Today we look at a 2011 sauvignon blanc from New Zealand’s Marlborough region which I bought for $25.
Have you ever driven an Audi A6? I have, once. It’s a great car — I mean truly great, in the most grand sense of the word — but in such a calm way. Its greatness kind of creeps up on you, over time. This is what I get from the 2011 Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a 2011 California pinot noir that costs $8.50 at Total Wine. We gave the 2010 vintage a positive review here.
Cellar No. 8 has a nice new reddish-purple label, but more importantly the juice inside the bottle Read the rest of this entry »
This is a quickie review of a malbec from Mendoza, Argentina which sells for about $15.
The 2009 Cruz Alta reserve malbec is a very welcome reprieve from today’s California reds. It tastes real. Fresh. Juicy but deep and dark, and not too sweet. A perfect Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve noticed a funny thing with cabernet this year. That being, I can’t find one that I like. So we set up a shootout and recently tried these 2010-2011 cabernet sauvignons, over a period of two consecutive nights. Listed in no particular order:
Today we look at a 2011 pinot noir from California’s Santa Lucia Highlands (“SLH”) region, which I picked up at Total Wine for $26. List price is $32.
California’s SLH grows mostly pinot noir. On the bright side, these wines are “big, fleshy and mouthfilling,” says the San Francisco Chronicle. But to me, they are too hot (high in alcohol), too fruity and tannic, and often taste burned. An example: the inexplicably expensive Siduri Sierra Mar, reviewed here.
In short: I am biased against SLH pinot.
Morgan‘s “Twelve Clones” pinot is pleasantly spicy. It has 14.3% alcohol, yet isn’t overly hot. Read the rest of this entry »
Today we check out a 2010 chardonnay from Washington State’s Columbia Valley. I picked it up at Total Wine for $12.
You’re looking at a guy who generally dislikes chardonnay, Read the rest of this entry »
We reviewed the 2007 Heavyweight cabernet right here, and concluded that it’s a recommended wine.
Now it’s the 2010 Heavyweight, which is $12 at Total Wine and still features 1800′s-style drawings of various boxers like “Bob the Bruiser” on the labels, which vary from bottle to bottle. And so, what is the decision on the 2010 vintage? Read the rest of this entry »
Hello! Today we check out a 2010 rioja which is 14% alcohol and sells for $9-11.
This bright ruby-red 100% tempranillo from Spain is easy to drink, with a lot of acidity and snap for your ten bucks. It’s earthy, spicy and dry. Yet it also has some real Read the rest of this entry »
Tonight we look at a 2011 cabernet from California’s Paso Robles area that sells for $12-$13.
I sometimes use the phrase “California goulash” to describe that generic taste you get from so many of California’s affordable red wines. Coastline’s regular cabernet ($6-$9) fits this term perfectly, but this reserve version Read the rest of this entry »
Let’s check out the 2011 vintage of California’s Mark West pinot noir, shall we? It’s $8.99 at Total Wine, a slight price increase.
This wine is a rock star, because of its Read the rest of this entry »
Today as we approach Valentine’s Day, we check out a 2011 pinot noir from California that sells at Total Wine for $16.
Menage a Trois. Ahhhh… such a provocative name. And such a history of good value in red Read the rest of this entry »
Today we review a Napa Valley cabernet that sells at Total Wine for $27. It is non-vintage, meaning its grapes come from various years’ harvests. It is 14.8% alcohol.
So — “cult” wines are those rare few captivating bottles – usually red – that make rich winos spend days looking for them, and then fork over seriously big bucks for their heavenly goodness. Does Cult cabernet sauvignon live up to the lofty goal of its name? Read the rest of this entry »
This 2010 red is from Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap district, one of the Rolls Royce wine areas in California. It cost me $27 but routinely sells for $22-$25.
Nice to drink, with a very pleasing, medium-bodied mouthfeel — Cameron Hughes Lot 404 cab says “friendly” more than Read the rest of this entry »
Today, it’s a 2009 pinot noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon, which I purchased online for $34.
I have a crush on Athena Pappas. Unfortunately, today’s pinot noir is named after her HUSBAND, Stewart Read the rest of this entry »
Today we review a 2010 pinot noir from California’s Santa Lucia Highlands. I bought it tonight for $45.
