Wine Drank by John Jaster

Wine Review 1/8/12

2012-01-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

Scoring 7 out of 10 for above average:

Ridge, Geyserville, 2009 (California) - A Zinfandel blend a good friend gave me for Christmas. Classy balanced Zin, not so much of the fruit bomb others are known to put out. Thoroughly enjoyable.

D'Agalis, Yo no puedo mas, VIII (France) - A bold red breaking from the French appelation tradition. A little pricier but I dare say still worth it.

Gryphus, Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 (D.O. Valle Del Rapel, Chile) - A really good value.

Sonetto, Porto White (Portugal) - A white wine with hints of anise.

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:

Dibon, Cava Brut Reserve (Spain) - A balanced dry Cava given by another good friend for Christmas.

J. Lohr, Riverstone, Arroyo Seco Chardonnay, 2009 (California) - A chardonnay brand which never disappoints.

Dr. Hans Von Muller, Riesling Spatlese, 2010 (Mosel, Germany)

KWV, Cape Tawny (Western Cape, South Africa) - Surprisingly tasty and not cheap tasting at all despite costing around $10.

Quinta Do Crasto, Late Bottled Vintage Porto, 2006 (Portugal) - Tasty but the alcohol seems a little harsh.

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Feudo Arancio, Stemmari, Grillo, 2010 (Sicilia)

Clara C, Flori Di Prosecco (Italy)

Monte Maria Cantine D'Italia, Belladonna, Sweet White Wine (Italy)

Geno Auriemma, Moscato Sparkling Wine (Italy)

365, Trackers Crossing, Chardonnay, 2010 (South Eastern Australia) - The Whole Foods brand of generic wine. So so.

Rooiberg Winery, Chenin Blanc, 2010 (South Africa)

Reviews for end of 2011

2011-12-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I neglect this blog alot nowadays. Part of it was I got busy on Beeradvocate posting under MoreThanWine. I got up over 450 beers reviewed in the last couple years. Check it out. But yeah I still do some wine, and Nancy prefers wine though I tend to buy the lower end and sweeter stuff for her. Here's our Fall wines...

Scoring 7 out of 10 for above average:

Penfolds Club Tawny (Australia) - This tear drop bottled unassuming port from Australia only cost around $10 yet was really quite satisfying, giving a richer than average tawny. I've only seen it at Blanchards in Brighton MA.

Noval, Fine Ruby Porto (Portugal) - A decent fruity port.

Mas Amiel, 10 Ans D'Age (Maury, France) - This oxidized red dessert wine from France cost me a whopping $30ish and although decent really didn't stand out any more than ports costing half that.

Haras, Chardonnay, 2010 (Maipo Valley, Chile) - I'd had a higher end wine of this brand which was outstanding so I'm not surprised their rich creamy Chardonnay delivered as well.

Kopke, Fine Tawny Porto (Portugal) - Despite the very high price tag placed on this brand (and I'd only bought the half bottle) I was underwhelmed. Granted it did seem fresh and fruity. It just didn't stand out above other ports costing much less.

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:

Plaugier, Sablet, 2009 (Cotes du Rhone Villages, France) - I thought this was well put together and balanced. Nancy was turned off by it.

Liberty School, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 (Paso Robles, California) - A store attendant in a small neighborhood wine store recommended this and I didn't expect much. Surprisingly it's a good value wine with decent flavor a body. And after we both had some the bottle sat untouched out of the fridge for a good month before I went to finish it and amazingly it still was good.

90+ Cellars, Sauvignon Blanc, Lot 2, 2010 (New Zealand) - A decent sample but not extraordinary.

Cherry on Top, Sweet White Wine, 2010 (California) - Despite being basic sweet blended white wine (5 grapes) it really was pretty good and Nancy wants to repeat it.

Smith Woodhouse, 10 Year Old Tawny Porto (Portugal) - I'd seen this brand for years but never felt like forking $30+ to try it. Finally did. Although the flavor was fine I found it was less interesting and less flavorful than some Tawnies costing a third of this one.

Punkt Gnau, Sparkling Rose Wine (Austria) - A decent dry bubbly.

Borgo Magredo, Prosecco (Italy) - Your standard decent crisp appley prosecco.

Scoring 5.5 for dead center average:

The Beach House, 2011 (South Africa)

Green Barn, Chardonnay, 2010 (Mendocino County, California)

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Overlake, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Lake County, California)

Sutter Home, Bubbly Moscato (California)

Jazzy Jack, Moscato (Puglia, Italy)

Louis Perdrier, Brut Excellence (France)

Black Swan, Moscato, 2010 (Australia)

And rounding out the bottom at 4 out of 10 for below average:

Las Valles, Virua - Chardonnay, 2010 (Spain)

Amour de Paris, Peach, Sparkling Cocktail Wine (France)

Wine Batch Review 10/2/11

2011-10-02T14:04:00.001-07:00

Yeah, it's been a while. I still saved labels but I'm behind on rankings and commentary.

Scoring 9 out of 10, a rare very high score for me:

Kopke, Fine Ruby Porto (Portugal) - This is markedly more expensive than most of the port brands found in Boston and I was skeptical. But I find it to be remarkably fresh and fruity and exhibits lots of cherry, and it's lighter weight than many other ports. Nice. Note we're part way into their Tawny and I don't feel the same about that version. The Tawny is more ordinary to me. This Ruby is delicious.

Scoring 8 out of 10 for excellent:

Fonseca, Terra Bella, Reserve Porto Made with Organic Grapes (P0rtugal) - Very bold fruit forward port with tobacco and leather and lots of unctuous goodness.

