Tasting- Angove Moscato

Name: Angove Zibibbo Sparkling Moscato

Variety: 100% Zibibbo

Country: Australia

Region: South Australia

Year: None listed

Price: $7.95

Wine Shop Review: This is a tasty and generous Moscato that opens with plush aromas of honey, peach syrup, white flower and fragrant exotic fruit. There’s a nice sensation of fullness and creaminess in the mouth that is backed by the foamy effervescence of this sparkling dessert wine.

My Review: This would definitely be considered a dessert wine for me. When I started to smell it, I immediately started smelling honeysuckles. I also got a slight sour citrus smell. When drinking, I thought it was very smooth for a sparkling wine. Maybe it was because it had been open for a little while. It definitely had some peach flavor, and I thought it almost tasted like some ciders that I have had. Also, it tasted similar to sprite. It was way too sweet for me, but maybe under the right circumstances I would have more.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Fetzer Malbec

Name: Fetzer Mendoza Malbec

Variety: 100% Malbec

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Wine Shop Review: Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it’s juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.

 

My Review: This wine was just OK. Nothing truly stood out here. It had a nice cherry smell to it and maybe some wood. The taste was definitely a strong combination of dark/red fruits that would be made into jam. The wine had slight strawberry, definite cherry, and other berry tastes such as blackberry and raspberry. I thought this had a decently long finish, as I could still slightly taste it after drinking it. Though I would never get a full bottle to drink, I would consider trying it again in the future.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha

Variety: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre

Country: Spain

Region: Catatayud

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Wine Critic Review: "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!"   - I-WineReview (December 2013), 90 pts

My Review: I was extremely encouraged when I started to smell this wine. After swirling it in the glass, I got very strong scents of cranberry and earth. It was almost a muddy smell. However, when I tried it I was very surprised by what I got. It was extremely bitter and dry, immediately taking all of the moisture out of my mouth (meaning it have a very strong tannin structure). It had an oak taste with a cherry finish. The taste also lingered in my mouth for a while after drinking it. This wine was not for me.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Name: The Royal Old Vines Steen Chenin Blanc

Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc

Country: South Africa

Region: Western Cape of South Africa

Year: 2012

Price: $7.95

Wine Critic Review: "One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months."   Robert Parker- 90

My Review: I thought this wine was delicious. This is the first ever Chenin Blanc that I have had and I will be sure to taste more. Everything about the wine was very smooth. I got strong floral scents when I first smelled and then I got a somewhat mineral smell. When I tasted the wine it had everything I was looking for. It had good acidity, but not too much making it extremely smooth. I did taste small hints of pear after swallowing the wine, though I was unable to pinpoint the other actual flavor. This was my favorite wine of the week, and I will be sure to drink more.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Norton Bodega Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

Year: 2012

Price: $5.95

Wine Shop Review: Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio

My Review: Though some of the people next to me seemed to disagree, I enjoyed this wine. I thought it had a very citrus and zesty taste. I love how much acidity was put into this wine. I got the aroma of fresh cut limes/lemons and small hints of pineapple. Though my pallet is not fully refined, I tasted oranges and nice crisp granny smith apples. I would definitely drink this wine again because it was very fresh and crisp, playing right into my tastes.

I did not taste this wine with food.