Rosenblum Desiree - Chocolate Port

Name: Rosenblum Desiree
Variety: Chocolate Port
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $35.00 -> $16.95

Winery Review: Our Desiree Chocolate Dessert Wine is crafted in a rich, tawny port style with heady, dark fruit and enticing chocolate character. On the nose, chocolate, vanilla and coconut aromas swirl around a rich fruit core, spilling forward through the senses and across the palate. Seductive and smooth, this wine borrows its name from the deep emotion it elicits: desire.

My Review:I really didn't like the smell of this wine. It didn't sit right, and I was very hesitant about trying this type of wine. When I tried it I did not like it at all. The color of the wine is very brown in color. It tastes like chocolate licorice and chocolate. It is very sweet.

Girard - Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Girard
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa Valley (California)
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $30.00 -> $14.95

Winery Review: Showcases the forward, ripe fruit and fine, polished tannins for which the Napa Valley is most prized. The initial aromatic notes are of ripe red fruit and spicy oak. The flavors on the lush palate follow suit, while the finish underscores the high quality of the fruit from which the wine was made. Enjoy it now, but know that this Cabernet will continue to improve with proper aging for another 8 to 12 years.

My Review: This is a very excellent wine. The color is very dark, and intriguing. When I smelled this wine I could almost tell by the flavors that this would be great with wine. The flavors of the wines are very good. It has a hint of dry towards the end. I think this wine would pair well with steaks, in fact I really want to try this wine with steak and would recommend it to anyone that needs a wine to go with steak.

Vidal Fleurie - Cotes du Rhone

Name: Vidal Fleurie
Variety: Cotes du Rhone
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Price: $16.00 -> $10.95

Winery Review: Brilliant garnet red color. Red fruits and spices on the nose. The mouth reveals rounded tannins (thanks to the stay in the oak barrels), a warm and full-bodied wine with an uncommon and lasting aromatic intensity. The proof that Cotes-du-Rhone can be a serious and elegant wine.

My Review: The wine has a slight pepper smell. Once I tasted the wine the only thing that I could taste was pepper. There is not much other taste to the wine, it is a very bland wine. It says that the wine was aged in oak but I was not able to taste the oak or tannin flavors. It was a little dry, but not overly dry. I would not recommend this wine to anyone that wants to try it.

Villa Pozi - Nero d'Avola

Name: Villa Pozi
Variety: Nero d'Avola
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins. Quite a wine for well under $10, and is offers some reason to believe it will cellar well.

My Review: This wine smells like spices. The wine has a very dark red color to it, very appealing to the eye. When I tasted it the spices came through too. It was a little bit too spicy for my tastes. I could also taste a hint of smokiness and licorice. It is a very different type of red wine, and I would like to try more of them.

Villa Pozi - Pinot Grigio

Name: Villa Pozi
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Clear to light straw colored, this Pinot Grigio exhibits soft aromatic flavors of perfumed rose and soft honeysuckle that are attractive and indicative of the refreshing and rounded fruit style. The structure of this wine is well balanced and clean. Wonderfully a complemented by a firm and crisp acidic finish.

My Review: The wine smells very flowery, I could smell the honeysuckle sent in the wine. The taste of the wine is also very flowery. It is also a very light wine with a slight acidic taste. The taste of this wine does not linger too long in your mouth. It is a very good wine but not my type of pinot grigio.

Fontana Candida - Frescati

Name: Fontana Candida
Variety: Frescati
Region: Near Rome (Piedmont)
Country: Italy
Price: $11.00 -> $6.95

Winery Review: The grape for this dry, clean wine are grown in the porous, volcanic soils located in the Frascati commune near Rome. Rich in potassium, this soil produces plump flavorful grapes. Fontana Candida is the only Frascati producer that uses cold filtration and cold bottling to preserve the wine's flavor and clarity. Prairs well with salads, pasta, veal, chicken, vegetable soups, mild seafood dishes and mild cheeses.

