Wine Tasting - La Sera Red Malvasia

Name: La Sera Red Malvasia
Variety: Malvasia
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $ 13.95

Winery Review: A specialty of Italy's Piedmont Region, Red Malvasia di Casorzo is fragrant and fruity, moderately sweet wine. It has strawberry and fresh grape flavors, with a zesty frizzante (fizz). It is low in alcohol (5.5%) and best served Slightly chilled. Enjoy as an aperitif, matched with spicy barbeque or Oriental dishes. It is also excellent with rich chocolate cake or a fruity sorbet. 

My Review: The aroma is clean and flowery kind of like a white. And wow moderately sweet is an understatement.  It is VERY sweet and have a chilled red wine is weird as well. It tastes  like very sweet grape juice to me. 

Wine Tasting - Fours Bears Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 80 % Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Petite Sirah
Region: Paso Robles

Country:USA
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95

Winery Review: Ruby in color and displays aroma of lavender, cedar and raspberry fruit. Flavors of blackberries and raspberries combined with hints of savory spices coat the palate. The soft tannins and sweet oak balance lead to a long and lingering finish. 

My Review: I agree with the winery review on the color. It is very nice dark (ruby) red color. A very fruity and nature like aroma. The taste is nice but not a great. Another very dry wine and has a kick in the end. 

Wine Tasting - Pietra Santa Sangiovese

Name: Pietra Santa Sangiovese
Variety: Sangiovese
Region: Cienega Valley
Country:USA
Year: 2008Price: $15.95

Winery Review: Produced exclusively from grapes grown on the estate and showcases winemaker Alessio Carli's talent with the grape. Growing up in Tuscany, Alessio watched his father make Chianti and later honed his skills at the renowned Badia a Coltibuono. Our Estate Sangiovese tastes of cranberry and intense Bing cherry with undertones of anise and a lingering finish. the depth and ultimate companion to great Italian cuisine. Typical of this varietal, our Sangiovese vines have matured and we have been rewarded by increasingly rich fruit. 

My Review: Nice red color. Has a very strong fruity aroma. The red is very dry (not as dry as the Sacred Stone) and has hits of fruit. I did want more to come through but there was not a lot of taste after the the first sip. An ok wine for me. 

Wine Tasting - Pietra Santa Sacred Stone Red

Name: Pietra Santa Sacred Stone Red
Variety: No exact percentages - mixture of grapes from old and new vines from old owner to new owner.
Region: California 
Country:USA
Year: no year - cask #6
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Proprietor's Red Blend. This wine is ripe and juicy with expressive flavors of cherries and plums. It is dark and aromatic with crisp acidity, nice structure and a lush finish. Made to pair with a wide variety of foods. this red wine is a must for everyday enjoyment or teaming with your favorite grilled and outdoor cuisine.

My Review: Nice red color. Very peppery aroma, very strong. And boy this has a kick. Peppery and wow is it mouth puckering. Taking just a sip of it my mouth went so dry I found myself wanting a lot of water. 

Wine Tasting - Fours Bears Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Sean Minor Four Bears Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Sonoma County
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: Rich and complex with aromas by ruby grapefruit, citrus and tropical fruit. On the palate, the combine flavors of fresh melon, fig and lime are balanced perfectly to form a crisp, mouthwatering texture and a lingering finish. 
My Review: Not a lot of color to this wine. Some yellow in it but eh not impressive. The smell is very grassy and to me not very pleasing. The taste was eh as well for me. It was herby and grassy, kind of dirty. Mouth puckering too. Over all not my type of white wine. 

Wine Tasting with the Hills part 2 - Flip Flop Riesling

Name: Flip Flop Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: Left Coast
Country:USA
Year: 2010
Price: $5.19

Winery Review: Medium-bodied, Riesling with peach, apricot and melon which lead to a satisfying, smooth finish

My Review: Not bad. Simple but a nice clean aroma and light on the finish. Not as pungent as the Seaglass but it is pleasing enough and a great price. It is fruity but not as sweet as I thought it would be. I would give this wine as a gift without feeling guilty. 

Hill family wine tasting Part 2! - Tasting Shellback

Name: Shellback Sauvignon Blanc 
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2010
Price: $9.99

Winery Review: There's a distinct tropical note to the juicy pineapple, passion fruit, melon and citrus flavors that tantalize the palate with a silky acidity. Smooth, juicy and very appealing, combined with an elegant and appealing finish that lingers on and on.

My Review: Gross. This wine was just gross. Forget what the winery said because it was awful. Unless you like olives. The aroma and taste was almost pure olive juice. If that is your thing go for it but otherwise don't bother. 

