Tasting - "Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz"

•Name: Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

•Variety: 100% Shiraz

•Region: South Eastern Australia

•Country: Australia

•Year: NV

•Price: $7.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: A relatively light, fresh style of sparkling Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish.

•Your review: This wine was red in color and had bubbles! It had a sweet, oaky smell, which was misleading when I tasted it. I thought it was a slightly sweet flavor, but the fizz over powered the flavor a bit. I gave this wine three stars. 

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Picture from: http://www.debortoli.com.au/our-wines/our-brands/emeri/listing/view/emeri-sparkling-shiraz.html

Tasting - "Tres Ojos Garnacha"

•Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha

•Variety: 100% Garnacha

•Region: Calatayud

•Country: Spain

•Year: 2011

•Price: $6.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: The wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality.This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc.

•Your review: This wine was dark red in color with a ripe berry smell. It had a thick and rich oaky flavor with a hot quality. I gave this wine two stars. 

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Picture from: http://jrnet.com/graphics/labels/Tres-Ojos-2011.jpg

Tasting - "Montebuena"

•Name: Montebuena

•Variety: 100% Tempranillo

•Region: Rioja

•Country: Spain

•Year: 2010

•Price: $8.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting' it's an excellent value for well a with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja. 

•Your review: This wine was a dark red/purple in color and had a delicious buttery smell. The taste was oaky with a good bite. I gave this wine two stars.  

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Picture from: http://www.raveassociates.com/demosite/images/featured/wines_red/montebuena/Montebuena2010_label_HQ_2.jpg

Tasting - "Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence"

•Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

•Variety: Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault

•Region: Provence

•Country: France

•Year: 2011

•Price: $8.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Bright salmon pink; typical of the fresh but warm Provence style. Refined and complex on the nose, with summer fruit and floral notes, Dry and crisp, with a delicate flavor and full texture.

•Your review: This wine was a peachy color and had a crisp and dry smell. The taste was tart and acidic, but surprisingly did not have much bite. I gave this wine two stars.

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Picture from: http://timelesswines.com/images/cache/france/f0ee130011rrs-220x561.gif

Tasting - "Canyon Road Chardonnay"

•Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay

•Variety: 100% Chardonnay

•Region: California

•Country: USA

•Year: 2011

•Price: $6.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Medium-bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice. Delicious complement to grilled chicken, lighter pasta dishes or mild cheeses. 

•Your review: This wine was light yellow in color. It had a crisp, fruity apple smell. It had no fizz or pucker or bite when I tasted it. It thought it had a light flavor with a slight oaky taste to it. I gave this wine three stars.

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Picture from: http://ei.isnooth.com/multimedia/2/d/7/image_2521589_full.jpeg

Tasting - "Potluck Sweet Malbec"

•Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec 

•Variety: Malbec

•Region: Mendoza 

•Country: Argentina

•Year: 2010

•Price: $7.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Deep red brilliant with violet hints. Complex, fruity, and predominant red fruits. Easy to drink, round with persistent sweetness, very well balanced with sweet tannins.

•Your review: This wine had a red, orange, purple coloring and smelled a lot like juice! It tasted sweet, but was not overly sweet and had good fruit flavors. I gave it two stars. 

•Did not consume with food.

Tasting - "Domaine de Grange de Payan"

•Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan

•Variety: 100% Grenacha

•Region: Côtes du Rhône 

•Country: France 

•Year: 2011

•Price: $8.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Intensely spicy and precise, with lively red berry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The Grenache, which makes up the majority of the wine, is deeper and more powerful, offering cherry and black raspberry qualities lifted by zesty minerality. 

•Your review: This wine was dark red in color and had a berry smell to it. It had a little bit of a tart taste, but not bite to it. It seemed like a regular red wine. I gave it two stars.

•Did not consume with food.

Tasting - "Tinto Figaro"

•Name: Tinto Figaro

•Variety: 100% Garnacha 

•Region: Calatayud

•Country: Spain

•Year: 2009

•Price: $6.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Figaro is 100% Garnacha, made from a selection of the best grapes grown in the oldest vineyards. While not truly an "oaked wine", a short stay in oak barrels provides a nice spicy flavor boost. Bright violet. Dark berry and cherry aromas show a jammy aspect. Supple and gently sweet, with good lift to its blackraspberry and boysenberry flavors. Smooth and broad on the finish, leaving behind a hint of spiciness. Extremely easy to drink and an excellent value.

•Your review: This wine was deep red in color. It had a slight sweet smell with hints of light butter. It had an oaky, mossy flavor. There was nothing great or awful about this wine - I gave it two stars. 

•Did not consume with food

Tasting - "Maipe Malbec Rosé"

•Name: Maipe Malbec Rosé 

•Variety: 100% Malbec

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Argentina 

•Year: 2011

•Price: $7.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Intense pink color with violet hints. Fresh red fruit bouquet, strawberry and cherry flavors, balanced acidity, dry and lingering finish. Excellent with tuna or green salad, pasta, spicy Asian dishes.

•Your review: This wine was a light pink, red in color and had a strong berry smell. It was not too strong and appeared to have a light butter/rich taste. I gave it three stars! This was my favorite wine at the tasting!

•Did not consume with food. 

