Tasting Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Lost Vineyards

Variety: Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: not listed 
Country: Argentina

Year: no vintage

Price: $4.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 60% Shiraz 40% Cabernet Sauvignon It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry scent.  The oak is in the background.  Would pair well hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone

My Review: The smell of this wine is fruity.  The color is a nice purple, it’s a little dark.  There is a light peppery first taste and a fruity aftertaste.  This threw me off because usually the fruitiness comes first and the pepper hits after.  I taste a little blackberry tartness.  There is a smoky feel to it, and it seems woody but not nutty even though it is dry and I typically correlate nuttiness and dryness.  It’s a little bit bitter, not too spicy. A little surprising with the flavors and feels of this wine.  Not bad.     

Tasting Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

Name: Villa Pozzi

Variety: Neor D’Avola

Region: Sicily 
Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $8.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape.  Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing.  A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins. 

My Review: The color of this wine is pretty dark but still a true red color.  The smell is peppery and spicy and there is a dry and bitter aftertaste to this wine.  For my taste it is too dry.  It feels nutty.  It creates the sensation of licking hundreds of walnut shells, and its rather uncomfortable on the middle of the tongue.  There isn’t too much fruitiness.  I would say this wine is a little harsh and very very dry. 

Tasting Tres Ojos Rose

Name: Tres Ojos Rose

Variety: Garnacha Tempranillo

Region: Catatayud 
Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $1.95

Vintage Cellar Review: 50% Tempranillo 50% Garnacha This medium rose-colored Rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish.  Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My Review: The smell is vaguely of strawberries, really light and inoffensive, doesn’t smell too alcoholic.  The color is not fairy light and the smell is not at all spicy.  The taste is semi-dry but sweeter than expected.  The little tang is pleasant, and finished very smooth and cool.  This simple wine doesn’t offer much in complexity but for the incredibly low price it has a nice hint fruit and cherry.   

Tasting Les Perles Piquepoul

Name: Les Perles

Variety: Piquepoul

Region: Cotes de Thau 
Country: France

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke.  Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.  

My Review: The smell of this wine was not very distinct other than smelling like wine.  I’m not sure if wine critics can tell just by smell with their eyes closed if a wine is red or white, but with this wine I certainly could not.  The color of the wine was not really a warm yellow but had more of a greenish tint to it.  It was semi-sweet to me with a fuzzy warm after affect.  It seemed peachy in fuzziness and feel but not in flavor.  It was not too tangy but had a just enough for the wine to feel structured.  I did not have this with food, but I believe that probably would have helped to bring out the citrus flavors that were missing.