Tasting - Crane Lake Muscato

Name: Crane Lake Muscato
Varietal: Muscato
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2017
Price: $7.95

Shop Review: "This sweet wine is light in color floral aromas including notes of orange blossom, jasmine and honeysuckle. Flavors include peach, melon and spice. This wine can be sipped by itself, but is complementary to a number of foods. With appetizers try prosciutto, melon, brie cheese, or smoked salmon. For a main course I suggest baked ham, grilled red snapper or chicken."

My Review: This wine is really sweet. I can definitely tell it is a moscato. It is very light and floral with wonderful hints of citrus fruits.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Mt. Monster

Name: Mt. Monster Cabernet
Varietal: Cabernet Savuignon
Region: Limestone Coast
Country: Australia
Year: 2014
Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "Deep purple in color. Classic aromas of lifted blackcurrant, blackberry and mint on the nose. Flavors follow through of sweet berry-fruit accented by fresh muddled mint. Elegant, structured palate with big velvety tannins."

My Review: This wine smells sweeter than the previous red wine. It is very bitter and tart with faint hints of berry. I struggled to drink this wine and would never buy a wine like this.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Figaro Garnacha

Name: Tinto Figaro Red Wine 
Varietal: 100% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2016
Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "The 100% Garnacha 2016 Figario Tinto Calatayud is a smoking value and is another red brought in by Kysela that knocks it out of the park on the value scale. Bright berry fruits, dried herbs, earth, and a touch of spice all flow to a medium-bodied, rounded, fleshy red that has loads of upfront charm and accessibility. It's not going to make old bones, but as a house red to enjoy over the coming couple of years, it's hard to beat."

My Review: I could tell by the smell that I was not going to like this wine. It's very bland. Not really a certain taste that stands out. It is also sour. Overall it tastes too simple and I would not buy it.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Nuna Field Chakana

Name: Nuna Field White 2016
Varietal: 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2016
Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "This unoaked Agrelo blend combines mostly Sauvignon Blanc with lesser amounts of Chardonnay and Viognier. White peach, lemon and grapefruit flavours combine to a good effect here with a refreshing, limestone-like tang."

My Review: This wine smells sweet. It almost is bubbly like Mcdonald's sprite. It is very crisp and also tastes like apples and faint hints of pears.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - OnePio

Name: OnePio Lugana 
Varietal: 100% Trebbiano di Lugana
Region: Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2017
Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "100% Trebbiano di Lugana. Soft, harmonious, full and well-balanced wine with straw yellow color. It impresses the nose thanks to its multifaceted and fragrant perfume, that gives off almond and citrus emotions, where it's possible to recognize even a fresh pineapple touch."

My Review: Very tart and sour in my opinion. Smells better than it tastes however it is smooth going down. Reminds me of green crisp apples.

I did not try this with food. 

Tasting - Pebble

Name: Pebble 

Varietal: Viognier
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Price: $18.00

Shop Review: "Coppery, lemon yellow in the glass. Medium-to-full bodied for the varietal. White flowers and stone fruit - nectarine hints - on the nose. Good structure, nice weight and mouthfeel. Big, balanced, and a best-buy for Viognier."

My Review: Smells floral and fruity. It is very plain and does not have much taste. It is a forgettable wine. It smells better than it tastes. I taste faint hints of peach but it is still not good.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Zapatazo

Name: Zapatazo Torrontes Famatina Valleys 

Varietal: Dry, light, white blend
Region: Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year: 2017
Price: $18.00

Shop Review: "Brilliant pale lemon-yellow in the glass. Nose of white flowers and stone fruits, peach fuzz, and ripe apricot. This wine tastes as it smells, plus a hint of minerality. Good acidity and feel, light bodied and crisp, with a lingering freshness." 

My Review: This is a very light, dry wine. It reminds me of crisp apples in the spring. I also taste pears in addition to the apples. It would be good paired with food because it left my mouth watering until the next wine I tried.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Giovina

Name: Giovina, Montepulciano d' Abruzzo 

Varietal: Dry Blend
Region: Italy but imported by Napa, California
Country: Italy
Year: 2017
Price: $18.00

Shop Review: "Inky purple-to-garnet hues in the glass. Aromas of smoke, earth, and hints of leather dominated by cherry-to-blackberry notes. A vibrant house red pour with some old-world character."

