Tasting - Garnacha de Fuego

Name: Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines Grenache
Variety: Rose
Region: Aragon
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $2.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "The Garnacha de Fuego Rose is a solid effort that has a light salmon color to go with notions of cherry blossom, orange peel and herbs de Provence. Medium-bodied, supple, fresh easy-drinking, and an outstanding value at $3."

My Review: This wine smelled sweet, with oaky hints and a vanilla scent as well. It tasted silky smooth, hints of a white flower with and pleasantly sweet, not dry at all.

I had this wine alone without food.

Tasting - Villa Vitas

Name: Villa Vitas Ribolla Gialla
Variety: Ribolla Gialla
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "The 2014 Ribolla Gialla shows more minerality, nice quince, white currant and citrus oil notes, a dry, refreshing mouthfeel and a fragrant bouquet."

My Review: To me this wine smelled earthy, maybe a hint of grassy as well. The taste was unlike any I've tasted before, pleasantly dry with a smooth finish. Certainly would have again.

I had this wine alone without food.

Tasting - Alvaro Doecq

Name: Alvaro Domecq

Variety: Aranda Cream Sherry

Region: Jerez, Spain

Country: Spain

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar's Review: "Golden-brown in color, this has heady aromas of cola, nut, nutmeg, root beer and caramel. A pure, creamy palate of cinnamon apple, mocha, coffee and chocolate. It's quite smooth and balanced, and very long on the finish."

My Review: This wine started with a strong smell of roasted caramel and brown sugar, with the alcohol content clear on the nose. Its taste was very sweet, again with the roasted caramel and brown sugar, with a nutty finish like walnuts or almonds. The finish was surprisingly smooth for such a strong drink, however for best results I think this wine needs to be paired with food. This sherry and the port from last week share the quality that they smell as they taste, which isn't the same for other wine drinks.

I had this wine alone without food.

Tasting - Layer Cake

Name: Layer Cake

Variety: Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar's Review: "The Layer Cake Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain is rich and powerful, yet clean and balanced. Layered with aromas of ultra ripe black fruit. On the palate, the wine shows intense dark fruit with a background of rich dark chocolate and fresh ground coffee with a long creamy finish."

My Review: This wine had a dark fruit smell, almost black like raspberries. The taste was dry but not too dry, pleasantly tannic. It also had a bit of bitterness to it, wet violet came to mind as I drank it. The finish lingered a bit on the tongue after drinking.

I had this wine alone without food.

Tasting - Fossi Rosso

Name: Fossi Rosso

Variety: Blend of Sangiovese, Primitivo, Negroamaro, and Merlot

Region: Fiesole

Country: Italy

Year: Unspecified

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: "A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot with a touch of Primitivo and Negroamaro. It will remind those who have traveled to Italy of one of the local house wines they consumed while there.  Simple, juicy, and perfect for drinking with or without food, it’s packed with bright cherry, strawberry and cranberry fruit aromas and flavors."

My Review: This wine started with an oaky smell, hints of vanilla and red fruit. It had a dry taste, very tannic and fruity, hints of strawberry under that. Pleasant to drink, I think there may be more complexity to this wine than I was able to pick up on yet.

I had this wine without food on its own.

Tasting - Nugan Pie in the Sky

Name: Nugan Pie in the Sky Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: South Eastern Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar's Review: Aromas of poached peach, fig and pineapple with biscuity notes. Tropical, medium bodied style with peach and melon flavours complimented by zesty acids, savoury nuances and a crisp, dry finish. Perfect partner with many styles of modern cuisine including those with an Asian or Mediterranean twist.

My Review: This wine had an oaky smell to me, however where it really shined was in its taste. It was spicy for a white wine with good personality, had zesty lemon flavor, with an oily finish that lingered on your tongue for a bit after drinking. Pleasant to drink, would have again.

I didn't have this wine with food.

Tasting - Invino Si

Name: Invino Si

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Region: Lombardy

Country: Italy

Year: 2014

Price: $5.95

Wine Store Review: Pavia, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy where viticulture dates back thousands of years is home to the Si Pinot Grigio vineyards. The wine is creamy on the palate with a crisp, dry character, fresh citrus and pear flavors and an elegant finish.

My Review: This wine started off with a smell that hinted of floral and citrus flavor, somewhat like orange blossoms. It had the most unique taste I've ever seen in a Pinot Grigio, light and pleasant with a distinct citrus feel. The finish was buttery smooth, very pleasant to drink.

I didn't have this with food.