Tasting: Vina Galana Tempranillo Sangria

Name: Vina Galana Tempranillo Sangria
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: Regular $17, Sale $8.95

Winery Review: 100% Tempranillo. Natural fruit flavors and succulent red wine all fused together in one bottle. This doesn’t require a punch bowl and big ladle, you can chill your bottle in a cooler and head out to the beach or a hike and enjoy a cup of the best sangria anywhere you choose to be.

My Review: This sangria had a very sweet, lighter berry smell. It smelled VERY tropical, like coconuts and berries. It tasted exactly like a strawberry banana smoothie from Orange Julius. The strawberry sweet scent was a bit overwhelming. It also tasted a bit creamy/milky. Overall, I think this wine would be good to have as a dessert, but drinking it with much else would be overwhelming. 

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Monte Tondo Corvina Veneto 2014

Name: Monte Tondo Corvina Veneto
Variety: Corvina
Region: Valpolicella
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: Regular $16, Sale $7.95

Winery Review: To create the classic Valpolicella cuvee, the noble Corvina is typically blended with other varietals such as Molinara and Rondinella. Monte Tondo’s Veneto IGT is the extraordinarily rare 100% Corvina wine. This Corvina is redolent of pie cherries, orange peel, potpourri, mint, and star anise. Brisk on the attack yet round and satisfying, it conveys suggestions of violets, white pepper, and ruby red grapefruit notes wrapped around a bright, vibrant core of sour cherry fruit. Bitter herbs and fine tannins join the wine’s chewy core of red fruits to make this an exceptionally versatile and table-ready red wine.

My Review: This lighter red wine smelled very fruity, but not as sweet. I definitely got the peppery flavors and darker fruit flavors, like a prune or cherry. This wine reminded me of when I was in Peru drinking star anise tea in the Andes because of the strong star anise flavor I got as well. This wine was very well-rounded in my opinion with the mix of fruit and spices. I liked this wine a lot. 

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Terre dei Savoia Barbera d' Alba

Name: Terre dei Savoia Barbera d' Alba

Variety: Barbera

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: Regular $20, sale $6.95

Winery Review: Its aroma is wide and complex: spicy, with green pepper notes, cinnamon and vanilla, pleasant and characteristic; at the same time it is also fruity, with cherry, blackberry, strawberry and red fruits jam in general notes. In mouth it reveals its full-bodied taste, with the right amount of acidity, and with a persistent and pleasant finish.

My Review: This darker red wine had a fruity, berry and raisin smell. It smelled very fruity and sweet. Upon tasting, it tasted a bit woody and smoky. I tasted a lot of spices all at once, so it was hard to distinguish the flavors of the spices. There may have been some clove flavors. I got a lot of darker fruit flavors, mostly cherries and blackberries. I did not think this wine tasted sweet, despite the smell. This wine was a bit too spicy for my liking. 

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Mas Carlot Costieres de Nimes Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre Rose

Name: Mas Carlot Costieres de Nimes Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre Rose
Variety: 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2016
Price: Regular $15, sale $4.95

Winery Review: This mouthwatering rosé is a traditional blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. It's medium-bodied, boasting notes of fresh herbs, cherries and white chocolate, balanced by a hints of sea spray. Drink it over the next year.

My Review: This rosé smelled both acidic and vinegar-like to me. It tasted pungent, like straight up ethanol. I did not get any notes of fresh herbs or white chocolate. I did get a hint of cherry, but it was minimal. This wine was very dry to me, so it was mouthwatering in a bad sense. I did not like this wine.

I did not drink this wine with food.

Tasting: Dom Chazallon Coteaux de l’Ardeche Viognier

Name: Dom Chazallon Coteaux de l'Ardeche Viognier 

Variety: Viognier

Region: Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2014

Price: Frontline $20, Sale $9.95

Winery Review: Viognier, one of the finest grape varieties, originates from the Rhône Valley of France. When well looked after, it produces a distinctive, particularly fragrant wine, a true delight to the senses. Saint Régis is a great Viognier bottling, with peachy aromas, hints of tangerine and menthol, and a pure and fresh character. 

My Review: This wine was a fragrant, fruity wine, as the winery review describes. I received a citrus smell, but couldn't place the exact fruit. I got hints of citrus in the taste of the wine as well, but it was more of an orange. I did not receive any of a menthol taste. This wine tasted dry to me. 

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Daniel Cellars Aurora Chocolate Raspberry Wine

Name: Daniel Cellars Aurora Chocolate Raspberry Wine
Variety: Red wine
Region: Barboursville, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: -
Price: Frontline $18, Sale $3.95

Winery Review: Aurora is a sweet red wine that Daniel Cellars have added Chocolate and Raspberries to. Chocolate is the dominate aroma and flavor with Raspberry accents. This is a perfect wine for chocolate lovers. Best served ice cold with a friend.

My Review: This red wine was BY FAR my favorite wine I've ever tasted. It's definitely a substitute for having dessert in my opinion, as the chocolate and raspberry flavors are STRONG.  I don't like raspberries at all, but the raspberry and chocolate flavors worked incredible together. Without even swirling and sniffing, I was hit almost immediately with the scent of dark chocolate and it reminded me of the chocolate covered acai berries. After the initial sniff and swirl, it smelled like how a grandmothers house would smell, but it was pleasant!

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting: Estrella Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Name: Estrella Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Variety: Cabernet Sauvinon
Region: Napa, California
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Price: Frontline $17, Sale $5.95

Winery Review: Bright medium dark garnet color. Fruity, creamy, attractive aromas and flavors of berry and cherry custard pies, watermelon, and chocolate and floral honey with a silky, vibrant, fruity medium body and a smooth, interesting, medium-length spiced blueberries and cherries and vanilla custard finish with soft tannins and light oak. A very smooth, charming, and fruity cabernet crowd pleaser.

My Review: This wine smelled like raisins. I definitely received the berry and cherry scents, but I think watermelon is a bit of a stretch from the winery review. The taste was strong on the blueberries and darker fruits. The aftertaste did taste silky and I did get hints of vanilla. I liked this fruity wine and would try it again!

I did not taste this wine with food.