Tasting - Bolla Moscato

Name: Bollo Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Pavia
Country: Italy
Price: $9.95

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 moscato had a sharp fruity nose with all of the exotic fruits. It was a good moscato but it was a little too sweet for me. It reminded me of florals mixed with sweet candies. 

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Monte Degli Angeli Sangiovese

Name: Monte Degli Angeli Sangiovese
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

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 was one of the favorites of the tasting and I can see why. The aroma of dark berries really came through on the nose. Dark berries really come through on the palate and I even thought of sparkling apple cider which was very unexpected. This is one that I would enjoy again. 

I did not try this with food. 

Tasting - Oracle Pinotage

Name: Oracle Pinotage
Variety: Pinotage
Region: Coastal Region
Country: South Africa
Year: 2014
Price: $7.95

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: This one was actually not my favorite but it was a good wine. I detected the smoke and pepper on the nose. On the palate the pepper and dark berries really came through and I was left with a bit of a peppery finish.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Alvarez de Toledo

Name: Alvarez de Toledo
Variety: Godello
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Clean pale yellow color. Nose fruity, Persistent and elegant aromas. Good backbone on the palate.

My Review: This one was very hard to pull distinguishing factors out of. On the nose I thought of cheese. There was a very smooth mouthfeel with some fruity florals on the palate and also what I thought of as apple. It was very simple and not too in your face.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Villa Jolanda Brut

Name: Villa Jolanda Brut
Variety: Pinot Gris and Chardonnay
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Price: $8.95

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: I really enjoyed how refreshing and light this one was. It is definitely a wine for easy drinking with friends. The nose was floral and fresh and I detected the pear in the taste. I also thought of hints of lemon on the palate as well. I would definitely drink this again.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Villa Pozzi Moscato

Name: Villa Pozzi Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy

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: On the nose, I thought of a lot of sweet florals. The exotic fruits along with what I thought of as honey came through on the palate. This wine is very sweet, almost like a candy. It is a nice wine but is much too sweet for me. 

I did not try this with food. 

Tasting - Paulo Laureano Tinto Classico

Name: Paulo Laureano Tinto Classico
Variety: 40% Trincadeira, 40% Aragonez, 20% Alfroncheiro
Region: Alentejano
Country: Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

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: On the nose I detected an oily leather scent. There were dark berries on the palate and there was an overall smooth mouthfeel. I had no complaints about this one.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Bodegas Atalaya Laya

Name: Bodegas Atalaya Laya
Variety: 70% Garnacha Tintorera, 30% Monastrell
Region: Almansa
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

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, displyaing 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: This wine had a what smelled like pond florals on the nose. There was also a hint of pepper on the palate mixed with dark berries. This wine was dry. It was not my favorite of the day.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars and Venus Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

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: I really enjoyed this chardonnay. I liked how this one did not taste like a typical, buttery chardonnay. It had a smooth mouthfeel and great nose. The palate was very light, crisp, and refreshing. It was so good that I bought a bottle at the end of the tasting!

I did not try this with food.

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $6.95

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: I found this wine to be very refreshing and light. A floral nose paired well with light a fruity palate. This was one of my favorites and I would definitely drink it again.

I did not try this with food.