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:

Teruzzi & Puthod, Rondolino, Vernaccia di San Gimagnano, 2008 (Italy)

SeaGlass, Chardonnay, 2009 (Santa Barbara County, California)

Hardy's Nottage Hill Chardonnay, 2006 (South Eastern Australia)

Caiu a Noite, Vinho Verde, 2010 (Portugal)

Domaine Augis, 2010 (Valencay, France)

Scoring 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average:

Peirano Estate Vineyards, Six-Clones Merlot, 2009 (Lodi, California)

Barons de Rothschild Collection, Bordeaux Reserve Special, 2010

Al Verdi, Pinot Grigio, 2010 (Italy)

Tamas Estates, Double Decker Red, 2008 (Central Coast, California)

Bandit, Most Wanted Chardonnay, 2008 (California)(This is a decent box wine)

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Two Oceans, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (South Africa)

New Age, Rose (Argentina)

Dancing Bull, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (California)

Ruffino, Chianti Superiore, 2009 (Italy)

Arona, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Marlborough, New Zealand)

Badger Mountain Certified Organic Vineyard, Riesling, 2009 (Columbia Valley, Washington)

Yealands, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (Marlborough, New Zealand)

Ruffino, Prosecco (Italy)

Folonari, Moscato, 2010 (Italy)

Scoring 4 out of 10 for below average:

Sutter Home, White Zinfandel, 2009 (California)

Gallo Family, White Merlot (California)

Canella, Bellini (Italy) (This is a peach blend but not peachy at all)

Oak Vineyards, Chardonnay, 2009 (California)

Wine Reviews 7/24/11

2011-07-24T14:38:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I fell far behind in reviews, but I did save labels and rank them.

7 out of 10 for above average:
Pantelleria, Ipsus, Passito, 2009 (Italy)
KWV Cape Ruby (Western Cape, South Africa) - a Port more along the Australian style but decent and affordable.

6 out of 10 for upper average:
Cantine Maschio, Prosecco Brut (Treviso, Italy)
Trader Joe's, Reserve Russian River Valley Petite Sirah, 2006 (California)
Kono, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Marlborough, New Zealand)
Lacheteau, 2010 (Vouvray, Loire Valley, France)
Cottonwood Creek, White Table Wine (Organic), 2009 (California)
Santa Barbara Landing, Chenin Blanc, 2009 (California)
Rosemount, Chardonnay, 2009 (California)

5.5 out of 10 for exact center average:
Trader Joe's, Vinas Chilenas Reserve Chardonnay, 2010 (Valle Central, Chile)
Pasqua, Ripasso Valpolicella Superior, 2009 (Italy)
Trader Moon Wine Co., Bay Moon Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (Monterrey, California)
Bear Flag, Bright White Wine Blend (California)
Le Fruit Defendu, 2008 (Domaine Magellan, France)

5 out of 10 for lower average:
Blue Fin, Viognier, 2009 (California)
Loosen Bros, Dr L Sparkling Riesling (Germany)
Sara Bee, Moscato Sweet White Wine (Italy)
Moulin de Gassac, Le Mazet, Red Wine, 2009 (France)
St. Donatus Estate, Balatonboglari Merlot, Semi Sweet, 2010 (Hungary)
Casarsa Vineyards, Pinot Grigio 55% Pinot Blanc 45% (Delle Venezie, Italy)
Charles Shaw, White Zinfandel, 2009 (California)
Dom. Brunet, Chardonnay, 2009 (France)
Les Caves Joseph, Bordeaux Blanc, 2009 (France)
J.W. Morris, Moscato, 2010 (California)
Cellier du Rhone, 2009 (Cotes Du Rhone, France)

And 4 out of 10 for below average:
Almaden Vineyards, Mountain White Zinfandel (California)

Wine batch review 5/28/11

2011-05-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:

Dom Brunet, Malbec, 2007 (Cahors, France) - Pretty decent for such a plainly labelled bottle.

Domaine Collin, Cremant de Limoux, Brut (France) - Pretty nice for under $10.

Tres Pinos, Three Pines Cuvee White Wine, 2009 (San Luis Obispo County, California) - A Trader Joe's offering and we really liked their red too.

Contadino Vivace, Pinot Grigio, 2010 (Italy) - A Trader Joe's offering and despite the fancy bottle it actually lived up to our peaked anticipations.

Green Fin, White Table Wine, 2009 (California) - Yes a TJ's, this one's organic, and pretty good.

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Trader Moon Wine Company, Honey Moon, Viognier, 2009 (Manteca, California)

Canard Sauvage, Zinfandel, 2009 (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California)

Barefoot, Riesling (California)

Joseph Handler, Riesling, 2010 (Pfalz, Germany)

JW Morris, Riesling, 2010 (California)

Robertson Winery, Natural Sweet White (South Africa) - This $6 tear drop bottle wine is not much more than a wine cooler but Nancy really enjoyed it. The bottom of the bottle had spoiled after a day.

Almaden Vineyards, Heritage Chardonnay (California) - Nothing special but surprisingly drinkable for a box wine.

Zafrika, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (South Africa)

La Finca, Chardonnay, 2009 (Mendoza, Argentina)

And now we have one cellar dwellar to rip on:

Scoring 1 out of 10 for never buy it again:

Gran Barquero, Pedro Ximenez, Fino Sherry (Spain) - $15 at a decent store (Cardullo's, Harvard Square) so I thought it would be OK. What junk. Plastic covering was cheap, twist off cork broke off with the slightest torque, the remaining cork in the bottle was so loosely fit the corkscrew could find no grip it just pushed it further in. Contents were cheap, smelled like a cellar, tasted like a weak relative of a Palomino sherry. A drain pour.

