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.

Tasting #33 Siema Vino Rosso

Tasting #33 Siema Vino Rosso

Name: Siema Vino Rosso Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo

Varietal(s): Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmonte, Italy
Year: NA
Price: $10

Winery review: Intense ruby red with soft garnet nuances in the glass, the Rosso is intriguingly fresh, fruity and spicy on the nose. Perfectly round and balanced, the wine is particularly soft and dry. Pair with simple dishes like fresh cheese, ham, salami, or pizza for a divine culinary experience.

Personal review:  The nose on this wine was full of cherry and berries such as raspberry and blackberry. I got a slight hint of tannin, but it was still very smooth in the finish. This palate was full of fruit notes with a little hint of pepper. Although this wine was not paired with food, I would pair it with something chocolate based like a molé sauce.

Tasting #32 Dom de la Foret

Tasting #32 Dom de la Foret

Name: Dom de la Foret Grenache Cinsault Rose de Mediterranée
Varietal(s): 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache

Region: Provence, France
Year: 2015
Price: $15

Winery review: A stony, pure style, with a warm paving stone note framing the dried cherry and rose water notes. The long, watermelon rind—inflected finish is finely tuned. Shows length and cut, staying lacy in feel. 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache.

Personal review:  This bottle was very enticing, it was one of those that I would want to buy even though I know nothing about the actual wine itself. I was also very excited to try this as it had Grenache in it, and I just finished watching Gary's video about Grenache. The nose on this was very floral, with hints of rose petal and a perfumy quality as well. On the palate this wine was light bodied and had a lot of fruit notes to it as well. I got some hints of strawberry and cherry, which is typical of a rosé. This wine was not paired with food, but I would pair this with some type of grilled meat like chicken or pork.

Tasting #31 Bricco dei Tati Cortese

Tasting #31 Bricco dei Tati Cortese

Name: Bricco dei Tati Cortese

Varietal(s): Cortese

Region: Piedmonte, Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $10

Winery review: The Washington Post “Great Value! Treat this terrific little white like a red: Don’t chill it too much, then let it open for a half-hour to develop its enticing tropical fruit flavors. It’s dry, but the fruit gives an appealing illusion of sweetness. Great as an aperitif or with light seafood dishes.”.

Personal review:  I have never tried a wine from this varietal before so I was very excited to try this. On the nose this wine smelled very fresh and acidic. On the palate this wine had a bright acidity that had hints of grapefruit and lemon zest. The body was very light and the finish was extremely short. This wine was not served with food but I would pair it with a seafood dish or a fruit salad.

Tasting #30 Crane Lake Riesling

Tasting #30 Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake Riesling

Varietal(s): Riesling

Region: California
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery review: The trademark German red grape varietal Dornfelder has a lovely purity of soft red berry fruit. Integrated soft tannins combined with forward fruit flavors make for a perfectly balanced everyday sipping wine. Great with grilled red meat, sausage and chicken. Best served slightly chilled.

Personal review:  On the nose there was a hint of strawberry, peach and apricot. This was very sweet and smooth. This was extremely sweet, definitely not the type of wine I tend to go for. To me, this would only pair well with something extremely spicy to balance out.

Tasting #29 Crane Lake Shiraz

Tasting #29 Crane Lake Shiraz

Name: Crane Lake Shiraz

Varietal(s): Shiraz

Region: California
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery review: Beautiful ruby appearance, with blackberry and pepper notes. Tannins and fruit marry well for a soft finish. This wine pairs well with sharp cheddar cheese and hazelnuts. Also try it along with roast lamb at Easter time, veal marsala, or grilled salmon.

Personal review:  On the nose I got hints of strawberry and a little hint of smokiness. On the palate this wine was medium bodied and finished smooth. The tannins were well balanced with the cherry fruit notes. There was also a little hint of spice in this, maybe clove. I would pair this with ribs, bbq, or something with beef in it.

Tasting #28 Georges Duboeuf Nouveau

Tasting #28 Georges Duboeuf Nouveau
 Name: Georges Duboeuf Nouveau

Varietal(s): Gamay

Region: Beaujolais, France
Year: 2015
Price: $12

Winery review: George Duboeuf is THE king of Beaujolais.  His wines are full of pop, charm and great flavor and his Beaujolais Nouveau is no exception.  A cornucopia of expressive fruit wrapped in an almost-bubblegum-like frame; it is the flagship Nouveau.

Personal review:  The nose on this was very fruit forward, with hints of blueberry and blackberry. On the palate this was medium, almost full, bodied and had a balanced tannin to it. The finish was bold with dark fruits like blackberries and raspberries, but not long. This wine was not paired with food, but I would pair it with a fatty cheese.

Tasting #27 Maipe Torrontes

Tasting #27 Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe Torrontes

Varietal(s): Torrontés

Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Year: 2014
Price: $14

Winery review: The wine has a spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well-balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish.

Personal review:  I am not familiar with this varietal at all, so I was anxious to try it. The nose was very fresh with peach and apricot. There was also a little floral note as well. On the palate this wine was medium bodied and finished smooth. There was a slight hint of sweetness, but I attribute this to the fruit forward notes in this wine. This was not paired with food, but I would pair it with something spicy or a sharp cheddar.

