Tasting - Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Opera Prima Pink Moscato
La Mancha, Spain
Regular Price: $10 
Sale Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: "A blend of Muscat 97% and Tempranillo 3%. This fine sparkling presents an intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flower petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on its own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts. Serve it very cold, between 7 and 9°."

At the tasting, this wine definitely was not as cold as it is suggested to be consumed. Perhaps this would have made a difference, but I was neither impressed or displeased with this wine. My first pink moscato, I picked up on the strawberry and tropical fruit flavors along with a crisp and clean finish. Not as sweet as most, I would consider buying this wine for as a dessert wine for friends whom I know enjoy the lighter and sparkling wines.

Tasting - Cortenova Primativo 2012

Cortenova Primativo 2012
Puglia, Italy
Regular Price: $10
Sale Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: "Dark, ruby-red color with violet highlights. Intense and fragrant bouquet with a rich array of red and black fruit aromas and flavors. Harmonious and velvety on the palate. Great balance and structure. 100% Zinfandel"

This was the first purely Zinfandel varietal I have had, and I'm not sure i enjoyed it very much. The color was radiant and beautiful and the aromas were pleasant, but on the palate it was very dry and smoky. I hadn't experienced the smokiness of a wine, but had heard other comment and describe wines as such. It was very interesting to experience, but I did not enjoy the tobacco, smoke-like feel of this wine.

Tasting - Riebeek Cellars Shiraz

Riebeek Cellars Shiraz 2013
Swartland, South Africa
Regular Price: $12
Sale Price: $6.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: "Often referred to as Shiraz Country, the Riebeek Valley is renowned for exceptional Shiraz wines. The Riebeek Shiraz is a lively rich wine, full bodied with a subdued smokiness on the nose and a pallet of ripe fruit and interesting spice."

This wine provided a acetone-like smell, but it was not unpleasant like some. I also picked up some subtle plum aromas. The color of this red wine was really nice as well, seeming full and smooth. In the mouth it felt medium bold with a small bite of hotness on the finish, which was enjoyable rather than unpleasant.

Tasting - Petrucco Ribolla Gialla

Petrucco Ribolla Gialla 2009
Friuli, Italy
Regular Price: $21
Sale Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: "This well-priced Friulano would pair nicely with spicy Indian or Thai food thanks to the creaminess and richness of its mouthfeel. In addition, the wine offers a solid bouquet of peach and melon that would not compete with fragrant ingredients 100% Ribolla Gialla"

I found this wine to be very different than any other I have ever tried. I had a hard time describing it, both the bouquet and mouthfeel. I wish I had gotten a chance to read these tasting notes prior to trying it, because I then would've had something to look for. As I mentioned in another blog, I really enjoy both Indian and Thai cuisine, so I will keep this wine in mind for the next time I plan to eat a meal of spicy Asian foods.

Tasting - Le Jade Sauvignon Blanc

Le Jade Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Languedoc, France
Regular Price: $10
Sale Price: $5.95

Vintage Cellar tasting Notes:  "Silvery straw color. Lively aromas and flavors of pineapple, yellow apple, melon, and Meyer lemon with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tingling, complex, medium-long finish with notes of lemongrass, pear, and lemon with no tannins and no oak. Bright and crisp with layers of juicy pineapple, pear, lemongrass and ripe melon make this perfect for repeated sipping or enhancing fresh farm to table cookery."

I got some lovely hints of apricot, pear and green apple aromas and really enjoyed the color of this wine. On the palate it was very pleasant, with its crispness and refreshing undertones. A bit dry, but fuller than most sauvignon blancs I've previously had.

Tasting - Coastal Vines White Zinfandel

Coastal Vines White Zinfandel 2013
California, USA
Price: $6.95

The Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: This White Zinfandel has a beautiful pink salmon color and crisp acidity. The wine shows juicy fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry, with a tangy sweet finish. Pairs well with mild cheeses, crab cakes, and spicy Asian cuisine.