Pinot noir often delivers elegant, light-on-its feet and earthy layers of spicy red fruit. The more you pay, the more elegance and complexity you usually get, and sometimes, the less “light on its feet” the wine gets, which can be wonderful.
This medium-bodied pinot from Siduri‘s Sierra Mar vineyard is giving me strong Read the rest of this entry »
Hello and Happy Thanksgiving! Today we review two simple tips that will result in better coffee for you each morning if you use a typical drip coffee maker. Read the rest of this entry »
I drooled all over the 2007 Phantom in my “holy cow” review, right here.
However, the current vintage (2008) has lost that loving feeling. I am sitting here trying to Read the rest of this entry »
Tonight we check out a 2009 cabernet from California’s Paso Robles area, which goes for about $13 at Total Wine and more elsewhere.
Bridlewood cab has some big things going for it. The label rocks. I mean, you look at it, and you just WANT this wine. Plus, it’s only Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a 2010 Napa Valley, CA merlot that costs around $12.
Tonight I had one of the best bottles of wine I’ve ever opened. It was Avalon merlot. A Napa Valley red that you can find at Total Wine for a mere $11. Why was it so great?
I opened it during Read the rest of this entry »
Today we look at a French white wine. Seven dollars at Total Wine.
If you get excited about great food.
If you get excited about delicious wine.
If you like a bargain, but you love an extreme bargain — then it’s time to discover Read the rest of this entry »
Today it’s a 2010 merlot from Chile that costs around $10.
Cono Sur is impressive when you first open it — dark, rich, with an earthy, manly taste. Blacker-than-black blackberries. Smoky leather. Plum and maybe a touch of prune. Spicy and dry for a merlot — in fact, it almost seems like a juicy carmenere.
The problem is, for me, Cono Sur is a tad bitter. A situation that did not improve on day 2. I like this winery’s bicycle theme though, and I want the reserva now! Unfortunately, this one is:
Not recommended.
ALERT! La Crema 2010 Sonoma Coast pinot noir is delicious — and right now it’s just $16.89 at Costco.
Wow. I’m used to seeing this wine for around $23. Regardless of the price, it is compelling: light, but spicy. It smells Read the rest of this entry »
Hi! Today it’s a 2008 merlot from California’s Sonoma County. I found it at Costco for $13.
Benziger Family Winery’s Sonoma County merlot uses grapes grown with sustainable farming methods. And it tastes that way – Read the rest of this entry »
I purchased this 2010 California chardonnay at Costco for $11.
As you may know, I am not a huge fan of California chards. Kendall-Jackson’s relatively new Avant chardonnay has less of the chemistry-experiment taste than their regular chardonnay, and less oak and butter. From the front label: “Fresh. Crisp. Clean.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tonight it’s a 2007 cabernet from California’s Lodi area. I paid $14, but I’ve seen it online for $9.99.
Wow, this wine is cool. It is different from the usual California stuff — instead of Read the rest of this entry »
Today it’s a 2010 California red blend that you can buy at Costco for just under $9.
Quick lowdown: Very cool black and red bottle, very popular, a warm, sweet blend of syrah, zinfandel, cabernet and merlot. Smells like Read the rest of this entry »
This 2010 French red blend with the cool label cost me just $10.
Marius, from France’s Rhone valley, is a blend of syrah and grenache. The aroma is spicy and Read the rest of this entry »
Today we review a 2010 pinot noir from California’s Monterey County, which I acquired at Total Wine for $16.
This pinot isn’t spectacular but, importantly for a pinot noir, it doesn’t really do anything wrong. It has cola, Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a quickie for you: Jacob’s Creek 2009 reserve cab is just $10.50 at Total Wine.
Although it had a nice texture, this wine from Australia’s Coonawarra region was too sweet for my tastes, and didn’t really taste like a cabernet. I wanted to like it, because their reserve shiraz is very good for the money. Unfortunately, Jacob’s Creek 2009 reserve cabernet is:
Not recommended.
Today we review a 2009 Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon that sells for about $17.
