Piccini Chianti

2008 Tuscany, Italy $7

Pink, fruity & bubbly described this wine with a smooth and dry taste. Among seven chianti wines tasted, this tied for first place with the wine from Macaroni Grill.

Reid: 7
Val: 2
Mike: 8
Annie: 8
Sasha: 7
Toni: 4
Danielle: 8
Sophia: 7

Average: 6.4 / 10

Ruffino Chianti

2008 Tuscany, Italy $10

Ruby colored, sharp wine.  Least favorite of seven sampled.

Reid: 5
Val: 7
Mike: 3
Annie: 4
Sasha: 3
Toni: 3
Danielle: 4
Sophia: 2

Average: 3.9 / 10

Macaroni Grill Chianti

Macaroni Grill Chianti $10


Ruby red wine smelled of cherries, plums, and tasted of sangria.  This wine tied for first place among seven Chianti wines tasted.

Reid: 7
Val: 8
Mike: 7
Annie: 5
Sasha: 6
Toni: 8
Danielle: 7
Sophia: 3


Average: 6.4 / 10

Tomaiolo Chianti

2007 Tuscany, Italy $12

This wine described as ruby red and a little cloudy smelled of syrup and cherries and tasted sharp & bitter.

Rankings
Reid: 4
Val: 5
Mike: 5
Annie: 6
Sasha: 3
Toni: 5
Danielle: 5
Sophia: 5

Average: 4.75 / 10

Da Vinci Chianti

2007 Tuscany, Italy $15

Darker purple and bubbly with a strong smell of alcohol and a light bitter taste and strong aftertaste.

Reid: 5
Val: 6
Mike: 6
Annie: 6
Sasha: 6
Toni: 5
Danielle: 4
Sophia: 4

Average: 5.3 / 10

D'Aquino Chianti

Italy $10

Earthy taste with a slightly sweet pepper taste that smelled of fruit and subtly of squash.


Reid: 5
Val: 6
Mike: 3
Annie: 8
Sasha: 2
Toni: 3
Danielle: 5
Sophia: 4

Average: 4.5 / 10

Classico Chianti Reserva

2006 Tuscany, Italy $19

Chianti described as dark like cherry/pomegranate juice that smells pleasant.  Immediate taste of alcohol with no real aftertaste.

Reid: 4
Val: 4
Mike: 6
Annie: 2
Sasha: 3
Toni: 6
Danielle: 7
Sophia: 4

Average: 4.6 / 10

Barefoot Merlot

California $9

Comments included slightly darker than the [Kitchen Sink] wine.  The wine contained a velvety color and mellow body.  Less alcohol but more taste.

Although this isn't technically a blend as was implied by the theme "Red Table Wine for under $10", it achieved the highest marks of the five wines brought to this meeting. 

Rankings

Vicente: 9
Mercedes: 9
Efrain: 7
Matt: 6
Danielle: 8
Sophia: 6

Average: 7.5 / 10

Kitchen Sink Red Table Wine

CA $9
Nice brick red color, balanced and no distinctive flavor described this wine.  One member commented that the after taste reminded them of the white flesh of a grapefruit and she added "blah".

Rankings

Vicente: 5
Mercedes: 6
Efrain: 6
Matt: 6
Danielle: 3
Sophia: 4

Average: 4.8 / 10

Barefoot Sweet Red

California $5.50

Described as: bubbly; smells really sweet; sangria-like; lacks body; does not look fermented; party wine.

It reminded Mercy of Lambrusco.

Recommended for beginners.

Rankings

Vicente: 4
Mercy: 6
Efrain: 3
Matt: 6
Danielle: 8
Sophia: 3

Average: 5 / 10

Hazlitt Red Cat

Finger Lakes, New York $6


This rose colored wine smelled of fresh roses and looked slightly like fruit punch.  The sweetness and citrus flavors caused members to reflect it would taste better if served at a lower temperature and on a warm summer day.

Rankings

Vicente: 8
Mercedes: 5
Efrain: 5
Matt: 7
Danielle: 7
Sophia: 5

Average: 6.2 / 10

Stonehedge Petite Syrah

2007 Napa, CA $10

The wine was described as dark purple, smells of tobacco, olives, tasted of vinegar.

Rankings

Vicente: 1
Mercy: 3
Efrain: 3
Matt: 1
Danielle: 2
Sophia: 1

Average: 1.8 / 10

Ona Anakena Syrah

2007 Rapel Valley, Chile $13

Wine described as "buttery", "crisp", "well-balanced", and "elegant wine." Everyone agreed that it was easy to drink and enjoyed it.

Rankings

Mercedes: 6
Eulalia: 8
Vicente: 5
Sophia: 5
Danielle: 8
Richard: 7
Efrain: 9

Average: 5.4 / 10

Viu Manent Malbec

2008 Valle de Calchagua $14

The group described the wine as follows: "would go well with steak", "more cowbell", and "nice bouquet."  The tasters enjoyed this wine the most.  This wine earned the highest marks out of the five Chilean wines tasted.

Mercedes: 7
Eulalia: 10
Vicente: 6
Sophia: 8
Danielle: 7
Richard: 8
Efrain: 8

Average: 7.7 / 10

Acanema Pinot Noir

2009 Rapel Valley, Chile $18

"Acidic", "tart", "flat", and "like a grapefruit" described this wine.

Rankings

Mercedes: 2
Eulalia: 5
Vicente: 2
Sophia: 2
Danielle: 3
Richard: 1
Efrain: 3

Average: 2.6 / 10

Los Vascos Cabarnet

2007 Calchagua Valley, Chile $10

This wine seemed excessively "dry" to all participants.  A member thought it might be corked.
All rankings were either 0 or 1 with one member granting it a 2.


Average: 0.9 / 10

Porta Cabarnet

2007 Acaneagua Valley, Chile $16

"Bitter", "vinegar", and "smell socks" described this wine. 

Rankings

Mercedes: 3
Eulalia: 2
Vicente: 1
Sophia: 2
Danielle: 5
Richard: 4
Efrain: 3

Average: 2.9 / 10

Black Mountain Pinot Noir

2009 Black Mountain $6
"Currants", "licorice", "alcohol overpowers", and "sweet & dry" described this wine.  One member proclaimed "I want this after a long day of work."   This wine ranked fifth out of the eight that were tasted.

Rankings

Vicente: 9
Sophia: 10
Valerie: 9
Chris: 4
Rebecca: 4
Danielle: 4
Mercedes: 3
Efrain: 4

Average: 5.9 / 10

Mission Point Pinot Noir

Santa Maria, California $8
Bought at Trader Joe's

This wine scored the highest out of eight pinot noir's tasted.  Comments included "wine smells like oak" and "not fruity."

Rankings

Vicente: 6
Sophia: 6
Valerie: 5
Chris: 6
Rebecca: 5
Danielle: 4
Mercedes: 9
Efrain: 8

Average: 6.1 / 10

Benton Lane Pinot Noir

2007 Monroe, Oregon $28

The following statements were used to describe this wine that tied for second: "Strawberry", "old world", "strong pepper", & "strong kick".

Rankings

Vicente:6
Sophia: 9
Valerie: 9
Chris: 8
Rebecca:6
Danielle: 4
Mercedes: 7
Efrain:9

Average: 6 / 10