Tasting - Bell’agio Chianti

Name of Wine: Bell’agio Chianti
Variety of Grape: Sangiovese
Country of Origin: Italy
Region of Origin: Chianti
Vintage Year: 2021
Price: $14
Shop/Winery/Critic Review: “Not a bad pick for the limited selection of Chianti our local liquor store supplies. Blackberry and cherry on the nose, notes of leather, medium finish. Have tasted better Chiantis, but would buy again” Karsen (2023)
References of specific flavors/aromas/grape characteristics: According to Wine Folly, wine made with sangiovese has flavors of cherry, roasted tomato, sweet balsamic, oregano, and espresso. (Pg. 162)
My Review: This wine was very dry. It had a very interesting flavor which made sense once I saw what Wine Folly said you would have hints of because they are very unique and different from one another. When I first took a sip of this wine I didn’t really like the flavor, but then I ate a piece of sharp cheddar cheese, took another sip, and really enjoyed it. I felt like the sharp cheddar softened some of the really bold flavors I was getting when I first took a sip.

Tasting - Sutter Home White Zinfandel

Name of Wine: Sutter Home White Zinfandel
Variety of Grape: Zinfandel
Country of Origin: United States
Region of Origin: Napa Valley
Vintage Year: Not on bottle
Price: $7
Shop/Winery/Critic Review: “Sutter Home White Zinfandel Wine offers a beautiful pale pink color. Delicate aromas of sun-ripened berries lead to strawberry and melon flavors with a hint of vanilla and a crisp, refreshing finish. Pair with spicy Asian cuisine and chicken. It has 9.8% alcohol by volume and comes in screw-cap bottles for easy opening.” Kroger (2020)
References of specific flavors/aromas/grape characteristics: According to Wine Folly a Zinfandel has aromas and flavors of blackberry, strawberry, peach reserves, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco. Since this was a white zinfandel wine, it was a lot lighter and fruitier than you would see in a red zinfandel. I picked up on the strawberry and peach reserve in the flavor, and also some tartness from the blackberry. (Pg. 189)
My Review: Tasted without food. This was a very sweet wine, but I actually didn’t mind it being sweet. The color of this wine was almost that of a Rosé. It had some tartness to it, but overall was a very light bodied wine. Definitely a different taste than a red zinfandel. This was more fruity and flowery. Overall I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this as a dessert wine.

Tasting - Mark West Pinot Noir

Name of Wine: Mark West Pinot Noir
Variety of Grape: Pinot Noir
Country of Origin: United States
Region of Origin: California
Vintage Year: 2021
Price: $9
Shop/Winery/Critic Review: “Mark West Pinot Noir has lovely aromas of cherry and red currant that are complemented by notes of caramel with hints of vanilla and toasted oak. Our goal was to create a rounder mouthfeel and balance out the fruit notes with enhanced spice and savory notes. The wine finishes with hints of dried cherries and brown spice.” Mark West (2021)
References of specific flavors/aromas/grape characteristics: According to Wine Folly, Pinot Noir has references of raspberry, black cherry, clove, mushroom, and vanilla. I tasted more of a smoky flavor in this Pinot Noir. (Pg. 150)
My Review: Tasted without food. This wine had a very smoky flavor. It was not my favorite red, I definitely like Cab Sav better. I honestly felt like there wasn’t much flavor to this wine at all. I did not taste any of the references from Wine Folly. I probably would not recommend this wine to a friend, but it was not the worst wine I’ve tasted.

Tasting - Beringer Bros. Cabernet

Name of Wine: Beringer Bros. Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety of Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: United States
Region of Origin: Napa Valley
Vintage Year: 2020
Price: $14
Shop/Winery/Critic Review: “Aged 60 days in American Oak Bourbon barrels for integrated tannins and toasted vanilla notes. Packed with blackberry and dark cherry flavors, this wine has a long, succulent finish.” The Vintage Cellar (2020)
References of specific flavors/aromas/grape characteristics: According to Wine Folly, a Cabernet Sauvignon has flavors of black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, and graphite. I definitely got hints of black cherry and black currant from this wine. (Pg. 88)
My Review: Tasted without food. This was definitely a sweeter Cab. I really enjoyed this wine. I definitely got references of black cherry and baking spices. This wine was also dry so I think it was really well balanced. I would definitely recommend this wine to a friend and would buy it again for myself!

