Tasting - Ca'Bea Sangue di Guida

Name: Ca'Bea Sangue di Guida
Variety: 45% Uva Rara, 10% Barbera, 25% Croatina
Region: Oltrepo Pavese
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2014
Price: $9.95

Shop Review: "Off-dry with a slight fizz, offering bright berry and mineral notes. Medium-bodied, with a clean, fresh palate and fruity finish. This is a rare, sweet red wine that is wonderful with desserts such as dry pastries, cookies, and cakes."

My Review: The color of this wine is remarkable! A beautiful deep purple that is slightly carbonated. It was pretty refreshing, but kind of tasted like artificial grape flavor.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Alvarez de Toledo Mencia Roble

Name: Alvarez de Toledo
Variety: Mencia Roble
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2009
Price: $14, on sale for $8.95

Shop Review: "The 2009 Alvarez de Toledo was bottled just a week before the wine was presented but seems to be showing no symptoms of distress. Balsamic, leather, and black fruits are the principal notes struck by this suave effort that over-delivers in a big way. Like its older sibling, it can be enjoyed now but will have more to say in 2-3 years."

My Review: This wine was just ok. I did not like the aromas I got. On the palate, all I could taste was black pepper. Not a winner.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Codirosso Chianti

Name: Codirosso
Variety: 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo, 3% Colorino
Region: Tuscany (Chianti)
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2015
Price: $3, on sale for $7.95

Shop Review: "A heck of a value in Chianti, this delicious blend of 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo, and 3% Colorino offers up notes of licorice, new saddle leather, black cherry and berry fruit, loamy soil undertones and a touch of pepper and herbs. It is medium-bodied, savory and best drunk over the next several years."

My Review: I liked this wine!! It had a nice ruby red color. I got a lot of oaky/smokey aromas. Definitely astringent (that dry feeling in your mouth) but in a good way. 

Pairing: Not yet, but I did buy this wine so I'll have to update you on what I pair it with :)


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - The Royal Chenin Blanc

Name: The Royal Old Vines Steen
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Vintage: 2015
Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "The 2015 Chenin Blanc offers loads of melony fruit interspersed with hints of honeysuckle and peach. It is delicious, crisp, fresh, lively, and a dead ringer for a good Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Drink it over the next year."

My Review: I thought this wine was good! It was crisp and acidic. I got hints of pineapple and lime. Definitely would recommend this wine. I also learned that South Africa has been growing Chenin Blanc grapes for over 400 years! Pretty cool!

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Barão de Figueira Siria

Name: Barão de Figueira Vinho Branco
Variety: Siria
Region: Beira
Country: Portugal
Vintage: 2014
Price: $12, on sale for $6.95

Shop Review: "This wine is soft and rounded. It has lemon and light spiciness along with cool acidity. It is an easy wine that is ripe with apple and fresh lemon juice and ready to drink."

My Review: This wine is good! I got fruity aromas like apricot. It was acidic and almost sour. We had a wine last week that was the same brand but it was a red. I did not like that one but this one was good!

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Vintage: N/A
Price: $5.95

Shop Review: "Pale golden color. Ripe and dried peaches on the nose. Minerals and dried peach flavors. Nicely balanced, leaning towards lime acidity."

My Review: I'm not usually into sweet wines anymore but this one was good. It almost smelt like shampoo with hints of floral and fruity aromas. Pretty sweet but good!

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Vindeos Real Rubio

Name: Vinedos Real Rubio
Variety: Tempranillo, Graciano
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Vintage: Rioja Crianza 2010
Price: $16, on sale for $9.95

Shop Review: "Lightly baked berry aromas vie for attention with leather, spice and mild earth notes, and teh result is disjointed. On the palate, this is tight as a drum initially, but more expansive as it unfolds. Cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and woodspice flavors finish pure, clean and easy. This is a fine yet manageable Rioja that's not trying too hard. Drink through 2016."

