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!