Tasting - Primes Ruby Port

Name: Primes Ruby Port
Variety: Blended
Region:  Oporto 
Country: Portugal
Year: NA
Price: $18

Critic's Review: Ruby color; 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 balance and consistency.

My Review: Let me start by saying this.  I don't like thick sugary drinks.  At all. Specifically speaking to my pallet, this sucker was HORRIBLE.  It was like someone took a thick glass of wine and threw in a few cubes of sugar.  The taste was dull and plummy to me.  After one glass it'd be game over because I'd be too full for anything else. 

Tasting - Lindeman's Bin 80 Cabernet Merlot

Name: Lindeman's Bin 80 Cabernet Merlot
Variety: Cabernet Merlot Blend
Region: Southeast
Country: Australia
Year: 2015
Price: $18

Critic's Review: Medium red in color with ruby hues. On the nose aromas of dark red berries, black currants and ripe plums. While the palate is medium bodied, with dark berries and a soft tannic finish.

My Review: The aroma alone of this wine made it worth it.  It smelled DELICIOUS.  This was a medium body for sure and very smooth on the pallet.  I would not recommend chugging wine, but if absolutely necessary, this wine is smooth enough to do so.  Was not my favorite tasting wine, but I still appreciated the balance.

Tasting - Domaine du Poujol Coteaux du Languedoc

Name: Domaine du Poujol Coteaux du Languedoc
Variety: Grenache
Region: Southeast
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $13

Critic's Review: Minerally and berry notes make for a savory blend of flavors in this fine-grained red. Dried berry fruit dominates with accents of white pepper and dill seed. Delivers lively acidity on the finish. Drink now through 2018.

My Review: I bought some smoked Gouda cheese from Kroger a few weeks ago to make dinner with and this wine gave me the EXACT same aftertaste.  It almost had a smokey undertone, but not overwhelming.  The fruit flavor was also very enjoyable.  Like this one so much I bought one when I left.  Highly recommend.

Tasting - Pazo de Monterrey Godello

Name: Pazo de Monterrey
Variety: Godello
Region: Monterrei
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $15

Critic's Review: Clean, minerally, slightly green in aromatics and oh so approachable and nice. For an under $15 white, this Godello from Monterrei excels with layered flavors of apple, minerals and natural spice. The finish is long and hints at fresh herbs like thyme and tarragon. Potentially superb with garlic shrimp or calamari over fresh greens.


My Review: Very obvious apple taste.  The aroma was not as pleasant as the taste.  It has a pungent smell that typically you'd get from a full red wine.  Didn't like this wine as much as the Domiane before.  I would recommend to anyone looking for a sour taste.

Tasting - Domaine de la Foret Grenache Cinsault Rose de Mediterranee 2015

Name: Domaine de la Foret Grenache Cinsault Rose de Mediterranee 2015
Variety: 50% Cinsault, 50% Grenache Blend
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: 2015
Price: $13

Winery Review:

"A stony, pure style, with a warm paving stone note framing the dried cherry and rose water notes. The long, watermelon rind—inflected finish is finely tuned. Shows length and cut, staying lacy in feel. 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache."

Personal Review:

I'd like to note that the shape of this bottle was awesome.  I do not typically like white wines, however, this one in particular was great!  I was able to taste the cherry which was a pleasant surprise on my pallet.  This white wine changed the way I think about them. 

Tasting - Coastal Vines White Zinfandel Magnum

Name: Coastal Vines White Zinfandel
Variety: 100% White Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: "Coastal Vines White Zinfandel is a light and fruity salmon-pink wine. Sweet, floral aromas of jasmine and roses burst into bright flavors of apricots, cantaloupe, and orange blossoms."

My Review: I am not a large fan on dessert wines, however, this one was subtle enough to enjoy!  It was sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Very smooth on the pallet.  So far this has been my favorite dessert wine. Highly recommend!