My Review: This wine was good! It did have an orangey brick dark red color which I noticed and then realized it said "drink through 2016" and it is now 2017. But I still liked it! I got aromas of damp basement, tobacco, and pepper. 

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Barao de Figueira

Name: Barao de Figueira
Variety: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca
Region: Beria
Country: Portugal
Vintage: Tinto Reserva 2013
Price: $12, on sale for $7.95

Shop Review: "From vineyards at 2000 feet elevation, this is a rich and spicy wine that has a pure streak of fruit freshness and a firmly tannic core. It is perfumed from Touriga Nacional in the blend, with red berry and black plum flavors coming through strongly along, balanced by acidity. It will be better from 2017."

My Review: This wine had a dark purple color. I got aromas of lentils, tea, pepper, and metal. It was dry and astringent. I did not enjoy this wine at all. However, the description says "will be better from 2017" so maybe it will get better with age?!

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Garnacha de Fuego Rose

Name: Garnacha de Fuego Rose
Variety: Old Vines Grenache
Region: Aragon
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2014
Price: $10, on sale for $2.95

Shop 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 was the hit of the night. I did not like it at ALL. However, college students were buying it left and right because it was only $2.95 lol. I almost got a light oaky aroma. It was kind of bitter. Like I said, I did not like this wine.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Villa Vitas Ribolla Gialla

Name: Villa Vitas
Variety: Ribolla Gialla
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2014
Price: $18, on sale for $6.95

Shop 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: This wine was interesting to me because I had never heard of the grape Ribolla Gialla. In fact, I had to Google it! It's also pretty cool that it comes from Venice, Italy. I didn't know they grew wine grapes there. I thought this wine was ok. I got peach/pear aromas and very floral notes on the palate. This wine was also acidic.

Pairing: Nope!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Prime's Ruby Port

Name: Prime's Ruby Port
Variety: N/A
Region: Oporto
Country: Portugal
Vintage: N/A
Price: $18, on sale for $9.95

Shop Review: "Ruby color; red fruit aromas; pleasantly sweet and balanced taste. As the wines used to produce Prime's Ruby Port age, they gain smoothness and elegance while retaining their fruitiness, intensity and youthful ruby color. They are then blended together for balance and consistency."

My Review: Wow! I've got a story for you! I tried this wine originally and did not like it. It was way too powerful. I got aromas of molasses and soy sauce and there were sediments in the deep brick color. BUT THEN that bottle finished and we started pouring the next bottle, which had a different color and taste. I really liked this one a lot better. It was sweeter, whereas the previous was more umami flavors. We called over the master, Randall, and asked him what he thought. Turns out, the one I really liked was just a hair bad (or as Randall put it, it's not bad, it's just different than the rest). He said it was still totally fine to drink so I got that bottle (don't judge). Just goes to show how different tastes can be!

Pairing: Not yet! :)


Until next week, cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Lindeman's Cabernet Merlot

Name: Lindeman's Bin 80
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (79%) and Merlot (21%)
Region: Southeastern
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2015
Price: $18 magnum (1.5 L), on sale for $7.95 -- great deal!!

Shop Review: "Medium red in color with ruby hues. On the nose aromas of dark red berries, black currants and ripe plums. While the palate is medium bodied, with dark red berries and a soft tannic finish."

My Review: This was definitely my favorite of the evening! It was spicey, oaky, and just a classic Cabernet Sauvignon taste. It was very yummy but left a warm/hot aftertaste feeling.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Domaine du Poujol

Name: Domaine du Poujol, Coteaux du Languedoc
Variety: Grenache Cinsault 
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Vintage: 2011
Price: $13, on sale for $5.95

Shop Review: "Minerally and berry notes make for a savory blend of flavors in this fine-grained red. Dried berry fruit dominates, with accents of white pepper and dill seed. Delivers lively acidity on the finish. Drink now through 2018."

My Review: This wine was floral and earthy. I didn't enjoy this one too much, but maybe it is better with food (or age since it says 'drink now through 2018').

