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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
