Tasting Notes: Rosatello Rosso

Appearance:  The wine pours a very clear, but bright red, and is very effervescent, and actually pours with a bit of a head. Didn't check for legs, since I didn't want to kill the sparkle.

Aroma: Smells almost like a moscato.  Slightly effervescent aroma, with slightly sweet notes of peaches and berries.

Mouthfeel:  Light bodied, but does kind of coat the mouth with an almost syrupy texture in the finish.  The effervescence is noticeable, but not as prominent as you would think from looking at or smelling this wine.

Flavors:  Confirm the nose, but stronger, and definitely sweeter.  Almost tastes like a peach melba wine.  Peaches and stone fruit with ripe raspberry, hints of strawberry and cherry.  Almost, but not quite, cloying sweetness.

Overall:  This is a semi-sparkling, sweet, red blend.  Probably not everyone's cup of tea, and not the most refined wine I've ever tasted, but it is surprisingly tasting.  It is just this side of being sickeningly sweet, so if you're not a sweet wine drinker at all, definitely stay away.  Although it's hard to imagine in Chicago winter, I'm sure this would be a great wine for the beach or the pool on a hot, summer day.  It's also only 6%.  Overall, not a terrible wine if you know what you're getting yourself into and don't mind a slightly sparkling, sweet red.

Tasting Notes: 2011 "Les Ursulines" Nuit-Saing-Georges

Appearance: Pours a deep ruby red.  Pretty dark, but when it swirls, does let some light through.  Quick moving legs.

Aroma:  I get a little bit of alcohol heat, along with a nice balance of tart and sweet black cherry aromas, and a hint of raspberry as well.

Mouthfeel:  Light to medium body, a soft tannic presence which would definitely not stand out if this were not a pinot, but does give just a touch of astringency at the end that I wasn't expecting.

Flavors:  I do get some of the earthiness and minerality I expect from a red Burgundy, but I also get a lot more fruit than I would expect.  Fruit flavors confirm the nose, with ripe cherry and a hint of raspberry.  The alcohol I picked up on the nose was not present on the palate.

Overall:  I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this wine.  It is a lot more like an American pinot, although a little less bold, than I had thought it would be.  Fruity, but still subtle and easy drinking.  A good balance of earthy flavors with some gentle but definitely noticeable fruit flavors. A flavorful, but still very easy-drinking wine.  For a Burgundy under $20 it is a pretty good value.  Something I would probably drink again, but not rush out to buy another bottle of.

Tasting Notes: 2010 Layer Cake Primitivo (Pigulia IGT)

Appearnce: Deep, dark, red, with a very thin layer of translucent copper/brownish red on the top.  Definitely some body to it, but the legs seem to pool on the side of the glass more than they streak.

Aromas:  A lot of dark, rich fruit, like plums and cherry, with a hint of vanilla.  A little bit of a black pepper zip to it.

Mouthfeel:  Medium bodied, definitely gives a little warmth on the palate.

Flavors:  I get a lot of brandied cherry, a touch of vanilla, and none of the pepper I picked up on the nose.  Smooth, but rich.

Overall:  Pretty decent wine for a supermarket find, and drinkable without being bland.  Rich, dark flavors and 13.5%, but still smooth, without any overpowering flavors or bitter tannins.  Could see this with food, or on its own on a cool night by the fire.

Tasting Notes: 2012 Gabbiano "Il Caviliere" Chianti

Appearance:  Pours a dark, opaque purplish red.  No legs.

Aromas:  Tannin, alcohol.

Mouthfeel:  Medium bodied, but rolls through the mouth, no residue or syrupy remains.

Flavors:    Balanced.  Red fruit flavors (but not really any residual sweetness) are balanced but not overpowered by the tannins.  Flavorful without being abrasive or harsh.  Just a touch of black pepper spice.

Overall: Meh on its own, but, like many Italian wines, could probably benefit from and benefit a pairing with the right food.  I want to try this wine with pasta in a nice arabiata sauce, or with a dish with spicy Italian sausage.  The food would really bring the flavors in this to life.  The tannins and slight spiciness of the wine would highlight the spice, but the fruit would also keep the spice of the sauce or sausage in check.  Probably not a bottle I would buy again to drink on its own, but next time I cook some nice spicy Italian food, I'll be trying it wit this wine for sure.  That might be partly my own bias, as I tend to think of Italian wines as being particularly well suited for pairing with food, and a little bland on their own.

Tasting Notes: 2010 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux

Appearance: Deep, purplish red.  Almost completely opaque.  No legs whatsoever

Aroma: Mostly tart cherry, but not an overwhelmingly strong aroma.

Body/mouth feel: Medium to light bodied, not too heavy, especially compared to what I expected from an unoaked, fairly young French red.

Flavor: Tart cherry, a little vanilla, and a very faint trace of chocolate.  Kind of reminds me of Cherry Garcia ice cream.  Starts out with cherry, then gets a little more complex, rolls into the tartness, and then has a little bit of a bitter, tannic bite.  Not too bitter or astringent, but enough in the finish to cut off the rest of the flavors and leave you thirsting for another sip.

Overall impressions: Probably not the most complex, refined, or elegant Bordeaux out there.  But also comes in at well under $20/bottle.  Very light, and easy on the tannins (it is a Merlot dominant blend), but still get some of the bolder, darker flavors of the Cab and Cab Franc showing.  Nothing out of this world, but a reasonable wine to drink on its own or with a casual dinner, especially for the price.