Tasting - Annalisa

Name: Annalisa Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco Malvasia
Variety: Malvasia nera
Region: Asti
Country: Italy
Year: 2016
Price: $17

Shop review: "The perlage is fine and persistent. The color is pale pink, almost cherry. The aromatic scent is intense and reminiscent of wild berries, blueberries and wild strawberries. The flavor is sweet, slightly sparkling and full of berries. Since this is a sweet and aromatic wine is a classic to combine with fruit tarts and pastry. An ideal companion in moments of celebration, Malvasia is also a nice refreshing drink at any time of the day."

My review: This dessert wine is so shockingly sweet it's almost too much, and that's coming from someone with an enormous sweet tooth! Slightly fizzy, overwhelmingly sweet with fruity aromas and flavors of artificial red berries, strawberry jam, and red Twizzlers. Close to actual non-alcoholic grape juice - this is almost what I expected (or hoped) wine would taste like back when I first tried it. Yet to my surprise, although this wine is tasty it wasn't my favorite. Gasp. Is this character development?  (Maybe not, because I ended up buying it.) It didn't have the same complexity that the other wines did. This is definitely more of a "treat yourself" wine for me-time or a girls (or bros!!) night in, if that makes sense.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - CK Mondavi

Name: CK Mondavi Red Blend (Magnum)
Variety: Red blend - 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec
Region: Napa Valley
Country: California, USA
Year: 2015
Price: $20

Shop review: "Red Blend is their winemaker’s signature cuvee, an expression of five red varieties capturing the best of each vintage. It has the backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, the finesse of Merlot, the structure of Petit Verdot, the floral essence of Cabernet Franc and the boldness of Malbec. This full-bodied wine offers flavors of black cherries and plums and ends in a soft, balanced finish."

My review: Sorry, Zoolander - this magnum wins! (I'll go home.) Going to lament for a second: this was my favorite wine I tried this week - and y'all know I normally hate dry reds - and I regret not purchasing it. Wah. A bold, intense, jammy aroma and flavor, with dried cranberries & cherries. Full-bodied, fairly dry yet smooth. I'd love to see what pairs well with this, but honestly I could enjoy it by itself. Don't make the same mistake I did and buy this vintage if you can!

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Vigna Lenuzza

Name: Vigna Lenuzza Friuli Colli Orientali Refosco

Variety: Refosco

Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $15

Shop review: "Classic varietal notes of wild herbs, roasted coffee beans, leather and spices deep ruby hues while on the palate sweet spiced notes of cinnamon and cardamom, held together with lively acidity and graceful tannins."

My review: And I thought the previous wine was outside of my comfort zone! Spicy and woody tannins with notes of pepper, bacon or beef jerky (THAT was shocking!), burning wood, and a hint of a leather boot. This dry red was like a smoked BBQ in a bottle. You know those "man candles" (mandles...?) that smell like footballs, cut grass, bacon, etc.? I feel like this is the wine version of that. It's weird. Which is why, even though it wasn't my favorite, I recommend trying it!

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - William Fevre La Mision

Name: William Fevre La Mision Reserva Epecial

Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Maipo Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2016
Price: $22

Wine Enthusiast review: 82 points (Acceptable) - "White-flower aromas carry the nose and lead to a simple palate of yeasty flavors that that are low on fruit intensity."

My review: Placing labels on the flavors of this wine proved to be challenging for me. I was unable to pick up its fruity aromas - to me, it expresses hints of cedar and a unique smokiness on the nose and palate, reminiscent of a campfire. Initially I described its flavor as "robust," but in true wine-linguist terms I'd say medium-bodied and complex (at least for me). I think a good alternative name for this would be "If You Could Drink a Tree." Which, if you're into that sort of thing great, but personally I wouldn't buy this for my own collection. However I'm glad I was able to try something so different and far-off from the wines I've been tasting!

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Mont Pellier

Name: Mont Pellier Viognier
Variety: Viognier
Region: Napa Valley
Country: California, USA
Year: 2015
Price: $15

Shop review: "With abundant aromas of honey-suckle, stone fruit, apricot and tropical fruit, our Viognier finishes crisp and clean with hints of vanilla and fruit that is pleasantly balanced."

My review: To me, there wasn't anything incredibly memorable about this one, but I enjoyed it. A pleasant light, crisp refreshment. Seemingly sweet, fruity aromas of green apple and apricot. However on the palate it's actually more tannic, with earthy and nutty tones of walnut and possibly oak. I'd recommend this wine.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Sheep Thrills Pinot Grigio

Name: Sheep Thrills Pinot Grigio Terre Siciliane IGT
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2018
Price: $14.88

fourthgenerationfarmgirl.com review: "This wine is clear, pale, lemon.  It has a clean nose with light intensity. This youthful wine is fragrant with hints of lemon zest, green apple, and chamomile. On the palate, it’s dry with medium minus acidity, medium alcohol, and medium body.  It’s flavor intensity is medium and features lots of citrus notes and green apple.  This is a simple, balanced wine with a relatively short finish.  Drink now for best results as it’s not suitable for aging.  This refreshingly, light Pinot Grigio would be perfect on a sunny afternoon."