Wine tasting with the Hills part 2 - Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Name: Barefoot Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: California 
Country: USA
Year: ?Price: $9

Winery Review: Tart green apple flavors get down with a white peach undertone. Floral Blossoms and citrus aromas do the tango. Light-bodied with a bright finish. 

My Review: Boring. Not surprised though. It is an ok wine to have around the house that most people will drink but not a oh wow wine. But for under ten bucks can't complain. 

Hill family wine tasting Part 2! - Tasting SeaGlass Riesling

Name: SeaGlass Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: Monterey County, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $12

Winery Review:  

The aromatic nose of SeaGlass Riesling shows ripe apricot, sweet peaches, tropical fruit 


with floral undertones. Concentrated, rich flavors of perfumed white flowers are 


supported by juicy apricots, peaches and melon with a hint of honeysuckle. A balanced


 acidity leads to a lingering finish in an off-dry style. SeaGlass Riesling pairs well with 


spicy Asian dishes, smoked salmon, lobster salad and blue cheese. 

My Review: I really liked this wine as well as my parents. The color was light with a slight yellow tint. The aroma is very pleasing with a strong fruit aroma. I can really smell apples and apricots coming through. The taste was just a pleasing. It is a sweet wine, very light and fruity and not very acidic.

Tasting - Little Penguin Pinot Noir with the Hill Family

Name: Little Penguin Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $5.99

Winery Review: Australian wines have long dominated the import category here in the united States. While Pinot Noir has become one of the most popular varietals, the Little Penguin's home is still an untapped region for Pinot Noir. Seeing the potential in Australia to become the next big producer of Pinot Noir, The Little Penguin is pleased to announce the latest addition to the family.

My Review: Ok so my opinion of Little Penguin was not improved with this wine. Has a very thin color and had no legs to it. The smell was lighter and not as strong as the other. The taste was light and thin. Fruitier than the shiraz but not after taste. Quoting my uncle it tasted like grape juice without the sugar. A very flat wine.

Tasting - Little Penguin Shiraz with the Hill Family

Name: Little Penguin Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $7.99

Winery Review: Hold this hefty red to the light and marvel at the dense, bright magenta hues. savor the splashes of chocolate, spice and juicy strawberries on the nose. the flavor has equally impressive dark sweet fruit, closing with and impressive length.

My Review: Alright so I much preferred the previous Shiraz to this one. A red color not to be very impressed with and a very strong alcohol smell. It is a very dry wine with not fruit to it. It had a bit of nutty flavor but otherwise burned going down. Plain was the over all feeling for this one.

Tasting - Lights Out Shiraz with the Hill Family

Name: Lights Out Shiraz
Variety: Syrah
Region: Barossa Valley
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $17

Winery Review:

A seamless wine that is rich, yet soft and sumptuous. Vibrant berry fruits with sweet spice and balanced oak.

Pair with steak, lamb, barbeques and hearty stews.

My Review: This was the first shiraz I have had and I have to say I am not really a fan. Not that it was a terrible wine but just not my thing. It had a nice red color and a fruity smell but this wine go very peppery in the taste and had a kick too it. It really burned from me going down and I am just not a fan. It was a little tangy but over all a bitter burn. My aunt admitting to buying for the label but from some of her past purchases this was drinkable.

Tasting - Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon with the Hill Family

Name: Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $16.98

Winery Review: Cabernet Sauvignon excels in our estate Margarita Vineyard, where the varietal benefits from one of the longest growing seasons in the Paso Robles appellation. Here, our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes achieve full ripeness while maintaining exceptional balance and structure.

My Review: Very nice garnet color almost purple really. Loved the aroma of this one with a nice but not overpowering fruit smell. The taste was very fruity with a bit of sweetness to it and not very dry like the merlot. I really liked this red wine and is my favorite of the reds I tried with my family in our at home wine tasting.

Tasting - St. Francis Merlot with the Hill Family

Name: St. Francis Merlot
Variety: 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 2% Petite Verdot
Region: Sonoma County, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2007
Price: $15.99

Winery Review: Characteristic cherry and chocolate light up the palate of this classic Sonoma County Merlot. Flavors of coffee and luscious plum in the mid palate solidify its structure and give it depth, while its round, generous tannins deliver a bold, lengthy finish
.
My Review: A nice dark color for a red but what I would expect from a merlot. While giving it a swirl I could see a lot of legs so I was not aurprised it is not a thin wine. Had a very strong fruity aroma. Ended up being a smooth beginning but quite dry in the aftertaste. There was some kick in the mid pallet and had my mouth pucker a bit which surprised me for a red wine. Would love to have had this with some red meat.