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.

Tasting - Sol 'Acantalys

Name: Sol ‘Acantalys

Variety: Red Rhone Blend

Region: Rhone

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Producer's comment: With a deep bright deep purple, Sol'Acantalys has a pleasing and peppery nose with red fruits.  It's attach is soft light-bodied, easy-to-drink.

My Review: This wine was very strong smelling. It had a very strong oak flavor immediately but the flavor disappears quickly and it finishes smoothly.

Tasting - Vina Santurnia

Name: Vina Santurnia

Variety: Rioja Crianza

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2006

Price: $11.95

Critic Review: Very classic, traditional styling, with a terrific balance between mouthwatering berry fruit and damp forest floor nuances. Traditional Rioja, with its Burgundian characteristics and slightly plumper fruit profile, works wonders with food. Simply put, the 2006 Viña Santurnia Crianza Rioja is pure deliciousness! In all seriousness, this property, located a mere 3 kilometers from Muga over in the Rioja Alavesa, really over-delivers when it comes to consistently making wonderful Crianza, with impeccable balance and typicity, for an incredibly fair price. This wine is produced in comparably tiny quantities for Rioja, 5,000 cases, all the more reason to join the many customers who have purchased past vintages of this terrific, satisfying wine in case quantities.

My Review: This wine smelled lie oak and somewhat sweet. It tasted sharp and bitter.  It was a little off balance, I could detect a fair amount of heat.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting- Nykteri Santorini Yannis

Name: Nykteri Santorini Yannis

Variety: Nykteri

Region: Santorini

Country: Greece

Year: 2010

Price: $13.95

Critic Review: I fell first for the compelling story of this 'night work' wine, and then for the aroma and taste, and can't think of a wine to compare it to. "Nykteri -Dry White Wine appellation of Origin Santorini of superior quality."  Since 3,500 years ago, the Nykteri is synonymous to Santorini's famous white wines.  The formula to 'instant wine making' on the night of the same day that the grapes were harvested solved the problem of the variety's sensitive aroma deterioration.  The wine is matured for 3 months at least in barrels. In this way the wine's contact with the barrel's wood gives the Nykteri a special finesse.  Characteristics: crystal-clear, semi-yellow wine.  Dominated by the aromas of jasmine, citrus fruits, flowers and pear, all these enhanced with a gentle vanilla sense. A strong body with warm personality and long lasting taste. Serve with grilled anything as well as with local Greek dishes such as tomato meatballs and fava dip. 

My Review: I found this wine to be bitter and a little sharp initially, but had a bearable aftertaste. It smelled slightly of citrus but it did not have a very strong smell.  I did not taste this wine with food.