Tasting: Smoking Loon Moscato

Name: Smoking Loon Moscato 

Variety: Moscato

Region: California

Country: USA 

Year: 2013 

Price: $6.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $10

Shop Review: The 2013 Smoking Loon “Blue Loon” Moscato opens with enticing aromas of honeysuckle, overripe honeydew melon, sundried apricot and a touch of honey, peach and mandarin. The palate presents ripe melon, peach nectar and orange blossom honey. The bright flavors and refreshing acidity make this Moscato the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of foods. Enjoy our “Blue Loon” Moscato with brunch, light chicken dishes or summer appetizers. It’s also delicious served with biscotti, creamy desserts, or fresh fruits such as yellow or white peaches.

My Review: On the nose this wine was tropical, lemon citrus, and deeply floral. This wine is sweet with floral notes and gave flavors. I enjoyed this wine. 

This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2013

Name: Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2013

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza 

Country: Argentina 

Year: 2013 

Price: $9.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $20

Shop Review: 92- Ken Vogt “The 2013 is absolutely phenomenal with gorgeous aromas of black plum, red currant and black tea.  The deeply rich flavors of blackberry, kirsch and a touch of spice are beautifully complimented by a kiss of vanilla from the French oak treatment.  This wine is a steal at this modest price and I highly recommend it.” 

My Review: On the nose this wine smells of berry, chocolate, spice, and tobacco. On the palate this wine has flavors of blueberry, leather, and cherry. 

This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Riebeek Cellars Merlot 2013

Name: Riebeek Cellars Merlot 2013 

Variety: Merlot

Region: Swartland

Country: South Africa

Year: 2013 

Price: $7.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $11

Shop Review: One of the most popular wines in the Riebeek range, the Merlot offers an array of red berries and a soft and mellow palate. The style is elegant with well-integrated fruit and oak flavors on the nose. The palate is velvety and smooth with an aftertaste that lingers with the juicy flavors of abundant berries.

My Review: On the nose this wine smells so delightful with hints of cherry, dark berry, chocolate, spice, and plum. On the palate this wine actually tastes like coffee with some berry undertones. The light tannins and dryness of this wine are intriguing. 

This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting Once Upon A Vine Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Once Upon A Vine Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: California

Country: USA 

Year: 2015 

Price: $6.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $14

Shop Review: Once upon a time, she searched all the wine shelves for her one true Sauvignon Blanc. Then she found The Lost Slipper. With vibrant tropical fruits and a rich, round style, it was the perfect fit. The nose radiated lively passion fruit aromas, giving way to ripe guava and pineapple flavors. The varietals bright, crisp character was elevated by sur lie aging, which added weight and fleshiness to the palate. Friendly, inviting and delicious, it was love at first sip.

My Review: On the nose this wine actually smells kind of musty mixed with an overripe melon. This wine tasted of tropical fruit like mango and passionfruit.   

This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Risata Prosecco Extra Dry

Name: Risata Prosecco Extra Dry 

Variety: Prosecco
Region: Veneto 
Country: Italy 
Year: Non-vintage 
Price: $7.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $16

Shop Review: The nose has the scent of ripe peaches. It is semi sweet with peach apricot and floral notes on the palate.

My Review: On the nose this wine has the scent of peaches, pear, and green apple. On the palate this wine is not as drying as I originally thought it might be. Having flavor profiles of apple, pear, and pineapple was quite delightful. 
This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Prime's Ruby Port

Name: Prime's Ruby Port 

Variety: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cao, Tinta Roriz
Region: Oporto
Country: Portugal 
Year: Non-vintage 
Price: $11.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $19

Shop Review: Ruby color with red fruit aromas; pleasantly sweet and balanced taste. As the wines used to produce Prime’s Ruby Port age , they gain smoothness and elegance while retaining their fruitiness, intensity and youthful ruby color. They are then blended together for smoothness and consistency.

My Review: This port was quite tasty but watch out because you could be feeling good quite quickly! On the nose you get ripe berry sweetness and alcohol (that's how you know it will pack a punch!). On the palate this port was sweet with berry and cherry flavors but had hints of leather and oak. I won't lie though after watching the film "A Year in Port" I was a little anxious drinking a port knowing it's made by stomping. Haha! If you like a little stinky feet in your port you'll enjoy. 
This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Skyfall Merlot 2015

Name: Skyfall Merlot 2015

Variety: Merlot
Region: Columbia Valley, WA
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $9.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $20

Shop Review: Wonderfully developed plum, vanilla and leather aromas swirl in the glass. Juicy flavors of cherry candy coupled with hints of cocoa powder weave through the palate. Balanced acidity and polished tannins on the finish.

My Review: This was a fabulous merlot! The smell encompasses aromas of ripe blueberry, cherry, and plum along with a noice nuttiness. On the palate the blueberry and plum are very forward and it finishes with a nice nutty flavor accompanied by tannins that mellow the palate. 

This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Palacio del Burgo Rioja Tinto 2015

Name: Palacio del Burgo Rioja Tinto 2015

Variety: 85% Tempranillo,10% Garnacha, & 5% Mazuelo
Region: Rioja 
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $8.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $15

Shop Review: 90- Vinous Bright violet. Vibrant red and dark berry scents are complemented by hints of cola and candied flowers. Fresh and energetic on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter on the back half. Gentle tannins build slowly on the clinging finish but are no match for the plush, primary fruit. This delicious Rioja drinks surprisingly well already.

My Review: On the nose this wine has bright berry and cherry notes with a vanilla oak linger. On the palate there is a strong plum flavor with undertones of raspberry, wood, ad vanilla. This wine was very good and the tannins were present but didn't hit you as hard as you might think. 
This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Don Rodolfo Torrontes 2015

Name: Don Rodolfo Torrontes 2015

Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $5.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $14

Shop Review: 90- Jay Miller Fragrant, peach, apricot, tropical aromas; lots of spice, intense, mouth-filling, great value.

My Review: This is an abundantly floral wine with notes of tropical fruit like pineapple and mango. On the palate this is semi-sweet and the floral notes come through along with tropical fruit and a pear finish. 
This wine was not tasted with food.

Tasting: Batasiolo Gavi 2014

Name: Batasiolo Gavi 2014

Variety: Cortese
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy 
Year: 2014
Price: $6.95 at Vintage Cellar, Regular $18

Shop Review: Pale straw yellow color with greenish reflections, clear and bright. The nose is fresh and floral, with good intensity and persistence. In the mouth it is dry and pleasantly cool. The final sensation reminiscent of almonds is typical of the appellation.

My Review: For this wine I got a strong grape juice smell, this might seem obvious but it was more like a smell you may expect from a Welch's white grape juice. I also got some berries and sweet notes of citrus on the end of the aromas. For taste this wine was tart and contained full lemon and lime citrus notes along with a finish of almond which was nice to tone the wine down in the end. 
This wine was not tasted with food.