As expected, the Vintage Cellar always finishes their tastings with the sweetest wine. I really liked the color this White Zinfandel presented, but expected the sweetness, which I generally am not a fan of. It smelled fruity, but almost masked, as if the smells couldn't come through enough, but they surely shined on the palate. Raspberry and strawberry hints matched my first perception of the wine, and although it was not my favorite, I would like to try it when Asian cuisine, which happens to be one of my favorites.

Tasting - Ilurce Tempranillo

Ilurce Tempranillo 2008
Rioja, Spain
Regular Price: $14
Sale Price: $5.95

The Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: Dark purple. Zesty, youthfully medicinal aromas of dark berries, licorice and cracked pepper. Juicy and fresh, with smooth texture and sweet cherry and spice flavors framed by dusty tannins. Finishes with a suggestion of slightly roasted fruits and good clinging persistence. Delivers a lot of power and richness for the money.

Despite the 88 point rating, I didn't enjoy this wine very much. This was my first experience with this, and shows how subjective ratings can be. This was also my first Tempranillo varietal wine, but I have had others from this region of Spain which I have thoroughly enjoyed. On the nose, right away I found it to be too acidic, picking up a smell of acetone witch was unappealing. On the palate it was actually less hot and acidic as I had expected, but the flavors just did not sit well with me. Perhaps it was the cinnamon sediment at the bottom that also turned me off, it was also the oldest wine I have ever tried.

Tasting - San Elias Carménère

San Elias Carménère 2014
Valle Central, Chile
Regular Price: $9
Sale Price: $5.95

The Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: This medium-bodied red offers roasted plum, kirsch, sage and game notes, with light tannins supporting the spicy finish.

This was definitely my favorite wine of the day. I really enjoyed the color it presented and the rose-like, floral bouquet caught my attention as well. On the palate, this wine was also very appealing. I picked up flavors of light-colored red fruits, like raspberries and strawberries with hints of darker berries. It was very smooth, but with an appreciable bite on the finish. I ended up buying a bottle and had the chance to try it the next day, after being open for 24 hours. The tannins were definitely softened and the fruity flavors were more prominent. I think this wine would be best consumed a few hours after opening, but not a full day later. Wonderful wine, will certainly keep this one in mind for the future.

Tasting - Riebeek Chenin Blanc

Riebeek Chenin Blanc 2014
Swartland, South Africa
Regular Price: $10
Sale Price: $6.95

The Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: Fresh kiwifruit, green apple and almond notes bounce along, showing a flash of plantain on the friendly finish. Drink now.

This was the first chenin blanc that I have ever tasted, and it reminded me of a sauvingnon blanc. With its light color and dry feel, not one of my favorite white wine varietals but I'd like to try others from different regions. It felt very thin to me and it was hard for me to pick out distinct flavors. I found it to be more acidic than I'd like, which probably contributed to the almost carbonated feel it had in my mouth.

Tasting - Santa Luz Sauvingnon Blanc

Santa Luz
Sauvingnon Blanc 2013
Valle Central, Chile 
Regular Price: $11
Sale Price: $6.75

The Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes: Like any good Sauvignon Blanc, this opens with oceanic aromas of citrus fruits, sea foam and minerality. In the mouth, it is juicy and stony, with washing acidity. Flavors of honeydew, lime and a nice grassiness finish firm, with good backbone. Drink this with salads, shellfish and ceviche.

On the nose, this sauvingnon blanc was very refreshing and almost cold. Definitely contained hints of citrusy fruits, which brought a bit of acidity with it. Pear and apricot flavors shined through at first taste. I found it to be smoother than the smell gave me an impression of, and even got some hints of oakiness on the finish. Overall, a decent wine that I would like to try with a light meal, as suggested.

Tasting - Fontana Candida Frascati

Fontana Candida Frascati
Frascati, Italy
Regular Price: $12
Sale Price: $5.95

Tasting Notes from The Vintage Cellar: A blend of 60% Malvasia Bianca di Candia, 30% Trebbiano and 10% Malvasia del Lazio. This Frascati, made from grapes grown in volcanic soils near Rome and cold filtered, is a pale straw gold. On the nose it offers light-as-a-zephyr lemon and a hint of grass. On the tongue it is ultra crisp and delightfully flinty, its lemon and clementine flavors as smooth as old silk. At the end of a nice clean finish a dab of ripe pear takes a bow.

