Tasting - "Foggy Ridge Pippin Black"

Name: Foggy Ridge Pippin Black
Variety: Hard Cider
Region: 
Country: USA
Year: 2010 Price: $25.95
Winery Review: Newly released Pippin Black combines hard cider from Newtown Pippin and Arkansas Black apples with Virginia apple brandy. To gild the lily we age this blend on Hungarian Oak. Butterscotch and caramel notes combine with rich apple flavor, making this apple port ideal with blue cheese and walnuts.

My Review: This cider was not very aromatic. It had a slight smell of liquor. The taste was like a sour apple. A strong acid component was evident. It reminded me a bit of apple pie.

Tasting - "Original Sin Newtown Pippin Cider"

Name: Original Sin Newtown Pippin Cider
Variety: Hard Cider
Region: New York
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $12.95
Winery Review: The Newtown Pippin apple originated in what is modern day Queens NY, a true local that gained such huge popularity in the 1800’s that it was one of our most exported agricultural items to the UK, a favorite of Queen Victoria’s. Now cidermaker Gideon Coll brings it back to the lime-light as a single varietal slightly sparkling cider. Clean and crisp with a mouth-filling creaminess that makes you crave another sip. Don’t be fooled by the almost water-clear color, there’s lots of tart apple flavors and the transition from sparkling to still is an intended progression.

My Review: This cider was not very aromatic but only had hints of apple. It was very light on the palate with a clean apple taste. It was not very exciting so I would give it a pass.

Tasting - "Foggy Ridge Hard Cider First Fruit"

Name: Foggy Ridge Hard Cider First Fruit
Variety: Hard Cider
Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $17.25
Winery Review: Though he failed as a winemaker, Thomas Jefferson excelled in cidermaking—Foggy Ridge Cider's First Fruit features Jefferson's favorite cider apple, the Hewe's Crabapple, as a key ingredient of this best selling blend. Ashmead's Kernel, Parmar, Harrison and Graniwinkle contribute to this crisp refreshing cider. Tannin from the crabapples as well as the Harrison apple, combined with acidity from Ashmead's Kernel create a balanced hard cider that is refreshing with meals or on its own. Expect a fresh apple aroma, tart fruit flavor with ginger and pear notes and rich mouth feel. First Fruit is made using only Virginia grown apples which makes it an exceptional Virginia Cider that Mr. Jefferson would be proud to drink. First First Fruit won a gold medal in the 2010 International Eastern Wine Competition as well as a gold medal at the State Fair competition in 2011. R.S. 1.3%

My Review: This was the first of the hard ciders I tasted. I have not had much experience with ciders but I will describe what I smelled and tasted. This cider smelled just like applesauce. It was very clean and had a huge explosion of apple taste. It seemed that it had a lot of residual sugars. I did enjoy it though.

Tasting - "Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc"

Name: Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: 
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2009
Price: $18 regular / $9.95 close-out sale
Winery Review: A classy Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with piercing aromas of ripe gooseberries and intense lime and passionfruit flavours. The wine was made from a blend of fruit grown in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys spanning a range of different climates. Would be an ideal match with a herbed salmon dish.

My Review: This wine had a very light yellow color. It had a nice clean nose. It had little flavor. There was not too much to this wine.

Tasting - "Rocland Duck Duck Goose Chardonnay"

Name: Rocland Duck Duck Goose Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $15 regular / $7.95 close-out sale
Winery Review: Duck Duck Goose wines are made up of a Chardonnay that is nonoaked and fresh fruit driven with melon and citrus overtones. It has strong varietal characteristics that pair beautifully with light foods such as fish, shellfish and cheeses.

My Review: It is a golden yellow color. This chardonnay was a little hot for me. It also had a very sharp finish. I did not like this wine.

Tasting - "Morro Bay White Oak Chardonnay"

Name: Morro Bay White Oak Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: San Luis Obispo, California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $14 regular / $5.95 close-out sale
Winery Review: Toasted oak, butter and crisp apple/pear fruit aromas. The texture in the mouth is like a knife cutting a green apple. Together these disparate areas and flavors create a symbiosis that fills the tongue and echoes down the palate.

My Review: This wine had a very buttery nutty nose. On my first taste it was buttery and oaky. It also seemed to have floral aspects. It did have a clean finish.

Tasting - "Crane Lake Moscato"

Name: Crane Lake Moscato
Variety: 75% Muscat, 25% Proprietors Dry White
Region: Napa and Sonoma, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $12 regular / $6.95 close-out sale
Winery Review: This sweet wine is light in color with floral aromas including notes of orange blossom, jasmine and honeysuckle. Flavors include peach, melon and spice.

My Review: This wine had a very fruity smell. It was very sweet and fruity. It had a clean light finish