Tasting - Beringer Riesling

Name: Beringer Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95
Review: This wine is the perfect balance of honeysuckle and bright peach flavors. A perfect compliment to light fare, appetizers, or just sharing with friends.

My Review: I thought this wine was very crisp on the first note. I also thought it had a distinct flavor that I could not place - perhaps the honeysuckle that is referenced in the above review?

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.

Tasting - Bartenura Moscato

Name: Bartenura Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Provencia di Pavia
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95
Review: The inviting apricot preserves, honey, butter, and roasted almond aromas of this semi-sparkler pull you right in. It's on the sweet side, with stone-fruit flavors kept alive by decent acidity. The palate bubbles and tingles and maintains its balance. Fine as an aperitif or with dessert.

My Review: This wine was so good. It smelled like gummy candy. It had a super sweet but delicious taste - it reminded me strongly of liquefied candy. I would have bought it but they ran out at the store. Definitely something I want to purchase and drink again.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Finca del Castillo Tempranillo

Name: Finca del Castillo Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $4.95
Review: Rooty, spicy and baked on the nose, with aromas that lean towards raisin. The palate is more gritty and acidic, with raisin, cola, and spic flavors. Darkens up on the finish, which is long and peppery, with adequate juiciness and a final note of tomato.

My Review: The wine's smell reminded me of other deep reds that I've had before. I thought it was richer and more pleasant than the previous red wine I tasted (the Beaujolais Nouveau). I thought it was very smooth and a wine that would probably be worth drinking.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Blended
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $3.95
Review: Bright and tangy, offering a classic banana note on the nose, with flavors of raspberry, wild strawberry and light spice. Modest finish.

My Review: I thought the wine smelled very sweet and fragrant. The taste of the wine, to me, did not reflect the scent as I thought it was very tart. It left me with an aftertaste of berries.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Mars and Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars and Venus
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95
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 thought the wine was very fragrant, but upon tasting I thought it was kind of bland. I didn't detect any aftertaste or really any remarkable taste at all. It left my palate feeling clean, however.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - La Cappuccina Soave

Name: La Cappuccina Soave
Variety: Garganega
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Review: Bright straw yellow in color. Delicate on the nose, with notes of flowers and almonds. Dry, well-structured and delicately fruity, with hints of bitter almonds on the finish that is typical of Garganega-based wines.

My Review: I thought this wine was very sweet and light, although I did not discern any specific flavors. I also did not notice any strong fragrances. However, I thought this wine was very drinkable.

Food? I did not have this wine with food.