- Name: Crane Lake
- Variety: White Zinfandel
- Region: California
- Country: United States of America
- Year: 2013
- Price: Regular Price $5.95
- Vintage Cellar Review: Light pink wine with floral and tropical aromas: flavors of strawberry, peach and raspberry with a touch of sweetness. This wine is an easy sipping wine that also pairs well with a wide variety of foods ranging from crab cakes or pate to spicy Asian dishes, glazed ham, and grilled sea bass.
- My review: This wine is a very bright pink color. On the nose there is an explosion of fruit smells, from apples to pears to honeydew. There is also a very distinct smell of sugar like a solid sugar candy. There are also light floral hints to cut the sweetness smell. The taste of the wine is very sweet for a white zinfandel almost like a moscato. There are notes of melon, apple and pear on the midpalate but a very strong sugar case that is there from start to finish on the palate. There is also a light honey taste on the finish that causes the sugar taste to stick around on the palate. Although it was a very sweet wine I loved the taste of it and would drink it again especially when I order Chinese food.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Vina Galana
- Variety: Alicante Bouchet
- Region: Albacete, La Mancha
- Country: Spain
- Year: 2012
- Price: Regular Price $15 Sale Price: $9.95
- Vintage Cellar Review: From the rare Alicante Bouchet, one of the few grapes in the world with red flesh this wine has a plush texture caring flavors of brandied cherry and chocolate ganache in this round red. Light tannins and gentle acidity impart a lovely, balanced structure.
- My review: This wine is a bright ruby red color. On the nose there is a light acidic smell. There is also a very dark blackberry smell. The wine also has a deep earthy smell of mud and water with a dry oak. The taste of the wine is very dry. There are hints of blackberry on the midpalate as well mixed with an unidentifiable floral taste. The finish is very alcoholic and strong and it would be a nice wine to have with a rich dinner.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Tonnino
- Variety: Syrah
- Region: Sicily
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2013
- Price: Regular Price $14 Sale Price $7.95
- Vinage Cellar Review: An intense red color. Aromas of violet and blackcurrant enriched by hints of liquorice and black pepper. In the mouth it is full, round, slightly tannic and with a spicy note on the finish.
- My review: This red wine is a very dark and opaque color almost like a burnt red. On the rose there is a strong peppery smell. There are smells of blackberries, raspberries and currant. There is also a very strong alcohol smell that masks everything else and mixes with all the other things. My initial impression of this wine is that it is very very bad it is not my glass of wine. There is a very strong pepper taste that burns my palate. There is also a very dry finish on this wine that leaves we gasping for water. There were no fruit flavors noticed in the taste which was disappointing as it is would bring some flavor and juiciness to the wine. This wine needs food and a glass of water with it otherwise it is undrinkable.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Riebeek Cellars
- Variety: Viognier
- Region: Swartland
- Country: South Africa
- Year: 2015
- Price: Regular Price $12 Sale Price $7.95
- Washington Post Review: This is a luscious viognier, featuring a deep yellow color, that explodes with juicy peach and honeysuckle flavors. Viognier can easily become flabby, but this one manages to keep its figure within bounds. I recommend this for immediate, lip-smacking enjoyment.
- My review: This whit wine is very clear in color it almost looks like water in my glass. On the nose there are fruity smells of pears and apples. There is also a rich smell of sandalwood mixed with a very distinct oaky smell. There is also a small hint of lilac to freshen up the smell. The initial impression that I have of this wine is that there is not much taste there, it is very watery and light and not flavorful. The few flavors that I could taste was a red juicy apple and a bright lemon acidity. There is also a very oaky deep flavor and a dandelion taste and there is a very light finish. It was hard to pick out any of the flavors in this wine because it did not have a strong taste.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Dom Michel Thomas
- Variety: Sancerre Rose
- Region: Loire Valley
- Country: France
- Year: 2013
- Price: Regular Price $32 Sale Price $8.95
- Stephen Tanzer review 90 points: Bright orange-pink. Lively, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh red berries, orange peel and honeysuckle, with a hint of anise building in the glass. Dry and nervy in the mouth offering vibrant strawberry and orange pith flavors and a suggestion of rose pastille. The floral element comes back on the finish, which lingers with very good spicy persistence.
