Wine Tasting: Oliver Apple Pie

Name: Oliver
Varietal: Apple Wine
Region: Bloomington, Indiana
Country: United States
Price: $7.95
Review: "You'll imagine they spent hours crushing and pressing fresh baked pies. You're almost right. For this seasonal wine, they painstakingly perfected the balance of tart, crisp, fresh apple and creamy sweet vanilla. Oliver Apple Pie wine features fresh-pressed, 100% apple wine (no concentrates!)."
My Review: This wine smelled like apple pie, I could clearly detect the scent of cinnamon, brown sugar, and crisp apples.  The wine tasted exactly like apple pie and I could clearly taste the cinnamon and sugar and apple, it also had a pine undertone. I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Hawk Crest Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Hawk Crest Red Hills
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lake County, California
Country: United States
Price: $8.95
Review: "From Stag's Leap winery this is textbook California Cabernet Sauvignon with dark fruit, red cherry and black pepper spice notes. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with inviting blueberry pie and coca flavors. Enjoy this wine with grilled rib eye steak with herb butter, braised beef short ribs, or black pepper-crusted ahi tuna."
My Review: The scent of this wine was cinnamon, cherry, and baking spices such as nutmeg. The wine had medium tannins, an oaky flavor, and a light stewed cherry taste. I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Terra del Giglo

Name: Terra del Giglo
Varietal: Chianti (Sangiovese)
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Price: $6.95
Review: "This wine's shy nose eventually reveals black-skinned fruit and a whiff of baking spice, while the palate offers straightforward plum and clove flavors. It's easy-drinking and has mellow tannins."
My Review: This wine had a sweet brandy scent as well as a stewed cherry scent. The wine tasted like oak as well as sweet and tart cherry flavor. I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Thorn-Clarke Mount Crawford Chardonnay

Name: Thorn- Clarke
Varietal: Mount Crawford Chardonnay
Region: Eden Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $10.95
Wine Review:"Brilliant yellow. Dried pear, lemon zest, honeysuckle and a hint of vanilla on the fragrant nose. Fleshy and smooth on the palate, offering fresh melon, pear nectar and tangerine flavors and a hint of bitter quinine that adds back-end cut. Closes on a subtle lees note, showing very good energy and lingering citrus character."
My Review: To me this wine had a musty and earthy scent, which I did not like and was hesitant to try it. The taste of the wine was bit dry and it hand lemon, orange, and mango flavor. I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio

Name: Villa Pozzi
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $6.95
Wine Review:"This opens with delicate aromas reminiscent of white spring flower and a whiff of orchard fruit. On the palate, fresh acidity underscores creamy Bartlett pear and nectarine zest that lead to a clean, bright finish."
My Review: This wine had the scent of a crisp Granny Smith apple and lemon zest. The taste of the wine had a strong green apple flavor with a bit of a sour aftertaste and it was sweet from fruit. I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Villa Pozzi Moscato

Name: Villa Pozzi

Varietal: Moscato 

Region: Sicily 

Country: Italy

Year: 2016

Price: $6.95 

Review: "This Moscato features aromas of fresh figs, apricot and orange blossoms. This crisp and refreshing wine is slightly effervescent, with a gentle sweetness that invites another glass." 

My Review: This wine was sweet on the nose and reminded me of the scent of sugar and orange blossoms. It was very light on the palate and tasted like bubblegum, however, it was crisp and sweet from fruit and I could make out the flavor of raspberry. I did not try this wine with food.

Wine Tasting: Elsa Binachi

Name: Elsa Binachi
Varietal: Malbec
Region: Mendozza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2015
Price: $9.95
Review: "This Malbec is red-violet in color, with aromas of plums and black cherries and a subtle, smoky scent. The beauty of Malbec in Argentina is its ability to combine a rich, weighty mouth-feel with a soft silkiness normally associated with lighter wines. Elsa Malbec takes the promise of the nose through to the palate, with dark fruits that mimics the aroma. The soft, supple palate and smooth tannins lead to a round and harmonious finish."
My Review: This wine smelled of oak, stewed cherry, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The wine was the slightest bit sweet and had tasted of red fruits, specifically cranberry. It had a very light tannic structure. I did not have food with this wine.