Tasting - "Cortenova Pinot Grigio"

•Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio

•Variety: 100% Pinot Gris

•Region: Veneto

•Country: Italy

•Year: 2012

•Price: $7.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine Perfect also as an aperitif. 

•Your review: This wine was light yellow in color and had a tart, fruity smell. It made me pucker in the back of my cheeks and had a light floral, less intense taste to it. I gave it two stars.

•Did not consume with food.

Tasting - "Nine Points Pinot Noir"

•Name: Nine Points Pinot Noir

•Variety: Pinot Noir

•Region: Napa Valley

•Country: USA

•Year: 2011

•Price: $9.98

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: "A young blend with light fruity flavors, this Pinot Noir is a must for summery evenings."

•Your review: This wine was a red coloring with a strong floral and fruity smell. It tasted like berries, maybe raspberries, and had a nice finish. I gave this wine two stars. 

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Trivento Birds & Bees Sweet Red"

•Name: Trivento Birds & Bees Sweet Red

•Variety: 100% Malbec

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Argentina

•Year: NV

•Price: $9.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: “Ripe and red fruit flirts with captivating aromas of honeysuckle and orange blossom, creating and enchanting wine that’s both gorgeous on its own and mingles well in a crowd.”

•Your review: I bought this wine originally because I have really taken a liking to the Malbec grape. It was dark red and color and had a ripe, fresh fruit smell. I absolutely loved this wine! It was very sweet and tasted much like juice, but still had a nice punch to it. I gave this wine four stars and have bought it several more times since I first tried it!

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Paul Masson Rose Wine"

•Name: Paul Masson Rose Wine

•Variety: Rose Blend

•Region: California 

•Country: USA

•Year: NV

•Price: $9.29

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: “Serve this delicately sweet, fruity wine chilled. Great by itself of with white meat, poultry, seafood, and lightly flavored dishes.”

•Your review: This wine had a light pink coloring and smelled very fruity, almost like berries and flowers mixed. It was very tasty and had sweet undertones. I gave this wine three stars and will definitely buy it again.

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Charles Shaw Chardonnay"

•Name: Charles Shaw Chardonnay (also known as "Three Buck Chuck")

•Variety: Chardonnay

•Region: California

•Country: USA

•Year: 2011

•Price: $3.29

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: “The fourth wine, and the least tasty to me at 78 points, was Charles Shaw California 2005 ($2). It smelled slightly waxy, had very little flavor and a dull impression on the palate. Rating 78.”

•Your review: For three dollars (the price varies a bit based on where you purchase it), this wine was a great find in my opinion. It has a slight fruity smell and a light buttery flavor. I gave this wine two stars, as it lacked a little in taste, but had the right price!

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Project Happiness Syrah"

•Name: Project Happiness Syrah

•Variety: Syrah

•Region: California

•Country: USA

•Year: 2009

•Price: $10.00

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: California

Vibriant violet like colors quickly please the eye

as a burst of tropical fruit flavors rain down on the tongue. The finish reminiscent of dark arabica beans with an earthy truffle undertone. Vineyard charateristics shine through bright as a raven`s eye.

•Your review: This wine was a dark red and with an oaky, musty smell. I think it may have gone a little bad or over-aged, as I did not taste any of the fruit flavors described in the label. I gave it one star and would not try this again! 

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Monte Aman"

•Name: Monte Aman

•Variety: 100% Tempranillo

•Region: Arlanza

•Country: Spain

•Year: 2009

•Price: $5.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit. Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well

right now.

•Your review: This wine was a dark "blood" red and had a ripe fruity smell that was not too strong. It had an oaky flavor that reminded me of the burning wood smell you find in the fall. It was very, very good! I gave it three stars and would definitely drink this wine again. 

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo"

•Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

•Variety: 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

•Region: d'Abruzzo

•Country: Italy

•Year: 2010

•Price: $6.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with

pasta dishes and red meats.

•Your review: This wine was dark red and had a rich, buttery smell. It was not as earthy as I expected and was quite delicious. I give this wine three stars.

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Maipe Chardonnay"

•Name: Maipe Chardonnay

•Variety: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Argentina

•Year: 2012

•Price: $7.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: 30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels. Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with

creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.

•Your review: This wine was light yellow in color and had a tart, crisp flavor with a good bite. I believe I tasted pears also. I give this wine two stars.

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Villa d' Orvieto"

•Name: Villa d' Orvieto

•Variety: Blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia

•Region: Orvieto

•Country: Italy

•Year: 2011

•Price: $6.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful

with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads.

•Your review: This wine was light yellow in color and had a sweet, maple sugar and rich carmel smell. I thought the taste, however, did not match up to great smell it had. I felt that the taste was very bland and weak. I gave this wine two stars.

•Did not have food with the wine. 

Tasting - "Dibon Cava Brut Reserve"

•Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

•Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25%Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada

•Region: Penedes

•Country: Spain

•Year: NV

•Price: $9.95

•Shop/wine critic/winery review: Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes. Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and

balanced acidity. A delicious sparkler for a great price!

•Your review: This wine was a light, almost white-yellow color and bubbled when poured. It had a dry and fruity smell and tingled when it hit my tongue. I tasted apples and a juice flavor. I give this wine three stars.

•Did not have food with the wine.