- My review: This wine has a very pretty light peach color that was very interesting to look at as I have not seen any other wines like it in color. On the nose there is a very distinct fruity aroma of peaches and apricots. There is also a sugar smell of honey that mixes with a light melon to remind me out the outdoors on a bright spring day. On the palate I am hit initially with the taste of acidity but after that there is a very sweet honey flavor. Several fruits are also there, the taste of honeydew and melons are present. On the mid palate there is a citrus feel of lemons, limes, and oranges. But the finish is very nice and crisp with the taste of wildflowers with the orange making it have a nice full bodied taste.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Crane Lake
- Variety: Gewurztraminer
- Region: California
- Country: United States of America
- Year: 2013
- Price: Regular Price $5.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Slight high-toned notions of rose petal mingle with lemon on nose and palate of this lightly sweet, richly textured yet balanced Gewurztraminer. This is not as heady as you may expect and will be treat with spicy Asian dishes. Lychee and rose petal make another very fetching appearance on the finish.
- My review: On the nose there is a nice relaxing aroma of fresh rose petals with apricots. There is a hint of lemon zest that gives the smell a life and life. There is also a light spice smell that makes the overall aroma very interesting and complex. The initial taste of this wine is a sweet apricot and apple flavoring that is light and relaxed. On the mid palate there a light rose water that makes the palate coating delicate. The finish of the wine has a slight bubbly finish that brings the apple and apricot flavors back and finishes with a slight acidity from lemon. This is a wine that I would drink again especially with some spicy food or fish dishes.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Codirosso
- Variety: Sangiovese
- Region: Chianti Tuscany
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2014
- Price: Regular Price $13 Sale Price $7.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Ruby red color with purple reflections. Intense vinous bouquet with hints of violets and dark cherry fruit. The flavor is full of ripe fruit and a hint of spice. It is well balances and dry. The finish is persistent and satisfying.
- My review: On the nose there is a very nice rinsed blackberry smell that is very sweet. This is cut by notes of lemon. There is a smokey meat smell that comes up over with notes of of dried herbs making it rich and full of many different notes. On the taste the wine is really watery and sparse with flavor my liking. There is a black pepper taste that is watered down with a lemony after taste. On the mid palate there are rolled over flavors of blackberries and cherries that are just very light. It reminds me of those fruit infused water dispensers and when I drink a glass of wine I want it to be fuller and this was just to watery and flavor lacking for my taste.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Indwe
- Variety: Pinotage
- Region: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Year: 2013
- Price: Regular Price $12 Sale Price $5.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: A disclaimer: I have never cared much for Pinotage, the indigenous South African grape variety, but this 2013 Pinotage from Indwe, named after the country's national bird, the blue crane, comes across like a light Pinot Nior. Subtle notes of cherries, spice and forest floor are floored by a round, light to medium-bodied, pure, seductive, well-crafted wine (Robert Parker, Drink Now 2016).
- My review: At first glance of this wine it my glass it is a very dark almost black color and one of the darkest reds I have seen. On the nose there is a lot of pepper smell that is mixed with a smokiness reminiscent of a steak on a grill. There is also a plum smell with a rich dark chocolate overtone that makes the sweetness more subtle. On the palate I am hit with a lot of black pepper that follows throughout the entire taste. There is an earthy tobacco taste on the mid palate that is a bit of a turn off as I do not like the taste of cigarettes and this is very reminiscent of them. There are subtle taste of raspberries and blackberries on the midpalate but by the finish I am left with a peppery tobacco taste that is not appealing.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Palacio de Bornos
- Variety: Verdejo
- Region: Rudea
- Country: Spain
- Year: 2013
- Price: Regular Price $12 Sale Price $5.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Zesty and clean, with pure grapefruit and passion fruit aromas. It's charged up but perfectly balances, with bright, focused citrus and pineapple flavors. Lemony acidity keeps the finish rolling, then throw in some chive and fresh greens and you have a spot-on Verdejo (Wine Enthusiast Score 89).
