Tasting - Jam Jar Muscat

Name: Jam Jar
Variety: Sweet White 100% Muscat
Country: South Africa
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: 100 % Muscat. Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise straightforward ripe peach and nectarine aromas. There’s a good balance in the mouth, with a nice acidic lift and slightly lime edge to cut the sweetness on the finish and close with the faintest hint of honeydew melons.

My Review: I don't think I've ever had Muscat so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was assuming that it was like moscato. The nose of this wine was super duper sweet. You could easily smell all of the sugar in it. The taste was not very alcoholic and it was very toned down, and again it tasted pretty sweet. It did remind me of moscato. It was also pretty light bodied and I think I detected the honeydew.

Tasting - Entrada Malbec

Name: Entrada
Variety: Malbec
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Firm and structured, this is a solid wine, laced with mineral acidity and tight tannins. It has a juicy, blackberry fruit component cutting through the texture

My Review: This wine had a bad stink to it which I did not enjoy at all. Like the chardonnay, it was kind of funky but where the chardonnay got through it with its sweetness, this had nothing like that to help. It was medium bodied but it had a very minerally taste, almost like I was eating some rocks or something. I didn't really detect any specific fruit flavors in this one, I couldn't get past the mineral taste.

Tasting - Vina Borgia Grenache

Name: Vina Borgia
Variety: 100% Grenache
Country: Spain
Region: Campo de Borja
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: 86 Points – Robert Parker
Also made from 100% Grenache, the 2012 Vina Borgia was fermented and aged in stainless steel. Its medium dark ruby color is followed by abundant notes of strawberries and black cherries offered in a straightforward, medium-bodied, soft, hedonistic, round style. It is hard to believe a wine this good can sell for $7 a bottle. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years.

My Review: This wine had a really nice color to it which I liked. The nose smelled overwhelmingly like cherries, it was very pronounced. I couldn't smell any of the strawberries. The wine had very nice tannins that felt very nice in the mouth. I could also easily taste the cherries as well. Overall, I really enjoyed this wine mostly because of the tannins which gave it a very round flavor.

Tasting - Peter Lehmann Chardonnay

Name: Peter Lehmann
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: The 2010 Chardonnay presents subtle notes of spiced apple slices and ripe peaches with hints of freshly baked bread and melon. Light bodied, clean and refreshingly crisp in the mouth, it offers just enough apple and pear flavor concentration, finishing with medium-long persistence. Drink it now to 2014.

My Review: The nose of this wine had some sort of musk to it, like a kind of funky or earthy nose which was not very pleasant to smell. The taste of the wine was pretty light bodied with a buttery feeling in the mouth. The finish as well was very buttery and oily and felt really weird coming from a wine.

Tasting - Protocolo Vina de la Tierra de Castilla

Name: Protocolo Vina de la Tierra de Castilla
Variety: White Wine
Country: Spain
Region: Villarta - Cuenca
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: 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: This wine had hints of citrus on the nose with some other sweetness that I couldn't identify as well. The taste was pretty mild at first but then grew and became more full bodied. It was also not as sweet as I expected from the nose which surprised me. It also had a somewhat bitter finish.

Tasting - R Wines Eco.Love Riesling

Name: R Wines Eco.Love Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Region: South Island

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2009

Price: $18

Winery Review: Our South Island Riesling has a range and combination of flavors unlike any other. These flavors span citrus, root ginger, white peach, spices and florals. eco.love Riesling is made in balance to an off-dry style. Food Pairing: Asian Fusion, Seafood, Curry, and anything spicy

My Review: The nose on this wine had an acidic kick but otherwise I couldn't really tell anything. The wine's taste had a tarty flavor and a really weird finish. The finish also stayed in your mouth for like 20-some seconds which was way too long for a finish I didn't like. Seriously, this has got to be my least favorite finish out of all the wines I've had so far. It was light bodied, but man that finish really sucked.

Tasting - Toschi Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Toschi Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2011

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Well-balanced flavors of dark berries and plums. Spicy fruit finish.

My Review: This wine had a very peppery smell, almost smelling like an entree that you would eat instead of a wine. If I had done a blind smelling of this, I would have assumed it was food and not wine. I've never really gotten such a strong pepper effect from wine. The taste, as expected was very peppery as well with some hints of plum. I did not like this wine at all.

Tasting - Canyon Road Pinot Noir

Name: Canyon Road
Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: USA
Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Rich, fruit forward cherry flavors, soft tannins, a medium body and a smooth velvety finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, salmon, and savory pork dishes

My Review: This wine was sweet in the nose, which surprised me because I feel like you don't usually get that in a red wine. Red wines have tended to have a drier and fruitier nose rather than a sweet one like white's do. The wine was dry, with the cherries completely overwhelming the test of the wine. I couldn't taste anything else. It had nice tannins and a very nice smooth finish which i enjoyed. My favorite of the tasting!

Tasting - Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon

Name: Wine Men of Gotham

Variety: Chardonnay Semillon

Country: Australia

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Chardonnay Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish.

