Tasting: Morada Sangria

Name: Morada NV
Variety: Sangria
Country: Spain (Ciudad Real)
Price: $4.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Morada Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine
and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alc. It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year.
Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit
like peach, banana or apple.

My Review: My previous experience with sangrias were no good. They were always just bad, bitter, weird to be nice, but this was what I want out of sangria: extremely sweet. I've had so many dry red wines that this just cleansed my palate so bad that I bought a bottle on the spot. It not only was really sweet, but had other stuff going on too. The smell was the equivalent of throwing flowers and oranges at my face: crazy florals and citrus, but sometimes you want that ya know. I also got a subtle smell of mint, which I thought I was crazy for saying, but I absolutely loved that aspect. The taste was exactly what I expected and was not dissappointing. I instantly knew my roommate would hate it due to the sweetness, and that made me like it more too. Overwhelming tastes of peaches and apples with tones of citrus to round it out like some sort of decadent fruit salad. Very good for red wine haters, and definitely recommended for anyone with a sweet tooth like me.

Tasting: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet

Name: Lost Vineyard NV
Variety: 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: Argentina
Price: $3.95
Vintage Cellar Review: It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry, scent. The oak is in the background. Would pair well hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.

My Review: The smell of this one, was the first time I could actually without a doubt say it was licorice. Other notes of cherry and a little bit of smoke in the background (might've been the Villa Pozzi though). The tasting of this wine was also the first one where I could say that it had an oak-yness to it, that was really good. A bit dryer than I prefer, but still delicious. The nice, basic fruit flavors were smooth and sort of sat in your mouth for a while.

Tasting: Villa Pozzi Nero 2010

Name: Villa Pozzi 2010
Variety: Nero D'Avola
Country: Italy (Sicily Region)
Price: $8.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins.

My Review: I don't know why, but I was really intimidated by this wine after looking at the bottle. Maybe it was the no frill label, or really rich, dark color, but I was not excited to drink this even though it is another different grape. It smelled like typical red wine too, cherries and red fruit with a little pungency. However,when I tasted it a strange "ah ha" moment occured where I realized how far I actually am coming in this class. I was intimidated at first, but was ableto break down the different flavors of the wine and actually did enjoy it. The first taste was a currant taste which faded to a smoky mid-pallet and even deeper fruit finish. I really liked it because the flavors seemed to increase as it sat in my mouth. It was also awesome knowing that I could sit there, taste something and actually figure out what the flavors were.

Tasting: Tres Ojos Rose 2009

Name: Tres Ojos 2009
Variety: 50% Garnacha 50% Tempranillo
Country: Spain (Catalayud Region)
Price: $3.95 $1.95!!!
Vintage Cellar Review: This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My Review: I love anything Tempranillo right now, like probably my favorite as of now, so I was definitely excited to taste something totally different from the typical deep red Tempranillos. Maybe it was my bias, but this Rose smelled like straight red wine and cherries. The sharp punch of red fruit flavor surprised me as it was extremely acidic and took me off guard. However it was nice, clean, and smooth tasting with nods to light red wine tastes. As someone who has solely been drinking red wine the past few weeks, it was a refreshing departure from the normal and very light compared to the heavier red wines I've been used to. Definitely recommended with that 2 dollar price tag too, like seriously that is unreal, especially with a strong alcohol content: its perfect for us struggling college students.

Tasting: Les Perles Piquepoul 2011

Name: Les Perles 2011
Variety: Piquepoul
Country: France (Languedoc-Rousillon Region)
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke. Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.

My Review: First off I am always excited when I find out a wine is of a grape variety I've never heard of. I looked up what Piquepoul is and it lost popularity due to susceptibility to disease in France in 1800s and color has a greenish tint with a full body and sour citrus taste. Now that the lesson is over, on to my tasting experience, because thats what none of you are here for right? The smell had a definite apple and citrus scent, but overall was very light. The initial taste was very bitter, but the mid-pallet was nice and fruity and then it just settles, not changing much as time goes on. It was very straightforward, but the balance of sweet and citrus was really good and would have definitely bought a bottle if funds weren't stressed right now. However, I will remember Piquepoul varieties and try another one next time I see it.

Tasting- Luzon Jumilla Rouge 2012

Name: Luzon Jumilla Rouge 2010
Variety: 70% Monastrell 30% Syrah
Country: Spain (Jumilla Region)
Price: $9.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Luzon Jumilla DO is cultivated according to the strict criteria of the European directives organic and environmentally friendly, organic wine quality.