Wine batch review 4/24/11

2011-04-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

7 out of 10 for above average:

Albert Boxler, Edzelwicker Reserve, 2008 (Alsace, France) - I'm not sure if Edzelwicker is a particular blend or branding or varietal, but I am sure this was a class act white wine all the way, exhibiting balance and a long finish. Well worth the $20.

6 out of 10 for upper average:

Apothic Red, Winemaker's Blend, 2009 (California) - A bold fruit forward spicy red well worth the $10.

Flying Fish, Riesling, 2008 (Washington State) - Holds it's own against pricier Rieslings from across the pond.

San Pedro, Gato Negro Chardonnay, 2010 (Valle Central, Chile) - I'd assumed this might just be clever branding, but I was wrong, we both really enjoyed this, and it was only around $6.

Chateau Ste Michelle, Indian Wells Chardonnay, 2007 (Columbia Valley, Oregon) - A classy Chard, although I've always thought the bragging on the label goes too far. Butterscotch? Not in my glass.

5.5 out of 10 for dead center average:

Sutter Home, Chenin Blanc, 2009 (California) - Yeah, I know, this is a sweet wine not unlike a wine cooler, but we both like it fine and it never dissapoints. You want a safe wine for a party? Here you go.

5 out of 10 for lower average (and listed in the order I'd prefer them):

Jim Neals Wines, Chariot VII, Gypsy, 2009 (California) - A $5 Trader Joe's white worth twice that cost.

Chateau Ste Michelle, Riesling, 2009 (Columbia Valley, Washington)

Estancia, Riesling, 2008 (Monterey County, California)

Duc De Berieu, Brut (France)

Francis Coppola, Sofia, Riesling, 2009 (Monterey County, California) - Such a sexy bottle, it almost makes you forget the contents are average at best, and overpriced.

Trevento, Torrontes, 2008 (Argentina) - An average white, which considering this is Torrontes, a grape prone to being soapy tasting in my opinion, actually tells you this is a better than average sample of it.

Bolla, Pinot Grigio, 2008 (Delle Venezie, Italy)

Andre, Spumante Sparkling Wine (California)

Stinger, Carneros Unoaked Chardonnay, 2008 (California) - 2 for $10. Just OK. No sting to this stinger.

Protocolo, White Wine, 2008 (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain) - A little bit melon rind and acidic, but OK.

Rex Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster, Shiraz (California)

Il Cantico, Pinot Grigio (Italy)

4 out of 10 for below average:

Riunite, D'Oro Moscato Trebbiano (Puglia, Italy) - Yeah you'd better keep it on ice if you want it to be nice.

3 out of 10 for poor:

Paul Masson, Chablis (California) - An acidic and slightly bitter white clearly made from any and every white grape they could throw in the mix. Almost tastes like an upstate New York new world grape mix.

St. Regis, Reserve, Alcohol Removed Chardonnay (California) - They somehow made something neither satisfying as a wine nor satisfying as a juice. I'm not just picking on it for the alcohol absence, there is something just wrong about it's weight, mouthfeel, flavor. It's a whole different beast altogether.

Wine Batch Review 3/13/11

2011-03-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

7 out of 10 for above average:

Porto Morgado, 10 Years Old Tawny & Ruby (Portugal) - This bargain priced series of ports carried by Trader Joe's is an outstanding value with smoothness and tastes rivaling mainstream ports were twice as much. Well done.

6 out of 10 for upper average:

Domaine de Nerleux, Clos Des Chatains, 2005 (Saumur-Champigny, France) - An appelation I had not heard of before from France on a bottle Trader Joe's carries for around $15. Quality stuff midway between old world and new world style. It had a long lasting life too, two weeks after I uncorked it I went back to finish and it was still fine, maybe even better.

Pancake Cellars, Big Day White, 2009 (Paso Robles, California) - A complex mix of Chard, Sauv Blanc, Voignier, Muscat Caneli, and Pinot Blanc. Bold and tasty but not overdone. A great value with a ridiculous name.

Green Truck, Petite Syrah, 2009 (Mendocino County, California) - One of the organic entries by the affordable Red Truck brand. Pretty high in alcohol (13.5%) and very bold and forward, it was decent but not outstanding.

Scoring 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average:

Andre, Peach Passion Durazno (California) - Despite the fact so many of the entries by Andre are not much more than wine coolers Nancy and I both think this is a cut above their others. Sweet and peachy but really not overdone. Refreshing and fun. Yeah, it's still a wine cooler, but at least it's a decent one.

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Ali, Sangiovese di Toscano, 2007 (Italy)

Canyon Oaks, Chardonnay, 2009 (California)

Terranoble, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (Chile)

Green Truck, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 (Lake County, California)

Haut Marin, Cuvee Marine, 2009 (Cotes de Gascogne, France) Good flavor but a little acidic

Villa Carlotti, Prosecco (Italy)

Yellow and Blue, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (Central Valley, Chile)

Bancrock Station, Chardonnay, 2008 (South Eastern, Australia)

Orleans Hill, Alexandria, California White Wine, 2009 (California)

Puerto Viejo, Malbec, 2009 (Mendoza, Argentina) - I can't believe I gave this brand a second try. Although Nancy thought it tolerable to me it was just vinegar.

