Tasting - Grand Cru Pinot Noir

Name: Grand Cru
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Shop Review: This ruby-colored wine has aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of vanilla. Flavors of cherry and plum lead to a soft velvety finish. This wine can be enjoyed by itself. It is also an excellent accompaniment with appetizers and main courses. This wine goes well with Brie, goat cheese and smoked salmon, lamb shanks and pork tenderloin.

My Review: This wine had an aroma similar to chocolate. A slightly dry red, with some tannins. Some taste of fruit; raspberry perhaps. Delicious!

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Douglas Hill Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Douglas Hill
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $10.00











Shop Review: This light, crisp Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of grapefruit, bell pepper, and asparagus. On the palate, hints of floral and honey are revealed to yield a well-balanced, refreshing wine.

My Review: This wine produced a pear aroma, which also appeared in the taste with hints of apple. Another fruity white. Seems like a great wine to enjoy on a spring afternoon.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Prime Brume Soave Garganega

Name: Prime Brume Soave
Variety: Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $6.95











Shop Review: Brilliant emerald straw color. Aromas and flavors of brazil nuts, creme fraiche, and kiwi and starfruit with a silky, lively, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and an effortless, engaging, medium-length watermelon, yellow apple, and clementine finish. A delicious, artfully balanced soave with a great range of fruit flavors.

My Review: This wine had a strange scent of cleaning supplies; however, it was a delicious medley of fruit. Sweet, with tart flavors of green apple and grapefruit for an overall citrusy experience.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Dona Sol Shiraz, Petite Syrah & Symphony

Name: Dona Sol
Variety: Shiraz, Petite Syrah & Symphony
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $6.95











Shop Review: Shiraz has a unique jammy fruit character that is well represented in the Sweet Red. Both on the nose and on the palate, jammy fruit, like strawberries, cherry pie and red licorice, entices the senses and pair well with cheeses and desserts.

My Review: Fantastic! This wine doesn't have the sometimes overwhelming taste of alcohol that a fortified wine would. Sweet and fruity with a sugary taste and a hint of jelly. It was like drinking liquid dessert!

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Avery Quinn Zinfandel

Name: Avery Quinn
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Santa Rosa, California
Country: United States
Year: 2013
Price: $15.00











Shop Review: Lightly spicy aromas and rich, soothing fruit flavors make this an attractive, lovable and classically proportioned wine. Cherry and raspberry flavors rest on a lightly tannic but smooth texture, and linger on the finish.

My Review: Nice, light, fruity red with flavor of raspberry. Good wine to enjoy in the evening. Smooth and casual.

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Finca Del Castillo Tempranillo

Name: Finca Del Castillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $4.95

Shop Review: Vivid ruby. Spice-accented red and dark berry aromas show good clarity and a hint of fresh rose. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering lively currant and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. Clings with good tenacity on the energetic finish, which repeats the floral note and shows no tannins.

My Review: Dry with hints of fruit and taste of peppers. Bitter, but also a comforting feel. Seems like another good wine for a summer day. Lively, as the shop review says. Reminded me of a Cotes du Rhone, fruity. Nice flavor!

Tasted without food.

Tasting - Pieter Cruythoff Chenin Blanc

Name: Pieter Cruythoff
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Swartland
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $9.00











Shop Review: A wonderful nose of bananas, oranges and melons jumps from the glass of this 100% Chenin Blanc, which is finished with a screw cap. Another great value from South Africa, this wine is medium-bodied, fresh, lively, and a terrific dry white to drink over the next year.

My Review: I never thought I would find a white wine I truly enjoyed, but this may have been the best wine I tasted that day. Very sweet and not too dry. I imagine this would be fantastic to drink chilled on a hot summer day. Citrus flavors present as mentioned above. Wonderful!

Tasted without food.