $5.95)

Shop Review:
Melon, green apple and citrus flavors are lively and refreshing, with a spicy, floral nuance.

My Review:
This white wine had a golden tone and smelled basically fruity. Within that fruit could smell hints of grapefruit, and it smelled quite tart with some heat. After tasting the wine itself, it was very dry with no heat at the end of the sip. And while this sound strange, it tasted very much like an unsweetened raisin to my taste buds. (Tasted without food)

Tasting - Butterfly Kiss Moscato

Name: Butterfly Kiss Moscato
Variety: Moscato (Muscat Blanc)
Region:Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $13 (on sale for $5.95)

Winery Review:
Lovely and bright, our 2012 Moscato dances with aromas of honeydew and apricot, gently kissed by orange blossom, candied pineapple and hint of lime zest. The palate is silky and lush, combining rich stone fruit and fresh melon flavors lifted by a vibrant zing of lemon-lime, which extends across the mouthwatering finish.

My Review: Since I generally love Moscato, I had high hopes for this wine! The color was a light pink/peach color. The smell was a fruity grapefruit and to be honest, it kind of smelled like chap stick to me. Kiwi was also a smell the lingered on your nose. When tasting it, I tasted a sweet, light fruit, but not overwhelmingly fruity. This wine was both extremely sweet and light, and I tasted no heat at the beginning or end of the wine. 

Tasting - Purple Paws Zinfandel

Name: Purple Paws Zinfandel
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15 (on sale for $7.95)

Winery Review:
Our 2012 Lodi Zinfdandel exhibits hints of cherry on the front of your palate and vanilla on the finish that will have you begging for more. Like most zinfandels it pairs well with good friends and barbecue.

My Review: The color of this wine was more of a blood red that wasn't transparent, showing us that this wine had a higher complexity. The aroma seemed to be a strange new mix of leather, ginger and cranberry. The cranberry smell led me to believe that there would be a fruity flavor but the fruit was minimal in the flavor, but still present. I cannot specifically state what other flavors were in the wine because the wine was so smooth. It just flowed and so the fruity flavor was general. The heat of this wine was at the end, but because of the smoothness of the wine, the heat was minimal and very tolerable. 

Tasting - Purple Paws Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Purple Pays Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Non Vintage
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: N/A (Since this wine is a mix of wines)
Price $15 (on sale for $7.95)

Winery Review:
Our 2012 Lodi Cabernet has all the classic notes of a California Cabernet Sauvignon. Cloves, olives, and oak with a no nonsense, fruit forward finish remind you why this, the heaviest wine in the Purple Paws line, lends itself to pairings of robust steaks or lamb.

My Review: The color of this wine can be best described as being a light garnet colored wine. The color wasn't dark enough that you couldn't see through it, but it definitely had a dark coloring. The smell was an interesting mix of pomegranate but also it smelled as if it were burnt. When tasted, the taste was extremely bitter, burnt, and overall tart. The tart flavor seemed to come at the end when the burnt flavor was leaving your mouth. This wine also did not have a lot of dark legs.

Tasting - Rosemount Chardonnay

Name: Rosemount Chardonnay 
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia 
Year: 2013
Price: $10 (on sale for $5.95)

Rosemount EstateTasting Review:
Vibrantly aromatic, with mouth watering stone fruit flavours and lemon zest. A refreshing and crisp style of Chardonnay, with just a hint of creamy toasted almonds.

My Review: The color of this wine had a more golden color then a clear color. The aroma seemed to consist of mostly melon and apple. The smell of the wine wasn't super fruity, or full of heat, so it was a more diluted, pleasant aroma. When you drank this wine, I definitely tasted some oak aftertaste. Again the fruity tones that I tasted were melon in generally, I wasn't able to distinguish any other different types of flavors. The heat of the this wine was strong and was located at the beginning of the sip, not the end.