Tasting - Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Rivallana Crianza

Name: Bodegas Ondarre Rioja Rivallana Crianza
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: La Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $16

Winery Review: At the time of release, this wine showed a bright cherry red colour. On the nose, aromas of red berries and oaky notes. On the palate, crisp tastes of strawberry combined with gentle aromas of oak. Elegant mouthfeel, a full body and a fresh and fruity aftertaste. This wine still has plenty of life in it and should drink very well for the next 7 years. In terms of food pairing, vegetables, rice and pasta, seasoned fish and white meats, as well as fresh and medium cured cheese.

My Review: The nose is not super fruity. There are cherry and raspberry notes present but they are mixed with roasted wood and polish. Earthy flavors dominate the palate. Notes of bell pepper mix with black cherry and cranberry. It is a bit toothy on the mouthfeel. It has a long finish that is a bit hot. It is an okay wine that is a bit overrated.

Tasting - The Last Wine Company The Walking Dead Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: The Last Wine Company The Walking Dead Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Price: $12

Winery Review: Don’t let this wine catch you unaware, The Walking Dead Cabernet Sauvignon opens with notes of blackberry with nutmeg and mocha spices. This full-bodied wine reveals flavors of dark cherries and currants which pool on the palate, giving way to notes of mocha and spice. Fine, chocolaty tannins hold the long smooth finish.

My Review: The nose is heavy on the black fruit predominantly black cherry. Present are hints of licorice, plum, and shoe polish. The taste is very, very cherry forward. Blackberry and plum come through next on the palate with a bit of currant. It finishes nicely which is long and smooth. Solid wine that is more than just a comic/TV series tie-in that it’s promoting.

Tasting - Moscata Vineyards Unánime Gran Vino Tinto

Name: Moscata Vineyards Unánime Gran Vino Tinto
Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, and 15% Cabernet Franc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $25

Winery Review: Unánime has an intense cherry-red colour, elegant aromas of black chocolate and tobacco, along with a touch of black pepper notes. Well structured, round tannins that blend nicely with its fresh and juicy acidity.

My Review: There’s black fruit on the nose specifically blackberry and black currant. There are also lingering oak and vanilla notes. Raspberry and blackberry dominate the taste with black currant following. It is similarly oaky. It finished hot and tannic. This is a very solid wine which could’ve used more breathing. The hot quality was overpowering when drank immediately. Definitely needed to mellow out more.

Tasting - Radius Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Name: Radius Reserve Cabernet Savignon 2018

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Washington

Country: USA

Year: 2018

Price: $18

Winery Review: Expertly crafted, this full-bodied Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of red berry and black cherry, leading to distinct flavors of cassis, vanilla, and toasted oak and finishing long with velvety tannins.

My Review: The nose is berry forward with hints of cherry, blackberry, and generally black fruit. There is a slight note of vanilla as well. The palate is very similar with more black fruit coming through specifically black cherry, blackberry, and black currant. It is oaky and hot with a long finish. Solid wine that could benefit from some decanting.

Tasting - Mauro Sebaste Prapò Barolo

Name: Mauro Sebaste Prapò Barolo

Variety: 100% Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont 

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $50

Winery Review: Ethereal nose and aromas of withered roses fail to suppress a slight fragrance of underbrush, which makes it extremely well-balanced and rounded. Austere and impressive. With its excellent tannicity, it can have a very lengthy cellar life: 20/25 years. This Barolo reflects the most typical style of the wine's virtuosity and aristocracy.

My Review: The nose has hints of cherry and black currant. I also get earthiness with leather and shoe polish. The taste is quite harsh. It’s vinegary. This wine has turned which is incredibly unfortunate. I’m including this entry because it is such a high quality wine and deserves more but also as a lesson to myself to better my aging techniques. I had held this bottle for about 4 years but didn’t properly climatize it. Well you live and you learn.

Tasting - Artie Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Artie Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region:
Country: Australia
Year: 2019
Price: $6

Winery Review: Fruity and spicy with hints of bramble, cherry and blackcurrants with spices.

My Review: It has quite the fruit forward nose with notes of cherry and raspberry and currant. There’s a hint of vanilla on the end. The taste is very fruity with red fruit notes such as currant and cherry. It is slightly acidic with a medium body and a long finish. It is a fine wine for the price point. Could be better but for the price point it could be a lot worse.

Tasting - 90 Plus Cellars Old Vine Malbec

Name: 90 Plus Cellars Old Vine Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2018
Price: $12.50

Winery Review: Deep ruby-purple in color, this wine boasts exquisite aromas of blackberries, blueberries, plum and spice. It is well balanced with ample structure and mild tannins. Dark cherry and hints of wood smoke emerge on the finish to leave an elegant and lasting impression.

My Review: A lot of red fruit is present on the nose specifically cherry, raspberry, and plum. I also get some licorice, leather, and oak. More cherry is present on the palate with blackberry and dark fruit. There’s some vanilla on the end and slight oakiness. It has a long finish and is generally pleasant drinker.