My Review: This was a very good wine. When I smelled this wine it was a very fruity smell, but it tasted every fruitier. It has a very clean finish, the taste of the wine didn't linger long in your mouth. I can see this wine being paired very well with pasta dishes.

La Sera - Red Malvasia

Name: La Sera
Variety: Red Malvasia
Region : Piedmont
Country: Italy
Price: $13.95

Winery Review: A specialty of Italy's Piedmont region, Red Malvsia di Casorzo is fragrant and fruity, moderately sweet wine. It has strawberry and fresh grape flavors, with a zesty fizzante (fizz). It is low in alcohol (5.5%) and best served slightly chilled. Enjoy as an aperitif, matched with spicy barbeque or Oriental dishes. It is also excellent with rich chocolate cake and fruity sorbet.

My Review: This wine is very sweet. It had some bubbles but not as much as I have seen in other sparkling wines. I could smell and taste strawberries in the wine. The wine was very sweet, too sweet for me. It reminded me of something made of a syrup that is diluted in water.

Four Bears - Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Four Bears
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California (Paso Robles)
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95

Winery Review: Ruby in color and displays aromas of lavender, ceder and raspberry fruit. Flavors of blackberries and respberries combined with hints of savory spices coat the palate. The soft tannins and sweet oak balance lead to a long and lingering finish.

My Review: The color of this wine was a very dark rich color. When smelling this wine I could right away pick out of cherries with other fruits. When I tasted the wine I got the overwhelming sensation of raspberry. It was also dry but just enough. I also tasted oak, which gave me the clue that it was aged in an oak barrel. The after taste has a zing to it. Which was very surprising and a nice taste. I really want to try this wine with food, I think it would pair well with a lot of different food.

Pietra Santa - Sangiovese

Name: Pietra Santa
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: California (Cienega Valley)
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $15.95

Winery Review: Produced exclusively from grapes frown on the estate and showcases winemaker Alessio Carli's talent with the grape. Growing up in Tuscany, Alessio watched his father make Chianti and later honed his skills as the renowned Badia a Coltibuono. Out Estate Sangiovese tastes of cranberry and intense Bing cherry with undertones of anise and lingering finish. The depth and complexity of this wine has made it an annual best seller and the ultimate companion to great Italian cuisine. Typical of this varietal, our Sangiovese vines have matured and we have been rewared by increasingly rich fruit.

My Review: I did not like this wine at all. It was very different than any other wine that I have ever tasted. The bouquet of the wine was very other powering with spices, as well as the state of the wine. It is very hard for me to describe the taste of the wine because the flavors are so different. I think it would be a very interesting wine to try again after expanding my palate.

Pietra Santa - Sacred Stone Red

Name: Pietra Santa
Variety: Sacred Stone Red
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Propietor's Red Blend. This wine is ripe and juicy with expressive flavors of cherries and plums. It is dark and aromatic with crisp acidity, nice structure and a lush finish. Made to pair with a wide variety of food, this red wine is a must for everyday enjoyment or teaming with your favorite grilled and outdoor cuisine.

My Review: When I first smelled the wine I could smell spices. After giving it another sniff I was able to smell some plum and black cherries. I tasted the wine and tasted a lot of spices, it was not an overpowering sensation but it was enough to make me think twice. Overall I thought the flavors of the wine were well balanced and that the overall taste of the wine is smooth. I don't think that I would ever buy this wine because I can not see it being paired with any type of food.

Four Bears - Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Four Bears
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California (Sonoma County)
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: Rich and complex with aromas of ruby grapefuit, citrus and tropical fruit. On the palate, the combined flavors of fresh melon, fig and lime are balanced perfectly to form a crisp, mouthwatering texture and lingering finish.

My Review: This wine has a very overpowering smell of grapefruit. It was not much after swirling the wine that the grapefruit was very noticeable. When I tasted the wine I was able to taste the the citrus flavors. The wine has a very good mouth feel to it, very smooth. A little acidity comes through but it is not overpowering. I think the acidity gives this wine a little something different, which I really liked.