- My review: On the nose this is a nice light white with no real strong acidic smell which was nice. There are defiantly fruity smells from pears, apricots and apples. There is a slight acidic pink grapefruit smell at the end but it is not too strong as the other fruits have more of a presence. There is a slight earthy smell of fresh cut grass that keeps it from being too one noted in smell. The initial taste of the wine is of the outside at a picnic, there is a taste of dandelion and hay that follows throughout the entire sip. On the mid palate there are notes of orange and lime but they are masked by the taste of hay. The finish has a lot of heat and the outdoors notes carry over and it just makes me want to be outside in the warmth and relax with a picnic.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Tonnino
- Variety: Grillo
- Region: Sicily
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2014
- Price: Regular Price $14 Sale Price $7.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Fruit-forward and tangy, this light-bodied snappy white offers flavors of guava, apricot, candied grapefruit zest and stone. Drink now. 20,000 cases made (Wine Spectator).
- My review: On the nose there is a very acidic smell that comes off and causes a bit of burning in my nostrils. There are also some light white fruit smells detected. There is a fresh juicy pear aroma as well as an apple smell with hints of lemon covering it. The taste is very acidic for me and it was hard to detect flavors behind the overwhelming acidity that enveloped my palate. Although I was able to taste apple that was the only real fruit flavor that stood up to the acidity On the mid palate there was a generic floral perfume taste that did not seem to mix well since it was so acidic. This is not a wine that I would ever try again.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.
- Name: Gallo Family Mixed Berries and Chocolate
- Variety: Holiday Red Blend
- Region: Central Valley California
- Country: United States of America
- Year: NonVintage
- Price: Regular Price $10.99 Sale Price $5.50
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: We couldn't resist creating a limited edition wine just for the holiday-this is our favorite time of the year. This delicious red wine has hints of mixed berries and chocolate. If you enjoy this, try our Merlot available year round.
- My review: I was very excited to try this wine as it was Valentines day and the two things that come to my mind are chocolate and strawberries. It was also a nice choice as the wine was for the December holidays, which are now long past, giving it a nice sale price sticker. The color of the wine is not very appealing as it is a murky red with brown hues to accent it. On the nose there is a deep dark chocolate smell that is very reminiscent of opening a fresh box of chocolates. The berries are also very identifiable as smells of raspberries, blackberries, and a strong blueberry smell that lingers. Mixed in with all these delectable aromas is an earthy clay smell that gives the overall aroma depth and grounds the wine. This is the first wine that I have had where my smell of the has translated over to provide me with exactly what the wine will taste like. There is a very distinct chocolate taste with a very strong blueberry and raspberry filling taste like a mixed berry chocolate truffle. The wine is very smooth as it travels over the palate with a heat at the end. On the mid palate the is a rip peach taste that makes the wine sweeter. The finish of the wine has a bit of a lemon pucker and the overall finish is very reminiscent of a chocolate espresso. This wine was very enjoyable as it was drinking a dozen chocolate covered berries and I wish they made it all year round.
- Food Pairing: I ate some chocolate lava cake with this wine and it was a great combination. The cocoa taste in the wine complemented the cake very nicely and brought a new depth to the cake with the mixed berry finish. It was very dense though and I wish I had some whipped cream to put on the cake to lighten up the taste, but otherwise it was a great dessert combination.
- Name: Caresses Du Terroir
- Variety: 60% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc
- Region: Bordeaux
- Country: France
- Year: 2012
- Price: Regular Price $15.99 Sale Price $11.99
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: The only review of this wine I could find was on the vineyard's website. Fruity wine with tannins. Ideal with traditional meals. Aged 12 months in new oak barrels and in 1 year old barrels. Vinification is done in stainless-steel tanks.