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Pazo de Monterrey

Name: Pazo de Monterrey
Variety: Godello
Region: Monterrei
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2014
Price: $15, on sale for $5.95

Shop Review: "Clean, minerally, slightly green in aromatics and oh so approachable and nice. For an under $15 white, this Godello, from Monterrel excels with layered flavors of apple, minerals and natural spice. The finish is long and hints of fresh herbs like thyme and tarragon. Potentially superb with garlic shrimp or calamari over fresh greens."

My Review: This white had more of a light yellow/honey color to it. I got aromas similar to sherry, surprisingly. It was acidic and just bad, in my opinion. Many liked it though!

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Domaine de la Foret

Name: Domaine de la Foret, Rosé de Mediterraneé
Variety: Grenache Cinsault
Region: Provence
Country: France
Vintage: 2015
Price: $9, on sale for $5.95

Shop Review: "In color, this is almost white. There is some attractive acidity and the soft wine will slip down easily with just a touch of red currant. The result is a lightly mineral wine that is refreshing and good for an apéritif."

My Review: I did not like this wine. It was very acidic. I picked up some citrus and lemon aromas. I did not feel like this wine was balanced.

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Coastal Vines White Zinfandel

Name: Coastal Vines
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: USA
Vintage: N/A
Price: $15, on sale for $5.95

Shop Review: "Coastal Vines White Zinfandel is a light and fruity salmon-pink wine. Sweet, floral aromas of jasmine and roses burst into bright flavors of apricots, cantaloupe, and orange blossoms."

My Review: Definitely not as sweet as the sweet sweet Jam Jar from last week. It was the HIT OF THE DAY at class tasting. So many people bought a bottle of this (maybe because it was only $5.95 for a magnum size and we're college students... haha jk it was pretty good!) I'm not a fan of sweet wines but this was a good balance. A lot of people were comparing it to candy. I got aromas of grapefruit and strawberry.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Until next week, cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Variety: Montepulciano
Region: Abruzzo
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2013
Price: $7.95

Shop Review: "Wild berry, chopped mint, sun baked earth and violet aromas meld together on this solid savory red. The juicy straightforward palate doles out ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, anise and cinnamon alongside chewy tannins."

My Review: Well this wine is just fun to say - MONTEPULCIANO *said in Italian accent with Italian hand movement.* It was ok, not my fave. It's a lighter red. I got aromas of leather and wood. It was acidic and astringent.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Rosemount Diamond Label

Name: Rosemount Diamond Label
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Southeastern
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2014
Price: $15, on sale for $7.95

Shop Review: "On the nose fragrant red berry fruits; red cherries raspberries; supported by sweet earthy spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate is bright and lively with flavors of cherry and raspberry are supported by a soft creamy texture, prividing a long and elegant finish."

My Review: HOLY AROMAS! I'm not usually a pinot noir kinda gal, but this wine brought me back to summer nights. I got huge aromas of bonfire, toasted marshmallows, and bbq sauce. Smokey and spicey. I feel like this would be good with a steak. I really enjoyed this by itself though - so much so that I bought a bottle!! What else is new?

Pairing: Not yet but since I bought it, I will be pairing it. What do you suggest? What do you pair with your favorite pinot noir? Let me know in the comments below!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Valminor Albariño

Name: Valminor
Variety: Albariño
Region: Rias Baixas
Country: Spain
Vintage: 2015
Price: $19, on sale for $9.95

Shop Review: "Gloriously aromatic with jasmine and flint notes; very scented. Full and sleshy palate, a mineral follow-through and intense, harmonious finish. A very lovely Albariño that is so pure."

My Review: This wine was very light in aromas, in my opinion. I did get a lot of floral notes. It was clear in color and smooth in texture but the aftertaste was acidic. Not my fave.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Yellowtail Unoaked Chardonnay

Name: Yellowtail
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: N/A
Country: New Zealand & Australia
Vintage: N/A
Price: $7, on sale for $4.95

Shop Review: "Wow, who would ever call Yellow Tail understated? But here it is. Nice but light aromas of orange, grapefruit, apple, earth and flowers, Lemon, grapefruit, apples, and a little lime on the light palate. Good acidity, pleasant finish, and decent minerality."

