Tasting: Stella Rosa Blueberry

Name: Stella Rosa Blueberry

Variety: Dessert Wine
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: 2020
Price: $0

Winery review: Bright ruby color. Aromas and flavors of ripe fresh raspberries, banana cake, menthol, fertile earth, and perfume with a satiny, bright, spritzy, sweet light-to-medium body and a smooth, brisk finish. A rustic berry-flavored wine for emergency refreshment. (Tastings.com)

Wine Folly: There wasn’t a section in the book that appropriately fit into the description of this wine

My review: (Served chilled) The first thing I noticed here was the BRIGHT purple color when poured, and also that it was sparkling rather than still. I had pulled this from the sweet wine section so I knew better than to expect a super dry experience. What I was not prepared for, however, was just how candy-like the wine was. I would not call the experience particularly enjoyable, but the taste made me feel more like a kid at communion or New Year's Eve drinking absurdly sweet grape juice to keep up with the rest of the adults. Definitely tasted like blueberry though.

I tasted this with a meal of pan-fried chicken breast in a heavy cream and spinach sauce.

Tasting: Dreams of Summer Rosato

 

Name: Dreams of Summer

Variety: Rosato/Rose
Region: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Country: Italy
Year: 2020
Price: $0

Winery review: Dreams of Summer is the perfect wine to enjoy in winter—it’s round enough to stand up to bigger meals, deeply colored, and bursting with flavors of strawberry, cranberry, and wet clay. A touch of cream on the finish makes it the perfect pink wine to dream of summertime. (Holiday Magic Wines)

Wine Folly: pg 288, CA Chardonnay: The best Chardonnay grows mostly in coastal regions and valleys up and down the coast that receive cooling breezes and morning fog from the Pacific. Wines offer a richer body, with flavors of pineapple and tropical fruits that are often complemented with tasty oak. (FW: Yellow Apple, Pineapple, Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Caramel)

My review: (Served room temperature) Immediately I'm struck by the profoundly orange color. It doesn't have any of the pinkness that you would typically expect with a rose. On the nose, quite citrusy with hints of chocolate. Almost like one of those blood orange infused chocolates. On the tongue it follows the nose very similarly, no new notes really showed up though it was quite dry. This would be fantastic chilled.

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting: Chardonnay

 

Name: Kendall-Jackson Vinters Reserve

Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Santa Rosa, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2021
Price: $13

Winery review: The nose is toasty and fruity. There are notes of fleshy/pulpy peach, apple and more lightly toasted notes combined with delicate, almost saline touches and an imperceptible hint of peach flowers. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, minerality, creaminess and a certain gourmandise. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of lychee, lemon and, more slightly, pulpy peach combined with subtle touches of toast, a delicate hint of fresh vanilla and a very discreet saline touch. Good length.

Wine Folly: pg 288, CA Chardonnay: The best Chardonnay grows mostly in coastal regions and valleys up and down the coast that receive cooling breezes and morning fog from the Pacific. Wines offer a richer body, with flavors of pineapple and tropical fruits that are often complemented with tasty oak. (FW: Yellow Apple, Pineapple, Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Caramel)

My review: (Served chilled)On the nose, quite fruity. I got hints of mango,  pineapple, and peach. On the palate, I got a lot more citrusy notes with a little bit of vanilla. Almost like a merengue. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting: Stella Rosa Moscato d'Asti

Name: Stella Rosa Moscato d'Asti

Variety: Moscato d'Asti
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2021
Price: $0

Winery review: Silvery straw color. Aromas and flavors of peach blossoms, honeysuckle, apricot jam, and sweet apples with a satiny, vibrant, spritzy, moderately sweet light-to-medium body and a smooth, engaging, medium-long finish with notes of peach sorbet, raspberry sauce, and sweet honey cake with no oak flavor. An effortlessly drinkable Asti Spumante that charms and delights. (Tastings)

Wine Folly: pg 288, CA Chardonnay: The best Chardonnay grows mostly in coastal regions and valleys up and down the coast that receive cooling breezes and morning fog from the Pacific. Wines offer a richer body, with flavors of pineapple and tropical fruits that are often complemented with tasty oak. (FW: Yellow Apple, Pineapple, Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Caramel)

My review: (Served room temperature) Verrrrry fruity both on the nose and on the palette. Most prominent tasting notes are those of apples, pears, butter, and cinnamon. Overall gives a very strong sense of a oddly sparkling apple pie. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting: Paso a Paso

Name: Paso al Paso

Variety: Tempranillo
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: 2020
Price: $0

Winery review: James Suckling: Spicy nose of black fruit, anise, cloves, tapenade and chili chocolate. Full-bodied with broad tannins and a spicy, fleshy palate. Some salty, savory undertones. Vegan. Why wait?

Wine Folly: pg 288, CA Chardonnay: The best Chardonnay grows mostly in coastal regions and valleys up and down the coast that receive cooling breezes and morning fog from the Pacific. Wines offer a richer body, with flavors of pineapple and tropical fruits that are often complemented with tasty oak. (FW: Yellow Apple, Pineapple, Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Caramel)

My review: (Served room temperature) Strong berries on the nose, somewhat nutty and spicy. Even spicier on the tongue. Not super tannic but very acidic and citrusy. Overall very light bodied and enjoyable. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting: Dancing Lights

Name: Dancing Lights

Variety: Chardonnay
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: 2021
Price: $0

Winery review: Sometimes all you need is two grapes to make a wine that shines. After a glass of Dancing Lights, you might be feeling like all you need in this life is this dynamic duo: Trebbiano and Chardonnay. These two grapes complement each other in ways that prove they are soulmates. Trebbiano is typically used to make brandy but also makes a crisp, clean white wine while Chardonnay brings ripe fruit to the table. Together, they make a wine that is dry, medium-bodied, and brimming with citrus, stonefruit, and tropical fruit. (Holiday Magic Wines)

Wine Folly: pg 288, CA Chardonnay: The best Chardonnay grows mostly in coastal regions and valleys up and down the coast that receive cooling breezes and morning fog from the Pacific. Wines offer a richer body, with flavors of pineapple and tropical fruits that are often complemented with tasty oak. (FW: Yellow Apple, Pineapple, Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Caramel)

My review: (Served chilled) On the nose this one is immediately MUCH lighter and almost emptier than the Cabernet Sauvignon, but I intentionally drank them in the "wrong" order to see what would happen. On the palette I get hit with an overwhelming sense of light apple crisp, but not much else. Overall a very enjoyable experience and a nice light counterpart to the Cabernet Sauvignon. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting: Handle With Care

Name: Handle with Care

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Thracian Lowlands
Country: Bulgaria
Year: 2021
Price: $0

Winery review: Handle With Care shows you what Bulgarian Cab is all about: dry and restrained with black cherry and currant aromas followed by tobacco leaf and dried herbs. (Holiday Magic Wines)

Wine Folly: pg 88, The world's most popular wine is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc that originated in Bordeaux. Wines are concentrated and age worthy. The rich flavor and high tannic content in Cabernet Sauvignon make it a perfect partner to rich grilled meats, peppery sauces, and dishes with high flavor.  

My review: (Served Room Temperature) On the nose, EXTREMELY sweet, and on the tip of the tongue wildly sugary as well. However this is immediately contradicted by the dry and heavily tannic finish. Strong notes of cherry in both smell and taste and definite hints of tobacco leaves in the aftertaste but I don't get much else of the currant or dried herbs. 

I tasted this on its own with no food.