Pinette

Name: Pinetti

Variety: Indicazione, Geografica, Tipica

Region: Cermenate

Country: Italy 

Year: 2020

Price: $6.00

My Review: This wine is a dark pink color, almost orange. It smells pretty woody, with a hint of berry, like strawberry. There's a lot of sediment in the bottle that got into the glass. The wine isn't very flavorful. It is really tannic and has a slight strawberry flavor. The alcohol really shines through as well, I can feel it when I swallow it which is a sensation I do not particularly enjoy. Overall I did not really enjoy this wine and I would not get it again. 

Another Review: I taste citrus, cut grass, and raspberries. 12% alc. 3.0 Has some nice strawberry notes but would not buy again. Has a vegetal taste but not as dry as most Provence roses. https://www.vivino.com/US/en/it-pinetti-notte-rose/w/1734147#:~:text=I%20taste%20citrus%2C%20cut%20grass,12%25%20alc.&text=3.0Has%20some%20nice%20strawberry,dry%20as%20most%20provence%20roses.  

Wine Folly: The primary flavors of rosé wine are red fruit, flowers, citrus, and melon, with a pleasant crunchy green flavor on the finish similar to celery or rhubarb. Of course, depending on the type of grape the rosé wine is made with will greatly vary the flavor. https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/what-is-rose-wine/ 

Mogen David

 Name: Mogen David

Variety: Concord

Region: Westfield, NY

Country: United States

Year: N/A

Price: $5.99

My Review: This wine right off the bat has a really strong smell. It filled the room as soon as I opened the bottle and reminds me a lot of Manishevitz, which is unsurprising because the bottle says "kosher for Passover." The smell is very grapey, like grape-flavored candy. This wine is very sweet and tastes a lot like Manishevitz as well. It has a very grapey flavor and a tannic component in my throat at the end. Overall, I really enjoyed this wine, especially for a red wine, probably because it reminds me of Jewish holidays growing up. 

Another Review: A nice sweet wine with aromas of fresh Concord grapes that finishes elegantly. Pairs perfectly with beef brisket, potato latkes or challah bread. 100% certified Kosher with certification symbol Triangle K, found on every bottle. https://drizly.com/wine/red-wine/concord/mogen-david-concord-grape/p18173 

Wine Folly: Lake Erie and the Niagara Escarpment are in the far northwest corner of the state and are very much both under development as fine wine regions. The Lake Erie AVA is shared with the state of Pennsylvania. 95% of the grapes planted in the appellation are Concord, destined for commercial juice grape production. https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/guide-to-new-york-wine-country/ 

Emma Reichart

 Name: Emma Reichart

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Nahe

Country: Germany

Year: 2021

Price: $4.99

My Review: This wine is a pale pink color. This wine smells very floral but also kind of smells like white bread. This wine tastes sweet but is also slightly tannic. It has a peachy flavor. Overall, I really enjoyed this wine, which is surprising because I don't generally enjoy pinot noirs, but I think the lack of tannins made me enjoy it more. 

Another Review: "This is quite quaffable, in fact, with similar flavors to the nose plus a little tart citrus in the mouth. There's nothing not to like here. It ends with a dry, crisp, medium-length finish." https://www.reversewinesnob.com/emma-reichart-rose/#:~:text=This%20is%20quite%20quaffable%2C%20in,%2C%20crisp%2C%20medium%20length%20finish. 

Wine Folly: “'much fresher, purer, dryer, more complex and elegant than in former times.' Germans have made Württemberg a happy hunting ground for new red wine discoveries." https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/wurttemberg-german-red-wines/ 

Espiral

 Name: Espiral

Variety: N/A

Region: Vino Verde

Country: Portugal

Year: N/A

Price: $4.59

My Review: This wine is a light yellow color with a slight green tint to it. It has an interesting smell, kind of plasticy but also has hints of orange to it. This wine tastes like orange juice as if orange juice was light and sparkly. The wine leaves an interesting tingly sensation on my tongue and the roof of my mouth, like sparkling wine but less intense and sticks around longer. I didn't like this wine very much at first but as I drink it I like it more and more. Overall, after the first few sips, I really enjoyed this wine and would recommend it. 

