Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2016

Price: $18.49

Winemakers notes: Prepare to be amazed! Our 2016 Freakshow Cabernet opens the act with a bright bouquet of Raspberry, toasted vanilla and a hint of violet and barbecue smoke. Full-bodied like the strongman himself, layered tannins give way to rich flavors of ripe black cherry, chocolate mousse and toasted chestnut. Our Cabernet show ends with a broad, weighty and lingering finish.

My review: This wine smells strongly of smoke and deep flavors. First you are immediately hit with the smokiness followed by deep fruitiness such as rasberry. There is a good amount of tannin flavor at the beginning but fades near the end. The wine is bold and flavorful that has a very smooth finish.

Pairings: I did not pair this wine with any food.

Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Grigio

Name: Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2017

Price: $8.49

Winemakers notes: Our Pinot Grigio is crafted from grapes sourced from the foothills of the Italian Alps, making for a uniquely flavorful wine. Refreshing fruit flavors of fresh pear, cantaloupe, apple and pineapple lead to a crisp finish with subtle notes of honey and lemon zest. Pair with Caesar salad, chicken fettuccine alfredo or a poolside cabana.

My review: I immediately smelled tropical fruits, like pineapple, when I smelled this wine. Its slightly carbonated and also smells sweet like honey. Upon tasting, you’re immediately hit with tart fruitiness of tropical fruits and strong sweetness. The wine has a lingering sweet finish.

Pairings: I did not pair this wine with any food.

La Marca Prosecco

Name: La Marca Prosecco

Variety: Prosecco

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: 2018

Price: $13.99

Winemakers notes: La Marca Prosecco is a fresh sparkling wine with a vibrant bouquet of apple, white peach and honeysuckle. The soft, harmonious fruity notes highlighted by pleasant acidity make this wine ideal for any occasion.

My review: This wine smells very fruity and tart like apples. The wine is very crisp and acidic with lots of carbonation. The wine sparkles and creates a light texture with sweet, apple, notes. The wine has a very sweet, acidic,  and bubbly finish.

Pairings: I did not pair this wine with any food.

Château Souverain Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Château Souverain Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: CA

Country: USA

Year: 2017

Price: $9.99

Winemakers notes: The 2017 Chateau Souverain Sauvignon Blanc opens with vibrant aromas of pink grapefruit, guava and a hint of lime zest. A dry, crisp palate delivers layered flavors of ripe melon, orange blossom and honeysuckle. Mouthwatering acidity balances a richly textured finish.

My review: This wine smells very tart and fruity, like green apple or grapefruit. You’re immediately hit with tartness from the fruity flavors, followed with a dry finish. This wine is very light but leaves your palate drier than I was expecting.

Pairings: I did not pair this wine with any food.

Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Name: Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Modesto, CA

Country: USA

Year: 2018

Price: $5.99

Winemakers notes:Barefoot Pinot Grigio is a crisp and refreshing wine with bright aromas and flavors of citrus and fresh green apple. Hints of jasmine complement a bright, delicate, flavourful finish.

My review: This wine smells very fruity like apple and pear. I immediately tastes  the acidity of the apple and pear flavors when I tasted this wine. It is very light with a smooth, sweet finish. This wine is extremely easy to drink because of how light and refreshing it is.

Pairings: I did not pair this wine with any food.

Wine and Cheese Pairing #2!

WhiteBarrel Winery

• Vidal Blanc Reserve
• Variety: Vidal Blanc
• Region: Blue Ridge (VA)
• Country: USA
• Year: 2018
• Price: $25.99
• Winery Notes: "Made in a traditional Kakhetian style (Georgia) where the skins are aged in the wine during fermentation providing for a bold, amber-colored wine with strong tannins and bold flavors."
• Tasting Notes (without cheese): This wine was a dark yellow color. It smelled very oaky and smoky like a campfire. Immediately you taste bold smokiness with a charred and burned finish. You can certainly taste the strong tannins and heavy flavors.
• Paired with Asiago: With the cheese, you can certainly still taste the smokiness but at the end, the asiago flavors emerge most prominently. This cheese definitely helped lighten up the wine! I wasn’t a huge fan of this bold white to begin with but I think it's much less intimidating paired with the cheese!
• Rkatsiteli
• Variety: Rkatsiteli
• Region: Northern (VA)
• Country: USA
• Year: 2018
• Price: $27.99
• Winery Notes: "Best described as restrained and refreshing, with crisp green-apple flavors and hints of quince and white peach."
• Tasting Notes (without cheese): This wine was a very light yellow color. It smelled strongly of apple and some sort of tropical fruit, such as pineapple. The wine itself is very light with very subtle flavors such as peach. It has a very smooth, acidic finish which ultimately felt like a palate cleanser.
• Paired with White Cheddar: The cheese in combination with the wine made the tropical fruit flavors come through much more prominently. The wine remained just as light and fruity as it was on its own. The acidic notes did not come through nearly as strong with this pairing. Ultimately I really enjoyed the wine itself with and without the cheese!
• White Barrel Chambourcin
• Variety: Chambourcin
• Region: Blue Ridge (VA)
• Country: USA
• Year: 2016
• Price: $20.99
• Winery Notes: "Made in a traditional Kakhetian style (Georgia) where the skins are aged in the wine for a bold, deep, and rich color with cherry undertones."
• Tasting notes (without cheese): This wine is a beautiful light red. It smells of deep flavors with hints of cherry or plum. Upon tasting, I was pleasantly surprised with how light it was. The wine had a small amount of tannins with a soft, fruity, and dry finish.
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• Paired with Brie: This cheese definitely masked the tannins in this wine. It also emphasized the dryness of the wine. The fruitiness from the cherries and plums came through much clearer and carried through to the finish. Once having the wine, the cheese tastes very mellow. Overall I think they paired nicely!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Declan's Irish Cream

Name: Declan’s

Variety: Irish Cream

Region: Maine

Country: USA

Year: N/A

Price: $11.95

Winemakers notes: For a true taste of Ireland without the travel, look no further than Declan's Irish Cream Wine Cocktail. Inspired by the bold yet tranquil beauty of the Emerald Isle, its rich flavors evoke images of the lush Irish countryside. Delightfully smooth and indulgently sweet, Declan's is easy to enjoy anywhere and anytime. Whether you take it in coffee or by itself, keep a bottle on your shelf.

My review: This wine smells pleasantly of dessert. It is as if you are drinking a Twix bar with strong notes of caramel. It is extremely rich but has almost and acidic finish. Despite the thickness of the drink, it was not very heavy.

Pairings: I did not pair this wine with any food.

Hecht & Bannier

Name: Hecht & Bannier

Variety: Minervois

Region: Langueda

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: $9.95

Winemakers notes: Pureed raspberry, plum and spice flavors are lined with dusty tannins in this fresh, focused red. Hints of milk chocolate add a touch of richness, with floral and spice notes lingering on the crisp finish. Drink now through 2019. 645 cases imported.

My review: Initially, I smelled something extremely funky in this wine. Upon tasting it, you are immediately hit with strong notes of leather, smoke, and other “old” flavors. This wine has a very dry finish.

Pairings: I did not pair this wine with any food.