Tasting - Conte Di Campiano Primitivo Di Manduria

Name: Conte Di Campiano Primitivo Di Manduria

Variety: 100% Primitivo

Region: Primitivo Di Manduria

Country: Italy

Year: Non vintage (I think, there was no year on the bottle, or at least the server didn't see it)

Price: $15.59

Critic Review (2011 vintage): Rounded out flavors of cranberry. Very jammy and a little peppery. Despite the bold flavors, there's an unexplainable hollowness to it. It's also a bit light-bodied for a primitivo. Regardless, it's quite smooth and quaffable. Dry finish. Pretty good. 3.7/5.

We also had some of this as a mulled wine (not my idea), and it was not good. But that's just me, mulled wine really isn't my thing.

My Review: There was nothing really weird about this wine. The nose of it smelled like most other red wines I've smelled and the taste tasted like most other red wines. This wine was bitter, but luckily not mouth drying. Personally not my choice of wine since it wasn't sweet and it was bitter.

I did not taste food with this wine.

Critic Source: https://www.vivino.com/wineries/conte-di-campiano/wines/vincenzo-tribute-sessantuno-primitivo-di-manduria-9999

Tasting - Cocoa di Vine Chocolate Wine

Name: Cocoa di Vine Chocolate Wine

Variety: Moscato, Torrontes, Pedro Ximenez

Region: New York

Country: USA

Year: Non vintage

Price: $9.99

Critic Review (Bottle and name look the same, the country is wrong on this site, so I hope this is the right wine): Looks like you are pouring chocolate milk into your glass. The taste is rich and creamy somewhat reminiscent of Bailey's Cream. While I would never think of wine after tasting this there is alcohol present. All the wine nerds may turn up their nose but this is a perfect dessert drink. The only thing that could make this any better would be to put a scoop of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla in it.

My Review: From when I first saw the wine, I was ready to taste it, since it was different and it was combined with chocolate! From the nose, you can pretty much guess I smelled chocolate, and if there was anything else, it was drowned out by the chocolate smell. After drinking it, I felt a little let down, since while it did taste okay, I felt like the the wine taste didn't go extremely well with the red wine taste I got from it. It felt like drinking some red wine that was mixed with some really thick melted chocolate. Overall it was okay and not the worst I've had, but not exactly something I really liked.

I did not taste food with this wine.

Critic Source: https://www.vivino.com/wineries/opici/wines/cocoa-di-vine-8888

Variety Source: http://www.stewswinesnj.com/r/products/cocoa-di-vine-chocolate-and-wine

Tasting - Fabrica De Sangrias Lolea No 1

Name: Fabrica De Sangrias Lolea No 1

Variety (Unknown Percentage): Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot

Region: Unknown

Country: Spain

Year: Non vintage

Price: $15.49

Critic Review: If you don't want to waste time on making a real Sangria, this is for sure your best option. You could add a little bit of ginger ale and lime if you want to improve its flavor. Ensure it's chill.

My Review: After tasting the number 2 version of this wine, I was ready to taste this wine and I was glad it tasted similar. I could definitely tell this was red wine from the taste, but surprisingly, it was less bitter than the white version, maybe because of the previous wine in the cup. Other than that I couldn't really tell anything different form this one from the number 2. I was also ready to buy this wine.

I did not taste food with this wine.

Critic Source: http://reviews.danmurphys.com.au/0592-en_au/DM_794494/lolea-lolea-no-1-red-sangria-reviews/reviews.htm

Tasting - Fabrica De Sangrias Lolea No 2

Name: Fabrica De Sangrias Lolea No 2

Variety (Unknown Percentage): Airen and Moscatel

Region: Unknown

Country: Spain

Year: Non vintage

Price: $15.49

Critic Review: As with the red one, this sangria is not worth the money at all. It doesn't taste like sangria, but rather like a fizzing tablet thrown into water and a dash of alcohol added, this time in the colour of white. I most certainly won't buy this product again. I know how real sangria tastes, and this is not it. Full of sugar and little enjoyment on a hot summer's day. A cute looking bottle is not everything.

My Review: When I first smelled this wine I was really excited to drink it right away. It smelled really sweet and I got a lot of peaches from the nose. Luckily, it tasted as it smelled and was really good in my opinion. It reminded me of peach flavored candy in liquid form. I was ready to buy this wine.

I did not taste food with this wine.

Critic Source: http://reviews.danmurphys.com.au/0592-en_au/DM_794493/lolea-lolea-no-2-white-sangria-reviews/reviews.htm

Tasting - Opici Vino Bianco

Name: Opici Vino Bianco

Variety: 20% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Trebbiano, 40% Verdicchio

Region: Marches

Country: Italy

Year: Non vintage

Price: $9.99

Critic Review: Much more than a gimmick wine. Interesting blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Trebbiano, and Verdicchio. Pleasant maritime, saline, chalky, and citrus bouquet. Juicy, great acid, pleasant bite, long finish. 87-88.

My Review: I thought this wine was pretty basic. There wasn't anything I picked out while smelling it and the wine tasted like a lot of other wines I've tasted without anything distinct about it/

I did not taste food with this wine.

Critic Source: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2007168

Tasting - Les Roucas Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Name: Les Roucas Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $9.99

Critic Review (Cannot confirm vintage): Not a whole lot of anything here. A little earthy, a little bit of butterscotch and that's it.

My Review: I really didn't like this wine. The nose had some bad smell combined with the grapes, but I couldn't tell what. The wine was also bitter and the wine had that effect where my mouth was dry afterwards, which I think Wine Library TV said was tart.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Critic Source: https://www.vivino.com/wineries/foncalieu/wines/les-roucas-cabernet-sauvignon-2013

Variety, Region, and Country Source: https://www.vivino.com/wineries/foncalieu/wines/les-roucas-cabernet-sauvignon-2013

Tasting - Alamos Malbec 2014

Name: Alamos Malbec 2014
Variety: Malbec (assuming 100%)
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2014
Price: $11.29

Critic Review (Pretty sure review is for the 2014 vintage): Dark violet colour.

On the nose dark fruits, spices and oak.On the palate full bodied with velvety tannins and a long finish.


My Review: I personally didn't like this wine. I feel like this wine was the generic red wine. The nose of it was normal, nothing weird about it. The taste of this wine was bitter and there was a bitter aftertaste too.

I did not taste this wine with food.

Critic Source: https://www.vivino.com/wineries/alamos-winery/wines/mendoza-alamos-malbec-2014

Variety, Region, and Country Source: https://www.vivino.com/wineries/alamos-winery/wines/mendoza-alamos-malbec-2014