Tasting - Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

The Vintage Cellar, 3/28/13

Name:  Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz
Variety:  Shiraz
Region:  New South Wales
Country:  Australia
Year:  NV
Price:  $9.95
Public review:  "A relatively light, fresh style of sparkling Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish."    
My review:  Young, fresh nose with a good berry balance.  The sparkliness in the mouth overwhelms the taste, however.  It tastes cool, but not as sweet as I expected.  Cleanses mouth well; not much aftertaste.  I honestly didn't get many shiraz characteristics out of this one.  
With food?:  No, but I had just finished drinking some apple cider spiced herbal tea.
Did buy?:  No

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha

The Vintage Cellar, 3/28/13

Name:  Tres Ojos Garnacha
Variety:  85% Old Vine Garnacha, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Tempranillo, 1% Syrah
Region:  Calatayud
Country:  Spain
Year:  2011
Price:  $6.95
Public review:  "This wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper.  The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich.  The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality.  This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness.  Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheese, etc."    
My review:  Wonderful cool fruity nose.  I'm getting more of the raspberry scents.  It's dry in the mouth, yet fruity.  Better aftertaste than Montebuena!  But something tastes "off" on my palate.  
With food?:  No, but I had just finished drinking some apple cider spiced herbal tea.
Did buy?:  No

Tasting - Montebuena Rioja Tempranillo

The Vintage Cellar, 3/28/13

Name:  Montebuena Rioja
Variety:  100% Tempranillo
Region:  Rioja
Country:  Spain
Year:  2010
Price:  $8.95
Public review:  "Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth.  Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy.  Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip.  Still on the young side but this wine drinks very will with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja."    
My review:  Deep, fruity nose which definitely gives off some cherry notes.  Relatively dry in the mouth, with noticeable tannins.  Bitter, unpleasant aftertaste... It just went downhill after I smelled it.  I am not sure how long The Vintage Cellar had the wine sitting out before I got there, and it was not in a decanter but in the bottle.  Maybe I'd like it better if it had breathed a little bit.
With food?:  No, but I had just finished drinking some apple cider spiced herbal tea.
Did buy?:  No, but am keeping it in mind for my boyfriend; I think he'll like it.

Tasting - Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

The Vintage Cellar, 3/28/13

Name:  Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence
Variety:  Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Region:  Provence
Country:  France
Year:  2011
Price:  $8.95
Public review:  "Bright salmon pink; typical of the fresh but warm Provence style.  Refined and complex on the nose, with summer fruit and floral notes.  Dry and crisp, with a delicate flavor and full texture."    
My review:  I could hardly tell it was a rose wine just from looking at it; it's very light-colored.  It's different; I get a little more of a deeper flavor than I expected.  I know this probably didn't undergo malolactic fermentation but that's the taste I keep getting...
With food?:  No, but I had just finished drinking some apple cider spiced herbal tea.
Did buy?:  No

Tasting - Canyon Road Chardonnay

The Vintage Cellar, 3/28/13

Name:  Canyon Road Chardonnay
Variety:  Chardonnay
Region:  California
Country:  United States
Year:  2011
Price:  $6.95
Public review:  "Medium-bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice.  Delicious complement to grilled chicken, lighter pasta dishes or mild cheeses."    
My review:  Smooth, fresh nose.  It's sweet, very crisp, and easily sippable!  I can taste the apple and it's very enjoyable.  The review says it's medium-bodied; I would classify it as light- to medium-bodied.
With food?:  No, but I had just finished drinking some apple cider spiced herbal tea.
Did buy?:  No, but I'm keeping it in mind for another time!

Tasting - Monte Aman Tempranillo

The Vintage Cellar, 2/28/13

Name:  Monte Aman Tempranillo

Variety:  100% Tempranillo

Region:  Arlanza

Country:  Spain

Year:  2009

Price:  $5.95

Public Review:  "Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature.  Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market.  Inky ruby.  Ripe cherry and plum on the nose.  Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise.  A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit.  Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now."         

My Review:  Deep, noticeably rich purpley-red color.  Berries & fruit in the nose.  Wow!  Chocolate & fruit in the mouth.  Smooth, well-balanced.  Great alone, can't wait to try it with foods!  

With food?:  No, although I had eaten a granola bar about 10 minutes beforehand.  

Did buy?:  Yes!

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

The Vintage Cellar, 2/28/13

Name:  Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Variety:  100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Region:  Veneto

Country:  Italy

Year:  2010

Price:  $6.95

Public Review:  "Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet.  Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity.  Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats."         

My Review:  Nose is deep, rich, and full of berries.  Wine is dry, and not as pleasant as I expected from the nose.  Might be better with a heavy food.  

With food?:  No, although I had eaten a granola bar about 10 minutes beforehand.  

Did buy?:  No

Tasting - Maipe Chardonnay

The Vintage Cellar, 2/28/13

Name:  Maipe Chardonnay

Variety:  85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier

Region:  Mendoza 

Country:  Argentina

Year:  2012

Price:  $7.95

Public Review:  "30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels.  Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints.  The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apple flavors, toasty vanilla.  Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced.  Crisp and long finish.  Pairs well with creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables."         

My Review:  Nice, round, warm nose!  Tastes like cheese, because of the malolactic fermentation.        

With food?:  No, although I had eaten a granola bar about 10 minutes beforehand.  

Did buy?:  No

Tasting - Villa d' Orvieto

The Vintage Cellar, 2/28/13

Name:  Villa d' Orvieto

Variety:  Blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia

Region:  Orvieto DOC 

Country:  Italy

Year:  2011

Price:  $6.95

Public Review:  "Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet.  It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads."         

My Review:  Not much of a nose.  Crisp in the mouth, almost citrusy... not too much flavor, and kind of "cool."       

With food?:  No, although I had eaten a granola bar about 10 minutes beforehand.  

Did buy?:  No

Tasting - Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

The Vintage Cellar, 2/28/13

Name:  Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Variety:  45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada

Region:  Penedes  

Country:  Spain

Year:  NV

Price:  $9.95

Public Review:  "Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes.  Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and balanced acidity.  A delicious sparkler for a great price!""         

My Review:  Smells like champagne.  Very sparkly -- almost too much!  Overwhelms the fruity flavor.     

With food?:  No, although I had eaten a granola bar about 10 minutes beforehand.  

Did buy?:  No