Tasting - Santa Duc Gigondas

Name: Santa Duc Gigondas
Variety: 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah and Cinsault
Region: Gigondas
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $43.95

Winery Review: Aged completely in foudre, it exhibits lots of blueberry, blackberry and kirsch fruit intermixed with hints of crushed rocks and spring flowers. This medium to full-bodied, soft Gigondas is ideal for drinking during its first 6-10 years of life.

My Review: This wine had a very strong woody, oak aroma. There was not much fruit aroma or flavor. It was very mineral in flavor and had a very tannic finish which I did not like.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Les Vielles Vignes

Name: Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Les Vielles Vignes
Variety: 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Morvedre, 10% Cinsault, Cournoise, Carignan
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $15.95

Winery Review: The old vines give great depth and density to the wine. Older vines produce less fruit, the flavors coming through the grapes are concentrated into those fewer clusters. The nose is of plump, dark fruit; ripe black cherry and blackberry as well as a bit of mint. The palate is full of lovely berry fruits, lush ripe strawberry, black raspberry and black currants and undertones of wild herbs, like a basket of freshly picked forest berries and herbs. Those lush flavor and herbal notes make this a nice partner for a cozy crock of French Onion Soup.

My Review:This wine had a smoky, spicy aroma with hints of oak. After tasting, there were some hints of berry fruits but it was very tannic and acidic which took away from the flavors.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Moulin de Gassac Rose

Name: Moulin de Gassac Rose
Variety:40% Grenache, 40% Carignan, 20% Syrah
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $10.95

Winery Review: A delightful salmon-pink wine is produced using the traditional saignee process. After macerating on the skins for approximately 10 hours, the juice is then pumped off and fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Aromatics of strawberries and crushed red fruit leap from the glass. In the mouth, it is fresh with excellent acidity, some mineral components and good length. Very food friendly. It is a great companion to just about anything you want to throw at it.

My Review: This wine had nice berry aromas of strawberry and raspberry. After tasting, the flavor was overpowered by tannins and a dry acidic finish. I did not really like this wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Vina Borga Borsao

Name:Vina Borgia Borsao
Variety: 100% Grenache
Region: Campo de Borja
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Also made from 100% Grenache, the 2012 Vina Borgia was fermented and aged in stainless steel. Its medium dark ruby color is followed by abundant notes of strawberries and black cherries offered in a straightforward, medium-bodied soft, hedonistic, round style.

My Review: This wine had a spicy aroma with only hints of berry fruits. After tasting, it had very light fruit flavors with a very tannic finish. I also found this wine to be very warm which I did not like.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - McPherson La Herencia

Name: McPherson La Herencia
Variety: 75% Temparanillo, 9% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre, 5% Grenache & Carignan
Region: Lubbock, Texas
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $16.95

Winery Review: Spanish-style red wine made to give a tip of the hat to both the Spanish explorers who first crossed the Texas High Plains, and to those who first envisioned a Texas wine industry> This delicious blend is packed full of juicy bramble fruit, tobacco leaf, and spice. The wine fermented in stainless steel and aged fourteen months in new and neutral French oak giving more weight than 2010 but still round tannins and a pleasantly savory finish. Enjoy this wine on its own or with your favorite Texas BBQ.

My Review: This wine had a smoky, oak aroma as well as some tobacco aromas. However, after tasting, the berry fruit flavors came through and it was nicely balanced. There was a light tannic finish that surprisingly had some acidity to it.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Luis Canas Rioja Crianza

Name: Luis Canas Rioja Crianza
Variety: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Grenache
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $18.95

Winery Review: Beautiful ruby color and a clean, intense nose of wild berries with just enough lactic and spicy notes. The palate shows sweet tannins and good balance, intense and fresh. This is a crowd-pleaser and great value. - 91

My Review: This wine had a very woody, oaky aroma. This wood smell unfortunately covered the berry smells. After tasting, the spice was definitely present and it had a tannic, warm finish. Again, this wine was too dry for me.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Col Des Vents Corbieres

Name: Col Des Vents Corbieres
Variety: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper...all are present in this authentic French country wine. There are also some aromas of Garrigue (Rosemary, thyme and lavender) giving a minty, herbal notes, that are quite refreshing as well. The wine is a perfect match with a nice rosemary marinated roasted lamb.

My Review: This wine had a very herby, licorice aroma to it. Taste wise, the black pepper and spices were definitely present while the fruit flavors were muted. It also had a tannic finish which I did not like.

I did not have this wine with food,

Tasting - Tres Ojos Garnacha 2011

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha 2011
Variety: 100% Grenache
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: With a hint of rubber and asphalt, the bouquet on this value wine is generous and topped with blackberry and dark plum aromas. The palate is grabby with clampy tannins and black-fruit flavors mixed with chocolate and spice. The earthy, lightly herbal finish with rubbery nuances is nice. - 89

My Review: I did not enjoy this wine. It was too heavy with the tannins coming through very strongly. It also had a strong oak flavor and a bitter and dry finish.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Delaroche Cotes du Rhone

Name:  Delaroche Cotes du Rhone
Variety: 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95


Winery Review: "This semi-opaque ruby, custom cuvée of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre is made specifically for Fran Kysela. It exhibits very fresh, ripe dark red fruit with very good palate weight and depth and ends with rich fruit notes. Made from organically grown grapes. Incredible value!" - 90

My Review: This wine had a very tart smell and had some heat in the flavor. It was very mild for a red wine, however it was bit too dry and bitter for my taste. It was better than expected but the red fruit flavor did not come out as much as I would have liked.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Domaine de La Guicharde Cotes du Rhone

I forgot to take a picture of the bottle
at the tasting. The wine sampled was a 2011
Cotes Du Rhone. 

Name: Domaine de la Guicharde Cotes du Rhone
Variety: 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $14.95

Winery Review: Very bright and exuberant, offering lots of violet, anise and blackberry aromas and flavors, with a good lacing of firm cherry pit keeping this honest through the finish. - 88

My Review: I found this wine very bitter. I did not get the blackberry taste but there was some hint of cherry throughout. This white wine was heavier than expected and not as smooth.

Tasting - GR-174 Casa Gran del Siurana

I forgot to take a picture of the bottle at the tasting. 

Name: GR-174 Casa Gran Del Siurana
Variety: Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Priorat
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $17.95

Winery Review: The 2011 GR-174 was tasted from barrel and was due for bottling the following week. It has a more extravagant bouquet than the 2010 with kirsch, blood orange and blueberry. The palate is full-bodied with a sweet entry. It is very extravagant with precocious red fruits and a smudge of alcohol towards the finish. It is a bit of a hedonist, but one that comes at a decent price. Drink now. - 89

My Review: This wine was a lot lighter than I was expecting. I was expecting a heavy bitterness and dry finish but the wine was surprisingly smooth. There were also hints of berry flavor such as raspberry. Normally red wines are too heavy for my taste but this red was smoother and lighter than expected.

I did not have this wine with food.