Tasting - Georges Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau 2013

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beajolais Nouveau
Variety: Gamay
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2013

Price: $15 (Reduced to $7.95)

Winery Review: An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish.


My Review: Very colorful bottle and an equally colorful nose to it. There was a strong strawberry-banana and fruity nose to the wine. However, after tasting the wine, I was pretty taken aback by the lack of an overwhelming fruity flavor. There was some plum flavor, but not as fruity as the nose to the wine and eventually there was a light tannic finish to the wine. Overall a pretty unique wine, but I wasn't a huge fan of it.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Name: CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Viognier
Region: Paso Robles, California
Country: United States
Year: 2009

Price: $16 (Reduced to $10.95 1L and $5.95 500mL)

Winery Review: 95 % Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish.


My Review: I was looking forward to tasting this Cab and wasn't dissappointed. The nose to this red was quite earthy and herby which are typical to cabernet's. After tasting the wine, the woody and cedar flavors came through very strongly and the long dry finish had me longing for more of this wine. I am a fan of reds and I really liked this wine!

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - First Light Moscato

Name: First Light Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year: ?

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine.


My Review: I have had a lot of lychee when living in Indonesia and at the very first whiff of this wine I could pinpoint the lychee nose to this wine. The flavor of the wine also exuded the lychee flavor along with other fruity flavors. The finish was slightly acidic and dry which was interesting to note since this was a moscato and I wasn't really expecting that. Not a bad, light, white wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Beltrame Friulano 2009

Name: Beltrame Friulano
Variety: Tocai Friulano
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2009

Price: $15 (Reduced to $9.95)

Winery Review: 100% Tocai Friulano Straw-coloured yellow with a pale green tint express an intense, delicately aromatic and floral bouquet.The flavour is dry, soft, slightly fruity, with slightly bitter nuance in its almond aftertaste, and suggestion of peach.


My Review: This white wine had a typical fruity scent to it with hints of lemon in it. After tasting, I was overwhelmed with honey and fruity flavors Just like the review said, I got the bitter aftertaste of almond and I was personally not a fan of that.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Mas LLunes Maragda 2010

Name: Mass LLunes Maragda
Variety: Grenache Blanc
Region: Emporada
Country: Spain
Year: 2010

Price: $16 (Reduced to $9.95)

Winery Review: This Grenache Blanc is exquisitely sculpted with sharp acids and pinpointed minerals, and offers orange, melon and vanilla-honey flavors. A delight to drink, at a great price.

My Review: This wine had a very acidic nose to it and was quite bright colored. I was very surprised at the tannic content of this wine as it was very dry on my palate. I could taste a hint of apple, there was definitely an acidic aspect to the wine but it was quite unexpected to get a dry finish off of this white wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

Name: Sonnenband Moscato Magnum
Variety: Moscato
Region: ?
Country: Spain
Year: ?

Price: $20 (Reduced to $9.95)

Winery Review: This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, 
profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars.

My Review: Very interesting bottle, I guess that's why the Magnum is in the name. Smell of honey and tropical fruits. The taste was just as fruity and citrusy. Almost too sweet and it had a medicinal syrup after taste which I absolutely despised. Least favorite of all 5 of the wines. Made me dislike whites even more.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Name: Neu Direction
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010

Price: $15 (Reduced to $7.95)

Winery Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure.

My Review: This red wine had a very fruity smell that reminded me of berries, especially blackberries and strawberries. The taste of the wine was very dry and oaky. I absolutely loved the dry finish that lasted a good 20 seconds. Nice wine, definitely my favorite of the bunch, but that's because I'm biased towards reds. I agree with the review in that the wine had a chewy texture because of the strong tannic content.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Champteloup Pinot Noir 2011

Name: Champteloup Selection
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Loire Valley
Country: France
Year: 2011

Price: $15 (Reduced to $7.95)

Winery Review: In the heart of France’s Loire River Valley lies the Touraine wine region. 
Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touraine’s appeal. This wine may seem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc we’ve offered for years. Serge de Bucy employs a light touch in his winemaking, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve 
freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate.

My Review: This red wine had a strong strawberry smell that was very refreshing and appealing. The wine was quite dry when tasting, but there was an extremely strong tobacco finish of the wine that really turned me away from it. I am a fan of reds, but the tobacco after taste made me feel nauseous.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Baumann Gentil Classiq 2012

Name: Baumann Gentil Classiq
Variety: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris
Region: Alsace
Country: France
Year: 2012

Price: $17 (Reduced to $9.95)

Winery Review: A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate white flowers start your journey, followed by crisp flavors of stone and citrus fruit. A well balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully.

My Review: This white wine had a floral smell that could also be described as fresh, fruity and citrusy. The taste of this wine was slightly acidic, but overall it was quite a smooth wine with a crisp flavor.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Finca Luzon

Name: Finca Luzon
Variety: Macabeo and Chardonnay
Region: Jumilla
Country: Spain
Year: ?

