Tasting: Foris Pinot Gris

Foris Pinot Gris
Rogue Valley in Oregon
2011
$15.95
Review Provided by the Vintage Cellar: Although the 2011 vintage was difficult, Foris did particularly well with this light, spicy, fruit-laden Pinot Gris. True varietal flavors of pear and apple are perfectly set against vivid acidity.
My Review: I liked this wine so much that I actually came out with a bottle of it once I was done (I always seem to do that at the Vintage Cellar). The apple and pear tastes and aromas were very prominent in this tasting.

Tasting: Mokoroa Txakolina

Mokoroa Txakolina
Spain
2011
$13.95
Review provided by the Vintage Cellar: Young, fruity, dry white wine with high acidity and medium alcohol content (9.5%-11.5%). As a result of the fermentation process, this wine is slightly sparkling, producing a tingle on the palate and a full range of aromas. Two grape varietals, Hondarrabi Zuri, which makes up 95% percent of the vines, and Hondarrabi Beltza, which makes up the remaining 5%. Txakoli is excellent as an aperitif and is best when drank within one year of bottling. Mokoroa's Txakoli is a tremendous value for its quality.
My Review: I didn't really think a wine could be this fruity and this dry at the same time. It was kind of weird for me. I can't really say that I was a huge fan of this wine.

Tasting: Yalumba Museum Muscat

Yalumba Museum Muscat
Australia
Year Unlisted
$22.95
Review Provided by The Vintage Cellar: The non-vintage Museum Reserve Muscat boasts a medium deep amber hue as well as stunning aromas and huge flavors oozing with glycerin, sweetness, honeyed figs, jammy berries, and notions of tea, molasses, and prunes. This wine does not improve in the bottle, but it will last for many years.
My Review: It's amber hue reminds me of syrup, so much so that I half-expected it to be thick and oozy coming out of the bottle. Alas, it had a usual wine consistency. While it's consistency was that of a wine, it's aroma and taste reminded me of honey and syrup. I feel like I could pour this all over my waffles in the morning. Very delicious.

Tasting: Villa da Filicaja Chianti Superiore

Villa da Filicaja Chianti Superiore
Chianti, Italy
2009
$12.95
Review provided by The Vintage Cellar: Chianti Superiore DOCG "Conte Andrea" is the best product of first-choice Sangiovese grapes from our best vineyards. It rests for twelve months in barrels of white oak (Quercus Alba), producing a very special high standard Chianti Superiore wine.
My Review: The aromas remind me of dark fruits such as cherries and especially plums. Upon tasting it, the plum flavor is what really popped out at me. I actually bought this wine after tasting it, since it goes best with my favorite kind of food: Italian! I'm really excited to try this wine with pasta or pizza.

Tasting: Simonet Vin Mousseux Sparkling Wine

Simonet Vin Mousseux Sparkling Wine
Alsace, France
year unlisted
$9.98
Review provided by Wines and Words: I had to put this one in, because it often gets lost in the shuffle due to its low price. Don’t be fooled. It’s a very respectable sparkler of 100% Chardonnay. That’s why it’s called Blanc de Blancs, “a white wine from white grapes.” And since it’s not from the Champagne region, it has to be labeled Vin Mousseux (“sparkling wine”) as well as Brut (“dry”). It’s made by Caves de Wissembourg, a very respectable producer of prize-winning sparklers that are distributed throughout Europe. So treat yourself to “Champagne” on a beer budget...and let the bubbles flow.
My Review: The only other sparkling wine I've ever had is champagne, which probably everyone has had. I don't know how carbonated sparkling wines usually are, but I was surprised at how not carbonated this wine was. The best descriptors I can get from this one were herbal and floral, as the carbonation kind of threw my taste buds off.

Tasting: Arca Nova Alvarinho

Arca Nova Alvarinho
Portugal
2011
About $13
Review from Wine Spectator: A taut style, with graphite and mineral notes to the green peach and crunchy apple flavors. The crisp finish features hints of smoke.
My Review: The wine smelled of pears and apples and remained true to its aroma upon tasting. The tastes were fruity and floral, but most of the fruity tastes reminded me of a crisp, green apple. 

Tasting: Dom de la Louvetrie Muscadet

Dom de la Louvetrie Muscadet
Loire, France
2010
$15.95

Review provided by the Vintage Cellar: Jo Landron's Muscadet Sevre et Maine is from a beautiful walled vineyard sloping towards the Sevre, with clay, sand, and quartz stones over a bedrock of Orthogneiss. The vines average fourty to fifty years of age, the vineyard is certified organic and biodynamic and gives very low yields. Always one of my favorite Muscadets, the 2011 is superb with citrus, pear and herbal aromas with a bit of smoke and sea-salt. The palate is dense and very long with fabulous acidity. It will provide exhilarating early drinking and will be very interesting in twenty years as well.
My Review: A good start for my wine tasting experience this go-around. The herbal aromas mentioned in The Vintage Cellar's review were evident and the sea salt provided a unique touch to the wine.