Name: Jam Jar Sweet White
Variety: 100% Muscat
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95
Winery Review: 100
% Muscat. Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise straightforward 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: The nose of this wine was what you would expect from a Muscato, very sweet and "perfume-like". The taste of this wine offered flavors of white grapes and peach, while containing a short, sparkling finish. I did not pair this wine with any food.
Name: Entrada Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: N/A
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
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: The nose of this wine offered hints of sweet blackberry, cherries, and aromatic flowers. The nose of this wine is so bold, that even it almost had a "texture". The blackberries from the nose really came through on the taste, which was accompanied by a medium-long finish. This Malbec had a very juicy texture and was well rounded on fruit and acidity. I did not pair this wine with any food.
Name: Vina Borgia Borsao
Variety: Grenache
Region: Campa 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. It is hard to believe a wine this good can sell
for $7 a bottle. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years. 86 Points - R. Parker.
My Review: The nose of this Grenache possessed scents of sweet strawberry bubblegum, as well as freshly baked sugar cookies. The taste came as a shock as it does not match the sweet nose yet was very bitter and contained a hot, peppery finish. Additionally, the finish was very long and dry. I did not pair this wine with any food.
Name: Peter Lehmann Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95
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. Drink it now to 2014.
My Review: The nose of this wine offered a variety of scents such as vanilla, oak barrel, and freshly baked yeast rolls. Mild hints of coffee bean were also present. For a Chardonnay, this wine tasted rather sweet (at the beginning) while maintaining a crisp bite. There was great balance between melon and peace, yet still having a somewhat bitter finish, a big change from the sweet onset. I did not pair this wine with any food.
Name: Protocolo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Variety: Blend of Macabeo and Airen
Region: Castilla La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95
Winery Review: Mostly Airen with a little bit of Macabeo .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: The nose of this wine offered hints of floral, specifically a white rose. The scents of this wine had a good balance of apple and white grape, with just subtle hints of alcohol/acidity. The flavor and overall feel of this wine was very light, yet crisp. This hints of apple and white grape were stronger on the nose, but they did come through on the taste as well. The aftertaste of this wine offered a bold, noticeable texture. I did not pair this wine with any food.
