Name: Oveja Negra Syrah-Cab Rosé Reserva
Variety: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Did not Specify
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $7
Winery review: Oveja Negra Reserva Rosé is bright cherry-red in color and has an attractive nose with aromas of raspberries and strawberries as well as plum and a bit of green apple. Crisp and juicy on the palate with a slight sweetness that accompanies the red fruit flavors. Pleasing natural acidity with medium-high intensity, nice persistence, and a fresh finish.
My review: Really picked up on the advertised strawberry nose, along with a floral background. This followed with flavors of a tart green apple and strawberry. I was surprised at the sweetness in this wine, if only because most rose wines I have had were generally dryer and more tart. I really appreciated the flavors introduced in this wine.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: gPG Garganega Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Delle Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $9
Winery review: gPG is from the delle Venezie regions of northeastern Italy. A clean and crisp palate with plenty of texture and weight follows aromas of apples and zesty lemons. It's perfect with grilled white fish or light risotto.
My review: Nose reminded me of watered down apple juice, which I appreciated. Tasting resulted in a rush of pear flavors to pair with that apple, resulting in a wine I really enjoyed. This wine was fruity, smooth, and delicious, a combination I always appreciate.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Primo Amore Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Did not specify
Country: Italy
Year: Did not specify
Price: $9
Winery review: Straw-yellow with golden reflections and a delicate mousse. Fruity and very inviting, with intense scents of peaches and exotic fruit. Fresh and pleasantly sweet with a taste that reveals its varietal characteristic.
My review: In a nutshell: good, but not 9 dollars good for my cheap self. This is a very sweet wine that I really enjoyed, with a floral and "grapey" nose. The thing is that I could not distinguish much else that was different compared to cheaper dessert wines I've tasted in the past. It is probably worth the money, but I just couldn't bring myself to purchase this over the wines I had previously tasted.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Faraway Farms Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: Did not specify
Country: South Africa
Year: 2008
Price: $6
Winery review: Fresh, modern style, with lots of plum pudding, sweet chocolate, mocha, blackberry and boysenberry flavors supported by round, sweet tannins and toast.
My review: If you can imagine the smell of smoke from a campfire and smashed berries combined then you can imagine the nose of this wine. I thought the smokiness overpowered the other elements of the wine. Maybe some berry flavors (what the hell does a boysenberry taste like, anyway?), but the smoke really took me out of this wine's mood. This might be the wine I'd get if I was gonna smoke some ribs, but otherwise, I cannot see it pairing with much.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Tres Ojos Old Vines Garnacha
Variety: Grenache
Region: Did not specify
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $7
Winery review: Bright ruby color. Primary dark berry aromas are simple but offer very good purity and focus. Juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are youthfully tangy, with good back-end acidity adding snap. The clean, brisk finish leaves behind notes of sweet dark berry preserves and cracked pepper.
My review: Hints of vanilla on the nose along with the advertised berries, with a kick of spice that I expected along with deep cherry flavors. I was disappointed that I did not get any of the vanilla as I actually tasted the wine, but the good tannins made up for it. I was going to buy this wine, but enjoyed the Obikwa too much... I'll come back later for this one.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Oak Vineyard Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Napa & Sonoma
Country: California
Year: 2010
Price: $6
Winery review: Quite an interesting Chardonnay, in an era when so many are too sweet and extracted. There’s plenty of orange and apricot fruit flavor, but also a brilliant streak of minerality, like a lick of cold steel, and the overall taste is dry. Really easy to like, with lots of complexity to warrant repeated sipping.
My review: I was not a fan of this wine. Light nose consisting of pear and hints of wood. This wine was relatively plain; there was little oak and not so much of the advertised orange and apricot... more of an old, brown apple that lingers in your mouth after you swallow the stuff. I plan to avoid in the future.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
Name: Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc
Variety:
Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Did not specify
Country: South Africa
Year: 2010
Price: $8
Winery review: OBiKWA Sauvignon Blanc is the ideal summer wine and smacks of crisp tropical fruit with a smattering of gooseberries and fig. If you're planning a night out with mates - don't forget to bring along a bottle of this yummy potion!
My review: I really enjoyed this wine. Light apple aromas with citrus zest in the background. My palate was engulfed with pear and I received no heat as I tasted. Well balanced, and worth the 8 dollars I paid for it.
I tasted this on its own with no food.
