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)