Tasting- Bolla 1.5L

Name: Bolla 1.5L

Variety: Moscato

Region: Pavia

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Loaded with juicy exotic fruit, mature apricot, yellow peach and tangerine flavors, this sweet and delightful wine is perfect for Sunday brunch or picnics.

My review:  This wine was very sweet. It had a floral flavor mixed with citrus fruits. I enjoyed this wine the best out of the 5 tasted at this tasting.  I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting - Monte Degli Angeli

Name: Monte Degli Angeli

Variety: VSangiovese

Region: Puglia

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: The aromas are rich and dark, with lots of black cherry and a hint of balsamic. In the mouth the wine is round and energetic, with cherry and black raspberry fruit complemented by hints of damp earth. If you like Sangiovese-based wines like Chianti or our best-selling Colsanto from Umbria, you'll love this! The wine is ripe, fresh, and fruit-driven with a wonderful dash of earthy complexity at the end. Buy it by the case and drink with pizza, grilled poultry, and pasta.

My review:  This wine had a very oaky, dry taste to it.  I could smell a significant amount of cherrys on the first and second smell. When tasting the wine I got a raspberry flavor as well.  I did not particularly enjoy this wine. I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting- Oracle Pinotage

Name: Oracle

Variety: Pinotage

Country: South Africa

Year: 2014

Price: $7.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: An unusual style of Pinotage with complex aromas of black pepper, smoke, tomato, and dark fruit. The palate is packed with ripe mixed berry flavors, making this unoaked red wine a real crowd-pleaser.

My review: When smelling this wine I could tell it had a lot of berry flavors in it.  I could smell cherry and possible black berry and raspberries as well.  It also smelled woody.  I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Alvarez de toledo

Name: Alvarez de Toledo

Variety: Godello

Region: Bierzo

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Clean pale yellow color. Nose fruity, persistent and elegant aromas. Good backbone on the palate.

My review: This wine tasted very tart to me.  I could taste hints of strawberry and cherry as well.  A very fruity wine.  I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Villa Jolanda

Name: Villa Jolanda

Variety: Brut

Country: Italy

Price: $8.95

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.

My review: When I first tasted this wine I thought it was very dry and slightly bubbly.  I thought I could taste pear and other fruits in it as well.  I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting- Villa Pozzi

Name: Villa Pozzi

Variety: Moscato

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Price: $8.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Loaded with juicy exotic fruit, mature apricot, yellow peach and tangerine flavors, this sweet and delightful wine is perfect for Sunday brunch or picnics.

My review:  This was a very sweet wine.  It smelled very flowery with some berry hints as well as some other additional fruity smells that I was unsure of what they could be.  This wine was very enjoyable.  I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting - Paul Laureano Tinto Classico

Name: Paul Laureano Tinto Classico

Variety: Blend

Region: Alentejano

Country: Portugal

Year: 2013

Price: $8.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Paulo Laureano’s Classico is a delicious blend of the native Portuguese varietals Trincadeira (40%), Aragonez (40%) and Alfrocheiro (20%). This is a full bodied red that reveals all that the terroir of Portugal has to offer. Light cigar tobacco and soft leather present beautifully on the nose. Dark, black fruits fill the mouth, but the wine flows smoothly over the palate, with a good bit of spice on the finish. Pair with spicy, cured meats and hard cheeses.

My review: This wine had a woody smell. Definitely could smell some of the darker berries.  It had a very strong acidic tanic taste.  I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting - Bodegas Atalaya Laya

Name: Bodegas Atalaya Laya

Variety: Blend

Region: Almansa

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: $8.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: A blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera, a.k.a. Alicante Bouschet, and 30% Monastrell; fermented in stainless steel, followed by four months in French oak.  Bright purple.  Cassis, blueberry, pungent herbs and mocha on the nose.  Smooth and open-knit on the palate, displaying fresh cherry and dark berry qualities and a hint of black pepper.  Finishes with gripping tannins and good length, leaving a subtle floral note behind.

My review:  At first smell there was definitely cherry hints.  This wine was very acidic and tart. I tasted something that might have been woody or coffee.  I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting - Mars & Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars & Venus

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Central Valley

Country: Chile

Price: $5.95

Shop/wine critic/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.

My review: This wine was very dry and sour.  A serious citrus flavor, definitely apple flavors.  This wine was also bitter.  I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Cortenova

Name: Cortenova

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price:  $6.95

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.

My review:  The first thing I smelled in this wine was pears.  This wine was decently sweet and not very acidic. Very clear color.  I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $5.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Punchy lime and lemon mark this off-dry Riesling with a staccato rhythm, adding edge to honeyed tones of peach and honeysuckle. Exceptionally priced, it’s satisfying and elegant.

My review: Slightly sweet tasting.  Definitely very fruity smelling.  Possibly apple and lemon smells.  Most enjoyable wine tasted today.  I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Crane Lake Petite Sirah

Name: Crane Lake Petite Sirah

Variety: Petite Sirah

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $5.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Shows a certain rustic simplicity now, with youthfully jammy flavors of blackberries, cherries and currants, sprinkled with cocoa and pepper and wrapped into dusty tannins.

My review: This wine was very similar to the wine  tasted previously.  I could again smell berries and spices.  I tasted more alcohol in this wine however.  I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Yellowtail Reserve Merlot

Name: Yellowtail Reserve Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: South Eastern

Country: Australia

Year: 2010

Price: Regular $12 Sale $6.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Round, velvety and mouthfilling, this is a satisfying Merlot at a bargain price. Aromas of black cherries and herbs fold in hints of cinnamon and mocha, while the flavors are generally fruity, but with a slightly tomatoey note. Soft on the finish. Drink now. 

My review: This had a strong berry smell.  Possibly cherry or black raspberries.  The wine had a warming taste and possibly a few spices.  I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Takutai Pinot Gris

Name: Takutai Pinot Gris

Variety: Pinot Gris

Region: Nelson

Country: New Zealand

Year: 2009

Price: Regular $21 Sale $6.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Since this wine weighs in at 14%, the fruit was clearly very ripe. That ripeness is reflected in the flavors as well, which feature nectarine and honey accented by hints of white pepper. It’s full-bodied and lush, with a long finish that mingles the sensations of sweet and spicy.

My review: When smelling this wine I could smell something of an orange flavor. This wine was had a harsh strong flavor with spices.  I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Mars & Venus Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Mars & Venus Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2013

Price: Regular Price $10 Sale $5.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: Citrus and gooseberry aromas are mild but typical of the variety. A basic citrus palate delivers modest tangerine and nectarine flavors which lead to a mild, pithy finish showing light citric notes.

My review: When smelling this wine it had a weird citrus smell that I was unsure which fruit it was. This wine also had a slight sour taste to it. I did not have food with this wine.