Tasting: Domaine De Cambis La Vie En Rose Saint - Chinian

Name: Domaine de Cambis
Variety: Languedoc-Roussillon Rosé
Region: Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review: The nose honestly smells like Hawaiian Punch. The wine sits light on the tongue, great red fruit flavors that are sweet. The finish starts sweet then quickly flattens, turns a little tart, and leaves you with an alcohol-ish flavor.

My Review: This was very light red that almost had a pink hue to it. I smelled citrus, strawberries, and sugar on the nose. The wine was less sweet than what I was expecting and it had a tart taste. This wine was alright but it just wasn't my style. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Domaine Pelaquie Cotes Du Rhone

Name: Domaine Pelaquie
Variety: Cotes Du Rhone
Region: Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review: A beautiful garnet-red color with blue reflections and red fruits at the nose. It’s well-rounded in mouth and offers a fruity finish. Food pairing: grilled meat and cheeses.

My Review:  This wine had a ruby red color and smelled like spices to me. I thought this wine tasted fruity, salty and dry. I did not really enjoy this wine very much and wouldn't buy it in the future. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Anne de Joyeuse Camas Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Anne de Joyeuse Camas
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: 
Country: France
Year: 2014
Price: $13

Winery Review: Pronounced citrus fruit nose. On the palate, a powerful expression of lemon and lime fruit, with richness and a long mineral finish. An ideal companion for shellfish, lobster or crab. Equally at home as an aperitif or with food, the Camas Sauvignon works well with all types of fish, salads or Oriental and Asian cuisine.   

My Review: This wine had a light yellow, and clear color. It smelled somewhat like laundry detergent. The taste was slightly sweet and had some fruity flavors. I was not overly very impressed with this wine and wouldn't buy it gain. 

I had this wine with a cheese dish and it paired well with brie.

Tasting: Rex Goliath Zinfandel

Name: Rex Goliath 
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: California 
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $6

Winery Review: This wine drinks well all by itself, but really opens up when complemented by beef stew, barbecued ribs or slow-roasted pork tenderloin! Any way you slice it...I know you will enjoy this wine, hopefully as much as I enjoyed creating it!

My Review: This wine had a heavy ruby red color to it. The nose was mostly spice and I had a hard time pulling anything else out of it. When I tasted it the main qualities were the bitterness and a slight sweetness. It was also a little dry. I actually enjoyed this wine and for $6 I would probably try it again. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting:Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon

Name:  Fetzer Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California 
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $10

Winery Review: Our Cabernet Sauvignon appreciates the warmer vineyards of California’s lower foothills, bringing out robust flavors of black cherry and chocolate. A hearty companion to steak, chops, and ribs.

My Review: This wine had a ruby color and a fruity nose. I could mostly  smell berries and that was the main taste as well. It was a little dry but not too much. I thought this cab was below average and I wouldn't want to try it again. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Zeppolis Dinner

Two of my friends and I went to Zeppolis Wednesday night to taste some wines and have dinner. This wine dinner was very enjoyable and the food was much better than I expected it to be. The wines we tasted were all French wines.

The food we had was delicious and every dish was enjoyable. I started with the salad, which had a Italian dressing on it. There was nothing fancy about it but it was very good. Next I had some of the cheeses. I tried three kinds and liked all of them. The brie was my favorite out of the cheeses. After the cheeses I started on the rice pilaf. It may have been my favorite part of the meal. Next I tried the pasta. I was baked in a meat sauce and it went very well with the red wines. 

My three favorite wines from the meal were a Chardonnay, a Bordeaux and a Syrah.

The Chardonnay was Domaine Redmond 2014 chardonnay Macon-Charnay. This wine was a clear light colored yellow and had slight oak aromas. The taste was tangy, a little sweet and had a hint of oak. My guess is that this wine was aged in old oak barrels since the oak was so weak. The pasta paired well with this wine. This wine retails at $15 a bottle. I liked this wine but I am not sure if I would buy it in the future. 

Next was Chateau L'insoumise Caresse du Terrior 2012 Bordeaux. The color on this wine was a dark red and it had strong smells of oak and butter. The taste was not as oaky as I thought it would be and it was moderately dry. This wine also felt very sticky in my mouth. It paired well with the cheese from the dinner. This wine was $12.99 and I would probably buy it in the future. 

My favorite wine of the night was Domaine La Croix Belle 2014 Syrah. This wine was a dark crimson color that almost looked purple. The nose was very fruity and I could defiantly pick out blackberries. As for the taste, it was very robust and with spice and fruit. I liked this wine a lot and come to find that I like most Syrahs. It was $12.99 a bottle and I would defiantly buy this wine in the future. 

Tasting: Shutter Home Red Blend

Name: Shutter Home 
Variety: Red Blend
Region: California 
Country: United States 
Year: 2015
Price: $5

Winery Review: Just try to resist the juicy red fruit flavors of our Red Blend! Rich and smooth, this blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet carries notes of vanilla and spicy oak. Deliciously drinkable on its own, or pair it alongside hearty red-sauce pasta dishes, grilled meats, burgers, and maple-bacon brussels sprouts.

