Wine Tasting: Crane Lake White Zinfandel 2013

Name: Crane Lake White Zinfandel 2013
Variety: 100% Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Light pink wine with floral and tropical aromas: flavors of strawberry, peach and raspberry with a touch of sweetness. This wine is an easy sipping wine that also pairs well with a wide variety of foods ranging from crab cakes or pâté to spicy Asian dishes, glazed ham, and grilled sea bass.

My Review: Light pink/rose color with noticeable tropical and floral aromas, peaches, mangoes, maybe a hint of melon. Definitely a sweet wine which I am more a fan of than dry wines. Smooth and a moderate finish. I did not taste this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Vina Galana Alicante Bouchet 2012

Name: Vina Galana Alicante Bouchet 2012
Variety: Bouchet
Region: Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: Regular $15, on sale $9.95

Winery Review: From the rare Alicante Bouchet, one of the few grapes in the world with red flesh  this wine has a plush texture carring flavors of brandied cherry and chocolate ganache in this round red. Light tannins and gentle acidity impart a lovely, balanced structure.

My Review: Full bodied wine with a prominent, musty, earthy aroma, Definitely a dry wine with a strong presence of tannins. Maybe a slight taste of chocolate with a moderate finish. As a new wine drinker, I do not particularly like full body, dry, red wines including this one. Not a very pleasant taste. I did not taste this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Tonnino Syrah

Name: Tonnino Syrah
Variety: 100% Syrah
Region: Sicilia
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: Regular $14, on sale $7.95

Winery Review: An intense red color. Aromas of violet and blackcurrant enriched by hints of liquorice and black pepper. In the mouth it is full, round, slightly tannic and with a spicy note on the finish.

My Review: An interesting red wine with a moderate sensation of raspberry and even a little blackberry, perhaps some floral smells similar to violets, and a subdued but noticeable spiciness which may pair well with some thicker meats such as steak or pork loin. Unfortunately, I did not have this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Riebeek Cellars Viognier

Name: Riebeek Cellars Viognier

Variety: 100% Viognier 

Region: Swartland

Country: South Africa

Year: 2015

Price: Regular $12, on sale $7.95

Winery Review: This is a luscious viognier, featuring a deep yellow color, that explodes with juicy peach and honeysuckle flavors. Viognier can easily become flabby, but this one manages to keep its figure within bounds. I recommend this for immediate, lip-smacking enjoyment.

My Review: Yellow/gold color with a strong smell of fruits like apples and pears, maybe a hint of pineapple. Mostly dry wine that was relatively smooth but did have a solid finish. Overall a good wine. However, I did not have this wine with food. 

Wine Tasting: Dom Michel Thomas Sancerre Rose

Name: Dom Michel Thomas Sancerre Rose
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Loire Valley
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: Regular $32, on sale $8.95

Winery Review: Bright orange-pink. Lively, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh red berries, orange peel and honeysuckle, with a hint of anise building in the glass. Dry and nervy in the mouth, offering vibrant strawberry and orange pith flavors and a suggestion of rose pastille. The floral element comes back on the finish, which lingers with very good spicy persistence.

My Review: Orange-pink hue, smells like slightly more acidic fruits such as oranges, maybe a hint of apple, a slight smell of strawberry. Dry with a slightly acidic edge to it, but rounded out with a wonderful mix of fruit and floral sensations. I did not taste this wine with food.