Tasting- Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen Qualitatswein

Name: Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch Rheinhessen

Variety: 70% Riesling, 15% Silvaner, 15% Muller-Thurgau

Region: Rheinhessen and Palatinate

Country: Germany

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "Leibfraumilch is a soft, delicate wine of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate districts.  The original wine was named after the Leibfraumilch monastery in Worms, where the monks were the first wine growers and produced an unusually pleasing wine.  Wines of the Rheinhessen and Palatinate are noted for their noted for their aroma, well-balanced harmony, and fragrance.  Leibfraumilch, as all excellent white wines is best served chilled.  We suggest serving with cold entrees, as well as poultry, such as chicken or turkey, or even with a mild Cheddar, mellow and slightly nutty with a medium consistency"

My Review: The body of this wine is very light yellow-green in color but easily permeates through light.  This wine has very little aromas on the nose, which was a bit disappointing.  On the palate it was very light, refreshing and clean, which allows for easy summer drinking.  However, I couldn't detect any recognizable tastes or characterisics that elevate or bring uniqueness to this wine.  I may try this wine again if I'm looking for a simple, light wine.

Tasting- Col Des Vents Corbieres

Name: Col Des Vents Corbieres

Variety: 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah

Region: Languedoc

Country: France

Year: 2009

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah. Bramble berry, cherry, and raspberry, spices, black pepper.. all are present in this authentic French country"

My Review: On the nose this wine has welcoming blackberry, blackcherry, and raspberry aromas that draw attention to the full body and fruitiness of the wine.  On the palate there are numerous berry components that excite the taste buds, but the wine is very spicy and dry.  It is clear that this wine has a lot of tannic acid which can be too strong for many wine drinkers.  I might try this wine again with a full cheese or heavy pasta dish and see if that calms the wine at all.

Tasting- San Elias Carmenere

Name: San Elias Carmenere

Vintage: Carmenere

Region: Central Valley

Country: Chile

Year: 2010

Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "The grapes for this Carmenere are selected from vineyards in the Central Valley.  Beautiful red fruit aromas.  Supple and round in the mouth, the wine pairs well with full flavored cheeses and lamb."

My Review: On the nose there are definitely vegetable, soil, earth components to the bouquet.  On the palate it was extremely dry and had hints of butter.  This isn't one of my favorite red wines, because I couldn't detect any hints of fruit and was too dry for my liking.  Perhaps this is a wine that approves with food, but it's not likely that I will try this wine again.

Tasting- Estrella Chardonnay

Name: Estrella Chardonnay
Vintage: 100 % Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "Intensely flavored and balanced with layers of vanilla, butter and pear, followed by apple, banana and oak.

My Review: This was a surprisingly light and refreshing example of a Chardonnay.  Can definitely smell pear and green apple on the nose and the body is a very light yellow-green.  On the palate this wine exhibits a nice balance of malic acid and sugar and has a hint of vanilla that makes this an easy drinking wine.  I would certainly recommend this wine for light, summer night drinking.

Tasting- Zonin Pinot Grigio

Name: Zonin Pinot Grigio

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Region:Northeast Italy

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $5.95

Winery review: "Pale straw-yellow color with brilliant reflections.  Delicately fruity bouquet, with outstanding finesse and marked hints of almond blossom and peaches.  Elegant, soft, and well-structured fruit on the palate, with remarkable freshness and a clean, persistent aftertaste"

My review: Light, pale yellow coloring which typically is associated with a light bodied white wine.  On the nose this wine exhibits a fresh hint of peaches and pears.  On the palate I'm immediately shocked by how overwhelmingly sweet this wine tastes.  I also noticed that there is an intense afterbite with a lot of heat.  I'd say that this wine probably has a high percentage of alcohol, which only caters to an intensely sweet white wine.  I've certainly had better Pinot Grigios with a better balance of acidity and sugar.

Tasting- Chateau Ksara reserve du Couvent

Name: Chateau Ksara Reserve du Couvent

Variety: blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah

Region:Bekaa

Country: Lebanon

Year: 2009

Price: $15

Winery Review: Château Ksara Reserve du Couvent was described by Fiona Beckett in the Guardian, January 2011, as "An intensely fruity blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah that would be great with Middle Eastern or Moorish lamb stews".

My Review: On the nose this wine possess elements of vegetation, soil, and earthiness.  On the palate the blend lends itself to hints of plum, but is difficult to find any other components or characteristics in this wine.  I don't typically like blended wines and perhaps its because it makes it difficult to detect individual flavors and aromas.  I would have preferred a Lebanese wine made with indigenous grapes found from Lebanon.

Tasting- Quinta de Azevdeo Vinho Verde

Name: Quinta de Azevdeo Vinho Verde

Variety: Vinho Verde

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

Year: 2010

Price: $11.99

Winery Review:Made from indigenous Loureiro and Pedernã (aka Arinto), this vintage Vinho Verde, captures the essence of the appellation with its zippy acidity and lime character. Following stalk-removal and soft crushing to remove the skins, the must, protected from oxidation by using inert gas, went through a period of static decanting at low temperatures. For the Pedernã variety, this process took longer until the required level of clarity was achieved. The must was then taken to stainless steel, temperature-controlled fermentation vats, where it fermented for about 15 days at 60°F. One of the best choices for Summer drinking, this Vinho Verde does not disappoint.

Winery Review: Very light-bodied white wine with bubbly, fresh features suitable for light food fare.  On the palate I couldn't detect any lime or citrusy flavors in this wine.  I'd rather enjoy a light wine like this or a Prosecco, rather than a champagne, otherwise this wine doesn't have enough going for it to encourage me to drink it on any other occassion.