Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name: Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: NV
Price: $9.95
Review: A relatively light, fresh style of sparkling Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish.

My Review: The wine smelled like grapes or Concord grape jelly. I thought the taste was very nice, but the sparkling part of the wine was just strange. It wasn't bad, necessarily, but the bubbles were just not expected for that heavy of a wine. It did have a good aftertaste.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio

Name: Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Southeastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $5.99
Review: Lively green apple and pear aromas with a crisp, clean and refreshing palate in this Pinot Grigio wine. (From Yellow Tail)

My Review: I thought this wine smelled very tart, with a hint of some sort of gasoline-like smell. It tasted like a giant, fat, slightly mushy pear - the bottle had already been opened for an indeterminate amount of time so I'm not sure what it would taste like fresh. It was still easily drinkable, though.

Food? I did have this wine with a pork chop dinner but I did not notice any special new tastes brought out by the food. I didn't think it was that much of a wine to savor with the food.

Tasting - Steeple Jack Moscato

Name: Steeple Jack Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Review: Lemonade and lychee aromas lead to a luscious palate that’s alive with juicy lychee and tropical fruit flavours with slight spritz. This is an extremely refreshing drop that’s the perfect lunchtime drop in the warmer months. (From Wine Selectors)

My Review: This wine was so good. There was a little bit of citrus smell, reminiscent of pineapples. The taste was very smooth, maybe even slightly floral. I thought there was a well-balanced sweetness that blended well with the effervescence. Definitely buying again.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Black Opal Shiraz

Name: Black Opal Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95
Review: The Black Opal wines are sourced from vineyards found in South Australia along the Limestone Coast, at Langhorne Creek and in the infamous Barossa Valley. Black Opal Shiraz is rich red in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, pepper and spice followed with rich plum flavors round out the palate. Soft tannins give structure to the fruit-driven palate.

My Review: Definitely a darker smell than the previous red I tasted (the Meditrina). Upon the first taste I thought that the wine had a tang to it. Then I was able to taste the pepper and spices, which I thought made the wine very heavy and not as good.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Wine Men of Gotham

Name: Wine Men of Gotham
Variety: Chardonnay/Semillon blend
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95
Review: Gotham’s 2008 Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish.

My Review: I thought this wine was a little bitter on the first taste, with a very smooth lasting finish. No specific flavors stood out to me.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.