Reggiano "Lambrusco" (NV)

 

Red wine (LOL) with sweet, berry aromas...

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!

Sheep Ranch "Matchbook" Malbec 2023

Garnet hue with aromas of subtle root beer, ripe berry with a slightly rustic twinge, and berry pie.

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. 

RAIMUND PRÜM Riesling. "Essence" 2023

 

This German Riesling is a beautiful golden hue with a bouquet of nice tropical fruit hints, subtle citrus, with sweet baby powder notes on an apple pie crust bouquet.

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!

EPICURO "Aglianico" Puglia 2024

Intense and beautiful, cytaline youthful purple hue with aromas of blackberry and a spicy presence.

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! 

Three Finger Jack "Wild Country" RED BLEND 2023

Really pretty translucent garnet with expansive bouquet of lush ripe red berry, sweet plum, mellow savory spice, 

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!

Porto Morgado LBV 2021

 

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.

CLAYHOUSE Adobe Red Blend 2020

 

Intense deep purple with garnet glow.  Aromas of strong black cherry and ripe plum. 

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!!!

Chateau HYOT Reserve 2022

A surprising brick red at the rim which is premature in my book.  Aromas of dark fruit, 

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. 

Flor DE Zalin (Red blend) 2021

Light on the pour with ruby presentation with aromas of dark berries with an edge of shadowy spices.

Palate--with a firm presentation of very berry flavors which are rather nondescript. 

This Spanish red is a blend of 40% Carignan (pronounced Car-in-YAN) 40% Syrah and 20% Grenache.  The Syrah seems to have gotten lost, the Grenache is the backbone of fruity goodness, and the Carignan is a classic blending grape. 

        I expected more from this wine, but it is unremarkable and at $12 from Trader Joe's, I would give it a pass. I am having it with venison/bacon burgers and cheese curds! Meah...

"OVZ" Old Vine Zinfandel 2022 (LODI)

Lighter garnet hue with nice aromas of lively almost perfumy sweet red berry, and a berry fruit compote.

Palate--Nice acidity, with expressive foundation, of juicy cherry berry and "sweet" yet not sweet mid-palate that is enchanting. Although it is lighter bodied it is fully expressive of very nice fruit!

I bought this at an out of state liquor store for $11 which is a great price for this *LODI--Oak Ridge Winery--creation. I paid $11 for it and I am glad I bought at least two bottles.  Raise a glass!

*LODI is one of many California AVA's (American Viticultural Area) which are select areas of grape growing that have met certain stringent requirements to get the particular designation. In this instance it means that a certain percentage (usually very high) of the grapes used in the wine-making have to be from this particular location.  NAPA for example is a well known AVA but there are over 200 around the country. Wines from an AVA are reliably "better" than say a label showing just "California."  Generally speaking, means the grapes used in that wine can be from anywhere in California. 

Logan Farrell Chardonnay (NAPA Valley) 2023

Straw hue with aromas of Lemon and tropical fruit compote with citrus flower notes.

Palate--Lacking structure right out of the gate, flaccid in the mouth, not impressive and not worthy of the NAPA branding. Still Lemon beam mid-palate but then gets overwhelmed by the lack of character. 

I just reviewed this review with a previous review I did of this same wine a year ago. Sadly very consistent. I am glad I only bought a couple bottles. Live and learn!  

Rossino Merlot (Veneto) 2022

Light but pleasant fruity bouquet with a hint of gentle spice on a crystalline ruby hue.

Palate--Acidic first impression withgood fruit but quite angular and needs anoter year or two to settle down. Finish is quick, uncomplicated and drinkable.

This Italian red from the Veneto region lists at $17 which is high but I paid $8 for it which is a nice price. Buy two, drink one now and lay the other one down for a couple years.  Raise a glass!

Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir (Central Otago) 2023

Crystalline ruby hue with aromas of  raspberry/strawberry with a candy like fragrance in the bouquet.

Palate--Surprising acidity with non-descript subdued flavors. 

New Zealand makes some spectacular wines; this is not one of them...

$25 list. I paid $12 for it and that was too much...

 

Tips on ordering Restaurant wine off the menu

(By the way, this ^ is a horrible wine menu that is meaningless...)

