Tasting-Jean Luc Mader Riesling

Name:  Jean Luc Mader Riesling

Variety:  Reisling

Region:  Alsace

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price:  $12? (Gift)

Notes (from Elite Wines Website): This Riesling boasts attactive ripe lemon and lime zest of the nose. The palate is full of fruit and offers up a soft mouth feel. The finish is long, crisp, and refreshing.

My tasting notes:  Scent of lemon on the nose, also present on the palate, but not overpowering. OK finish. This wine was good alone and with a spicy chicken dish.

Tasting-Castello del Trebbio Chianti

Name: Castel del Trebbio Chianti

Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany

Country:  Italy

Year: 2011

Price:  $11.99

Producer's Notes (from Total Wine and More website): Vibrant fruit complements teh floral bouquet of this wine, made, like all Chiantis, primarily from the Sangiovese grape. Flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, chocolate and spice lead to a soft finish.

My tasting notes: Aromas of cherry and raspberrry. Pretty dry on the palate, with flavor of cherry and raspberry.  Spice component very evident.  Curious interaction of fruit components and spice.  Finish not bad, but I did not find it particularly smooth, either. This wine is good alone or with cheese.

Tasting-Cellar No. 8 Zinfadel

Name:  Cellar No. 8 Zinfadel

Variety:  Zinfadel

Region: CA North Coast

Country:  CA, United States

Year:  2010

Price:  $11.99

Winemaker's Notes (from website):  Deep ruby in color, this classic Zinfadel begins with aromas of black mission figs, black cherries, and vanilla. the palate is filled with intense characters of brown, baking spice, vanilla, cherries, pomegranate, and fig. These flavors repeat themselves on a long, elegant finish.

My tasting notes: Overall, a nice zin. Aromas of black cherries presdominate. A little hot immediately after opening at 14.5% ABV, this was better after a couple of days. Cherries and blackberries on the palate, with a very smooth finish a couple of days after opening.  Good alone or with cheese.

Tasting-The Immortal Zin

Name: The Immortal Zin (Peirano Estate Winery)

Variety:  Zinfadel

Region: California, San Joaquin Valley)

Country:  USA

Year:  2011

Winemaker's notes (from website): The deceptively subtle aromas of this wine combine red and black cherry, mineral, earthly rhubarb and red fruit, with slightly spicy characters. In the mouth, the palate is wrapped in a velvety mix of sweet red cherry, strawberry, cocca, and juicy red fruit followed by a light toast and smooth chiseled tannins leading to a lengthy, almost breathless finish.

My tasting notes:  Good aromas of cherry and plum.  On the palate, nice blend of red fruits, cherry and plum predominate. Very nice finish with good integration of tannins, not too bitter. Some spice on the finish as well.  Right out of the bottle, burns a bit at 14.8% ABV.  Smoother after 2 days post opening.  Good alone and with red meat dishes or cheese.  A winner--liked this one.

Tasting-Grayson Cellars Chardonnay

Name:  Grayson Cellars Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region:  California, Nappa Valley, North Coast

Country:  USA

Year:  2011

Price: $10.79 (quantity discount applied)

Winemaker's notes (from website): The 2011 Grayson Chardonnay is brilliantly ripe and shows bright, brisk acidity and good minerality with notes of pineapple and apricot. The palate offers green apple fruit with a crisp finish showing gentle hints of apple pie and vanilla flavors.

My tasting notes:  I bought this wine to renew my confidence in chardonnays in general as I haven't found much remarkable in the other two that I've had.  We really like Grayson's Cabernet-Sauvignon. This wine was a disappointment, especially at its price point. Not too much going on at all with aromas, a little bit of green apple on the palate. Finish unremarkable. Some oak present, but it seems almost out of place with this wine.  A little better with cheese.  Pass.

