Tasting - Peter Mertes Qualitatswein

Name: Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitatswein 2009
Variety: 
Region: Rheinhessen and Palatinate
Country: Germany
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95


Critic's Review: 

Leibfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts. The original was named after the Leibfraumilch monastery in Worms, where the monks were the first wine growers and produced an unusually pleasing wine. Wines of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate are noted for their aroma, well-balanced harmony, and fragrance. Leibfraumilch, as all excellent white wines is best served chilled. We suggest serving with cold entrees, as well as poultry, such as chicken or turkey, or even with a mild Cheddar, mellow and slightly nutty with a medium consistency. - Vintage Cellar

My Review: 

This was an interesting and good light wine. It smelled as a kid's juice drink would (i.e. Capri sun, Hi-C, etc.), along with various fruit juices including Pineapple and apple. On the palate, this wine was very light, crisp, and almost refreshing. It had a very good amount of residual sugars, without having too much making it sweet. It tasted like a weak apple sauce, along with light summer fruits. 
I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Col Des Vents Corbieres

Name: Col Des Vents Corbieres 2009
Variety: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Region: 
Country: France

Year: 2009
Price: $7.95


Critic's Review: 

Brambly Berry, cherry, and raspberry, spices, black pepper...all are present in this authentic French country wine. - Vintage Cellar

My Review: 

This wine was good for the pricing. It was nothing to write home about, but good nonetheless. It started with a nose of black pepper, dark chocolate, cherries, wood, and smoke. Upon tasting, it was found that this wine was much like the one before it in that it tasted much like it smelled. There were strong notes of cherries, and wood chips, along with a finish of black pepper. 

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - San Elias Carmenere

Name: San Elias Carmenere
Variety: 100% Carmenere
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95


Critic's Review: 

The grapes for this Carmenere are selected from vineyards in the Central Valley. Beautiful red fruit aromas. Supple and round in the mouth, the wine pairs well with full flavored cheeses and lamb.

My Review: 

This was the first Carmenere I have ever had. It was a very surprising wine on both the nose, and the palate. The nose of this wine smelled distinctly of fresh green bell peppers. On the palate, it tasted the exact same as it smelled. This was very surprising considering how most wines don't smell as they taste. This tasted like the same green bell peppers with maybe a tiny hint of onion on the mid palate. 

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Estrella Chardonnay

Name: Estrella Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95


Critic's Review: 

Intensely flavored and balanced with layers of vanilla, butter and pear, followed by apple, banana, and oak. - Vintage cellar

My Review: 

This Chardonnay was not like the typical Chardonnay. I am not a very big fan of Chardonnay, and I thought this was a decently-good bottle of wine. Especially for the price of $5.95. On the nose, there was a very intense smell of pears canned in syrups, along with strawberries. On the palate however, there was no hint of pear what-so-ever. Instead, it was replaced by the taste of what was almost like a strawberry-banana candy or smoothie, with lots of oak, and was very tart. It was a refreshing change from the everyday run of the mill cat urine Chardonnay. 
I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Zonin Pinot Grigio

Name: Zonin Pinot Grigio 2009
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Critic's Review: 

Pale straw yellow color with brilliant reflections. Delicately fruity bouquet, with outstanding finesse and marked hints of almond blossom and peaches. Elegant, soft and well-structured fruit on the palate, with remarkable freshness and a clean persistent aftertaste. - Vintage Cellar

My Review: 

This Pinot Grigio in my opinion portrayed itself like a $5.95 bottle of wine. On the nose it was very floral, and had hints of an almost gasoline-like burn. It was palate-able, albeit very tart, and full of over-ripened citrus fruits. It lacked any sign of a substantial mid-palate. On the finish, there was a prominent taste of alcohol accompanied by a decent amount of heat. Although it was not a very good Pinot Grigio, for the price, it was decent about what I expected.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Kendall-Jackson Riesling

Name: Kendall-Jackson Riesling 2010
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $12


Critic's Review: 

Deliciously crisp with lots of fruit and subtle spice notes. Layers of apricot, peach, and orange blossom mingle with bursts of aromatic jasmine and delightful finish.

My Review: 

This Riesling was decent, but not amazing. It was a light golden color and was very light bodied. On the nose, this wine reeked of cat-urine and sour towels. On the palate however it was very sweet and tasted of pears, apples, and apricots with no heat. 


I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Trapiche Malbec

Name: Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec 2010
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $11


Critic's Review:

The 2010 Oak Cask Malbec has an intense red color with violet hints. The wine shows sweet aromas of blackberry and plum with a touch of black pepper, an elegant touch of smoke and vanilla comes from the oak aging. There is a velvety texture, soft tannins, and long finish. 

My Review: 

This Oak Cask Malbec was good. At 14% ABV, it had no recognizable heat, and had strong aromas of black and red berries - especially black cherries. On the palate, there were very strong tastes of cherry and vanilla, with a very smoky and almost meat-like finish. This wine was medium-bodied, and had very little to no tannins.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Chateau Morrisette Blackberry Wine

Name: Chateau Morrisette Blackberry Wine
Variety: Blackberry wine
Region: Virginia
Country: United States
Year: N/A
Price: $10


Critic's Review: 
Sweet and smooth, this Blackberry Wine is packed with the vibrant fruitiness of succulent, sun drenched berries. 

My Review: 
This wine was excellent for a fruit based wine. At 12% ABV, there was absolutely no heat, or any hint of alcohol in either the palate or bouquet. On the nose this wine resembled a Blackberry juice, with trace amounts of cinnamon. Tasting this wine gave way to a light bodied wine that was very easy on the palate. It tasted very much like biting into a  Blackberry, and drinking the juice that comes with it. 
I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - Lazzaro Chardonnay

Name: Lazzaro Chardonnay 2010

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: I.P. Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7


Critic's Review: 

Opens with mellow peach and melon aromas and some oak. The palate is round, creamy, and full. Tastes of spiced, dried apple with a stalky, pithy accent. - Vintage Cellar


My Review: 

This Chardonnay was an Oaked Chardonnay with very light golden color, and a light body. When the bottle was first opened, there were scents of musty pears and apples. While warm, the palate consisted of apples, pears, and spicy cheeses. It was also very tannic, and somewhat dry. This was one of my favorite Chardonnays while warm. After chilling in the refrigerator for an hour, the bouquet changed and had aromas of oak, aerosols, sweet gala apples, perfume, and maple sugar. The taste transformed to notes of maple sugar, cedar cigar-box, and sweet gala apples. The tannic component of the wine did not change after chilling. 
I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting - No Vineyards Chardonnay

Name: No Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Monterey County, CA
Country: United States
Year: 2008
Price: $15


Vineyards's Review:  
The wine has a bright, alluring nose with high tone tropical fruit and rich melon flavors. The wine is vibrant and pure on the palate without lactic acid to weigh it down. A fabulous food wine that can be paired with a variety of seafoods, light fare and savory cheeses, it is also wonderful on its own.

My Review: 
Upon first opening the bottle, this wine had a very champagne like color - almost like a watered down apple juice. The bouquet of the Chardonnay had very strong hints of cat urine, canned tuna, and sour cucumbers. The first sip was light-bodied, dry, and had almost no taste besides very faint light notes of lime. After chilling in the refrigerator for an hour, the Chardonnay completely changed. The bouquet really opened up, and had very strong scents of pears, apples, and fresh cut grass, accompanied by background hints of plum. Along with the bouquet, the taste also opened up. After chilling, the wine had notes of citrus fruits, sugar, and tart pears/apples. It turned out to be a very good Chardonnay that was sweet, fruity, and somewhat dry.
 
I did not taste this wine with food.