Name: Beringer Reisling
Variety: Reisling
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95
Winery Review: This wine is the perfect balance of honeysuckle and bright peach flavors. A perfect compliment to light fare, appetizers, or just sharing with friends.
My Review: Has a nice light yellow color, crisp and clear looking. The nose of this wine is very subtle with hints of apple, peach and the sweetness of honey. The Beringer Reisling does not disappoint on taste. On tasting, the wine was almost buttery, very smooth, and only slightly sweet. Beringer hit the nail on the head with this reisling, not too sweet, but very soft subtle flavors in a velvety smooth wine. I really liked the balance, nose, and taste of this wine. As I have tasted more wines I have gotten away from whites (particularly sweet ones), but this is something that I could get into. Great all around, and it is definitely on the list of things to have again.
Name:Wine Men of Gotham Cardonnay/Semillon Blend
Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95
Winery Review: Gotham's 2008 Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot, and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish.
My Review: This wine has a nice light yellow/gold to it. I noted slight hints of oak, pineapple, and a little grass on the nose of this wine. Though the bouquet had a sweet smell, the initial taste was actually a little sour. The flavor starts smooth and subtle but finishes strong with some heat and acidity coming through.
Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Gamay
Region: Beaujolais, Eastern France
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $3.95, originally $13
Winery Review: There is charming sweetish red crushed berry fruit and warm floral mineral scents.Well balanced red fruit flavors throughout the mid-palate. A lovely light but solid finish tricks you into thinking that this wine could be a barrel sample of one of the 10 Beaujolais Crus and not a "mere" nouveau.
My Review: On the nose, I noticed hints of butter along with fruit. The wine has essence of raspberries, and sugar coated strawberry. The fruit flavor comes through on the palate to give this red a full bodied flavor and finishes dry.
Name: Black Opal Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95, originally $12
Winery Review: This Shiraz has a strong plum flavor with a smooth, velvety finish.
My Review: This wine has a fruity hint, but also has notes of cinnamon. It is very smooth on the palate, and does not dry my mouth out. Definitely a good red for those who want to get their feet wet with red wines.
Name: Masked Rider Gunsmoke Red
Variety: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Petite Sirah, 15% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95, originally $14
Winery Review: This young 2008 blend shows aromas and flavors of fresh fruit, plums, black
currant, herbs, espresso notes and complemented with touches of earth. A smooth mouth, round tannins and a tasty
finish.
My Review: This blended wine has some floral and spice aromas on the nose, with notes of earth. I did not notice the fruit until I tasted the wine and came back for a second smell. The fruit helps to sweeten this red as it has a distinct parching sensation.
Name: Bodega Norton Sangiovese
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95, originally $12
Winery Review: Red with violet hints. Aromas of red berries, strawberries and raspberries. Fresh fruit on the mouth, with pleasant finish
My Review: This might sound weird, but the nose of this wine smelled like tomato sauce. It was not overpowering, but it was there. This aroma was tasted in the spiciness of this wine. There was a short distinct spice in the mid-palate. The wine was dry, balanced, but with a subtle lingering spice. I did not get any of the fruit flavors described in the winery's tasting notes.
Name: Bodega Norton Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Lujan de Cuyo, Mandoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95, originally $12
Winery Review: Greenish yellow in color with tinges of golden. Very perfumed prevailing fruity and flowery aromas, such as white peach, roses and jasmine. Pleasant on the palate and well balanced.
My Review: There are strong notes of flowers in the nose, and also a slight soapy smell. The bouquet of this wine is very full and relatively strong for a white. The wine is dry, but still well balanced.