Restaurant's are make a killing on their alcohol, that's not a surprise. And if you're like me, I love a decent glass of wine with my dinner.  But being as aware as I am of the retail costs of LOTS of wines, I really cannot get myself to pay 2 1/2 to 3 times the retail cost of a drink (or bottle) at many restaurants. 

In my vast experience the average mark-up on wine in restaurants is generally at LEAST double of what you could buy the bottle for in your local shop or supermarket.  And if you want wine by the glass, I have seen a glass of wine sell for $8-$12 in a restaurant when I could buy the bottle for that...

So let's talk about the lame excuses I have heard justifying their expense.

#1 We have to keep an inventory which means they have to be handled differently and be kept refrigerated. REALITY? I was sitting in a James Beard award winning restaurant which I went to specifically because it was an award winner of what used to be a prestigious merit. But as I am sitting at my table I am staring right at the kitchen grill and above the grill maybe 4 feet over it were racks of bottles of wine. Seriously?   Stewed grape juice anyone?

#2. I sometimes inquire about their prices and not often but enough to mention that I have been told, "Well we have specially trained people to handle the wine orders and of course that costs money." 

REALITY: The most recent restaurant I was in on a special occasion with my wife where I had been told this, the wine service was inept; The person didn't even know how to properly remove a cork much less present the bottle, much less pour your glasses.  (Suggestion--Don't let the restaurant pour your wine after the first taste for whoever ordered it, politely tell the person, "I'll pour our wine from this point, Thank you." 

Why? I can nurse a glass of wine pre-dinner and still have plenty left for dinner and whoever you have along with you. The restaurant's job is to sell wine; that's where the big profit margin lies. I have NO problem with that! But I want to be the one to portion out our wine knowing the people I am with and how much they would like and when.

The worst excuse I ever heard: #3 This was not at a restaurant but in a column about why wine prices are so high in restaurants. "Well a sommelier (if they are actually a genuine Sommelier (pronounced. Soh-MAHL-Yay) which takes ridiculous study and examinations to become a genuine one, and they are worth their weight in gold!  And hence they are WELL PAID deservedly so!  But, I am a common person with a common income and I have only ever been to two restaurants in my life that actually had a genuine "Master of Sommelier" on staff.  

And if you ever wondered how many glasses of wine you get from a 750ml bottle, the industry standard is 4, 5-ounce pours or 5,  4-ounce pours. 

Now the secrets to reading a wine list.  These are "general" observations: Always preview the wine list on line of the restaurant to which you are planning to go.  Compare the prices of their wines to retails prices. Again--expect 100% mark up over retail prices. Anything less than that is a relative bargain!

Beware when you are ordering a bottle making SURE the bottle they bring you is the bottle you ORDERED off the list!  Meaning--if you saw a bottle of "XYZ Pinot Noir vintage 2020" and they bring out a bottle of the same name but a different year you can and should refuse it!   

Why-- because I ordered a bottle of wine at a plush restaurant in L.A. which I specifically ordered being very aware of the quality and price of the wine for the particular year. It was a bargain!   I was excited to have it coming to the table but when the presenter showed me the bottle which is standard procedure they do so precisely to make sure they are bringing you what you ordered.  Well it was a different vintage.  I happened to know the bottle they were trying push on me was substantially inferior and a less expensive Pinot from the same vintner.  I refused it of course and their answer was that they had run out of the vintage I ordered.  That's shameless!  So beware of the bait and switch.

Finally: Hot Tip!  

Restaurants often put the "bargain wines" further down the wine list so you might be less likely to choose it.  Also remember that a wine that seems to be the popular wine of the day eg.  White Zinfandel, Prosecco, a generic Rosé just to name a few, are likely to also be jacked up due to their popularity.

ECLIPSE Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2021

 

Intense Deep magenta hue with yeasty nose on opening that mellows out to a fruit laden fresh berry with cherry nuances.

Palate--I love the first impression as it is integrated and supple with balanced texture and tannins which are mature with simple and straight forward fruit that is tasty and lovely. Finishes with a clean albeit fleeting finish.

