Tasting - Game of Thrones Chardonnay

Name: Game of Thrones Chardonnay
Variety: 90% Chardonnay and 10% Riesling

Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Price: $20

Winery Review: Enticing aromas of stone fruit and white blossoms lead to a rich, creamy palate of peaches, apricots, tangerine, Meyer lemon, baking spices and honey, balanced by mouth-watering acidity. A touch of oak on the lingering finish.

My Review: I was very excited to try this a couple reasons. One it being Game of Thrones brand and two I’m always looking for a Chardonnay to change my opinion of it. It succeeded on both counts. The nose was floral with hints of grass and honeysuckle and a slight citrus note. The taste was slightly fruity with hints of peach and pear. It was subtle but intriguing all the same. It was light on the palate with a long finish. Quite delicious!

Tasting - Fairhills Cape Original Chenin Blanc – Grenache Blanc

Name: Fairhills Cape Original Chenin Blanc – Grenache Blanc
Variety: 95% Chenin Blanc and 5% Grenache Blanc

Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2017
Price: $7

Winery Review: This wine has upfront citrus and tropical fruit flavours on the nose. Full juicy palate and minerality with racy citrus lime freshness. Balanced acidity with concentrated flavours that lingers. Good for Alfresco lunches.

My Review: The nose has a floral note to it with apple, orchid, and slight honey hints. On the palate, there is apple and slight butter. The fruit and flavors of this wine are quite subtle but overall it works. It has a nice body and mouthfeel with a long finish.

Tasting - Chrysalis Norton Estate Bottled

Name: Chrysalis Norton Estate Bottled
Variety: 100% Norton

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $20

Winery Review: This 100% Norton wine shows off Norton’s intense fruit and mellow palate. Mellowing with time in the bottle, it continues to deliver a powerful nose with concentrated fruit aromas and sweet spice. The flavors of cherries and plums that define Norton, with nuances of ripe fruit, pepper, earth, and a vanilla edge, round out this expressive synergy of grape and winemaking excellence.

My Review: The nose had hints of red fruit mainly currant and raspberry and some oak and vanilla. There were some spice notes as well and it came off very bold. The taste was a cherry bomb. It was very fruit forward with vanilla and spice arriving after. Currants were noticeable with some oakiness. It had a long finish and full body. This was a good wine that could benefit from some decanting.

Tasting - Starling Castle Gewürztraminer

Name: Starling Castle Gewürztraminer
Variety: 100% Gewürztraminer

Region: Pfalz
Country: Germany
Year: 2016
Price: $10

Winery Review: Fruity flavors like lychee, grapefruit, pineapple, peach, apricot, orange and cantaloupe. A nose of tangy orange marmalade, rose petals, and apricot leads to a zingy lime sherbet taste.

My Review: Tropical fruit, pineapple, and pear filled my nose with a slight citrus note. The taste was only slightly tropical with more pear and white fruit. It was slightly sweet which added to the body of the wine. It had a long finish and the acidity was very nice. This was a pretty good wine.

Tasting - Hinnant Family Vineyards Scuppernong

Name: Hinnant Family Vineyards Scuppernong
Variety: 100% Scuppernong

Region: North Carolina
Country: USA
Year: N/A
Price: $7.50

Winery Review: Sweet. Made from a blend of Scuppernong grapes grown in North Carolina. Smooth and medium sweet, thick and full bodied with a clean finish. Excellent pairing for fresh fruits, chocolates, and your favorite desserts

My Review: The nose smelled just like a bag of green grapes with some honey. Very reminiscent of muscadine wines I’ve had. The taste was predominantly honey and grape juice. It was sweet but not overbearing. There was no alcohol taste to it and not complexity. It had a short finish. Not a bad wine but it wasn’t anything special.

