Review - Fetzer Gewurztraminer

Name: Fetzer Gewurztraminer
Variety: 100% Gewurztraminer
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $12.00

Wine Shop Review: A rainy minerality on the nose of this sweet wine manages to cut through the sugared oranges, honeysuckle and ripe, tropical white fleshed fruit, from peach to cherimoya. The palate is full of honeyed apples, white peach and pineapple, but the decent acidity and chalky element stops it short of treacly.

Personal Review: I'm going to get called out for copying the wine shop review but they hit the nail on the head with the "rainy minerality" on the nose. That is exactly correct. The Fetzer Gewurztraminer smelled distinctly like a wet rock. Very interesting nose that I was not expecting from a "dessert" wine. My initial impression picked up a Welch's Apple Juice flavor that was fairly thin bodied and not overly developed. Low tannic structure, low acid, low alcohol. I found this Gewurztraminer to be pretty flat overall. A truly interesting nose none the less.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Maipe Malbec

Name: Maipe Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $12.00

Wine Shop Review: The 2015 Maipe Malbec is another 100% Malbec, with a deep purple color and a style similar to the Lexicon, with chocolaty, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, as well as touches of licorice and earth. It is delicious, soft and round.

Personal Review: The 2015 Malbec by Maipe was a pretty middle of the road red wine. Incredibly dark in color which led me to expect a pretty full bodied wine. Not to my surprise, the Malbec was full of dark cherries and raspberries at the nose. My first impression was greeted with these two fruity flavors before transitioning to a much-expected earthy mid-palate and peppery finish. Simply put, this Malbec tasted exactly like every other average inky black wine I've tasted.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau Gamay

Name: Manoir du Carra Beaujolais Nouveau Gamay
Variety: 100% Gamay
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $12.00

Wine Shop Review: A pretty, floral wine, with a rose petal note underscoring the rich pomegranate and sweet plum flavors. The fresh acidity is balanced, and a light spice note lingers on the finish.

Personal Review: I've got to come out and say a lot of the wines I tasted this week were fruit forward. The Beujolais Nouveau Gamay by Manoir du Carra was no different. The nose was full of watermelon and grapefruit. My initial impression noted a very sour cherry flavor that was quite dominating though raspberries were also present.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Mapreco Vinho Verde Rose

Name: Mapreco Vinho Verde Rose
Variety: 100% Vinho Verde
Region: Vinho Verde
Country: Portugal
Year: 2015
Price: $10.00

Wine Shop Review: The cherry color reveals a slightly fizzy wine that is a very fruitful rosé made from the traditional vinho verde white grapes. Adding a splash of red to offer flavors with notes of strawberry, cherry and berries. A delightful twist on the original.

Personal Review: The Vinho Verde Rose by Mapreco had a very refreshing bouquet to the nose that was packed with a distinct green apple Jolly Rancher aroma. Peaches were also present in the nose though to a much lesser extent. My initial impression led me to pick up the Jolly Rancher flavors I detected at the nose pleasantly accompanied by strawberries and peaches. From start to finish, a very light bodied, fruit forward wine.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Mars & Venus Chardonnay

Name: Mars & Venus Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Wine Shop Review: A very nice value Chardonnay that comfortably over-delivers vs. its modest price tag. No oak here, just bushels of clean, crisp, Chardonnay apple and stone fruit with a hint of caramelized pineapple.  Juicy and clean, this is a mid-weight white that's just perfect for parties or weeknight sipping.

Personal Review: I'll begin this review by saying I found the Mars & Venus Chardonnay to be incredibly satisfying. I've never had a Chardonnay from Spain before and was a little hesitant to try it because I'm not particularly fond of California Chardonnays. However, as we all know, wines even from the same varietal are incredibly dependent on the climate they are grown in. I found the Chardonnay by Mars & Venus to be incredibly crisp at the nose and full of a a springy apple aroma. My first impression was presently surprised to find a complete absence of the stereotypical California buttery-oaky flavor I was initially expecting. This Chardonnay stuck true to its nose with a pleasant apple and citrus flavor from the initial impression through the mid-palate and finish.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Beringer Chenin Blanc

Name: Beringer Chenin Blanc
Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Wine Shop Review: A fresh green-apple aroma and vivid citrus and crisp apple flavors are supported by vibrant acidity in this medium-bodied wine. The texture is smooth but crisp, making lots of good food pairings come to mind, from pre-meal cheese, to salads, seafood and veggie pastas.

