Tasting- Boas Vinhas Tinto

Name: Boas Vinhas Tinto
Variety: Tinto
Region: Dao
Country: Portugal
Year: 2009
Price: 9.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Deep bright violet and red color. Rich in aromas of red fruits as plums and strawberries. Its intense yet docile and fleshy taste fills the palate without roughness, leaving a pleasant sensation.

My Review: I completely agree with the review above. This was my favorite wine of the day and left me wanting more. This was a very full bodied wine with many fruit flavors without being too overpowering or dry with a calm aftertaste. I would love to have this wine with any type of meal.

I tasted this wine with bread.

Tasting- Beauvert Cotes du Rhone

Name: Beauvert Cotes du Rhone
Variety: Grenache Blend
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2009
Price: $11.95

Vintage Cellar Review: A beautiful ruby red wine. Very fragrant, with aromas of red fruit (currant, strawberry and cherry) with hints of clack pepper and cinnamon. Medium-bodied and silky in the mouth with mature round tannins. Enjoy with meats, grilled vegetables or cheese.

My Review: This wine was soft but very dry. The strawberry nose was very apparent with a hint of cherry. After the initial tasting, a film seemed to be left on the palate due to the dryness. This wine would go well with pepperjack and other similar cheese blends.

I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting- Doural Tinto

Name: Doural Tinto
Variety: Tinto
Region: Doural
Country: Portugal
Year: 2009
Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review: This Portuguese tinto(red) blend exhibits a deep red color with violet hues. The nose is vibrant and fruity. The palate offers notes and spice, cherry, and berry supported by good structure. Pairs well with red or game meat, cheeses and fish.

My Review: This wine has a nose of blackberry and cherry aromas with a hint of strawberries. This dry wine was very vibrant with many changes is flavors as it enters your palate. This wine would be great with a hearty steak and potatoes.

I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting- Nykteri Santorini Yannis

Name: Nykteri Santorini Yannis
Variety: Santorini
Region: Santorini
Country: Greece
Year: 2010
Price: $13.95

Vintage Cellar Review: I fell first for the compelling story of this 'night work' wine, and then for the aroma and taste, and can't think of a wine to compare it to. "Nykteri - Dry White Wine Appellation of Origin Santorini of superior quality. Since 3,500 years ago, the Nykteri is synonymous to Santorini's famous white wines. The formula to 'instant wine making' on the night of the same day that the grapes were harvested solved the problem of the variety's sensitive aroma deterioration. The wine is matured for 3 months at least in barrels. In this way the wine's contact with barrel's wood gives the Nykteri a special finesse. Characteristics Crystal-clear, semi-yellow wine. Dominated by the aromas of jasmine, citrus fruits, flowers and pear, all these enhanced with a gentle vanilla sense. A strong body with warm personality and a long lasting taste. Serve with grilled anything as well as with local Greek dishes such as tomato meatballs and fava dip.

My Review: This wine was very flat and fruity on the pallet. The wine flavors really are noticeable once it reaches the back of your tongue where the strong bitterness is revealed. For a white wine, this was very dry and flat, which is not what I expected.

I didn't taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Casa Bianca Spumante Rosato

Name: Casa Bianca Spumante Rosato
Variety: Prosecco
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: Not Vintage
Price: $11.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Prosecco is very popular in Italy. The wine is often served as a festive aperitif but mild dry Prosecco Spumante is also very suitable as a companion of appetizers and entrees. Prosecco is a generic term and can be sold in may different qualities. The best have their own appellation, as Casa Bianca. The vineyards of Montello and the hills of Asoli located in northern Italy. this rosato spumante is made from white grape pinot nero prosecco and red. By fermenting them together creates the pale pink color and a flavor that is more powerful than the white variety. Spicy rosato spumante with a fine, persistent mousse, juicy fresh red fruit in the aroma and a rich, smooth lasting flavor.


My Review: This wine first has a strong kick that is both tart and bright. It has a champagne like taste with an overpowering carbonation. This wine has a bouquet of fruit ranging from strawberry to cherry and everything in between. This wine for me was too strong and bubbly for my taste. This wine would be great for a toast during a celebration, but not much more.

I did not have any food while tasting this wine

Tasting- Candoni Moscato

Name: Candoni Moscato
Variety: Moscato
Region: Apulia
Country: Italy
Year: Fresh, Not Vintage
Price: $14.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Low in alcohol, semi-sparkling, but remarkably fruity and fragrant, it has an excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. Excellent with pastries, cakes, desserts, fruit, sushi, sashimi, and spicy dishes.

My Review: This wine had half the alcohol of typical wines, due to all the sugar added. This was a very sweet but smooth wine. It had a light and airy taste and left you wanting more. This wine would go great with sushi, but due to its sweetness, I would probably stay away from pairing it with cakes and pastries.

I had this wine alone without food.

Tasting- Alta Luna Phases

Name: Alta Luna Phases
Variety: Teroldego, Lagrein, and Merlot
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $9.95


Vintage Cellar Review: 40% Teroldego, 30% Lagrein, 30% Merlot aged in small oak barrels for 12 months, then further refined in bottle before release. Deep ruby red Dark cherry, plum and blackberry aromas combine with intriguing spicy notes. Rich, concentrated dark fruit character against powerful yet silky tannins and bright acidity. Excellent structure, with a distinctive freshness to the fruit that creates and elegant profile.

My Review: I love this wine! I am a huge fan of many different Merlots, but this one brings something new to the table. The mixture of the different varieties of wine provides for a delicious palate. This is a wine I could drink with every meal.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Lyeth Cabernet

Name: Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet
Region: Sonoma County, California
Country: US
Year: 2010
Price: $12.95

Vintage Cellar Review: A little aggressive in an edgy texture, but for the price, this Cab offers plenty of richness and is a solid value. It's sweet and jammy in cherries, blueberries and cocoa.

My Review: This wine is very dry but had a fruity taste from the cherries and blueberries. As stated above, this wine has an edgy texture and is not smooth. This wine is definitely worth the money to try a Cabernet.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Candoni Pinot Grigio

Name: Candoni Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Friuli
Country: Italy
Year: Fresh, Not Vintage
Price: $10.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Medium-bodied, well-structured and sophisticated. It has a rich, pear-like nose, followed by a crisp acidity and a delicious mouth feel. A delicious accompaniment to fish, seasonal pasta dishes or chicken. It can also stand alone as an aperitif on a hot summer day.

My Review: This was a very fruity and very smooth wine. It also had a strong punch in its aftertaste. For those who love Pinot Grigio's, this is the wine for you. I personally could only have one or two glasses before I need a less fruity drink.

I had this wine alone with no food.

Tasting-Candoni Proscecco

Name: Candoni Prosecco
Variety: Prosecco
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: Fresh, Not Vintage
Price: $15.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Delicate and fruity with a hint of honey. It is crisp and clean in the mouth with a pleasant acidity that leaves behind a delicious and persistent freshness with a dry, well-balanced taste.

My Review: This wine has almost a Champagne taste and was quite bitter but crisp. This wine would be the perfect selection for celebrations such as New Years. I would not select this wine for an everyday drink, but would be a definite "go to" for special occasions.

I did not have this wine with food.