Tasting - Ca’ Bea Sangue di Guida

Name: Ca' Bea Sangue di Guida
Variety: 45% Uva Rara 10% Barbera
25% Croatina
Region: Oltrepo Pavese
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $9.95











Shop Review: Off-dry with a slight fizz, offering bright berry and mineral notes. Medium-bodied, with a clean, fresh palate and fruity finish. This is a rare, sweet red wine that is wonderful with desserts such as dry pastries, cookies and cakes.

My Review: Extremely dark in color. Smelled like some sort of pastry. This wine was also slightly carbonated. Not a huge fan of carbonated wines, but this was actually nice!

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Alvarez de Toledo Mencia Roble

Name: Alvarez de Toledo
Variety: Mencia Roble
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $14.00










Shop Review: “The 2009 Alvarez de Toledo was bottled just a week before the wine was presented but seems to be showing no symptoms of distress. Balsamic, leather, and black fruits are the principal notes struck by this suave effort that over-delivers in a big way. Like its older sibling, it can be enjoyed now but will have more to say in 2-3 years.”

My Review: This wine immediately smelled like a barn. Earthy flavors for the few flavors I could taste. Dry with a lot of Tannins. Medium body. Not terrible. I still have not found an amazing wine from Spain, but this one I enjoyed more than others I have had.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Codirosso Chianti

Name: Codirosso
Variety: 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo,
3% Colorino
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $13.00











Shop Review: "A heck of a value in Chianti, this delicious blend of 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo and 3% Colorino offers up notes of licorice, new saddle leather, black cherry and berry fruit, loamy soil undertones and a touch of pepper and herbs. It is medium-bodied, savory and best drunk over the next several years."

My Review: Strong aroma of dark berries. Perhaps a slight flavor of chocolate. Very dry with not much of a finish.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - The Royal Old Vines Steen

Name: The Royal
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $8.95











Shop Review: "The 2015 Chenin Blanc offers loads of melony fruit interspersed with hints of honeysuckle and peach. It is delicious, crisp, fresh, lively, and a dead ringer for a good Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Drink it over the next year."

My Review: This is a grape South Africa has grown for over 400 years. This wine was similar to the Barão de Figueira Vinho Branco, but slightly more bitter and less acidic. Dare I say, maybe even the slightest bit flabby.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Barão de Figueira Vinho Branco Siria

Name: Barão de Figueira
Variety: Vinho Branco Siria
Region: Beira
Country: Portugal
Year: 2014
Price: $12.00











Shop Review: This wine is soft and rounded. It has lemon and light spiciness along with cool acidity. It is an easy wine that is ripe with apple and fresh lemon juice and ready to drink.

My Review: This wine was fantastic. I still believe I'm more of a white wine person. Very crisp and clean finish. Sweet, with a strangely pleasant metallic scent.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2015
Price: $5.95











Shop Review: Pale golden color. Ripe and dried peaches on the nose. Minerals and dried peach flavors. Nicely balanced, leaning towards lime acididty.

My Review: I have actually had Crane Lake before (admittedly purchased at a gas station, just to see what that experience would be like). Not bad! Nice, sharp finish. Sweet with flavors of pear and cantaloupe.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Vinedos Real Rubio Rioja Crianza

Name: Vinedos Real Rubio Rioja Crianza
Variety: Tempranillo, Graciano
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $16.00











Shop Review: Lightly baked berry aromas vie for attention with leather, spice and mild earth notes, and the result is disjointed. On the palate, this is tight as a drum initially, but more expansive as it unfolds. Cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and woodspice flavors finish pure, clean and easy. This is a fine yet manageable Rioja that’s not trying too hard. Drink through 2016.

My Review: The aromas of this wine did not seem pleasant to me. Smelled like sweat. Medium body, pretty dry. Not great to me. I have not had many wines from Spain, but I have yet to taste a really fantastic Spanish wine.

Tasted without food.