Tasting - The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc

Name: The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc
Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc (known as Steen Grape in South Africa)
Region: Wester Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Winery Review:
“One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year 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."
90 Points - Robert Parker

 My Review: Smells of honeydew melon and floral scents stand out on the nose with a slight hint of apple.  The flavor comes across as sweet but with a good balance of acidity.  Apple is most present with the melon coming in later.  Very crisp with no real aftertaste at all.  A good wine overall that I enjoyed.  I didn't taste this wine with any food pairings.

Tasting - Norton Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Norton Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $12 (On Sale for $5.95)
Winery 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: Smell was very straightforward with citrus notes, mainly of pineapple.  The taste itself was a little more on the dry side with some pineapple and lemon coming through but not lingering for very long.  Texture was thin and it was a very simple, one note taste.  Overall not bad but nothing very memorable about it.  Think it might be better in the future to try with a light food like bread and cheese.

Tasting - Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg Sylvaner

Name: Weinkeller Erbach Flonheimer Adelberg Sylvaner
Variety: 100% Sylvaner
Region: Rheinhessen 
Country: Germany
Year: 2010 
Price: $18 (On Sale for $4.95)
Winery Review:

“The fruity, mouthwatering wine has a nice acidity-sugar balance and comes from the so called 'Rheinhessen-Switzerland', the heartland of Rheinhessen. It has a floral bouquet and is full of lemon zest, hint of passion fruit, and smells like yellow fruit, lemon-grass and green tea, all wrapped around a pleasant creaminess and a semi-dry profile. The finish is zippy and refreshing. Perfect for party on the deck as it comes in a liter bottle!”


 My Review: This wine surprised me quite a bit.  The aroma has a very floral, clover hint that reminds me of being in a wild field.  Some banana came through as well.  The flavor on the other hand was very sweet with everything from hints of melon to apricot present.  The texture was creamy with an aftertaste that was soft and light.  One of my favorites so far.  I had it without any food pairings.

Tasting - Montebuena Rioja

Name: Maipe Torrontes 
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95
 Winery Review:

"(100% Tempranillo, raised entirely in American oak): Vivid ruby. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. Still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (September 2012), 90 pts


 My Review: I was completely surprised by how much I liked this red wine.  The smell was a combination of dark fruit (mainly currants) with a woody hint lingering in the background.  Strong berry and tree fruit flavor flavor but with the charred oak taste added that gives it a hint of an aged whiskey.  The texture was smooth and rich with a little bit of pleasant numbing.  I sampled this wine without any food.

Tasting - Delaroche Cotes du Rhone

Name: Delaroche Cotes du Rhone Variety: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
 Winery 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: Smell of cherry, liquorice, and a hint of strawberry.  Very full texture with a good amount of dryness.  Taste is similar to smell with the berry fruit and liquorice flavor most abundant yet there is a subtle hint of pepper.  A little on the dry end for me but I think next time I would try it with food and see if the flavors change at all.

Tasting - Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe Torrontes 
Variety: 100% Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95
 Winery 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. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well."


 My Review: Hint of pear on the nose but most memorable smell is that of flowers and roses.  With the taste, pears and apple are the most dominant fruits coming through along with a beat of tartness that is more citrus centered.  Very thin texture with a flavor that doesn't linger long after the finish.  I enjoyed the mix of sweet and acidic that was present.  I tasted this wine alone with no food.

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio  
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
 Winery Review:
"Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections.
Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi,spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif."

 My Review: Crisp smell with pears and green apple present.  On the first taste, a tart and somewhat bland flavor that turns sweeter.  More fruit flavor with each sip.  Crisp, clear finish with very little aftertaste but some of the alcohol does come through.  A somewhat dry white wine overall, would be interesting to try it with food next time.