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.