Tasting - Ksana Bonarda

Name: Ksana Bonarda

Variety: Bonarda

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2008

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: The bouquet is floral and lightly jammy, with berry aromas and a savory note or two. To the uninitiated, this is a great introduction to Bonarda. Finishes solid. Very sweet, berry smell with some rooty undertones. Kind of dry, makes your lips pucker.

My Review: On the nose, I sensed berry aromas. I liked the smell a lot. It was very sweet smelling but the taste surprised me. For smelling so sweet this wine was very dry. It made me salivate which always for me means something is sour.

Tasting - Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Name: Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 

Price: $3.95

Winery Review: This fruit forward White Zinfandel displays fresh aromas and crisp flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. It is incredibly food friendly and will pair well with burgers, sandwiches, fruit salad, and more.

My Review: I don’t necessarily like the way white zinfandels taste a lot, but I do love the way they smell. This one I could sense strawberry aromas when sniffing it and I absolutely love that smell. I like white zinfandel wines but only for a glass or two since they are so sweet. This statement definitely applies to this wine. It’s very refreshing and I could enjoy a glass of it in the summertime but I wouldn’t want to have much more than that.

Tasting - Chandon Sweet Cuvée

Name: Chandon Sweet Cuvée

Variety: NV

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: This wine is an innovative sparkling wine style revealing vibrant stone fruit and floral aromas with rich, luscious mouthfeel. This wine enlivens the senses and sparks spontaneous moments, complementing your passion for a good life

My Review: On the nose, I detected some floral aromas. It’s interesting when wines have flower scents because people probably wouldn’t want their wine tasting like flowers. Good thing it’s only on the nose! I could be wrong but I tasted a slight fruity taste. This wine was very refreshing.

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: USA

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Orange blossom and citrus permeate the aromas. Alluring flavors of orange and grapefruit dominate the palate. Bright acidity balances the plush mouthfeel, resulting in a clean finish.

My Review: On the nose I sensed citrus for sure. It smelled crisp and refreshing. When tasting it I thought it was a little tart, but it wasn’t bad. It had a slight orangey flavor to it and was very refreshing despite the acidity level. I’m not a big fan of high acidity but I did enjoy this wine!

Tasting - Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Name: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Variety: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle

Region: Sauternes

Country: France

Year: 2004

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

My Review: This wine had interesting scents. I definitely smelled a lemon aroma with a slight honey smell. Tasting the wine I thought it was very very sweet and I typically don't enjoy sweet wines. They make me sleepy. I could probably ever only have one glass of this in a sitting as it was too sweet for my palate. To each his own!

Tasting - Torre Castillo Alegre

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre

Variety: 100% Monastrell

Region: Jumilla

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: 4 months in new American oak barrels. Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish.

My Review: When smelling this wine I sensed a slight hint of some sort of spice, possibly cinnamon. I've never encountered a Monsatrell varietal wine so I was completely not expecting the aromas and tastes I picked up on. It kind of smelled like grape juice and slightly like cherry. I liked the slight licorice flavor, too. I don't like the candy licorice but for some reason I don't mind the flavor. I'd try this wine again because it was very interesting.

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name: Wilson Daniels Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: USA

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is fullbodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with vanilla and toast.

My Review: On the nose, I definitely sensed dark berry aromas. It smelled very rich and bold. It felt very full-bodied in my mouth and I picked up on some hints of blackberry and raspberry flavors. I didn't think the wine was too bad, I'd have to try it again before making an intelligent decision.