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Variety: Blended
Region: Abruzzo
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Wild berry, chopped mint, sun baked earth and violet aromas meld together on this solid savory red. The juicy straightforward palate doles out ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, anise and cinnamon alongside chewy tannins."

My Review: The initial smell as delicious.  I was able to get the earthy aroma immediately.  This wine was a bit on the darker side.  Dried my mouth out when I took the 1st sip.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Rosemount Diamond Label Pinot Noir

Name: Rosemount Diamond Label Pinot Noir
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Southeast
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: "On the nose fragrant red berry fruits; red cherries raspberries; supported by sweet earthy spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate is bright and lively with  flavors of cherry and raspberry are supported by a soft creamy texture, providing a long and elegant finish."

My Review: This Rosemount wasn't too shabby in my book!  Got an immediate hint of spice when I took a sip.  Very easy wine to sip on. It did, however, seem to be very acidic when drinking by itself.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Valminor Albarino

Name: Valminor Albarino
Variety: 100% Albarino
Region: Rias Baixas
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $19

Winery Review: "Gloriously aromatic with jasmine and flint notes; very scented. Full and fleshy palate, a mineral follow-through and intense, harmonious finish. A very lovely Albarino that is so pure."

My Review: I thought this wine was very sweet!  Did not like at all.  It almost made me want to cough when I took a sip of it.  Smelled floral which was nice.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Yellowtail Unoaked Chardonnay

Name: Yellowtail Unoaked Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country: New Zealand and Australia
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $7

Winery Review: "Wow, who would ever call Yellow Tail understated? But here it is. Nice but light aromas of orange, grapefruit, apple, earth and flowers. Lemon, grapefruit, apples, and a little lime on the light palate. Good acidity, pleasant finish, and decent minerality."

My Review: This wine was very crisp.  It was not like any other whites I've had at the tastings.  Definitely had a cat pee after taste which I was not a fan of.  I did, however, enjoy the crisp apple taste.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Jam Jar Sweet

Name: Jam Jar Sweet White
Variety: Moscoto
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $15

Winery Review: "This charming, easy-drinking Moscato offers flavors of peach, apricot, lychee and orange blossom. A lively jolt of acidity keeps it fresh and fruity. Fancy enough for a special occasion toast, yet sweet-natured enough to enjoy every day."

My Review: Did not like this one bit.  I am not a huge fan of sweet, and this wine has a whole slew of it.  This dessert wine was better than the ones I have had in the past, however, still didn't tickle my fancy.  I did detect the peachy taste in there which I did like.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Fox Creek Shiraz

Name: Fox Creek Shiraz
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: Mclaren Vale
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: $23

Winery Review: "Bright purple. Exotic, expansive aromas of black and blue fruit preserves, vanilla and cola, along with a peppery overtone and a hint of violet pastille. Broad, fleshy, appealingly sweet boysenberry and cherry liqueur flavors show excellent depth and a seamless texture. Finishes juicy and long, with building spiciness, an echo of blue fruit and round tannins."

My Review: This wine was a bit heavier than the previous in this weeks tasting. The smell was sweet, and the initial sip left a definite aftertaste.  The taste lingered for a good while.  I didn't pick up any of the peppery undertone, however, I did get a hint of fruit.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Candoni Boungiorno Organic Primitivo, Syrah

Name: Candoni Buongiomo
Variety: Blend of Organic Primitivo and Syrah
Region: Puglia
Country: Ialy
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $15

Winery Review: "Black ruby color. Mild, spicy, earthy aromas of spiced berries and plum with a supple, bright, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a tingling, brisk earth and cinnamon finish with dusty, coating tannins and moderate oak. A sturdy, earthy red for the table."

My Review: The initial smell was very earthy.  I personally thought it smelled like dirt.  It was more pungent than the whites.  The taste had definite hints of berries which made it delicious.  I liked this wine quite a bit.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe
Variety: 100% Torrontes
Region: Salta
Country: Argentina
Year: 2016
Price: $13

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.

