Tasting - Franzia Sunset Blush

Name: Franzia Sunset Blush (Zinfandel Rose Wine)
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: NV
Price: $14.95
Review (from the box): Delicate pink hue with strawberry flavors; easy to drink and very refreshing.
My review: Since we did a box wine at the tasting I figured why don't I get my own box of my favorite Franzia! I've been getting Franzia since as long as I can remember and Sunset Blush is my favorite. I have these very full, round bottomed wine glasses with wide openings, so it actually makes it harder to smell a lot of scents, and since I also keep my Franzia in the fridge I feel like the constant chilling also muddles the smell. I tried smelling it, and it honestly smelled kind of like nothing but slightly strawberry, but definitely smelled like wine more than anything (just a sweet alcohol kind of smell.) Upon tasting, as I expected, it was very sweet almost like a juice and has a strong strawberry flavor with maybe a kind of other berries, maybe cherry or some other berry, but like I said the cold kind of muddles the flavor as well. Although, I will always love Franzia. I tried this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

Tasting: Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone
Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault
Region: Rhone Valley
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95/750mL, $38.95/3L
Shop review: As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur,  avender, licorice and spice box are all present in this fullbodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.
My review: It smelled immediately like dark licorice, which I hate. I have a weird taste aversion from licorice. It also smelled extremely spicy to me, a lot of pepper and other spices I couldn't quite place. I smelled no real floral or fruit notes, which scared me in a red wine because I've found my palate doesn't really like wines without those flavors. Upon tasting it was a very earthy, spicy flavor with a very tannic texture. It overpowered my palate and had almost a biting taste. I did not like this wine. I tried it on its own without food.

Tasting - Lobetia Tempranillo

Name: Lobetia Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $10.95
Shop review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.
My review: It smelled like a very sweet plum, berry kind of jam to me, but like the Chardonnay from the same winery, it had a clean, crisp smell to it where it made the scents not so muddled together, everything was brighter and more pronounced. Upon tasting it was actually almost like cherry medicine tasting which I did not expect. There was also a hint of earthy, soil kind of tasting, and it felt like it had a lot of tannins in my mouth. I tried this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - Lobetia Chardonnay

Name: Lobetia Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $10.95
Shop review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.
My review: This was the first Chardonnay I've smelled where I can really smell that pungent grassy smell. It was super grassy, with a clean and crisp kind of cutting smell to it. I assumed it smelled so much like that because it is super organic as well. On the very end of the smell it had a kind of sweet candyesque, floral smell just slightly. Upon tasting, it was very lemony too me, but still with a very overpowering clean and crisp taste that was just quick and cutting, if you will. The finish was very dry, but I liked it a lot actually. I got a slight hint of pineapple, but it was very fleeting and not too obvious. It had a slight earthy taste to it as well. I tried this wine on its own without food. 

Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: NV
Price: $7.95
Shop review: Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now.
My review:  This wine had a very apple-melon smell to me, and I had a slight hint of cucumber melon body wash smell again with this wine, but a lot...fresher smelling I guess would be how I would place it. Upon tasting it was very melony, with a very sticky citrus sweet taste in the middle of my tongue and mouth. Although it had a nice dry finish that I wasn't expecting, but then it gave way to kind of a weird after taste that I couldn't really place what the taste was, but it left my mouth with a funny feeling. I tried this wine on its own without food.

Tasting - Tselepos Agiorgitiko 2012

Name - Tselepos Agiorgitiko 2012
Variety: Moschofilero
Region: Arcadia/Peloponnese
Country: Greece
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95
Shop review: This is a bit compact, quite elegant in the mid-palate, but it is pure, velvety and lovely, with a notable backbone. There is a little oak, but that should integrate. It won't immediately be a 'wow' wine, but I predict it will grow on you as it grew on me. It was better after an hour or so. Fragrant, crisp and intensely flavorful, this Agiorgitiko has some nods to Burgundy, given its graceful presentation, aromatics and structure. It finishes well and should be a crowd pleaser, making everyone from novices to geeks happy.
My review: While the review says that the oak should integrate, at first all I could smell was oak. Other than that, all else I could smell was butter. Upon tasting, it was also very oaky and had some floral tastes but other than that I couldn't pick out any other specifics. It almost seemed like a watered down wine honestly.  It was a very bland wine. I tried it on its own without food.

Tasting - Poggio al Tufo Cabernet Sauvignon

Name - Poggio al Tufo Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Maremma Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $18.95
Shop review: 88 points, International Wine Cellars. Bright ruby. Spicy black currant, dark plum and violet on the nose. Sweet, broad and fresh, with a black currant flavor lifted by juicy acidity. Finishes smooth and moderately long.
My review: This smelled extremely perfumey to me, with a lot of violet. I could tell there were other floral smells but I couldn't really place them. I caught a very slight hint of plum, but it took a few sniffs to get it. Upon tasting it was slightly spicy, and then had a very berry like middle. The finish was very dry and left kind of a funny after taste in my mouth, with a little bit of the plum. I can't really place why I didn't like this wine, but I wasn't too fond of it. I tried this wine on its own without food.