This was the first wine from this region that I have tried. I also had never had any of the grape varieties that were in this wine. I didn't love or hate this wine. White blends have never been my favorite and this may be the reason. It was a nice and refreshing wine with hints of citrus that were agreeable, but it didn't leave a last impression on me. I would be interested to try these grape varieties outside of a blend to see what differences arise.

Tasting - Foxhollow Chardonnay 2012

Foxhollow Chardonnay 2012
California, USA
Regular Price: $12
Sale Price: $5.95

Tasting Notes from The Vintage Cellar: This Chardonnay’s aromas of tropical pineapple, crisp green apple and citrus are supported by underlying nuances of vanilla. The finish is smooth and creamy yet balanced with enough acidity to accentuate the vibrant fruit flavors with a hint of orange blossoms.

I really enjoyed this Chardonnay when I tried it at The Vintage Cellar! Chardonnays are really hard to go wrong with in my opinion. I got little on the bouquet but thought it had a very nice, balanced golden color. The fruity and oak flavors were very enjoyable. I ended up buying myself a bottle of this Chardonnay and had a glass after the tasting. The next day I had another glass and noticed some differences in the taste. After being aired out for a day, the oak flavors were more subtle and the crisper, acidic fruit flavors were more prominent. Still a great Chardonnay, but I feel I liked it better at the tasting than when I brought it home with me for a full glass.

Tasting - B&G Chicken & Turkey Cotes du Rhone

B&G Chicken & Turkey Cotes du Rhone
Rhone Valley, France
Regular Price: $10
Dale Price: $5.95

Tasting Notes from The Vintage Cellar: A blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Carignan. Deep red garnet color with purple highlights. Intense nose of morello cherry, tobacco and liquorice. Good structure on the palate with lots of fruits and a long fruity and spicy finish. A true delight.

The name of this wine was honestly kind of a turn off for me. Not that I have anything against chicken and turkey, cause I don't at all, but for some reason I just did not want to drink a wine by this name. I picked up a rather earthy smell from it. Unfortunately I did not pick up the tobacco or liquorice smells noted on the tasting notes, but perhaps if I gave it another try I would. I found the wine to be pretty dry and it did not impress me very much at all, I had little to say about it. Perhaps if paired with food some of the more complex flavors and deeper hints would surface.

Tasting - Foxhollow Cabernet Sauvingnon

Foxhollow Cabernet Sauvingnon 2012
California, USA
Price: $5.95

Tasting Notes from The Vintage Cellar: Rich and supple with juicy plum, blackberry and chocolate flavors and a pleasant sense of sweetness backed up by good acidity and moderate tannins. Offers early complexity and charm with real richness and depth. 

I really enjoyed the color of this cabernet and the dark fruit bouquet it provided. On the palate, hints of blackberry and cherry were prominent. This wine was good, but not one of the best cabernets I've had. I felt it wasn't as rich or bold as most cabs generally are and I wasn't very impressed by the finish. A little too dry and simple for me.

Tasting - Opera Prima Sparkling Moscato

Opera Prima Sparkling Moscato
La Mancha, Spain
Regular Price: $15
Sale Price $6.95

Tasting Notes from The Vintage Cellar: Flowery and sweet smelling, then round and fairly smooth in the mouth. The bubbles and flavor package of tropical fruits galore is pleasant and shouldn’t offend anyone. Finishes clean and easy. A mango boat of flavor.

From the fist sniff I could tell this Moscato would be less sweet than last week's. Although fruity and floral smelling, it appeared to be more muted. The taste agreed with the smell. I liked this one better than the previous week's, although it was still not my favorite. The crispness of it helped to keep the sweetness at bay. I probably wouldn't buy this wine for myself, but I will keep it in my mind for my friends who enjoy the sweeter, dessert wines.