Tasting - Morada Sangria

Name: Morada Sangria

Variety: Red Blend

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain 

Year: No Vintage

Price: $4.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alc. It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple.

My Review: 

Right out of the bottle, this sangria smelled like a fruit roll-up. ("I'm gonna like this," said my boyfriend.) In the most basic terms, it smelled like fruit punch with a whiff of alcohol, reminding me of "jungle juice," the potent grain alcohol and fruit juice mixture found in tubs at college parties. However, this sangria tasted mostly of citrus, like grapefruit juice with no acidic bite. Personally, the citrus needed something heavier to balance it. 

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet

Name: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet

Variety: 60% Shiraz, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon 

Country: Argentina 

Year: No Vintage

Price: $3.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry, scent. The oak is in the background. Would pair well with hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.

My Review: 

Fruitier on the nose and not as spicy as the previous wine, but prepare for a kick of tobacco. My last encounter with a shiraz was memorable for all the wrong reasons, but this wine was very smooth. 

Tasting - Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

Name: Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily 

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins.

My Review: 

My first word about this wine: different. I hadn't tasted a wine quite this dark yet, or a wine that tasted exactly how the store review claimed. It was spicy and fruity with a finish of something I couldn't name until I saw the word "licorice" on the review. Despite its richness, it was more subtle than I expected. 

Tasting - Tres Ojos Rose

Name: Tres Ojos Rose

Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha

Region: Catalayud 

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $3.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My Review: 

The Tres Ojos Rose smelled like dark fruits and berries, but tasted slightly like cherry cough syrup - though not bracingly so. Warmed my palate nicely; however, I was surprised to find that it was 14.5% alcohol because it was misleading smooth with little bite. 

Tasting - Les Perles Piquepoul

Name: Les Perles Piquepoul

Variety: Piquepoul

Region: Cotes de Thau

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke. Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.

My Review: 

Lot of citrus on the nose, but this wine didn't taste as sweet as I expected. Despite the fruit components, it was almost dry and not particularly memorable. Like the above review, the flavor didn't last long and on a second, larger sip, the wine lost its few sweet characteristics. 

Tasting - Gabriella Chianti

Name: Gabriella Chianti

Variety: 100% Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

This beautiful wine has the very deep red, almost purple, color that you would expect in a Chianti. The first thing you notice is the fruit, balanced by a bit of spice. It’s a good dry wine with a bold flavor. Even with it’s boldness, this Chianti is velvety smooth.

My Review: Although spicy like the Valpolicella before, this Chianti was completely campfire-free. The fruit and spice notes complimented each other well without either fighting for dominance, and it was the same with taste. The Valpolicella made me err on the side of caution, and I braced myself for a powerful first sip. However, despite the spice, this Chianti was perfectly smooth and not distractingly fruity. The spice warmed me up the entire way down and left a strong cherry aftertaste. 

Tasting - Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

Name: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 10% Molinara

Region: Valpolicella

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

The red ruby color and the dry taste give this wine joviality and cordiality. It is fresh and fruity, with lovely strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors, with nice spice and a silky texture. 

My Review: For lack of a more eloquent description, this wine smelled like a spicy campfire with just a hint of pepper at the end. Immediately, I knew this was going to be strong, and I was right. The spice and dark wood notes emerged first, practically numbing every other taste, and then faded slightly into a cherry flavor. I wouldn't use the word "fresh" to describe this wine, but definitely bold. My fellow wine taster, a male friend of mine, declared this to be "a real man's wine." He bought a bottle. 

Tasting - Dom de Mirail

Name: Dom de Mirail

Variety: Cabernet/Merlot Rose

Region: Cotes de Gascogne

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $5.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 

There is a fresh, crisp character to this light rosé. It is eye-watering in its refreshing character, with balancing acidity, smoothing out the edges with a touch of caramel. 

My Review: "I smell candy," was the first thing recorded on my voice memo. This wine smelled fantastic and the inclusion of caramel was an interesting choice. It made this rosé dangerously smooth to drink by adding some body, yet still took a backseat and allowed the wine to maintain its fresh, light quality - a fantastic balance.