Tasting - "Opera Prima"

•Name: Opera Prima

•Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon

•Region: La Mancha

•Country: Spain

•Year:2010

•Price: $4.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Doesn’t try to hide its warm-climate terroir, with a soft texture framing jammy-sweet black raspberry, cherry, red currant, root beer and sweet tea. Drink now.

•Your review: Hands down this was my favorite wine. It was sweet, juicy and easy to drink after all of those very tart and crisp wines. I ended up buying this wine! It smelled wonderfully sweet and I could definitely tell why it was a dessert wine. 

•Did not originally have food with the wine. Later tried it with creme brulee and it was quite delicious. 

Tasting - "Montes Alpha Syrah"

•Name: Montes Alpha Syrah

•Variety: 90% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Viognier

•Region: Apalta (D.O. Colchagua Valley)

•Country: Chile 

•Year:2009

•Price: $7.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Blackberry and cola aromas are cool and collected. The palate has weight and texture to accompany berry, mint, herb and peppery flavors. Turns more herbal and roasted as it unwinds. Pepper and

spice lead the finish.

•Your review: I really didn't not like this wine. It was a deep red in color and honestly tasted very much like I would imagine dirt to taste like. It also had a somewhat smokey flavor. 

•Did not have food with the wine

Tasting - "Coreto Tinto"

•Name: Coreto Tinto

•Variety: Blended wine (Caladoc, Alicante Bouschet, Castelao, Pinot Noir, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional)

•Region: Lisboa

•Country: Portugal 

•Year:2010

•Price: $6.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Despite its light touch, this is fruity and full, with its blackberry fruit dominating the warm spice note and acidity. Soft tannins keep the wine together.

•Your review: This wine was very earthy in flavor. It wasn't tart like the previous two wines I tried and It wasn't sweet either. It had almost a hardy flavor. 

•Did not have food with the wine

Tasting - "Maipe Sauvignon"

•Name: Maipe Sauvignon Blanc

•Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Argentina

•Year:2011

•Price: $7.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Yellow color with green hints. Expressive wine, fresh, very aromatic. This Sauvignon Blanc displays grapefruit flavors, with hints of melon and honey. It finishes with bracing acidity and fresh mouth feels that make it a terrific aperitif and an excellent

accompaniment to virtually all seafood, especially shellfish.

•Your review: The wine was a light yellow in color and had a muted sweet smell. It actually made me cough after I swallowed it and burned a little. It is not a wine I see myself drinking in the future.

•Did not have food with the wine

Tasting - "Encostas do Lima"

•Name: Encostas do Lima

•Variety: 80% Loureiro and 20% Trajadura

•Region: Ponte de Lima (Vinho Verde)

•Country: Portugal

•Year:2010

•Price: $4.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Pale golden silver color. Bright floral aromas of peaches, raspberry and honeysuckle with a soft, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, tart citrus and talc accented finish. A delightful sipper that is

sure to please.

•Your review: I thought this wine was very tart. It had a light coloring with a strong smell. This is the very first wine I've ever had at a tasting and compared to the sweet, white wines I'm used to I was very surprised. I really wasn't a big fan of this wine, but I wonder if having food with it would have changed how it tasted.

•Did not have food with the wine