I snagged this lovely Montepulciano wine for $12 and it is a super value! It was perfect with my Puttanesca. It is at its very best right now but will hold for another couple years. Raise a glass!

MAN Family Chenin Blanc (Cape Coast) 2025

Lovely sunny hue with nice aromas of flowery, lemony, baby powdery nose!

Palate--Supple structure with perfectly integrated acidity on a lemon drop foundation asking to be quaffed more!

Chenin Blanc is one of my very favorite white wine grapes and while I am very heavy on red wine reviews, when I do whites they better be well made, juicy, tasty and begging to be drunk. 

At $10 this is an excellent grab for the money so chill it down a touch, serve it all alone or with a variety of comestible choices.  Whatever you do--Raise a glass!!!

Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

7 years down the road and this Cab from NAPA and the hallowed Ch. Montelena which put NAPA Valley wine on the global map having beaten the best of France's wines.. (Chardonnay to be exact which I will be reviewing at a latter date.)

It is an inky dark black with a DEEP purple hue. Aromas of  (too cold let it warm up) 

Palate--first impression at cellar temp. is well crafted Napa Cab. seductively integrated with yet to come MUCH MORE if you have the patience...

This wine seems to list as high as $150...  Obviously it was a gift from my son who many years ago got the winecask.blogspot.com off the ground technologically.

If you're inclined to be a wine geek, You should enjoy the Movie "Bottle Shock." It is the (essentially) TRUE story of the famous "Judgement of Paris" wherein Ch. Montelana's Chardonnay beat out the greatest French wines made.  It changed the world of wine and put Napa Valley on the map!  You'll love it! Raise a glass!

Sin Zin Zinfandel 2021 (Sonoma)

Darker magenta hue with aromas of robust ripe dark berry, and a hint of cherry.

Palate--Gentle first impression with a soft texture, a bold mid-palate full of dark Zinfandel goodness and a touch of tart raspberry finishing quickly.

I think I paid $15 for this but saw it in the past couple days at a local store for $22. That's over priced but at $15 and under it's a raise a glass kind of bold wine which I am pairing with my homemade venison chili. Raise a glass!

EPICURO NERO D'AVOLA (Silicia DOP) 2023

Light to medium bodied hue of cranberry jelly with aromas of vibrant Cherry/berry, cranberry, violets, and nuanced blueberry pie. 

Palate--Acidic foundation with a solid fruit beam of all that's in the nose, with a longer lsting finish than the price point would predict.

This Trader Joe's regular offering I have been buying for years. It is always a nice value and drinks easily pairing with many cheeses, dishes, or by itself. At $7-8 it is a must buy!  I am having it with charcoal grilled chicken BBQ'd. 

Pronounced, NERo Da VO la it is the signature grape of Sicily. Grab it, enjoy it and raise a glass!

Liberté Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) 2022

Ruby/garnet hue with aromas of slightly vegetal note with a slight charred wood, and subdued berry.

Palate-- First impression is slightly acidic with youthful tannins, and tightly wound berry flavors. Structure seems to mellow out quickly with a confused palate and quick finish.

I paid $10 for this today at Trader Joe's. I would pass on this just because there are MANY wines at this price point which are more interesting and better constructed.  Eg.  Tasted side by side with the Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon I blogged a couple days ago and the Chilean is more interesting and better made. FWIW

Casillero Del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Chile 2024

Deep purple with a youthful presentation with aromas of dark rich berry fruit with a defining spice at the edge of the glass tarragon? Basil and/or oregano???

Palate--Out of the gate a youthful structure with lots of fruit, a bit of angularity to it (expected for such a youthful wine) with a slightly vegetal finish. There isn't much depth here but then again this is a "table wine" kind of offering at a very reasonable price of around $8.

Casillero Del Diablo has a fond place in my heart as it was one of the earliest wine I could afford back in the mid 70's and was always a value kind of wine.  This is not what you would expect from a quality "Cabernet Sauvignon" but remember you didn't pay $50-$150 and up for this bottle... 

It is juicy and a good buy for the money so raise a glass!

Tortoise Creek. Zinfandel 2022 Lodi

Deep magenta hue with aromas of black cherry and cranberry.

