Tasting - Prime’s Ruby Port

Name: Prime’s Ruby Port
Variety: Blend, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cao, & Tinta Roriz
Region: Oporto
Country: Portugal
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $19, on sale for $11.95

Shop Review: Ruby color with red fruit aromas; pleasantly sweet and balanced taste. As the wines used to produce Prime’s Ruby Port age , they gain smoothness and elegance while retaining their fruitiness, intensity and youthful ruby color. They are then blended together for smoothness and consistency.
~ Vintage Cellar

My Review: Wow, this wine was a very aromatic wine. I could detect a floral smell. There was also a bit of a fruit undertone in the aromas. I thought this also smelt like cherries. When tasting this wine, you could taste the sugar in it. The wine also reminded me of the good tasting cherry cough drops. I also could taste chocolate and raspberries. This had a nice sugary finish. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Skyfall Merlot

Name: Skyfall Merlot
Variety: Merlot
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington
Country: USA
Year: 2016
Price: $20, on sale for $9.95

Shop Review: Wonderfully developed plum, vanilla and leather aromas swirl in the glass. Juicy flavors of cherry candy coupled with hints of cocoa powder weave through the palate. Balanced acidity and polished tannins on the finish.
~ Vintage Cellar

My Review: I could immediately detect a cherry and pepper aroma. The aromas gave me the impression that this would be a heavier wine. Tasting the wine, I was not a fan. There was too much acidic and tannic components. The wine gave an unpleasant kick at the end. The body of the wine was heavy and was not good.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Palacio del Burgo Rioja Tinto

Name: Palacio del Burgo Rioja Tinto
Variety: Blend, 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, and 5% Mazuelo
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $8.95

Shop Review: Bright violet. Vibrant red and dark berry scents are complemented by hints of cola and candied flowers. Fresh and energetic on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter on the back half. Gentle tannins build slowly on the clinging finish but are no match for the plush, primary fruit. This delicious Rioja drinks surprisingly well already.
~ 90, Vinous

My Review: At first, this wine reminded me of some sort of hard candy. The closest I could come to what it might be was licorice cough drops or something of similar smell. Tasting this wine, I found it surprisingly bland. I had been expecting more since the aroma was very vibrant. There was a peppery and dry finish. I felt that I needed a drink of water after drinking this wine.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Don Rodolfo Torrontes

Name: Don Rodolfo Torrontes
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $14, on sale for $5.95

Shop Review: Fragrant, peach, apricot, tropical aromas; lots of spice, intense, mouth-filling, great value.
~ 90, Jay Miller

My Review: This wine definitely had a strong fruity aroma. I could detect a crisp apple and fresh picked peach. I could see myself having this wine with some dessert or salad. Tasting the wine, I found it to be bitter and acidic. I thought the intensity of the bitterness was too much. I did get an apple taste.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Batasiolo Gavi Cortese

Name: Batasiolo Gavi Cortese
Variety: Cortese
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $18, on sale for $6.95

Shop Review: Pale straw yellow color with greenish reflections, clear and bright. The nose is fresh and floral, with good intensity and persistence. In the mouth it is dry and pleasantly cool. The final sensation reminiscent of almonds is typical of the appellation.
~ Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine had a nice spring aroma. There was mostly a floral and a hint of fruity aromas. When tasting this wine, I could definitely detect a fruity flavor. I got an apricot flavor as I tried it more. This had a nice crisp finish.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Oliver Apple Pie

Name: Oliver Apple Pie
Variety: Apple
Region: Bloomington, Indiana
Country: USA
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $15, on sale for $7.95

Shop Review: You’ll imagine they spent hours crushing and pressing fresh-baked pies. You’re almost right. For this seasonal wine, they painstakingly perfected the balance of tart, crisp, fresh apple and creamy sweet vanilla. Oliver Apple Pie wine features fresh-pressed, 100% apple wine (no concentrates!)
~ Vintage Cellar

My Review: When sniffing this wine, I could tell that this would be a sweet wine. There was definitely a presence of sugary sweet. This also had a strong apple cider and cinnamon aroma. When tasting this wine, I was remind of fresh baked apple pie. There was a nice cool fresh sense to the wine. This had a fuller body and was sweet in texture. I liked this wine a lot and did end up buying 2 bottles of this.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Hawk Crest Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Hawk Crest Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lake County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Price: $25, on sale for $8.95

Shop Review: From Stag’s Leap winery this is textbook California Cabernet Sauvignon with dark fruit, red cherry and black pepper spice notes. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with inviting blueberry pie and cocoa flavors. Enjoy this wine with grilled rib eye steak with herb butter, braised beef short ribs, or black-pepper-crusted ahi tuna.
~ Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine immediately reminded me of alcoholic wipes. After I smelled this wine a bit more, I could detect a cherry and fresh wood aromas. As I tasted it, I could definitely taste the cherries. I had even gotten a burnt wood taste. This wine was tart and left your mouth dry. I will say that this Cabernet Sauvignon is not like others I've had. I did like this Cabernet Sauvignon more than others I've had in the past.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Terra del Giglo Chianti

Name: Terra del Giglo Chianti
Variety: Chianti
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $12, on sale for $6.95

Shop Review: This wine’s shy nose eventually reveals black-skinned fruit and a whiff of baking spice, while the palate offers straightforward plum and clove flavors. It's easy-drinking and has mellow tannins.
~ Vintage Cellar

My Review: This wine had a strong berry and nutty aroma. I would even say there was a herb smell, almost like black peppers or spice. When I tasted this wine, I would say I could immediately detect a black cherry flavor with a bit of smokiness. I found this wine to be very tannic and not very pleasant on my palate.

I tasted this on its own with no food.