Tasting - 19 Crimes The Warden Reserve

Name: 19 Crimes The Warden Reserve
Variety: Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2015
Price: $20

Winery Review: Somewhat more serious than the previous releases from 19 Crimes, The Warden is a Shiraz-based red blend with tons of richness and complexity. On the nose, there is ample plum, currant, and cherry intermixed with vanilla and cinnamon spice. The same flavor profile is evident in the mouth, picking up some licorice notes. Make no mistake; this is a big wine that needs a high-protein dish to accompany it.

My Review: The nose was very fruity with lots of cherry. Red and black currant were noticeable too with hints of vanilla and oak. The taste was super smooth with hints of blackberry and currants throughout. There was a lot of black fruit present and a slight oakiness. It had a long finish and was quite delicious. 

Tasting - Horton Vineyards Niagara

Name: Horton Vineyards Niagara
Variety: 100% Niagara

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $11

Winery Review: Extremely fruity aromas, sweet grapey flavors, full mouth feel.  Great for sippin' on a hot summer afternoon.

My Review: Smells just like grape juice with a bit of stone fruit and honeydew but it’s all around grapey. The taste is of grape juice but smoother and silky. Notes of honey and honeydew also come through. It is slightly sweet but not overbearing. Full bodied with a long finish. Easy drinking wine.

Tasting - Becker Vineyards Claret

Name: Becker Vineyards Claret
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite

Verdot

Region: Texas
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $12

Winery Review: Violets, red fruit, and warm spice with rich rose and earth on the nose. Well-integrated tannins with brown spice and raspberry on the palate. With hints of dark chocolate and herbs.

My Review: Big aromas abound on this wine with raspberries, strawberries, and black cherry present with some slight oak. Cherry and raspberries with slight vanilla tease the palate. It is smooth and not tannic at all with a nice mouthfeel and long finish. Good dinner wine.

Tasting - The Williamsburg Winery Governor’s White

Name: The Williamsburg Winery Governor’s White
Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Price: $7

Winery Review: The 2016 Governors White is a semi dry Riesling with a lot of bright fruit and multiple layers. On the nose there are the tropical fruits such as pineapple, passion fruit, star fruit followed by blueberry, strawberry, plum and a touch of lemon that adds a pleasant brightness to the wine. Amid the fruit layers is a very soft honey and vanilla that plays nicely with the classic Riesling nuances. The residual sugar and alcohol are well balanced within the wines overall structure making for a very approachable wine with smooth sweetness and fruit. This wine is very easy and fun to drink and will pair with many light dishes or spicy foods; or simply with a burger by the pool.

My Review: Stone fruit, honeysuckle and passion fruit make up the nose of this wine with a little minerality on the back. The taste is quite fruity with stone fruit, peach, and apricot mixed with honey. It is slightly sweet but not too much with a long finish. Delicious!

Tasting - Red Jack Wine Co. Red Blend

Name: Red Jack Wine Co. Red Blend
Variety: 100% Barbera (?)

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $6

My Review: Licorice, cherry, red currant, and slight oak fill the nose. More red fruit, licorice, cherry, and raspberries are on the palate. It’s pretty tight and needs to open up. Medium bodied similar to a Pinot/Merlot. There’s a slight acidity. Overall not bad.

Tasting - Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah Blend

Name: Charles & Charles Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah Blend
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah

Region: Washington
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $11

Winery Review: Deep, dark purple with a strawberry red outer ring. The nose is plum, black currant, dark chocolate and lilacs. A plush, velvety smooth mouthfeel, the flavors of the wine coat your mouth. The dark fruit and chocolate of the Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the taste upfront.

My Review: This was a really nice wine at a good price point. The aromas were of black fruit, plum, currant, licorice with light spice, vanilla, and oak. The taste had more plum and licorice throughout. Smooth drinker with a long finish and good mouthfeel. Good wine.

Tasting - Château de la Roulerie Les Camélias Rosé

Name: Château de la Roulerie Les Camélias Rosé
Variety: 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Loire
Country: France
Year: 2015
Price: $13

Winery Review: Rose de Loire, France - Easy drinking, very fresh and clean. It's totally different than a traditional Rose from Loire that is sometimes quite dry. Wood, strawberry and fresh fruit notes.

