Nice dark garnet hue with aromas of dense dark berry fruit, slightly stinky cheese (in a good way)
Palate--brooding fruit on a dense foundation with acidity galre, young, waiting to erupt with a balancing act as it ages. It is dense and thickish...
This is not the best an Aussie Shiraz can show but at this price point of $7 marked down from $19, it needs a couple more years to balance out some of its angularity.
Pale straw hue with gentle aromas of citrus, vanilla an a sweet presence of spring flowers.
Palate--Lively first impression with a slight spritzig (fiz) on a delicious if subdued lemon/lime foundation with a fleeting finish.
Served this with bouillabaisse made by my daughter and the soup was wonderful and the wine was a nice complement to the dish. Around $18 this Chenin Blanc--the signature grape of the French Vouvray region is a lovely white that can run the gamut of styles but always reliable as a fresh, palate cleansing quaff so raise a glass!
Palate--Relaxed structure on first impression with a solid mid palate of confused fruit fruit, with a slightly lingering finish that is equally ambiguous.
Previously reviewed this in October of 2025 with similar ambiguity and conclusion. It's an okay quaff for $8 but not classic Zin. You decide.
Palate--Dark berries on the palate bursting with youthful poignancy even with 6 years of aging. It has an elegant first impression with a bold profile that will keep this wine going for another 5 years or more.
The Touriga Nacional is the signature grape of the Douro region of Portugal. This is a " crafted" wine with finesse and staying power. I paid $11 for this $25 wine elsewhere. It will be great with my wife's roasted chicken thighs and root vegetable so raise a glass!
Palate--Characteristic acidic foundation with a decently balanced palate of tightly wound red berries with a fleeting finish.
I am not sure what to make of this wine as it stands. It is young and should mature into a better profile in another couple years. Right now however I am a little skeptical. It was priced at $19 but reduced to $13.
I just noticed I reviewed this wine in just a couple months ago and my review was considerably different/better.
What to make of it??? I will suspend judgement until the wine has had a chance to open up and see if it is better with my dinner which will be homemade kale and italian sausage soup with cheesy herb bread (also home made) I'll update later on...
Palate--Classy for the price, nice balanced structure, rigid acidity, vibrant tropical fruit flavors with citrus highlights. Finishes quickly but with class.
Previously reviewed back in June of 2025. Not up to the standards of what I am used to from this producer but a value at $10 so raise a glass. Pairing it with baked Salmon with dill sauce...
Dark garnet hue with aromas of pronounced berry fruit above the rim, intense ripe fruit in the bowl, lovely spice, with more berry fruit.
Palate--A bit tart, with a touch of a watery mouth feel. Nice fruit forward but not quite the expectation of a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sonoma much less Alexander Vineyard.
Well, the pedigree is outstanding, this label tells you MUCH about the wine's origins. AVA specific--Sonoma; Alexander Valley and vineyard specific, Sallyvine Vineyard. Normally a Cab from this pedigree would tun more around $40 and up...
Sam's Club offers it for around $12 and you get what you pay for. My suspicion is that these Sam' Club wines are made specifically for Sam's Club and again these are not like buying other Cabs from the same areas. Caveat emptor!
Palate--Decent first impression with a bold presentation mouth filling dark fruit, that lingers with a strong finish.
I paid $8 for this AVA cabernet marked down from $18! At $8 it's a bargain and will be pairing it with pan fried sirloin steak and it will be grand. Raise a glass!
Palate--Dense, thick profile of mouth watering, rich, luxuriant silky mouthfeel, that is ever so tantalizing. The rich, plum pudding and densely sweet (in all the right ways) on a balanced foundation.
This is a masterfully made LBV and if you love Port--real port...which ends in an "O" or it isn't "real" you will adore this delightful quaff. I love Port with semi-sweet dark chocolate, or strawberries, or rich cheeses like a quality bleu, etal. But I LOVE a quality Porto all by itself as well.
I don't remember what I pad for this but it was around $20 I believe and it is a BARGAIN! Raise a glass!
This Chard from one of my favorite California AVA's is lovely gold hue with pronounced aromas lovely lemon laced with a sweet beam of something like "cherry" ( cinnamon?) almost with crisp green Granny Smith apple on a good chard foundation with a touch of vanilla.
Palate--Mouth watering acidity, nice first impression with structure finesse, lemon galore, vanilla bean and creme brulee nuances.
Because of what I pad for this at Trader Joes, I was lowering my expectations despite its pedigree. NOT disappointing!!! *For $9 this is a BUY a case lot and raise a glass!!!
*The Wine Enthusiast gives this $19 Chard 90 points and for once I AGREE!
Palate--Sharp acidity out of the gate with lively structure--though immature--a seriously good fruity foundation that will mature over the next 5 years yielding a super value Chianti from this producer I have followed for years. Finishes quickly yet urges you to keep drinking!
I have been drinking and reviewing this wine since 2009! 17 years of reviewing various vintages at various times and always comes in at the ridiculous price point of about $8! A perennial winning selection from Trader Joe's which I will be pairing with my wife's chicken Cacciatore and it will be superior so raise a glass!