Tasting - Espuela Del Guacho

Name of Wine: Espuela Del Guacho
Variety of Grape: Malbec
Country of Origin: Argentina
Region of Origin: Mendoza
Vintage Year: 2020
Price: $8
Shop/Winery/Critic Review: “To the nose, sour and leathery. To the tongue, also sour and leathery. But is it bold; it kicks when you taste it. Tobacco, oak, black pepper, and leather. A type of bitter caramel, dark cocoa chocolate, and/or coffee too. Blackberry and possibly cranberry or black cherry? Some kind of citrus fruit too, maybe grapefruit? Masculine and delicious!” Christopher (2022)
References of specific flavors/aromas/grape characteristics: According to Wine Folly, a malbec should have flavors of red plum, blackberry, vanilla, sweet tobacco, and cocoa. While tasting this Malbec I picked up on the blackberry and plum flavors. I didn’t find this Malbec to be very sweet or have any vanilla flavor. (Pg. 125)
My Review: Tasted without food. This wine has a very light body, but is very dark in color. It was not very acidic, but also was not very sweet. This was a dry wine and also had a nice flavor balance. I could taste the bitterness of the blackberries and plum, but also had hints of cacao towards the end. I really enjoyed this wine, which was surprising because I have been a dark red fan in the past, and this wine was also on the less expensive side. I would definitely recommend it to a friend on a budget!

Tasting - Lapis Luna Cabernet Sauvignon

Name of Wine: Lapis Luna Cabernet Sauvignon 
Variety of Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: United States
Region of Origin: California / Lodi
Vintage Year: 2020
Price: $14
Shop/Winery/Critic Review: “Crimson in the glass with aromas of dark chocolate, cherry and a hint of roasted coffee. Rich and full textured on the palate with profound dark fruit. The finish brings succulent tannins and is long reaching, sticking with you until the next sip.” Vintage Cellar (2020)
References of specific flavors/aromas/grape characteristics: According to Wine Folly, a Cabernet Sauvignon should have aromas and flavors of black cherry, black currant, cedar, baking spices, and graphite. I can definitely pick you the black cherry and black currant while tasting and the baking spices and cedar while sniffing. (Pg. 88)
My Review: Tasted without food. The girl at the wine shop said she really liked this brand because it didn't taste like a usual Cabernet Sauvignon. She said this one had more fruity and chocolate flavors which I definitely picked up on while tasting. I would say this wine was not super dry, but had a bit of a dry sensation while sipping, but it also wasn’t too sweet. I have never had another Cabernet Sauvignon to compare this brand to, but considering how much I enjoyed this glass I will definitely be trying one in the future!

Tasting - Schlink Haus Riesling Spätlese

Name of Wine: Schlink Haus Spätlese
Variety of Grape: Riesling
Country of Origin: Germany
Region of Origin: Nahe
Vintage Year: 2021
Price: $15
Shop/Winery/Critic Review: “This riesling has a lot of characteristics: it offers a high quality of aromas, plenty of fruit, and a lingering sweet taste. It has the finest aromatic fragrances of tropical fruits, peaches, apples, and lychees on the palate. Serving Suggestions: This Riesling is highly recommended to pair with Asian cuisine, poultry, fish, and light meat dishes.” Vintage Cellar (2021)
References of specific flavors/aromas/grape characteristics: According to Wine Folly, this grape variety has references of green apple, lime, beeswax, jasmine, and petroleum. The wine I tasted was on the sweeter side so I would say I picked up on green apple, lime, and jasmine, but not so much the beeswax and petroleum. (Pg. 158)
My Review: Tasted without food. I really enjoyed this wine. It was a sweeter wine, but not so sweet that you felt sick after just one glass. I definitely tasted fruity flavors like peaches and apples. I would describe the overall body of the wine very light, which I really enjoyed. The worker at Vintage Cellar said he had this for his anniversary and I would agree that it is a very good anniversary/congratulatory wine - definitely a good substitute for Champagne if you don’t want anything bubbly!