Tasting Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

• Name: Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

• Variety: Moscato

• Region: Spain

• Country: Spain

• Year: 2011

• Price: $9.95

• Shop/wine critic/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: This white wine smelled very sweet, with hints of tropical fruits and citrus components, it had me excited before I even tasted the wine. The wine itself, it tasted very sweet, with flavors of those smells that I just described. There was barely any bitterness, and it was a easy and smooth wine to taste. The body was pretty short and the finish was soft. 

• I had this wine at wine tasting with bread and cheese. 

Tasting Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

• Name: Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

• Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

• Region: Mendoza

• Country: Argentina

• Year: 2010

• Price: $7.95

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of blackfruit 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 has a nice and dark red color. I could easily smell the tannins from just swirling and smelling it. The aroma of wood, fruits, peppers, maybe some berries are very nice to smell. This red wine has a full body, the tannins is a bit too much for my liking, also the finish of this wine is kind of strong as well. Overall, it is a nice wine, but the tannins and the strong finish may not appeal to everyone. 

• I had this wine at wine tasting with bread and cheese. 

Tasting Champteloup Pinot Noir 2011

• Name: Champteloup Pinot Noir 2011 

• Variety: Pinot Noir

• Region: Loire Valley

• Country: France

• Year: 2011

• Price: $7.95

• Shop/wine critic/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 has a nice and bright red color that is not too dark. It smells like berries, a little fruity and yummy. When tasting this wine, it has a short body with a soft finish. Overall this wine does not have too much going on, it is light and relaxing to drink. It is a nice wine for beginners to sip on. 

• I had this wine at wine tasting with bread and cheese. 

Tasting Baumann Gentil Classiq 2012

• Name: Baumann Gentil Classiq 2012

• Variety: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris

• Region: Alsace

• Country: France

• Year: 2012

• Price: $9.95

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "From the local Italian word for “to work the soil,” Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expressionA 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 wine has the strong smell of floral and earthy components. When first tasting this wine, it tasted very acidic and a bit bitter. The body of the wine was not too full, it was rather short. The finish was soft and it was easy. 

• I had this wine at wine tasting with bread and cheese. 

Tasting Fattori Runcaris Soave 2010

• Name: Fattori Runcaris Soave 2010

• Variety: Garganega

• Region: Soave

• Country: Italy

• Year: 2010

• Price: $7.95

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "From the local Italian word for “to work the soil,” Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine and dried herbs." 

• My review: This wine smells delightful, with hints of fruits and flowers coming out of the wine. It is a yellowish white color. This wine has a full body, with a burst of bitterness and herbs flavor right from the beginning. It has a soft finish with no bitter aftertaste. It is a nice wine to have when it is chilled.

• I had this wine at wine tasting with bread and cheese. 

Tasting Livingston Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

• Name: Livingston Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

• Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

• Region: California

• Country: U.S

• Year: 2009

• Price: $12.99

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Deep red in color, our Cabernet Sauvignon is well balanced with hints of humidor, cassis, bright red apple and cherry.
" 

• My review: This huge 3 liter bottle was very cheap so I decided to get it and try it out. The smell of this wine is light, I can get hints of grape and cherry flavors, along with a strong hint of tannins. After smelling and swirling for a couple of minutes, I went ahead and tasted the wine. It has a thin body, not too much flavor at the first few sips, but as I continue to sip the wine, the body got bigger. Flavors of cherry and hints of oak started to come out and it had a easy finish. I can easily taste the tannins but it was not overpowering. Overall, I enjoyed the wine and at 11.5% alcohol content, it was easy to drink. 

• I had this wine with cheese and crackers, it compliments eachother very well.

Tasting Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Riesling

• Name: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Riesling

• Variety: Riesling

• Region: California

• Country: U.S

• Year: 2012

• Price: $8.99

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Our Woodbridge Riesling features delicate aromas of lemon tea and orange blossom. On the palate, lush flavors of orange touched with honey and spice are enhanced by an excellent balance of light sweetness and crisp acidity. The perfect wine for those seeking an alternate white variety, Riesling’s slightly lower alcohol content makes it a great partner for many foods. Try this sweet wine with fresh crab salad, smoked salmon, and spicy Asian dishes. Serve chilled.
" 

• My review: I left this bottle of wine outside in the snow for 5 hours, it is icy cold. It has a short body, light fruity flavors and it has a very short finish. It tastes very sweet, a little too sweet for my liking. However, it goes down really easy when it is cold and I am enjoying it. I would recommend this to any new wine drinkers because they are very easy to drink. 

• I had this wine with fast food, it goes together pretty well.