My Review: After the first Jumilla Luzon was really good, I was excited to try this one too especially as a red too. However I was very dissappointed. The smell was very dark berryish like plum or blueberries, but also quite pungent. The taste was bizarre at best though. I drank it and it did absolutely nothing for me. It tasted like regular normal wine. A solid flavor, but thats all I got and then absolutely no mid-pallet or finish. Dimensionless, one note, and kind of made me angry that I was wasting time tasting it. It was like that one underacheiving kid in class that does absolutely nothing and you have no idea how it got in these advanced classes. It was weird, so I don't advise buying it.

Tasting- Moobuzz 2011

Name: Moobuzz 2011
Variety: Pinot Noir
Country: Sonoma County California, USA
Price: $16.95
Vintage Cellar Review: The 2011 Pinot Noir is brick red with purple edges in color. Aromas of wild cherry, toasty caramel, and fresh strawberry jump from the glass. Your first sip starts with roasted cherry, sweetened dried cranberry, and strawberry as well as savory noted of grilled mushroom, forest floor, and cedar. Notes of watermelon rind, red berries, and sandalwood are noticeable on the finish.

My Review: I really liked this wine, and if it had not been 17 dollars i would have bought it on the spot. If you ever want someone to be be impressed and more attracted to you then this wine is for you. The smell was a  deep cherry with a slight bit of caramel and would really set the mood... The taste also complemented that sweet red fruit smell, but then picked up to a slightly dryer sensation. The name moobuzz comes from the fact that the original name was supposed to be Milk & Honey, but the people in charge of wine names denied for some reason. Overall, really good, especially the smell and I would definitely for my next lady friend too.

Tasting- Moulin De Gassac Guilhem 2012

Name: Moulin De Gassac Guilhem 2012
Variety: Rose
Country: France (Languedoc Region)
Price: $10.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Bright and lively - the nose brings peaches, strawberries, and slight floral notes. The palate is clean and crisp with flavors of stone fruit and a hint of roses.

My Review: More pink wine... perfect for Valentines day if you haven't gotten anything yet, which would be pitiful. This time minus the bubbles, but all the sweetness still. I definitely could smell the peaches and not even a little dryness. The taste was totally different from this though. A lot more dryer than I expected it to be that it caught me off guard, but by then it had settled into a brighter and more floral taste. Overall really good for a romantic dinner, but it didn't woo me into buying a whole bottle for that price.

Tasting- Luzon Jumilla

Name: Luzon Jumilla Verde Blanc
Variety: 70% Chardonnay and 30% Macabeo
Country: Spain (Jumilla Region)
Price: $9.95
Vintage Cellar Review: The dense ruby/purple-tinged, medium bodied 2004 Luzon Verde reveals a crisp, elegant, sweet, nose of blueberries, plums, lavender, and anise. With lovely sweetnedd and purity as well as a spicy, long, finish, it should provide plenty of enjoyment over the next 2-3 years. One of the oldest estates in Jumilla, Finca Luzon was founded by the Gil family in 1916. It has been consistent source of high class values for a number of years, and readers should be happy to know this is completely certified organic agriculture. This offering represents a superb bargain.

My Reviw: The smell of this one was kind of weird, it was sort of rubbery. It wasn't prominent, but the smell over the florals and fruits was like that of opening a can of fresh racquetballs. The taste was a little dryer than I prefer, but the overall taste was delicious. I got a nice citrus finish that complemented the dryness and initial fruit tastes. It was overall nice and full tasting, but I wouldn't buy an entire bottle of it, still not into those chardonnay type wines yet.

Tasting- Mas de Daumas 2011

Name: Mas de Daumas Frizant Rose 2011

Variety: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Petit Manseng (Sparkling)

Country: France (Sauternes Region

Price: $24.95

Vintage Cellar Review: A genuine Rosé wine - it could almost be a fruit juice - delights the palate with lively fine bubbles, smooth fruity aromas, very fresh thanks to its low alcohol content. Serve Daumas Gassac "Rosé Frizant" well-chilled to quench thirst, indulge the taste-buds and banish gloom. To drink within two years. An ideal apértif, delightful with desserts.

