Tasting - Legaris Crianza

Name: Legaris Crianza
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Ribera del Duero
Country: Spain
Year: 2003
Price: $8.95

Critic 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 2013. –T.M.

My Review: Legaris Crianza had a dark fruity smell, resembling cherry.  It might have been a little off balance, I could definitely detect the alcohol coming through when tasting it.  I couldn't really pick out any distinct flavors though, it tasted like any other typical red wine. I didn't taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Lazzaro Chardonnay

Name: Lazzaro Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Opens with mellow peach and melon aromas and some oak.  The palate is round, creamy, and full.  Tastes of spiced, dried apple with a stalky, pithy accent.

My Review: I don't drink wine very often but this is one of the few white wines I've tried for which I actually liked the aroma.  It smelled of very sweet melon.  It has a creamy consistency when tasting with a slightly bitter aftertaste. I didn't taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Coastal Vines Brut

Name: Coastal Vines Brut
Variety: Sparkling French Colombard, Chardonnay, Mixed Whites blend
Region: California
Country: US
Year: Not given
Price: $6.95

Critic 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 appetizers; grilled garlic shrimp over a bed of pasta; or with a light white cake for dessert.

My Review:  This sparkling wine had a nice apple smell.  It was heavily carbonated, a little too much for my taste.  I couldn't pick out any distinct flavors tasting it, it was hard to get past all of the carbonation.  It was slightly sweet to the taste.  I think perhaps it would have been better if I had tried it with food.

Tasting - Opera Prima Sparkling Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Sparkling Moscato
Variety: Sparkling Blend
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: Non-Vintage
Price: $7.99

Critic Review: This distinctive sparkling wine boasts beautiful rose petal and lychee fruit aromas and luscious, silky-sweet flavors balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Lovely to sip on its own, it's also delicious with a wide range of desserts.

My Review: This sparkling wine has a light sweet smell, with a hint of apricot.  The taste lasts much longer than the pink sparkling moscato by Opera Prima.  It's a very light taste, with citrus tones.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Variety: white Moscato and red Tempranillo blend

Region: Vino de Tierra de Castilla

Country: Spain

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.99

Critic Review: This fine sparkling presents an intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flower petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on its own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts.

My Review: This wine was sweet and slightly floral smelling.  It was not too sweet tasting, actually slightly tangy and definitely fruity.  It was not over carbonated; the carbonation was very smooth. This was my favorite of all the wines I tasted that day.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Le Lapin Paso Robles Multiplicity

Name: Le Lapin Paso Robles Multiplicity
Variety: Zinfandel Blend
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $6.95

Critic Review: I’m not sure what’s in the water in Paso Robles, California, but it seems to inspire both cross-language puns and some interesting ideas in wine making.  Nowhere else would you find someone making wine from a blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and – wait for it – Refosco!  Leaves you scratching your head, and then you take a sip and do a double take.  Wow, this stuff’s delicious – and cheap! Multiplicity is a ripe, round, friendly wine that offers up ample aromas of red cherry and plum fruit with notes of cocoa butter, chocolate and spice.  Then generous flavors of red and black fruits, graphite and a touch of menthol for complexity and lift.  Nicely concentrated and softly ripe on the finish.  The whole thing reminds you of cookouts at the beach somehow, so toss on some burgers and have a party!

My review:  Paso Robles Multiplicity has a deep oak and cherry smell, but also smells a little hot; you can detect the alcohol coming through.  It's a little bitter tasting and has a very interesting aftertaste, almost as though you can taste the yeast.  I did not try this wine with food but I think that it would taste better if paired with cheese. 

Tasting - Villa Pozzi

Name: Villa Pozzi

Variety: Nero D’Avola

Region: Avola

Country: Sicily

Year: 2010

Price: regular $14.99 on sale for $9.99

Critic Review: A rich red grape, sometimes called Italy's Shiraz, Nero D'Avola is grown on the island of Sicily with great success. Villa Pozzi sources it's Nero D'Avola from vineyards in the hills on the western side of the island. Elevations of 1,000 to 1,300 feet and clay soils give these grapes the balance they need to mature fully without becoming overripe. The result is a full, succulent wine with rich fruit, spice and deep color. A tremendous value, enjoy this wine with all of your favorite Italian dishes.

My Review: This wine tasted tangy and a little bitter at first with a slight oak taste but not very woody.  It was smoother than other red wine’s I’ve tasted before.  It was balanced well, and the aftertaste was pleasant.  I did not try this wine with food. Overall, I liked it.