Tasting - Opera Prima Sweet Red

Name: Opera Prima Sweet Red
Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: La Mancha, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95

Wine Shop Review: Doesn't try to hide its warm-climate terroir, with a soft texture framing jammy-sweet black raspberry, cherry, red currant, root beer and sweet tea. Drink now.

My Review: Very easy to drink sweet taste with mixed berry  flavors. Refreshing drink that can be had anytime.

I tasted this wine on its own.

Tasting - Montes Alpha Syrah

Name: Montes Alpha Syrah
Variety: 90% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Viognier
Region: Apalta, Chile
Country: Chile
Year: 2009
Price: $7.95

Wine Shop Review: Blackberry and cola aromas are cool and collected. The palate has weight and texture to accompany berry, mint, herb and peppery flavors. Turns more herbal and roasted as it unwinds. Pepper and spice lead the finish.

My Review: There is a vague sweetness to this wine that turns to a nice bite at the end. It progress through flavors to touch on every inch of your palate.

I tasted this wine by itself.

Tasting - Coreto Tinto

Name: Coreto Tinto
Variety: 25% Tinta Roriz, 20% Caladoc, 20% Castelão, 15% Touriga Nacional, 10% Shiraz, 10% Alicante Bouschet
Region: Estremadura, Portugal
Country: Portugal
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Wine Shop Review: Despite its light touch, this is fruity and full, with its blackberry fruit
dominating the warm spice note and acidity. Soft tannins keep the wine together.

My Review: This was a good wine, it had a dry taste to it with subtle fruity flavors that made it easy to sip on.

I tasted this wine on its own.

Tasting - Maipe Sauvignon Blanc

 

Name: Maipe Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Mendoza Providence, Argentina

Country: Argentina 

Year: 2011

Price: $7.95

Wine Shop Review: Yellow color with green hints. Expressive wine, fresh, very
aromatic. This Sauvignon Blanc displays grapefruit flavors, with
hints of melon and honey. It finishes with bracing acidity and fresh
mouth feels that make it a terrific aperitif and an excellent
accompaniment to virtually all seafood, especially shellfish.

My Review: This wine was easy to drink, but I found it to lack any strong taste. Overall there was hints at a  lemon taste, but I thought that it tasted relatively bland.

I tasted this wine without any food.

Tasting - Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde

Name: Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde

Variety: 80% Loureiro and 20% Trajadura 

Region: Minho-Lima, Portugal

Country: Portugal

Year: 2010

Price: $4.95

Wine Shop Review: Pale golden silver color. Bright floral aromas of peaches, raspberry

and honeysuckle with a soft, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, tart citrus and talc accented finish. A delightful sipper that is sure to please.

My Review: This wine was my favorite of the tasting. I liked the sharp taste it had to it, along with the fruity flavors it entailed. 

I tasted this wine on its own.

Experience with Wine

I have had very little experience with wine so far in my life. My parents never drink wine and I personally can only remember having it twice, once being out of a box of Franzia. I didn't really enjoy either one of the times I have tried it, but I feel like I would if I was more informed on wines and their different flavors.

My roommates and my girlfriend both come from families that routinely have wine with their meals so I always feel like the odd one out. I feel like learning about wine would be rewarding for social situations especially as I move into the business world.

I would like to learn how to pick wines out that I would enjoy by their name and label as well as their taste, smell, etc. I would also like to become familiar with the places that wine come from and which is better and the other and why. Other than that I just want to be able to be informed enough to carry on a conversion over dinner with my friends and family.