Tasting- Chateau Saint-Sulpice Red Bordeaux Wine

Name- Chateau Saint-Sulpice Red Bordeaux Wine

Variety- Blended wine (70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc)

Region- Bordeaux

Country- France

Year- 2010

Price- $14.99

Wine Critic Review- This wine is typically fragrant, soft, and well balanced.  Nose of pepper, charred wood and green pepper.  Initial taste is very light plum and green pepper.  Fruit fades quickly leaving only light greenness and tannins.  Finish lingers lightly but becomes bitter.

My review- I enjoyed this wine a lot.  It was a very dry wine and tasted a lot like dark fruit and blackberries. I could not taste the green pepper the wine critic review mentioned.   At first it was slightly bitter, but when I had this wine with a beef dish it opened up more and tasted better.  This wine was pretty good, and for its price I will probably buy it again.

Tasting- Sunset Hill Cabernet Franc

Name- Sunset Hills Cabernet Franc

Variety- Cabernet Franc

Region- Shenadoah AVA, Virginia

Country- USA

Year- 2012

Price- $19.99

Wine Critic Review- The Sunset Hills Vineyard Cabernet Franc bursts with aromas of violets, cassis, raspberries, and pepper.  A lush, spicy wine, this bottle pairs well with ham, pork, veal, or pizza. A bold Cabernet Franc with aromatics of plum, baking spice, cherry, and cedar.  A round, lush mid palate and good length.  Sturdy tannin.

My review-  This was a really strong wine.  It was really hot and spicy and a lot to handle at the first taste.  I could taste a lot of dark berries, especially raspberry and blackberry. I was not crazy about this wine at first, but it grew on me as I drank it more.  I did not eat this wine with any food. I would not recommend this wine to beginning wine drinkers, but I enjoyed it.  

Tasting- Zaca Mesa Viognier

Name: Zaca Mesa Viognier
Variety: Viognier
Region: Santa Ynez Valley, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $22.99
Wine Critic Review: This wine has developed a rich mouthfeel from three months of aging in neutral French oak barrels.  It has a bright citrus blossom and honeysuckle aromas and flavors followed by lush white peach, lychee flavors and a long, crisp finish. This wine pairs well with grilled trout and Asian or spicy cuisine.
My Review: This is a really rich and full bodied wine.  It tastes like lemon and peach.  It also has hints of lime and ripe apple.  I did not like this wine when I first tasted it but I liked it the more that I drank it. I drank this wine with a pasta and cheese sauce dish.  It was a great complement to the meal.  I really enjoyed this wine and would recommend this vintage to anyone.

Tasting- J. Roget American Champagne

Name: J. Roget American Champagne
Variety: Sparkling Wine
Region: New York
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $5.99
Wine Critic Review: This is a very sweet champagne with a light finish.  It has a great bouquet and light, crisp, clean flavors.  Very good pairing with desserts.
My Review: This is a very crisp champagne.  There is not a lot of carbonation surprisingly.  This champagne tastes very strongly of green apples and tart fruit.  I can also taste a little citrus, especially lemon. I think it was interesting that this champagne went through secondary fermentation before bottling.

Tasting- Gallo Family Vineyards Pink Moscato

Name: Gallo Family Vineyards Pink Moscato
Variety: Moscato, Rose Wine
Region: California
Country: Argentina (imported and bottled in Modesto, CA)
Year: 2013
Price: $8.99
Wine Critic Review: This pink moscato is light-bodied and bursting with aromas of fresh citrus and peach, followed by hints of fresh red berries and orange blossoms.  This is great paired with an array of foods from spicy dishes to sweet desserts.
My review: This is a light and crisp wine.  I could taste a lot of raspberries and white grapes and strong flavors of citrus.  I could especially taste lemon and lime.  This was a great and refreshing wine, but it tasted hot to me for a wine that was only 10% alcohol.  Still a very good wine that I will definitely buy again.  I did not eat any food with this wine.

Tasting- Thibaut- Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay

Name: Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay
Variety: Sparkling Wine
Region: Monticello, VA
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $24.99
Wine Critic Review: This wine has captured the essences and flavor of Virginia terroir.  The blend, made of 100% Chardonnay, has vibrant aromas of pear and ripe apple.  The taste is perfectly balanced, crisp, and refreshing.
My Review: I really enjoyed this sparkling wine.  It was very light and sweet.  I could definitely taste yellow apple and small hints of citrus.  It was refreshing when served chilled and a very enjoyable wine.  I did not eat any food with this wine.

Tasting- Swedish Hill Svenska Red

Name: Swedish Hill Svenska Red

Variety: Blended Red Table Wine

Region: New York

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $12.49

Wine Critic Review: The fresh grapey aromas and flavors and semi-sweet finish makes this fruity wine perfect for those who do not like the “puckery” taste of traditional dry, oaky red wines. For a refreshing treat, try it chilled with fresh berries or raspberry sherbert.

