Tasting - "2012 Vina Borgia Borsao"

Name: Vina Borgia Borsao
Variety: Grenache
Region: Campo de Borja 
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Also made from 100% Grenache, the 2012 Vina Borgia was fermented and aged in stainless steel. Its medium dark ruby color is followed by abundant notes of strawberries and black cherries offered in a straightforward, medium-bodied, soft, hedonistic, round style. It is hard to believe a wine this good can sell for $7 a bottle. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years."
My review: The nose was overwhelming. It gave off aromas of cherries, but also strong alcohol and dryness. This wine had a more fruity nose than most grenaches. As for taste, it had a cherry taste, but was flat from the start to finish and also dry. I would not recommend this wine.

Tasting - "2012 Cortenova Pinot Grigio"

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Venezia
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the finish. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi, spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif."
My review: Out of all the wines I tried for this course, this was by far my favorite. I really enjoyed it! On the nose, I smelled some grape, strawberry, and fresh squeezed lime. It had overall a very bright floral and fruity aroma. The flavor was very light. The initial texture of the wine was crisp and a bit dry. The finish was clean and refreshing. I would agree with the critic's review and say that this wine would be a great aperitif.

Tasting - "2012 The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc"

Name: The Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Cape Province, Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months."
My review: The initial sniff was fruity, sweet, and floral. As for taste, it tasted like honey and melon. There was slightly a dusty undertone to this wine, which I found pleasant. A little dry. There was a low tannic and crisp finish. I enjoyed this wine with pepper jack cheese.

Tasting - "2011 Villa d' Orvieto"

Name: Willa d' Orvieto
Variety: White Blend
Region: Umbria
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "It’s a blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia. Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful floral bouquet. It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads."
My review: On the nose, very minimal aromas of light citrus and a hint of grass came through. I tasted barely any flavor at all, but it tasted slightly sweet. There was a bit of heat on the finish. I personally did not enjoy this wine. I didn't have any food with this.

Tasting - "2012 Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling"

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: N/A
Country: Germany
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "This drier-styled Riesling is bright, fruity and floral with crisp acidity and clean flavors of apple, pear and peach that compliment its stony minerality and earthy complexity. It serves well as an aperitif and matches a wide variety of foods, like lighter salad dishes, shellfish, cream sauces and also anything with a touch of spice."
My review: On the nose, there were scents of floral and honey. Also a little citrus. The taste of this wine was overall sweet with a bit of acidity. There were also some fruit and floral on the palate. Personally, the wine didn't taste very interesting. I did not have any food with this wine.

Tasting - "2012 Norton Sauvignon Blanc"

Name: Bodega Norton Sauvignon
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Cuyo, Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $12
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio."
My Review: On the nose, there were mild citrus aromas and also floral aromas. For a white wine, it tasted more full bodied than I expected it to be. There were some hints of grapefruit and herbs. Fresh and fruity on the palate. I had this wine without food.

Wine Tasting – "2010 Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit 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: On the nose, there were aromas of dark chocolate, berries, and plum. The first sip gave a tingling feeling while not being too hot. Chocolate with a hint of spice was the main flavor I tasted with some berries and plum. I didn't try this wine with food, but I feel like it will go well with some dark chocolate. 

Tasting- "Morada Sangria"

Name: Morada Sangria
Variety: Red Blend
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $4.95
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Morada Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas, and flavors. At 7% alcohol, it is very refreshing with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana, or apple."
My Review: This sangria has a refreshing color, a little lighter than most reds. The nose is full of fruit scents, specifically orange and cranberry. The sangria is sweet and refreshing. It kinda tastes like cranberry juice with a splash of orange juice. It would be great to drink on a hot summer day.

Tasting - "2013 Canyon Road Pinot Grigio"

Name: Canyon Road Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Gris

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2013
Price: $6.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: "This medium-bodied wine has hints of green apple, citrus, white peach and floral blossom. Crisp, the Pinot Grigio leaves a refreshing and revitalizing finish on your palate."

My review: On the nose, there was lemony/citrus scents. The taste had hints of apple, citrus, peach, and floral (as mentioned by the shop's review). This wine is on the sweet side. It seems to pair well with pasta and salad.

Tasting - "2012 Chakana Cabernet Sauvignon Maipe Reserve"

Name: Mendoza Station Reserva Torrontes

Variety: Red - Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2012
Price: $13.95

Shop/wine critic/winery review: "The same can be said for the 2012 Malbec Reserve, a 100% hand-harvested Malbec from the estate's finest vineyard parcels. Aged 12 months in French oak, it possesses a softer style than the Cabernet Sauvignon with more minerality as well as lots of blackberry, white chocolate, incense and graphite characteristics. Deep ruby/purple-hued, rich and full-bodied, it is a full-throttle, stunning Malbec to drink over the next 4-5 years. Maipe is one of my favorite value selections from Fran Kysela as the wines are exceptionally well-made, and sell for a song. Well-known in these pages, Fran Kysela runs a surprisingly large volume import business with a strong focus on value-priced wines from Southern France, Argentina, Australia, and Spain"

My review: When the bottle was opened, there were some off scents and flavors, but they faded away after sitting and oxidizing for about an hour. I tasted some black fruit (not too fruity), mint, and a whiff of some chocolate. Ok balance. The finish turns kind of acidic. I wouldn't consider this a food wine though.

Tasting - "2009 Mendoza Station Reserva Torrontes"

Name: Mendoza Station Reserva Torrontes

Variety: White 

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Year: 2009
Price: $10

Shop/wine critic/winery review: "Like the aromas, the flavors of the 2009 Mendoza Station Reserva Torrontes are mostly tropical fruit but combined with a bit of citrus. This is a dry, light-bodied white wine with marked acidity and a moderate flavor intensity. Like other Torrontes, it's best when drunk cold and shouldn't be allowed to warm up too much."

My review: This wine had aromas of apple with a bit of herbal. At first, the taste was fruity on the palate, but flavors quickly became a little unbalanced. I paired this wine with sushi, and noticed that the wine becomes creamier with the sushi pairing. This wine would probably be a good choice to have with sushi of all types.

Tasting - "2012 Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay"

Name: Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay
Variety: White - Chardonnay
Region: Santa Maria, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $19.99
Shop/wine critic/winery review: "The 2012 Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay has subtle tropical and citrus aromas with pineapple, stone fruit and apple flavors. Oak and vanilla balance out the flavors on the palate. Nicely balanced with weight on the mid-palate leading into a crisp, fresh finish."
My review: The wine had a nose of citrus fruit mixed with light herbal flavors. There were definitely flavors of green apple, pineapple, and maybe a bit of apricot. The finish was very creamy and clean.

Tasting - "2009 Adelsheim Pinot Gris"

Name: Adelsheim Pinot Gris
Variety: White - Pinot gris
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $16
Shop/wine critic/winery review: “Another fine success for Adelsheim. Elegant and crispy defined. Mix of fresh pear, honeydew and gooseberry."
My review: I could definitely taste the hint of fresh pear and honeydew, then it refreshes the palate with some light citrus-y flavors. It has a rich texture and long finish, yet tastes crisp and clean. I tried it with some spicy thai cuisine, and it was good.