Palate--spicy hints, balanced ripe berry and cranberry.

I find this every so often for a ridiculous $7 and grab as much as I can handle at the moment. Raise a glass! 

Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon (Diamond collection) 2023

 

Garnet/ruby hue with aromas of lightly charred wood, with dark black cherries and berry. 

Palate--First impression youthful foundation needing a bit more time to come around. A nice dark berry and wood mid-palate with a pretty quick finish.

I would call this Coppola's "entry level" cab and for what I paid for it it is a decent start. $18 is overpriced. Unremarkable Cab from Coppola priced at $18 but I found it for $12. Pairing with charcoal grilled "short cut steak."  Raise a glass (at $12)

VALE do BOMFIM ( Douro) 2022

Pale straw hue with aromas of light, sweet fragrant citrus and tropical fruit and a hint of vanilla.

Palate--Acidic foundation, with perky citrus fruit mid palate, and lighter tropical fruit on the end. Finishes quickly and clean.

I paired this with a "seafood" chowder from a very popular local restaurant in central Maine. It cost $41 for a quart out of their refrigerator and while that seems pricey (and it is) it is the BEST seafood chowder I have ever had chocked full of shrimp, lobster, haddock or cod. The acidic back bone of this Portuguese, "off-dry" white wine is a perfect accompaniment to this wonderful dish. I paid $7 for this regularly priced bottle at $15.  Raise a glass!

M. Chevallier BRUT (Cava) (*NV)

Light lemon juice hue with aromas of lime, a tropical fruit, and something elusive...

Palate--Pin prick bubbles in good amounts, with a burst of lemon lime on the palate with that elusive tropical "something" finishing quickly. 

This is a "go-to" sparkler from Trader Joe's which is a reliable bargain at $8! I am having charcoal grilled chicken thighs with baked cheese curds, and this will be a refreshing palate cleanse. So chill it down well, and enjoy as an aperitif or with appetizers or pool side with nothing but the value joy it brings on a hot summer day. Raise a glass! 

*(NV) Means this wine is not a vintage wine meaning the grapes can be sourced from multiple years' harvests. 

3 million hits just hours away!

Do you ever wonder if anyone but you is checking out my wine blog? Well today Aug. 10, I should crack the 3 MILLION mark! I began this blog simply for the love of wine. And while I have been encouraged, even scolded, for not "monetizing" it, that was never my intention. 

So I hope you keep checking in and exploring the world of wine. And on a technical note--I have not had a single comment, not even spam (for which I am grateful) which makes me wonder what I have toggled to prohibit your input. Note--I am 73 years old, not a tech. geek for sure, but not utterly ignorant either and while I have checked my settings to allow comments, they all seem to be in order but... 

Anyway--RAISE A GLASS!

Clayhouse Red Blend 2020

Deep ruby/purple with aromas of black cherry with dark fruit and gentle spiced apple.

Palate--Silky texture and relaxed tannins, with big black cherry profile on a balanced frame. Finishes a little abruptly but hangs on for a moment. 

This wine runs around $20 but I got it for under $8... It is very finely structured, and will be great with my charcoal broiled US Prime Sirloin Steak.  Raise a glass!

WENTE "Southern Hills" Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast 2021

 

A luxuriant deep, dark purple hue with aromas of tight blackberry compote with a spring floral bouquet.

Palate--An angular acidic first impression which I wasn't expecting. Fruit forward as one would expect and too immature to really enjoy what's there.  Never-the-less this is a well made, inexpensive cabernet which is underpriced, for what's there. If you have the space and the patience, this could yield big rewards with another 2-3 years of aging. 

I am pairing with charcoal grilled "bistro steaks" and it will be perfect.  Listed at $17, I paid $12 for it which is a bargain so raise a glass!

Gnarly Head Zinfandel (LODI) 2022

 

This previously reviewed Zin in different vintages is before me again. Ruby hue with aromas of blackberry with a nuanced "something" I am trying to pin down. 

Palate--"Sweetish" first impression but this is NOT a sweet wine. Nice LODI Zin fruit galore and while it has a quick finish it is what I want in my Zins!  Well made, easy to drink, robust fruit and a touch (in this vintage) of a hint of savory spice. This is up there with Zins I have had costing half again as much.

