Tasting-Tierra de Luna

Name:  Tierra de Luna

Variety:  Chardonnay

Region:  Uco Valley

Country:  Argentina

Year:  2009

Price:  $7.95

Review:  Fresh and crisp, with floral aromas and flavors of quince and pear, this wine is a versatile companion to informal meals, and is excellent as an aperitif

My Review:  This wine had a floral, pear taste as well as smell.  It was a little bitter and slightly tart to taste.    It was not sweet, but didn’t taste super dry either… a pass.

I tried this wine without food.

Tasting- Simonet

Name:  Simonet

Variety:  Chardonnay

Region:  Cave Wissembourg

Country:  France

Year:  Not Vintage

Price:  $7.95

Review:  On the nose, there is some bread-yeast and some toast, same on the palate.  Great for an everyday bubbly or for mimosas!

My Review:  This sparkling wine had a nice citrusy, Welch’s white grape juice smell.  It was light and crisp with a nice fizz in the mouth.  Not as sweet as I expected from the smell, but still pretty good. 

I tried this wine without food.

Tasting- Spanish Vines Sauvigon Blanc

Name:  Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc

Variety:  Sauvignon Blanc

Region:  La Mancha

Country:  Spain

Year:  2009

Price:   $4.95

Shop Review:  85 Points, Wine Enthusiast

Apple and floral notes and then an almost buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors

My Review:  Having tried this wine before, I was not looking forward to it.  It had that same fowl, catpee smell and taste.  I could definitely detect the butter, which is a flavor I do not care for.  It was like drinking liquid Crisco- yuck!

I tried this wine without food.

Tasting- Ebano Ribera del Duero

Name:  Ebano

Variety:  Tempranillo

Region:  Ribera del Duero

Country:  Spain

Year:  2007

Price:  $7.95

Review:  87 Points, Robert Parker

The 2007 Ebano 6 is 100% Tempranillo aged 4 months in French oak. Dark ruby red in color, it displays a pleasant bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium- to fullbodied on the palate with savory flavors and plenty of spice, this racy, vibrant Tempranillo has enough structure to drink well over the next 5-6 years and is a very good value

My Review:  This wine smelled of spices and oak with hints of some darker flavors.  It tasted like tobacco and spice and stuck to my tongue a bit.  Even thought it wasn’t your typically berry red, I still thought this wine was okay. 

I tried this wine without food.

Tasting- Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto

Name:  Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto

Variety:  Tinto

Region:  Unspecified

Country: Portugal

Year:  Non-Vintage

Price:  $3.95

Review:  Pours a light garnet color with a nice crisp zest, with aromas of cranberries and orange peel on the nose. Drinks smooth with a briary of mild cherries, wild strawberries and raspberries along with a note of rhubarb. Pairs particularly well with wild game and heavy fish such as salmon

My Review:  There was not a big nose on this wine, just a subtle hint of berries.  The color and tannins were also very light.  The taste was light as well, although interesting because I don’t usually get strawberry flavors from a wine.  There were also hints of cherry, petrol and maybe something oaky to added more earthiness.  I wish the flavors had been more powerful and developed, because I think that would have helped this wine a lot. 

I tried this wine without food.

Tasting- Torrent Bay Chardonnay

Name:  Torrent Bay Chardonnay

Variety:  Chardonnay

Region:  South Island

Country:  New Zealand

Year:  2009

Price:  $6.95

Review:  Fleshy, melony aromas cuddle some fresh oak. The palate has decent acidity so there’s freshness along with weight, resiny oakflavors, lemon and green apple

My Review:  This wine had an unappetizing smell.  It had sort of an arid, dry moldy oak smell.  Luckily, the taste was a little bit better.  Hints of lemon with oak.  There was some acidity, but mot a lot of heat.    

I tried this wine without food.

Tasting- Muscanti

Name:  Muscanti

Variety:  Brut

Region:  Girona

Country:  Spain

Year:  Not Vintage

Price:  $7.95

Review:  Lemon blossoms, green apple, toast and honeydew melon are front and center in this crisp refreshing Spanish Sparkler. Silky supple with lingering flavors, yet a tingle of citric acid on the finish.

A combination of traditional cava grapes but this wine is not made in the traditional méthode champenoise (which is required by Spanish law to be called Cava). This is made with the Charmat process so this wine may only be called ‘Spanish sparkling wine’

My Review:  This sparkling wine had a nice citrus, green apple smell.  It tasted frizzy with lemon and apple flavors.  There was a little petrol undertone, but it was subtle enough that I stilled liked it. 
I tried this wine without food.