Tasting- Apothic White

Name: Apothic
Variety:  White Blend
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $13

Winery review: The wine is straw-colored and slightly luminous in the glass, which is a very good sign for most whites.  The nose is complex with smells of chalk, citrus, and melon.  The palate is a bit sweet but not overly so and has strong flavors of pineapple and citrus.  The finish is very short.  That is unusual as sweeter wines tend to end with finishes that are dry, bitter, or cloying.

 

My review: This wine was a very good blend.  It had a lot of different fruity flavors and a very good taste.  I would definitely try this wine again.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Apothic Red

Name: Apothic
Variety:  Red Blend
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $14

Winery review: It has a very nice mouth feel with a velvety texture. This is a medium-to-full bodied wine with dry, round tannins and refreshing acidity.

 

My review: This wine had a creamy fruit taste and was very thick.  The blended grapes work well together, offering a different and unusual flavor.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Andre Peach Passion

Name: Andre
Variety:  Sparkling Wine
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $8

Winery review: Andre Peach sparkling wine is sweet and fresh with scents and flavors of fresh peaches.

 

My review: This was sickeningly sweet and had a candy peach flavoring instead of a realistic one.  I do not like this sparkling wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Conde Villar

Name: Conde Villar
Variety:  40% Loureiro, 30% Trajadura, and 30% Arinto (Mixture)
Region:  Portugal
Country: South America
Year: 2009
Price: $18

Winery review: The Loureiro in the blend delivers a burst of intensely fresh citrus and green pear fruit, lime skin, and floral aromas.  Take a sip and you’ll discover more citrus fruit, wet stones, and a touch of yeasty freshness.  The finish is bright, crisp, and dry with lingering mineral/yeast and lime notes.

 

My review: I did not like this wine very much.  It was fruity but bitter.  It also had a little bit of carbonation that I did not like at all in this wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Electric City Merlot

Name: Electric City
Variety:  Merlot
Region:  Washington
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $20

Winery review: Young, full bodied, tannins dominate, relatively monolithic, a reasonable aftertaste. A big fruity nose of dark fruit and pepper, primary flavors of intense dark fruit, oak and earthy undertones.

 

My review: This was a very delicious dark wine.  Of all the red wines we tasted all night this was my favorite.  It has a little bit of an oak flavor but was far from overwhelming.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Alamos Malbec

Name: Alamos
Variety:  Malbec
Region:  Argentina
Country: South America
Year: 2010
Price: $22

Winery review: The Alamos Malbec has dark, blackish purple color. The nose shows ripe black fruits, black pepper spice and floral notes. The mouthfeel is full yet soft and supple, with black raspberry and currant flavors mingled with notes of sweet spice and a touch of leather. The finish is long and persistent with soft, sweet tannins.

 

My review: This wine had a heavy, dark and delicious feel to it.  It had flavors of darker berries yet was smooth with little to no alcohol burn.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting- Heron Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Heron
Variety:  Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:  California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $23

Winery review: This is a delicious, well-made value Cabernet with vibrant red fruit, black currant, and perfectly balanced oak. Subtle fresh herb notes appear on the finish, keeping things interesting.

 

My review: This wine was delicious, it had a little bit of oak but just enough fruity flavor to keep it from overpowering the wine.  I really enjoyed it.

I tasted this on its own with no food.