Update 2/12/11

2011-02-12T08:10:00.000-08:00

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.

Wine Batch Review 1/16/11

2011-01-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

8 out of 10 for excellent:

Yalumba, Antique Tawny, Museum Reserve Dessert Wine (Australia) - This half-sized Australian port is a bold fruit forward port, sweet but not sickeningly oversweet as happens sometimes with Australian dessert wines. But honestly for the $25 and Museum reference I expected a 9 or 10 score.

7 out of 10 for above average:

Sterling Vineyards, SVR Reserve, 2007 (Napa Valley, California) - This was a generous gift from a good friend. Nancy and I both loved it and even fought over drinking it slowly so we could both appreciate it several days. Classic cab flavors, elegant and not overdone, with a medium body.

6 out of 10 for upper average:

Jacob's Creek, Moscato, 2010 (Australia) - Despite being a mass produced brand we found this sample pretty impressive. A dry version of moscato, I'd agree with the back label that it has "tropical and subtle pear flavors". Nice product.

5 out of 10 for lower average (and these count down in order of preferance):

Via Mazzini, Vino Spumante, Moscato, VSAQ (Italy) - A slightly cheaper Asti which holds it's own again the pricier brands.

Terregaie, Prosecco (Italy) - A completely average prosecco.

Paso A Paso, Verdejo, 2009 (La Mancha, Spain) - Lovely malachite label design and decent Verdejo.

Cigar Box, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (Marlborough, New Zealand) - Looks like the same labelers as Layer Cake (which in my opinion declined after it's initial marketing breakthrough). Well, I don't know these two are connected. But I can say this was a very average Sauv Blanc without much of the grass or zing Malrborough is known for.

Red Newt Cellars, Gewurztraminer, 2008 (Finger Lakes, NY) - If I didn't know the label had said Gewurztraminer I would have mistaken it for any other basic white.

Black Swan, Chardonnay, 2009 (Australia) - For a pretty cheap Australian brand this turned out to be OK. Nothing special, but utilitarian. Nancy liked it so I could save some money by stocking this at home.

Blackstone, Winemaker's Select, Pinot Noir, 2009 (California) - A gift from a co-worker. Basic entry level pinot noir. Seemed to be spoiling by the end of the bottle on the 2nd day.

Offley, Tawny Porto (Portugal) - A cheap port brand which has yet to impress me with any of their offerings.

New Year's Eve 2010

2010-12-31T15:18:00.001-08:00

Well, I have lots of catch up reviews to do since Thanksgiving.

Scoring 7 out of 10 for above average:

Delaforce, His Eminence's Choice, Ten Year Old Tawny Porto (Portugal) - Good but it didn't blow me away for $25.

Osborne, Fine Tawny Port (Portugal) - Decent despite being a fairly generic brand and costing only $15. I'd repeat this one any time.

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:

Valdo, Nerello Mascalese, Brut Rose (Italy) - It used to be you couldn't even find this grape in Boston for under $30. Here's a sample under $15, and pretty good too.

Mark West, Pinot Noir, 2008 (California) - It's fine but Nancy liked it more than I did.

Clean Slate, Riesling, 2009 (Germany) - Pretty good for an under $15 Riesling.

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Las Rocas de San Alejandro, Garnacha, 2007 (Calatayud, Spain) - This was a star to me the year I first discovered it. Ever since it has been in decline and now is just any low average red in my opinion.

Blue Fish, Original Riesling, 2009 (Germany) - Beautiful bottle, bravado story on the back, low average Riesling. Nancy liked it better than I.

Morande, Reserva, Carmenere, 2008 (Maipo Valley, Chile) - A weaker version of the classic Carmenere flavors including chocolate and red berries. OK for the $10.

Cupcake Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (Central Coast, California) - A very cheap Cab dressed up somehow to smell and taste bigger than it actually is. It feels cheap and a little icky in my stomach.

Cupcake Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Marlborough, New Zealand) - A surprisingly low flavored Sauv Blanc from NZ. Disappointing.

Pacific Rim, Sweet Riesling, 2008 (Columbia Valley, Washington) - Just a cheap sweet Riesling for people who can't tell quality beyond sweetness. I almost scored it lower but Nancy defended it.

Arbor Mist, Chardonnay, Peach (New York) - Despite being a very cheap wine cooler of a wine it's still acceptable for the puny price range and the right consumer. But I think their Tropical Fruits version tastes more like Peach than this version.

Vinos Sin Ley SL, Afinus G2, Garnacha (Monsant, Spain) - A very cheap low flavor Garnacha. I've had a couple other variations on this brand in the past and have yet to be impressed. Tastes more likew $5 than the $10 it cost.

Scoring 4 out of 10 for below average (and several listed above were lucky they didn't end up down here in the basement too):

Lancers, Rose (Portugal) - This weird shaped sort of tear drop bottle contains a low flavor barely tolerable cheap wine. Even the wine coolers are probably better. No wonder it's one of the cheapest bottles in the stores.

Batch Review 12/12/10

2010-12-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

Scoring 7 out of 10 for above average:

Rosenblum, Zinfndel, Maggie's Reserve, 2005 (Sonoma Valley, California) - Another supposed super buy recommended by a store, this cost me $15 but claimed to be worth $30. A spicy but balanced Zin. Nancy didn't like it but I still saw the value.

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:

Cupcake Vineyards, Prosecco (Italy) - Another quality entry by cupcake. Zesty apple.

