Tasting - Dona Silvina

3/29/2015

Name: Dona Silvina 
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Price: $19.95
Year: 2012

Winery review: 
 "Medium-bodied, dry. Bright purple in the glass with a nose and palate of violets, fresh plums, blueberries, and fresh earth. The finish is smooth with soft tannin and a long perfumed finish. Pair with burgers, pizza, panini, Asian cuisine and Latin cuisine." - sipfinewine.com

My Review:  

The smell of this wine reminded me of stones and clay while also providing a strong smell of flowers. The taste consisted of earthy tones, similar to the smell, along with bold flavors of cherries and strawberries on the finish. There was a light tannic taste and a very dry finish that left your mouth with a tart taste. The finish of the wine hung around in your mouth after the tasting providing a floral tart taste that I really did not enjoy. 

I did not taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Dom. Courege-Longue Buzet "Family Reserve"

3/29/2015

Name: Dom. Courege-Longue Buzet "Family Reserve"
Variety: Red Bordeaux blend 
Region: Buzet
Country: France
Price: $16.95
Year: 2011

Winery review: 
Review. Courege-Longue's Family Reserve is the perfect introduction to vigneron David Sazi's dedication and artistry. A phenomenal wine to pair with the region's own Cassoulet as well. - Vintage Wine Cellar 

My Review:  

The smell of this wine consisted only of strawberries, but I could not identify anything else due to the strong fruit smell of the wine. The taste was light and the flavors were not bold by any means. From what I could taste, I got hints of strawberries and cherries, but overall the taste was weak and not very distinct or detectable.

I did not taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Lioco Indica Rose

3/29/2015

Name: Lioco
Variety: Indica Rose
Region: Mendocino
Country: California 
Price: $19.95
Year: 2013

Winery review: 
Vinous / Antonio Galloni - "100% carignan, from head-pruned vines that were planted during the 1950s): Light orange. Aromas of dried red berries, cherry pit, rose oil and peppery spices, with a hint of orange pith emerging with aeration. Dry and nervy on the palate, offering mineral-tinged bitter cherry and redcurrant flavors that put on weight with air. The floral quality comes back strong on the finish, which shows very good clarity and stony persistence. " - 90 - Wine.com

My Review:  
The initial nose of this wine had hints of both pineapple and cherries along with a floral aspects that went well with the pineapple smells. The actual taste was bold and consisted of a mix of flowers and red berries on the first taste. I needed a second taste to understand all of the flavors in this wine. On the second taste, I got a lot more red berry flavors, more cherries and strawberries, along with tingly mouth feel.

I did not taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Folk Machine Tocai Friulano

3/29/2015

Name: Folk Machine 
Variety: Tocai Friulano
Region: Mendocino
Country: California 
Price: $15.00
Year: 2013

Winery review: 
"Green-tinged straw.  White flowers, lime and lemongrass on the lively nose.  Dry and nervy, offering refreshingly bitter citrus fruit flavors and a touch of quinine.  The citrus quality dominates the clean, incisive finish.  No fat here.  (JR)" - 88 points - wineaccess.com

My Review:  
I felt as though the nose of this wine was off putting, in that it smelled like dirt, earth worms, and grass. However, the taste was consisted of heavy minerals and iron. This wine was like anything I have tasted before, the initial taste was was earthy and full of minerals, but as it evolved I tasted hints of lemon and berries. The finish of the wine was not earthy, but crisply fruity and enjoyable. The complexity of this wine was very interesting and unlike anything I have had before

I did not taste this wine with food. 

Tasting - Dom. Delsol Picpoul de Pinet 2014

3/29/2015

Name: Dom.Delsol 
Variety: Picpoul de Pinet
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Country: France
Price: $11.95
Year: 2014

Winery review: 

"A fresh and approachable selection, with notes of crisp citrus, green melon and apple,. There's a hint of sweet lemon on the palate, followed by a brisk, mouthwatering finish. Drink Now. " - The Vintage Cellar

My Review:  
This wine had a very fruity, citrus and melon smell that came off as crisp and pungent. The taste was very similar to the smell, with heavy citrus, lemon, melon and pineapple tastes on the initial taste. The finish was not bold, and ended with more of a flowery, dandelion taste rather than a fruity taste. Although the end was not bold, it was still very tasty and let me wanting to keep drinking it.  

Tasting - Villa Riesling

3/15/2015

Name: Villa Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: Mosel 
Country: Germany
Price: $16.00
Year: 2013

Winery review: 

"Smoke and earth tones accent aromas of pressed apple on this brisk, intensely citrusy Riesling. Lemon-lime flavors are zippy and bright on the palate, but the finish falls a bit short." -  

Wine Enthusiast, 86 - Anna Lee Iijima

My Review:  
The aroma of this wine was very sugary and reminded me of the smell of sugar cane. The taste was also very sweet with lemon-lime flavors, as mentioned above, but I still felt like I just ate a spoon full of sugar, This wine made my taste buds almost jump because I don't think that were ready for something so sweet. Along with the zesty limes and lemons, I also got hints of honey.  Similar to the review above, this wine did not have a bold finish, but sort of dies of as it transferred to the finish. The acidity and alcohol levels balanced and I think were almost drowned out by how sweet the wine was. 

I did not pair this wine with any food. 

Tasting - Rubus Rosade Prieto Picudo

3/15/2015

Name: Rubus
Variety: Rosade Prieto Picudo
Region: D.O. Tierra De Leon 
Country: Spain
Price: $13.00
Year: 2013

Winery review: 
"Bright clean strawberry rose color. In the nose it is intense and fresh, with strawberry aromas and slight citric hints. In the mouth it is fresh, strong and tasty, emphasizing a delightful tingle due to its carbonic residuals." - Timelesswines.com

My Review:  
I did not find this wine to be very complex, but did enjoy its freshness. The nose was pungent strawberry, as mentioned in the review above.  The taste consisted mainly of strawberries with hints of a citrus fruit that I couldn't quiet pick out. Due to the carbonation of the wine, I felt it tasted more like a sparkling juice and not so much a wine. Overall I felt it was refreshing and very tasty and would serve this on a warm day. 

I did not pair this wine with food.