My Review: This wine had a very muted smell which I couldn't pick any scents out of. It was less clear than the previous wine, with more of a light gold color. The wine was medium bodied but very dry, with a medium finish. I could smell some of the butterscotch aromas mentioned in the winery review, but only after reading that.

Tasting - Indwe Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Indwe

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Western Cape

Country: South Africa

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Grapes are meticulously sourced from our grape producers along the Coastal region of the Western Cape ensuring complexity and freshness in the wine. Indwe Sauvignon Blanc is full of layers, balance and persistence. The wine is imbued with tropical and citrus notes, with hints of melon and gooseberry flavors.

My Review: The nose on this wine had a variety of fruits I smelled, including pears, melons, and a citrus scent. It was very pleasant smelling. The wine itself was dry and medium bodied with citrus hints in the taste. I didn't taste the pears and melons as much. Overall, I liked this wine.

Tasting - Tilia Merlot 2012

Name: Tillia Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012

Price: $10

Winery Review: Tilia, the Latin name for Linden, is a traditional tree in Mendoza whose flowers are used to make a relaxing herbal tea, enjoyed after a long day's work among the vines. The choice of this historic tree to represent our wine reflects a commitment to the traditional way of life in Mendoza, where most farmers bike or walk to work and live with their families near the winery and vineyards. Tilia is sourced from sustainable farmed family vineyards in the Eastern and Southern regions of Mendoza. Tilia Merlot shows sweet Bing cherry and plum fruit aromas and flavors and finishes with ripe and smooth tannins. 

My Review: The smell of this wine was very nice, with some hints of cherry and a nice lasting effect, like a finish to the smell. The taste also had hints of cherry with very nice tannins. I really liked the dryness in this wine; it was dry but then finished very smoothly and didn't dry my mouth out too much. 

Tasting - Chateau Pericou 2006

Name: Chateau Pericou 2006

Variety: Bordeaux blend

Region: Bordeaux

Country: France

Year: 2006

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: None

My Review: This wine smelled alcoholic, possibly because of the vintage year. It was pretty cheap, and I bought this before I learned that older wines weren't necessarily better, so I think the wine may have gone bad. I also had a minty scent which stayed in your nose for some time after smelling. The taste was also alcoholic and I couldn't taste many fruits besides ripe cherry. It also stung my mouth a little when swishing it around so it was pretty acidic. I regretted the purchase.

Tasting - Eira Vella Mencia

Name: Eira Vella Mencia
Variety: 100% Mencia
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Full flavored wine with a bouquet of blueberry and black berries fruit, lavender, spice box and cherry. (The Vintage Cellar)

My Review: This wine smelled much fruitier than the GR-174 I had during the same tasting, but it still had the same scents which I caught, such as the blueberry and cherry. I found the taste to be less dry and woody than the GR and overall I liked this one more. I feel like I could taste a wider variety of fruits in this wine since it was less dry to me.

Tasting - Casa Gran del Siurana GR-174 Priorat

Name: Casa Gran del Siurana GR-174 Priorat 2011

Variety: Garnatxa (40%), Caranyena (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%)

Region: Priorat, Tarragona

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $17.95

Winery Review: The 2011 GR-174 was tasted from barrel and was due for bottling the following week. It has a more extravagant bouquet than the 2010 with kirsch, blood orange and blueberry. The palate is full-bodied with a sweet entry. It is very extravagant with precocious red fruits and a smudge of alcohol towards the finish. It is a bit of a hedonist, but one that comes at a decent price. Drink now-2016. (Robert Parker – 89)

My review: When I sniffed this wine, I definitely smelled mostly blueberry with possible hints of red fruits like cherry but it's really hard to differentiate the smells. When I tasted this wine, the first thing I noticed was how dry it was in my mouth. I also again tasted blueberries, and I was alone in the group I went with to taste any blueberries at all.

Tasting - Vega Douro 2009

Name: Vega Douro

Variety: Douro

Country: Portugal

Year: 2009
Price: $10

Winery Review: With excellent intense ruby coulour this wine is full of character and flavour. The palate shows a delicious richness and smoothness of ripe bilberry and cherry fruit. It is full bodied with a long dry finish.

My Review: Reading the winery review, I saw bilberry which I had actually never heard of before. Googling it, I found that bilberry was distinct, but closely related to blueberry. Smelling the wine, I definitely smelled the blueberry hints. The taste just tasted like regular red wine, I couldn't figure out any distinct tastes. It had a nice long finish, which I liked. 

Tasting - Loredona Riesling

Name: Loredona

Variety: Riesling

Region: Monterey, CA

Country: USA

Price: $15 -> $7.95

Winery Review: If you like your Rieslings on the sweet side, this pretty wine is for you. It’s brisk in Central Coast acidity, with citrus, peach, honeysuckle and spice flavors that finish clean and long. 

My Review: The smell of this wine was super sweet. It was like I was smelling a merlot, which are usually the super sweet ones on the smell. I also smelled some honey suckle. I liked the body of the wine, it was light bodied and felt nice in the mouth. It was a little acidic and didn't have a very long finish. Overall, I liked this wine more than other sweet wines I usually taste.