Barros, Porto, Lagrima, Branco Muito Dolce (Portugal) - I naively didn't realize this was white when I bought it. Decent sweet flavor but a bit of an alcohol burn.

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Ballatore, Spumante Rosso (California) - Their white is a reguar at our home (for Nancy). The rose is a decent sweet wine just as good.

Mark West, Chardonnay, 2008 (Central Coast, California) - This has all the richness yet somehow the flavor was off to me.

Arbor Mist, Tropical Fruits Chardonnay (New York) - Yeah, this is a cheap wine cooler of a wine yet Nancy and I both liked it. We don't tast tropical though, we mainly taste peach.

Casella Wines, Yellow Tail, Bubbles (Australia) - It's a cheap mediocre white. The only thing unique is the bottle closure which is black plastic and peals off in a strip kind of like a milk jug and has a red dot in the middle you can compress to replace the cap after opening. Seemed OK but I'm not confident it's airtight to keep the bubbles.

Big House White, 2009 (California) - Decent but nothing special.

Vasco da Gama, 2004 (Dao, Portugal) - A very cheap Portuguese red, and tastes like it.

Scoring 4 out of 10 for below average:

Main Street Winer, Sauvignon Blanc, 2007 (Santa Barbara County, California) - Very weak. Not even worth the $10. Dressed up cheap wine.

Wine Batch Review 11/27/10

2010-11-28T07:50:00.000-08:00

7 out of 10 for above average:

Laplace (Madiran, France) - I've come to love Tannat wines, especially when they're smooth enough to take the edge off the raging tanins. Laplace gets that done and still has plenty of red fruits and spice.

Cousino-Macul, Antiguas Reservas, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (Maipo Valley, Chile) - Recommended by a wine store as quite possibly the best cab in the world for the price, I agree it's very good but wouldn't go quite that far. Indeed it was fresh and bold. Nancy and I both really liked it, but her parents who are more into old world style wines thought it over the top.

6 out of 10 for upper average:

Cupcake Vineyards, Charonnay, 2009 (Central Coast, California) - Really a well put together Chardonnay with some acidity, complexity, and a decent finish.

Santonegro, Monastrell, 2005 (Jumilla, Spain) - Although Nancy liked this better than I it's clearly a quality red for the $12 range.

Calem, Old Friends, Ruby Porto (Portugal) - Although acceptably fruity it just didn't seem special to me in any way.

5.5 out of 10 for dead center average:

Blackstone, Winemaker's Select, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (California) - At 2 for $20 this is certainly an adequately flavorful cab.

5 out of 10 fo lower average:

Blackstone, Winemaker's Select, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (Monterey County, California) - A little weaker than some of their other offerings. Still acceptable.

Dario D'Angelo, Montepulciano D'Aruzzo, 2009 (Italy) - A weaker and cheaper Montepulciano.

Schmitt Sohne, Relax Riesling, 2009 (Mosel, Germany) - Almost a wine cooler of a Riesling but still acceptable. The other Schmitt Sohne labels are better.

Batch Review 11/19/10

2010-11-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Let's all cheer for the first 10 out of 10 table wine to score so high with me in years:

Rosenblum Cellars, Zinfandel, Cullinane Reserve, 2003 (Sonoma Valley, California) - I found this months ago at the Wine Cask on the St Mary's Green Line stop, Brookline MA. It was marked down on special sale from $45 to $15. About 1/3 of those special deals at the store don't impress me but that means 2/3 really do deliver, and that's also why I just buy one bottle to try and don't stock up automatically. In this case I should have bought a whole case and then taxi'd home. There's probably no chance of a repeat of this one but I'll look. This was a deep unctuous flavorful Zin with berries, chocolate, leather, spice, and even some silky tanins. Nancy and I were blown away from the first sniff to the last drop.

Scoring 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average:

Bogle Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 (California) - This was pretty good for a $10 Cali Sauv Blanc. Some tartness, some grassiness. A good value.

And now the long list of 5 out of 10 lower average wines:

Huber, Hugo, Gruner Veltliner, 2006 (Austria) - A gift from a co-worker who move out of state, and a former sample from lock-up in waiting for our wine tasting group at work. It's a fine crisp white, Nancy liked it too, but I've had higher end Gruners, this was an entry level.

Many of the others I'm just going to list:

La Voleanique (Cotes du Forez, France)

La Sauvageonne, Les Ruffes (Coteaux du Languedoc, France)

Louis Jadot, Macon-Villages, Chardonnay, 2009 (France)

Herdade Do Esporao, Defesa, 2008 (Portugal)(note the interesting varietal blend of Arinto, Antao Vaz, Roupeiro)

Sea Ridge Coastal Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 (California)

Gabbiano, Pinot Grigio, 2008 (Italy)

Wine Reviews 11/6/10

2010-11-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

Keeping with the new simplified format let's list from the best tried recently to the worst:

Scoring 8 out of 10 for excellent:

Allegrini Fumane, Palazzo Della Torre, 2006 (Veronese, Italy) - This was a gift highly recommended by a co-worker on his last day. Simply outstanding in every way - pleasant bold but no overdone bouquet, flavors of cherry and berry and spice and maybe even liquorice, enough tanins to be noticed, and a log finish. It's been a long time since I had a dry red wine which was such a winner. Thanks.

Scoring 7 out of 10 or above average:

Quinta do Infantado, Ruby, Medium Dry, Porto (Portugal) - A discovery on a trip to Providence, this $18 ruby drank like a $25 bottle. Nice bold flavors and complexity.