My Review: This red was pretty dark but still a red color. I thought this wine smelled like oak and acid. When I tasted this wine I thought that it was very hot and pretty dry. I did not like this wine. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Valle Reale

Name: Valle Reale 
Variety: Trebbiano d'Abruzzo
Region: Abruzzo
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $10

Winery Review: Concentrated and elegant, Valle Reale's Trebbiano d'Abruzzo combines bright fruit with delicate aromas of white flowers and flint (an aroma encouraged by the old-fashioned pied-de-cuve technique).    

My Review: This wine had a golden color. It had a weak nose and the only thing that I could get from it was an acidic odor. The taste was slightly sweet and had an acidic aftertaste. I was not very impressed with this wine and wouldn't buy it gain. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Yellow Tail Shiraz

Name: Yellow Tail
Variety: Shiraz 
Region: Casella 
Country: Australia 
Year: 2015
Price: $6

Winery Review: Ripe cherries and strawberries, spice and vanilla aromas. This bold shiraz is well balanced, with earthy tones and lingering fruit on the tounge. 

My Review: This wine was a very dark purplish color. The nose smelled like fruit and slightly sweet. The taste was very full and fruity. The wine was not dry but it was a little bitter. I liked this wine a lot and would probably buy it again. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Menage a Trois Midnight

Name: Menage a Trois Midnight
Variety: Red Blend
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $11

Winery Review: The time has come to explore your deepest, darkest desires with Ménage à Trois Midnight. A gorgeous garnet color in the glass, this luxurious blend wraps you up in a velvety embrace. Voluptuous blackberry and plush spiced plum flavors seduce your palate, while hints of mocha and exotic spice linger on your lips like a stolen kiss. Silky and smooth with a long, powerful finish, you’ll wish Midnight could last forever.

My Review: This wine was a very dark red and a sweet smell. The nose reminded me of cherries and smelled a little burnt. It was pretty sweet and not dry. The aftertaste was a little bitter. I doubt I will buy this wine again.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Chalkboard Malbec

Name: Chalkboard Malbec
Variety: Malbec 
Region: Medoza 
Country: Argentina 
Year: 2015
Price: $10

Winery Review: Complex aromas of plum and blackberry with notes of nutmeg and soft oak.

My Review: This Malbec has a purplish color and the nose reminded me of blackberry cobbler. I thought that this wine was very good for a malbec and had a slightly sweet taste. I would probably drink this wine again. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Cupcake Prosecco

Name: Cupcake Prosecco
Variety: Prosecco
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $14

Winery Review: Raise a glass of this refreshing Prosecco that sparkles with fine effervescence. Aromas of white peach, grapefruit and honeydew melon lead to flavors of creamy ripe lemon, refined citrus and a toasted brioche finish.

My Review: This wine was more like champagne than wine. It was very carbonated and has a clear yellow color. With that said I did not like this wine very much. Th carbonation covered up most of the flavor and it was a little too sweet.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Belle Ambiance Red Wine Blend

Name: Belle Ambiance Red Wine Blend
Variety: Blend
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2012
Price: $10

Winery Review: Bask in enticing aromas of black cherries, plum and toasty oak with subtle hints of spice and vanilla. Then discover indulgent flavors of rich dark fruits, spice and cocoa lifted by a hint of sweetness. This full-bodied wine also delivers big tannins, balanced acidity and a lingering, juicy finish.

My Review: This was a very dark red and almost looked purple in a glass. It smelled bitter and like acid but did not taste nearly as dry or bitter as I thought it would. I thought this wine was average. I had no real complaints but nothing about this wine impressed me either. 

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Cupcake Pinot Noir

Name: Cupcake Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $9

Winery Review: The moderate climate of California’s Central Coast provides optimal growing conditions to produce complex, elegantly structured Pinot Noir. The fruit is carefully selected in the cooler regions of Monterey, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. This wine has a lovely garnet hue and heady aromas of black cherries, ripe strawberries, red raspberries and a hint of spice with a creamy finish.

My Review: This wine was a very light red color and had a pleasant nose. It smelled like fruit and a little bit like pepper. The taste was not that great in my opinion. It was smooth but did not have very much flavor. I did not enjoy this wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: Chalkboard Chardonnay

Name: Chalkboard Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2013
Price: $9

Winery Review: Fresh aromas of melon and pineapple with notes of vanilla and spice.

My Review: This Chardonnay had a light gold or straw color to it. The nose smelled mostly like pears and other sweet fruit. This Chardonnay was not oaked and I thought that is was very sweet compared to others that I have tried. The finish was a little bitter but overall it was a solid Chardonnay that I may try again in the future.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting: F.J. Serra Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: F.J. Serra Cabernet Sauvignon 
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2014
Price: $10

Winery Review: Deep garnet color. Aromas of spiced cherries and vanilla-banana cake with a silky, fruity medium body and a snappy apple sauce, cassis jam, and cedar finish. A tasty sipper or gourmet burger wine.

My Review: This cab had a very dark almost purple color to it. As for the nose I thought that it smelled very strongly of butter. I could also get a smell of acidity from this wine. The taste was very full and had a dry finish. I can tell this wine was strongly oaked. I like this cab a lot and I finished the bottle with my friend. If I am ever in the mood for Cabernet I might buy this wine. 

I did not have this wine with food.