My Review: Don't judge a book by its cover! Even though this is a popular cheaper wine, it was definitely a favorite of the tastings for many today. Was it my favorite? Hmm definitely not, unfortunately. I got aromas of grapefruit and citrus. I just did not like the taste though.

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Jam Jar Sweet White

Name: Jam Jar Sweet White
Variety: Moscato
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Vintage: 2015
Price: $15, on sale for $7.95

Shop Review: "This charming, easy-drinking Moscato offers flavors of peach, apricot, lychee and orange blossom. A lively jolt of acidity keeps it fresh and fruity. Fancy enough for a special occasion toast, yet sweet-natured enough to enjoy every day."

My Review: This wine was light clear in color. I got aromas of grapefruit and apple. It was very smooth/creamy texture and very sweet. I definitely recommend this for people who like sweet white wines. It was a little too sweet for me, though!

Pairing: Not with this wine!


Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Fox Creek Shiraz

Name: Fox Creek
Variety: Shiraz
Region: McLaren Vale
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2012
Price: $23, on sale for $9.95 (STEAL! Which is why I bought a bottle...)

Shop Review: "Bright purple. Exotic, expansive aromas of black and blue fruit preserves, vanilla and cola, along with a peppery overtone and a hint of violet pastille. Broad, fleshy, appealingly sweet boysenberry and cherry liquer flavors show excellent depth and a seamless texture. Finishes juicy and long, with building spiciness, an echo of blue fruit and round tannins."

My Review: This was a dark ruby color. I tasted cherry, oak, and spices. I really liked this wine. It had a GREAT balance. I ended up buying a bottle! YUMMMM

Pairing: OF COURSE! I asked someone who works at the store what he suggests I pair with it. He said he loves to pair Shiraz with bbq ribs. I went to the bbq place on campus and got pulled pork and beans and MY OH MY IT WAS A WONDERFUL PAIR. It really brought the smokiness out of the wine. This wine is so delicious and such a good value, it's hard to pass up! DEF recommend.

Comment below if you've tried this or are going to buy a bottle!!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Candoni Buongiorno Red Blend

Name: Candoni Buongiorno
Variety: Organic Primitivo and Syrah
Region: Puglia
Country: Italy
Vintage: N/A
Price: $7.95

Shop Review: "Black ruby color. Mild, spicy, earthy aromas of spiced berries and plum with a supple, bright, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a tingling, brisk earth and cinnamon finish with dusty, coating tannins and moderate oak. A sturdy, earthy red for the table."

My Review: This wine had a dark brick red color. There was no vintage on this wine but it makes me wonder if it had been aged a little bit because of the orange/brick tint. I tasted oak, spices, raspberry, and plum. It almost reminded me of a plum brandy I tried in Romania (not as strong of course). It had a strong aroma of leather as well. This wine was really good and I think would be wonderful with cheese.

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Salta
Country: Argentina
Vintage: 2016
Price: $13, on sale for $7.95

Shop Review: "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."

My Review: This wine smells AMAZING! I got aromas of orange blossom, apricot, and grape juice (lol). One descriptor that a man working there gave me was "fruit loops" and as soon as he said that I thought of fruity pebbles, similar to fruit loops, but that is exactly what this wine smells like! It tasted really good too. It was a little too acidic for me though.

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Oxford Landing Viognier

Name: Oxford Landing
Variety: Viognier
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2014
Price: $8.95

Shop Review: "This wine may not be quite as rich or expressive as the other Viogniers. In the Yalumba stable, but it's still an attractive effort. Pineapple and apricot flavors pick up hints of gingery spice on the vibrant finish."

