A row of wine bottles on a wooden shelf, with one bottle in focus labeled 'SENS' from Sonoma County.

Vin Amator

Wine pics

Multiple bottles of wine with dark glass and metallic caps arranged on a shelf in a store or wine cellar, with a blurred background.

Wines Under $30

Reds

Papale Oro - Primitivo di Manduria

A bottle of Papale Primitivo di Manduria red wine with a black label and gold lettering, a red wax seal, and a white background.

2020 Vintage DOC

Vintner - Varvaglione Vigni

Puglia, Italy

Varietal - Primitivo

Alcohol - 14.5% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.6 / 5 - Excellent

Score: 4.6 / 5 Excellent

Colour - 4.5

Aromatics - 4.7

Palate - 4.6

Structure 4.5

Finish 4.5

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby red colour with pronounced notes of black cherry, fig, dried fruits and dark chocolate on the nose and palate. This full body wine is both savoury and fruity with a velvety smooth finish. Best served with grilled red meat and pasta bolognese.

Nebbiolo Langhe

A bottle of Roberto Sarotto Langhe Nebbiolo Nativo wine with a purple cap and white label.

2022 Vintage

Vintner - Roberto Sarotto

Piedmont, Italy

Varietal - Nebbiolo

Alcohol - 14.5% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.0 / 5 - Good

Score: 4.0 / 5 Good

Colour - 4.2

Aromatics - 4.0

Palate - 4.1

Structure 3.9

Finish 4.0

Tasting Notes

Medium ruby red colour with pronounced notes of red cherry and spice on the nose and palate. Medium body wine with medium tannins which are soft on the palate with a medium to long velvety finish. Best served with grilled steak or lamb.

* In our blind tasting we did not pick up the black fruit and vanilla notes in the product description.

Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley Shiraz

A bottle of Tyrrell's Hunter Valley Shiraz wine with a black screw cap, a white label featuring a crest and signature, and text indicating the wine's origin and vintage.

2023 Vintage

Vintner - Tyrrell’s

New South Wales, Australia

Varietal - Shiraz

Alcohol - 13.5% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.0 / 5 - Good

Score: 4.0 / 5 Good

Colour - 4.1

Aromatics - 4.1

Palate - 4.0

Structure 4.0

Finish 4.0

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby red colour with medium intensity aromas and flavours of blackberry, spice and subtle vanilla. Medium body wine with medium tannins which are soft on the palate with a finish that was somewhat lacking. Best served with roast beef or lamb.

Bon Mas

Bottle of Bon Mas Priorrat red wine with a black body and a white label.

2020 Vintage

Vintner - Bon Mas

Priorat, Spain

Varietal - Grenache, Merlot, Syrah

Alcohol - 14.5% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 3.9 / 5 - Acceptable

Score: 3.9 / 5 Acceptable

Colour - 4.0

Aromatics - 3.9

Palate - 3.8

Structure 3.9

Finish 3.9

Tasting Notes

Ruby red colour with medium intensity. Aromas and flavours of red fruit (cherry and raspberry). Medium body wine with low to medium tannins and acidity. Wine is very smooth but lacks aroma and flavour intensity. Structure was simple with a medium smooth finish. Best served with grilled lamb chops.

Perica Vina Olagosa Reserva

Bottle of Perica red wine, Reserva 2014 from Rioja, Spain, with a black cap and white label.

2014 Vintage

Vintner - Bodegas Perica

Rioja, Spain

Varietal - Tempranillo Blend

Alcohol - 14% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 3.5/ 5 - Acceptable

Score: 3.5 / 5 Acceptable

Colour - 3.9

Aromatics - 3.5

Palate - 3.4

Structure 3.4

Finish 3.3

Tasting Notes

Ruby red but in colour but has slightly dulled over the years. Aromas and flavours of red fruit (red cherry, red plum). Medium body wine with low acidity, low tannins, very smooth however a short finish. Received a 94 score by Decanter World Wine Awards in 2021. Considered a “Standout wine” at that time. VA believes this Reserva wine has reached it aging potential. Tempranillo Reserva best enjoyed 5-10 years. Gran Reserva can age well over 15 years. When reviewed in 2026, the wine has lost its fruity flavours and aromas reflected in the overall rating.

DiamAndes de Uco Malbec

A bottle of 2021 Malbec wine called Diamandes de Uco with a black cap, black and white label, and gold accent, set against a white background.

2021 Vintage

Vintner - Bodegas DiamAndes

Uco Valley, Argentina

Varietal - Malbec

Alcohol - 14.5% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.3 - Very Good

Score: 4.3 / 5 Very Good

Colour - 4.5

Aromatics - 4.2

Palate - 4.2

Structure 4.3

Finish 4.3

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby red colour with pronounced aromas and flavours of blackberry, and black cherry. These aromas and flavours are complemented with subtle vanilla and cedar notes. Medium body wine with medium acidity and tannins. It is well balanced with a long smooth, silky finish. Best served with lean red meat, grilled chicken, roasted pork or tacos.

Row of wine bottles on a wooden shelf with labels facing forward, blurred background.

Wines Under $30

Whites

Latour Chardonnay Bourgogne

A bottle of Roberto Sarotto Langhe Nebbiolo Nativo red wine with a purple capsule and a white label.

