Tasting: Sonoma-Cutrer Founders Reserve 2015 Chardonnay

Name: Sonoma-Cutrer Founders Reserve 2015 Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Sonoma - Russian River Valley, California
Country: United States
Year: 2015
Price: $65

Winery Review: On the nose, this vintage offers a balance of rich and spicy characteristics of nougat, clove, caramel, sandlewood and nutmeg that open up to fruit scents of Honeycrisp apple and Asian pear. Fruit flavors of pear and green apple shine through and are accented with a touch of oak spice. Winemaker, Mick Schroeter, made this wine in this particular way to capture the true essence of the vineyard sites. It is a blend of three vineyards each with Burgundian spacing: Les Pierres, A-Burgundy from The Cutrer vineyard, and block "X" from Vine Hill vineyard.

My Review: This wine smelled and tasted like an apple pie. I was hit with a strong nutmeg and clove scent. The flavor was PHENOMENAL. It felt like I was drinking a fresh baked, hot apple pie. The green apple wasn't overwhelming and the slight acidity of the apple helped balance some of the spice.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Newton Red Label Chardonnay

Name: Newton Red Label Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Sonoma County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price:  $34

Winery Review: The warm vintage resulted in tropical fruit aromas, including pineapple and star fruit mingling with the perfume of apricots and apple-pears. On the palate fresh stone-fruit and lychee flavors are balanced by a touch of oak.

My Review: This wine smelled like a warm summer day. It smelled very fruity and floral, of ripe pears and some citrus. It tasted like apricots and honey. The aftertaste was very oaky and vanilla filled in the best way possible. I would highly recommend this wine!

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Villa Jolanda Moscato the Blue

Name: Villa Jolanda Moscato the Blue
Variety: Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: Regular $14, Sale $10.95

Winery Review: The nose has the scent of ripe peaches. It is sweet with peach apricot and floral notes on the palate.

My Review: This wine smelled like ripe fresh fruit on a summer day, mostly peaches and a flower garden.  The carbonation completely overpowered any taste for me. It tasted like La Croix's regular carbonated water - basically carbonated nothingness.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: Regular $20, Sale $9.95

Winery Review: Inviting aromas of boysenberry, vanilla and dark chocolate swirl in the glass. Rich flavors of ripe black cherry coupled with hints of crème brulee sugar crust and butterscotch weave through the palate. Balanced acidity and polished tannins on the finish.

My Review: I did not get any of the aromas and flavors of the winery review. This wine smelled like herbs and spices to me, and tasted like a handful of soil and was very earthy. The aftertaste was a bit like caramel and molasses. This wine was way too much happening at once for my palate and I probably wouldn't drink it again by itself.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha
Variety: Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2013
Price: Regular $10, Sale $6.95

Winery Review: 87 – Stephen Tanzer -  Bright purple. Blackberry, plum and peppery spice aromas exhibit good vibrancy and power. Firm cherry and dark berry flavors are subtly accented by a peppery nuance, picking up a hint of licorice with air. A candied plum note lingers on the warm finish, which is firmed by gentle tannins

My Review: This wine smelled like the Godiva chocolate and cherry bars. It smelled SO good. It tasted a bit like grass, but I definitely got cherry and black pepper. It went down like velvet and was very smooth.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Ch Montauriol Rigaud Corbieres Rose 2016

Name: Ch Montauriol Rigaud Corbieres Rose 2016
Variety: 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah
Region: Corbieres
Country: France
Year: 2016
Price: Regular $15, Sale $7.95

Winery Review: The white raspberry and peach notes have a creamy but fresh profile in this rosé. Hints of spice and apricot meld together on the lingering finish.

My Review: This wine smelled of strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. It tasted like a peaches and cream cup that was left out too long - it had a bit of an acidic aftertaste, coupled with a hint of blackberry. However, I really liked this wine overall.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Maipe Torrontes 2016

Name: Maipe Torrontes 2016
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2016
Price: Regular $13, Sale $7.95
Winery Review: This is an aromatic floral Torrontés with hints of air freshener and bath oil on the nose. A palate with zesty acidity frames crisp flavors of citrus pulp and peel. A racy finish tastes of lime before showing patented varietal bitterness.
My Review: This wine smelled like citrus and crisp apples. It tasted like battery acid and I was hit with a STRONG lemon flavor and a lime aftertaste. The aftertaste was very tart and bitter in my opinion, and the wine made the front of my throat feel like it was burning. I was not a fan, it reminded me a bit too much of cheap vodka.

I did not taste this wine with food.