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average:

Polka Dot, Riesling, 2008 (Pfalz, Germany) - A store owner highly recommended this and I'll agree it's quite nice although still not really above average.

Scoring 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average:

Azienda Agricoa Chiusa Grande, Follia, Chardonnay, 2008 (Colline Pescares, Italy) - Quite nice in flavor though it did have a touch of burn in the mouth. And note this is an organic wine.

Vina San Pedro, Castillo de Molina, Reserva, Chardonnay, 2009 (Casablanca Valley, Chile) - An all around solid Chardonnay.

Scoring 5 out of 10 for lower average:

Weber, Riesling 2008 & Liebraumilch 2007 (Germany) - I've tried four samples from Weber now, none were bad - in fact all were quite acceptable. And they price inthe $8 to $10 range. A good affordable brand for whites.

Volpe Rossa, Pinot Grigio, 2009 (Italy) - Fine, but your basic entry level Pinot Grigio.

Mapreco, 2005 (Douro, Portugal) - A dry red which is tolerable but otherwise forgettable in most every way. If I remember right this was an obscure find in a simple small liquor store.

Scoring 3 out of 10 for essentially bad:

Rhone Valley Vineyards, La Vieille Ferme, 2008 (Cotes du Luberon, France) - A blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourbelenc, Ugni Blanc, ad Roussanne you might expect this to taste interesting, but it really just seems to be melon rind and freezer burn. It was cheap, and a screw cap, so I guess I got what I paid for.

Catch-up 10/24/10

2010-10-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

Scoring 6 out of 10 for upper average: Only 1 this time.

H Sichel Sohne, Blue Nun, Winemaker's Passion Riesling, 2007 (Deutscher Tafelwein, Rhein, Gemany). Yep, despite being a mass marketed label this is still a very drinkable quality Riesling for a reasonable $10 pice.

Lots of 5 out of 10s for lower average this time:

Chateau Ste Michelle, Gewurztraminer, 2008 (Columbia Valley, Washington) - A mildly sweet and touch spicy Gewurz but nowhere near a standout. Still, Nancy and both enjoyed it.

Riondo, Pink, Spago Argento (Italy) - A pink bubbly from Raboso. Nothing special, sorry.

Beringer, California Collection, Moscato, 2009 - It is what it is, a very cheap, very weak sweet wine.

Barefoot, Moscato, California - Even cheaper and weaker than the Berringer. Almost scored below average.

Scoring 4 out of 10 for below average:

J. Roget, Spumante, American Sparkling Wine (New York) - A touch bitter, not really like Spumante style in my opinion, and with almost no bubbles.

Cucao, Pedro Ximenez, 2008 (Elqui Valley, Chile) - Unique in that it's a dry wine made from one of the Spanish origin grapes used in types of Sherry. Highly recommended by the store. Big disappointment to me. But who's surprised? The reason several grape varietal are made into Sherry is by themselves they make crappy dry wines.

El Burro, Kickass Garnacha, 2008 (Carinena, Spain) - Don't be fooled like me by this marketing. It's not kickass, in fact I thought it tasted cheap. And whereas we usually nail an open bottle within a week or less this sat around over a month. I'm surprised I didn't drain pour it.

Hey, I'm not sure who is still reading this blog if anyone, in fact it may be more of a record keeping tool for me at this point, but I want to add you should check out my beer explorations on http://www.beeradvocate.com/ My screen name is MoreThanWine and using their website review section I've logged over 60 beer reviews by now.

It's been a long time

2010-10-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

Let's be real. Although occasional co-workers and family check this blog it never really grew beyond that. And that's fine. I've enjoyed it, and I'm not going to end it, but I certainly don't place it a priority above the other things that keep me busy in life. That's why there haven't been posts for quite a while.

I'm going to do one of two batch catch-ups of wine reviews. But before I do let me share a couple of developments.

First, the wine tastings which had continued at work after hours for about 3 years have finally ended. There's new management and they want to do their own thing, plus the age-old concern of alcohol liability in the workplace made a reappearance. That's fine. You know that's a fickle topic though. Even in our own company there's a wide gambit for how different sites interpret alcohol rules. Regardless, our grape varietal quest ran the full course. We (or more honestly I) haven't found many new grapes for a long time now.

Second, a couple months ago I decided to try exploring beers and that's been an effective distraction from wine. A year or so back I went through a bad digestion phase where wheat products seemed to trigger reactions with me, but it passed. Now I'm trying a different beer each night. AND you can follow those exploits but not on this blog. I joined the site Beeradvocate.com under the screen name MoreThanWine (surprised?) and you can click on my profile and read various beer reviews and forum discussion posts.

But back to wine. I'm going to cluster these by their general rankings.

7 out of 10 (above average): a) Adega de Favaios, Moscatel Do Douro (Portugal) - this is the Moscatel Galego Branco grape which I thought might be new but it's the same as Muscat de Petit Grains. Interesting, complex, unique Moscatel which Nancy also liked. b) Cascina Garitina, Niades, Brachetto d'Acqui, 2009 (Italy) - We always like Brachetto yet this sample seemed richer and tastier than usual. Found it at Cardullo's in Harvard Square. c) W&J Graham's Six Grapes Reserve Porto (Portugal) - A tasty fruity ruby port.

6 out of 10 (upper average): McGuigan, Black Label Sparkling Shiraz (Australia) - I'm actually not usually a fan of Sparkling Shiraz, I think most of them are just gimmicks, but this was a good one.