My Review:  I always love sparkling wine, but there is something about Pink bubbly wine that repulses me as a dude. So of course I was expecting it to smell and taste fruity, but it had more dimension than I thought.  The smell was a nice and fruity with a slight dryness too, but was really pleasant. The taste was also the right amount of fruity and sweet blended with a little dryness in the after taste. Perfect romantic bubbly wine for Valentines day tomorrow and especially if you leave on the price tag.

Tasting- Opera Prima Moscato

Name: Opera Prima
Variety: Moscato
Country: Spain (Allela Region)
Price: $5.95
Vintage Cellar Review: This fine sparkling presents and intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flavor petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on it own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts.

My Review: The smell was extremely fruity and sweet like I figured moscato would be and the carbonation tickled my nose too. The flavor was extremely good too, one of the best moscatos I've had in a while. The sweetness was balanced with a sharp acid that kept it sweet, but added a depth to it that other moscatos don't have. I could tell from the room that it was a definite crowd pleaser. So would this be considered a sparkling wine too since it had bubbles? Or are wine labelers a lot more lax than I am making that out to be? I don't know, so please leave answers in the comments.

Tasting- Black Opal Shiraz 2011

Name: Black Opal
Variety: Syrah
Country: Australia (South East Australia)
Price: $5.95
Vintage Cellar Review: The Black Opal wines are sourced from vineyards found in South Australia along the Limestone Coast, at Langhorne Creek and in the infamous Barossa Valley. Black Opal Shiraz is rich red in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, pepper and spice followed with rich plum flavors round out the palate. Soft tannins give structure to the fruit-driven palate.

My Review: The last Syrah we tried was very strange and pungent, tasted like it was old. This one was totally different. The smell was musty, but in a good way and mixed with berry undertones. The whole wine was really nice and smooth. The initial flavor was the fruity, berry flavors and then seamlessly turned into a slightly peppery finish. The whole transition was so smooth and good that I bought a bottle.

Tasting- Sokol Blosser Meditrina

Name: Sokol Blosser
Variety: Syrah, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir
Country: United States (Oregon)
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Review: It's created from the finest Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The taste is lush and velvety with expressive notes of raspberry and cherry. It pairs nicely with pasta and anything off the grill.

My review: First off, I usually put the vintage on the name, but I learned why this one does not have one. When the grapes are harvested in different years and then blended together, then rather than label all that crap no one probably cares about, they just leave it off. The smell was very cherry, but not in a cough syrup way. I think the other fruit probably contributed to it smelling more like cherry candy and gave it the nice round smell. The taste complemented this smell too. It was nice and fruity and then shifted to a dryer finish. The whole experience was very great though and I highly recommend this for anyone who hasn't tried a lot of red wines.

Tasting- Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon 2008

Name: Wine Men of Gotham 2009
Variety: Chardonnay/ Semillon
Country: Australia (South Australia Region)
Price: $5.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Gotham’s 2008 Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish.

My review: I don't like chardonnays yet still, but this was getting close. The smell was quite bold in sweetness which made me have a glimmer of hope. However, the taste was typical chardonnay dryness I am not quite fond of yet. The initial burst of flavor was definitely melon and then faded into a really sharp tart after taste. The melon fruity flavor was extremely good though and almost redeemed the clawing dryness that followed it. Some people might love that, but me right now does not. I do think the play on fruity and tart was really delicious, but I am just not into the chardonnay flavor... right now, hopefully I will be able to appreciate it by the end of this class.

Tasting- Beringer Riesling 2009

 Name: Beringer 2009
Variety: Riesling
Country: United States (California, Sonoma County)
Price: $5.95
Vintage Cellar Review: This wine is the perfect balance of honeysuckle and bright peach flavors. A perfect compliment to light fare, appetizers, or just sharing with friends.

My review: Riesling is my favorite wine right now after I got over the clawing sweetness of moscatos. I never smelled rieslings before since I never factored that into drinking wine. The flavor was really delicate and a sweet fruity smell to it too. The taste was sort of different than rieslings I've had before. The other more name brands like Barefoot for example were always one note of just sweet, but not sickenly sweet and you could drink like water. This wine had nice fruity bursts of especially peach, but everything just was really balanced with a sharp finishing taste only hinting to the dryness of a chardonnay. However, I didn't buy it just because I have had rieslings before and this experience is all about trying new wines. This wine though is extremely good and has something for all levels of wine-tasters.

