Tasting - Toso Moscato

Name: Toso Moscato
Variety:  Moscato (Muscat)
Region: Italy
Country: Italy
Year: 2008
Price: $9.95
Winery Review:
"This Moscato is reminiscent of honeysuckle and rose petal. The quality is equivalent to a top level Asti Spumante DOCG.  Sweet sparkling wine obtained from a careful selection of the Moscato grapes. It has a pale straw yellow color with fine foam and bubbles. Tropical fruit flavors, refreshing.  Excellent to match desserts, fruit and dried pastries".

 My Review: 
Much like other Moscato wines, the aromas of this wine are mainly floral with strong peach notes.  At the first taste, I notice how creamy and smooth this sparkling wine is with its texture.  The flavors that come through are of tropical fruit like pineapple with a light floral element lingering in the background.  A little sweet but overall a strong wine.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - Thorn Clarke James Goddard Shiraz

Name: Thorn Clarke James Goddard Shiraz
Variety: Syrah (Shiraz)
Region: Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Winery Review:
"The outstanding 2011 James Goddard Shiraz (aged 14-16 years in American and French hogshead) delivers considerable value and flavor authority.  Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by notes of blackberries, black currants, licorice, graphite and subtle barbecue smoke.  Rich, fleshy, and dense, it is best consumed over next 3-4 years."

 My Review: 
On the nose of this wine I smell mainly plum and spice with a hint of woodiness.  The taste follows similarly to the smell of the wine.  I taste blackberry and red fruit that fades away into a smokey, oaky flavor.  I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - El Sierro Tempranillo/Cab

Name: El Sierro Tempranillo/Cab
Variety: Mix of Tempranillo & Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Winery Review:

"Dark ruby in color with rich aromas of red fruit and light spices. It is a real knock-out with delicious flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and vanilla all perfectly integrated. The Tempranillo provides wonderful spice and fruit, while the Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and depth with the beautiful use of oak."

 My Review: 
The El Sierro wine was a very dark red color with aromas of blackberry and pepper on the nose.  The flavor is quite similar to the aroma.  I notice aspects of cherry, blackberry, spice, and just a little hint of sweet vanilla present.  The wine was dry and medium bodied with a decent tannin structure.  Not a bad wine but not my favorite so far.  I tried this wine without food.

Tasting - Atlas Cumbres Torrontes

Name: Atlas Cumbres Torrontes
Variety: 100% Torrontes
Region: Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95
Winery Review:
"Yellow colour with greenish nuances. Very intense aroma of fresh grapes, flower perfume and mature peaches. Fresh in the mouth. Light and easy to drink. Ideal with seafood, Thai and Chinese food."

 My Review: 
The aroma of this wine comes across as mainly floral with lemongrass and perfume.  The texture is very light with a crisp aspect bringing flavors of mainly green grape and flower.  Not a bad wine but similar to most Torrontes I have tried so far.  I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Avery Quinn Chardonnay

Name: Avery Quinn Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Napa, CA
Country: US
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95 (On Closeout)
Winery Review:
"The 2011 vintage marks a return to form for this great value Chardonnay.  The aromas feature creamy, mellow, golden apple, pineapple, fresh butter and a touch of vanilla.  Then rich, ripe, flavors of yellow pear, pineapple, fresh apple, cream and buttered toast swell up and fill your mouth before a juicy, apple and caramel inflected finish makes your mouth water (and smile!)."

 My Review: 
I really enjoyed the smell of this wine.  Apple and butter were most present but a subtle hint of tropical fruit and vanilla was noticeable.  After tasting it, I noticed apple, pear, pineapple, and just a little bit of vanilla.  The texture was very rich and creamy.  There was definitely a light caramel aftertaste to the wine.  I tried this wine without food.

Tasting - Bellafina Pink Moscato

Name: Bellafina Pink Moscato
Variety: Moscato/Rabosos Blend
Region: Italy
Country: Italy
Year: ?
Price: $9.95
Winery Review:

"A blend of Moscato and Rabosos grapes it has a pale rose color, notes of red berries (strawberry and raspberry), with the characteristic and fragrant bouquet and palate that is typical of the Moscato grape."

 My Review: 
This Moscato gave off the similar floral bouquet of others I have tasted with an added aroma of grapefruit that was quite strong.  Definitely a dessert wine, the wine tasted quite sweet with similar flavor of Moscato I am used to with an added hint of ripe berries and grapefruit.  The wine was smooth and very light bodied.  Overall, a good sweet wine that I tried without any food this time.

Tasting - Weinert Carascal

Name: Weinert Carascal
Variety: 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 25% Merlot
Region: Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year: 2008
Price: $13.95
Winery Review:
"Aged for two years in cask, the 2008 Carrascal is a blend of 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. It has a rustic blackberry, scorched earth and leather-scented bouquet with touches of pressed flowers. The palate is well-balanced with crisp tannins, expressive black tarry fruit and a Bordeaux-like finish. Drink now-2016."

 My Review: 
This wine gives off aromas of tart cherry and red fruit with a little bit of an earthiness aspect.  The flavor profile of this wine is very unique.  Blackberry and ripe red fruit hit the tongue first but these flavors fade quickly to reveal an earthy, leathery flavor.  The finish is a bit smokey and reminds me of the taste in the air after sitting around a fire pit outside at night.  It was medium to heavy bodied with a strong but well balanced tannin structure.  Very unique, good wine I tried without any food pairings.