It's been a while since I had anything better than average to report. Today is no different but at least I have some cellar dwellers to slam at the end.
Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:
Monte Ducay, Reserva, Red Wine, 2005 (Carinena, Spain) - A cheap mass offering by Trader Joe's which drinks like a $20. Unique label too - the whole bottle is wrapped in paper.
Valentin Bianchi, New Age, White Wine (Mendoza, Argentina) - This was store recommended as a hot seller in Argentina and we both thought it was interesting. Nice blend with zing.
Robertson Winery, Gewurztraminer, Special Late Harvest, 2009 (South Africa) - A few years back I had a different vintage of this which did not impress. Liked this one more but I wouldn't have guessed "late harvest", just struck me as any upper average Gewurz.
Scoring 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average:
Segura Viudas, Brut Rose, Cava (Spain) - Nancy couldn't stand this but I thought just as the store stated it delivered a pretty decent middle of the road rose.
Avalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (California) - This was a supermarket $10 wine and although it didn't blow me away it was decent for the price.
Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:
Villa Alena, Moscato (Italy) - An acceptable but cheap low end Asti from Italy.
Martellozzo, Prosecco (Italy) - An unbelievably cheap $3 Prosecco from Trader Joe's. Nancy still liked it so for the price it's a winner.
Covey Run, Riesling, 2008 (Columbia Valley, WA) - A $10 supermarket Riesling which did nothing special for me but Nancy likes it enough to repeat.
Monte Degli Angeli, Sangiovese, 2009 (Italy) - A gift from a neighbor (thank you). A decent standard Sangiovese.
Cecchi, Bonizio, Sangiovese di Maremma, 2009 (Italy) - A decent standard Sangiovese.
Moillard, Les Violettes, 2009 (Cotes Du Rhone, France) - A standard white blend from France, acceptable but a little on the melon rind side.
Down Under, Chardonnay (Australia) - Strange bottle, a little fatter than most and with a shorter neck. Wine inside was acceptable but nothing special.
Domaine de la Patience, 2009 (Vin de Pays des Coteaux du Pont du Gard, France) - Acceptable Chardonnay but it could have just as easily been from California.
Mommy's Time Out, Garganega Pinot Grigio, 2009 (Italy) - I've seen this label for years in both the red and white and avoided it because I thought it was just marketing to naive housewives who think the label is funny. Well I was half right. Undeniably it is marketing. But the wine inside is acceptable too, and Nancy love the label and nailed most of the wine.
Le Grotte, Lambrusco Dell'Emilia Bianco (Italy) - A $3 Trader Joe's bubbly. Tolerable but only because the price is a pittance.
Aveleda Fonte, Vinho Verde (Portugal) - Nancy absolutely could not stand this wine, couldn't even get past the smell. I thought it was OK for about half a bottle but it turned by about the 3rd day and I poured the rest out. Honestly it was no worse than a cheap Sauvignon Blanc, it even had some of that grassy bite, so it still scored a 5.
Lindemans, Bin 75 Riesling, 2008 (Australia) - I have yet to be wowed by anything Lindemans. If this bottle hadn't said Riesling I'd have though it was Chardonnay or some cheap blend. But drinkable.
Scoring 3 out of 10 for poor:
Louise d'Estree, Sparkling Wine, Dry Red (France) - Gads, the smell and taste of this was off. Nancy who usually quaffs cheap bubblies no problem couldn't get past the 1st sniff. This was one of those cases where a cheap Trader Joe's wine failed to deliver any value, we poured it all out.
Scoring 1 out of 10 for never buy it again:
Adesso, Cagnina di Romagna (Italy) - They say this has been made since the 13th century. I didn't realize Manischewitz went back that far? Seriously, this is just the cheapest of grapey juice with minimized fermentation (9%). You're better off with a wine cooler. We poured this out. $12? It should be $3, and retailers should post a warning that it sucks.
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