Tasting - Foxglove Chardonnay

Name: Foxglove Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Central Coast, California

Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $15.95

Winery Review: A beauty, as well as an absurd value. Very clean and lively, with classic chardonnay notes of juiced apple, citrus and minerality. It is clean and focused on the palate with the richness of the variety, yet also beautiful precision and focus. Class and well made without any apparent oak.

My Review: This wine had a nice medium body but oddly smelled of seaweed. After tasting, there was light fruit flavors of apple and it was very smooth. There was almost no acidity on the finish but it was not buttery.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Moulin de Gassac Blanc

Name: Moulin de Gassac Blanc
Variety: 40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Clairette
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Variously described as "Lafite in the Languedoc", "the only Grand Cru of the Midi" and "exceptional", Mas de Daumas Gassac has consistently been the Languedoc glod standard for the past four decades. The 80-hectare, organically farmed estate is located deep in the sultry Midi, but enjoys a temperate microclimate as a result of altitude, which gives the wines a lovely deftness of touch. Try with coconut fish curry, penne al pesto, seafood gratin or cheese souffle.

My Review: This wine had a very fruity and floral aroma. However upon tasting, the fruit did not come out too much and it had a dry and somewhat bitter finish. It actually had some herbal flavor instead of fruit flavor.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Jam Jar Sweet White

Name: Jam Jar Sweet White
Variety: 100% Moscato
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise straightfoward ripe peach and nectarine aromas. There's a good balance in the mouth, with a nice acidic lift and slightly lime edge to cut the sweetness on the finish and close with the faintest hint of honeydew melons.

My Review: This was a very sugary and fruity wine. On the nose, there were some nectarine aromas with lots of sugar and some floral aspects. After tasting, it was sugary and fruity as expected but it did have a slightly dry finish which provided balance and kept it from being overly sweet.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Entrada Malbec

Name:Entrada Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Firm and structured, this is a solid wine, laced with mineral acidity and tight tannins. It has a juicy, blackberry fruit component cutting through the texture.

My Review: This wine had a very grassy and woody aroma. Upon tasting, there were fruit and berry flavors with a slight acidic finish. Overall, a smooth wine that wasn't bad but was not great.

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 - Peter Lehmann Chardonnay

Name: Peter Lehmann Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year:2010
Price: $20.00

Winery Review: The 2010 Chardonnay presents subtle notes of spiced apple slices and ripe peaches with hints of freshly baked bread and melon. Light bodied, clean and refreshingly crisp in the mouth, it offers just enough apple and pear flavor concentration, finishing with medium-long persistence.

My Review: This Chardonnay had an aroma that was similar to Riesling. There were smells of apple and pear which were nice. After tasting, there was nice fruit flavor on the front with a bitter finish to balance.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

Name: Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Variety: 100% Macabeo
Region: Castilla
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Winery 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.

My Review: This wine had an acidic, citrus aroma. After tasting, there was a very light fruit flavor with some acidity on the finish. Overall, A fairly average wine where nothing really stood out.

I did not have this wine with food.