My Review: This wine had a light straw color. It was very floral. I got aromas of lemon and grass. It was ok, not my fave!

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Crane Lake Gewürztraminer

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Gewürztraminer
Region: California
Country: USA
Vintage: 2015
Price: $5.95

Shop review: "This floral wine has notes of rose, peach, and apricot, with a smooth, lingering finish. This wine pairs well with both smoked Gouda and Munster cheeses. Also try it along with roast pork, turkey, red snapper or sautéed abalone."

My review: LOVE! What a wonderful wine and excellent value. I mean, $5.95 for a yummy sweet wine? Yes, please! As for color, it was a light yellow. I picked up flavors of lychee (omg delicious), rose, and other tree fruits.

Pairing: Not yet...the shop suggests cheeses like Gouda and Munster. I will definitely be trying it with Gouda. I'll let you know how it goes.

Until next week, cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - El Ganador Malbec

Name: El Ganador
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Vintage: 2015
Price: $12, on sale for $7.95

Shop review: "Garnet color. Aromas of black cherry, plum jam, rich dark soil, and violet honey with a lightly tannic, lively, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, complex medium long black cherry, rich garden soil, crushed plum, and cinnamon toast finish with medium tannins and moderate oak. Dense, dark and chewy with earthy complexity, balancing the luscious jammy fruit qualities of new world with earthy qualities of old world wines."

My review: THE WINNER! Haha just kidding. That's what "el ganador" means in Spanish, but unfortunately this wasn't the winner of this week's tastings. I did like this wine though! The color was a dark brick red. I got hints of blackberry, woody, oak, spices, and pepper. I liked this but not enough to purchase it since I was already buying two of them...TWO? BUT YOU ONLY TOLD US ABOUT ONE?! Wait till tomorrow to find out which other wine I bought this week...

Pairing: Not with this wine, but I feel like it would be really good with a peppery steak.

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Grand Cru Pinot Noir

Name: Grand Cru
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: USA
Vintage: 2014
Price: $5.95

Shop review: "This ruby-colored wine has aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of vanilla. Flavors of cherry and plum lead to a soft velvety finish. This wine can be enjoyed by itself. It is also an excellent accompaniment with appetizers and main courses. This wine goes well with Brie, goat cheese and smoked Salmon, lamb shanks and pork tenderloin."

My review: Not my favorite. It was a beautiful light red color. The aromas were wonderful - butterscotch, smokey, oak, pepper. I tasted cinnamon on the palate. Unfortunately, it just wasn't that great.

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Douglass Hill Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Douglass Hill
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California
Country: USA
Vintage: 2014
Price: $5.95

Shop review: "This light, crisp Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of grapefruit, bell pepper, and asparagus. On the palate, hints of floral and honey are revealed to yield a well-balanced, refreshing wine."

My review: I'm going to be honest, this one was not my fave. It was just ok. This wine was more of a golden straw color. I got hints of apple and melon. It had a smooth/creamy texture which was nice but overall I didn't like the taste.

Pairing: Not with this wine!

Cheers!
Natalie

Tasting - Prime Brume Soave Garganega

Name: Prime Brume Soave
Variety: Garganega
Region: Soave
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2015
Price: $10, on sale for $6.95

Shop review: "Brilliant emerald straw color. Aromas and flavors of brazil nuts, creme fraiche, and kiwi and starfruit with a silky, lively, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and an effortless, engaging, medium-length watermelon, yellow apple, and clementine finish. A delicious, artfully balanced soave with a great range of fruit flavors." This wine also got 91 points (out of 100) by the Beverage Testing Institute (August 31, 2016)!!

My review: I like this one a lot! The color with a light straw color with a hint of green. As far as aroma goes, I got grapefruit and apple. This wine has such a wonderful balance of acidity and flavors. I liked it so much, I bought a bottle to take home!!

Pairing: Not with this wine, but since I bought it, I'll be trying it with food soon...any suggestions?!

Another must try - can't beat this value!

