Tasting - Barefoot Moscato

Name: Barefoot Moscato 

Variety: 100% Moscato

Region: California  

Country: United States

Year: 2022

Price: $7

Wine Critic Review:  "Overall, this Moscato performed perfectly and would easily pair with the foods mentioned above.  On their website they also mention that this wine would be a good compliment to coconut cream pie.  Nowadays, many restaurants serve a cheese plate as a dessert.  Barefoot Moscato came to mind as the perfect compliment to that" (Jon Rogers). 

Wine Folly: pg 138:  An ancient aromatic white variety originally from Greece that’s available in all styles from dry to sweet, still to sparkling, and even fortified.  Drier styles pair well with salads, sushi, and fresh fruit. Sparkling Moscato d’Asti is excellent with almond cake. Fortified Muscat tastes great with cheeses and nuts.

My Review: Tangy aromas with quite a fruity smell, specifically picking up pineapple and a hint of strawberry. Extremely sweet taste, with pineapple and peach standing out as the strong flavors.

Would I Buy Again?: No - it really isn't the fault of the specific wine either as I prefer a dry wine to a sweet wine. 

Tasting - Woodbridge Pinot Grigio

Name: Woodbridge Pinot Grigio

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Region: California  

Country: United States

Year: 2022

Price: $10

Wine Critic Review:  "Pretty aromas of lemon blossoms and Bosc pear meet nicely structured fruit flavors in this light- to medium-bodied wine. Good acidity gives it a refreshing bite on the palate. It's an amazing bargain that gains much of its interest from small amounts of Vermentino, Colombard and Viognier blended in" (Jim Sullivan). 

Wine Folly: pg 149: Pinot Gris (aka Pinot Grigio) is a pink grape mutation of Pinot Noir that’s most famous for its zesty white wines that range in style from dry to just plain sweet.  Pinot Gris makes an excellent pairing with white meats, seafood, and food with a fruit element, such as lemons, oranges, peaches, or apricots.

My Review: Floral aromas with peach dominating the aromatic characteristics. Peach and pear were strong in the taste, with the wine quite light as well with a little bite of acidity.

Would I Buy Again?: No - I thought the flavor was lacking. For the same price (and even cheaper), there are many other wines that I have tried that I'd rather buy. 

Tasting - Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay

 

Name: Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 

Variety: 100% Chardonnay 

Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State  

Country: United States

Year: 2021

Price: $15

Wine Critic Review:  "Aromas of corn on the cob, melon and herb lead to just off-dry drinking flavors. The concentration seems lacking. Corn notes linger on the finish" (Sean P. Sullivan). 

Wine Folly: pg 96: One of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from sparkling Blanc de Blancs to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak.  Chardonnay pairs best with subtle spices and flavors. For example, try matching it with creamy, buttery flavors and soft textures. Lobster is a winning match.

My Review: The smell was overly earthy, with the smell of pair also within it. It had a soft taste to it, with the wine tasting like a oaky pear.  

Would I Buy Again?: Yes. I liked the dryness the wine had to it. 

Tasting - Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

 

Name: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc 

Region: Marlborough  

Country: New Zealand 

Year: 2022

Price: $12

Wine Critic Review:  "The 2022 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is on target in its varietal category. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of slight pungent notes, dried herbs, rustic earth, and grapefruit peel. Pair it with a dozen or two raw oysters" (Wilfred Wong)

Wine Folly: pg 165: A unique-tasting white wine with strong herbaceous flavors that are derived from compounds called methoxypyrazines. Sauvignon Blanc is a wonderful pairing partner with herb-driven sauces, salty cheeses, light meats, and last but not least, Asian food.

My Review: The wine smelled heavily floral, with green apple and blackberry the two fruit smells that I caught. It tasted like green apple heavily as well, with a lack of acidity that made it smooth to the tongue.

Would I Buy Again?: Yes. While it tasted like green apple, it wasn't super sweet or acidic, two qualities that were actually pretty nice about this wine. 

Tasting - Gazela Vinho Verde

Name: Gazela Vinho Verde

Variety: 100% Vinho Verde 

Region: Vinho Verde 

Country: Portugal 

Year: 2022

Price: $10

Wine Critic Review: "Perfect patio pour for the dog days of summer; light and easy; bright, light lemony fizz and lower alcohol make for a refreshing treat, affordable for summer picnics." - Beverage Dynamics 

Wine Folly: pg 184: Vinho Verde is very acidic and very light-bodied, with some sweetness and a low amount of tannins.

My Review: The wine smelled tangy, and had large hints of lime. The taste was closer to green apple, with once again a hint of lime. The wine was also tangy and acidic. 

Would I Buy Again?: I would buy this again. The Vinho Verdes are good, and they are easy wines to drink.  

Tasting - Parcelica Chica Monastrell

Name: Parcelica Chica Monastrell

Variety: 85% Monastrell, 15% Syrah 

Region: Yecla  

Country: Spain 

Year: 2019

Price: $12

Wine Critic Review: "A very rich, juicy wine with the alcohol coming through, but there's plenty of blue fruit and polished, chewy tannins. Flavorful finish. New wood comes through. Yet, I like the opulence and the flavors here." - James Suckling 

Wine Folly: pg 133: Monastrell - a deeply bold, smoky red wine that is an essential grape in the Rhone. It is a perfect wine with smoked meats and barbeque.

pg 172: Syrah - a rich, powerful, and sometimes meaty red wine that also originated in the Rhone valley of France. Darker meats and exotic spices being out the fruit notes of Syrah. 

My Review: When sniffing the wine, I smelled cherry, licorice, and blackberry. The cherry was definitely very strong in aroma. I tasted cherry and licorice, with a hint of oak. The wine went down very smoothly.   

Would I Buy Again?: 100%. My favorite wine I have had so far. It was smooth and all the flavors perfectly complimented each other.   

Tasting - Casal Garcia Vinho Verde

Name: Casal Garcia Vinho Verde 

Variety: 100% Trajadura 

Region: Vinho Verde  

Country: Portugal 

Year: 2022

Price: $7

Wine Critic Review: "Very typical Vinho Verde with the green-wine character of tangy and energetic acidity and lots of citrusy fruit. Light and nice. Serve very cold! Drink now."- James Suckling 

Wine Folly: pg 184: A regional wine blend from Portugal offered in white, rosé, and red styles. The most popular style is a low-alcohol, fruity white with a touch of spritz. Touches of lemonade, pink grapefruit, lime zest, yellow apple, and white blossom.

My Review: I got a white peach smell as well as lime from sniffing the wine. The peach and lime carried over into the taste, with the lime adding a tanginess to the wine that was welcomed. It was also quite acidic, a characteristic that I enjoyed. 

Would I Buy Again?: I would most likely buy this wine again. While not my favorite, it's low cost and ease of drinking it makes it an easy wine to buy again.