At $10, this is a don't even think about it and just buy it!  Raise a glass!

Stolpman Vineyards GRENACHE (Santa Barbara) 2023

Very light ruby on the pour with aromas of spicy bright cherry-berry, and while I keep sniffing for more I don't find it.

Palate--First impression is a much bigger wine than its hue might indicate. Acidic boldness but not overpowering--give it another couple years perhaps. Finish is quick with not a lot of complexity as I expected but then again the reason I love Grenache is for its fruity simplicity bordering on elegance when well made as Stolpman does to perfection. It is a gorgeous wine in the glass by appearance but a touch disappointing on the palate. Too young--perhaps. 

Many years ago whole on a wine trip to Santa Barbara I stopped in Jaffurs and met some of the staff but Craig was in Europe--go figure...  :)  After a superior contact with these good folks we made our way to town to the tasting room of Stolpman.  It was spacious, friendly, elegant but not pretentious, and the staff there was also superb! Great conversation... So when I ran across this at a New Hampshire Liquor store I was stunned and had to buy it. Living in Maine specifically I have never seen a Stolpman production in 4 decades. I was truly excited to find this and while listed at $40 it was on sale for $17. Fresh, clean, mouth watering juiciness I will be pairing it with my Sunday night "Lou Malnatti's" Chicago Deep Dish pizza and I know it will be great so raise a glass!

Chateau De Beauregard-Ducourt 2020 Grand Vin De Bordeaux

Garnet-ruby hue with aromas of lovely fruit above the rim, blackberry compote with hints of sweet spice.

Palate--Integrated structure with nice balance, somewhat tightly wound fruit mid palate, silky tannins and a thin finish.

I paid $13 for this nice wine marked down from $19 and it will pair nicely with my homemade Boeuf Stroganoff. It still needs some time to come into the fullness of what is there. Maybe another 2 years at least.  Raise a glass! 

 

Casillero del Diablo (Reserva) "Seleción Red" semi sweet

Black cherry hue with aromas of blackberry and a hint of bacon, and a floral note on the end.

Palate--Fairly robust presentation on first impression, with a savory nuance with bold blackberry fruit.

This is an easy drinking red wine that is well made and delicious and while I would prefer they had not put "semi-sweet" on the label I suspect I know why they did it.  Many people over the years are quick to tell me they do not like red wine. "They are too..." --fill in the blank--!  But this red wine is just so well made that it doesn't have all the "off-putting" nuances that cause many to think they do not care for red wine.

Bottom line?  Raise a glass!

Concha Y Toro is a Chilean wine producer who has made a consistent and impressive impression on the world of wine! My wine journey began about 1980 and Casillero del Diablo was an economical wine value for a struggling young family with 3 children and not long out of the Army. I would not be able to enumerate how many bottles of their wine I have has over the decades.

As I became stronger financially I imbibed on a few bottles of Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon. Back in the day, I would pick up this splendid production for around $45 on release. Now...Let's just say I haven't had such a bottle in over 2 decades.  Pretty much sells for around $150 on up! 

Freakshow Petite Petit 2022 (Lodi)

Quick swirl shows deeply pigmented hue seeming to adhere to the side of the glass.  This is a DARK purple, nearly blackish as you might expect from a Petite Sirah. Aromas of rich ripe plum with a touch of savory and sweet spices. Finishes quickly.

Palate--Supple first impression of silky tannins and rich fruit forward assaults of rich, ripe blackberry and plum with a bit of vanilla.

"Petite Sirah" (not to be confused with Syrah) is a DARK, BOLD, fruity grape here blended with "Petit Verdot" from the LODI *AVA of California.

*AVA = American Viticultural Area which is an official designation certifying it's growing area of the region which has impact on the type of wine the grapes produce. [To put is simply]

The label is clownish which I personally don't care for in that it seems to downplay the seriousness of all that goes into making a good wine. I know that is not the case here but never-the-less...

I think I paid maybe $12 for this and will pair it with grilled bacon cheese burgers and it will work!

Querceto Chianti Classico 2022

 

Purple/ruby hue with *aromas of black licorice, black cherry, with rustic delicate undertones.

