Tasting - Atlas Cumbres

Name: Atlas Cumbres

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Cuyo

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: Sale $6.95

Winery Review: "Intense red color with violet highlights, with clean, fresh and complex aromas of berries, plums, figs and pepper. Strong personality is in perfect balance with a medium body and pleasant 

tannins. Ideal for: red meats, cheeses and strong sauces."

My Review: There was apricot, prunes, and black cherry on the nose. On the palate there was a spicy, peppery finish with licorice, pomegranates, and red berries. Tannins were not overwhelming and complemented the fruit and pepper notes very well. The surface texture was grainy and had a bite to it. I did not pair this with food, but I think it would pair well with dark meat or korean bbq meat. 

Tasting - Georges DuBoeuf

Name: Georges Duboeuf

Variety: Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: On sale $3.95

Winery Review: "Balanced and lightly creamy, offering pretty flavors of plum sauce and raspberry coulis threaded with hints of ground spice. Elegant, with a floral finish. Drink now."

My Review: I think we tried this wine before in a VC wine tasting. I was getting the same nose with definite tones of strawberry-banana. The mid-palate had a chewy texture and the finish was only a couple seconds with licorice, black currant, red cherries, and raspberries. It would be a good wine for a first-time wine drinker to ease into, as it was a light, tasteful red that I would enjoy for easy drinking. It was not paired with food, but I could definitely picture myself eating this with a cobbler or pastry.

Tasting - Bricco dei Tati

Name: Bricco dei Tati

Variety: Still Rose Wine

Winery Review: "Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries and rose petals. This is ideal with shellfish, salads, chicken, and with appetizers."

My Review: On the nose there was a floral bouquet with fruity notions of raspberries, strawberry jam, and honeydew. The palate spoke of these same tones with an added likeness to gummy candy. I've only had one other rose wine before but I actually liked this one better, because it seemed more full bodied and well-balanced flavors. I did not take this with food, but I can imagine it would go well with fruit tart, creme brulee, and pastries.

Tasting - Frascati

Name: Frascati Volpetti

Variety: Blend of Malvasia, Trebbiano, Greco

Region: Frascati

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Straw yellow in color with a soft, delicate perfume, fruitful flavor, dry
and harmonious taste. Perfect with appetizers, soups, fish."

My Review: The nose had subtle, sweet tones of mangoes, citrus, light acidity, and chalk. This was a full-bodied wine on the palate with a chewy and textured component. This was certainly a dry white and even though it had a full body, the finish was short. I did not pair this with food, but I think it would go well with salmon or crabcakes. Overall, a generic but tasteful wine but it was not especially impressionable on me.

Tasting - Toso Moscato

Name: Toso 

Variety: Moscato

Region: Not Provided

Country: Italy

Year: n/a

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "This Moscato is reminiscent of honeysuckle and rose petal. The quality is equivalent to a top level Asti Spumante DOCG. Sweet sparkling wine obtained from a careful selection of the Moscato grapes. It has a pale straw yellow color with fine foam and bubbles. Tropical fruit flavors, refreshing.

Excellent to match desserts, fruit and dried pastries."

My Review: A distinct nose of perfume and strong floral bouquet. A sweet, lively Moscato with molasses,  honey, sweetened green tea, and strawberry icing on the palate. Like most Moscatos, this is made for casual drinking and desserts. It was sweet but not overwhelmingly so; thus it was a very enjoyable tasting. I would pair this with any type of light pastries, strawberry or vanilla ice cream, or a fruit tart. 

Tasting - El Sierro

Name: El Sierro

Variety: Blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Not Provided

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Dark ruby in color with rich aromas of red fruit and light spices. It is a real knock-out with delicious flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and vanilla all perfectly integrated. The Tempranillo provides wonderful spice and fruit, while the Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and depth with the beautiful use of oak."

My Review: The El Sierro was a gorgeous, deep burgundy color with black cherry, strawberry, and pomegranate on the nose. The palate was complex- plenty of grape jam, raisins, and cranberries. The blend with undertones of minerals and wood. There were also notions of herbs and spice, with some cloves and parsley flakes. The surface texture was dusty which gave this wine a rustic feel. It was not taken with food, but I would pair it with a steak or beef cuts marinated with red wine.

Tasting - Omo Ze Bel Merlot

Name: Omo Ze Bel 

Variety: Merlot

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2011

Price: $6.95

Winery Review: "This bright, soft Merlot comes from a hilly vineyard on the Alcesti family estate in beautiful Sicily. It has hints of red cherries and freshly cut hay.  Exceptional value."

My Review: The Omo Ze Bel was a more subtle Merlot than the ones I've had previously. It had cinnamon, grapes, and red berries on the nose. On the palate again I was getting predominantly red fruits with raspberry, tomato juice, grass, and a bit of salt. The surface texture was of suede with gripping, well-balanced tannins and a short finish. The Merlot would taste great with a salt and pepper chicken or sun-dried tomato pasta.