Tasting - Ca' Bea

Name: Sangue di Guida
Variety: 45% Uva Rara 10% Barbera
25% Croatina
Region: Oltrepo Pavese
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $9.95

Winery review:
Off-dry with a slight fizz, offering bright berry and mineral notes. Medium-bodied, with a clean, fresh palate and fruity finish. This is a rare, sweet red wine that is wonderful with desserts such as dry pastries, cookies and cakes.

My review:
I loved this wine. I liked that it was sparkling and I liked the strong floral aromas. This wine tasted sweet and very floral. It was pretty viscous and very, very dark purple. I would definitely drink this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Alvarez de Toreldo

Name: Alvarez de Toreldo
Variety: 100% Mencia Roble
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $8.95

Winery review:
91 Points – Robert Parker
“The 2009 Alvarez de Toledo was bottled just a week before the wine was presented but seems to be showing no symptoms of distress. Balsamic, leather, and black fruits are the principal notes struck by this suave effort that over-delivers in a big way. Like its older sibling, it can be enjoyed now but will have more to say in 2-3 years.”

My review:
I liked this wine because it had sweet smells and light cherry aromas. The sour taste and light tannins of the wine we not that enjoyable so I do not think I would have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Cordiosso

Name: Chianti
Variety: 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo,
3% Colorino
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $7.95

Winery review:
Parker has yet to review the 2015 but said of the 2014…
87 Points – Robert parker
A heck of a value in Chianti, this delicious blend of 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo and 3% Colorino offers up notes of licorice, new saddle leather, black cherry and berry fruit, loamy soil undertones and a touch of pepper and herbs. It is medium-bodied, savory and best drunk over the next several years."

My review:
This wine had an herby, dirty, tastes. It also had dark berry aromas. I liked the light tannins and light meat taste of this wine. I wouldn't have this wine again though.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - The Royal

Name: Old Vines Steen
Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $8.95

Winery review:
87 Points – Robert Parker
"The 2015 Chenin Blanc offers loads of melony fruit interspersed with hints of honeysuckle and peach. It is delicious, crisp, fresh, lively, and a dead ringer for a good Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Drink it over the next year."

My review:
This wine had harsh sharp apple aromas and light tannins. To me, it tasted like fruity water. I would definitely have again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Barão de Figueira

Name: Barão de Figueira
Variety: 100% Siria
Region: Beira
Country: Portugal
Year: 2014
Price: $6.95

Winery review:
84 Points – Wine Enthusiast
This wine is soft and rounded. It has lemon and light spiciness along with cool acidity. It is an easy wine that is ripe with apple and fresh lemon juice and ready to drink.

My review:
This wine had fruity aromas, a sour taste, and a slight sour aftertaste. I liked that there was a light tannic finish. I would have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Crane Lake

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: unknown
Price: $5.95

Winery review:
Pale golden color. Ripe and dried peaches on the nose. Minerals and dried peach flavors. Nicely balanced, leaning towards lime acididty.

My review:
This wine smelled sweet and fruity. It was more tart than I expected although it remained sweet as well. It had a dry finish which I didn't like so I wouldn't have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Vinedos Real Rubio

Name: Vinedos Real Rubio
Variety: 100%
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95

Winery review:
90 Points – Wine Enthusiast
Lightly baked berry aromas vie for attention with leather, spice and mild earth notes, and the result is disjointed. On the palate, this is tight as a drum initially, but more expansive as it unfolds. Cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and woodspice flavors finish pure, clean and easy. This is a fine yet manageable Rioja that’s not trying too hard. Drink through 2016.

My review:
I didn't like this wine because it had strong aromas of cherry and cat pee. It had a smooth taste but enough tannins that it was too dry for me. It tasted like slightly wet gravel and black pepper. I would not have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Barao de Figueira

Name: Barao de Figueria
Variety: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca
Region: Beira
Country:  Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery review:
86 Points – Wine Enthusiast Best Buy
From vineyards at 2000 feet elevation, this is a rich and spicy wine that has a pure streak of fruit freshness and a firmly tannic core. It is perfumed from Touriga Nacional in the blend, with red berry and black plum flavors coming through strongly along, balanced by acidity. It will be better from 2017.