PART I
OK, Avalon’s Napa cabernet is very good, in fact just as good as Kendall Jackson’s legitimately delicious cabernet, at around the same price. Avalon’s true cabernet taste features an oaky snap, dark red fruit, and a hint of cinnamon and chocolate. Yum. Although it won’t change your life, it has plentiful tannins, great mouthfeel, and doesn’t taste funky like some lower priced cabernets.
But what if you could have this wine for only $13 a bottle? Read the rest of this entry »
Today it’s a 2008 cabernet sauvignon from Chile’s Colchagua Valley that I bought at Total Wine for $9.99.
Uhh… not sure what’s going on here. I mean, Veramonte is a good name — I’ve had some very good whites from this label, and I’ve heard positive things about it from people I trust.
But this wine Read the rest of this entry »
Today we review a $35 Bordeaux from Total Wine.
Dry. Tight. Serious. Great texture and mouth-feel. Chateau Garraud isn’t fooling around. It is 69% merlot, 26% cabernet franc, and 5% cabernet sauvignon. It smells of earth and alcohol, with traces of blackberries and licorice. The taste: lots of mouth-drying tannins and oak. Faint traces of rhubarb and tart cranberry. Not much fruit. It’s elegant, and extremely subtle, but not very friendly. The taste is so tight that it’s hard to appreciate what little complexity is being offered.
If you want a good example of the austere, no-nonsense reds from Bordeaux, Chateau Garraud 2009 is a nice choice, if you aren’t worried about the price. But for $35, I want either more sex appeal, more flat-out delicious taste, or more complexity. Although it is very good, at $35 I believe it is simply overpriced.
Not recommended.
EDIT: I also tried the previous vintage. The 2008 was much cheaper, at around $20, but was also much less drinkable than the 2009 reviewed here, with literally no fruit and not much else to redeem it. Not a viable purchase.
Tonight we examine a 2009 zinfandel from California’s Lodi area, which I bought at Total Wine for $12.50. I also received a free sample of it.
Last night we compared three zins, at $17, $15, and $15, and it was basically a tie. Guess what — tonight, I can announce a clear winner.
Ravenswood Lodi old vine zin. It wasn’t one of the three we compared, but Ravenswood Lodi has the juicy, crowd-pleasing warmth of last night’s Kenwood. Going beyond the Kenwood, it has some (but not all) of the spice and tannins of the Rancho Zabaco. And like the Ravenswood Sonoma, Ravenswood Lodi is definitely not wimpy. (Partly because it’s actually 23% petite sirah.) But it doesn’t take the big risks that Ravenswood Sonoma does, which causes that very nice red to have potentially more limited appeal. In fact, the Lodi is just generally, flat-out delicious. I love it.
All this, and it’s only $12.50. It might not be the best of these zinfandels in absolute terms, but then again, it might be. Taking price into account, Ravenswood Lodi clearly defeats all of last night’s notable contenders.
Highly recommended.
Today, it’s a comparison of three red zinfandels from Total Wine:
RESULTS:
Kenwood Sonoma: Light, bright, easy, minimal tannins, mildly spicy. It’s not a “fruity” wine, but it has more fruit than the others. A potential crowd-pleaser. However, it’s very neutral, and doesn’t have much aroma.
Ravenswood Sonoma: Powerful. Serious. Abundant mouth-drying tannins. Eucalyptus and a hint of licorice. An interesting wine. A food wine. However, not much aroma, and the flavor is taking a risk, so not everybody will like it.
Rancho Zabaco Dry Creek: Seductive aroma of coffee, rhubarb and cedar. The two extra dollars you spend on this zin get you complexity, serious tannins, and a combination of cinnamon, cocoa and blackberries. I like it a lot, but again, it’s a bit different, so it may not appeal to everyone.
If you factor in the cost, this trio is basically a dead heat. A three-way tie. If forced to rank them, I would say:
1. Rancho Zabaco (duh, it’s the most expensive) (I want more)
2. Kenwood (easy-breezy)
3. Ravenswood (serious and real, takes risks, can’t please everybody)
All three, however, are:
Highly recommended.
Hi! Today we review a pinot noir from Mendocino, California that I bought for $11.
