Gentle golden hue with amp,earomas of tropical fruit compote, baby powder, citrus beam, cantaloupe.
Palate--Tingly mouth feel, with lots of exotic fruits from warmer climes, a little lite on the acidity, with a clean finish that lingers a while.
A Trader Joe's offering previously reviewed not long ago, and interestingly my April review noted nice acidity, whereas the last two reviews noted a rather lethargic structure. Meaning--drink up NOW. At $6 you can't beat it so raise a glass!
Straw hue with aromas of subdued tropical fruit, with a touch of citrus at the end.
Lackluster first impression with pretty much a flacid structure, gentle flavors of tropical fruit which disappear almost as quickly as they arrive.
This is a $5 Riesling worthy of dumping but if you're desperate, chill it down well, and maybe on a hot hot day at the pool you can tolerate it. I know I have reviewed this wine back in May and I had a pretty consistent review.
Columbia Valley is well know and great AVA but this wine should be an orphan....
Deep dark purple nearly black hue with aromas of gentle sweet prune somewhat tightly wound.
Palate--Thickish mouth feel, with super sweet, structured foundation of rich Douro Porto goodness. Finish is quick but definite and makes you want more.
I don't think many people understand "Port" wine. It is a "fortified" wine meaning it is vinified and then fermentation is stopped before the sugar from the grapes is fully fermented. The stopping of fermentation is done by "fortifying" or adding a high alcohol beverage generally brandy which kills the yeast and leaves the remaining sugars to stand alone. Porto is sweet by design and at its best--"Vintage Port" it is incredibly complex, lovely, wonderful, awesome and pricey!
This however is not "Vintage port" and runs around $15 which is great for those of us who cannot afford to shell out $50-$150 and above for "Vintage port." So this is a great way to experience the joy of "port" wines without having to take out a loan. Raise a glass!
Garnet hue with aromas of cherry, strawberry and leather.
Palate--Juicy structure with predominant flavors of tart strawberry, and cherry berry with a lip smacking finish that's a bit clunky.
Wines from the PAYS D'OC (France) are generally reliably value wines. This one is not up to snuff for the reputation of the region. I hardly recognize this as Pinot Noir...
Listing at $20 I am glad I didn't pay that for it but $8.50. Even at that price I would pass on this.
Palate--Juicy, simple, delightful, well structured, tastes "intentional" even carrying a lightly acidic foundation making it decent enough to pair with food. Finishes quickly.
At $10 this is a rare Rosé that is enjoyable and careingly made.
As a Trader Joe's offering which I have had before. *Rosé fell out of fashion in the 70's being peddled as a crappy, cheap quaff kind of made for people who don't like wine. It was virtually all "plonk!" Then years later something happened and wineries started taking rosés seriously and made some very nice ones. During those year Tavel (France) was one of the rare standouts who took pride in making something of a work of art and for some reason a global change took place as global wineries took it seriously and the Rosé revolution took hold.
*cut and pasted from one of my previous posts on this wine.
Palate--Super sweet, decent mouth feel with a silky presence, but the taste profile is unique. Aftertaste is a little wonky but not off putting and at the very end there is a semblance of dried orange rind.
This was a gift so I don't know what the price point is but it is made in Gardiner, Maine. I like new experiences and this is basically a "wine" but is made from honey. It has a 15% alcohol content and is definitely a dessert wine. It isn't "my thing" but I appreciate the chance to experience Mead as I know a couple peolple who have attempted to make it and it was a huge fail.
Palate--heavy structure with velvety tannins, vibrant acidity, mouth filling blackberry and a luscious finish of cherry. After breathing, there is a cinnamon beam mid-palate.
This wine has received 93 points out of 100 which is an exceptional score for any wine and this one is deserving! It was a phenomenal buy usually running around $30 which is a bargain price for such a wine. I found it special for around $10 and I wish I had bought a case.
The structure of this Tempranillo will carry out out for a decade so grab a couple to lay down; it will only get better but is GREAT right now! Raise a case!
Deep pomegranate hue with aromas of spicy ripe plum and berries with a touch of smoke,
Palate--Tart raspberry, a hint of mocha, juicy fruit, and a lingering brooding berry finish.
Honestly at the price point of this Zin ($18 and above) I am finding equally vibrant Zins for nearly half the price. Scotto, Bogle, and several others are as enjoyable.
This is a solid example of Zinfandel and it was a gift from my wife so raise a glass and enjoy.
Intensely dark purple nearly black hue with aromas of rich, dark ripe blackberry pie, spice and violets.
Palate--Intense fruit bomb first impression with heavy structure oak, and angular at this youthful age. Nice lingering finish. Full of potential and will improve in the years to come.