My review: I was looking for a white wine at Kroger and naturally I was drawn to this one, mainly - sorry Boyer - because of the label. But the actual wine was interesting! The aroma contained hints of citrus, apple, and nutty (almost walnut?) notes. The taste had pear and pineapple tones, leaving a tart apple aftertaste (and a burning throat, at least in my case.) Crisp, acidic wine that lives up to its name if you get it on sale. I prefer my drinking wines pretty sweet, so I think this would be a good aperitif or maybe even a palate-cleanser? However, the flavor worsened each day after I opened it (I got to day 2) so I'm gonna agree with the review and recommend drinking it soon after opening unless you enjoy the taste of straight acid. But try not to down the wool thing by yourself! (I'm sorry.)

I tasted this wine without food.
I chilled this wine for ~1 day before trying it.

Tasting - Arosa Sparkling Rosé

Name: Arosa Sparkling Moscato Rosé
Variety: Vino Spumante/Sparkling Moscato Rosé
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $9 (Aldi)

Tastings.com review: "Brilliant pink coral color. Earthy, fruity aromas and flavors of glazed dried peach and strawberry yogurt, pressed linen, hint of apple cider vinegar, and dried flowers with a supple, bright, finely carbonated, off-dry medium body and a smooth, charming, breezy finish revealing impressions of caramelized apples and kiwi and honey butter with fine tannins and no oak flavor. A smooth, relaxing sweet sipper."

My review: Rosés in general don't have a stellar track record with my palate, but I was pleasantly surprised by this wine! This is a light, smooth, sweet wine, with a slightly tart aftertaste. Interesting aroma of strawberry syrup, cherries, and roses. Taste was surprisingly more floral, particularly elderflowers and roses, but also with lemon and strawberry tones. Overall I was a fan of this wine and would definitely have it again.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Jekel

Name: Jekel Monterey Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Monterey, California
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $30

Shop review: "This medium weight Pinot Noir is rich with layers of bing cherries, rosehips, and lavender herbs. Its opulent richness will exceed your expectations--lingering just a bit until an inevitable smile appears."

My review: I know most red wines are dry wines, but with this pinot noir you could smell the dryness. My nose was assaulted by tannins. It was as overwhelming in the taste as it was in the smell. Medium-bodied, but overall just tart/sour. You know that white powder they put on Sour Skittles? It reminds me of that. Without the Skittles. I wouldn't try this again.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Fratelli

Name: Fratelli Blaze

Variety: Sparkling Cabernet Sauvignon/Pinot Noir
Region: Crimean Peninsula
Country: Ukraine
Year: N/A
Price: $15

85 - Wine Enthusiast review: "Sweet blackberry and blueberry notes are deeply concentrated on the nose and palate of this Ukranian semisweet red sparkler. Softly petillant, it’s unabashedly fun and fruity, and an enjoyable choice for casual entertaining."

My review: Out of all the wines I tasted this week, this one was my favorite! Rose and strawberry tones meet to create a sweet wine that's also smooth, with a hint of fizz to keep things interesting. This is a drink I would definitely enjoy on its own! Personally I think the bottle and color make this perfect for Valentine's Day. Especially if you want to keep the passion in your relationship ablaze ha ha... okay roll your eyes but you don't know how many teddy bears holding hearts I've had to donate to Goodwill after they sat in my closet for months. Buy the wine.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Eikeboom

Name: Eikeboom Pinotage
Variety: Pinotage
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $17


88- Wine & Spirits review: "This dark-colored 2015 possesses cranberry and cherry richness intermixed with some spice box, earth and herbs. It is fresh, medium-bodied and could be served chilled if readers desire, given its Beaujolais-like weight and texture."

My review: This wine was an interesting one. Although it is definitely a dry red, its smell made me think it would be sweeter. Notes of red berries, particularly cherry, were prominent, and I caught some licorice as well. That's all the complexities I could pick up, being perpetually congested as we roll into spring and then back into second winter. Not my least favorite red, but not the best.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Ch des Arnauds

Name: Ch des Arnauds Les Caprices d’Anaïs Bordeaux Rose
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
Region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Country: France
Year: 2017
Price: $13

I-wine review: "Medium pink salmon. Reticent nose of minerals, flowers, and a hint of red berries. Savory, serious, and spicy in the mouth with minerals and red currants showing. A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from 30+ year old vines. This is a serious, food wine with a good backbone."

My review: While this is a rose and looks pink in the bottle, I thought it was a golden orange color in the glass. This wine has a sharp, acidic smell, which I found initially jarring. A mix between dry and sweet, burned more than most wines I've tasted. Maybe it's I'm just not used to spicy wines yet, but I wasn't a fan of this one.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Cantina Villafranca

Name: Cantina Villafranca Frascati

Variety: Blended - Malvasia di Candia, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia de Lazio, Grechetto
Region: Lazio
Country: Italy
Year: 2016
Price: $10

Shop review: "A blend of 45% Malvasia di Candia, 15% Trebbiano Toscano, 25% Malvasia del Lazio and 15% Grechetto. This luminous, golden wine shows fragrant aromas of honeysuckle, white melon, peach blossom and almond."

My review: Overall a pleasant tasting experience. A fruity, nutty aroma. I didn't pick up any melon or peach, but I did smell hints of raspberry. Taste is woody and also nutty with slight caramel undertones, which I found interesting. I'd like to try this again, maybe with meal!

I tasted this wine without food.