Tasting - "Vina Santurnia"

Name: Crianza Santurnia
Variety: 100% Tempranillo grapes
Region: La Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2006
Price: $14.94 ( http://www.winezap.com )

Winery's own Website Review: Origin: Comes from the area of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa: Areas of Brinas, Haro, Rodezno, and Labastida. Process: Fermented in stainless steel tanks, transferred to barrel for 12 months and then left bottled for 1 year. Taste: A ruby coloured wine, brilliant appearance, round aftertaste and harmonic retro-taste.(http://www.rayalaehijos.com)

My Personal Review: This wine was the worst wine I have ever tasted. I did not like this at all! It was hard to take down and it almost seemed "hard" and reminded me of wood. The sensation was that of breathing in hot dense smoke at a campfire.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Doural"

Name: Doural Tinto
Variety: Touriga Franca
Region: Douro
Country: Portugal
Year: 2009
Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: This Portuguese tinto(red) blend exhibits a deep red color with violet hues. The nose is vibrant and fruity. The palate offers notes of spice, cherry, and dark berry supported by good structure. Pairs well with red or game meat, cheeses and fish.

My Personal Review: This was one of my favorite wines from the daily tasting. It was a pretty red and the taste was very light with a hint of fruit. However, the aftertaste was extremely dry which painted my entire mouth with its flavor.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Sol'Acantalys"

Name: Sol Acantalys Cotes du Rhone
Variety: Syrah Blend
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Calaiswine.co.uk Wine Review: Bright and juicy Cotes du Rhone with hints of spice and pepper. This young and fresh Cotes du Rhone from Les Vigneron de Tavel shows superb notes of red berry fruits spice, particularly pepper.(http://www.calaiswine.co.uk)

My Personal Review: The aroma definitely encourages a fruity taste and after tasting it I completely agree. It had a great fruit flavor after the initial contact on the tongue which then smoothed away. For this wine I thought the more air it got especially within the mouth the flavors became more sensitive.

I did not eat food with this wine.

Tasting - "Nykteri - Santorini Yannis"

Name: Nykteri Santorini Yannis
Variety: Nykteri
Region: Ionian Islands
Country: Greece
Year: 2010
Price: $13.95

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: I fell first for the compelling story of this "night work" wine, and then for the aroma and taste, and can't think of a wine to compare it to. "Nykteri - Dry White Wine Appellation of Origin Santorini of superior quality Since 3,500 years ago, the Nykteri is synonymous to Santorini's famous white wines. The formula to 'instant wine making' on the night of the same day that grapes were harvested solved the problem of the variety's sensitive aroma deterioration. The wine is matured for 3 months at least in barrels. In this way the wine's contact with barrel's wood gives the Nykteri a special finesse. Characteristics Crystal-clear, semi-yellow wine. Dominated by the aromas of jasmine, citrus fruits, flowers and pear, all these enhanced with a gentle vanilla sense. A strong body with warm personality and a long lasting taste. Serve with grilled anything as well as with local Greek dishes such as tomato meatballs and fava dip.

My Personal Review: This wine exemplifies dry for me and it stays around for a long time. Otherwise the smells and taste were very simple and I could not taste much fruit or anything else. Basically my senses were bored by this wine.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Casa Bianca - Spumante Rosato"

Name: Casa Bianca Spumante Rosato
Variety: white grape pinot nero prosecco and red
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: No Vintage
Price: $11.95

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: Prosecco is very popular in Italy. The wine is often served as a festive aperitif but mild dry Prosecco Spumante is also very suitable as a companion of appetizers and entrees. Prosecco is a generic term and can be sold in many different qualities. The best have their own appellation, as Casa Bianca. The vineyards of Montello and the hills of Asoli located in Northern Italy. This rosato spumante is made from white grape pinot nero prosecco and red. By fermenting them together creates the pale pink color and a red flavor that is more powerful than the white variety. Spicy rosato spumante with a fine, persisten mousse, juicy fresh red fruit in the aroma and a rich, smooth lasting flavor.

