Tasting - "Fetzer Gewurztraminer"

Name: Fetzer
Variety: Gewurztraminer

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2014
Regular Price: $12

Sale Price: $8.95

Winery Notes:
87 – Wine Enthusiast A rainy minerality on the nose of this sweet wine manages to cut through the sugared oranges, honeysuckle and ripe, tropical white fleshed fruit, from peach to cherimoya. The palate is full of honeyed apples, white peach and pineapple, but the decent acidity and chalky element stops it short of treacly.

My review:

This wine had a round aroma that was reminiscent of stone fruit, specifically apricot. It was slightly bubbly and smooth. It tasted fruity, like an overripe pear. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - "Maipe Malbec"

Name: Maipe
Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2015
Regular Price: $12

Sale Price: $6.95

Winery Notes:
"The 2015 Maipe Malbec is another 100% Malbec, with a deep purple color and a style similar to the Lexicon, with chocolaty, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, as well as touches of licorice and earth. It is delicious, soft and round." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (March 2016), 87 pts - Excellent Wine Values for Under $25

My review:

This wine was ruby red in color, and smelled smokey and like dark berries. The taste was smooth with a slight burn at the end. It tasted true to smell and was tasted without food.

Tasting - "Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau Gamay"

Name: Manoir du Carra
Variety: Beaujolais Nouveau Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2014
Regular Price: $12

Sale Price: $4.95

Winery Notes:
A pretty, floral wine, with a rose petal note underscoring the rich pomegranate and sweet plum flavors. The fresh acidity is balanced, and a light spice note lingers on the finish.

My review:

This wine was red and smelled like steak, or other red meat. It had a dull (as opposed to sharp) smell. It tasted dry, yet still soft and smooth at the beginning, and harsher towards the end. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - "Mapreco Vinho Verde Rose"

Name: Mapreco
Variety: Vinho Verde Rose

Region: Vinho Verde

Country: Portugal

Year: 2015
Regular Price: $10

Sale Price: $7.95

Winery Notes:
The cherry color reveals a slightly fizzy wine that is a very fruitful rosé made from the traditional vinho verde white grapes. Adding a splash of red to offer flavors with notes of strawberry, cherry and berries. A delightful twist on the original.

My review:

This clearish-pinkish wine had a smell reminiscent of an art classroom. While it was not a repulsive smell, it was not a smell I would generally associate with food, such as a wet paint smell. The taste was similar, also with a hint of sour apple. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - "Mars & Venus Chardonnay"

Name: Mars & Venus
Variety: Chardonnay

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2014

Price: $5.95

Winery Notes:
A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp, Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple. Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.

My review:

This clear wine had hints of dark cherry and rubarb, reminiscent of a berry pie. It tasted less sweet than the smell suggested. The taste was closer to a sour apple taste than berries. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - "Beringer Chenin Blanc"

Name: Beringer
Variety: Chenin Blanc

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2014

Price: $5.95

Winery Notes:
A fresh green-apple aroma and vivid citrus and crisp apple flavors are supported by vibrant acidity in this medium-bodied wine. The texture is smooth but crisp, making lots of good food pairings come to mind, from pre-meal cheese, to salads, seafood and veggie pastas.

My review:

This wine was yellowish in color, and smelled like peach. The smell was round, and the mouthfeel was a similar smooth texture. The wine also tasted like peach, was refreshing, and was true to the smell. This wine was tasted without food.

Tasting - "Carraia Aglianico"

Name: Carraia
Variety: Aglianico

Region: Campagna

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $9.95

Winery Notes:
Produced in the Campania region of Italy, this Aglianico has delicious black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, volcanic soil and tar notes. Classic in nature, yet in a lighter, more crowd-pleasing style, the Carraia is made of the ancient Aglianico grape. This black grape originated in Greece and today is widely grown in Basilicata and Campania.

My review:

This wine was brownish red in color, and smelled of plum and black cherry. The wine had a very strong taste reminiscent of a burnt, smokey taste. The wine was very dry and had an aftertaste similar to the aftertaste of cheese. I did not taste this wine with food, and have no desire to taste this wine again (with or without food).