My Review: I loved this wine! It was very nicely balanced and had a great finish.  This wine tasted very strongly of cranberries, raspberries and dark fruit.  It was pleasantly sweet, but not over-powering.  I did not eat any food with this wine.

Tasting- Hazlitt Vineyards White Cat

Name: Hazlitt Vineyards White Cat

Variety: Blended White Wine based on Catawba Wine blend

Region: Finger Lakes, NY

Country: USA

Year: 2013

Price: $8.99

Wine Critic Review: This is a great summer wine.  It is a sweet wine with notes of citrus flavor.  Similar in taste to ice wines.

My Review: This wine is overly sweet and a little hot on the finish.  I could taste citrus, especially orange.  I did not enjoy this wine very much, the sweetness was almost unpleasant. I did not eat any food with this wine.

Tasting- Fabbioli Cellars Cabernet Franc

Name: Fabbioli Cellars Cabernet Franc
Variety: Cabernet Franc
Region: Loudoun County, VA
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $29.99
Wine Critic Review:  This wine is medium bodied with characters of allspice, berry fruit, herbs, and caramel.
My Review: I did not enjoy this wine.  It tasted of stale grape, musty, dusty, and almost moldy.  It was a hot finish and I could taste blueberry, sweet raspberry, and hints of dark fruit.  I think this wine was too old and did not age very well.  It's taste improved as it warmed up to room temperature and became less hot and more flavorful, but it is still not my favorite.  I drank this wine with a pasta dish with tomato sauce, and it was not a great complement to the meal.

Tasting- Bella Sera Pinot Grigio

Name: Bella Sera Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.99
Wine Critic Review: This wine has aromas of apple and lemon with pear overtones.  It is medium balanced with a light, clean finish.  Intense aromatics and a good balance characterize this wine.
My Review: This was a light, crisp, and refreshing wine.  I could taste peach, apricot, and lemon zest but not the pear.  It was very sweet and clean.  I drank this wine with a pasta dish with cheese sauce.  This was a great complement to the dish and made me taste hints of sweet apple.  I really enjoyed this wine and will continue buying it!

Tasting- Prosecco di Belmondo

Name- Prosecco di Belmondo

Variety- Sparkling Wine

Region- Gattinara

Country- Italy

Year- 2013

Price- $12.99

Wine Critic Review- This is an extra dry sparkling wine with intense and crisp aromatics.  It has hints of yellow apple, pear, white peach, and apricot.  This is a fresh, light, and simple sparkling wine.

My review- I really enjoyed this sparkling wine.  It was very simple, crisp, and thin bodied.  I tasted hints of peach and light citrus flavors, especially lemon.  I drank this wine without any food.  I would definitely buy this wine again.

Tasting- Ravenswood Zinfandel

Name: Ravenswood Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2010

Price: $7.99

Wine Critic Review: 'Ravenswood wines are big and unapologetic.  Our Zin is a robust red, brimming with mouthwatering flavors of spicy ripe raspberry, cherry, and boysenberry.'

My Review: With the first taste this wine had a very hot and alcoholic taste.  I was able to taste the cherry like the wine critic review mentioned.  I also tasted plum, dried apricot, and dried fruit.  This was a strong, full-bodied wine with a bit of a kick.  I drank this wine with pork chops at dinner.  Drinking the wine with a meat dish took away a lot of the unpleasant hotness and strong alcoholic flavor.  It mellowed the strong wine out and made it a lot more enjoyable.  I did not like this wine at first, but it grew on me when I drank it with a meal.  I liked this wine, but am curious to try other zinfandels as well. *Note- this is the first wine I had that had "old vines" listed on the label

Tasting- Yellow Tail Moscato

Name: Yellow Tail Moscato

Variety: Moscato

Region: Riverina region

Country: Australia

Year: 2013

Price: $11.99

Wine Critic Review: There are bright fruit flavors of fresh crushed grapes, peach, and passionfruit with a refreshing finish.  This is a sweet white wine with tropical fruit flavors and a little fizz.  This wine is best with fish, chicken, or spicy food.

My Review: This was a very tangy, sweet wine.  I tasted a lot of citrus fruit, especially hints of lemon, lime, and orange.  I did not get as much of the peach and passionfruit flavor.  It was very pleasant with a light and crisp feel.  I did not eat any food while drinking this wine.

Tasting- Tisdale Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Tisdale Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.99
Wine Critic Review: Full flavored, medium body, impressive finish.  Flavors of blackberry and plum are complemented with aromas of vanilla and toasty oak creating a balanced and distinctive wine.
My Review: This is a very simple and sweet wine, without a lot of flavor.  This was a really pleasant wine but a little bit dry.  I got flavors of dark berries, such as blackberry and raspberry. I had this wine with a tomato sauce and pasta dish and it was a great complement.  It did not overpower the meal and was a delicious, mild wine.