Tasting - Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Name: Black Ridge White Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: NV

Price: $3.95

Vintage Cellar Review: This fruit forward White Zinfandel displays fresh aromas and crisp
flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. It is incredibly food
friendly and will pair well with burgers, sandwiches, fruit salad, and
more.

My Review: Even though Boyer said that White Zinfandel was like the Natty Lite of wine, I really love White Zin, so I was excited that they had this as part of the tasting today. I love it for its consistently good taste. This version of White Zin definitely didn't disappoint. The nose had a lot of strawberries on it. It was also a little grapey. This was unique from other White Zins that I've had color-wise because it was more of an amber brown than its typical deep pink color. The taste had lots of strawberries as well with a little floral hint to it. It tasted clean and well-balanced.  I was surprised to find the alcohol percentage to be 11.5% on this wine, which is quite high for White Zin. Overall, this was a very decent White Zin and I would definitely have it again. Since it was so cheap, I bought a bottle with.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Chandon Sweet Cuvee

Name: Chandon Sweet Cuvee

Variety: 

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: NV

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: This wine is an innovative sparkling wine style revealing vibrant
stone fruit and floral aromas with rich, luscious mouthfeel. This
wine enlivens the senses and sparks spontaneous moments,
complementing your passion for a good life.

My Review: The color was interesting because it was a deep amber, rather than a shade of red. As this was a sparkling wine, I was excited to try it because I love sparkling wines. There was a bit of grapefruit on the nose, but other than that, this wine didn't have much smell to it, which was disappointing. The taste was definitely interesting though because it wasn't sweet in the way I expected. It had a taste like fresh cut grass with a touch of white pepper, which is an interesting pairing with a sweet wine. It also had a bit of grapefruit on the palate as well. Overall I actually liked the wine for it's interesting flavor. If it had been a little cheaper, I would've bought it.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Wilson Daniels Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Orange blossom and citrus permeate the aromas. Alluring flavors
of orange and grapefruit dominate the palate. Bright acidity
balances the plush mouthfeel, resulting in a clean finish.

My Review: On the nose, this wine was like fresh pears with a dash of grapefruit. The taste was light and clean, just like the nose. It was definitely more acidic, but not to the point that it seemed too out of balance. The pears and other white-fleshed fruits were also noticeable on the palate. Overall, this was definitely a wine I would have again. If there weren't cheaper wines to choose from on the list today, I would've bought it.
I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - Caprice de Bastor Lamontagne

Name: Caprice de Bastor Lamontagne

Variety: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle

Region: Sauternes

Country: France

Year: 2004

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow
through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors,
with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

My Review: This was surprisingly my least favorite wine of the bunch. When I heard it was a dessert wine, I was excited to try it since I love sweeter wines. On the nose however, the wine was not really appealing. It smelled a little like apples that were past their peak, like the kind that have brown spots all over them. There was a bit of lemon, which made the smell worse simply because I don't think apples and lemons make a good combination together. On the tongue, this wine had the slightest carbonation. It was definitely sweet, as dessert wines tend to be. The flavors were overly sweet honey, and the rotten apple with lemon juice squeezed all over it. Overall, this wine was not for me and I definitely wouldn't have it again.
I did not have food paired with this wine.

Tasting - Torre Castillo Alegre

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre

Variety: 100% Monastrell

Region: Jumilla

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 4 months in new American oak barrels
Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with
a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with
blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a
suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on
the finish.

My Review: This wine had probably the most interesting nose than any wine I've previously tasted. This wine smelled and actually tasted of a cinnamon stick. Though I've heard that wines could have hints of cinnamon, I've never experienced it myself until now. The cinnamon suggests that this wine spent a good amount of time in oak barrels, which the Vintage Cellar's review confirms. Also on the nose, the wine smelled like a combination of grape juice and grape jam. On the palate however, this wine was much more earthy, but as I said, the cinnamon stick was still very apparent. The wine had a dried-out fruit flavor, like a not-ripe raisin baking in the sun. Overall, this wine was pretty good and it was definitely the most interesting of the bunch. I would consider buying it for myself.
I did not have food paired with this wine.  

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name: Wilson Daniels Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: United States

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is fullbodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum
and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with
vanilla and toast

My Review: On the nose, it smelled of not-yet-ripe grapes. There was also some strawberry and I could definitely smell the dryness of this wine. On the palate, this wine was a little woody, almost like dried cigar leaves. This probably means that the wine spent some time in oak barrels, though not more than a month or so I would imagine, since the scent wasn't too overwhelming. The tannins were definitely apparent in this wine but not overwhelming. It also had a tiny bit a blackberry to the flavor. Overall, this wine was decent, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to by it for myself.
I did not have any food paired with this wine.

Tasting - Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Name: Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Variety: 100% Babera

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy 

Year: 2012

Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this
an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers

My Review: On the nose this wine was very sweet. The biggest scent was cherries, but they were sweet to the point of smelling more like maraschino cherries. There was also a hint a strawberry on the back end. Though the sweetness of the smell was a little alarming, the taste was very smooth and not overly sweet at all. It was a very well-balanced sweetness, which I really enjoyed. It tasted smooth and floral. Mixed with the cherry flavor, the wine tasted a lot like how I imagine cherry blossoms would taste. There was a slight tart finish, but the sweetness counteracted well with it. Overall the wine was  very delicious and I bought it because I liked it so much.
I did not have food with this wine.