Tasting #40 Fetzer Gewurztraminer

Tasting #40 Fetzer Gewurztraminer

Name: Fetzer Gewurztraminer

Varietal(s): Gewurztraminer

Region: California
Year: 2014
Price: $8.95

Winery review: 87 – Wine Enthusiast

A rainy minerality on the nose of this sweet wine manages to cut through the sugared oranges, honeysuckle and ripe, tropical white fleshed fruit, from peach to cherimoya. The palate is full of honeyed apples, white peach and pineapple, but the decent acidity and chalky element stops it short of treacly.

Personal review:  The nose on this wine was floral and sweet. There were aromas of peaches and apricots and a little perfumy-ness as well. On the palate this wine was extremely sweet, but smooth and crisp. This would be best served extremely chilled on a hot summer day, with fresh fruits to compliment the wine.

Tasting #39 Maipe Malbec

Tasting #39 Maipe Malbec
 Name: Maipe Malbec

Varietal(s): Malbec

Region: Mendoza , Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $6.95

Winery review: "The 2015 Maipe Malbec is another 100% Malbec, with a deep purple color and a style similar to the Lexicon, with chocolaty, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, as well as touches of licorice and earth. It is delicious, soft and round." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (March 2016), 87 pts - Excellent Wine Values for Under $25

Personal review:  On the nose this wine was smoky, more along the lines of tobacco smoke. There was a deep earthiness to this wine and a little hint of the darker fruits like plum and blackberry. On the palate this wine was medium bodied, but was very well balanced in both tannins and acidity. The finish was short and there were hints of cherry and berries on the palate, with a little hint of spice. I would pair this wine with red meat such as steak or pot roast.

Tasting #38 Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau

Tasting #38 Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau

Varietal(s): Gamay

Region: Beaujolais, France
Year: 2014
Price: $4.95

Winery review: A pretty, floral wine, with a rose petal note underscoring the rich pomegranate and sweet plum flavors. The fresh acidity is balanced, and a light spice note lingers on the finish.

Personal review:  On the nose this wine had a hint of plum and raisin. The body was extremely light and the finish had a balanced tannin with low acidity. To me this wine had a little hint of espresso/chocolate and cherry notes as well. This wine was not paired with food, however, I would pair this with light pasta dishes or chocolate anything.

Tasting #37 Mapreco Vinho Verde

Tasting #37 Mapreco Vinho Verde

Name: Mapreco Vinho Verde

Varietal(s): Vinho Verde

Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal
Year: 2015
Price: $7.95

Winery review: The cherry color reveals a slightly fizzy wine that is a very fruitful rosé made from the traditional vinho verde white grapes. Adding a splash of red to offer flavors with notes of strawberry, cherry and berries. A delightful twist on the original.

Personal review:  On the nose this was very fruitforward with hints of cherries and strawberries. There appeared to be a hint of sweetness, but on the palate the slight acidity cut any chance of overbearing sweet notes. The berry notes came through on the palate and this wine was also very light bodied and short in the finish. I would pair this with a sharp, hard cheese such as cheddar.

Tasting #36 Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Tasting #36 Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Varietal(s): Chardonnay

Region: La Mancha, Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Winery review: A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp, Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple.  Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.

Personal review:  On the nose this was acidic with citrus notes such as lemon and orange zest. On the palate this wine was very light bodied and did not appear to have been oaked. The stainless stelel made this wine very crisp and it had a short finish. The notes on this palate were fruit forward with hints of pear and green apple. Although this wine was not paired with food, I would serve it with grilled chicken salad.

Tasting #35 Beringer Chenin Blanc

Tasting #35 Beringer Chenin Blanc

Name: Beringer Chenin Blanc

Varietal(s): Chenin Blanc

Region: California
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Winery review: A fresh green-apple aroma and vivid citrus and crisp apple flavors are supported by vibrant acidity in this medium-bodied wine. The texture is smooth but crisp, making lots of good food pairings come to mind, from pre-meal cheese, to salads, seafood and veggie pastas.

Personal review:  On the nose I got strong hints of honey and sweetness. There were some fruit hints of citrusy fruits like lemon and orange. On the palate this wine was sweet and full of fruit notes. Some of the fruit notes I got were peach and apricot, but the finish was short and smooth. I would pair this wine with peach cobbler or strawberry shortcake.

Tasting #34 Carraia Aglianico

Tasting #34 Carraia Aglianico

Name: Carraia Aglianico

Varietal(s): Aglianico

Region: Campagna, Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery review: Produced in the Campania region of Italy, this Aglianico has delicious black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, volcanic soil and tar notes. Classic in nature, yet in a lighter, more crowd-pleasing style, the Carraia is made of the ancient Aglianico grape. This black grape originated in Greece and today is widely grown in Basilicata and Campania.

Personal review:  This was very earthy on the nose. I got a hint of plum and raisin. On the palate this wine was medium almost full bodied and had a higher tannic quality to it that the last wine. There were hints of the dark fruits like blackberry and subtle hints of star anise, which I dislike in my wines. I would pair this with with a gamy meat such as lamb or venison.