Wine Tastings Week of April 1

Name: Torley Gala Sec Sparkling wine

Variety:indigenous Champagne blend

Region: Hungary

Year: No listed year (typical for champagnes)

Country:Hungary

Price:$12.95

Wine critic review: Aromatic, perfumed, exuberant and exotic fruit. Simple and refreshing. Good length of pear and pineapple fruit.- All Star Wine

Personal Review: Aroma of peaches, light citrus, and apples. Not too strong of a nose. Light pale yellow color. Nice mellow carbonation- more fizzy than carbonated. Very fruit forward. No food was eaten with this wine.

Name: Ch les Tuileries Bordeaux Blanc

Variety:85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Semillon

Region: Bordeaux

Year: 2011

Country:France

Price: $12.95

Wine critic review: From the Bordeaux Blanc heartland of Entre-Deux-Mers Chateau Tuileries Blanc is a fantastic entry level white Bordeaux. Crisp with a boysenberry fruit note rounded out by notes of honeydew and white flowers. - Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg, VA

Personal Review: Bready and melon on the nose. Much smoother than the previous wine. More full bodied than expected out of the white- that's probably influence from the Semillon. Floral notes and melon finish. No food was eaten with this wine.

Name: Bokisch Albarino

Variety:Albarino

Region: California

Year: 2012

Country:USA

Price:$17.95

Wine critic review: Highly aromatic and exceeds our expectations for this stellar vintage. It has a myriad of aromas mixed together from stone fruits such as apricot and peach blended with kiwi, Meyers lemon, rose petals and ripe fresh strawberry. It is luscious, juicy, and fruity in the mouth combined with bright acidity and a long finish of white peach and lemon tart. This is fantastic wine to pair with fresh oysters and mussels, grilled salmon, or your 5 o'clock kick start to the evening. - Vintage Cellar, Blacksburg, VA

Personal Review: This wine highlights Spanish varietals. Pronounced yellow hue. Flavors highlight apples and grapefruit. This wine is fairly crisp and would probably pair well with salmon steak or creamy chicken. No food was eaten with this wine.

Name: Nuschese Primitivo

Variety: Salento Primitivo

Region: Lugogasano

Year: 2011

Country:Italy

Price:$12.95

Wine critic review: The smoothness of its palates amazes as its black colour diffuses. The pleasantness as you drink is exceptional. Its an intense wine color (red purple with orange reflections if aged), with some blackberry and plum; it has a particular aroma and flavor balance.

Personal Review: Very fruity on the nose. Aromas of blackberry and plum. Great deep, black plum color. More fruity and jammy than expected. Mellow strawberry and blueberry components. Some dried fruit flavor but I can't pinpoint what dried fruit. Perhaps cranberries? No traceable spice or earthy flavor components. No food was eaten with this wine.

Name: Bokisch Tempranillo

Variety:Tempranillo

Region: California

Year: 2010

Country:USA

Price: $21.95

Wine critic review: Purple-black in color, with crimson hues, our Tempranillo has hit its stride this year. Its robust aromas of blackberry jam, forest fruit, cocoa spice, coupled with its long finish, complete this wine. Enjoy the dry, dusty Tempranillo tannins, that combine with juicy flavors of blueberry pie and dark bing cherry. Just as in the Rioja, we blend a small percentage of our limited-production Graciano, lending depth and complexity. Our 10th vintage of Tempranillo will surely be a prize-winner. Tempranillo pairs well with pork tenderloin, duck, and chicken mole'. -Bokish Cellars

Personal Review:Very floral and fruity nose. It just hits you in the face. If you scattered rose petals in a big fruit bowl- that's what this smells like. Darker purple blackberry jam colors. Great balance of spice and fruit components to make it very unique. Spice comes in on the back end of the wine. Medium tannins and medium body. No food was eaten with this wine.