- My review: On the nose the wine seems very inviting with the smell of crisp red apples and warm cinnamon sticks, there is a hint of pepper mixed with lemon juice that gives it a wake up feeling on the nose. My initial sip took me a back as this wine is full on tannins which we catch you off guard when not prepared. The wine is very deep and thick as it coats your entire mouth in a murkiness with very strong earthy mud flavor. There are hints of blackberry and currants in the midpalate but they are quickly covered up with the strong tannic taste that leaves room for many other flavors. There is no cinnamon taste but a strong black pepper that stays with you long after finishing the sip. This has to be one of my least favorite wines that I have tasted and I had to buy a soda in Kroger to wash down the bit that remained in my mouth.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine but I wish I had something to clear it away.
- Name: Italo Cescon
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Region: Veneto & Friuli
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2014
- Price: Regular Price $14.99 Sale Price $11.99
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Ruby red in color. Provides an elegant bouquet suggesting fruit and rose petals. Contains abundant spices and provides a lengthy finish. A full-flavored wine that goes well with roasts of both light and red meats; game. Should be served between 60-64F (Bacco Wine and Spirit Review).
- My review: On the nose I smell a very deep red table grape smell also like grape preserves. There are other red fruit spells like cranberries and bing cherries mixed in as well. There are also hints of chewing tobacco and a muddy earth smell that make the overall smell grounded. The initial taste is very dry with some acidity upfront. There is a black pepper taste that makes the wine almost taste like a Dr. Pepper soda with the cherry and blackberry notes. On the mid palate the pepper taste overwhelms along with the acidity which is not very pleasant but it quickly passes. The final taste is of blackberries and currants with a black licorice taste that makes the overall sip enjoyable.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine
- Name: Italo Cescon
- Variety: Reisling
- Region: Veneto & Friuli
- Country: Italy
- Year: 2014
- Price: Regular Price $14.99 Sale Price: $11.99
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Straw yellow color with green hues. A fresh and fragrant aroma that is delicately intense. The wine's taste is fresh and elegant with good structure and a full body. An off-dry wine displaying a nice acidity. Can be enjoyed with seafood, chicken, veal and oysters. Best served between 46-50F. (Bacco Wine and Spirit Review)
- My review: On the nose I smell lemon and orange citrus fruits. There are hints of apricot and apple mixed in as well that lessen the acidic smell from the lemon. The initial taste is a sweeter and not too dry taste that is very oaky. As the wine progresses there are notes of apricot and pears as well as the taste of beeswax and honey. The finish of the wine is balanced with the oakiness remaining through the entire sip and the sweetness of the pear heightened by the acidity of the wine overall.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine
- Name: Clos du Bois
- Variety: Chardonnay
- Region: North Coast California
- Country: United States of America
- Year: 2014
- Price: Regular Price $15 Sale Price $12.69
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Our classic California Chardonnay offers flavors of apple, pear and lemon, with hints of butter, toasty oak and spice. Pour a chilled glass to unwind at the end of a long day or sip with family and friends at a party of any size.
- My review: The Chardonnay is a very light clear yellow, like straw. On the nose there are notes of apples and pears with dandelions and buttercups. There is also an earthy clay smell that is sweetened with a hint of creaminess. The first impression of the wine is overwhelmingly the taste of pears and apples. The wine glides over the palate is a silky smooth fashion like butter coating it evenly with each sip. There is a very buttery creamy finish that is enjoyable and helps to mask the heat since it is a higher alcohol content wine, 13.5%. There is a slight floral taste as well, like rose water, that makes it have a very tasty light finish.
- Food Pairing: I drank this wine with dinner which was chicken and dumplings. It paired nicely as it was a light wine to balance out the heavyness of the dinner.
- Name: Yellow Tail
- Variety: Red Moscato Bubbles
- Region: South Eastern
- Country: Australia
- Year: Non Vintage
- Price: Regular Price $10 Sale Price $5.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: With a gorgeous deep pink hue, this is a wine that offers scrumptious aromas of lifted tropical fruits, ripe fresh strawberries with black currant and raspberry texture. Its flavor is a vibrant Moscato, with fresh forest fruits and strawberries and a nice dose of sweetness.
