Tasting - First Light Moscato

Name: First Light Moscato

Variety: Moscato

Region: Not Provided

Country: Australia

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine."

My Review: An absolutely delightful Moscato, but perhaps this is because I am very partial to these sparkling wines. The nose had a floral bouquet with plenty of rose, lavender, and tulips. There was also an accented fruit aroma with passion fruit. There was strawberries and cream, vanilla, sugar cookie, and cake icing.  It may seem like it would be a sweet tooth overload, but it really wasn't. It was as if a touch of strawberry was added to Sprite. This Moscato makes for easy, casual drinking and I enjoyed it so much that I bought myself a bottle. I cracked this open last night with Pedro and we ate asian fried rice (which did not pair extremely well) as well as snacked on pretzels (which again, did not fully complement the sweet flavors of the moscato). We also drank this First Light with vanilla and strawberry ice cream, which was absolutely perfect. I usually do not like strawberry ice cream, but the Moscato added just the right component to it so that it was enjoyable for me. A great buy!

Tasting - CalNaturale

Name: CalNaturale

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Paso Robles

Country: United States (California)

Year: 2009

Price: $10.95 1 L, $5.95 500 mL

Winery Review: "95 % Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish."

My Review: This was an extremely aromatic red with plum, blueberries, and rich, darker fruits on the nose. It was a brownish red in color that almost resembled a deep earthy tone. There was a velvety aspect to the surface that burst of cherry, plum, oak, and strawberry jam. Like the nose, there was an earthy, dirt component to the palate that complemented the organic fruit taste. Well-balanced tannins and a strong finish concluded this one very well. I did not take this with food. However, a tomato bisque would complement this CalNaturale nicely.

Tasting - Georges Duboeuf

Name: Georges Duboeuf

Variety: Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish." - Wine Spectator

My Review: This wine was a pretty, light ruby color that hinted at a light tannic balance. The nose had definite tones of strawberry-banana; I had never previously experienced a nose so profound in this one aroma. If you could get past the predominant strawberry-banana, there was a subtle mineral component as well. There was a strong raspberry taste on the palate as well as red fruit and berries. The mid-palate had a chewy texture and the finish was only a couple seconds. 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. I did not purchase a bottle, but Pedro enjoyed it so much that he did! It was not paired with food, but I could definitely picture myself eating this with a cobbler.

Tasting - Beltrame

Name: Beltrame

Variety: Tocai Friulano

Region: Friuli

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $9.95 Sale

Winery Review: "100% Tocai Friulano Straw-coloured yellow with a pale green tint express an intense, delicately aromatic and floral bouquet.The flavour is dry, soft, slightly fruity, with slightly bitter nuance in its almond aftertaste, and suggestion of peach."

My Review: Another white, but unlike the previous Mas LLunes it was hay yellow and not lime green. It had a distinct floral bouquet with tones of honeysuckle, pineapple, and orange peel. On the palate I was getting earthy tones of freshly cut grass mixed with pears and even peanuts. I personally did not enjoy this white as much as the Mas LLunes and it was forgettable. It was soft and timid, and I would have liked a more complex harmony of flavors. It was not paired with food, but I'd like to try this with sesame crackers and garlic and herb cheese.

Tasting - Mas Llunes

Name: Mas LLunes

Variety: Grenache Blanc

Region: Emporada

Country: Spain

Year: 2010

Price: $9.95 Sale

Winery Review: "This Grenache Blanc is exquisitely sculpted with sharp acids and pinpointed minerals, and offers orange, melon and vanilla-honey flavors. A delight to drink, at a great price."

My Review: The Blanc was a sprightly lime color that reminded one of upcoming springtime. On the nose there were tones of honey dew, tropical fruit, and most prominently mango. It was extremely dry on the palate and leaving almost nothing to the finish. There was watermelon, apple acidity, and mango just like the nose with a distinct metallic and mineral component. There was a smooth, biting quality to this wine that gave it a kick. I really enjoyed this Grenache Blanc, and although it was not taken with food, I could drink this with a shrimp and fruit salad. Overall, an enjoyable and easy going choice.

Tasting - Sonnenband

Name: Sonnenband

Variety: Moscato Magnum

Region: Not Provided

Country: Spain

Year: not provided

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "This wine is intricate with delicate perfumes of white flower blossoms, profound tropical fruit sweetness, and energized by citrus nectars."

My Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this wine. On the nose there was plenty of sweet aromas such as honeysuckle, lavendar, vanilla cream. This had a smooth surface with a fruit component as well as a floral component. It was girly and sweet with watermelon, strawberry, and honey. This was a fun party Moscato that I would pair with apple pie or maybe even the fruit that it resembled such as strawberries.

Tasting - Neu Direction

Name: Neu Direction

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2010

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of blackfruit aromas, depth, and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure."

My Review: I enjoyed this Cabernet very much. There was strawberry jam, pomegranate, and violet on the bouquet. There was plenty of dark, fresh fruit on the palate such as blackberries, blueberries, and blood red pomegranate, just as the aroma foreshadowed. There was a pleasantly gripping sensation on the body, with a great tannic balance to complement the deep and complex flavors. I did not pair this with food, but I can see this well with almost any type of Asian-marinated dark meat (steak, beef, kabob).