Name Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling
Variety Riesling
Region Mosel Saa Ruwer
Country Germany
Year 2010
Price $8.95
Critic's Review Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shoes plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors. Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.
My Thoughts True to its critique, this wine has mineraly, maybe smokey notes, masked by citrusy pineapple aromas. This wine is intriguing - it is a combination of smoke and citrus. This riesling is rich and sweet on the palate. It is warm and sensational - notes of tree fruit come through. I would enjoy this wine most on a summer evening, perhaps paired with a platter of cheese or something salty, to mask some of the sweetness of the finish of this white.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Don Ramon Tinto
Variety 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo
Region Campo de Borja
Country Spain
Year 2008
Price $7.95
Critic's Review 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo. Aged 3 months in American Oak casks. Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.
My Thoughts The earthy and dark berry components of this red wine make it super interesting and very fun! The nose is earthy and woody; a hint of pine comes through. The deep, dark berry undertones - specifically traces of dark cherry - come through on the palate between strong tastes of earthy components. The wine finishes smooth! This is definitely a wine I would try again, preferably with some food pairings, like a chocolate platter or a filet dinner.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Resonata Nero D'Avola
Variety Nero D'Avola
Region Sicily
Country Italy
Year 2010
Price $6.95
Critic's Review Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries, and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background.
My Thoughts This is a GOOD red wine - cheap and delicious! This red is mild and light. The nose is light. The body is light. The finish is light. A great choice for those non-red wine drinkers. This Italian red has hints of several dark berries on the palate, including black and raspberries. This is a silky, smooth wine and a good option for a new wine drinker. This is a great find at the Vintage Cellar!
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Protocolo Blanc
Variety --
Region --
Country Spain
Year 2010
Price $6.95
Critic's Review 87 points, Stephan Tanzer. Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value.
My Thoughts This citrus monster will kick you in the face! This white features a strong, acidic nose. Hints of mint are apparent in the nose and cut the acidity slightly. For me, this wine is similar to the Vinho Verde in overall quality - not my favorite. It definitely finishes dry and brisk, as its review states, but the heavy citrus on the palate is too much for my liking.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Santola Vinho Verde
Variety Non Varietal White Blend
Region Minho
Country Portugal
Year --
Price $7.95
Critic's Review Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh.
My Thoughts This white wine is tangy and acidic. I am not a huge fan of this Vinho Verde; it just doesn't do it for me. The nose is rough - very pungent and acidic. There is a strong taste of grapefruit on the palate. I detected a hint of fizziness on this otherwise harsh white. Overall, I found this white to be heavy with citrus and super dry on the finish.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Lost Vineyards Spumante Dolce
Variety --
Region Asti
Country Italy
Year --
Price $4.95
Critic's Review Pale silvery straw color. Floral aromas of apples, peaches, and potpourri follow through on a round, frothy entry to a fruity medium bodied sweet wine with good depth and tangy peach fruit and a breezy, harmonious green apple kissed finish.
My Thoughts This sweet, sparkling wine immediately hits you in the face with heavy aromas of fruit and flowers. Apples (both green and red), peaches, pears can be both smelled in the nose and tasted on the body. The critic's review says that this wine has good depth but that's pushing it. There's not much to this wine. It is like liquid candy. Delicious, but not nearly as complex as the other wines in the tasting. It was described at the tasting as "Italian 7UP". Sounds about right. The alcohol content was very low. The fruit content was super high. It was a fizzy, zippy, dessert drink!
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Charles Thomas Cotes-du-Rhone
Variety 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
Region Rhone
Country France
Year --
Price $8.95
Critic's Review Wine Advocate, 87 points. From a 140+ acre estate near the well-known Cotes du Rhone village of Pont Saint Esprit emerges this juicy Cotes du Rhone, a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre. Well-made, with loads of berry fruit and a heady, meaty, peppery nose with a hint of Provencal herbs, the wine is fresh, lively, and best drunk over the next 2 years.
My Thoughts For me, this wine didn't do it. It lacked complexity and overall spunk. It was "bitey". Berry fruit could be detected with hints of blackberry and red currant coming through. The nose was definitely peppery. This wine had strong aromas of spice and herb coming through. I think with another year to age, this wine would be wildly different, in a much better way.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Coreto Tinto
Variety --
Region Lisboa
Country Portugal
Year 2008
Price $6.95
Critic's Review This red from the Coreto range has loads of dark berry fruit with a hint of new oak creating a soft, velvet structure that makes it very easy to drink. Red currant and juicy acidity.
My Thoughts This red is extremely easy to drink. It's silky smooth feel is nice on the mouth. This tinto is not overly complex, but has just the right combination of oak and and dark fruit. It is loaded with blackberry, currants, and a hint of cherry. I can imagine this wine being paired well with a wide range of foods from red meats to cheeses.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Morro Bay White Oak Estates Chardonnay
Variety Chardonnay
Region Lodi, California
Country United States
Year 2009
Price $5.95
Critic's Review Vanilla cream soda nose with a slice of fresh cut pineapple. Full body, tropical fruit, spice and pleasing vanilla oak note linger in the finish. Sweet flavor on the palate is from sur-lie aging the wine on the primary dead yeast lees for 7 months. A versatile style of wine that can be served chilled with fine cuisine or a glass with friends. Certified Green by Lodi Rules Sustainable Winegrowers.
My Thoughts This wine is heavy with tropical fruit. It is tangy. Hints of pineapple and melon are cut by an oaky finish. Cinnamon and vanilla pair with the fruit aromas on the nose. An easy wine to drink, this white would also be a good summer drink. For me, the oak and tropical fruit pairing was especially pleasing on the palate.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Cantina Villafranca Frascati
Variety 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio, 15% Grechetto
Region Frascati
Country Italy
Year 2010
Price $7.95
Critic's Review Produced from a selection of the best grapes located in the Frascati Doc production area. Made from 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio, 15% Grechetto (Greco). Intense yellow color with greenish reflections. Characteristic persistent fresh and fruity aromas. Excellent as an aperitif and paired with fish, seafood, or white meat.
My Thoughts For me, this white wine was captivating from the beginning. It's intense aromas of fruit and flower are apparent. Hints of jasmine and rose can be detected on the palate with pear coming through as well. The color is bold, almost electric or neon. This Frascati would be perfect on a hot summer day.
This wine was not paired with any food.
Name Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling
