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.