Tasting - Rosé

 

Name: Barefoot Peach Fruitscato

Variety: Moscato

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $8

Description: This deliciously sweet blend is made with rosé wine and natural flavors and bursts with aromas of juicy peaches. Barefoot Peach Moscato makes every day a little sweeter!

Online Reviews: "Light, fruity wine with flavors of strawberry, peach, apple, and citrus. Refreshing with a sweet, but crisp finish and a hint of elderflower." 

"Deliciously sweet layers of peach, a hint of watermelon and slight berries...delightful and refreshing."

Wine Folly: Surprisingly, the Wine Folly does not talk about fruitscato! It mentions a few other styles and regions of moscato and rosé but I am not sure how similar they would be to this wine. Page 138 talks about white moscato with the tasting notes of fresh grape, pineapple, mango, honeydew melon, peach, and lemon. 

On page 48, it talks about the process of making rosé wines. The most popular method is maceration where the grape skins are left to macerate in the juice to give it just enough color but not too much. 

My Review: Who wasn't had a Barefoot wine? It may not be considered a "real" wine, but it definitely tastes good and gets the job done. This wine smelled very floral. It was light and refreshing. I mostly tasted peach with a hint of watermelon and other berries. A perfect summer wine! I did not eat anything with this wine but I think cheese and crackers would have been the perfect addition. Maybe not a wine to drink all the time, but I will reach for it again in the summer. 

Here's me with the bottle!

Tasting - Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Name: Winking Owl Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $5

Description: Subtle flavors of blackberry, plum, toasted oak and a hint of vanilla. Pairs well with pasta, roast beef and steak.

Online Reviews: "What it is, is a very drinkable, very inexpensive bottle of Red wine. It is slightly on the sweet side and the tannins are missing, so there is not a ton of structure, but it has a nice mix of flavors and no 'off' flavor or odd textures."

"This Red wine opens with a nose of Plum and Vanilla. It is dry with soft tannins and Vanilla Spice. Flavors oof Plum, Dark Berry and Vanilla. Great Value wine. Nice to serve at large gatherings. Cheers to all."

Wine Folly: On page 88, the Wine Folly states that Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most popular wine with a rich flavor and high tannin content. On page 89, it lists the tasting notes as black cherry, black plum, raspberry, black pepper, violet, and bell pepper.

My Review: I really don't like deep red wines, even though I keep trying different ones. I fear I will only ever like a sparkling or sweet red wine. This wine was not terrible by any means, but also did not stand out. It tasted exactly like blackberry and black cherry. The description and reviews talk about plum but I did not taste any (maybe I just don't know what plum tastes like?). I definitely got notes of oak and vanilla which were nice. I found it to be a bit light and buttery, not high in tannins. If it was offered, I might drink it, but if there are any other options, I would likely not drink it. 

Here's me with the bottle!

Tasting - Chocolate Wine

 

Name: Petit Chocolat Wine Specialty

Variety: Red Wine 

Country: Netherlands

Price: $8

Description: Petit Chocolat is the perfect synergy of red wine with dark chocolate flavor and chocolate cream. The rich and creamy chocolate flavor makes this wine specialty a delightful dessert on its own or a perfect companion to all kinds of chocolate creations and ice creams. Best served chilled.

Online Review: "...it tastes like a chocolatey version of what you think Baileys tastes like. It’s rich, smooth, and indulgent. The bottle suggests drinking it on its own (the alcohol content is 14 percent, so I put my glass down after one or two sips), or with chocolate desserts, or on top of ice cream, which gets my vote for the best option."

Wine Folly: Since this wine does not list the varietal used, it was hard to find relevant info in the Wine Folly. What it does say about dessert wines on page 65 is that they are perfect for syrups on desserts with nuts, caramel, and vanilla ice cream.

My Review: This wine was sweet, sweet, sweet! This was the sweetest wine I have ever had, even sweeter than the previous chocolate wine I had tried. It smelled like butterscotch and caramel. It had very minimal fruit flavor, the slightest notes of cherry. It mostly tasted like chocolate, cream, and caramel. It was not a strong alcohol flavor, but it did leave a taste on your throat after. It was incredibly smooth, almost like chocolate milk (not flavor wise). I would absolutely drink this wine again but even though I love sweets, I don't think I could drink this wine and eat any dessert as that would be too sweet. 

Here's me with the bottle!

Tasting - Pinot Noir

 

Name: Cherry Blossom Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2022

Price: $5

Description: Introducing our Cherry Blossom Pinot Noir - a captivating and elegant wine that pays tribute to the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms.

This delightful Pinot Noir features a vibrant ruby-red hue and alluring aromas of ripe cherries, subtle hints of violet, and a touch of earthy undertones.

On the palate, experience a harmonious blend of luscious cherry and red berry flavors, delicately intertwined with soft tannins and a smooth, silky finish.

Perfectly balanced and effortlessly charming, our Cherry Blossom Pinot Noir is a splendid choice to elevate any occasion or simply to enjoy as you unwind after a long day.

Savor the essence of spring with each sip of this enchanting wine.

Online Reviews: "For the price - a great every day wine! Starts with delicious notes of cherry and strawberry then oak tones with a smooth finish (not too acidic!)"

"Cherry, vanilla, oak, strawberry, earthy, raspberry, plum jam, smoke, cherry cola. Very nice, will get again."

Wine Folly: On page 150, it notes that pinot noir is the world's most popular light-bodied red loved for its red fruit and spice flavors accentuated by a long, smooth, soft-tannin finish. On page 151, its tasting notes are cherry, raspberry, licorice, vanilla, rose, tobacco, mushroom, and cinnamon. 