5.5 out of 10 (meaning dead center average): Sakonnet, Vidal Blanc (Rhode Island) - A good all around white using the Vidal grape as something other than sweet dessert.

5 out of 10 (lower average)(and I'm not doing any more than listing their labels): a) Bodegas Naia, Las Brisas, 2009 (Spain), b) Brancott, Sauvignon Blanc,2009 (Marlborough, New Zealand), c) Brut Dargent, Blanc de Blancs (France), d) Chateau de Flaugergues, 2006 (Languedoc, France), e) Cusumano, Alcamo, 2007 (Sicily, Italy), f) M. Chapoutier, Les Vignes de Bila-Haut, 2008 (Cotes du Roussillon Villages, France), g) Wooloomooloo, Shiraz, 2006 (South Eastern Australia)

Finally, 4 out of 10 (below average)(we really didn't like this): Domain Ste Michelle, Blanc de Blancs (Washington).

Villa Jolanda Moscato; Zeta Brut; Riondo Prosecco

2010-08-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Villa Jolanda, Moscato D'Asti (Italy) - Beautifully fancy antiqued label, just like their Prosecco, and also a gorgeous ribbed golden bottle. Contents are fine but really just low average (5 out of 10). Plus I'd kind of expected a bubbly Muscat and instead it was virtually flat.

Zeta Brut Cava (Spain) - A thoroughly average but affordable Cava. 5 out of 10 for lower aveage.

Riondo, Prosecco de Veneto, Spago Nero (Italy) - The bubbly we bought on our Provincetown vacation. It had a neck label claiming as seen on a TV show. Whoop-to-do. But both Nancy and I had to admit we genuinely enjoyed it. There was some apple cider taste to it and on day two we noticed it had partially frozen in the hotel fridge, which kind of gave us an apple slushy we really enjoyed. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

ORCA V; Mas de Libian; The Ruins; Coltibuono

2010-08-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

UVCL - Marrenon Vignobles en Luberon, ORCA V, 2006 Cotes du Ventoux (La Tour D'Aigues, France) - For a $20 French bottle with an exotic name and apparent pedigree I expected more. Standard Rhone red blend. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Mas de Libian, Bout d'Zan, 2008 (Cotes du Rhone, France) - A $15 sample which although worth the price doesn't stand out in any particular way from other Rhones. 5 out of 10 or lower average.

The Ruins, 2009 (South Africa) - Hey despite being a $10-$15 range screwcap red from South Africa I actually thought this was pretty good. Bold fruit forward - it's organic and 54% Syrah, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon. Would hold it's own with most bold New World reds. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Coltibuono, Chiant Classico, 2008 (Italy) - The red I bought on vacation in Provincetown. For $20 and from a cool store I expected to be blown away, but ultimately it was just an average 5 out of 10 Chianti. The bright side was it didn't give me a hangover.

Quinta Do Alqueve; Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup

2010-08-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

Quinta Do Alqueve, Fernao Pires, 2008 (Ribatejo, Portugal) - Recently tried at our work tasting group. Just an average white but with a nice summer zing to it. All liked it but only as an entry level white. 5 out of 10 for lower average. A note to myself, this is th 2nd sample I've had of this grape and so far I find it affordable yet refreshing.

Ermitage Du Pic Saint Loup, 2006 (Coteaux du Languedoc, France) - This $20 French red blend was really quite nice. Fairly bold and fruit forward, good flavor. 6 out of 10 for upper average and I considered going higher.

Croft, Distinction Porto, Special Reserve (Portugal) - This $22 port was clearly worth the added cash. Nice ruby fruit flavor and a rich body. 8 out of 10 for very good.

Kiona; Tenuta Pederzana; Dom Les Hautes Noelles

2010-08-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Kiona, Dry Riesling, Reserve 2007 & Lemberger 2006 (Red Mountain, Washington) - This Washington winery was highly recommended in a good wine store in Davis Square. I found the Lemberger to be excellet, kind of like a spicy Pinot Noir, easily a 6 out of 10 for upper average and I considered higher. The Riesling didn't impress me as much but Nancy still liked it, a 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Tenuta Pederzana, Puntamora, 2005 (Italy) - I found this in the cooler at Cardullo's in Harvard Square. Darker than most chilled reds, rather bold and fruity, and only the slightest hint of carbonation. We enjoyed it, Nancy especially, but I still can't say it's better than 5 out of 10 lower average.

Domaine Les Hautes Noelles, Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu, 2009 (France) - A little more acidic than I expect from Muscadet but we enjoyed it fine. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Portteus Bistro Red; Ajello Zibibbo; Dom Du Gour

2010-08-08T05:58:00.000-07:00

Portteus, Bistro Red, 2008 (Rattlesnake Hills, WA) - I store highly recommended this and for once they got it right. This was a great red with berry and chocolate flavors and a richer body then you'd expect for the price range (I think around $12). Possibly an everyday go-to red for the home. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Ajello, Zibibbo, 2009 (Sicily, Italy) - A store suggested this as a grape varietal I hadn't tried yet so I bought it an it later turned out to be Muscat of Alexandria which I'd had multiple times. This sample was dry however, which makes it a little different. When we tried it at our work tasting group initially everyone liked it but the foxiness muscat shows when dry was coming through somewhat. I quite liked it while still pretty cold and I'd even have described it as floral. But as the glass warmed it litterally just became cloying and overwhelming. In the end just a 5 out of 10 for lower average (kind of splitting the difference between the 6 I'd give it cold and the 4 it gets warmed).

