Tasting - "Varas Vinho Tinto"

**Please only pay attention to the LABEL as the wine review was from a BOX wine.
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Tasting: 4/5/12

Name: Varas Vinho Tinto
Variety: 45% Castelao, 25% Tinta Roriz, 20% Tinta Barroca and 10% Pinot Noir
Region: Estremadura
Country: Portugal
Year: NV
Price: $21.95 for a 3 Liter Box (Vintage Cellar)

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: This smooth Portuguese red is a blend of Castelao (45%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Tinta Barroca (20%), and Pinot Noir (10%). The vineyards are located near Lisbon, planted in sunny gentle slope of clay and limestone soils. The wine was aged in oak barrels.

My Personal Wine Review: I first learned that the wine had been opened a week before and this only made me more curious. The first thing that caught me eye was how dark the color of the wine was. After noticing this and then smelling the wine I could definitely sense the "oakiness" of the wine. I got a complex bouquet of chocolate, sour cherries and oak. The wine was medium bodied as it was sweet yet dark. There were light tannins near the end, but overall it was very smooth. This was an interesting, yet unexpecting good wine.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Oveja Negra Syrah-Cab Rose"

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Tasting: 4/5/12

Name: Oveja Negra Syrah-Cab Rose
Variety: Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Maule Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: Oveja Negra Reserva Rose is bright cherry-red in color and has an attractive nose with aromas of raspberries and strawberries as well as plum and a bit of green apple. Crisp and juicy on the palate with a slight sweetness that accompanies the red fruit flavors. Pleasing natural acidity with medium-high intensity, nice persistence, and a fresh finish.

My Personal Wine Review: The color was very pinkish and had a bouquet of strawberries and a head-jerk movement of tartness. I liked this wine. The taste was very fruity as I received handfuls of berry flavors with a good mid-palate that satisfied all the way to the end of the tasting. There were light tannins that remained near the finish, but this was a fun and fruity wine.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "gPG Garganega Pinot Grigio"

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Tasting: 4/5/12

Name: gPG
Variety: 80% Garganega and 20% Pinot Grigio
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: gPG is from the delle Venezie regions of north-eastern Italy. A clean and crisp palate with plenty of texture and weight follows aromas of apples and zesty lemons. It's perfect with grilled white fish or light risotto.

My Personal Wine Review: The color is light yellow with a fruity smell of green apples and pears. Just like the bottle and its label of green I thought this wine's theme was very "green." The wine had a light body to it with the majority of flavors being apples, kind of like the small sweet/tart crab apples. It had light tannins which complemented the wine well, and I thought the wine was pleasant but nothing great. I have had better  varietals.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "La Sera Red Malvasia"

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Tasting: 3/24/2012

Name: La Sera Red Malvasia
Variety: 100% Malvasia
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: NV
Price: $13.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: A specialty of Italy's Piedmont region, Red Malvasia di Casorzo is fragran and fruity, moderately sweet wine. It has strawberry

My Personal Wine Review: The wine had a dark pink color. The aromas were some of sweetest I have ever smelled from a wine. It was like snorting straight sugar or sugar cane with the fruity grapefruit aspect. The flavors were sweet and had that grapefruit taste. I also got some smoke flavor that made it unique. I liked this wine, but it was almost too sweet for me.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon"

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Tasting: 3/24/2012

Name: Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petite Sirah
Region: Sonoma County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: Ruby in color and displays aromas of lavender, cedar and raspberry fruit. Flavors of blackberries and raspberries combined with hints of savory spices coat the palate. The soft tannins and sweet oak balance lead to a long and lingering finish.

My Personal Wine Review: The wine had a dark color and had a dry heavy smell with a hint of melon which was a strange combination. I thought the taste had a smooth mid-palate and it had a medium body with a light chocolate flavor. Just another red wine to put under my belt.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Pietra Santa Sangiovese"

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Tasting: 3/24/2012

Name: Pietra Santa Sangiovese
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Cienega Valley, California
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $15.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: Produced exclusively from grapes grown on the estate and showcases winemaker Alessio Carli's talent with the grape. Growing up in Tuscany, Alessio watched his father make Chianti and later hone his skills at the renowned Badia a Collibuono. Our Estate Sangiovese tastes of cranberry and intense Bing cherry with undertones of anise and a lingering finish. The depth and complexity of this wine has made it an annual best seller and the ultimate companion to great Italian cuisine. Typical of this variety, our Sangiovese vines have matured and we have been rewarded by increasingly rich fruit.

My Personal Wine Review: The aromas I received were very sweet and included apple, some green Fuji apples. The taste of the wine was very dark and I could detect flavors of chocolate and something that reminded me of mulch. The chocolate was the most intense and was lingering as it continued to stay attached to my taste buds.

I did not have food with this wine.

Tasting - "Pietra Santa Sacred Stone Red"

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Tasting: 3/24/2012

Name: Pietra Santa Sacred Stone Red
Variety: Red Blend (26% Merlot, 24% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah and the rest Carignane, Grenache and Zinfandel)
Region: Cienega Valley, California
Country: USA
Year: NV
Price: $9.95 (Vintage Cellar)

Vintage Cellar Wine Review: Proprietor's Red Blend. This wine is ripe and juicy with expressive flavors of cherries and plums. It is dark and aromatic with crisp acidity, nice structure and a lush finish. Made to pair with a wide variety of foods, this red wine is a must for everyday enjoyment or teaming with your favorite grilled and outdoor cuisine.

My Personal Wine Review: The color was an interesting darker and brown red. The smell was a combination of spice, oak, and cherries. Because of the "oaky" smell I thought this might also taste kind of burned, but surprisingly it had a smooth mid-palate and finish. The taste was dry and had some tar flavor and texture aspect. I enjoyed this wine, but I doubt I will remember this one as this tasted similar to other red wines I have had.

I did not have food with this wine.