My Review: I don't have a ton of experience, so this was the most "floral" wine I've ever had.  The taste was very evident after the 1st few sips.  Was a bit on the sweet side with hints of sour apple.  I like this white wine quite a bit!

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Oxford Landing Viognier

Name: Oxford Landing
Variety: 100% Viognier
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review:"This wine may not be quite as rich or expressive as the other Viogniers in the Yalumba stable, but it's still an attractive effort. Pineapple and apricot flavors pick up hints of gingery spice on the vibrant finish."

My Review: This white wine was a bit crisp after the first sip.  The smell was very sweet, but not overwhelmingly so.  The hints of pineapple were subtle but delicious.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Crane Lake Gewurztraminer

Name: Crane Lake Gewurztraminer
Variety: 100% Gewurztraminer
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "This floral wine has notes of rose, peach, and apricot, with a smooth, lingering finish. This wine pairs well with both smoked Gouda and Munster cheeses. Also try it along with roast pork, turkey, red snapper or sautéed abalone."

My Review: This dessert wine had a very strong smell.  Not overwhelmingly intrusive though.  The taste had a very delicious tree fruit flavor.  I was able to identify hints of peach.  I'm not a huge fan of sweets so this wine wasn't my favorite.

Paired with food: Not this time

Tasting - El Ganador Malbec

Name: El Ganador Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $12

Winery Review: "Garnet color. Aromas of black cherry, plum jam, rich dark soil, and violet honey with a lightly tannic, lively, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, complex, medium-long black cherry, rich garden soil, crushed plum, and cinnamon toast finish with medium tannins and moderate oak. Dense, dark and chewy with earthy complexity, balancing the luscious jammy fruit qualities of new world with earthy qualities of old world wines."

My Review: This wine smelled a bit spicy.  The taste, however, was floral.  The floral flavor of this wine was very obviously even to my inexperienced pallet.  When I first began sampling wines I was not able to identify earthy undertones, but this is an excellent example of an earthy wine easy for beginners to work with.

Paired with food: N/A

Tasting - Grand Cru Pnot Noir

Name: Grand Cru Pinot Noir
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "This ruby-colored wine has aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of vanilla. Flavors of cherry and plum lead to a soft velvety finish. This wine can be enjoyed by itself. It is also an excellent accompaniment with appetizers and main courses. This wine goes well with Brie, goat cheese and smoked salmon, lamb shanks and pork tenderloin."

My Review: This red wine has an aroma of red fruit.  The 1st taste was a bit bland and bitter.  Unlike other red wines, it did not feel or sit heavy.  I was able to taste the alcohol more so in this wine than others.  The alcohol taste was not covered by the fruit in the wine.

Paired with Food:  Didn't have food to pair with it this go round.

Tasting - Douglas Hill Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Douglas Hill Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "This light, crisp Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of grapefruit, bell pepper, and asparagus. On the palate, hints of floral and honey are revealed to yield a well-balanced, refreshing wine."

My Review: This wine smelled much more pungent than the Prime Brume.  The wine was exceptionally light and with a definite floral hint.  This Douglas Hill was an easy sipper, however, the flavor itself was not to my liking.  I was happy to try a Sauvignon Blanc from California as I have heard great things about it.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting - Prime Brume

Name: Prime Brume
Variety: Soave blend with Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $10

Winery Review: "Brilliant emerald straw color. Aromas and flavors of brazil nuts, creme fraiche, and kiwi and starfruit with a silky, lively, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and an effortless, engaging, medium-length watermelon, yellow apple, and clementine finish. A delicious, artfully balanced soave with a great range of fruit flavors."

My Review: This was the second round of tastings with the Vintage Cellar.  This particular wine was not bitter at all like I was expecting.  This white wine was a bit sweet and had a fruity taste to it. Very thin on the pallet.

Paired with food: N/A