Tasting- Finca Del Castillo Tempranillo 2011

Name: Finca Del Castillo Tempranillo 2011
Variety: Tempranillo
Country: Spain (La Mancha Region)
Price: $4.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Rooty, spicy and baked on the nose, with aromas that lean towards raisin. The palate is more gritty and acidic, with raisin, cola, and spic flavors. Darkens up on the finish, which is long and peppery, with adequate juiciness and a final note of tomato.

My Review: first off, that review is ten times of crazy. I have no idea what rooty, spic, or baked even means. So lemme try to break it down: this stuff is good. The smell was definitely fruity with only a hint of smoke. The taste was the complete opposite. The initial burst was like strawberries, but then again that could be my interpretation of raisins. The fruit flavor then blended into a full smoky sensation that completely filled my mouth and was awesome. I jokingly described it as a morning fog rolling into a field of strawberries in the morning, to which my roommate laughed at me. But I think that's a pretty good picture to paint. Anyway, I highly recommend this stuff even if you don't like red wine like I did 10 days ago.

Tasting- Bartenura Moscato 2010

Name: Bartenura 2010
Variety: Moscato
Country: Italy (Pavia Region)
Price: $4.95

Vintage Cellar Review: The inviting apricot preserves, honey, butter, and roasted almond aromas of this semi-sparkler pull you right in. It's on the sweet side, with stone-fruit flavors kept alive by decent acidity. The palate bubbles and tingles and maintains its balance. Fine as an aperitif or with dessert.

My Review: What is an aperitif? (answer in the comment? :D thanks) So everyone has had Moscato wine before, it's like beginner's wine, but this one was like a step up from that. The smell didn't surprise me: kinda fruity, kinda sweet, but not crazy. The taste was more complex than I have had in moscatos too. It was sweet to start, but left you with the dry after taste that you get with sauvignon blancs. This led to an overall balanced experience and not overly fruity like I expected. I'm realizing now though that I can't tell how to pick out a fruit flavor from a wine like these official reviews. If anyone else is having luck with that then post in the comments PLEASE!

Tasting- Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2012

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2012
Variety: Gamay
Country: France
Price: $3.95!!!!!

Vintage Cellar Review: Bright and tangy, offering a classic banana note on the nose, with flavors of raspberry, wild strawberry and light spice. Modest finish.

My Review: Ermahgad!!! 4 dollar wine?!?!? How about no.... You definitely get what you pay for in my opinion. Plus that review was so short compared to others, even they were trying to hide something. The smell was downright gross like really strong and vinegary. In redeeming terms.... bold? with maybe a hint of some type of strawberry maybe. I couldn't tell due to the assault on my nose. The first word I wrote when tasting this was blech, if that is any set up. It was dry and old-tasting like I could not even believe. This really bad taste stopped me from picking up any like fruit or tangy flavors, so I will definitely pass on this. If I were you, I'd splurge a few extra dollars to get something a little more... better.

Tasting- Mars and Venus Chardonnay 2011

Name: Mars and Venus 2011
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Spain (Chardonnnay)
Price: $5.95
Vintage Cellar Review: A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp, Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple.  Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.

My Review: So I never drink chardonnays because they always taste so dry, but this was semi-pleasing. The smell didn't lead on to any breakthroughs too. It was a bold sour smell that covered up any fruit that might have come through. However, the taste was not like this. I really liked how it had a nice full pear flavor that just covered the inside of my mouth. While it did have nods of dry flavor to it, it wasn't overwhelming the other flavors and balanced really nicely. If you have any pre-conceived notions about chardonnays, then I definitely recommend this as a beginning to understanding them.

Tasting- La Cappucina Suave 2011

Name: La Cappucina Suave 2011
Variety: Garganega
Country: Italy (Soave Region)
Price: $7.95
Vintage Cellar Review: Bright straw yellow in color. Delicate on the nose, with notes of flowers and almonds. Dry, well-structured and delicately fruity, with hints of bitter almonds on the finish that is typical of Garganega-based wines.

My review: I'm gonna start doing the smells to all of these since that is really professional :D. So to start it smelled kind of delicate and flowery, but not really fruity which was good. I expected some sweetness since it was named like Cappucino too. The taste followed this too. It was only a little sweet, with just a kiss of honey leading into a little more stronger almond flavor too. The finish was really crisp too that left an acidic pucker in my mouth. Overall really good, but just didn't make me want to go back to more. I don't like almond flavor so, thats probably why I had a slight aversion to this wine.