Tasting - Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault Blend
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

The Vintage Cellar's Review: "Bright salmon pink; typical of the fresh but warm Provence style. Refined and complex on the nose, with summer fruit and floral notes. Dry and crisp, with a delicate flavor and fruit texture."

My Review: This wine had the tart aroma of under-ripe fruit including pear and apple. It was very acidic from start to finish. This dynamic wine had a bright, fresh flavor that hinted at citrus and pineapple.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha
Variety: Grenache
Region: Aragon
Subregion: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

The Vintage Cellar's Review: "This wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc."

My Review: This wine was spicy and rich, beginning on the nose. The strongest flavor was of pepper, supported by a tart cherry bitterness. It was extremely astringent from start to finish. The spicy kick was not only sensed by the taste buds but by the entire mouth.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

The Vintage Cellar's Review: "Medium-bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice.  Delicious complement to grilled chicken, lighter pasta dishes or mild cheeses."

My Review: The nose on this wine was very smooth and underwhelming, with hints of pear. I was surprised by the mild texture on the palate. Usually, the first word I use to describe a Chardonnay is "bile," but this wine from Canyon Road was very smooth and sweet. The acidity was so minimal that the wine had an almost flat feel to it. It finished strong, however, but not harsh, and left a pleasant tingly sensation on the back of the tongue.

This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli

Name: Emeri de Bortoli
Variety: Sparkling Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: N/A
Price: $9.95

The Vintage Cellar's Review: "A relatively light, fresh style of Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish."

My Review: This wine didn't have much of a bouquet, but the effervescence was immediately apparent on the nose. It was hardly acidic on the palate, and very sweet. It tasted like raspberry soda. The sweet berry essence paired with the bubbles was a delicious treat, but not something for those looking for a complex, dynamic wine.

This wine was tasted without food, but I am tempted to try it with chocolate or angel food cake.

Tasting - Montebuena

Name: Montebuena
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

The Vintage Cellar's Review: "Ripe cherry and black currant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja."

My Review: This wine had some vinegar, and surprisingly a strong hint of butter, on the nose. My initial impression of this wine on the palate was "hollow," not for its lacking body or flavor, but because it's full essence was momentarily hidden until it had time to fill my mouth. Once the flavor hit me, I definitely got hints of cherry. It was tannic across the palate with a dry finish.

This wine was tasted without food.