Tasting - Mas du Colombel Faugeres

Name: Mas du Colombel Faugeres
Variety: Grenache
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $15

Winery Review: The 2012 Mas du Colombel Faugeres is an incredible value. It has intense aromas of ripe red fruit and a rich mid palate with good length and soft tannins. It's made in a finesse-driven style that’s a joy to drink. In addition, it’s far from simple and has a layered profile of complex fruit, earth and spice.

My Review: The nose is fruity. A lot of blackberries, currants, and black fruit in general are present. The taste was much of the same fruit. The mild tannins in this wine are what made it though. It has a pleasant mouth feel and nice taste on the palate. The tannins provide just enough acidity to make this a well-rounded wine. The finish was medium-long and comes with a complexity. It was big on the fruit which I enjoyed. It was a delicious wine.

Tasting - Freixenet Cava Cordon Negro Extra Dry

Name: Freixenet Cava Cordon Negro Extra Dry
Variety: Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada
Region: Catalonia
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $8

Winery Review: A dry sparkling wine that whispers just a hint of sweetness, Cordon Negro Brut Extra Dry pleases a variety of palates. Earthy, fruity, and blessed with peach, melon and candied citrus essence, this cava leads up to a long, smooth finale of intoxicating flavors and aromas.

My Review: The aromas of this wine are pretty earthly. I'm getting smells of leather, peach, apricot with a little citrus. The bubbles in this wine were just so overpowering. It is super dry with little to no sweetness. I'm getting very little melon and citrus notes but is it just not enjoyable at all. This wine gets a big pass from me.

Tasting - Risata Moscato d'Asti

Name: Risata Moscato d'Asti
Variety: Moscato
Region: Asti
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $14

Winery Review: Risata Moscato d'Asti is fresh, fragrant, and frizzante with vibrant, flavors and aromas of ripe stone fruit, tangerines, and honey. The wine is concentrated and flavorful, but not overly rich or heavy; sweet, yet balanced.

My Review: This moscato is pretty fragrant. It is fruity up front with citrusy, melon, peach, and stone. The taste is very fruity fruity and sweet. It has a very silky mouth feel. I get notes of honey, orange, melon, and citrus fruits. The finish is very smooth but short. It is very easy to drink but not complex at all. Seems like a wine for a non-wine drinker. Quality product though.

Tasting - Blue Moon First Peach Ale

Name: Blue Moon First Peach Ale
Variety: Ale
Region: Colorado
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $8 / 6 pack

Brewery Review: With one foot in winter and the other in spring, we crafted this Belgian-inspired Brown Ale with the first peaches of the season and coriander. It has a tart taste balanced by caramel malts for the cooler days and peach notes for the warmer ones.

My Review: The first smell was pretty hoppy. Not the typical orangish smell associated with Blue Moon. The color was also a different color, close to red-orange or pink. A lot different than the brilliant orange color with a normal Blue Moon. The taste was as described. It was a bit hoppy but the peach taste definitely came through in earnest. It was actually very delicious to drink. I'll definitely be disappointed when this one goes away.

Tasting - Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $9

Winery Review: The 2012 Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon has bold flavors of blackberry and cherry supported by firm tannins, brown spice and a dark chocolate espresso finish. This Cabernet Wine was carefully aged to develop dark fruit flavors and dark roast aromas.

Dark Horse Cabernet is made from a blend of hand-selected grapes grown predominantly in the Lodi and Delta winegrowing areas of California's Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.

My Review: The smell is somewhat fruity. I get blackberries and generally black berries with vanilla. The taste was pretty bold but not too much. Very nice body. I get blackberries again with cherries and more black fruit. Very smooth drinking. It has a medium long finish. This is a very good wine especially for the price. 

I tasted this wine with a ribeye cooked medium rare. The steak helped cut through some of the tannins and made this much smoother. I thought it was sweeter too. Very nice pairing. 

Tasting - Childress Vineyards Three Red Table Wine

Name: Childress Vineyards Three Red Table Wine
Variety: 47% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and 14% Malbec
Region: Yadkin Valley, North Carolina
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $10

Winery Review: Three Red is a smooth blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec with a slightly sweet finish. Vibrant aromas of raspberry and violets dominate the nose while the finish displays soft, lush tannins and a silky mouth feel. Three Red is the perfect wine before dinner, or with your favorite grilled meats and pasta dishes featuring a marinara sauce.

My Review: What a marvelous wine! The color is medium red to red-orange. I could see through it a bit. The smell was fruity mainly consisting of raspberries and red fruit. The taste was of raspberries and cherries with a bit of an oaky component. There are some tannins there which just work great with this wine and its sweetness. It has a solid body and is silky on the palate. The finish is smooth and is of medium length. This wine is middle ground, not too sweet and not too dry. I absolutely love this wine and will come back for more!

Tasting - Alamos Malbec

Name: Alamos Winery Malbec
Variety: 90% Malbec, 6% Syrah, 4% Bonarda
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $9

Winery Review: A classically Argentine wine, our Alamos Malbec blends the deeply concentrated plum flavors of the country’s signature variety – Malbec – with small portions of Syrah and Bonarda to add dark cherry and blackberry flavors. Well-integrated hints of brown spice and vanilla contribute layers of complexity. A full structure, firm tannins and a long finish make this Malbec unforgettable. 

My Review: The smell is earthy but with a fruit kick. I get hints of black fruit, plum, spoiled fruit, and vanilla. Upon tasting I get more black fruit with raspberries and cherries. I also get lots and lots of vanilla. The tannic component isn't forefront but it is there. It has nice body and is smooth on the palate. It lingers a bit and leaves a vanilla taste on the palate. This is a very good wine and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. The more I drink the better it becomes. Highly recommended and a fantastic entry point into the Malbec varietal.