Tasting - Potluck Sweet Malbec

•Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec

•Variety: Malbec

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Argentina

•Year: 2010

•Price: $7.95

•Critic Review:  Deep red brilliant with violet hints. Complex, fruity, and predominant red fruits. Easy to drink, round with persistent sweetness, very well balanced with sweet tannins.

My Review:This wine was sweet smelling, with hints of strawberries. It also tasted sweet with a hint of tartness in the aftertaste. Overall I enjoyed this for a dessert wine since it was not overly sweet.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tastint - Domaine de Grange de Payan

•Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan

•Variety: Grenache

•Region: Côtes du Rhône

•Country: France

•Year: 2011

•Price: $8.95

•Critic Review:  Intensely spicy and precise, with lively red berry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The Grenache, which makes up the majority of the wine, is deeper and more powerful, offering cherry and black raspberry qualities lifted by zesty minerality.

My Review:This wine had a medium dark coloring and smell peppery. Suprisingly this wine tasted smooth but peppery at the same time. After smelling how peppery it was, I expected an extremely dry taste, but I was very pleased with how smooth it was.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting- Tinto Figaro

•Name: Tinto Figaro

•Variety: Garnacha

•Region: Calatayud

•Country: Spain

•Year: 2009

•Price: $6.95

•Critic Review:  Figaro is 100% Garnacha, made from a selection of the best grapes grown in the oldest vineyards. While not truly an "oaked wine", a short stay in oak barrels provides a nice spicy flavor boost. Bright violet. Dark berry and cherry aromas show a jammy aspect. Suppleand gently sweet, with good lift to its black raspberry and boysenberry flavors. Smooth and broad on the finish, leaving behind a hint of spiciness. Extremely easy to drink and an excellent value.

My Review:This wine had a dark color and had a strong plum smell. I thought this wine had a very peppery taste with a tart  cherry aftertaste. Overall I enjoyed this wine, but I was not a huge fan of the aftertaste.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting - Maipe Malbec Rosé

•Name: Maipe Malbec Rosé

•Variety: Malbec

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Italy

•Year: 2011

•Price: $7.95

•Critic Review:  Intense pink color with violet hints. Fresh red fruit bouquet, strawberry and cherry flavors, balanced acidity, dry and lingering finish. Excellent with tuna or green salad,  pasta,spicy Asian dishes.

My Review:This wine also had a light color, just light pink this time. I smelled sweet strawberries and apricots. I thought it tasted acidic but at the same time it tasted of sweet strawberries. Overall I liked this wine, but it was a little bit more acidic than I particularly like.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting - Cortenova Pinot Grigio

•Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio

•Variety: Pinot Grigio

•Region: Veneto

•Country: Italy

•Year: 2012

•Price: $7.95

•Critic 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 aftertaste. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi, spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine Perfect also as an aperitif.

My Review:This wine had a very light light color, almost clear looking. The smell was also a light with hints of sweetness. It had a very clean taste and was not nearly as sweet as I expected after smelling it. I enjoyed this wine because of how smooth it tasted.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting - Monte Aman

•Name: Monte Aman

•Variety: 100% Tempranillo

•Region: Arlanza

•Country: Spain

•Year: 2009

•Price: $5.95

•Critic Review: Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit.Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now.

My Review:This wine was smelled purely like plums and cherries. It tasted very dry and also fruity but had a hint of chocolate. At first I didn't notice it, but it was most definitely there. I liked this wine, but not as much as the last one from Abruzzo.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting - Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

•Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

•Variety: 100% Montepulciano d' Abruzzo

•Region: Abruzzo

•Country: Italy

•Year: 2010

•Price: $6.95

•Critic Review:  Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats.

My Review:This wine was very peppery smelling and tasting. It also smelled like plums but tasted dry and smooth. Overall I really liked this wine. The smoothness of it was very unexpected with the peppery smell.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting - Maipe Chardonnay

•Name: Maipe Chardonnay

•Variety: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier.

•Region: Mendoza

•Country: Argentina

•Year: 2012

•Price: $7.95

•Critic Review: Made from 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier. 30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels. Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.

My Review:This wine was very light in appearance and smelled fruity. It tasted acidic, creamy and buttery so I could tell it was oaked. I liked this chardonnay overrall but it was definitely not the best I have ever had.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting- Villa d' Orvieto

•Name: Villa d' Orvieto

•Variety: Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia

•Region: Orvieto

•Country: Italy

•Year: 2011

•Price: $6.95

•Critic Review: 

   It’s a blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), a nd  Malvasia. Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads.

My Review:This wine was very light in appearance and smelled sweet and fruity. It tasted sweet but had a notable sour aftertaste. I felt that this wine was not as good as the second one but that's definitely because I prefer the drier tasting whites.
No food was eaten with this tasting.

Tasting- Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

•Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

•Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada

•Region: Penedes

•Country: Spain

•Year: Nonvintage

•Price: $9.95

•Critic Review: 

   Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas  of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes.   Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and balanced acidity. A delicious sparkler for a great price!

My Review:This wine was light and bubbly looking and smelled of pears and butter. This tasted sweet but tart and a little dry. Overall I liked this wine and think it would be great with food.
No food was eaten with this tasting.