My Review: Nose was of mainly red fruit like raspberry and currant with spice and butter. The palate was a bit oaky with butter and notes of red fruit such as strawberry and cherry. The Cab Franc is really evident in this wine. It had a long finish. I loved this wine!

Tasting - Rapidan River Peach

Name: Rapidan River Peach
Variety: 100% Peach

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $13

Winery Review: This light wine is redolent of fresh peaches. A lovely balance of sweetness and acidity.

My Review: It smelled like a bowl of cut up peaches. No real subtlety at all. The taste was handled a lot better though. It had a nice balance to it with a creamy mouthfeel. The peach was evident throughout with a nice light sweetness. Solid wine but not spectacular.

Tasting - Rapidan River Semi-Dry Riesling

Name: Rapidan River Semi-Dry Riesling
Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $13

Winery Review: A long fermentation at low temperatures helps to ensure that the delicate, fruity nuances of the Riesling grape are retained in this popular wine. Creamy, full-bodied sensations linger on the tongue, further exposing the stone fruit and floral notes.

My Review: This wine had light fruit notes full of apple mixed with a bit of floral. The taste was quite nice. It had a silky smooth mouthfeel and was creamy on the palate. There was hints of stone fruit and pear throughout. It finished short but was pleasant.

Tasting - Prince Michel Merlot-Cabernet Reserve

Name: Prince Michel Merlot-Cabernet Reserve
Variety: 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $18

Winery Review: This delicious red wine is a proprietary master blend of two great grape varieties that have been blended together for centuries. Merlot gives tremendous layers of up front red fruit and Cabernet Sauvignon lends balance and structure.

My Review: This had a nice nose to it filled with spice, tobacco, cherry, and pencil shavings. The flavors on the palate were of spice, cherry, and black currant. It was medium bodied and finished long. Not a great wine but not bad either. It was just a middle of the road wine.

Tasting - Prince Michel Viognier

Name: Prince Michel Viognier
Variety: 100% Viognier

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $18

Winery Review: Rich and creamy with melon and mango qualities particularly in the aroma. Long on finish with lingering essence of tropical fruit.

My Review: The nose was fruity with hints of green grape and apple. The taste was also quite fruity with tropical fruit and peach notes throughout. It was a solid wine and pretty inoffensive. 

Tasting - Fabbioli Cellars Raspberry Merlot

Name: Fabbioli Cellars Raspberry Merlot
Variety: 65% Merlot and 35% Raspberry

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $42

Winery Review: A blend of grapes and prefectly ripe raspberries, this deliciously sweet wine is best paired with lots of chocolate.

My Review: This wine smells like straight up raspberry juice which is quite lovely. The taste is the same with raspberry throughout and slightly sweet. The wine has a short finish. Nicely crafted wine.

Tasting - Fabbioli Cellars Cabernet Franc

Name: Fabbioli Cellars Cabernet Franc
Variety: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petite Sirah

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $26

Winery Review: The nose opens with ripe red fruit and vanilla. On the palate you get jammy, sweet red fruit with a touch of vanilla.

My Review: This was a very typical Cab Franc with spice and tobacco on the nose with earthy quality and hint of jam. Smoke and earth were present on the palate along with pepper and cherry. It was quite tannic with a long finish. This was a really nice Cab Franc and it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Tasting - Fabbioli Cellars Paco Rojo

Name: Fabbioli Cellars Paco Rojo
Variety: Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, and Petite Sirah

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Price: $19

Winery Review: A tribute to our Latino team, Paco Rojo is a blend of different cultures without losing individual character or respect. The nose of this bright and lively wine opens with notes of raspberry jam and black cherry. The palate is inviting with flavors of blood orange and juicy black raspberry. The hint of residual sugar allows the fruit to pop on the palate. This is a fruit forward wine with bright acid that is intended to be enjoyed young.