My review:
I did not like this wine very much. It was very bold and rich and had dark berry aromas and flavors as well as a cleaning/leathery flavor. I even got a hint of roasted meat flavor. I would not have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Garnacha de Fuego

Name: Garnacha de Fuego
Variety: 100% Old Vine Grenache
Region: Aragon
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $2.95

Winery review:
The Garnacha de Fuego Rose is a solid effort that has a light salmon color to go with notions of cherry blossom, orange peel and herbs de Provence. Medium-bodied, supple, fresh easy-drinking, and an outstanding value at $3 .

My review:
I liked this wine because it had sweet cherry aromas and because it was not too bold and didn't slap you in the face. I liked that it was only slightly dry. I would definitely have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Villa Vitas

Name: Villa Vitas
Variety: Ribolla Gialla
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $6.95

Winery review:
87 Points – Robert Parker
The 2014 Ribolla Gialla shows more minerality, nice quince, white currant and citrus oil notes, a dry, refreshing mouthfeel and a fragrant bouquet.

My review:
I liked this wine because it had a slight pear aroma and was lightly dry. I did not especially like its sharp finish, however, I liked the fruity sour tannins that it had. I would have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Fossi Rosso

Name: Fossi Rosso
Variety: Sangiovese,  Merlot, Primitivo and Negroamaro
Region: Fiesole
Country: Italy
Year: unknown
Price: $7.95

Winery review:
A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot with a touch of Primitivo and Negroamaro. It will remind those who have traveled to Italy of one of the local house wines they consumed while there.  Simple, juicy, and perfect for drinking with or without food, it’s packed with bright cherry, strawberry and cranberry fruit aromas and flavors.

My review:
I liked the fruitiness of this wine and the fact that it was not too dry or bold. I liked that there were complex and unique flavors and aromas in this wine and that it was not too sweet. I would definitely have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Invino

Name: Ivino
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Winery review:
Pavia, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy where viticulture dates back thousands of years is home to the Si Pinot Grigio vineyards. The wine is creamy on the palate with a crisp, dry character, fresh citrus and pear flavors and an elegant finish.

My review:
I did not like this wine because it was very strong and had a strong finish that I didn't enjoy. I didn't like how dry this wine was and how bold it was. I would not have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Layer Cake

Name: Layer Cake
Variety: 100% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Winery review:
The Layer Cake Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain is rich and powerful, yet clean and balanced. Layered with aromas of ultra ripe black fruit. On the palate, the wine shows intense dark fruit with abackground of rich dark chocolate and fresh ground coffee with a long creamy finish.

My review:
I liked this wine because it had strong dark fruit scents and flavors. Although it was really rich and intense, I liked the fruitiness and would have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Alvaro Domecq

Name: Alvaro Domecq
Variety: 100% Aranda Cream Sherry
Region: Jerez
Country: Spain
Year: unkown
Price: $9.95

Winery review:
Golden-brown in color, this has heady aromas of cola, nut, nutmeg, root beer and caramel. A pure, creamy palate of cinnamon apple, mocha, coffee and chocolate. It's quite smooth and balanced, and very long on the finish.

My review:
This wine was great! My favorite wines are sherries and this one had nice, nutty flavors and scents. It was strong in aromas and flavors. It had a strong aftertaste that I enjoyed. I would definitely have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Nugan Pie In The Sky

Name: Nugan Pie in the Sky
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Southeastern
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery review:
Aromas of poached peach, fig and pineapple with biscuity notes. Tropical, medium bodied style with peach and melon flavours complimented by zesty acids, savoury nuances and a crisp, dry finish. Perfect partner with many styles of modern cuisine including those with an Asian or Mediterranean twist.

My review:
This wine had strong, fruity scents, which usually makes me enjoy the wine. However, this wine was drier than I expected and especially misleadingly dry due to the sweet fruity aromas. I would not have this wine again.

Food or no food:
I didn't have this wine with food.