Another Review: Your first sip, you’ll notice the zippy sparkles and then settle into the notes of green apple and melon. This wine is acidic by nature and very low in ABV. https://www.traderjoessommelier.com/wine-reviews/espiral-vinho-verde 

Wine Folly: Vinho Verde comes from a small region in Northern Portugal known for its super-value whites, reds, and rosés. These wines are loved for mouth-zapping acidity, subtle carbonation, and lower alcohol – making them a great choice for summer. https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/vinho-verde-the-perfect-poolside-wine-from-portugal/ 

second 3 course meal

 Name: Salmon Run Riesling

On its Own: This Riesling is a pale yellow color. It smells very fruity, specifically like pear. This wine is sweet but not very sweet, more neutral. It tastes like apricot with a strong alcoholic kick that I can feel when it goes down my throat. 

Paired with the salad with ginger dressing: This Riesling pairs really well with the salad. I like that they are both light and airy. The wine brings out the sweet flavors in the ginger dressing and also makes the ginger flavor seem stronger. The salad does however overpower the wine, it sort of neutralizes all of the flavors in the wine, just leaving the flavor of the alcohol which is really strong in this wine. 

Name: JCB Unity Cabernet Sauvignon 

On its own: This wine is a dark red color. It smells really fruity and jammy, like grape jam. It tastes really dry and tannic, with a figgy flavor. I am not a fan of this red wine but I also do not usually enjoy reds so it could be my bias. 

Paired with the Miso Soup: Although I did not enjoy the wine on its own, I really enjoyed it paired with the Miso Soup. The soup brings out more underlying fruity flavors, like cherry and a hint of blackberry, and the soup also makes the tannic sensation disappear which I enjoy. I also enjoy the soup more with the wine. The soup wasn't very flavorful on its own but paired with the wine it made the flavor of the miso and the seaweed stand out more in a good way. Overall, this was a great pairing, definitely the best of the three. 

Name: Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc

On its Own: This wine is a slightly darker yellow color. This Sauvignon Blanc has an apple scent as well as tastes like apple. It is pretty sweet, but is also tannic. This wine leaves an interesting feeling in my mouth similar to sparkling wines but less intense. 

Paired with the Hibachi Chicken: I really did not like this pairing. On its own, the wine has a fruity flavor to it but the Hibachi Chicken overpowered that and made it so the only flavor from the wine present was the alcohol. The only good thing about this pairing is that the wine enhanced the hibachi flavors. The wine enhanced the underlying sweetness in the hibachi chicken but besides that, this pairing was awful and this pairing was by far the worst of the three. 

Cavit

Name: Cavit

Variety: Moscato

Region: Trevenezie

Country: Italy

Year: 2021

Price: $8.95

My Review: This Moscato is a very pale yellow. It has a very light smell, it smells like alcohol and a hint of floral smell, specifically daisies. This wine tastes VERY sweet and has a peachy/citrusy flavor to it. Like peach and orange juice. It leaves a tingly feeling on my mouth. Overall, I really enjoyed this wine, probably because I am a fan of sweet white wines. I would purchase again. 

Another Review: With notes of apricot, white peach and sage, a wonderful sweetness, and light frizzante. Enjoy with flavorful appetizers, cheeses and spicy dishes. Wonderful with fruit and chocolate. (https://drizly.com/wine/white-wine/moscato/cavit-moscato/p11498)

Wine Folly: Expect sweet aromas of peaches, fresh grapes, orange blossoms, and crisp Meyer lemons. The flavor tingles on your tongue from acidity and light carbonation. The half-sparkling style (in Italian: frizzante) gives the perception that Moscato d’Asti is just lightly sweet. (https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/the-magic-of-moscato-dasti/)

Shoe Crazy

Name: Shoe Crazy

Variety: N/A

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: N/A

Price: $10.99

My Review: This sparkling wine is a yellow color with a hint of pink. It smells very fruity, specifically peach. It almost smells like a bellini. I really enjoyed this wine, the taste reminds me of the sparkling white grape juice my mom would give me for Jewish holidays as a kid when the adults were drinking wine but if you added a shot of vodka to it. The sparkles leave an interesting feeling on my tongue I can feel a warm sensation in my throat when it's going down because the alcohol flavor is so prevalent. Overall I really enjoyed this sparkling wine and would get it again, probably for mimosas. 

