Palate--Elegant first impression with nice structure and balanced. There's just not a lot happening here. It is a delightful "wine" but as Pinot Noir, I am not sure I would have known that tasting it blind and Pinot is one of the easiest (for me) to identify. Never-the-less at $9 (Trader Joe's) I'd buy it again which means "Raise a glass!"
Palate-Stern acidity is the first impression with a relaxed mid-palate with a melange of berries that is surprisingly thin and fleeting.
After a little more time to breath it is a bit relaxed overall but still relatively thin. Tempranillo is the signature grape of the Rioja and classic bottles can get quite expensive. I am pairing it with Sirloin Steak indoors because of rain and it will be a decent pairing even if a little disappointing at $10. Never-the-less, raise a glass!
Palate--Simple, not offensive, sweet profile with light berry fruit and a refreshing sparkle in the mouth.
OK...This $6 "beverage" is the kind of "wine" someone who doesn't like wine might like! Why? Because it doesn't really taste like wine...very much. LOL OK I am admittedly being a bit snobby but truthfully I enjoyed it with my wife's bacon, cheese, spinach quiche and it was quite delightful.
At $6 from Trader Joe's chill it down, enjoy it poolside or at a BBQ in the glorious hot Summer and raise a glass!
Palate--A burst of acidity first impression with bold tannins that need some time, tightly wound, restrained fruit all of which points to a wine not quite ready to be enjoyed as much as it could.
This Malbec (not the usual grape you think of when you think California) but it is well constructed and just needs more time in bottle like a couple years... This wine lists around $18 and might be worth it if you have the time to try one now and lay a couple bottles down. I believe you would be rewarded if you have the inclination.
Palate--A seductive first impression with a classic "off dry" presence with subtle tropical fruit melange that is more shallow than I would have expected. It finishes quickly and is very nice yet disappointingly "one dimensional."
At $15 I would expect a bit more as Mosel (Germany) Riesling is one of my favorite white wines. It lacks the acidity that I look for in a nice Riesling but since it has been a while since I have had this grape I am sure it will pair well with my Chinese dinner take out so raise a glass!
Palate--First impression is rich and metallic with gobs of ripe blackberry through and through.
This youthful Aglianico is a touch thin, and quickly fleeting but then again this is a $6 Trader Joe's offering which is a delicious casual, and affordable red wine for Pizza although I am pairing it with my homemade Beef stroganoff.
Serve this when you need an affordable but reliable wine with casual company, and hors d'oeuvres with friends who are there for the company and not the food. Raise a glass!
Palate--A touch watery in the mouth as first impression with rigid acidity, but loads of rich ripe red and black fruit, with a hint of those spices in the bouquet on the rear palate. Finishes quickly but leaves your palate clean!
I paid $15 for this Lodi (California) creation and it is tasty, a well crafted. It is very young but drinking nicely even in its youth. It should drink well for the next 4-5 years I would say. I will be pairing it with our traditional Sunday night pizza and it will do quite well. This would be a versatile wine working with a host of robust meats and sauces, strong cheeses, or all by itself so raise a glass!
Deep deep eggplant hue with aromas full of dark ripe berries, a touch of raisiny richness but needs to warm up (from cellar temp which is 55 degrees)
Palate--Intensely rich with massive ripe black berry on a silky foundation that sits "thick"in the mouth. It is wondrously textured, sweet but simple in that it is not complex never-the-less begs to be drunk.
I have been drinking bottles and bottle of Porto Morgado ports for years because they are offered routinely at Trader joes for an absurd price of $7 several years ago, to a still ultra value price of $9. This *LBV (*Late Bottled Vintage Port) is again offered at a ridiculous price of $16. I have NEVER seen this wine at Trader Joe's for the many years I have been shopping there. I was giddy as a school boy seeing this for the first time and at such a TJ's value price. See it; grab it, drink it; buy more! Raise a glass!
For a desert treat, drink port with strawberries, or bleu cheese or my favorite, semisweet dark chocolate which is lovely!
Late means that, unlike true vintage Port (aged two years before bottling and released to be aged much longer), producers release LBV four to six years after the vintage.
Once bottled, LBV should be ready to drink, not several years down the road. LBV that is true to its name should have some of the character of a vintage—balanced fruit and tannin from a single year and good depth of flavor.
Palate--Supple first impression with lovely integration and structure. Uber fruity all over with straight forward ripe fruit all around. Well made and easy to drink and will pair well with my home made onion/bacon tart (pizza).
This wine is a bit of a mystery of what the "blend" is. My guess would be Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon but I could be out to lunch...
I paid $8 for this but it runs around $20. It's a super value at $8 and decent at $20 so raise a glass!!!
Palate--Surprisingly bitter front as first impression with soft tannins, rich berries mid palate and a thin construction,with not a lot going on here. I want to be generous and say perhaps that it needs more time, but I am not seeing more time as helping.
Perhaps my above review explains why I have seen this wine at $45 on line and then again I have seen it at $27 and even less than that. I am pairing this with a charcoal grilled Sirloin and I am hoping that it is better with food (as most Bordeaux wines are.)
With dinner--this wine is much more friendly but not great even at the $14 price point I found it at.