Tasting - Maipe Malbec

Name: Maipe 

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum, fig, strawberry, spices and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tannins, excellent length with a distinguished character. Excellent when paired with game, roasted red meats, pasta or pizza.

My Review: This wine had a light smell as well, with barely anything on the nose. Maybe my nose wasn't really working this tasting but I couldn't smell things in any of the wines! The wine was dry but the dryness didn't last long. I tasted some plum and I didn't really like the finish of the wine, which was a little sour with a taste of some spices I couldn't name.

Tasting - Villa d’ Rosso Toscano Sanviovese

Name: Villa D' Rosso Toscano

Variety: 100% sangiovese

Region: Montepulciano

Country: Italy

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: 100% sangiovese grapes and is a wonderful rendition of a velvety Tuscan red. 

My Review: The smell of this wine hit me right away, there was no waiting for it. It was slightly dry but I couldn't really smell anything distinct. The wine itself had light tannins and a medium finish, but I couldn't taste any fruits on it. It didn't help that the winery review was super short either.

Tasting - Arnold Palmer Chardonnay

Name: Arnold Palmer

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: USA

Price: $20 -> 7.95

Winery Review: A vibrant Chardonnay from vineyards in cooler climates of California. Chardonnay is well known for its characteristic fresh apple fruit aromas and rounded, rich flavors. Weather during the 2011 harvest provided ideal growing conditions for lush, yet perfectly balanced fruit. 

My Review: Obviously the first thing I noticed was the fact that it was made by Arnold Palmer... *cue bad jokes*. This wine had a very sour, buttery smell. It reminded me of rubber, like tire rubber or something. It was very light bodied with a very light finish. Tasting it, I could barely even feel it in my mouth. I could tell why it was on sale.

Tasting - El Sierro Macabeo

Name: El Sierro

Variety: Macabeo / Chardonnay

Country: Spain

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: In the glass, there is a bright and shiny white wine with an incredibly welcoming, fresh appetizing aroma reminiscent of ripe tropical fruits. The flavor is rich, balanced and extremely comfortable. The near-perfect all-purpose white wine. As an additional benefit, and good evidence that El Sierro reflect the new Spain, the bottle is sealed with the technical viewed perfect screw cap that at once eliminates any risk of cork flavor and keeps the fruit and the wine fresher for longer time. 

My Review: The nose on this wine was filled with tropical fruits and even smelled a little bit acidic. I tasted the exact same thing, with tropical fruit flavors and acidity. It was very light bodied and had a nice medium finish. It was also very clear in color, you could basically see through it! I liked this wine overall.

Tasting - First Light Moscato

Name: First Light Moscato

Variety: Moscato

Country: Australia

Price: $15

Winery Review: Ripe 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 makes 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. – Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine had a soapy smell which immediately turned me off. However, it also smelled very sweet so I was expecting a sweet taste, and of course being a moscato it was very sweet. I could taste the lychee somewhat. The carbonation also felt nice in the mouth, but overall this was too sweet for me.

Tasting - CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2009

Name: CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2009

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier

Region: Paso Robles, California

Country: United States

Year: 2009

Price: $16

Winery 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. –Vintage Cellar

My Review: The first thing I noticed, of course, was that this wine came in a juice box, so I wasn't sure what to expect. When smelling this wine, I detected hints of a black fruit jam, but I couldn't place which one. It also smelled very dry so I was expecting a dry wine, but not as dry as this turned out to be. Holy hell was this wine dry. It was also very woody, but the most distinct thing about this was its dryness.

Tasting - George Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau 2013

Name: George Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau 2013

Variety: Beajolais Nouveau

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: $15

Winery 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: Before we even tasted this wine, we were told that this was the "wildcard" wine as it had a very unique taste. We were told it tasted like bananas and peach smoothie, which I definitely smelled (although I think the fact we were told helped a lot). I didn't really taste the banana or peach however, which was weird because the smell was pretty distinct. It had a nice smooth finish.

Tasting - Beltrame Friulano 2009

Name: Beltrame Friulano 2009

Variety: 100% Tocai Friulano

Region: Friuli

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $15

Winery 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. –Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine had a very ripe aroma, somewhat like the skin of an apple. It also had a somewhat rotten musk. Smelling this wine was not pleasant. As expected, it was not sweet to the taste and was pretty bitter with a medium finish. I usually like not sweet wines, but I feel like my palate expects whites to be sweet so its very disorienting to taste bitter whites.

Tasting - Mas LLunes Maragda 2010

Name: Mas LLunes Maragda 2010

Variety: Grenache Blanc

Region: Emporada

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $16

Winery 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. – Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine had a very sweet smell for me and I smelled the orange in the scent. However, the taste was pretty sour and I didn't really like it. I expected something sweeter after the smell. The finish was also very long, around 8 to 12 seconds for me which was nice since I like long finishes.