Wine Time Weekly - Santa Julia Malbec

Name - Santa Julia Reserva

Variety - Malbec

Region - Argentia

Year - 2020

Price - $10.99

Wine Critic Review

A fruitball of a Malbec, with bright, friendly aromas of berry, cola and cherry cough drop. It feels full, round and well balanced, with a black cherry flavor bearing a mild herbal underbelly. The finish is fruity without being heavy.

Wine Folly Notes

Malbec is another fruity wine with low sweetness, high body, medium alcohol, and low-medium levels of acidity and tannins. These wines by way of Argentina feature tastes of plum, blackberry, and earthy flavors. (125). As a "Reserva" wine, malbec has tastes of blackberry, plum, and pepper flakes.

My Review

I loved this wine and will probably buy it again, at least Malbec. It had a spicy undertone which was very unexpected. The flavors were fantastic and fruity but it really was so much better than I expected. I would give it a 9.5/10

Wine Weekly - Yellow Tail Merlot

Name - Yellow Tail

Variety - Merlot

Region - Australia

Year - 2021

Price - $7.99

Wine Critic Review

In the glass, this wine is ruby to plum in color.  A little bit of light shines through.

After allowing the wine to get some air I noted several small legs on the sides of the glass that fell slowly.

Yellow Tail Merlot is fairly aromatic.  The aroma was noticeable from a foot away from the glass.  On the nose were hints of cherry and a little spice.

Wine Folly Notes

Another Merlot I have drunk so this is all going to be a repeat. Merlots have fruity and earthy flavors of cherry and plum and chocolate dried herbs, and vanilla respectively. WF doesn't have specifics on Merlots from Australia, but Merlots tend to have medium levels of alcohol body acidity and tannins. (131)

My Review

I love merlots but, "this ain't it chief". I wish I could have grabbed any other type of wine but I was restricted to 7/11 because it is easter and I had work. It has a high acidity that really takes away from the fruity flavors. This is probably the worst Merlot that I have reviewed and yea that's really it. It has some fruity notes that I can't differentiate and I can't taste any earthy flavors. 

Weekly Wine - Clos du Bois

Name - Clos du Bois

Variety - Merlot

Region - California

Year - 2018

Price - $10.00

Wine Critic Review

Deep ruby red in color, this Merlot displays aromas of ripe black cherry, brown spice, and light toasty oak. In the mouth, the wine has a rich texture with concentrated black fruit and notes of mocha.

https://www.wine.com/product/clos-du-bois-california-merlot-2018/634360#

Wine Folly Notes

Merlot's feature upfront fruity flavors, such as cherry and plum, mixed with chocolate and vanilla flavors. (131). Merlots normally have higher levels of body, alcohol, and tannins, with a low level of sweetness

My Review 

I really enjoyed this Merlot, as I keep finding out that I enjoy merlot. The flavor of black cherry was overwhelming but delicious. Nothing to really say other than this. Not the best merlot I've had but not the worst.

Weekly Wine- Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay.

Name -

Chateau Ste Michelle

Variety - Chardonnay

Region - Columbia Valley

Year - 2020

Price - $9.99

Wine Critic Review

Buttery on the nose with fresh pear, vanilla, full-bodied and smooth on the palate with ripe orchard and tropical fruit with buttery caramel and toasty oak spice finish. Enjoy with a roast chicken.

https://www.nataliemaclean.com/wine-reviews/chateau-ste-michelle-chardonnay-2020/329926

Wine Folly Notes

Chardonnay is one of the world's most popular grapes that has notes of apple, vanilla, and butter (98). They have medium alcohol levels, slight sweetness, low acidity, and almost zero tannins. 

My Review

I really didn't like this wine that much. For white wine, it was too hot at 14 percent and that made it pretty tangy. Ive had other chardonnay that I enjoyed much more. I got a strong apple and fruit taste but not much on the smell. I did not eat this with food. 

Weekly Wine Tasting - Dellatori

Name - Dellatorri Tuscan Red

Variety - Sangiovese

Region - Tuscany, Italy

Year - 2018

Price - $11.99

Wine Critic Review

This Italian Red Blend is deep in color with aromas of black currant and rich black cherry that elegantly interlace with subtle oak spice. 

Wine Folly Notes

Sangiovese is Italy's most popular wine. It features a medium body and tannins, with high acidity. (162). Sangiovese also features notes of cherry mixed with a more earthy taste of espresso, oregano, and balsamic. 

My Review

This was not my favorite wine I have drunk, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I liked the fact that it was not that sweet, but the earthy and acidic flavors definitely complimented the bread and olive oil that I was eating at the time. 

Weekly Wine Tasting - Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda

Name - Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda

Variety - Monastrell

Region - Alicante Spain

Year - 2018

Price - $9.99

Wine Critic Review

Bright ruby-red in color, this wine shows expressive notes of fresh black cherries and red berries mingled with hints of sweet spice, toast and cocoa. On the palate, this accessible red shows silky texture, liveliness and long length.

https://www.winebow.com/our-brands/bodegas-enrique-mendoza/enrique-mendoza-la-tremenda/2018

Wine Folly Notes

A wine originating from Central Spain, with deep and smokey flavors, Monastrell has earthly flavors of Cocoa, Tobacco, and Pepper and a strong flavor of berries. (133). Monastrell has a high tannic content. Monastrell from Alicante has more of a raisin taste. 

My Review

The first Monastrell that I have drunk and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the fruity tastes compared with the light amount of earthy tastes. I drank this wine with a meal of pasta carbonara, and I thought it paired very well. I thought it was very similar to merlot. 

Weekly Wine Tasting - Jacobs Creek Shiraz

Name - Jacobs Creek Classic

Variety - Shiraz/Syrah

Region - South East Australia

Year - Vintage 2020

Price - $7.99

Wine Critic Review

Classic as in typical of the volume Shiraz many have grown to know (and love).

Aromas of jammy dark fruits, mocha, heavy oak. Follows on the palate, with a slight pepper note (but only slight) and smooth tannins, light on the acid.

Well-made everyday wine with straightforward flavours.

https://www.nataliemaclean.com/wine-reviews/jacobs-creek-shiraz-2017/308111#:~:text=Reviews%20and%20Ratings,tannins%2C%20light%20on%20the%20acid.

Wine Folly

Shiraz, as its known in Australia, has bold notes of blueberry and plum, with more earthy notes of milk chocolate, tobacco, and green peppercorn (172). Shiraz is the most planted grape in Australia, and the lands there make some of the most coveted wine in the world (173). Shiraz from South Australia tend to have flavors of Blackberry sauce, and more earthy flavors than other Syrah. Wine folly suggests to decant for 60 minutes and spend around $25.

My Review.

This was my first Shiraz/Syrah that I have dranken and I did enjoy it. In my personal ranking right now I have Merlot - Zinfandel - Shiraz as my top 3 wines right now. I very much enjoyed the fruty flavors mixed with earthy elements. I did not decant nor did I drink it with food. The wine was not too acidic or tannic which was perfect.