My Review: A lot of spice and tobacco mixed with cherry on nose made for a fragrant wine. Cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate define the taste with a long finish. This was a very interesting wine and one I enjoyed a lot. Very unique and will go back to.

Tasting - Fabbioli Cellars Something White

Name: Fabbioli Cellars Something White
Variety: 70% Vidal Blanc and 30% Viognier

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $21

Winery Review: The varietal composition of the Something White changes each year. For 2015, it is a blend of Vidal Blanc and Viognier. The nose is bright with aromas of crisp pears and ripe bananas. The palate is soft with juicy fruit, ripe melon and a dash of sweetness.

My Review: The nose on this wine was very tropical with a lot of passionfruit. The taste was a bit citrusy with stone fruit mainly pear. It had a very silky mouthfeel and finished very nicely. A quality rounded wine.

Tasting - Fabbioli Cellar Ladies Man

Name: Fabbioli Cellars Ladies Man
Variety: 97% Apple and 3% Raspberry

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $16

Winery Review: Bright and fruity, this cider is subtly sweet with a balance of zest from the carbonation.

My Review: The apple is very prevalent on the nose with a slight fruity component. The taste is very similar with apple throughout and finishes long and nice with a raspberry aftertaste. Very tasty wine and enjoyable.

Tasting - M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes du Rhône Rosé

Name: M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes du Rhône Rosé
Variety: 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Cinsault

Region: Côtes du Rhône
Country: France
Year: 2016
Price: $11

Winery Review: In the tradition of the Rhone valley's great rose wines, Chapoutier's Belleruche Rosé is made from a blend of Grenache (roughly 50%), with smaller amounts of Cinsaut (Cinsault), and Syrah. The Grenache in this food-friendly wine gives it bright red stone fruit flavors and beautiful color, while the Cinsaut gives its delicate strawberry aroma and the Syrah its body, making it a great pairing even for the intense flavors of seafood.

My Review: The nose is quite fruity with hints of strawberry, currant, and spice abound. The palate is also fruity but with hints of floral. There is a light hint of strawberry mixed with a bitter citrus taste and rose petals. It is fresh throughout with a long finish.

Tasting - Prophecy Pinot Noir

Name: Prophecy Pinot Noir
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $10

Winery Review: Prophecy Pinot Noir showcases the best of California. Upon the first swirl, this Pinot Noir delights the senses with a bouquet of toasted oak and ripe raspberry. Plush and smooth, the mouthfeel is round and filled with luscious layers of red cherry and strawberry that are complemented by notes of brown spice.

My Review: Big aromas on the nose with red fruit such as cherry with licorice and oak bursting forth. The palate had more cherry with black currant and smoke followed by slight oak on the end. It had a long, smooth finish and was a pleasant drinker.

Tasting - Rebuli Cartizze Prosecco

Name: Rebuli Cartizze Prosecco
Variety: 100% Glera (Prosecco)

Region: Valdobbiadene
Country: Italy
Year: NV
Price: $30

Winery Review: A notable clear straw color. This Prosecco Cartizze Grand Cru has a perlage that is fine and persistent. It exhibits aromas of fresh apple, flowers, with some typical exotic fruits notes, typical of the Cartizze. The taste is delicate and fresh with long lasting flavors.

My Review: The aromas are of apple and stone fruit with a slightly floral note to it. It was crisp. As for the taste, white fruit with green apple and peach being present. There were honey notes throughout. It was crisp and dry with a long finish.

Tasting - Charles de Cazanove Brut Champagne Tradition Père & Fils

Name: Charles de Cazanove Brut Champagne Tradition Père & Fils
Variety: 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Meunier, and 10% Chardonnay

Region: Champagne
Country: France
Year: NV
Price: $27

Winery Review: This Champagne offers an array of flavor, including toasted brioche, Gala apple, lemon zest, graphite and ginger, with a touch of honey. Elegant, but with good intensity and a moderate, nut-tinged finish.

