Chardonnay

Backhouse Chardonnay

My rating: 2 stars
Price: $5.00
Would I buy it again: No

This wine was just okay. It was pretty sour, but it did have nice tropical notes. 

Notes from Cecchetti Wine Co:
Our Chardonnay is golden in color with flavors of  tropical fruits on the palate.  Crisp and clean, this wine can be enjoyed with lighter fare such as fish and poultry dishes or on it’s own on a warm afternoon.

Woodbridge Chardonnay

My rating: 3.5 stars

Price: $6.00

Would I buy it again: Maybe

A nice chardonnay, good on its own. Sweet but not too sweet. Easy to drink. 

Notes from Woodbridge Wines:

With an aroma of green apple and a floral undertone, our Woodbridge Chardonnay displays a smooth elegance. The aromas and flavors show nuances of baked apples and cinnamon, ending in a rich oak finish.

This flavorful, textured wine is great to enjoy with friends over appetizers, such as crab cakes or prawn skewers. You can also try this Chardonnay with smoked salmon, grilled chicken, creamy pastas, and stuffed clams.

CK Mondavi Chardonnay

My rating: 3 stars

Price: $6.00

Would I buy it again: Maybe

A nice chardonnay, easy to drink, slightly sweet, and good with fish.

Notes from CK Mondavi:

Our Chardonnay is medium-bodied with a hint of oak. Aromas of lemon and citrus combined with flavors of apple and pear lead to a delightfully crisp finish.

A refreshing wine on its own, this Chardonnay is also the perfect accompaniment to roasted chicken, seafood, hearty cheeses and pastas with cream sauce.

Rex Goliath Sweet White Wines

Rex Goliath Free Range White

My rating: 4.5 stars
Price: $5
Would I buy it again: Yes

Sweet and lovely. Very flavorful, and reminds me of spring. Loved it. 
Tasting Notes from Rex Goliath:

Our Rex Goliath Free Range White is a mouthwatering, light-bodied wine with notes of tangy tangerine, tropical melon, and floral hints. Sweet and lively, its off-dry character has a crisp, lingering finish. 

Rex Goliath Moscato

My Rating: 4.3 stars

Price: $5
Would I buy it again: Yes

Very sweet and fruity. Lovely as a dessert or with appetizers. The best Moscato I have tried so far. 
Tasting Notes from Rex Goliath:

Our Moscato is bright, crisp and decadent. It's well balanced with just the right acidity combined with floral aromas that bloom into deliciously sweet flavors of peach and apricot. 

Rex Goliath

Rex Goliath Free Range Red

My rating: 3 stars
Price: $6
Would I buy it again: Maybe

A nice red wine that is very flavorful. Slightly sweet, and a tiny bit sour, but improves a bit after it breathes. It goes very nicely with goat cheese and crackers.

Tasting Notes from Rex Goliath:

Full-bodied with big and juicy red fruit flavors. Free Range Red is slightly sweet with ripe plum and cocoa, and delivers a mild tannin structure for a smooth, delicious finish. 

Rex Goliath Chardonnay

My rating: 4.5 stars
Price: $6
Would I buy it again: Yes

Absolutely delightful. Extremely easy to drink, slightly sweet, not at all bitter. It needs to breathe a bit to get sweeter. Loved it.

Tasting Notes from Rex Goliath:

Rex Goliath Chardonnay is a true sun-kissed Chardonnay with bold aromas of apple and pear, combined with the classic spices of Grandma's apple pie. Tropical fruit, pineapple and melon flavors combine with well-integrated layers of crème brûlée and a smattering of vanilla. 

Leinenkugel Beer

Leinenkugel Berry Weiss

My rating: 3.5 stars
Price: $8 (6 pack)
Would I buy it again: Likely

This berry beer is very sweet and refreshing, and would be great on a hot day with some fried chicken. 

Tasting Notes from Leinenkugel's

Crisp wheat beer gets a little lift from an enticing blend of blackberries, elderberries and loganberries that are all indigenous to Wisconsin. Our Leinenkugel’s® Berry Weiss brings them together for a flavor that’s deliciously different and available all year long.

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

My rating: 2 stars
Price: $8 (6 pack)
Would I buy it again: No

An interesting mix of wheat beer and lemonade. It is not as sweet and "lemonade-y" as I expected it to be, and it seems a little heavy because of the wheat. 

Tasting Notes from Leinenkugel's

A shandy is beer mixed with a little something extra like soda, juice or ginger ale. Leinenkugel's® Summer Shandy® is a traditional wheat beer with refreshing natural lemonade flavor that makes it perfect for the sun-splashed summer months.

Pyramid Apricot Ale

Pyramid Apricot Ale - Unfiltered Wheat Ale

My rating: 2 stars

Price: $8

Would I buy it again: No

This ale had a pleasant fruit taste of apricots to balance the somewhat heavy wheat flavor, but there was nothing terribly special about it. It was refreshing, but not memorable enough for me to drink again.

