Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name: Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: South East, Australia
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $9.95

Critic Review:  "A relatively light, fresh style of sparking Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish."

My Review:  I am a huge fan of sparkling white wines, but this was actually the first time I have tasted a sparkling red wine.  The smell was sweet, and actually a little overwhelming.  The taste was much lighter and fruity.  I could taste strawberry and vanilla.  This sparkling red wine kind of reminded me of a less sweeter soda.  It was crisp and unusually tasteful.  I really enjoyed this sparkling red wines, and I look forward to trying more in the future.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha 
Variety: 50% Garnacha, 50% Tempranillo
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Critic Review:  "This 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."

My Review:  The smell was very oaky and spicy, and I did not like the smell at all at first.  The second smell wasn't as bad because I could smell more of the oak, but I was still not a fan.  This wine had a lot of tannins and was very dry.  It had a stronger taste than what I usually like.  I could taste raspberries, which I normally enjoy, but overall I did not like this wine...at all.  It was too spicy and dry for my taste, and had little balance.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Montebuena Tempranillo

Name: Montebuena Tempranillo
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Critic 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 Rioja."

My Review:  This wine had a very pretty deep-purplish red color.  It smelled strongly of blackcurrant and berries.  The taste was very similiar in the smell, as the blackcurrant and berries jumped out at me.  I could also taste cherries, and it tasted somewhat like a jam.  This wine was low on tannins and easy to drink.  I really enjoyed this smooth, red wine.  I have come to realize that I am definitely a fan of Tempranillo, as I have enjoyed all of them that I have tasted. 

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence Rosé

Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence Rosé
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Critic 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."

My Review:  The smell was slightly fruity and floral.  To me, the wine tasted dry and bitter.  I could also taste the floral, which was prominent in the smell.  However, I thought this wine had a bad after-taste.  This wine was lacking taste and seemed very plain.  I did not really enjoy this Rosé.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Critic 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."

My Review:  This Chardonnay had a subtle smell of sweetness and citrus.  The wine was a little bitter, with a hint of sweetness and oak.  It was a very enjoyable, crisp Chardonnay.  I would definitely drink it again, maybe with a light appetizer.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Potluck Sweet Malbec

Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Critic 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."

My Review:  This red wine smelled a lot sweeter and fruitier than most red wines, which was probably pretty obvious by the name.  I really enjoyed this wine as it was very fruity, with a distinct cherry taste. It was smooth, tangy and not spicy.  I would definitely drink this wine again because it was sweet and memorable, but not too sweet.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Domaine de Grange de Payan

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan
Variety: 100% Granache
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Critic 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."

My Review:  This wine, with a 15% alcohol content, has a strong smell of spices and pepper.  I was not too fond of the smell, and the taste was even worse, in my opinion.  It was a very bitter and dry wine.  I did like the blackberry taste, but the aftertaste was not very appealing.  I probably would not bother drinking this wine again.

I tasted this wine without food.