Tasting - Annalisa

Name: Annalisa Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco
Variety: Malvasia
Region: Asti
Country: Italy
Year: 2016
Price: $17

Winery Review: "The perlage is fine and persistent. The color is pale pink, almost cherry. The aromatic scent is intense and reminiscent of wild berries, blueberries and wild strawberries. The flavor is sweet, slightly sparkling and full of berries. Since this is a sweet and aromatic wine is a classic to combine with fruit tarts and pastry. An ideal companion in moments of celebration, Malvasia is also a nice refreshing drink at any time of the day" (Vintage Cellar). 

My Review: Very nice and refreshing. Unlike the winery review, I did not pick up on the berry flavors and aromas, but I did detect apricot and peach. The slight sparkling component was very subtle and added a special feel to this wine without overpowering the fruity flavors. This wine was pretty sweet, so I would probably drink it sparingly or as a dessert wine. I also did not try this with any food.

Tasting - CK Mondavi

Name: CK Mondavi Red Blend

Variety: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec
Region: St. Helena, California
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $20 (Magnum size - 1.5 L)

Winery Review: "Red Blend is their winemaker’s signature cuvee, an expression of five red varieties capturing the best of each vintage. It has the backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, the finesse of Merlot, the structure of Petit Verdot, the floral essence of Cabernet Franc and the boldness of Malbec. This full-bodied wine offers flavors of black cherries and plums and ends in a soft, balanced finish" (Vintage Cellar). 

My Review: Very nice. The cherry flavors and aromas were prominent and the mouthfeel was smooth. For a fuller-bodied wine, this wine was very drinkable and easy on the palate. I did not try this with any food, but I would absolutely drink this wine again.

Tasting - Vigna Lenuzza

Name: Vigna Lenuzza Friuli Colli Orientali Refosco
Variety: Refosco
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $15

Winery Review: "Classic varietal notes of wild herbs, roasted coffee beans, leather and spices deep ruby hues while on the palate sweet spiced notes of cinnamon and cardamom, held together with lively acidity and graceful tannins" (Vintage Cellar). 

My Review: Very interesting. This wine is unlike any I've ever tried before and the flavors and aromas were definitely more complex. I could smell very subtle aromas of cherry and raspberry, but when I tasted it, the flavors were more vegetal, like herbs and leaves. I did like it, but it's not a wine I would drink on its own. I did not try it with any food, but I think it would taste better if it was paired with food.

Tasting - La Misión Chardonnay

Name: William Fevre La Mision Reserva Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Maipo Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2016
Price: $22

Winery Review: "This La Misión Chardonnay is very fruity and highlights notes of pear, white peach, and a hint of smoke which is very characteristic of some vines from the Maipo Valley. It is very fresh and round in the mouth and has developed aromas of toasted bread and butter" (Vintage Cellar). 

My Review: I'm usually not a fan of Chardonnays, but I actually liked this one. Like a California Chardonnay, this wine also had characteristic oak and butter aromas and flavors, but it wasn't overpowering like many California Chardonnays are in my opinion. The fruity flavors, especially pear, still came through, which was quite nice. It had a smooth, pleasant mouthfeel as well. I did not try this wine with any food, but I would maybe like to try it with buttered popcorn just for fun.

Tasting - Mont Pellier Voignier

Name: Mont Pellier Voignier
Variety: 100% Voignier
Region: Napa, California
Country: United States
Year: 2015
Price: $15

Winery Review: "With abundant aromas of honey-suckle, stone fruit, apricot and tropical fruit, our Viognier finishes crisp and clean with hints of vanilla and fruit that is pleasantly balanced" (Vintage Cellar). 

My Review: I'm not too familiar with the Voignier varietal, but I enjoyed this wine. It had a nice balance of floral and fruity aromas and flavors, and I especially picked up on pear and mango. I agree with the review in that it was "crisp" and "clean." It wasn't overpowering and it was very refreshing. I would definitely try this wine again. I also did not try this wine with any food. 

