Tasting - Terre dei Savoia Barbera d'Alba

Name: Terre dei Savoia
Variety: Barbera d'Alba
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Store Review: Its aroma is wide and complex: spicy, with green pepper notes, cinnamon and vanilla, pleasant and characteristic; at the same time it is also fruity, with cherry, blackberry, strawberry and red fruits jam in general notes. In mouth it reveals its full-bodied taste, with the right amount of acidity, and with a persistent and pleasant finish.

My Review: This wine had an interesting mesh of flavors to it, with a nice vegetal aroma and a bit of spice to the flavor. What I typically expect out of a red - the cherry and oak came across nicely on the finish for me.

I tried this wine without food.

Tasting - Mas Carlot Costieres de Nimes

Name: Mas Carlot Costieres de Nimes
Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2016
Price: $4.95

Store Review: This mouthwatering rosé is a traditional blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. It's medium-bodied, boasting notes of fresh herbs, cherries and white chocolate, balanced by a hints of sea spray. Drink it over the next year.

My Review: This wine was a fairly nice balance of sweet and dry for me. The scent was interesting for the wine, giving more of the herbs mentioned above that I did not taste as much. It was nice and light, while having a bit of a tart finish.

I tried this wine on its own with no food.

Tasting - Dom Chazallon Coteaux de l'Ardeche Viognier

Name: Dom Chazallon Coteaux de l'Ardeche Viognier
Variety: Viognier
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $9.95

Store Review: Viognier, one of the finest grape varieties, originates from the Rhône Valley of France. When well looked after, it produces a distinctive, particularly fragrant wine, a true delight to the senses. Saint Régis is a great Viognier bottling, with peachy aromas, hints of tangerine and menthol, and a pure and fresh character.

My Review: This wine was my favorite of the ones that I tasted this week. It was nice and light and fresh, with a good fruity smell and a citrus flavor. It had a smooth finish that lingered well in my mouth.

I tried this wine on its own with no food.

Tasting - Daniel Cellars Aurora Chocolate Raspberry Wine

Name: Daniel Cellars Aurora Chocolate Raspberry Wine
Variety: Blend, Red Dessert Wine
Region: Barboursville, Virginia
Country: United States
Year: Non-vintage
Price: Frontline $18 sale, $3.95

Store Review: Aurora is a sweet red wine that Daniel Cellars have added Chocolate and Raspberries to. Chocolate is the dominate aroma and flavor with Raspberry accents. This is a perfect wine for chocolate lovers. Best served ice cold with a friend.

My Review: I am not typically a fan of dessert wines, and for the most part this was no exception. While it was wonderful to smell, with strong suggestions of chocolate, and the raspberry did come across decently well on the tongue, overall the wine felt and tasted too syrupy in my mouth. That said, it felt brighter than most dessert wines.

I tried it on its own, with no food.

Tasting - Estrella Cabarnet Sauvignon

Name: Estrella Cabarnet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabarnet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: Frontline $17 sale, $5.95

Store Review: Bright medium dark garnet color. Fruity, creamy, attractive aromas and flavors of berry and cherry custard pies, watermelon, and chocolate and floral honey with a silky, vibrant, fruity medium body and a smooth, interesting, medium-length spiced blueberries and cherries and vanilla custard finish with soft tannins and light oak. A very smooth, charming, and fruity cabernet crowd pleaser.

My Review: This wine was a delight, with a lot of nuance and something that I believe most people would find approachable. It was a bit sweeter than the other red that I tasted just before it, making it a bit more of something I would bring for someone whose tastes I wasn't sure of. There were plenty of nice fruit flavors, making tasting this wine nice and pleasant.

I tried this wine on its own with no food.

Tasting - Terre dei Savoia Dolcetto d'Alba

Name: Terre dei Savoia Dolcetto d'Alba
Variety: Dolcetto
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: Frontline $20 sale, $6.95

Store Review: Violet, red berry and underbrush scents come together in this Dolcetto. Its savory, juicy palate evokes crushed blackberry, cherry and a touch of toasted almond alongside lithe tannins.

My Review: This wine was a bit on the dry side, but not too dry for my tastes. The cherry flavors came across nicely for me, along with a not unpleasant slightly bitter finish.

I tried this wine on its own with no food.

Tasting - Terra Minei Treixadura Ribeiro

Name: Terra Minei Treixadura Ribeiro
Variety: Treixadura
Region: Ribeiro
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: Frontline $17 Sale, $6.95

Store Review: Firm and focused, this white supports the core of apple and pear flavors with flinty, steely and briny notes, accented with fresh herb and smoky details. Juicy acidity keeps this fresh and racy through the mineral finish.

My Review: I was not able to detect most of the flavors that were listed above, though the apple definitely came across as well as an earthiness on the finish. Light and refreshing, this would be a good go-to.

I had this wine with no food on its own.