Palate--First impression is a bit course, with sharp acidity pushing forth with tightly wound tannins muting the black cherry wanting to burst out.

When I opened this bottle the first aromas hitting the nose was "mildew" at which I recoiled since that is most often a sign of "**cork taint" which is dreaded by every winery and which gave rise to the adoption of screw cap bottles. This however is NOT cork taint but another rather enigmatic phenomenon called "bottle stink!" The difference between "cork taint" and bottle stink is that bottle stink is very fleeting and is gone in a matter of just a few swirls of the wine in a glass. A wine that is "*corked" is dead on arrival and should be dumped. It won't hurt you but it is just nasty to drink.

I have had cases and cases of Chianti's from this great producer. Having tasted this wine in its home of origin will stay with me til I die.  There are several levels of productions from Querceto and each one is a great value.  This isn't one of their best by far but at ***$10--which is what I paid for it-- it will go great with grilled burgers to anything tomato based to pizza so raise a glass!  

***I see this listed at $20 and beyond. THIS wine I am drinking is NOT worth that but at $10....

Josh Zinfandel (Bourbon barrel aged) 2021

 

Deep eggplant hue with aromas of intense fruit with interesting notes of different unique touches probably due to the bourbon barrel aging and charred oak.

Palate--bursting with dense dark ripe blackberry and spice with cranberry deep in the palate. The mouthfeel is elegant with integration and finesse.

This previously reviewed Zin was a steal at $7 on a close out when it generally sells around $20. At that price point it would still be a valid bottle! This is my last bottle and I am saddened.  Raise a glass!

Claire Patelin 'Sauvignon Blanc' (Cotes de Gascogne) 2023

 

Pale straw hue sets off a bouquet of classy "sweet" pineapple and a melange of tropical fruits

Palate-- a balanced first impression gives way to a nicely integrated quaff yielding bright, fresh flavors of a fruit salad that is NOT sweet but rather gives the impression that it is because of the potent bouquet of fruit. (The term in the wine world for this is "off-dry.") 

It will pair nicely with a big variety of lighter cheeses, white sauced pasta dishes, just about any seafood not prepared in a tomato based heavily spiced sauce.

I reviewed this wine over a year ago and noted the "grassy nose..." That is now gone.

It has been a while since I have reviewed a S. Blanc which is the name of the grape now produced world wide but the French version of this grape is distinct from the domestic S. Blancs of the U. S. which give a pronounced "grassy" bouquet and while lovely in their own right, the French version is what put S. Blanc on the map.    

This is a Trader Joe's offering and comes in at the unreal price point of around $8 I think.  Raise a glass!

Niersteiner Spiegelberg Kabinett (Rheinhessen) 2022

Pale golden hue with aromas that are very subtle probably due to the chill of the wine fridge set at 55 degrees F.  I'll add to this when it comes closer to room temp...

Palate--Immediate first impression of gently sweet mid palate with uncomplicated summer fruit and melon.  The structure is a bit "flabby" for my preference but passable. Again the wine is too cold to appreciate so I will re-review this below.

This  Rheinhessen "prodikut (title)" wine is the fifth in ranking of sweetness which you know by the designation "KABINETT." and as you move up the sweetness chart it will read, Kabinett, Spëtlese, then Auslese, Beerenauslese, and Trockenbeerenauslese being the sweetest and the most expensive generally speaking. 

I am pairing this with baked Salmon with a dill and lemon sauce. At $15, it is "OK" but a bit disappointing.

Okay--after dinner and the wine coming up from cellar temperature it was pleasant enough but there are certainly many options available for a few bucks less that are significantly more flavorful.  Either way--raise a glass!

Fonbadet "B" Bordeaux 2019

Garnet hue with the slightest bricking perhaps at the rim. Aromas of surprisingly expressive blackberry, cranberry notes, gentle savory spices.

Palate--First impression is (I served it a bit too warm) Acidic foundation with lip puckering tannins, a beam of dark berry fruit and not much else.  The finish is fleeting and for the age of this wine it is showing better than expected

I have reviewed this wine at least three times before so it will be interesting to compare my notes. I suggest you do so as well and see the evolution of a wine related to its age. At $8 this is OK and I will be serving it with my grilled prime rib burgers from the Omaha Steak Company. THAT I am looking forward to.)