Tasting - Barefoot Bubbly Brut Rosé

Name: Barefoot Bubbly Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine  

Variety: Unknown/Sparkling Blend
Region: Central Valley, California
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $11.29

Winery Review: "This very approachable wine has fresh and peachy aromas, slightly sweet flavors like cotton candy and a smooth frothy texture. It's easy to sip and easy to like, especially at this price" (Wine Enthusiast - 85). 

My Review: Not bad, but also not great. I enjoyed the subtle aromas and flavors of cherries and other light red fruits. The light, delicate body of this sparkling wine made it very easy to drink. I would have to disagree with the winery review in that there are sweet flavors like cotton candy. I definitely didn't pick up on anything sweet or any residual sugar. Overall, this wine is okay, but a little lacking in depth and flavor. I feel like I could get a better wine for a similar price. I also did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting - Fratelli Blaze Sparkling Rosé

Name: Fratelli Blaze
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir
Region: N/A
Country: Ukraine
Year: N/A
Price: $15

Winery Review: "Sweet blackberry and blueberry notes are deeply concentrated on the nose and palate of this Ukranian semisweet red sparkler. Softly petillant, it’s unabashedly fun and fruity, and an enjoyable choice for casual entertaining" (Wine Enthusiast - 85). 

My Review: Pretty good! Like the review says, this wine was fun and fruity. In addition to the fruity flavors, I also detected strong aromas of roses. This semisweet wine was easy on the palate and the sparkling component added a fun "zing" for the tongue. I did not try this wine with any food, but I think it would make for a great aperitif. 

Tasting - Eikeboom Pinotage

Name: Eikeboom Pinotage
Variety: 100% Pinotage
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $17

Winery Review: "This dark-colored 2015 possesses cranberry and cherry richness intermixed with some spice box, earth and herbs. It is fresh, medium-bodied and could be served chilled if readers desire, given its Beaujolais-like weight and texture" (Wine & Spirits - 88). 

My Review: I did not care for this wine. While the initial aromas and flavors of cherries were nice, there was a strange finish/aftertaste of earthy wood that I did not enjoy. I also did not try this wine with any food. 

Tasting - Jekel Pinot Noir

Name: Jekel Monterey Pinot Noir
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Monterey, California
Country: United States
Year: 2015
Price: $30

Winery Review: "This medium weight Pinot Noir is rich with layers of bing cherries, rosehips, and lavender herbs. Its opulent richness will exceed your expectations--lingering just a bit until an inevitable smile appears" (Vintage Cellar). 

My Review: Delicious! This wine was smooth with notes of cherries and strawberries. I think it was maybe even a little lighter than the Vintage Cellar claimed (above). This was definitely my favorite wine of the tasting. I did not try it with any food, but I would love to pair it with some kind of salmon dish. 

Tasting - Les Caprices d' Anaïs Bordeaux Rosé

Name: Chateau des Arnauds Les Caprices d' Anaïs Bordeaux Rosé

Variety: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Year: 2017
Price: $13

Winery Review: "Medium pink salmon. Reticent nose of minerals, flowers, and a hint of red berries. Savory, serious, and spicy in the mouth with minerals and red currants showing. A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from 30+ year old vines. This is a serious, food wine with a good backbone" (I-Wine Review). 

My Review: Initially, I did not care for this wine because I thought it was too harsh. The more I tasted it, however, the more I enjoyed it. I liked the dryness of this French rosé, as opposed to the usual sweet rosés I find from California. It was like getting the lightness of a white wine with the red fruit flavors of a red wine. I did not try this with any food, but I would be willing to as per the above recommendation from I-Wine Review. 

Tasting - Cantina Villafranca Frascati

Name: Cantina Villafranca Frascati
Variety: 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio, 15% Grechetto
Region: Lazio
Country: Italy
Year: 2016
Price: $10

Winery Review: A blend of 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio and 15% Grechetto. This luminous, golden wine shows fragrant aromas of honeysuckle, white melon, peach blossom and almond (Vintage Cellar). 

My Review: Somewhat unimpressed. I detected very subtle floral notes and perceived a certain "warmness" in the wine; however, it did not taste very unique or special to me. Nothing really stood out to me in this wine. I did not try this with any food, but I wonder if the subtle flavors and aromas in the wine might be brought out more if it was paired with food. Not my favorite, but I would be willing to try it again with food to see if it improves.