Tasting - Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitatswein

Name: Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitatswein
Variety: White Blend
Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Critic Review: Leibfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts. The original wine was named after the Leibfraumilch monastery in Worms, where the monks were the first wine growers and produced an unusually pleasing wine. Wines of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate are noted for their aroma, well balanced harmony, and fragrance. Leibfraumilch, as all excellent white wines is best served chilled. We suggest serving with cold entrees, as well as poultry, such as chicken or turkey, or even with a mild Cheddar, mellow and slightly nutty with a medium consistency.

My Review:  This wine smelled like pastries, honey and nuts.  It tasted really sweet like white grape juice mixed with honey.  It was very hard to detect any alcohol while tasting.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Col Des Vents Corbieres

Name: Col Des Vents Corbieres
Variety: Red Blend
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Country: France
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95

Critic Review: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah. Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper…all are present in this authentic French country wine.

My Review: This wine hand the aroma of raspberries and blackberries.  The alcohol was easily detectible and it was spicy in flavor, like black pepper.  I didn't try this wine with food.

Tasting - San Elias Carmenere

Name: San Elias Carmenere
Variety: Carmenere
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Critic Review: The grapes for this Carménère are selected from vineyards in the Central Valley. Beautiful red fruit aromas. Supple and round in the mouth, the wine pairs well with full flavored cheeses and lamb.

My Review: This wine smelled sweet, like dark cherries and herbal at the same time.  The mid palate and finish are very smoky.  The overall taste is very herbal and a little harsh.  I didn't really care for this wine and I did not try this wine with food. 

Tasting - Estrella Chardonnay

Name: Estrella Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Napa, California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Critic Review: Intensely flavored and balanced with layers of vanilla, butter and pear, followed by apple, banana and oak.

My Review: This Chardonnay had a very sweet aroma of pears.  It was crisp and fairly smooth with a very distinct smoky aftertaste.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Zonin Pinot Grigio

Name: Zonin Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Critic Review:  Pale straw-yellow color with brilliant reflections. Delicately fruity bouquet, with outstanding finesse and marked hints of almond blossom and peaches. Elegant, soft and well structured fruit on the palate, with remarkable freshness and a clean, persistent aftertaste.

My Review: This wine smelled slightly sweet, very floral with a hint of apricot.  I could detect some alcohol while tasting and it had a slightly yeasty aftertaste.  Overall it had a sort of nondescript fruity flavor to it.  I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Ebano Ribera del Duero Tempranillo

Name: Ebano Ribera del Duero
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Ribera del Duero
Country: Spain
Year: 2007
Price: $7.95

Critic Review: 87 Points, Robert Parker
The 2007 Ebano 6 is 100% Tempranillo aged 4 months in French oak. Dark ruby red in color, it displays a pleasant bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium- to fullbodied on the palate with savory flavors and plenty of spice, this racy, vibrant Tempranillo has enough structure to drink well over the next 5-6 years and is a very good value.

My Review:  This wine had the aroma of raspberries and cranberries.  It had strong spicy taste, with a hint of oak and was a little hot.  It had a strong tannic component as well.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto

Name: Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto
Variety: Red Blend
Region: Not Specified
Country: Portugal
Year: None Given
Price: $3.95

Critic Review: Pours a light garnet color with a nice crisp zest, with aromas of cranberries and orange peel on the nose. Drinks smooth with a briary of mild cherries, wild strawberries and raspberries along with a note of rhubarb. Pairs particularly well with wild game and heavy fish such as salmon.

My Review: This wine had a light cherry color and smelled like strawberry jam.  It had a peppery/black pepper flavor that was not too overpowering.  It had a slightly tangy finish.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Torrent Bay Chardonnay

Name: Torrent Bay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Nelson
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Fleshy, melony aromas cuddle some fresh oak. The palate has decent acidity so there’s freshness along with weight, resiny oak flavors, lemon and green apple.

My Review:  This wine had a very weird and unpleasant aroma, a little bit like dirty laundry.  I could definitely feel the heat coming through when tasting.  It had a smoky and oak-like aftertaste, but it was very short-lived.  I did not care for the aroma or taste of this wine. I didn't taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Spanish Vines
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $4.95

Critic Review: 85 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Apple and floral notes and then an almost buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors.

My Review: This wine smelled like wet rocks.  It was highly acidic, very tangy.  It tasted like limes with a slightly hot finish.  I did not try this wine with food. 

Tasting - Muscanti Brut

Name: Muscanti Brut
Variety:Whine Sparkling Blend
Region: Girona
Country: Spain
Year: None Given
Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Lemon blossoms, green apple, toast and honeydew melon are front and center in this crisp refreshing Spanish Sparkler. Silky supple with lingering flavors, yet a tingle of citric acid on the finish.  A combination of traditional cava grapes but this wine is not made in the traditional méthode champenoise (which is required by Spanish law to be called Cava). This is made with the Charmat
process so this wine may only be called ‘Spanish sparkling wine’ .

My Review: This wine was very light golden in color.  It smelled like kiwis.  It was dry and not very acidic.  It tasted like pears with a slightly bready or yeasty aftertaste. The carbonation was very light.  I did not try this wine with food.