Parducci is a family winery, which I like. Their website lists many varietals, from $11 to $35, including a rose and a port. And you just know they have more. I am excited to tell you that the Parducci Small Lot Blend will be an elegant, light-bodied and speecy-spicy addition to your dinner table. Don’t be fooled by the word blend — this is 100% pinot noir (maybe that’s how it avoids the “generic red-wine-goulash” taste of some other value-oriented California pinots). It’s not as complex as more expensive bottles, but with this grape, at $11, you mainly just want it to taste good.
And it does. With aromas of cedar and raspberries, Parducci Small Lot Blend lands on your tongue with a fun, acidic kick of red fruit, roses and some mellow vanilla. This is a REALLY good food wine for $11, people. Probably why Martha Stewart rated it a smart buy.
Drink slightly chilled, but not cold (30 mins. in the fridge before tasting). The acidity might prevent it from being a massive crowd-pleaser at your next party, but at 14% alcohol, this one is definitely a feel-good Winner-For-Dinner.
Recommended.
Hi! Tonight we review one of Total Wine’s popular selections, a Washington cabernet from 2010 that cost me $8.99.
Radius has two things going for it: it’s inexpensive, and very sweet and gentle. So if you are serving a younger drinker, or somebody who “hates red wine,” this might be a winner.
Unfortunately, that bubblegum sweetness was the downfall of Radius for me. Without significant aromas, mouthfeel, tannins or taste of a typical cabernet to offset the sugar shock, Radius cabernet encourages me to put down the glass. It is:
Not recommended.
A quick update on Five Rivers cabernet sauvignon. I praised the 2007 vintage here and here.
Unfortunately, the current Five Rivers (2009) is no longer recommended here at Wineguider. It is also no longer a Best Value. It’s not terrible, but it just has too much of that “cheap red wine” taste. That’s a deal-killer for me.
Sadly — not recommended.
Today we check out a 2010 pinot noir from California that sells at Total Wine for $9.99.
OH MY GOD THIS WINE IS GOOD. At just ten bucks, you HAVE to try it. I promise, even though it’s an inexpensive pinot noir, which therefore should be wriggling all over the place to try to disappoint you, this wine in fact does nothing wrong.
It’s got aromas of rhubarb and blackberry, and in your mouth it’s a whirlwind of pleasurable cranberry, eucalyptus, roses and unknown spices.
I hereby nominate and confirm Harbor Front pinot noir as a flagrant, screaming, Best Value. It is highly:
Recommended.
Today we check out a 2010 pinot noir from France (Pays d’Oc) which sells at Total Wine for $8.99.
Ropiteau, which I have only seen at Total Wine, is a big deal. Why? Because it is a pinot noir, it’s cheap, and it doesn’t taste terrible.
The current vintage (2010) is a very close call, but I can’t say it’s really floating my boat. It doesn’t do anything terribly wrong — an aroma of spicy cinnamon and black fruit, and alcohol. It’s medium bodied, beefier than many other low-priced (and lightweight) pinot noirs. It tastes like leathery black cherries. But it is not calling out to me, “Wineguider! Drink more of me!” At this low price point (actually a dollar cheaper), the Cloud Break pinot noir, reviewed here, is your go-to bottle.
Ropiteau pinot noir is a good value, but the 2010 vintage is:
Not recommended.
Today your Wineguider reviews a 2011 pinot noir from California that is just $7.99 at Total Wine.
Sure, at this writing 2011 seems recent for any red wine, but there’s some good news here. Cloud Break‘s aroma: vintage middle school jelly bar. (Translation: AWEsome). Taste: innocent, with lovely reminders of cherry cough drops and almonds. It has a nice light-bodied mouthfeel appropriate for a pinot noir, with hints of oak and speecy-spicy meat-o-ball. At this price, simply a great pinot noir. Not complex, but extremely yummy.
Serve slightly chilled, but not refrigerator-cold. Mark West was my GO-TO pinot noir under $9. Now it’s Cloud Break. Consider the low-priced pinot noir game, “changed.” A Best Value winner (hence the guy at the slot machine), Cloud Break pinot noir is:
Recommended.
Hello! Today we review a 2011 sauvignon blanc from New Zealand’s Marlborough Valley, selling at Costco for just $7.89.
