Tasting- Fattori Runcaris Soave

Name: Fattori Runcaris Soave
Variety: Runcaris Soave
Price: $15

Region: Soave

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Description: 86 points, Wine Enthusiast- "From the local Italian word for 'to work the soil,' Runcaris represents an easy, fresh expression of Soave Classico with lingering aromas of citrus, yellow rose, honey, jasmine and dried herbs."

Citrus with a hint of a wet paper towel on the nose lead into a sweet, full taste and a tart finish. 

Tasting- Baumann Gentil Classiq

Name: Baumann Gentil Classiq

Variety: Gentil Classiq

Price: $17

Region: Alsace

Country: France

Year: 2012

Description: "A delicious and fresh blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Light aromas of fresh fruit and delicate citrus fruit. A well-balanced acidity on the dry finish ends this French blend beautifully."

Blackberry, flowers, and honeysuckle on the nose are accompanied by a dry, kicking finish. 

Tasting- Champteloup Pinot Noir

Name: Champteloup Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Price: $15

Region: Loire Valley

Country: France

Year: 2011

Description: "In the heart of France's Loire River Valley lies the Touraine wine region. Although it produces vast amounts of well-priced, fresh, mostly white wines, lovely reds like this are broadening Touranie's appeal. This wine may sem familiar to you. It is a sibling of the Touraine Sauvignon Blanc winemaking, using no wood and doing as little as possible to preserve freshness. Bright cherry and strawberry fruits are followed by a soft, smooth palate."

Very dry; although wood was supposedly eliminated from the process, that was all that I smelled and tasted. Like sitting in front of a warm, crackling fire. 

Tasting- Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Neu Direction 

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $15

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina
Year: 2010

Description: "This cabernet sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure."

Lots of blackberry here; very berry on the nose. Faint hint of florals on the tongue, which is then overpowered by a full jelly-esque taste. Chewy finish.

Tasting- Sonnenband

Name: Sonnenband Moscato Magnum

Variety: Moscato

Price: $20

Region: 

Country: Spain

Year: 

Description: "This wine is intricate with the delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars."

With peach, apricot and honey on the nose, this moscato had a full, but light, finish with strong honey flavor.

Tasting- Bengali Valpolicella Ripasso

Name: Bengali Valpolicella Ripasso

Variety: 

Price: $14.95

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Description: "The 2011 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore La Ceniga is exceptionally beautiful and balanced. There's a lot going on: background tones of basalm herb, rosemary and black olive follow straightforward aromas of dried fruit and prune. A pretty touch of eucalyptus springs forth. The wine is incredibly light, buoyant and lively despite the elaborate Ripasso process. Drink 2014-2018." 90 points, Robert Parker


Fruitier than the Odoardi Savuto, this red has anything but a dry finish. 

Tasting- Odoardi Savuto

Name: Odoardi Savuto 

Variety: Savuto

Price: $18

Region: Calabria

Country: Italy

Year: 2006

Description: "A beefy, herb-tinged red, supporting dense layers of plum sauce, grilled fig and currant paste, stacked with notes of roasted game, rosemary and hummus. The finish lingers, despite noticeable tannins. Gaglioppo, Greco Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Magliocco Canino and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2016. 14,000 cases made." 89- Wine Spectator

A heavily woodsy smell and corresponding taste with a full finish define this tasty red. 

Tasting- Willm Aslace Grand Cru Riesling

Name: Willm Aslace Grand Cru Riesling 

Variety: Riesling

Price: $20.95

Region: Kirchberg de Barr

Country: Germany

Year: 2011

Description: "With great intensity and structure, this is a wine that's all about texture and potential. It's expressive with white fruits and perfume, but there's a richness that's still to come. Drink from 2016 and see how the minerality and acidity will come into balance." 92 points, Wine Spectator


This particular Riesling offered an indistinguishable smell, and a partially sweet but dry finish. 

Tasting- Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid

Name: Jesus Diaz Blanco Vinos de Madrid 

Variety: 
Price: $15

Region: Vinos de Madrid

Country: Spain

Year: -

Description: "Vinos de madrid is a region of Spain not often encountered in the US, while Malvar is considered a regional specialty but remains unknown outside of central Spain. Zesty acidity and tropical fruit make thus obscure buy a great food wine!"


Honestly, I was hit with an overpowering "grape" smell. This white wine was smooth, but not as sweet as its preceding Cava Brut. 

Tasting- Dibon Cava Brut

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserva

Variety: Cava

Price: $9.95

Region: 

Country: Spain

Year: -

Description: "Light apple aromas are elegant and not over the top, while the tangerine and orange flavors are lean and focused. This is a light-framed Cava with a clean, fast, tasty profile and finish. Not yeasty or heavy at all." 88 points- Wine Enthusiast 

This cava struck me as fairy-like with its light, fruity flavor and bubbly texture. A delightful sip. 

Author's Edit 3.11.14- Probably my favorite so far; bought a bottle for a special occasion and it did not let me down! Great, full bubbly expressions met with the light, fruity apple taste as previously described. 

Tasting- Cupcake Wine Angel Food Cake

Name: Cupcake Wine Angel Food Cake

Variety: Blended, mainly Chardonnay 
Price: $13

Region: California 
                                         Country: USA

                                         Year: 2012

Description: "I was honestly a little disappointed with this wine. The label describes it as having a toasty, creamy finish, but I found it to be heavy on the tongue without much complexity. I felt like the variance in taste was lost in the sweetness of the wine - a drier version might have conveyed a more complete flavor profile. While it is a smooth white suitable for everyday drinking, I wasn't convinced it was much better than wines half the price. I suspected a Chardonnay blend labeled "Angel Food" would be nontraditional; I guess I just hoped for something more buttery." -http://www.thealcohobbyist.com

This chardonnay blend met the nose with a fresh, crisp apple and citrus smell. It has a warm, toasty finish with a soft fruit flavor.  

Tasting- Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg

Name: Weinkeller Erbach
Flonheimer Adelberg
Variety: Sylvaner
Price: $18

Region: Rheinhessen

Country: Germany

Year: 2010

Description: “The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen. It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile. The finish is zippy and refreshing. Perfect for party on the deck as it comes in a liter bottle!”

This wine is akin to an artificially scented lemon cleaning product. Not to be consumed. 

Tasting- Montebuena Rioja

Name: Montebuena Rioja
Variety: Torrontes
Price: $8.95

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Description: "(100% Tempranillo, raised entirely in American oak): Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja."

- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (September 2012), 90 pts

A wooden, oaky taste was what first hit me with this wine. This wine was smooth, dry, peppery, but still very sweet. 

Tasting- Delaroche Cotes du Rhone

 

Delaroche Cotes du Rhone
Variety: Torrontes
Price: $8.95

Region: Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2011

Description: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" -WineReview (December 2013), 90 pts.

This blended red wine hinted of honeydew melon.

Tasting- Maipe Torrontes

Maipe Torrontes

Variety: Torrontes

Price: $7.95

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2013

Description: Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body.  Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well.

I did not try this wine with food, and perhaps I should have. Its flavor was highly unappealing and frankly, I found it as tasty as vomit. 

Tasting- Cortenova Pinot Grigio

 

Cortenova
Pinot Grigio 

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Price: $7.95

Region: Venezie, Italy

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Description: Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections.

Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif.

This fruity white wine has a subtle apple taste, with a smooth finish. It did not burn like some wines do, and was actually quite enjoyable. I did not have it with food, but it was the first of five I tasted, so its flavor was not spoiled by any preceding ones.