My Review: The nose carries hints of stone fruit mainly peach with a bit of minerality and grass. The palate also has stone fruit with floral notes and some honey. It’s pretty silky throughout with a long finish. Quality Champagne at a solid entry point.

Tasting - Antinori Tignanello

Name: Antinori Tignanello
Variety: 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $90

Winery Review: The 2012 Tignanello is an intense ruby red in color with purple highlights. The wine is potent and complex on the nose with spicy notes which mingle with aromas of red fruit, smoke, and balsamic sensations; cherries, plums, liquorice, and rosemary are additionally felt. The flavors are mouth- filling and elegant with much volume and an excellent balance in the texture, and the oak is perfectly fused in the spicy and fruity finish and aftertaste.

My Review: This was a magnificent wine. The nose was of red fruit specifically raspberries and cherry with a slight vanilla hint. The taste on the palate was predominantly red fruit with more cherry and raspberries with redcurrants and plum. It was slightly tannic that added to the structure. It was bold and finished long. It was a fantastic wine and possibly the best I’ve ever had. I paired the wine with a ribeye cooked medium-rare topped with chimichurri sauce and sides of roasted baby Dutch potatoes and a cheese stuffed roasted tomato.

Tasting - Korbin Kameron Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Korbin Kameron Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2003
Price: $15

Winery Review: This 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is a brooding powerhouse.  It has a deep inkiness with aromatics of bluebery jam, plum pudding, espresso beans, and a hint of agave nectar.  The concentrated palate has layers of notes of cocoa nibs, fresh blueberries, and black mission figs.

My Review: There were notes of plum, raspberries, and blueberries. There was also oak and jam present. The taste was sort of earthy but kind of fruity. It was firmly in the middle. Blueberry and plum came through quite a bit. It had a long finish with oak on the end. It was kind of tight and could have benefited from some decanting. Overall not too bad.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate A Capella

Name: Beliveau Estate A Capella
Variety: 39% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and 22% Chambourcin

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $26

Winery Review: Bright red berry flavors with a soft vanilla bean and star anise finish.

My Review: This wine had some big aromas on the nose with hints of red fruit and red licorice with a slight hint of vanilla and tobacco undertones. The wine also had big flavors with a lot of red fruit on the palate with a slight hint of vanilla and oak. It had a long finish. This is my favorite wine from Beliveau Estate and I was very happy with it.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Soul Singer

Name: Beliveau Estate Soul Singer
Variety: 100% Chambourcin

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $26

Winery Review: Old world style with cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

My Review: Notes of barnyard come through heavy on this one mixed with spice. The taste is quite earthy with more spice present combined with some red fruit and cherry. It had a short finish. This was a pretty unique wine and I really liked it.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Trailblazer

Name: Beliveau Estate Trailblazer
Variety: 100% Merlot

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $22

Winery Review: Hints of figs, plums, raisins with a light smoke finish.

My Review: Smoke was evident on the nose with a bit of plum. More smoke and plum were there on the palate with some spice throughout. It was a light bodied wine with a long finish. This was a nice middle of the road wine.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate The Reserve

Name: Beliveau Estate The Reserve
Variety: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Zinfandel

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $20

Winery Review: Bright red berries pair with light spicy notes.

My Review: The nose had hints of spice, tobacco, and cherry. At first I thought this might have been a Cab Franc. The taste had more cherry throughout with some hints of spice in it. It had a long finish. This was a nice combination of grapes that worked out really well.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Crown Jewel

Name: Beliveau Estate Crown Jewel
Variety: 57% Pinot Grigio, 33% Niagara, and 10% Traminette

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $16

Winery Review: Bright summer flavors of apple and pears with a caramel finish.