WOW do I ever like this wine. The 2011 Cupcake sauvignon blanc is a summer party hit — it has a fun name, a lighthearted yet classy label, and its taste is tangy and refreshing, with lemon, a little lime, and just a whisper of grapefruit and honeysuckle. It does nothing wrong, and with the crazy low price, this is kind of a big deal. In fact, why isn’t everybody talking about this? What is going on!? Why isn’t this wine on the FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES? EVERY DAY?
I would like to humbly suggest that you hurry to Costco and buy as much of this little stunner as your family can afford. Or, to Total Wine, where it sells for a mere $7.97. Or anyplace you can find it, really. That guy at the slot machine is laughing because Cupcake 2011 sauvignon blanc is a Best Value winner, even at $12. And it is highly:
Recommended.
Concluding our experience at Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant, today we look at a 2009 cabernet from Paso Robles, California that Bertucci’s sells for $7.50 a glass / $29 a bottle.
Another winner, J. Lohr’s 2009 cab is reasonably priced, even here, and delivers mildly spicy, dark red fruits on your tongue with not-too-much oak (it’s more like Three-and-a-Half Oaks) and restrained sweetness. On the lighter side for a cabernet, it’s still a real, medium-bodied cab.
Somehow, it goes perfectly with Bertucci’s Piccolo Chocolate Budino, a cupcake version of chocolate mousse, with a dark chocolate wrapper instead of the usual enveloping paper. YUM. This combination was sinfully delicious, and even without the dessert, J. Lohr Seven Oaks cabernet at Bertucci’s is:
Recommended.
Continuing with our experience at Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant, today we review a 2010 pinot grigio from California that Bertucci’s sells for $7.50 a glass / $29 a bottle. It was paired with their Cod al Forno main course.
Here’s a pinot grigio that mostly flies under the radar. With such a light aroma that I can’t even describe it, Francis Ford Coppola’s Bianco pinot grigio hits your tongue with crisp grapefruit, tangy lime, and a hint of melon sweetness. That hint of melon makes it more substantial than many other pinot grigios, but might also turn you off if you were expecting a typical, super-light pinot grigio.
It was paired with Bertucci’s Cod al Forno, which is a piping-hot breaded wild Pacific cod baked with marinated tomatoes, and roasted red potatoes. This dish is delicious and is a healthier go-to when you’re hankering for fish & chips. Pairing with Coppola’s pinot grigio was a nice balance, as you would expect the acidity of the white wine to balance the breaded baked fish, but — surprise — the hint of sweetness really made it for me. Coppola’s pinot grigio is:
Recommended.
Continuing with our delicious Italian restaurant samplings, today we review a 2007 merlot from Washington’s Columbia Valley that Bertucci’s sells for $8.25 a glass / $32 a bottle. It was paired with their Garlic & Herb Roasted Mushrooms and Warm Assorted Olives.
OK this wine caused a stir — everyone at our table loved it, almost couldn’t get enough of it. Like most Washington merlots, it’s on the sweet side. But then there’s that leather. Blackberry. Spice. Licorice. And a touch of oak and black pepper. By itself, Chateau Ste Michelle merlot is good but not perfect, with a bit of harshness. But with food, it’s a different and much better story.
Our hosts paired it with a fascinating dish: roasted mushrooms and warm Mediterranean olives. I don’t know where Bertucci’s is sourcing these items, but somebody in that organization deserves a gold medal. Absolutely delicious and original. And, a drop-dead perfect pairing with this merlot. I am jonesing for a repeat of this course!
Recommended.
Continuing our Italian restaurant experience, here’s a 2010 red blend from California that Bertucci’s sells for $7.50 a glass / $29 a bottle. It was paired with their Eggplant Napoleone.
The Coppola Rosso is a blend of zinfandel (33%), syrah (26%), cabernet (25%) and petite sirah (17%). Whoa — look at those grapes. But instead of a serious steak wine, the winery says it is intended as a lighter, sweeter red for casual dining. And that’s what it is. Likely to appeal to younger drinkers, for me it was a little too jammy, with vanilla and a dusty zinfandel zing.
But! Bertucci’s Michael Cropper and Chad Phillips paired it with a lovely modern caprese salad, featuring eggplant roasted in their famous brick oven, plum tomatoes and fresh mozzarella all drizzled with a balsamic glaze incorporating pesto without nuts, for those of you with allergies. The croutons were too crunchy, but no matter — Eggplant Napoleone rocks, and it made the Rosso shine.