Pietra Santa - Pinot Grigio

Name: Pietra Santa
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: California (Cienega Valley)
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $13.95

Winery Review: From grapes grown at the highest elevation on our estate. Morning fog followed by sun and afternoon shade make this an ideal  location for growing this varietal. The grapes ripen slowly allowing them to develop balance between rich texture and heady aromas. The wine is stainless steel fermented and bottled young to preserve the crisp acidity and refreshing fruit flavors. Tasting Notes: This well balanced Pinot Grigio tastes of mangos and passion fruit with hints of citrus. It is wine is crisp, refreshing and ideal for a summer picnic or as an aperitif. Wonderful when paired with Oysters on the half-shell.

My Review: Pinot Grigio's are one of my favorite types of wines, so I was very excited about trying this wine. This has a very fruity smell. The taste is very light taste. It is very fruity, it has a tropical flavor. I can really taste the grapefruity and mango. Overall, I have to say that this is one of my favorites.

Lamadrid - Malbec Reserva

Name: Lamadrid
Variety: Malbec Reserva
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Price: $18.95

Winery Review: 91 points, Jay Miller for Robert Parker. Single vineyard estate fruit; opaque purple; complex aromas, layered, loaded with fruit, rich

My Review: Very strong smell at first, I could since a but of plums as well as a slight cherry smell. It was well balanced. The first thing that I noticed about this wine is that it was very smooth. Compared to to Malbec Rose produced by the same vineyard it was much bolder taste.

Gen 5 - Chardonnay

Name: Gen 5
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $11.95

Winery Review: 92 points, Wilfred Wong. Superbly crafted, the nifty and poised '09 Gen 5 Chardonnay drinks incredibly easy; ripe and fruit-forward with excellent balance; rounded finish.

My Review: The wine has a very floral smell to it. When I tasted the wine it came off dry. I could also taste the oak in the wine but it was not overpowering. It has a smooth finish. Overall, it is a very well crafted wine, one that I would definitely have with a meal.

Gen 5 - Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Gen 5
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $11.95

Winery Review: 92 points, Wilfred Wong. Taking Lodi into a whole new level, the finely-tuned '09 Gen 5 Cabernet shows intricate and complex flavors; ripe for sure, yet classy and refined; long finish.

My Review: Very dark red color. It smells very full but has a hint of alcohol. It has very bold flavors and taste. I can taste the oak flavoring.

Palo Negro

Name: Palo Negro
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Toasty and forward, with rounded currant and plum fruit backed by a nice weight in the palate. A long sustained finish. Definite quality for an outstanding price.

My Review: It has a very fruity smell, kinda a mix between plum and a black fruit. When I tasted the wine I noticed that It was lighter than a traditional Cabernet Sauvignon. It had a smooth finish. I really liked this wine but it was not the best Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lamadrid - Malbec Rose

Name: Lamadrid
Variety: Malbec Rose
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $10.95

Winery Review: Tobacco and black cherry nose; real dark cheery sweet tarts flavor in the mouth; medium body, a touch spicy in the mouth, fairly simple, appealing, dark rose.

My Review: I really like the different coloring of this malbec. The wine has a cherry smell, as well as a hint of alcohol. When I tasted the wine I got a spicy taste, but not as spicy or tannic as a regular malbec. It did have some heat after you taste it. It has a cherry taste, as well as a full body.

Trinca Espinhas

Name: Trinca Espinhas
Variety: Branco Vinho Verde
Country: Portugal
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95

Winery Review:Pleasant and mellow, this young white wine will be the perfect accompaniment to all kinds of seafood, salads, mild cheeses, as an aperitif or just by itself. The alcohol content of Famega is 9.5% which makes it the ideal natural low calorie white wine. The grapes used in making Famega are 100% Alvarinho (same Albarino grape over the border in northwest Spain).

My Review: The smell is light and crisp. It has a very light taste. It also has a very acidic taste but very sweet. I can see this wine being paired well with a seafood dinner.