Name: Senda 66 Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Country: Spain
Region: La Mancha
Year: 2008
Price: $8.95
Winery Review:
90 Points, Robert Parker
The 2008 Senda 66 spent 8 months in new French oak. Purple/black in color, it sports a fragrant nose of spice box, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, layered, and remarkably rich on the palate for its humble price, this lengthy effort will drink nicely over the next 5-6 years.
My Review:
This wine smelled of strawberries and cherries and flowers. It had a sort of tropical taste to it, it was very sweet.
I tasted this alone without food.
Name: Sierra Cruz Carmenere
Variety: Carmenere
Country: Chile
Region: Maule Valley
Year: 2009
Price: $6.95
Winery Review:
As a member of the cabernet sauvignon family, carmenere (pronounced car-men-yare) originated in Bordeaux as one of the grapes permitted for use in the red blends of that storied region. Chilean winemakers have embraced it and several wineries in that country produce it as a single varietal. The '09 Sierra Cruz is a very pleasant, soft, medium-bodied wine that has fresh cabernet-like aromas and flavors of spice, dark fruit and black pepper. It is a great value and also would be a nice match with marinated and grilled skirt or flank steak.
My Review:
This wine has a fruity, jammy nose with a tannic and dark berry flavor. It is not well-balanced with lots of heat.
I tasted this alone without food.
Name: Lost Vineyards Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Argentina
Region: Northwest
Year: Nonvintage?
Price: $3.95
Winery Review:
Pale golden color. Perfumed peach, pineapple, and nougat aromas. Round and soft with a fruity-yet-dry medium body. Tangy apple skin and lemon zest notes lift the fruit nicely on the finish.
My Review:
This wine had a very sweet and floral nose. The body was smooth and buttery, with a little tartness on the finish.
I tasted this alone without food.
Name: Sierra Cruz Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country: Chile
Region: Maule Valley
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Winery Review:
This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc just oozes with bright citrus flavors and a nose of herbs and grass. Sylistically, it is a cross between the herbal, grassy wines so prevalent in Sonoma County and the riper more fruit forward products of New Zealand. Match it with pasta sauced with arugala, pine nuts, mushrooms and parmesan.
My Review:
This wine has a citrusy nose, but has a very sharp and kind of stale tasting body and does not finish well with a bad aftertaste.
I tasted this alone without food.
Name: Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitatswein
Variety: Reisling
Country: Germany
Region: Rheinhessen
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95
Winery Review
Leibfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts. The original wine was named after the Leibfraumilch monastery in Worms, where the monks were the first wine growers and produced an unusually pleasing wine. Wines of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate are noted for their aroma, well-balanced harmony, and fragrance. Leibfraumilch, as all excellent white wines is best served chilled. We suggest serving with cold entrees, as well as poultry, such as chicken or turkey, or even with a mild Cheddar, mellow and slightly nutty with a medium consistency.
My Review
This wine is very sweet, it tastes vaguely like white grape juice.
I tried this alone without food.
Name: Col des Vents Corbieres
Variety: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95
Winery Review
Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper... all are present in this authentic French country wine.
My Review
This wine has a strong berry nose with a smooth fruity flavor and few tannins
I tried this alone without food.
Name: San Elias Carmenere
Variety: Carmenere
Country: Chile
Region: Central Valley
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95
Winery Review
The grapes for this carmenere are selected from vineyards in the central valley. Beautiful red fruit aromas. Supple and round in the mouth, the wine pairs well with full flavored cheeses and lamb.
My Review
This wine had a spicy, raspberry jammy nose, some tannins, with a spicy aftertaste.
I tried this alone without food.