I don’t recommend the wine alone, but I do recommend this pairing. This dish would also go very nicely with a pinot noir (Bertucci’s offers the delicious Estancia pinot, which I praised here).
Today, in the first of our reviews from our experience at Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant, we look at a 2010 Sonoma, California chardonnay that Bertucci’s sells for $7.75 a glass / $30 a bottle. It was paired with their Watermelon, Arugula & Feta Salad.
You may already know that I usually dislike California chardonnay. Guess what? I liked this fresh, light and affordable chard — a lot. Rodney Strong has a pretty aroma of lemons, followed by flavors of snappy pineapple, lemon, and a hint of the “standard chardonnay” melony/oaky/buttery thing. Everyone at our table loved it, and I hereby pronounce Rodney Strong an outstanding value.
The Watermelon, Arugula & Feta Salad improved this perception. It combines deliciously sweet chunks of watermelon with fresh mint and a tangy balsamic dressing, which everyone praised for its flavor and restrained application. The touch of feta cheese made this a perfect creamy / sweet / tangy balance to Rodney Strong’s light and tropical chardonnay, which is:
Highly recommended.
This kicks off a series that will review various popular wines that are sold at Bertucci’s. These brick oven-style Italian restaurants on the east coast have a warm, modern atmosphere, open kitchen and a “dim the lights” feeling of class.
Manager Chad Phillips and culinary manager Michael Cropper in Christiana, Delaware treated us to their newest dishes (excellent) and wines (very good or excellent, for the price, with one exception). The evening was gratis, but I returned to buy each wine on its own.
In every case, the food improved the wine experience. In one case, the pairing caused a so-so wine to become downright enjoyable. Read on to learn which.
The pairings:
Today we review a 2010 Cotes du Rhone from Kirkland Signature (Costco’s brand) which sells for the low price of $7.
I am a fan of the Kirkland label — many times, I have been astounded by the quality of the products carrying this simple all-capital-letters logo. And that includes wine.
In this case, the dark purple juice that flows into your glass looks beautiful and has a nice subtle aroma of red fruits and flowers. The taste is certainly not terrible – yes, it’s a little too sweet, and yes it’s very simple, but these things can be forgiven at $7. What kills it for me is that it sort of tastes like Welch’s grape juice. Just a little weird, just a little “off.” Unfortunately, this bargain-priced Costco red is:
Not recommended.
Hi! Today we examine a 2009 cabernet from Sonoma, California. It’s $11 at Costco and Total Wine, and sells for up to $16 elsewhere.
Eleven bucks for a good name like Sebastiani! A no-brainer, right?
A reasonable answer is “yes,” but for me, it’s no. Here’s why: Generic California Red Wine Taste. Mass-produced. Oaky-sweet. Actually, it’s not bad — a little spicy, smells like rhubarb pie, and has good mouthfeel with blueberry and reminders of cherry, raspberry, cocoa and cinnamon on your tongue. At a modest 13.5% alcohol, this would work at a barbecue or with pizza. And if you’re throwing an upscale party, but don’t have an upscale budget, you might stock up on Sebastiani cab, because it looks upscale.
Unfortunately, the taste is a little too sweetly generic for me. Although your party guests may very well enjoy it, this competent 2009 California red is:
Not recommended.
Today we look at a $15 California red zinfandel from 2009.
Hey! It’s spring of 2012, it’s pretty outside, and you might be in a hurry. So let me break this down quickly for you. The 2009 artezin zinfandel has a cool label, it’s affordable, it smells complex and wonderful, and on your tongue it gives you:
1. high-quality, freshly-ground pepper that may make you sneeze,
2. black licorice, and
3. drum roll…. it’s not too sweet.
Plus at 14.5% alcohol, it will rock your block. I love this wine! It has its own flavor, not that typical California red goulash. THANK you, artezin, from Hess vineyards. You have blessed us with a red that we can take to any party and show people that we are on the “inside track,” while not breaking the bank.
In the realm of $10-20 wines, artezin zinfandel is sophisticated, deep, dark, and delicious. And it is definitely:
Recommended.