Price: $11 (Reduced to $5.95)

Winery Review: Luzon Blanco is a pretty yellow-greenish color.  Clean and elegant nose, floral tones and grapefruit with hints of vanilla.  Fruity, ample and with good length.

My Review: I like this white wine, although I'm not too big on whites. It had a very fresh smell with hints of pear and apple. Although the taste was very tart with a strong finish, I still found the wine enjoyable and almost considered buying it, until I had the Cabernet Sauvignon.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Fattori Soave Classico Runcaris 2010

Name: Fattori Soave Classico Runcaris
Variety: Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2010

Price: $15 (Reduced to $7.95)

Winery Review: Mineral, with slight sensations of yellow citrus and yellow pulp fruits. An interesting bouquet of fine herbs, fresh sage and nettle. 88+ points, Wine magazine.

My Review: Not a huge fan of this white wine. The initial smell was reminiscent of plants and a light fruity smell. The taste of the wine had hints of fruits as well, but I was not a fan of how long the after taste stayed on the tongue.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Stickybeak Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Name: Stickybeak Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Sonoma County, California
Country: United States
Year: 2009

Price: $14 (Reduced to $4.95)

Winery Review: White peach, freshly cut grass and citrus with spicy, smoky flint notes beneath. The palate opens with an engaging freshness yet also shows a generous mouthfeel beneath. Long, deep and quite succulent, the characters of pie backed stone fruit and meyer lemon continue through to the clean finish. 88 points, Robert Parker.


My Review: The wine had a very sweet and fruity smell to it and a golden color. Although the initial smell of the wine was citrusy, the taste of it was more spicy and smoky. There was however no acidity in the finish of the wine. Not a bad wine overall.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Casa Silva Quinta Generacion Red 2005

Name: Casa Silva Quinta Generacion Red
Variety: Bordeaux and Syrah Blend
Region: Colchagua Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2005

Price: $30 (Reduced to $19.95)

Winery Review: This wine is aged in French Oak for 12 months. It has a bold, dark crimson color with an inviting, fairly high-toned nose of wild sage-like notes against really intense cassis. There’s plenty of oak here, and certainly a leafy quality adding to that lifting aromatic. On the palate it is very fine, dry, inky black fruit, but very polished as are the tannins. The acidity feeling is quite natural and the 14.5% alcohol again just a touch prominent alone with the spicy, smoky oak. 87 points, Robert Parker.


My Review: There was a very strong oaky and leathery smell to the wine. I also caught hints of black cherry in the smell. The wine was very bitter and dry due to its high alcoholic content. The wine had a sharp taste, but a surprisingly smooth finish to it.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Felsina Fontalloro 2008

Name: Felsina Fontalloro Toscana
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2008

Price: $70 (Reduced to $39.95)

Winery Review: 94 points, Robert Parker: This is a wonderfully sophisticated, polished wine from Felsina.  In 2008, the slightly drier microclimate at Fontalloro vis-à-vis Rancia is the main reason this wine is such a huge success in 2008.


My Review: Not particularly a fan of this wine. It had a dark red color with a spicy and fruity nose. On the palette, this wine was quite spicy and bitter with a high tannic content and a dry finish.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Domaine Pouillon Pierre Cabernet/Syrah 2009

Name: Domaine Pouillon Pierre Cabernet/Syrah
Variety: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Syrah
Region: Horse Heaven Hills, Washington
Country: United States
Year: 2009

Price: $30 (Reduced to $19.95)

Winery Review: Currant and strawberry play on the lighter part of the nose as hints of spiced dark chocolate lurk in the depths of the bouquet. Jammy, dark fruit stimulate a picture of the sense of place in this wine. Brooding flavors of cedar, black tea and licorice give way to celebratory currants and red velvet cake. Balanced tannins and cherry lead through moods of tobacco, cassis and boysenberries. Finishes long with a memory of the earth that this fine fruit was grown in.



My Review: Quite a nice red wine. It had a fruity and jammy smell with a hint of cherry and spice. These aromas carried over to the taste as well with a solid tannin texture. It had a long and spicy finish.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato

Name: Angrove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato
Variety: 100% Moscato
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia

Price: $4.95

Winery Review: This is a tasty and generous Moscato  that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There’s a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling dessert wine.


My Review: This sparkling wine had a very sweet and citrusy smell. Since it was sparkling, I tasted the carbonation instantly as it hit my tongue. The wine reminded me of Redd's Apple Ale because of the carbonation and the intense fruity and sweet taste. Good dessert wine that is fresh in taste. Liked it, but I would still prefer the Garnacha.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Fetzer Malbec 2011

Name: Fetzer Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it’s juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.


My Review: I wasn't a fan of the smell of this wine because it was very similar to rubbing alcohol. It was drier than the Garnacha and had a much more alcoholic taste to it. I like red wines a lot but I've tasted better reds than this. Personally I didn't feel like the finish was very long.

I did not have this wine with food.