This is a HUGE wine that will take a couple more years to come into it's wondrous age. But it is drinking quite well at the moment. Pair it with a bold main dish and/or big bold spicy sauces. I paid $9 for this thought it sells for more like $18. Raise a glass at either price point!
Reddish/purple hue with aromas of light milk chocolate with grape and blackberry jam, a twinge of ash and spice.
Palate--Perky presentation with mouth-watering acidity, tart pie cherry filling with a robust blast of savory spice and heat.
This is a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Nero D'Avola (40%) which is usually made to stand on its own as the signature grape of Sicily. I love Nero D'Avola as it is a fairly simple wine with delicious, fruity goodness yet with structure and staying power. It is an easy accompaniment to a variety of cheeses and dishes and drinks well all by itself.
I paid $8 for this wine which lists at $19 and it will be paired with homemade oven baked beef stew. Raise a glass!
Palate--Citrusy front, vanilla, tropical fruit salad and nice structure with decent acidic foundation.
This Simi *sourced creation was $20 but I got it for $10 and it is lovely.
*"Sourced means rather than the fruit coming from a specific area or parcel or vineyard, the grapes were "sourced" from-- in this case-- California which must be shown on the label which it is. It is the lowest level of wine so it tends to be very inexpensive and generally a lower quality. In this case however, this is a very fine crafted Chard presenting with a quality well above what you would expect. If I had paid the $20 list for it I would not have been disappointed which is kind of crazy for a "sourced" wine. But Simi has produced a value wine that keeps you coming back for more. So whether you find it for $20--shout "YES!" or $10--shout OH YEAH! Raise a glass!
Deep dark eggplant hue with aromas of intense ripe red berry goodness and ripe plum with rich sweet lovely bright fruit above the rim.
Palate--Bright first impression with loads of rich berry compote, spicy zestiness, lip smacking structure and a finish that reminds you of why you bought this in the first place!
Masciarelli always produces an excellent value wine with the signature grape of D'Abruzzo. I paid $8 for this wine but normally runs around $15. At either price point is it a superior and is an excellent foro wine for all things Italian. Raise a glass!
*Reviewed this past June and had a remarkably different impact on my taster. (It happens...)
Purple hue with aromas of spicy dark berry and plum.
Palate--Plummy first impression with big spiced front end that is quite invigorating. Structure is well done with nice acidity and a pretty decent integration for a young wine. Finishes with all that's on the tongue.
This $15 (list) Zin picked up for $8 is a keeper and wish I have bought a lot more. Raise a glass!
Palate--The intensity of the hue carries though with a commensurate intensity of gargantuan mature fruit as a first impression with seductive complexities galore and again are confusing my senses! Raspberry and blueberry, blackberry trifle all in balance and begging for another quaff. Surprisingly, with all that is going on it has an unusually quick finish although there is a lingering subtle melange of wild berries at the very end. Dang!
I grabbed this at my fave wine store which is out of state sadly... If I had paid the list price of $26 for this I would NOT have been disappointed! Tragically I bought only 1 bottle. :(
This is a blend of Syrah and some of the indigenous grapes of Portugal. It is AMAZING and here again the Wine Enthusiast misses the mark. They tend to shoot to high on their reviews in recent years, but this one they amazingly really down played it giving it a mere 91 points. I am being a bit facetious because 91 points out of 100 is a nice score but this wine deserves something special. I would give this wine 94 points.
Despite its 9 years of age it will be drinking well for another 5-10 years so raise a glass.
Light watermelon red hue with aromas of Zinfandel and light cinnamon.
Palate--Nice presentation with a slightly tart foundation that is actually kind of fun. Mouthwatering strawberry and spicy mid palate with a quick finish but never-the-less obviously Zinfandel.
Straightforward, not complex, but pleasant and and easy to drink. This Sam's Club offering at under $7 is a decent quaff for the money so raise a glass!
Palate--Decent acidity and a front palate with steely strawberry, and a rear finish with light raspberry. Finish lingers a bit with an aftertaste of band-aids...
Unusual to have a Pinot showing the "brick" hue of aging at only four years of age. It is a bit awkward. I bought it marked down from $19 to $8. It is not good even at $8. The taste of "band-aids" is classic of a contaminant called brettanomyces. It is the scourge of any winery as it means something in the process is contaminated. Avoid this particular Pinot!
Lovely garnet hue with really nice aromas of dried cherry, a touch of menthol, and darker berry fruit with a hint of spice.
Palate--Balanced, well structured, integrated with lively acidity, pie crust, ripe plum.
Another Trader Joe's spectacular value wine at $9 you have to buy more and raise a glass!
