Tasting - Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto

Name: Lost Vineyards Vinho de Mesa Tinto

Variety: Blend (primarily Castelгo)

Region: N/A

Country: Portugal
Year: N/A

Price: $3.95

Critic Review: Pours a light garnet color with a nice crisp zest, with aromas of cranberries and orange peel on the nose. Drinks smooth with a briary of mild cherries, wild strawberries and raspberries along with a note of rhubarb. Pairs particularly well with wild game and heavy fish such as salmon.

My Review: This red was very meaty and smokey, with a hint of a berry flacor at the finish.  After tasting this wine, it is evident that I need to taste an array of berries to pick up more specific flavors.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Torrent Bay Chardonnay

Name: Torrent Bay Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: N/A

Country: New Zealand
Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Fleshy, melony aromas cuddle some fresh oak. The palate has decent acidity so there’s freshness along with weight, resiny oak flavors, lemon and green apple.

My Review: The musky aromas of this wine led to a very tangy, almost sweaty taste.  I definitely tasted a little oak, as mentioned in the critic review.  Not bad, but not great either.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Spanish Vines Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: N/A

Country: Spain
Year: 2009

Price: $4.95

Critic Review: Apple and floral notes and then an almost buttery palate with baked apple and citrus flavors. -- Wine Enthusiast (85 pts)

My Review: I completely disagree with the critic review about this wine.  I tasted a vegetative flavor, but I also found the wine very light.  I didn't hate this wine, but there was no distinguishing flavors that made me want to drink more.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Muscanti Bru

Name: Muscanti Brut

Variety: Cava Grapes

Region: Girona

Country: Spain
Year: N/A

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Lemon blossoms, green apple, toast and honeydew melon are front and center in this crisp refreshing Spanish Sparkler. Silky supple with lingering flavors, yet a tingle of citric acid on the finish. A combination of traditional cava grapes but this wine is not made in the traditional méthode champenoise (which is required by Spanish law to be called Cava). This is made with the Charmat process so this wine may only be called ‘Spanish sparkling wine’ .

My Review: This sparkling wine was a good start to the tasting.  It was very crisp and acidic, yet too similar to apple juice.  I found there to be a bitter finish.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Region: N/A

Country: Germany
Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Critic Review: Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors.Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance.

My Review: This riesling had an offensive taste of musky, old boxes that have been in an attic for 50 years.  Along with this musky dust flavor, there was also a sweet, grass vegetal flavor.  While I thought this wine was a little funky, I didn't hate it!

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Don Ramon Tinto

Name: Don Ramon Tinto
Variety: Blend (75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo)

Region: N/A

Country: Spain
Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: Aged 3 months in American Oak casks. Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.

My Review: I felt that this wine was very similar to the Resonata Nero D'Avola in that there was a clear cedar flavor.  The heat was too much for my preference, and was reminiscent of acetone.  Lastly, I tasted a dirt-like earthiness flavor.

I did not taste this wine with food

Tasting - Resonata Nero D'Avola

Name: Resonata Nero D'Avola

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy
Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Critic Review: Dense ruby red with violet reflections.
Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background.

My Review: This was my least favorite wine of the Thursday night tasting.  Both the nose and taste of the wine was very cedar-like.  The smokiness of the wine was also very unappetizing to me.  While I picked up on the spice int he wine, I did not sense a balance with heavy berry flavor as indicated in the review.

I did not taste this wine with food