Tasting- Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine
Variety: Riesling
Region: Pfalz
Country: Germany
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Wine Critic Review: "Flint and mineral notes accent pineapple and lime aromas, while on the palate, the wine shows plenty of ripe, citrusy fruit flavors. Tangy acids on the long finish provide balance."

My Review: The smell of the wine was full of citrus, grassy, floral ,and gave off an aroma that it was going to be a very sweet wine. When I tasted the wine because I was pleasantly surprised because it was not as sweet as I thought. Instead it was tart which was interesting because I have only tasted sweet Rieslings. Citrus was present while I first tasted the wine and lingered as an aftertaste. A light bodied wine which was very enjoyable and I would highly recommend to my friends!

This wine was not tried with food.

Tasting- Don Ramon Tinto

Name: Don Ramon

Variety: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Wine Critic Review: "75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo. Aged 3 months in American Oak

casks. Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry. Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework. A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity."

My Review: The smell of the wine was very intense, very oaky, with dark berries and cherry was heavily present here. The flavor of the wine was explosive, I definitely could taste the presence of dark berries and cherry. The aftertaste of the wine which consisted of some spice was really good and lingering. To me this was a full bodied wine and was my favorite red wine that I tried during the tasting at the Vintage Cellar.

This wine was not tried with food.

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.