Tasting-Meditrina 7

Name:  Meditrina 7 (Sokol Blosser Winery)

Variety:  Blend (50% Syrah, 22% Zinfadel, 28% Pinot Noir)

Region:  Oregon (Willamette Valley)

Country:  USA

Year:  2011?

Price:  $9.99

Winemaker's notes (from bottle): The taste is lush and velvety with expressive notes of raspberry and cherry.

My tasting notes:  A little hint of cherry aroma. On the palate, less so cherry and kind of unremarkable overall.  A little hot on the finish for just 13.5% ABV. My wife liked it better than I did, I'll take a pass on this one.  It did better with cheese and meatloaf than alone.

Tasting-Beringer Riesling

Name:  Beringer Reisling

Variety:  Reisling

Region: North Coast

Country:  USA, California

Year: 2009

Price:  $10.99

Winery Notes:  Perfect balance of honeysuckle and bright peach flavors.

My tasting notes:  Definitely peachy.  Light and refreshing, even for its 13.5% ABV content. I had this wine alone and with cheese and also pizza.  Overall, not too bad.

Tasting-Luc Pirlet Pinot Noir

Name:  Luc Pirlet Pinot Noir

Variety:  Pinot Noir

Region:  "South France," probably Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $9.99

Notes from tag at Total Wine and More:  Made in an easy drinking style, this refreshing Pinot Noir comes from one of our favorite producers for value. Made without oak, the fruit is allowed to shine through with notes of fresh cherries and raspberries with hints of plum. Try this pinot noir lightly chilled.

My tasting notes:  The taste of cherries predominate. I tried this wine first at room temperature alone and with some cheese.  It was ok, but the finish wasn't remarkable. Tried it again 2 days later with a light chill and not much different.  I'll take a pass on this one, it wasn't anything to write home about.

Tasting-Dr. Heidemann's Riesling

Name: Dr. Heidemann's Reisling

Variety:  Reisling

Region: Mosel

Country:  Germany

Year: 2011

Price: $9.99

Notes (from tag at Total Wine and More): Apple and peach flavors infuse this crisp and refreshing Reisling from Dr. Heidemann's, world renowned and one of the finest estates in the Mosel. With flavors that are light and lingering, enjoy as an apertif, with spicy Asian or seafood dishes.

My tasting notes: Faint aromas of peach present. On the palate, crisp, not overpowering acidity, with taste of peaches and apples cherries and blackberries very apparent. Overall, not bad, but I liked Loosen's Dr. L.  better for the same money.  

Tasting-Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz 2011

Name: Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz

Variety:  Shiraz

Region: South Australia, Coonawarra

Country:  Australia

Year: 2011

Price: $5.99 (quantity discount applied)

Notes (from winemaker): Berry, plum, and spice mingle with vanilla oak aromas to create a very approachable wine.

My tasting notes:  I was introduced to this wine about 3 years ago when I was given a bottle as a Christmas present. The wine is quite dark in the glass and presents with rather faint aromas of dark berries. Dark berries and plum on the palate. Finish is a bit tart. The finish is not particularly remarkable, but we have consumed a lot of this wine in our house.  Not bad for the price. Goes well alone, with cheese, or a variety of red meats.  

Tasting--Edna Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Edna Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety:  Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California, South Central Coast

Country: United States

Year: 2011

Price: $11.99 (quantity discount applied)

Notes (from winemaker's website, also wine.com): Our Cabernet Sauvignon is medium-bodied in style with ripe dark fruit flavors complemented by hints of dusty vanilla, leather, anise, and cocca powder. This wine has a balanced acidity and finishes with fine, firm tannins.

My tasting notes: Aromas of cherries very apparent. On the palate, I thought the cherries predominated. A little tart right out of the freshly opened bottle, smoother over the next few days. Nice enough finish with some tannins, not as smooth on the after palate as some cabernet sauvignons that I have had.  I tasted this wine alone and with cheese.  Above average overall, but a bit pricey (especially at list)  for the overall experience.