My Review: This wine smells very dry. Upon tasting it, it is very tart and would pair well with food. It is a wine that leaves me wanting food. It was hard finishing my glass. I did not like it.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Fissata

Name: Fissata 

Varietal: Sweet Blend
Region: New York
Country: USA
Year: No year on the bottle
Price: $18.00

Shop Review: "Translucent, dark watermelon red in color, this release opens with floral, sweet-ish stone fruit over a raspberry-ish nose. A well-integrated palate of sweet fruity red berries and a nutty quality are repeated in the mouth. Gentle effervescence makes for an overall pleasing dessert wine experience."

My Review: This is an amazing wine. It is super sweet with watermelon and candy tastes, which I love and it does not taste like alcohol at all. It reminds me of juice. I could drink this wine forever. It is just perfect. 

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Sweet Blush Wine Muscadine

Name: American Muscadine Sweet Blush Wine 

Varietal: 100% Muscadine
Region: Lexington, North Carolina
Country: USA
Year: No year on the bottle
Price: $7.05 close out price

Shop Review: "Lush and balanced wine, recommended with fruit-based desserts. This wine has been increasingly popular over the past year and few stores in America still have this wine."

My Review: This wine is a weird combination. I taste the sweetness of the muscadine but there is a bitter tartness. I am not sure I like this wine. It has a weird aftertaste.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Dinner 2 Broke Edition

Dinner - West End and Turner food (cause were broke college kids) 

We chose west end and turner food because it is that point in the semester where we are all broke but still have campus money. I am looking forward to good campus food and an array of wines. 

 

Course One: Chicken Tenders paired with Yellow Tail Rose

Wine on it's own: Smells sweet and floral. This wine is not very sweet but it is not bitter either, it has a very good balance. I taste hints of peach but no other fruits. It is a dry wine. I am not sure that I would buy it again. 

Pairing notes: The wine paired well with the chicken. The faint acidity of the wine complimented the food making the chicken taste better. The wine made the breading of the chicken a perfect amount of saltiness. I do not think the wine overpowered the food nor did the food overpower the wine. The food made the wine more acidic but lighter. The wine was not too sweet for the food. 

 

Course Two: Chicken Bowl from Qdoba + chips paired with Beringer Main & Vine Red Crush-Red Blend 

Wine on it's own: This wine smells like cherries but strong. I expected this wine to be a big, bold wine. It is sweeter than I thought and I found it to be smooth. However, it is kind of bland which a balance of sweetness. The one thing I like is that it does not taste like alcohol. 

Pairing notes: I think the wine pairs well. I think the acidity of the wine compliments the spiciness of the food making it taste better. I think the wine dulled the spiciness down and made it more salty. I do not think the food overpowered the wine or the wine overpowered the food. I think the food does make the wine less sweet though. 

 

Course Three: Salted Caramel Cheesecake paired with Barefoot 100% Riesling 

Wine on it's own: This wine instantly refreshes you. It tastes like a crisp, summery drink but then the sweetness hits you. It is not overly sweet but not bitter. I taste strong hints of tangerine. I personally love this wine and would buy this again and again.   

Paring notes: This wine and food did not pair well. The acidity of the wine was enhanced by the cheesecake. The wine had no effect on the food but the food made the wine taste extremely bitter. The food overpowered the wine and the wine did nothing for the food. The cheesecake makes the wine bitter and taste like a dry rose. 

 

 

Tasting - La Cornada Tempranillo

Name: La Cornada Crianza 2015 Tempranillo
Varietal: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Valdepenas, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $5.00

Shop Review: "The Tempranillo Crianza has matured for a minimum of two years. Including 6 months in American oak barrels. A full-bodied dry wine with succulent flavors of black cherry and plum, complemented by nuances of clove and spice."

My Review: I tasted the hints of black cherry mentioned above however it was a very bitter wine. I could barely finish my glass. I am not sure if aging it more would help. It was not sweet at all.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Moiselle Sweet Red

Name: Moiselle Sweet Red
Varietal: A table blend
Region: Modesto, California
Country: USA
Year: No year on the bottle
Price: $5.00

Shop Review: "Moiselle is a delightful wine for everyday occasions. Our sweet red showcases a refreshing sweetness with mouthwatering flavors of black cherry and raspberry." 

My Review: This wine was a perfect amount of sweetness. I tasted the hints of black cherry and raspberry that help cover up the alcohol making it enjoyable. I would buy this wine again.

I did not try this with food.