Tasting #26 Tonnino Pinot Grigio

Tasting #26 Tonnino Pinot Grigio

Name: Tonnino Pinot Grigio

Varietal(s): Pinot Grigio

Region: Sicily, Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $14

Winery review: Tonnino’s exotic example of Pinot Grigio has a straw to pale gold color. It is fresh and clean on the nose with fruity notes of pear, green apple and white peaches. The palate is true to the nose with a fresh acidity, coriander and lime notes followed by a crisp finish. This wine pairs well with youthful aperitifs, clams or mussels, pastas and risotto dishes.

Personal review:  This wine was light bodied and had a nose of green apple and a slight hint of unripe pear. The palate was smooth and crisp, which is expected for a Pinot. Overall, I enjoyed this wine. It was light and had a balanced acidity that would pair well with a creamy cheese or a white fish.

Tasting #25 Peter Mertes Sweet Red Dornfelder

Tasting #25 Peter Mertes Sweet Red Dornfelder

Name: Peter Mertes Sweet Red Dornfelder

Varietal(s): Dornfelder

Region: California, Germany
Year: 2014
Price: $12

Winery review: The trademark German red grape varietal Dornfelder has a lovely purity of soft red berry fruit. Integrated soft tannins combined with forward fruit flavors make for a perfectly balanced everyday sipping wine. Great with grilled red meat, sausage and chicken. Best served slightly chilled.

Personal review:  The sweetness was very apparent on the nose, with fruit aromas of raspberry, strawberry, and cherry. These notes were also apparent on the palate. The finish on this did not linger, but the sweetness would pair well with sharp cheeses or anything spicy.

Tasting #24 Castello Sonnino

Tasting #24 Castello Sonnino

Name: Castello Sonnino Chianti Montespertoli

Varietal(s): blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia del Chianti (percentages not provided)

Region: Chianti, Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $15

Winery review:  blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia del Chianti. Rich and modern, with a dark, saturated color and aromas of graham cracker and lemon rind. A juicy palate packed with plum and raspberry is carried by a creamy texture that’s rather toasty in terms of flavor. The finish is round, full and chocolaty.

Personal review:  The nose of this was strong with acetone, raspberry, plum, and raisin aromas. On the palate this wine felt medium bodied with medium tannins that made this wine slightly dry. There were hints of cherry and dark fruit throughout. The finish on this was extremely flat and did not linger. I would pair this with a lamb dish or any gamey red meat.

Tasting #23 Bolla Bardolino

Tasting #23 Bolla Bardolino

Name: Bolla Bardolino Magnum

Varietal(s): 60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, and 10% Molinara

Region: Bardolino, Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $18

Winery review: A blend of 60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 10% Molinara this bright ruby red wine has hints of black cherry on the nose.  It is soft and fruit-forward, with black-fruit flavors followed by a bright and fresh finish. Serve it as the Italians do – young and lightly chilled. Pairs perfectly with fleshy fish, beef, lamb, red-sauced pastas and pizza.

Personal review:  Immediately on the nose I got a strong earthiness with a subtle hint of mocha. After swirling I sensed a higher alcohol content with a hint of bonfire smoke. On the palate I also got the earthy, dirt quality I was expecting. There was also a slight hint of green vegetable component as well. The body on this wine was light, with very few tannins, and a short finish. This was not paired with food, but I would pair it with any pasta and red sauce.

Tasting #22 Tenuta le Velette

Tasting #22 Tenuta le Velette 
                     Orvieto Classico

Name: Tenuta le Velette Berganorio Orvieto Classico

Varietal(s): 30% Trebbiano, 30% Grechetto, 20% Malvasia, 15% Verdello, and 5% Drupeggio

Region: Orvieto, Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $18

Winery review: 88 – i- winereview
"The Berganorio Orvieto is a subtle wine with a bright palate. It shows white flowers on the nose and light citrus notes in the mouth. Its neutral character means it can accompany a wide range of foods. A blend of 30% Trebbiano, 30% Grechetto, 20% Malvasia, 15% Verdello, and 5% Drupeggio. The estate has 103 hectares on the hill opposite the hill town of Orvieto."

Personal review:  On the nose this appeared to have a slight fruity sweetness to it. I also got an orange blossom bouquet as well. The color was a deep, dark yellow that made me worry about it being past its prime, but I was pleasantly surprised by this wine. On the palate I got a slight bite that made me think it may have been oaked, but since I am not familiar with any of the varietals in this wine I attributed the bite to the tannins from the grapes. This wine was light bodied and had a balanced acidity. There was a slight mineral component that I feel would pair well with any light hors d'oeuvre. 

Tasting #21 Aveleda Praia

Tasting #21 Aveleda Praia

Name: Aveleda Praia

Varietal(s): 40% Arinto, 30% Loureiro, 20% Trajadura and 10% Azal

Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $10

Winery review: 92- Wine & Spirits 
A blend of 40% Arinto, 30% Loureiro, 20% Trajadura and 10% Azal. Full of fruit, a lasting peach flavor targeted with laserlike acidity through the finish. It has the bite of salty ocean air and a lot of zing. For langoustines.

Personal review:  On the nose I got a burst of fresh, young acidity with a crushed green apple background. On the palate this wine was medium bodied with a balanced tart acidity. I got a little hint of orange zest on the mid palate and a smooth peach finish. Overall, this was a nice enjoyable wine that I would pair with any fish/seafood dish or salad with fresh fruits.