Tasting - Beringer Chenin Blanc

Name: Beringer Chenin Blanc
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $5.95

Shop Review: A fresh green-apple aroma and vivid citrus and crisp apple flavors are supported by vibrant acidity in this medium-bodied wine. The texture is smooth but crisp, making lots of good food pairings come to mind, from pre-meal cheese, to salads, seafood and veggie pastas.

My Review: Fresh citrus mixes with a sharp honeydew melon on the nose of this yellow wine. Sugar scents on the nose flow into the palette and mix with some apricot and granny smith apple flavors.

Tasting - Carraia Aglianico

Name: Carraia Aglianico
Variety: Aglianico
Region: Campagna 
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Shop Review: Produced in the Campania region of Italy, this Aglianico has delicious black fruit flavors with hints of licorice, volcanic soil and tar notes. Classic in nature, yet in a lighter, more crowd-pleasing style, the Carraia is made of the ancient Aglianico grape. This black grape originated in Greece and today is widely grown in Basilicata and Campania.

My Review: This wine was extremely in your face with smokey tannins and a dark red color. The oaky flavors overwhelm the palette cancelling out any other flavors that could have been there. 

Tasting - Siema Vino Rosso

Name: Siema Vino Rosso
Variety: Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo
Region: Piemonte 
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $10

Shop Review: Intense ruby red with soft garnet nuances in the glass, the Rosso is intriguingly fresh, fruity and spicy on the nose. Perfectly round and balanced, the wine is particularly soft and dry. Pair with simple dishes like fresh cheese, ham, salami, or pizza for a divine culinary experience.

My Review: This deep ruby red wine was a lovely combination of cloves, cracked black pepper, and a deep dark plum with a bitter undertone. It's earthy on the palette with a slight dustiness and a hint of black olive on the mid-palette.

Tasting - Dom de la Foret

Name: Dom de la Foret Grenache Cinsault
Variety: Rose de Mediterranee
Region: Provence
Country: France
Year: 2015
Price: $13

Shop Review: A stony, pure style, with a warm paving stone note framing the dried cherry and rose water notes. The long, watermelon rind—inflected finish is finely tuned. Shows length and cut, staying lacy in feel. 50% Cinsault and 50% Grenache.

My Review: This lovely peach wine has wonderful smells of extra ripe peaches and apricots mixed with a sweet sugary smell. The taste goes far from the smell being extremely dry and sour and almost expanding in your mouth. 

Tasting - Bricco dei Tati Cortese

Name: Bricco dei Tati Cortese
Variety: Cortese
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $10

Shop Review: “Great Value! Treat this terrific little white like a red: Don’t chill it too much, then let it open for a half-hour to develop its enticing tropical fruit flavors. It’s dry, but the fruit gives an appealing illusion of sweetness. Great as an aperitif or with light seafood dishes.” - The Washington Post


My Review: This wine was just awful. This pale yellow wine with small bubbles in the glass has the scent of cat pee with a light citrus attempting to cover it up. The taste didn't get much better. Harsh tannins and bitterness mixed with the taste of stale cat pee was anything but pleasing.