Tasting Notes from Pyramid Breweries:

Apricot Ale perfectly combines the taste and aroma of fresh apricot with the smooth finish of a traditional wheat beer. It’s refreshingly unfiltered character and fruit flavor make it an ale worth savoring.

Woodchuck Hard Cider

Woodchuck Hard Cider

My rating: 5 stars

Price: $8 for 6-pack, $15 for variety pack

Would I buy it again: Definitely

Woodchuck is my winter staple. They are all sweet, flavorful, gluten-free, and easy to drink. 

I enjoy the variety pack because along with the three core ciders, you get a surprise seasonal cider. 

Flavors from Woodchuck Hard Cider

Amber: The most bitter and bold, good when  mixed with a shot of cinnamon whiskey.

Granny Smith: The most tart.

802: My favorite flavor, well-rounded and delicious.

Crisp: Nice and light and delicious, also a favorite.

Pear: Quite nice for a change from the apple flavors. 

Raspberry: Nice and sweet.

Spring: My favorite of the seasonal ciders, crisp and light. 

Summer: Refreshing and slightly tart

Fall: A cozy reminder of Autumn with a touch of cinnamon.

Winter: A reminder of ice, crisp and sweet. 

Marvelous Mojito

"Freshies" Mojito 

My rating: 4.5 stars

Price: $8

Would I buy it again: Yes

This mojito mix is really good, and all-natural! It would be perfect in the summer with a grilled steak.

 I used one shot of Bacardi rum, three shots of mojito mix, and 1-2 shots of club soda, and ice. Unfortunately the mint leaves are not growing yet in the garden, but I am sure that mint would make it even better. 

Product Description from Freshies

This delicious Mojito recipe comes to you straight from the island of Cuba. A blend of fresh lime juice, mint, whole sugars and a dash of bitters, this all-natural mix makes the perfect Caribbean cocktail for any occasion! A true rum lover's delight! Contains 10% fruit juice.

Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon Sweet Red Wine

My rating: 3 stars

Price: $6

Would I buy it again: Maybe

The label and logo are awesome, so I decided to try this one out...plus it was on sale. 

This wine is pretty good. It is sweet and bold, but not as smooth as the Apothic Red. It is good with beef or dessert, and I would probably not drink it without food. 

Tasting Notes from Total Wine

Flavors of raspberries, black currants, and cherries pair with notes of black pepper and smoky nuance from the rich French oak aging. Dark and juicy, with rounded tannins and bright sweetness, this wine has a long and flavorful finish, with just a hint of toasted marshmallow.

Branching out to Red

Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend California 2012

My rating: 2.5 stars
Price: $7
Would I buy it again: Maybe not

I am trying to branch out and try red wine instead of my usual Moscato, so I found this wine on sale at the store and decided to give it a try. 

This wine is very smooth, slightly sweet, and extremely flavorful. This was very good paired with beef, but it was not quite sweet enough for my tastes, and I would not drink it without food. 

Winemaker Notes from Jericho Wine

In 2012, Apothic Red was crafted from a blend of primarily Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. These varieties come together seamlessly for a fruit-driven wine with fresh dark fruit flavors and jammy red fruit notes. The Zinfandel offers bold dark fruit flavors and spicy notes, complemented by the soft mouthfeel of Merlot. The Syrah adds layers of smooth blueberry, while the Cabernet Sauvignon delivers ripe fruit flavors and a firm structure. This decadent blend is framed by hints of oak, vanilla, and mocha. 

Beringer Adventures

Beringer Pink Moscato

My rating: 2 stars

Price: $6

Would I buy it again: Probably not

This wine was very sweet, but overall not fantastic tasting. 

Tasting Notes from Jericho Wines

Beringer Pink Moscato has the attractive oral and tropical fruit aromas of Moscato with a hint of ripe red berry on the palate. This is a fun, lighthearted wine with a smooth and refreshing finish.

Beringer Red Moscato

My rating: 3 stars

Price: $6

Would I buy it again: Probably 

This wine was sweet and delicious, better than the Pink Moscato. 

Tasting Notes from Jericho Wines

Beringer Red Moscato has attractive aromas of lifted oral red fruits with a palate of ripe dark cherry and berry fruit. This is a light bodied wine with a smooth and clean nish that is best served chilled.

Winemaker NotesThis innovative blend from Beringer is the perfect harmony of Moscato, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. It brings together the vivid aromas and flavors of the Moscato grape with the classic red berry characteristics of Zinfandel and ripe black cherry avors of Petite Sirah.

Beringer White Zinfandel Moscato

My rating: 3.2 stars

Price: $6

Would I buy it again: Likely 

This wine was sweet and refreshing, much better than the Pink Moscato, and perhaps a little better than the Red Moscato.

Tasting Notes from BevMo!

A tasty blend, with strawberry notes from the White Zin blending with the luscious peachy flavors from the Moscato.