Tasting - "Codirosso Chianti 2014"

Name - Codirosso Chianti 2014
Variety - Chianti
Region - Tuscany
Country - Italy
Year - 2014
Price - $13.00, Sale - $7.95

Wine Store Review - Vintage Cellar
Ruby red color with purple reflections. Intense vinous bouquet with hints of violets and dark cherry fruit. The flavor is full of ripe fruit and a hint of spice. It is well balanced and dry. The finish is persistent and satisfying.

My Review - Beautiful violet, ruby color. Black cherry, black currant, black raspberry (which I just learned was a real thing from Wine Library TV this week) and a hint of moldy cheese/sock were the smells I got from this wine. It really didn't have as much taste as I was hoping for but it was a good balance between spicy and sweet. Definitely could taste the oak as well. I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - "Indwe Pinotage"

Name - Indwe Pinotage
Variety - Pinotage
Region - South Africa
Country - Africa
Year - 2014
Price - $12.00, Sale - $5.95

Wine Critic Review - Robert Parker
"A disclaimer: I have never cared much for Pinotage, the indigenous South African grape variety, but this 2014 Pinotage from Indwe, named after the country's national bird, the blue crane, comes across like a light Pinot Nior. Subtle notes of cherries, spice and forest floor are followed by a round, light to medium-bodied, pure, seductive, well-crafted wine." Drink now - 2016.

My Review - I loved that this wine is a "new" wine from a recently morphed grape, I think that made it even more interesting to me. I smelled raspberry, cherry, strawberry (all of the red fruits), oak and little hint of spice. It was definitely drier taste than I was expecting, but really towards the dark red, delicious fruits and had a smooth finish. I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - "Palacio de Bornos Verdejo"

Name - Palacio de Bornos Verdejo
Variety - Verdejo
Region - Rueda
Country - Spain
Year - 2013
Price - $12.00, Sale - $5.95

Wine Critic Review - Wine Enthusiast - Rating: 89 points
Zesty and clean, with pure grapefruit and passion fruit aromas. It's charged up but perfectly balanced, with bright, focused citrus and pineapple flavors. Lemony acidity keeps the finish rolling, then throw in some chive and fresh greens and you have a spot-on Verdejo.

My Review - Peach, nectarine and pineapple were some strong scents present in this wine. I thought this wine would be sweeter than the last because of the smell and it definitely was, but definitely more balanced. It really tasted like a can of fruit in citrus juice. I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - "Tonnino Grillo 2014"

Name - Tonnino Grillo 2014
Variety - Grillo
Region - Sicily
Country - Italy
Year - 2014
Price - $14.00, Sale - $7.95

Wine Critic Review - Wine Spectator
Fruit-forward and tangy, this light-bodied, snappy white offers flavors of guava, apricot, candied grapefruit zest and stone. Drink now. 20,000 cases made.

My Review - I smelled strong hints of pear and a citrusy-grapefruit scent too. I thought it was very pungent and tangy when first touching the palate but it had a surprisingly smooth finish. Overall, I thought it was a good wine. I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - "Peter Mertes Platinum Riesling 2014 Magnum"

Name - Peter Mertes Platinum Riesling 2014 Magnum
Variety - Riesling
Region - --
Country - Germany
Year - 2014
Price - $9.95

Wine Store Review - Vintage Cellar
Light-bodied slightly sweet white wine; medium pale slightly greenish yellow. Inviting fresh white peach aroma and flavors. Easy to drink and not complicated, but what's there is very pleasant, and flavors develop in the glass.

My Review - This bottle was my favorite so far, go big or go home. I smelled sweet apple, peach, honeydew and melon. It tasted mildly sweet, like sweet peaches and apples. It was very smooth and didn't linger in the mouth. I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - "Crane Lake Petite Sirah"

Name - Crane Lake Petite Sirah
Variety - Petite Sirah
Region - Lodi, California
Country - United States
Year - 2013
Price - $5.95

Wine Store Review - Vintage Cellar
This wine is ruby-purple colored; notes of blackberry, plums and spice predominate the nose and flavors. The tannins give a soft, full mouth feel.

My Review - I smelled deep plum with a sweeter berry, almost strawberry jam hint too. It tasted very plummy and had a really smooth finish. It was very berry flavored and didn't have much mid palate. I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting - "El Cortijillo Tempranillo"

Name - El Cortijillo Tempranillo
Variety - Tempranillo
Region - La Mancha
Country - Spain
Year - 2014
Price - $5.95

Wine Store Review - Vintage Cellar
Bright purple. High-pitched red berry and floral scents display good clarity and a hint of cracked pepper. Shows a tough of jamminess to its pliant black raspberry and cherry compote flavors, with a spicy quality adding vibrancy. Finishes with good focus and no obvious tannins, leaving a sweet berry note behind.

My Review - I smelled a deep plum, blackberry scent with even a hint of raspberry and pomegranate. I thought this wine would be sweeter than it was based on the smell, but it actually turned out to be pretty bitter leaving me with a dry mouth and not much flavor.  I did not try this wine with food.