Personal Review: I found the Chenin Blanc by Beringer to have an obvious green apple aroma at the nose as well as peach. I think this would be a better pre-meal "palate cleanser" than a dessert wine because it was not overly sweet. However, it was pleasantly dry and light. The green apples were present on the palate from start to finish.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Carraia Aglianico

Name: Carraia Aglianico
Variety: 100% Aglianico
Region: Campagna
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $15.00

Wine Shop Review: Produced in the Campania region of Italy, this Aglianico has delicious black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, volcanic soil and tar notes. Classic in nature, yet in a lighter, more crowd-pleasing style, the Carraia is made of the ancient Aglianico grape. This black grape originated in Greece and today is widely grown in Basilicata and Campania.

Personal Review: The Carria Aglianico might have the best nose of all the wines I have reviewed this semester. I picked up an undeniable hint of petroleum, as well as oak, cinnamon sticks, and pumpkin pie. Crazy bouquet, seriously. On the palate, I found the Aglianico to taste distinctly like cough syrup and surprisingly non-tannic or acidic. None the less, a really interesting wine due to the complexity and uniqueness of the nose. I've never had a wine that smelled quite like this Anglianico.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Siema Vino Rosso

Name: Siema Vino Rosso
Variety: Red Blend of Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $10.00

Wine Shop Review: Intense ruby red with soft garnet nuances in the glass, the Rosso is intriguingly fresh, fruity and spicy on the nose. Perfectly round and balanced, the wine is particularly soft and dry. Pair with simple dishes like fresh cheese, ham, salami, or pizza for a divine culinary experience.

Personal Review: I found the Vino Rosso Red Wine by Siema Rosso to be somewhat disappointing. The Vino Rosso had a huge bouquet full of cherries, raspberries, and plums. However, on the palate it was relatively flat. It had a low tannic structure, it was not particularly acidic, and it was only 12.5% ABV. Simply put, the Vino Rosso was one dimensional on the palate. It didn't bring any "UMPH!" A really weak wine which was disappointing because the nose was great.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review ; Dom de la Foret Grenache Cinsault Rose de Mediterranee

Name: Dom de la Foret Grenache Cinsault Rose de Mediterranee
Variety: 50% Cinsault 50% Grenache
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $13.00

Wine Shop Review: A stony, pure style, with a warm paving stone note framing the dried cherry and rose water notes. The long, watermelon rind—inflected finish is finely tuned. Shows length and cut, staying lacy in feel. 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache.

Personal Review: I found the Grenache Cinsault Rose de Mediterranee by Dom de la Foret to bring an interesting blend of red fruit to the nose. In particular, I picked up strawberries and cherries. On the palate, I found the wine to be silky smooth, refreshing, and full of the strawberries I had picked up in the bouquet. No significant mid-palate or finish.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.

Review - Bricco dei Tati Cortese

Name: Bricco dei Tati Cortese
Variety: 100% Cortese
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $10.00

Wine Shop Review: Great Value! Treat this terrific little white like a red: Don’t chill it too much, then let it open for a half-hour to develop its enticing tropical fruit flavors. It’s dry, but the fruit gives an appealing illusion of sweetness. Great as an aperitif or with light seafood dishes.

Personal Review: I found the Cortese by Bricco dei Tati to bring a citrus and tropical bouquet full of pears, pineapples, and other acidic fruits to the nose. Though the Cortese was very acidic and tart, I still found it to be balanced thanks to the presence of the pears and pineapples that I smelled. At only 11.5% ABV, the fruitiness of the wine definitely saved it from being unbalanced.

Note: I did not consume this wine with food.