Tasting Blue Moon Belgian White Wheat Ale

• Name: Blue Moon

• Variety: Belgian style Wheat Ale

• Region: Colorado

• Country: U.S

• Year: 2013

• Price: $13.99 for 12-pack

• Shop/wine critic/winery review:"It started with our brewmaster, Keith Villa, wanting to craft a beer inspired by the flavorful Belgian Wits he enjoyed while studying brewing in Belgium. He brewed his interpretation using Valencia orange peel versus the traditional tart Curaçao orange peel, for a subtle sweetness. Then he added oats and wheat to create a smooth, creamy finish that’s inviting to the palate. As a final touch, he garnished the beer with an orange slice to heighten the citrus aroma and taste. Its natural unfiltered appearance adds to the depth of flavors in Belgian White."

• My review: This beer is amazing, I love its smell. Very fruity but has hints of wheat at the same time. The taste is very refreshing and thirst quenching. It poessess hints of fruits, citrius like flavors. Very good beer to enjoy with friends at a restaurent or a night out. 

• I had this wine at home without any food.  

Tasting Barefoot Pink Moscato

• Name: Barefoot Pink Moscato

• Variety: Moscato

• Region: California

• Country: U.S

• Year: 2013

• Price: $6.99

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Aromas of Mandarin orange and sweet jasmine crash into each other to create a deliciously sweet sea of pink goodness. Subtle flavors of cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate wash ashore in the flavorful experience." 

• My review: This pink moscato wine was bought for my girlfriend, but I had a few sips in order to complete this tasting blog. The pink color of the wine did not look very appetizing since it did not look natural. Moving on the the smell, it smells very fruity and full of sweetness. I had this wine chilled, it tasted just how it smelled. It was very sweet, it did not have any tannins or bitter taste. The body was pretty short and it was easy to drink. The finish is pretty short, and it is still full of the sweetness taste. Overall, this wine is not for anyone that drinks wine on a regular basis. This is more for people that are just starting to drink wine, this wine is easy to drink and will not burn when it goes down. 

• I had this wine at a wine tasting and did not had food with it. 

Tasting Maipe Torrontes 2013

• Name: Maipe

• Variety: Torrontes

• Region: Mendoza

• Country: Argentina

• Year: 2013

• Price: $7.95

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: " Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well." 

• My review: This white wine looks crispy gold, very clear. I thought this wine had a full body, but not too strong. The finish is pretty long but again, not too strong. This wine is just kind of a lay back and chill with kind of wine. Easy to drink and have food with, although I did not have food with it. I liked the wine, it was fruity with some hints of orange or citrus flavors, very refreshing.  

• I had this wine at a wine tasting and did not had food with it. 

Tasting Montebuena Rioja 2010

• Name: Montebuena

• Variety: Cuvee KPF

• Region: Rioja

• Country: Spain

• Year: 2010

• Price: $8.95

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "(100% Tempranillo, raised entirely in American oak): Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja." 

• My review: This red wine looks very dark and had a strong smell of dark fruit and oak. This wine tastes like a mixed variety of grapes. It had a long body and long finish. The finish of this wine is a little too bitter for me, but overall it is quality wine. 

• I had this wine at a wine tasting and did not had food with it. 

Tasting Delaroche Cotes du Rhone 2011

• Name: Anne Delaroche

• Variety: Cotes Du Rhone

• Region: Rhone Valley

• Country: France

• Year: 2011

• Price: $8.95

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value. I-WineReview (December 2013)." 

• My review: This red wine looks very dark and smells very strong of the tannis. This wine tastes like a mixture of a lot of variety of grapes, it has sort of a mixed taste to it. It is bitter and full of fruit taste all at the same time. The aftertaste of this wine is a little too strong for me, but overall it is fairly good wine. 

• I had this wine at a wine tasting and did not had food with it. 

Tasting Cortenova 2012 Pinot Grigio

• Name: Cortenova

• Variety: Pinot Grigio

• Region: Venezie

• Country: Italy

• Year: 2012

• Price: $7.99

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: “ Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections.
Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif. " 

• My review: First, this white wine looked very clear with a golden accent. It tasted sweet and smooth, I liked how its aftertaste was not bitter like most of the wine I've had. I can taste some of the fruity flavors that are in the wine, although I cannot tell what kind of fruits they are. 
*I had this wine during a wine tasting session with no food. 

Tasting Fetzer Eagles Peak 2011 Merlot

• Name: Fetzer

• Variety: Merlot

• Region: California

• Country: Unites States

• Year: 2011

• Price: $6.99

• Shop/wine critic/winery review: “ It has an easy, approachable style with aromas of ripe plums and flavors of blackberry and cherry. This wine goes great with just about any meal, making it a good choice to have on hand for every day. Accompanies a broad range of foods whether pastas, pizza or burgers." 

• My review: First, this red wine had a dark red color, it was very pretty and the smell is amazing. I swirled it around for a good 3 minutes and then I drank it. I had it at room temperature, it goes down fairly easy. I enjoy the sweet and a little bit of bitter taste at the end. Overall it is a good wine, after I left a glass of wine sit out for 10 minutes, the bitterness went away and it tasted smooth. 

• I had this wine with steak, roasted tomatoes and mash potatoes. It went very well with the food.