Wine Tasting: Arnold Palmer Chardonnay

Name: Arnold Palmer 
Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $20

Shop review:  A vibrant Chardonnay from vineyards in cooler climates of California. Chardonnay is well known for its characteristic fresh apple fruit aromas and rounded, rich flavors. Weather during the 2011 harvest provided ideal growing  conditions for lush, yet perfectly balanced fruit.

My review:  I was dissapointed when this didn't taste like tea and lemonade; in fact, it was very similar to the first Chardonnay we tasted today. There was some hints of mango and pineapple on the nose, but again the flavor was pretty lacking. I was able to pick up some rotting apple, but there was some alcohol taste as well. The wine was crisp and light, but also fairly dry. Again, I'm not a fan of Chardonnay, and would probably not try this again. 

Wine Tasting: El Sierro Macabeo Chardonnay

Name: El Sierro
Variety: Macabeo, Chardonnay

Region: Valencia

Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Shop review: In the glass, there is a bright and shiny white wine with an incredibly welcoming, fresh appetizing aroma reminiscent of ripe tropical fruits. The flavor is rich, balanced and extremely comfortable. The near-perfect all-purpose white wine. As an additional benefit, and good evidence that El Sierro reflect the new Spain, the bottle is sealed with the technical viewed perfect screw cap that at once eliminates any risk of cork flavor and keeps the fruit and the wine fresher for a longer time. 

My review:  Even with the addition of the Macabeo grape, which I have never had before, this wine was very much a typical chardonnay. There was a good nose to it, but hardly any flavor. The wine smelled of mango and honeydew, and had a bit of an acidic smell to it. The wine itself was very light and watery, with some taste of fruit, but nothing that really stood out. It wasn't bad, but I still probably wouldn't try this again.

Wine Tasting: First Light Moscato

Name: First Light
Variety: Moscato

Country: Australia

Price: $15

Shop review:  Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine.

My review:  I went into this wine knowing it was going to be sweet for me, and I was right. It smelled like sweet carbonated water, which is not something I'm fond of. It actually didn't taste too sweet though, which I found surprising. The wine at a bit of a fizz to it, and tasted of  tropical fruit, mostly papaya and pineapple. Of all the sweet moscato I've tasted in the past few weeks, this one was my favorite, but I still would rather have a nice, dry malbec.

Wine Tasting: CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: CalNaturale
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Paso Robles, California

Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $16

Shop review:  95 % Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish.

My review:  This wine had a very different nose than most Cabernet Sauvignon I've had in the past. It had a very mossy, woody smell to it, but at the same time was somewhat vinegary. I'm not sure if it was my mind playing tricks on me because it was in a juice box, but I also smelled some plastic. To taste, the wine was actually very good. It was very bold and dry, and had blackberry and cranberry undertones. While it was very good, I'm not sure if I would have this again, if only because I can't get over the fact that it it looks like it should come with a bendy straw. Maybe it would be perfect for a picnic though.

Wine Tasting: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf
Variety: Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Shop review:  An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish.

My review:  This wine had a lot of complex smells, that all hit at the same time and were difficult to distinguish from one another. First, there was some upfront oakiness, followed by plum, raspberry jam, and lots of berry fruitiness. The wine tasted a lot like Brach's hard strawberry candy (the pink candy in the red and green wrappers), as well as a dry, menthol-cough drop aftertaste. I was unsure of whether I liked this wine after tasting it, but I would be willing to give it another try later on, since it was so complex.

Wine Tasting: Belrame Tocai Friulano

Name: Belrame
Variety: Tocai Friulano (Sauvignon Vert)

Region: Friuli

Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $15

Shop review:  Straw-colored yellow with a pale green tint express an intense, delicately aromatic and floral bouquet. The flavor is dry, soft, slightly fruity, with slightly bitter nuance in its almond aftertaste, and suggestion of peach.

My review:  My first thought when smelling this wine was that it had an almond nose, which I thought was a strange thing to smell in a wine, until I read the shop review and realized that they had also said that it had hints of almond. Apart from that, there was a smell of fresh cut grass and flowers. As  for taste, the wine was not very sweet, but also not very dry. It most resembled old grape juice, which I didn't really like.

Wine Tasting: Mas LLunes Maragda Grenache

Name: Mas LLunes
Variety: White Garnatxa , Red Grenache , Macabeu

Region: Emporada

Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $16

Shop review: This Grenache Blanc is exquisitely sculpted with sharp acids and pinpointed minerals, and offers orange, melon and vanilla-honey flavors. A delight to drink, at a great price.

My review:  This wine had a very weak nose at first, but when it did open up, it had a nice pear and orange zest smell. The wine was also very light on flavor, with more hints of orange and honey. The best way to describe this wine is crisp and light. A bit too light for my tastes, though, so I would not have this again.