Another Review: this fruity Sparkler bursting with peach and mango. Move over Moscato and share the spotlight! Delightful as an aperitif or paired with fruit or a light cheese.(https://www.totalwine.com/wine/champagne-sparkling-wine/sparkling-wine/shoe-crazy-peach-mango-sparkling/p/189062750)

Wine Folly: This wine has hints of tree fruits, peach, and tropical fruits, mango, according to wine folly's wheel. I also found myself tasting a citrus flavor, orange, which is also present on the wine folly tasting wheel. (https://media.winefolly.com/fruit-flavors-in-wine-infographic-winefolly.jpg)

Opaline

 Name: Opaline

Variety: Pinot Noir Brut Rose

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon 

Country: France

Year: N/A

Price: $7.99

My Review: This sparkling wine is a pale pink with a hint of orange. It has a floral, rosy scent. It tastes floral as well, slightly sweet but mostly dry. The carbonation is really refreshing and leaves a tingling sensation in my mouth. The alcohol content is quite strong as well, as I could taste it when tasting the wine. 

Another Review: https://www.vivino.com/US/en/opaline-pinot-noir-brut-rose/w/7524525?year=2019 

Honey Moon

 Name: Honey Moon

Variety: Viognier

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2021

Price: $5.99

My Review: This wine is a pale yellow and smells like cat pee and cheese. It tastes pretty dry with a fruity, tropical taste. I'm really getting pineapple, and it is a very refreshing wine. I personally really enjoyed it, especially for a white wine. 

Another Review: https://brewandferment.com/trader-joes-honey-moon-viognier-by-trader-moon-co-a-review/ 

Wine and Cheese Pairings

 Wine Name: Lamarca Prosecco

On Its Own: This wine is a medium yellow color. It smells kind of eggy and lemoney. This wine is very refreshing, not tannic at all but the bubbles give it an interesting, sparkly tongue feel. It has a lemon/lime flavor.

Paired with Mozzarella: The mozzarella is overpowered by this wine. The cheese gives the wine a more citrusy taste, as well as brings out some floral notes in the wine. Overall, I like this paring but it is not my favorite, I wish that the wine brought out more flavors in the cheese. 

Wine Name: Journey and Discovery Rose

On Its Own: This wine is a pale orangey pink. This wine smells like walking in the woods after it rains and the ground is all mushy. I am generally not a fan of rose but this one is okay, it has a floral, slightly tannic taste to it, somewhat of a honeysuckle flavor. It also has a very strong alcohol component. 

Paired with the Garlic and Herb Borsin: This wine pairs with the cheese really well. The rose brings out the garlic flavor and the creamy cheese brings out the floral flavors in the wine. I enjoy this wine much more when paired with this cheese. My only complaint is that it brings out the alcohol flavor even more

Wine Name: California Roots Sangria

On Its Own: This wine is a light, pinkish red. It smells very fruity, it smells like blackberry and cherry with a hint of citrus, like Oranges. The wine tastes slightly tannic, and has a blackberry and orange flavor. I really enjoy this wine, I am a big fan of how sweet it is and I really enjoy fruity wines so this wine was really good. 

Paired with the Pepper Jack: I don't like the way that this wine pairs with the cheese. The flavor of the cheese mixed with the wine tastes like vomit. This cheese really brings out the alcohol flavor in the wine too which was not present when I first tasted the wine on its own. Overall, this is the worst pairing of the three.