My Review: Thanks to the Niagara grapes the nose on this wine is similar to grape juice with big aromas. The taste itself is sweet which is quite nice. There are hints of grape and pear with caramel like crème brûlée on the end. It had a long finish. This was a nice balanced wine.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Lover's Quest

Name: Beliveau Estate Lover’s Quest
Variety: 64% Vidal Blanc and 36% Chardonnay

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $18

Winery Review: Semi-sweet blend with notes of rose petal and melon.

My Review: The nose was slightly fruity and vaguely tropical. The taste was slightly sweet which was just enough to balance it out. Hints of melon and stone fruit were present throughout. The wine finished short and was a really nice wine. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Captivate

Name: Beliveau Estate Captivate
Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $18

Winery Review: Dry and fruity with lemon zest and light butterscotch.

My Review: The nose on this one was buttery with stone fruit defining it. The taste was dry despite having 1% residual sugar. There was a hint of lemon zest but I wouldn’t call it citrusy. There was a slight butterscotch flavor on the end. It had a short finish. This was a nice little wine.

Tasting - Beliveau Estate Mystique

Name: Beliveau Estate Mystique
Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $16

Winery Review: Unoaked, refreshing and bubbly with hints of ginger and custard.

My Review: The nose was of stone fruit and a bit of citrus. The taste was definitely a bit bubbly with hints of grass and stone fruit. It was sort of silky with a long finish. A custard taste came through on the end. I’m not a fan of chardonnay but this was nice.

Tasting - Mojave Rain Red Blend

Name: Mojave Rain Red Blend
Variety: Red Blend

Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $15

Winery Review: A well-balanced California Red that has enticing aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and plum. Flavors of dried strawberry, earth and spice linger in the finish. This wine is great just on its own! Or enjoy with wild mushrooms over polenta, meat-stuffed ravioli or Italian cheeses.

My Review: The nose was generally of red fruit specifically raspberries with some cherry and slight vanilla notes. The taste was fruity throughout with hints of cherry, raspberry, and currants. There was some vanilla on the finish which was long. It was a quality wine but nothing particularly special. It is similar other California red blends that I have had countless times before.

Tasting - Mojave Rain Zinfandel

Name: Mojave Rain Zinfandel
Variety: 100% Zinfandel

Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $15

Winery Review: Jammy, spicy, and bold! This wine has juicy raspberry, strawberry, red plum flavors and a zesty black pepper spice in the finish. Try this wine with grilled or barbecued meats, pasta with tomato sauce or smoke cheeses!

My Review: Big aromas fill my nose as soon as I open the bottle. I get notes of red currant, cherry, and licorice. There’s also a hint of something burnt almost like leather. The taste is big and bold too with berries present throughout with more currants and raspberries. It is silky smooth with a long finish. This was a really nice wine.

Tasting - Grifone Primitivo

Name: Grifone Primitivo
Variety: 100% Zinfandel

Region: Manduria
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $5

Winery Review: Grifone Primitivo comes to us from Italy, Zinfandel's ancestral home. Grapes from vineyards in the Manduria region (geographically, in the boot's heel) are handpicked at their peak and crafted into a deep, inky red wine with concentrated aromas of red berries and licorice. Not quite as spicy as American Zinfandels, this Primitivo is full-bodied, warm & fruity, with strong, lingering tannins. It's a wine that’s meant to be enjoyed now—we suggest enjoying it with rich cheeses like our Aged Raw Milk Cheddar.

My Review: Bold aromas are present in this wine. Dark fruit such as black currant and black cherry fill the nose. The flavor is pretty bold on the palate as well. More black fruit is present with cherry, raspberry, and currants being the main ones. It finishes smooth and long.

Tasting - Blue Towers Pinot Noir

Name: Blue Towers Pinot Noir
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Curico Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2015
Price: $15

Winery Review: Our Pinot Noir is an elegant and bright wine, that has a structure similar to a Merlot! Juicy, yet tart raspberry, cherry and cranberry fruit flavors dominate while a touch of organic earth and spice become more pronounced in the finish. Enjoy with Mushroom Risotto, Chicken with Morels and Cream Sauce or Grilled Salmon with Bell Peppers. Pair with cheeses like Comte, Edam or Chevre.