DA PIPA Tinto (NV)

Young purple hue with aromas of bright cherry berry and latent plum (maybe).

Palate--A confusing presentation of mouth watering acidity, on a bed of perky cherry and red berry.

This wine is marginal despite what the review said another site from Portugal, the wine's home. 

That being said it is also a very inexpensive wine and well, you get what you pay for. This may have been $5 but either way, "Life is too short to drink bad wine." 

OKAY!!!  Eating a little crow here: So I had the rest of this bottle with our Sunday pizza and I will admit that it was actually satisfactory considering... BTW it's also pretty good with "CROW!"  LOL...

Cross Springs Zinfandel (Lake County) 2023

Medium garnet hue with aromas of vibrant and slightly spicy dark fruit with a more intense spiciness inside the bowl.

Palate-- (Served a bit too warm) Nice presentation on first impression with loads of zesty dark mixed berry, and again, a touch of spicy goodness. Structurally sound and though young is probably at its best. 

With a list of $18 I paid $7.50 a bottle and bought several.  Glad I did. A nice pizza wine, pasta, lighter cheeses and anything italian or tomato based sauce.  Previously reviewed with similar notes.  Raise a glass if you find it around $10-$12!

WARRE'S Warrior Porto Finest Reserve

 

Intense deep purple nearly black hue with aromas of thick aromas of intense plum, blackberry, raisin, strawberry patch nearing harvest, and espresso.

Palate--Intense deep penetrating sweetness on the tongue yet with balanced, silky, presentation, with gobs of jammy lovely intense fruit with a silky lasting finish.

This Port is around $16 and worth every penny. Ya need to know how to drink Porto however.  It is a dessert wine and fantastic with some surprising pairings like strawberries, dark chocolate, bleu cheese, Stilton, and basically almost any desert you might serve but chocolate and fudge are the quintessential pairings. At this price point it is a NO brainer and wonderful so raise a glass!

Sky Side Red blend 2020 (North Coast)

Very cherry hue with aromas of sweet and spicy cranberry fruit with  a rustic touch to it. 

Palate--Acidic first impression that is over the top, with again, spicy cranberry fruit that is diminished with the raging acidity.  

I paid $12 (maybe) for this and it is to angular and with six years of age already done it is not going to relax.  I would skip this wine!

KungFu Girl Riesling. (Washington State) 2024

Pale straw hue with lovely Riesling aromas of sweet baby powder and lime above the rim, Christmas pudding in the bowl with vanilla bean on the edge.

Palate--*Off-dry first impression with sweet spice nuances surrounding a vanilla citrus note, and white not-quite-ripe melon and pineapple suggestions.  

Charles Smith has been creating Washington State wine at a bargain level for decades and he does it better than anyone!  This is a Trader Joe's regular offering around $12 and it is better than most wines like this at twice the price. I will be pairing this with salmon in a lemon dill sauce for my wife of 53 years who has endured the past 11 months of AML --Acute Myeloid Leukemia resulting in a Stem Cell Transplant at the renowned Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Ma. This birthday is quite special!

No matter how you pour it--raise a glass!

*Off dry is a description of white wines which people tend to say taste "sweet" and they don't like sweet wines so they have determined NOT to like the wine.  BUT--An "off-dry" wine is a wine like this which gives the impression of tasting sweet but is actually bone dry because the definition of a sweet wine is one which has residual sugar left behind that has not been fermented into alcohol. 

Layer Cake Shiraz 2021

Nice rich looking dark purple hue with aromas of thick black berry compote, blue flowers, and a hint of cola.

Palate--Supple mouth feel with integrated body and fruit forward, with gobby dark fruit jam. Finish is nearly non-existent.

Shiraz is a BIG wine and Australia knows how to do it up from the $10 price point to over $1000 a bottle (Penfolds "Grange..." for example.)

Well, this is not THAT wine but it also isn't anything like that price point. LOL...  I think I may have paid around $12 and it is what you would expect at that price point.  