Cheers!
Natalie

Wine & GIRL SCOUT COOKIES?!

I know, crazy. Or is it genius? Let me tell you how I stumbled upon this wonderful pairing...

I was just finishing up my wine that I paired with a goat brie and baguette (casual Monday night eats) when I realized I still had some Samoas (AKA caramel deLites) in my cupboard. I had finished the cheese and was sipping on the last of this v affordable Italian wine I snagged at the local wine shop. I thought the wine was good but nothing to write about. The description said to pair with soft cheese which is why I was eating it with brie. It was pretty strong in alcohol flavor (probably not the best description lol) and had strong floral aromas. It was great with the cheese....BUT THEN I TRIED IT WITH THE SOMOAS AND MY LIFE CHANGED. I honestly think any floral (non oaky) red wine would pair so well with Samoas because of the chocolate and sweet coconut flavors. OMG.

Here's the info on this particular wine that just blossomed when paired with Samoas:

Name: L' Isola dei Profumi, il Rosso

Variety: Nero d'Avola (60%) and Perricone (40%)

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2014

Price: ~$7

Please comment below any of your favorite GS Cookie wine pairings! I would love to try them!

Cheers,

Natalie

Tasting - Doña Sol Sweet Red Blend

Name: Doña Sol Sweet Red Wine
Variety: Shiraz, Petite Syrah, & Symphony
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: N/A
Price: $6.95
Shop review: "Shiraz has a unique jammy fruit character that is well represented in the Sweet Red. Both on the nose and on the palate, jammy fruit, like strawberries, cherry pie and red licorice, entices the senses and pair well with cheeses and desserts."
My review: Wow! This wine was SWEET, just like the label says! When I first started drinking wines, this would have been my favorite. It tastes like juice. Now I tend to prefer dry reds. Regardless, this was a great sweet red. I got aromas of strawberries and dark fruits. It tasted like juice. Delicious!
Food pairing: I didn't pair this with any food either since it was just at the wine tasting. However, I would definitely want to try this with a classic cheesecake. I think it's a perfect dessert wine because it's sweet but not overly sweet like some ports. One of my best friends loves sweet red wine so I had her try this. She LOVED it and bought a bottle right then and there. 

I definitely recommend this wine for people who like sweet reds! Let me know in the comments below if you try it!

Cheers,
Natalie

Tasting - Avery Quinn Zinfandel

Name: Avery Quinn
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Santa Rosa, California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $6.95
Shop review: "Lightly spicy aromas and rich, soothing fruit flavors make this an attractive, lovable and classically proportioned wine. Cherry and raspberry flavors rest on a lightly tannic but smooth texture, and linger on the finish."
My review: As I've mentioned before, I love Zinfandel. The jammy/cooked fruit flavors are usually consistent in Zinfandels. I also really liked the strong oak aromas that I got from this wine. It had a very smooth texture too.
Food pairing: Not with this wine. Comment below your favorite food to pair with a Zinfandel and I'll give it a try!!



Cheers,
Natalie

Tasting - Pieter Cruythoff Chenin Blanc

Name: Pieter Cruythoff
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Swartland
Country: South Africa
Vintage: 2015
Price: Originally $9, on sale for $4.95
Shop review: "A wonderful nose of bananas, oranges and melons jumps from the glass of this 100% Chenin Blanc, which is finished with a screw cap. Another great value from South Africa, this wine is medium-bodied, fresh, lively, and a terrific dry white to drink over the next year."
My review: Yummy! This to me was fruitier than the Verdejo. In fact, I picked up hints of orange, pear, and apples. It was also a darker golden color than the Verdejo. Randle, who works at the wine shop, said that he has had a Chenin Blanc wine (not this brand) that has been in his cellar for over 20 years and it still tastes amazing. That's very rare for a white to last that long, which is what makes Chenin Blanc such a cool grape!
Food pairing: Not with this wine either, but again if you have paired food with a Chenin Blanc, I would love to hear about it!

Cheers,
Natalie