2022 Vintage

Vintner - Louis Latour

Burgundy, France

Varietal - Chardonnay

Alcohol - 13% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.2 / 5 - Very Good

Score: 4.2 / 5 Very Good

Colour - 4.2

Aromatics - 4.1

Palate - 4.1

Structure 4.3

Finish 4.2

Tasting Notes

Deep golden colour with notes of pear and honeysuckle on the nose and palate with a buttery undertone. This medium to full body wine has medium acidity and feels smooth, rich and supple on the palate. Best served with richer fish dishes, grilled fish and shellfish.

A row of wine bottles stored horizontally on a rack, with focus on the bottle in the foreground. The bottles are colored dark green and the image has a shallow depth of field, creating a blurred background.

Wines Under $20

Reds

Zensa Primitivo

A bottle of Zensa organic red wine with a black label and gold accents.

2024 Vintage - IGP 100% Organic

Vintner - Zensa

Puglia, Italy

Varietal - Primitivo

Alcohol - 14% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.3 / 5 - Very Good

Score: 4.3 / 5 Very Good

Colour - 4.4

Aromatics - 4.6

Palate - 4.1

Structure 4.0

Finish 4.2

Tasting Notes

Colour and Aromatics are excellent. Deep ruby red colour with pronounced aromas of black cherry, dried fruits, spice, chocolate, fig and subtle vanilla. On the palate, this is a dry wine, medium body, medium tannins and notes of black cherry, chocolate and dark fruit. A balanced texture with a medium finish that is smooth and velvety. The medium tannins and acidity provides the velvety finish on the palate. If you enjoy full body wines that are firm with grippy tannins (Barolo, Cabernet Sauvignon), you may find this wine lacking. It is however very good, fruity, layered, smooth and easy to drink. Best served with savoury pork ribs or light red meat.

Terra d’Aligi Tatone Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

A bottle of Tatone Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine with a black cap and white label, featuring gold and black accents.

2022 Vintage - DOC

Vintner - Terra d’Aligi

Abruzzo, Italy

Varietal - Montepulciano

Alcohol - 14% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.3 / 5 - Very Good

Score: 4.3 / 5 Very Good

Colour - 4.5

Aromatics - 4.3

Palate - 4.3

Structure 4.3

Finish 4.3

Tasting Notes

Intense purple / red colour with wonderful aromas of blackberry, vanilla and subtle chocolate. It is a full body wine that balances it acidity with high tannins. It is well balanced with a smooth long finish. The wine’s flavours and aromas become more complex and savoury after 30 minutes of opening the bottle. A very good wine especially for its price point.

Surani Primitivo

A bottle of Surani Primitivo wine with a colorful label featuring a stylized illustration of a woman wearing a crown, set against a bright orange background.

2021 Vintage - DOC

Vintner - Masseria Surani

Puglia, Italy

Varietal - Primitivo

Alcohol - 13.5% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 - Excellent

Score: 4.5 / 5 Excellent

Colour - 4.3

Aromatics - 4.4

Palate - 4.5

Structure 4.4

Finish 4.6

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby red colour with aromas of raspberry, red plum, dried fruit and notes of subtle vanilla. On the palate, notes of raspberry, strawberry and black cherry. A medium - full body wine with medium acidity and medium to high tannins. It is extremely well balanced with a long smooth finish. Best served with grilled and roasted meats, rustic pizza and any pasta with tomato sauce.

Multiple bottles of wine stored horizontally on a wooden rack, with a focus on a single bottle in the foreground.

Wines Under $20

Whites

Two Oceans - Sauvignon Blanc

A bottle of Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc wine with a blue screw cap and a white label featuring a landscape image of an ocean, rocky coast, and greenery.

2025 Vintage

Vintner - Two Oceans

Western Cape, South Africa

Varietal - Sauvignon Blanc

Alcohol - 12% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 4.3 / 5 - Very Good

Score: 4.3 / 5 Very Good

Colour - 4.3

Aromatics - 4.3

Palate - 4.4

Structure 4.1

Finish 4.3

Tasting Notes

Clear lemon green colour with pronounced citrus and lemongrass aromas. Subtle green pepper notes also present. A dry light body white wine with high acidity, flavours of citrus and tropical fruits and well balanced. Served best with seafood, chicken and green vegetable dishes.

Riesling - Peller Estates

A bottle of Peller Family Reserve Riesling wine with a blue label, gold accents, and a blue screw cap. The label features a building illustration and text indicating it is a Riesling from the Niagara Peninsula.

2024 Vintage

Vintner - Peller Estates

Niagara on the Lake, Canada

Varietal - Riesling

Alcohol - 11% alc/vol.

Overall Rating: 3.9 / 5 - Good

Score: 3.9 / 5 Good

Colour - 4.0

Aromatics - 3.8

Palate - 3.9

Structure 4.0

Finish 4.0

Tasting Notes

Clear pale straw colour with medium notes of green apple and pear. Pronounced floral aromas typical of Riesling wine were of light to medium intensity with this vintage. A dry, high acidic, light-medium body wine with green fruit and nutty flavours. Best served with seafood, citrus driven dishes and fried foods. This dry Riesling not recommended with spicy dishes. Off dry or sweet Riesling best with spicy dishes.

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