I am serving it with my homemade venison chili with spicy cinnamon, toasted cumin seed, and garlic,bacon and onion topped with shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream. It is to die for so raise a glass!

BUEHLER Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022

 

Light golden hue with a slight touch of green with aromas of sweet vanilla, lemon lime, and tropical fruit.

Palate-- Mouth watering acidity, and tropical fruit, subdued lemon lime, vanilla hints, a touch of elegance with last finish but a mite shallow over all.

I have reviewed different vintages of this wine and I always find the bargains of this Russian gem. Priced at over $20, I find it for half that routinely when it is available. 

I am making shrimp pasta and it will be a nice pairing. It is not up to a $20 price point and a bit off for Russian River but a bargain nerve-the-less! Raise a glass!

"Sin Zin" Sonoma County 2021

Deep ruby hue with expressive aromas of rustic wild dark berry and plum fruit with a spicy herbal nuance at the rim. Lovely!

Palate-Textured, pure fruit with velvety presence with bold dark berry flavors, tart raspberry, with a lasting finish. The lively structure finishes well with a touch of pucker.

Not sure if I have had this but it is a keeper at the $20 I paid for it whereas it runs about twice that. Pairing with Omaha Steaks bacon wrapped pork medallions.  Raise a glass!

Wachau Grüner Veltliner FEDERSPIEL "Himmelstiege" 2024

Pale straw hue with very light pineapple, lime, vanilla, and a mysterious sweet spice on the rim.

Palate--Tart first impression with off dry presentation, and all the fruits listed above in the bouquet are there on the palate with a light white pepper suggestion although subdued.

I probably paid $10 or less for this Austrian production. I have not had a "Grüner in years as it reminds me of Prosecco which I am not a fan of.  Grüner Veltliner is the signature grape of Austrian wine and I do not feel qualified to comment on it beyond my own personal preference. I am glad I bought as I have not had Grüner in years. I will be pairing it with my wife's new creation of chicken breast with spinach and parmigiano cheese. Not sure how it will pair but I will let you know!  

Freixenet Prosecco

Straw hue with a touch of green with subtle sweetened lime and green apple...ish

Palate--nondescript, subtle  citrus but pretty vacuous with a dry finish. 

Freixenet is about my fave inexpensive but delightful Cava. So I was out f state and needed an off dry light wine to pair with indian takeout... Prosecco is NOT a wine that I seek out--ever.  But I grabbed this and chilled it down a lot.

With my indian cuisine it was not good and and as a wine it is not good.  My conclusion after not a bunch of Prosecco's admittedly is that they are sort of "drinkable" but that's about it.  This one is pourable--down the sink. 

Sadly  I paid $15 for this and that was $16 too much.  I think I'm done with Prosecco...

Tortoise Creek Zinfandel 2022 (LODI)

Cranberry jelly hue with aromas of finessed spicy ripe plum and something elusive that is intriguing.

Palate--Consistent texture from beginning to end with balanced and finessed complexion.  Mouth watering acidity carried to the end with a rather fleeting finish.

I found this a couple years ago the first time at an out of state liquor store I frequent when enroute to Boston. It was on sale for $7 which is ridiculous so I grabbed a half case I think, and once I tasted it over the intervening months I probably consumed a couple cases until they ran out. Then there was a couple year hiatus and then BOOM, another production year of this bargain Zin at $7.  As usual, it will be accompanying our Sunday night Pizza ritual after church. Raise a glass!

Broadbent Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2017

Nearly black hue with lovely deep, dark aromas of sweet ripe rasiny, jammy dark berry, and plum goodness.

Palate--Thickish, gorgeous, intense, ripe, jammy blackberry and plum pie with a mid-palate presence of more rich wondrous dark fruit.

Late Bottled Vintage Port is a glorious best kept secret in the world of Port wine. It is a fraction of "Vintage Port" which is another world all together and you pay dearly for it. Late Bottled Vintage Port or LBV Porto is a value porto that normal people can afford and this one is SUPER.  At the price point of under $20 it is a MUST BUY.  I am pairing this tonight with ripe fresh home grown garden strawberries and semi-sweet dark chocolate which is a decadent pairing.  So raise a glass!