My Personal Wine Review: The pink color is definitely the first thing I noticed and this made it stand out from the other wines with the clear glass. Also before tasting the wine, the aroma itself was very fruity which combines well with the pink color bottle. The wine's taste went rapidly from a nice sweet taste to a bitter ending taste that was very short. There was not much of a lingering taste with this wine.

I did not eat food with this wine.

Tasting - "Revelry Merlot"

Name: Revelry Merlot

Variety: 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet and 3% Petit Verdot
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $14.95

Vintage Cellar Review: If you've ever relaxed in a cozy chair, you know what this Merlot is all about: soft, smooth, and luxuriously deep, with flavors of blueberry and black cherry supported by subtle suggestions of oak and spice

My Personal Review: This wine was smooth and fruity which is first noticed when taking in its initial aroma. I thought the wine almost had a "flat" taste to it and not really any kind of bite to it. It also had a long finish.

I did not eat food with this wine.

Tasting - "Candoni Moscato"

Name: Moscato d'Italia
Variety: 100% Moscato Bianco
Region: Apulia
Country: Italy
Year: No Vintage
Price: $14.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Low in alcohol, semi-sparkling, but remarkable fruity and fragrant, it has an excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. Excellence with pastries, cakes, desserts, fruit, sushi, sashimi and spicy dishes.

My Personal Review: This is the sweetest wine I have ever tasted! It smells and tastes extremely fruity and could be compared to apple juice. I do not think I could drink a bottle of this by myself. If you are a sweet tooth you may love this, but otherwise I am not a fan.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Alta Luna Phases"

Name: Alta Luna Phases
Variety: 40% Teroldego, 30% Lagrein and 30% Merlot
Region: Trentino
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 40% Teroldego, 30% Lagrein, 30% Merlot aged in small oak barrels for 12 months, then further refined in bottle before release. Deep ruby red Dark cherry, plum and blackberry aromas combine with intriguing spicy notes. Rich, concentrated dark fruit character against powerful yet silky tannins and bright acidity. Excellent structure, with a distinctive freshness to the fruit that creates an elegant profile.

My Personal Review: The first think I noticed about the wine was the white eye-catching label in-front of the dark color glass of the bottle. This alone got me excited and interested in trying the wine and it did not disappoint. The wine's color was dark yet the red wine was light in taste, however there was nothing distinct about the taste that made it stand out. It also had a short aftertaste which I always find delightful and more appealing for my red wines.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Lyeth Cabernet"

Name: L de Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Sonoma County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $12.95

Vintage Cellar Review: A little aggressive in an edgy texture, but for the price, this Cab offers plenty of richness and is a solid value. It's sweet and jammy in cherries, blueberries and cocoa.

My Personal Review: As I stared into the wine glass I first noticed small black chunks settling at the bottom which I still do not know what they are, but I disregarded them due to my inexperience. For tasting the wine I noticed it being a little more dry and not more bitter than how I usually perceive red wine. Because of this I also thought it did not have a strong taste and very little aftertaste. It was not one of my favorite tastings of the afternoon.

I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - "Candoni Pinot Grigio"

Name: Candoni Pinot Grigio
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: No Vintage
Price: $10.95
Shop: Vintage Cellar

Vintage Cellar Review: Medium-bodied, well-structured and sophisticated. It has a rich, pear-like nose, followed by a crisp acidity and a delicious mouth feel. A delicious accompaniment to fish, seasonal pasta dishes or chicken. It can also stand alone as an aperitif on a hot summer day.

My Personal Review: I enjoyed this white wine and it seemed lighter to me than a usual white wine. The first time it hit my tongue I thought it tasted cool, light and sweet which then kindly smoothed off leaving a refreshing taste in my mouth. I did not have food with this wine, but I agree with the store's review that it would be good in the summer because of its subtle cool stimulation.