My Review: I enjoyed this wine but would not say it was my favorite. What drew me in was the cherry blossom name and design on the label. I got mostly notes of cherry; some of the reviews say strawberry but I didn't get very much of that. I got a lot more of the subtle notes such as oak, vanilla, and even licorice. The description and reviews also mentioned earthy tones but I did not get much of these either. It felt pretty dry but not excessive and had a sharp flavor, though not bad. This felt like a "normal" red wine for me. It did not stand out by any means but if it was offered to me, I would drink it. Probably wouldn't buy it myself again though!

Here's me with the bottle!

Tasting - Shiraz

 

Name: Winking Owl Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz/Syrah

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $5

Description: Subtle flavors of black cherry, blackberry and a hint of spice. Pairs well with pasta, roast beef and steak.

Online Reviews: "Suprisingly decent with blackberry, cherries, vanilla and a touch of spice. Certainly not complex, but a nice bottle for a cheap price."

"Not that bad. Spicy and has some tannin structure. Lots of sweet fruit that lingers a bit on the finish. A little smoky. For the price point a decent wine."

Wine Folly: On page 173, the primary tasting notes are boysenberry, blackberries, jam, plum, cherry, dried cranberry, star anise, black pepper, and licorice. Some of the secondary and tertiary notes are graphite, leather, tobacco, and vanilla. 

My Review: I was surprised to read the reviews and see very few mentions how smoky this wine was. It was an overwhelming flavor that I could not get past. It did not have a lot of fruity flavors. I got a little bit of blackberry and cherry at best. Many reviews said it was sweet but I did not find any sweetness in this wine. The taste was pretty muted which I did see in a lot of reviews. I am not a fan of earthy, peppery, and smoky flavors so I did not enjoy this wine at all. I will defintely not be drinking it again.

Here's me with the bottle!

Tasting - White Zinfandel

 

Name: Winking Owl White Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: Unites States

Price: $5

Description: Cranberry and watermelon flavors with notes of fresh strawberry and cherry. Pairs well with salads, spicy Asian and Latin cuisine. 

Online Review: "Very pale pink in color. Nose is identical to a watermelon Jolly Rancher hard candy. Flavors of cherry and watermelon, with a faint hint of acidity and pink grapefruit. Finish is slight tart and pretty short. Definitely not a bad white zin for $3 a bottle."

"Not too shabby. The nose is clean and fresh with, floral hints, tropical fruit, and candied fruit. Thin and acidic mouthfeel. Sourbelt candy, and raspberry on the palate. Finish is short, but crisp. Absolutely worth 3 dollars."

Wine Folly: On page 190, the primary tasting notes are blackberry, blueberry, jam, strawberry, raspberry, peach, and raisin. Some of the secondary and tertiary notes are barbecue, gravel, leather, dill, tobacco, and vanilla. However, this was a white zinfandel so the notes are not going to line up exactly.

My Review: This definitely tasted like a $5 wine. I did not hate it, but did not love it by any means either. I would drink it again if it was offered or my only option, but I would not go out of my way to drink this wine again. The tasting notes were cranberry, watermelon, strawberry, and cherry. I tasted cranberry and strawberry the most, with a hint of watermelon. It was very floral to me, very rosy. It was quite smooth and a bit sweet. It was not very strong and had little aftertaste which was nice. 

Here's me with the bottle!

Tasting - Sweet Red

Name: Ménage à Trois Dolce Sweet Red Blend

Variety: Moscato, Zinfandel, and Syrah

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $10
 

Description: Prepare for sweet surrender — Ménage à Trois Dolce Sweet Red Blend will surely win you over. Brimming with decadent blackberry and raspberry flavors accented by warm notes of cherry vanilla, this rich wine is lively on the palate, lifted by delicate, light carbonation and crisp acidity. Go from the everyday to the extraordinary in just one sip.

Vineyard Notes: To bring our fantasy of Dolce to life, winemakers searched California’s best vineyards for grapes that offered exceptionally indulgent flavors and body. Moscato, with its sweet notes, is the decadent foundation for this red blend. Zinfandel’s jammy fruit flavors add richness, and Syrah’s bold, dark fruit character adds intensity and depth. To preserve the wine’s character and intensity our winemaker’s use gentle grape processing techniques and a cold fermentation at 50º F to maintain the rich, sweet flavors and aromas. Additionally, 90% non-malolactic fermentation maintains crisp acidity, a perfect counterpoint to the wine’s extravagant flavors. To make the Dolce experience even more unique, we elevated the carbonation and enhanced the wine with natural raspberry and blackberry flavors.

Rating: This wine was awarded 90 points by the Tasting Panel in the April/May 2021 issue. 

Wine Folly: On page 138-139, moscato has a 5/5 sweetness and its tasting notes are tropical fruits, melons, and citrus as well as vanilla bean and honey. 

On page 189-190, zinfandel is not super sweet and its tasting notes are blackberry, plum, strawberry, raspberry, jam, cinnamon, and pepper. 

On page 172-173, syrah is a rich and powerful red wine and its tasting notes are black berries, jam, cherry, dried cranberry, star anise, and pepper.

My Review: The tasting notes of this wine are blackberry, raspberry, and vanilla and they were incredibly accurate. I feel like some wines have a bunch of notes that are mostly there, but the notes for this wine were exactly what I tasted. I really enjoyed this wine. I think sweet reds are my favorite type of wine now. It was smooth and a little bit fizzy. It had slight notes of a smoky or oak flavor which paired well with the sweet notes. I would recommend this wine to others and would definitely drink it again!

Here's me with the bottle!