Tasting- Rosemount Estate Moscato

Name: Rosemount Estate Moscato

Variety: Moscato

Country: Australia

Region: N/A

Year: 2012

Price: $3.95

Wine Shop Review: Clear, medium-lemon yellow in appearance; lovely citrus and honeysuckle aromas with lemon, honeysuckle, apple and ripe yellow plum flavors. Serve with angel food cake or fresh fruit and mild cheeses.

My Review: In my opinion, this was just another typical Moscato. Though the nose was nice with hints of lemon and honeysuckle, I found nothing that separated itself from all of the other Moscato’s that I have smelled. The taste was very sweet as I have become accustomed to, with hints of apple and sweet oranges. The sugar content was too high for my taste, and it did nothing to stand out for me. I would definitely pass on this in the future.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel

Name: Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Country: USA

Region: California

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Wine Shop Review: Grown in vineyards that are over 45 years old, this medium bodied Zinfandel has exceptional varietal character with lovely aromas of dark fruit and blackberry. Subtle pepper spice mingles with richly concentrated fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plums and fresh red raspberries. Barrel aging created its smooth, silky finish and unprecedented depth. A wonderful wine pairing for a variety of dishes. Any type of meat – whether its pork, beef or game – is ideal with this wine. Cioppino is another amazing compliment or try it with tomato-based pastas, hearty stews or a plate of strong, aged cheeses.

My Review: This was the first Zinfandel that I have ever had and I was very pleasantly surprised with everything that I got. This had a very open nose, with blackberry flavors, and subtle pepper hints in it. There was ripe red fruit present and made my mouth water just smelling it. This wine was extremely nice to drink. It had aspects of fresh raspberry and fresh strawberry that spread throughout my entire mouth. I found that the body was very nice, and that it was extremely smooth with slight vegetal tomato taste on the finish. I would love to get a bottle of this in the future, as I was extremely happy with this wine.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Librandi Ciro Rosso Classico

Name: Librandi Ciro Rosso Classico

Variety: Gaglioppo

Country: Italy

Region: Calabria

Year: 2009

Price: %3.95

Wine Shop Review: Don’t let the pale garnet color fool you: this is a substantial wine. Aromas of red fruits and spice compliment undertones of cranberries, wild berries, and plums. On the palate, ripe tannins and good body make for an incredibly rich, yet easygoing red wine. Pair this with sausage, spicy curry sauces, hot soppressata, and tandoori chicken.

My Review: This wine was extremely interesting. I did not think that it was going to be good because it was extremely light colored. It had a nice spice aspect on the nose, with hints of oak and red fruit. This wine had a very nice tannin level to it, which was very surprising. It was extremely easy to drink. It had a very bright aspect to it with nice cranberry and plum flavors. This would go well with nice spicy foods, but I will probably not try it again in the future.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Angove Nine Vines Viognier

Name: Angove Nine Vines Viognier

Variety: Viognier

Country: Australia

Region: N/A

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Wine Shop Review: Bright light straw in color with some green hues, this wine has a lush tropical fruit aroma. This is a fuller bodied white which fills the mouth with heady flavors of apricot, peach and citrus. Angove Nine Vines Viognier is perfect for today’s relaxed life-style and is the ideal accompaniment to grilled prawns with chili and garlic or pork roast.

My Review: This Viognier was extremely interesting. It had a slight green hue to it, which I really think is cool to see in a white wine. It had a nice nose with hints of apricot, orange, and other citrus hints. This also had a nice taste, but was different to my palate. It was dry, but still had a nice body to fill my mouth with the tropical fruit notes. This would be very nice to drink with anything that just came off the grill during the summertime, and I would certainly drink it again.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Yearlands Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Yearlands Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Country: New Zealand

Region: N/A

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Wine Shop Review: This aromatic wine shows lifted flavors of black currant with underlying notes of wet stone and thyme. The palate is elegant yet full with sufficient weight and texture, balanced by a flinty minerality. This wine is a fantastic match with foods such as cheese salad, poultry dishes and a wide range of seafood dishes including freshly shucked natural oysters, prawns, green lip mussels and creamy scallops.

My Review: This was an extremely interesting Sauvignon Blanc, and is very typical of one that comes from New Zealand. It definitely had an interesting mineral nose, with hints of flint and green pepper. I also got some slight fresh cut grass in it. On the palate, it was extremely nice tasting. I enjoyed the mineral flavor, though it did have a quirky aftertaste. I have definitely tasted something like this before, but was unable to put my finger on it. I thought that this was a very nice wine and I would definitely drink this again in the future.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Variety: Riesling

Country: Germany

Region: N/A

Year: 2012

Price: $9.95

Wine Shop Review: This drier-styled Riesling is bright, fruity and floral with crisp acidity and clean flavors of apple, pear and peach that complement its stony minerality and earthy complexity. It serves well as an aperitif and matches a wide variety of foods, like lighter salad dishes, shellfish, cream sauces and also anything with a touch of spice.

My Review: I really enjoyed this Riesling. It was slightly sparkling, and had a very nice apple and pear nose. It was floral, but I believed that the nose was still somewhat closed. I liked that this version was slightly drier, but still had a good level of sweetness to it. There were nice peach flavors, with an excellent hint of ginger on the finish. I really liked this wine, and will be sure to have it again.

I did not taste this wine with food.