Vintage Cellar Tasting - Torre Castillo

• Name: Torre Castillo Alegre
• Variety: Monastrell
• Region: Jumilla
• Country: Spain
• Year: 2010
• Price: $9.95
• Shop Review: 100% monastrell.  Four months in new America oak barrels.  Bright rub-red.  Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke.  Sweet and flesy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs.  The cherry and smoke notes repat on the finish
• My Review: It took me awhile to recognize the smell but once I did it was totally dead on, red licorice.  The flavor was very similar to the smell, it tasted like a twizzler but with deeper more complex and profound flavors.  Lightly sweet but not overly so.
• No food

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Wilson Daniels

• Name: Wilson Daniels
• Variety: Merlot
• Region: Central Coast
• Country: California
• Year: 2010
• Price: $7.95
• Shop Review: Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is full-bodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry jab laced with vanilla and toast.
• My Review: Smell was deep and of dark berries but with a strange stagnant smell almost that of gasoline.  The feel in my mouth was extremely silky and smooth, really a pleasing mouthfeel.  It gave a nice bite with a decent amount of tannins as well.  The flavor was dark, deep, and long lasting.  A little bitter and also smokey.  A nice wine for sure.
• No wine...I mean food.  Getting loopy.

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Bricco Del Tati

Name: Bricco Dei Tati
Variety: Barbera
Region: Piedmonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95
Shop Review: 100% barbera.  Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this is an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers.
My Review: The nose of this wine was light and strawberry-esque.  When swallowing this wine it immediately hit my stomach with a strange hotness that burned a little bit.  The aftertaste was of cherries, sweet but strange.  Not my favorite.
No food

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Smoking Loon

• Name: Smoking Loon
• Variety: Sauvignon blanc
• Region: California
• Country: United States
• Year: 2009
• Price: $7.95
• Shop Review:This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple and has hints of hibiscus blossoms.  The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind.  The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more.  This wine pairs beautifully with a grilled prawn salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette, veggie spring rolls or grilled tilapia with mango salsa.
• My Review: The nose on this wine had a very strong apple to the nose.  It smelled sweet and light, I couldn't wait to taste it.  Judging by the lengty review that the store gave it, which I will not be able to match, this wine was going to be good.  I took one little sip and my taste buds exploded with sweet sweet luscious delicacy.  Very peachy in flavor and all around good.  A delicious wine that I wished I had more of.  Unfortunately I did not buy this wine simply because I wanted a different wine, by my roommate bought a bottle, so I will be sharing it with him, whether he likes it or not.
• No food

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Ruta 22

Name: Ruta 22
Variety: Malbec
Region: Patagonia
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Shop Review: Stout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas.  Despite being a bold and dark malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors.  Good on the finish, with candied fruit and caramel sweetness.
My Review: A nice deep purple color to the wine.  Smelled like blackberries and maulberries.  The flavor was earthy but not nearly as much so as the last wine.  also got a hint of cherries as well as very tannicy.  Good wine but too expensive for the occassion.  I lost my spunk near  the end of these reviews, I'm absolutely exhausted, have a ton of work to complete, and two more get-togethers by the end of this weekend.  This is energy absorbing.  Nap time!
No food

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Serres Sainte Lucie

Name: Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie
Variety: Syrah, grenache, mourvedre
Region: Corbieres
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95
Shop Review: Syrah, grenache, and mourvedre.  Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange.  Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee.  The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla.  This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins.
My Review: This wine literally smelled like a horse or cow farm.  Extremely manure smelling and perhaps thick apricots mixed in.  The flavor was literally as if I was eating dirt and poop.  Extremely heavy on the earth tones and burnt dirty and black cherries.  Very interesting, not for me.
No food

Vintage Cellar Tasting - Cresta Azul

• Name: Cresta Azul
• Variety: Moscatel, macabeo, parellada, xarel-lo
• Region: Peralada
• Country: Spain
• Year: No Vintage
• Price: $5.95
• Shop Review: Moscatel, macabeo, parellada, xarel-lo.  Peach, orange cream, and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white.  Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish.
• My Review: Sweet smell like cut grass.  The taste was kind of like tangerinies or nectarines and definitely fruity flavor but not terribly sweet.  The color was very light clear.  This was a nice refreshing wine, I liked it so I purchased a bottle.
• No food