My Review: Exploding aromas. It just burst in my nose with notes of cherry, raspberries, and vanilla. The taste was flavorful with cherry present throughout and red currant on the end. It was light-bodied and smooth with a long finish. Pretty nice wine.

Tasting - Chalkboard Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Chalkboard Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $10

Winery Review: A classic California Cabernet Sauvignon loaded with plum and chocolate-covered cherry notes, topped with a hint of oak. Food Pairing: Lamb chops or beef stir-fry.

My Review: The nose was full of plum and raspberries and was very fruit forward. Lots of red fruit present and slight blueberry. The taste was red berries specifically raspberries and cherry. There was a slight oak flavor with a hint of chocolate. It had a long finish.

Tasting - Villa Sonia Venezia Pinot Grigio

Name: Villa Sonia Venezia Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Region: Venice
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $5

Winery Review: Light straw yellow with greenish reflections, possibly some nuances of copper. Flavorsome, dry, good body. Fruity, delicate, complex.

My Review: The nose was fruity with notes of melon, stone fruit, and green apple. The taste was sort of bland with hints of grass, melon, and apple. It was very acidic and finished long. I didn’t like this wine at all. The acidity was too much and the flavors didn’t balance it out. Nearly undrinkable.

Tasting - La Posta Pizzella Malbec

Name: La Posta Pizzella Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Uco Valley
Country: Argentina
Year: 2014
Price: $15

Winery Review: Beautiful red/purple color with aromas of black cherries, dark fruits, dark chocolate and bakers spice. On the palate, the wine shows dense dark berry and plum flavors along with hints of sandalwood and spice, and even a hint of violets in the finish. Don´t be concerned if you find yourself inhaling deeply from your glass, over and over it is just your noses way of telling you that it wants its fair share! This is a full-bodied and well- structured wine that is incredibly full of life and born to be enjoyed with food and friends. Goes great with many foods, specially meat, barbecue.

My Review: This wine was very fruit forward. Some oak and vanilla came through first on the nose followed by black fruit specifically black currants, black cherry, and blackberries. The taste is similar with blackberries coming through first with some raspberries and cherry. It was bold and full-bodied. It finished long and smooth. Really good Malbec.

Tasting - Espiral Vinho Verde

Name: Espiral Vinho Verde
Variety: 100% Vinho Verde

Region: Vinho Verde
Country: Portugal
Year: NV
Price: $5

Winery Review: It’s young and peppy with a crisp acidity that derives from grapes that are harvested before they’re fully ripe. This wine bears a light sparkle, and it features refreshing green apple and melon flavors. Espiral Vinho Verde’s vibrancy, combined with its lower alcohol content (9% ABV), suggest that it may be the perfect warm weather quaff.

My Review: The nose was of green apple, honeysuckle, and stone fruit. The taste was only slightly fruity mainly acidic. I got notes of apple and melon. It had a long finish. This wine is okay for what it is but I couldn’t drink much of it.

Tasting - Casa Santos Lima Lab Vinho Regional Lisboa 2013

Name: Casa Santos Lima Lab Vinho Regional Lisboa 2013
Variety: 35% Castelao, 25% Tinta Roriz, 25% Syrah, and 15% Touriga Nacional

Region: Lisbon
Country: Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $10

Winery Review: Our vineyards are planted in sunny gentle slopes of clay and limestone soils near Lisbon which, allied to the beneficial maritime influence, provide excellent conditions for the production of quality wines.  This wine was produced with Castelao (35%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Syrah (25%) and Touriga Nacional (15%) grapes.  Obtained through traditional fermentation and long maceration, it has aged in Portuguese new oak barrels for 4 months.

My Review: The nose was super fruity with heavy cherry notes mixed with some raspberry. Slight oak and vanilla is present. The taste is similar on the oak end but fruit forward with hints of cherry and blackberry. It finished long.