Tasting- Resonata Nero D'Avola

Name: Resonata
Variety: Nero D'Avola
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95


Wine Critic Review: "Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background."


My Review: The Resonata Nero D' Avola was a very deep red color in my wine glass and the smell of this wine was full of dark berries and cherries. Also, it was giving off some heat/spice and I could tell that this was going to be a great wine to taste. The taste matched up with the smell of the wine, which I really enjoyed, with a hint of petrol on the tongue as an aftertaste. It did leave an oily coating in my mouth which was interesting and I could not tell if I liked it or hated it. I would say this wine was a medium-full bodied wine and would consider pairing it with food the next time I tried it.

This wine was not tried with food.

Tasting- Protocolo Blanc

Name: Protocolo

Variety: Blanc

Region: Villarta-Cuenca

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Wine Critic Review: "Greenish gold. Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle. Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness. Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon. As usual, this is an outstanding value." 87 Points, Stephan Tanzer

My Review: This wine had faint hints of grass, various herbs, and citrus fruits. This made me think that this wine was going to be full of flavor and I was very hyped up for it. Having said that, all the flavors that I smelled were very muted when I tasted it. In addition, there was a harsh bite on the tongue that lingered and left an unpleasant aftertaste. This wine was light bodied and overall I was not impressed with the wine.

This wine was not tried with food.

Tasting- Santola Vinho Verde

Name: Santola

Variety: Non-Varietal White Blend

Region: Vihno Verde

Country: Portugal

Year: Non-vintage

Price: $7.95

Wine Critic Review: "Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors. Off dry and very fresh."

My Review: This wine was one of my favorites that I tried at the Vintage Cellar yesterday. The smell of the wine was citrus, fresh, and was accompanied my a crisp smell. When I tasted the wine I got hints of various friuts such as  green apple and pear. Also, the Santola left me with a tart/sour aftertaste which I found to be very refreshing. Overall, this was a light bodied wine that I could see enjoying with some seafood the next time I have this wine.

This wine was not tried with food.

Tasting- Palos Verdejo

Name: Palos Verdejo

Variety: Verdejo

Region: Castilla y Lenon

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $15

Wine Critic Review: "Castellana’s 2009 Palos Verdejo is medium straw-colored with a nose of fennel, spring flowers, citrus, and apple. Crisp and vibrant on the palate, this tasty offering is a good value that will deliver pleasure over the next 12–18 months." Robert Parker 87 pts. The Wine Advocate: June, 2010

My Review: This wine was intriguing because I have never heard of this grape variety before. The smell was full of citrus, clean, fresh, and the smell of lemons was the predominate citrus fruit present. The taste was smooth and the smell of the wine has the most excitement. There was no taste to the wine, lackluster would be a great word to describe this light bodied wine. I would be willing to give this variety a chance again from a different producer.

This wine was not tried with food.

Tasting- Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Yarra Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $27

Wine Producer Review: "Coldstream Hills Sauvignon Blanc is sourced mainly from vineyards in the cool Upper Yarra. The wine is predominantly fermented in stainless steel, with a small percentage barrel fermented in older French oak - in some years, a percentage of Semillon is blended to add texture. Best consumed when young and fresh." ColdtreamHills.com

My Review: The smell of the Sauvignon Blanc was that it smells tangy, mostly hints of orange were present initially. The next sniff I took gave off a peach smell to it. The tastes given off were tangy as well as peachy and was very crisp and clean to me. I really liked the aftertaste in particular, very crisp, a light bodied wine, and was probably one of the best whites I had tried that day.

This wine was not tried with food.

Tasting- Tama Estates Zinfindel

Name: Tamas Estates Zinfindel

Variety: Zinfindel

Region: Livermore, California

Country: USA

Year: 2007

Price: $15

Wine Critic Review: "A little sharp in acidity, and the wine pepper spice adds to the impression of zippiness in this bone-dry Zin. It's deep and likeable in raspberry, cherry, and sandalwood flavors." Steve Heimoff

My Review: From the moment I picked up the wine and smelled it I knew I was not going to like it. The smell consisted of wet wood, which was not pleasant. I could not get any sort of fruit smell because my initial smell was overbearing. I decided I would taste the wine to see if it was any better. Unfortunately, it was not and the smell and taste matched up. Then it was very hot taste and this sensation lasted as the wine went down and remained for a couple seconds. The wine was full bodied and had a very tart aftertaste which made the wine even less impressive. Hopefully another Zinfindel will spark my interest one day.

This wine was not tried with food.

Tasting- Los Alisos Syrah

Name: Los Alisos Syrah
Variety: Syrah
Region: Santa Barbara County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2007
Price: $23

Wine Producer Review: "Los Alamos Valley is generating great interest among winemakers and wine critics for the quality and character of its Syrah. The region has a flair for producing wines with the peppery aromatics of a cold climate, and yet displays the rich intensity of warmer locales. Our Syrah is dark, dense and sinfully opulent with ripe scents of blueberries, white pepper and earth." LosAlisosWines.com

My Review: The color is this wine was a very dark red. When I held the wine glass up to my nose I got a very intense smell which consisted of dark berries. The tasting was very interesting, I could taste the dark berries as well as a very tart sensation overall. Even though it was tart, it was not puckery and stayed on my tongue. This wine left a bitter aftertaste on my tongue and to me seemed a medium-full bodied wine. I have not had a lot of experience with Syrah, however, I was not a fan of this particular one.

This wine was not tried with food.