- My review: On the nose I am reminded of the Welches' sparkling grape juice that is found around Thanksgiving and New Years. It also smells of several dark fruits like fresh crisp red delicious apples and large globular red table grapes. The wine is very carbonated and bubbly which allows the flavors to pop all over your palate. This does make it hard to swish to detect flavor as it causes a lot of foaming throughout the mouth. It has a flavor that is very reminiscent of sparkling cider with the apple taste remaining as well. There is a nice citrus in the taste to counteract all of the sweet from grapefruits. There are many more light fruits that are hard to detect but that complement the stand out flavors very nicely giving a very light refreshing drink.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine.
- Name: Beringer
- Variety: Smooth Red Blend
- Region: Napa Valley California
- Country: United States of America
- Year: 2012
- Price: Regular Price $15 Sale Price $5.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: A blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah. Without a doubt, very smooth and uniquely balanced. Not too dry but not too sweet. Has a foundation of raspberry and blackberry that lingers in the finish. A slight hint at vanilla and some spice when it touches your tongue.
- My review: Initially I am hit with the smell of freshly opened jam or preserves with lots of sugar and berries. The individual smells that I am able to detect are strawberry and raspberry but both of them are muddled in a sugary smell. On the palate the jam taste is not there. Instead there is a distinct blackberry taste along with pepper, not sugar. The wine is not too dry as it has a sweet flow in the mid pallet but not sweet enough for it to be a sweet blend. There is a deep oaky flavor that hangs around from mid pallet to finish and that is accompanied by an after heat. Surprisingly enough I taste white grapes that have been frozen to give it a slight sweet taste.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine.
- Name: Yellow Tail
- Variety: Cabernet 60% Merlot 40%
- Region: South Eastern
- Country: Australia
- Year: 2014
- Price: Regular Price $10 Sale Price $4.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: A classic blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium-bodied and very approachable with soft tannins. Fruit-forward flavors of plum, cherry and blackberry are accented by notes of spice with more juicy berries on the finish.
- My review: On the nose there is a very strong dark red grape smell. It also has a lot of spice smells surrounding the grapes, two of which are black pepper and lots of cloves. On the palate initially I am hit with pepper that follows throughout the whole sip. There is also a juicy mixed berry flavor that is hard to pick apart. The finish has a distinct blackberry taste that clears away the pepper flavor making the sip very enjoyable by the end.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine.
- Name: Be. Bright
- Variety: Pinot Grigio
- Region: Napa Valley California
- Country: United States of America
- Year: 2013
- Price: Regular Price $10 Sale Price $5.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: This effortless Pinot Grigio keeps things light, with sun-ripened citrus flavors and a crisp, fresh finish. An instant taste of optimism, perfect for setting a carefree mood at any occasion. Serve chilled for total deliciousness.
- My review: On the nose this wine is very smooth, there are no harsh smells to detract from the other aspects. There is a floral smell like a fresh mixed bouquet. There are also distinct fruity smells of ripe red apples with white grapes and peaches mixed together. Initially the wine tastes like sparkling water with a slight carbonation that wakes up the palate without overwhelming it. There is a distinct fruity peach taste. It reminds me very much of rose water, very delicate and smooth. This is a very relaxing zen wine that would calm and de-stress anyone with only one glass.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine.
- Name: Dynamite Vineyards
- Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
- Region: Lake County California
- Country: United States of America
- Year: 2012
- Price: Regular Price $13 Sale Price $5.95
- Shop/wine critic/winery review: Melon, green apple and citrus flavors are lively and refreshing, with a spicy, floral nuance.
- My review: On the nose it has a very floral smell of freshly cut roses. There is also a light peach smell to compliment the floral aroma. The taste is very acidic when you take the first sip. As the wine moves to the mid pallet I am able to taste the fruit flavors of peaches, and apricot with a slight melon. The finishing flavors have a spice that tastes like cinnamon which complements the fruit flavors very nicely.
- Food Pairing: I did not have any food paired with this wine.