Domaine Du Gour De Chaule, 2004 (Gigondas, France) - One of the newer co-workers to our tasting group brought this in and I could tell it had all the clues of a more expensive wine then we're used to. Beautiful classy bottle, specific French Appellation, delicious complex bouquet and flavor, and a longer than average finish. Despite being a small turnout for the tasting that night it was really a treat and we all got to have a good amount of the sampling. 7 out of 10 for above average (and I considered 8).

De Bortoli Emeri; Santero Asti; Arbor Mist Raspberry

2010-08-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

De Bortoli, Emeri, Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc (Australia) - A cheap (under $10?) bubbly from Sauvignon Blanc (which you seldom see). A little strange with the grassiness coming through but Nancy still liked it and said she'd have it again. Slogan on the back - "Because everyone should freshen up their wine wardrobe" - Emeri De Bortoli. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Santero, Asti (Italia) - A $15 Muscat which is plenty acceptable but is pretty much indistinguishable from the lower priced muscats anyway. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Arbor Mist, Raspberry Sparkle (Canandaigua, NY) - Yeah I know, I knew before I bought it. This is ultra cheap wine dressed up with a little fruit flavor so non-wine-connoisseurs can have it like wine coolers. And you know Nancy actually liked it but the curious thing is she thought it tasted more like cider than a raspberry flavored wine and I'd have to agree. 4 out of 10 for below average. I'll admit though I kind of expected it to score even lower.

Lost Angel; Massaya; Bogus; Quinta De La Rosa

2010-07-31T03:41:00.000-07:00

Saphire Brands, Lost Angel, Mischief Red Wine, 2006 (Central Coast, California) - This cool labeled and carefully marketed wine is certainly OK with it's fruit forward style. I almost gave it a 6 for upper average but I had to be honest with myself - if it had come in a different bottle and label I'd probably just given it a 5 for lower average - so there you go. But it's certainly enjoyable enough and at around $12 I think the value is there.

Quinta De La Rosa, Finest Reserve, Porto (Portugal) - First time I've seen this brand of port and it did not hint what style of port was inside and was a little expensive at $22 so my initial expectations were low. It was somewhere between a ruby and tawny style. Flavor was good and Nancy especially liked it. Don't think I'd spend $22 on it again though, maybe if the price was in the $15 to $20 range. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Beau Thorey, Bogus (France) - I bought this because a wine store in Medford Square claimed it was Muscat of Hamburg and I hadn't had that grape before. I looked it up. This Muscat is indeed a red, however the internet said this wine is almost entire Carignane with just a little Muscat added in (so not a true taste test of this Muscat varietal). Anyway we had this wine at our tasting group at work and everyone liked it. I'd say it's a rustic red with fairly bold flavor, more new world style than old. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Massaya, Classic, 2007 (Bekaa Valley, Lebanon) - I was excited because this is the only wine I've ever found from Lebanon, plus it was made with the help of a couple famous French winemakers. Sure enough you get a French-style old world red blend with decent balance and tanins and enough flavor to please yet subdued enough to go with food. Note the leading grape in the blend is actually Cinsault. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Monte Ducay; Tissier Roland; Chateau Coupe Roses

2010-07-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Monte Ducay, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (Carinena, Spain) - Quite a flavorful quality buy at around $10. Exactly what I think of when the $10-$20 range from Spain comes into mind. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Tissier Roland, Sancerre Chavignol, 2007 (France) - This was brought into our wine tasting group and was a big hit with all. It's a Sauvignon Blanc in the classic sense with a good amount of grassiness to it. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Chateau Coupe Roses, 2008 la bastide (Minervois, France) - Made a little more in the new world style this red blend was fruit forward but still not overdone. Nancy especially liked it an nailed most of the bottle. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Schmitt Sohne, Riesling Kabinett, 2006 (Germany) - A drier version of the Riesling we already reviewed from them. Nancy and I both still quite liked it. Despite being a mass produced ubiquitous Riesling we think they've got some good products going. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Schmitt Sohne; Gaetano D'Aquino; DeBertoli Tawny

2010-07-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Schmitt Sohne, Riesling Auslese, 2006 (Germany) - A sweeter Riesling which although not a standout compared to other Auselese's is certainly enjoyable and reasonably priced. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Gaetano D'Aquino, Asti (Italy) - A $5 sweet muscat from Trader Joe's which competes well with the $10 range of the same style from other makers. Worth repeating again and again even though it's just a 5 out of 10 average.

DeBertoli, 8 Year Old Tawny Port (Australia) - At $25 this was a bit more than I usually pay for my ports. I'd had DeBertoli still wine (I think it was a Petite Verdot sample) and thought it was decent for the price. Their Tawny is a little like the Whiskers Blake port also out of Australia. Sugary sweet, lots of red fruit flavors, sticky on the lips. Yeah it's candied but we liked that, and at the 8 year age it's kind of mid-way between the Ruby and the Tawny styles of port. Good score here, 8 out of 10 for very good. I found it in the basement of DeLuca's on Newbury Street.

Il Bastardo; Chateau de Fontenille; Cantina Bostonia

2010-07-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Il Bastardo, Sangiovese, 2008 (Toscano, Italy) - This $9 red was from the bottom shelf of the tiny store across from home so I held little hope for it. Surprisingly it was drinkable. It's a fruit forward version of Sangiovese and combined with the Bastard title and the rip-off of a Bolero painting on the label I'd say this was clearly marketed to gullible Westerners. Drinkable, but you still feel a little like a sucker. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Chateau de Fontenille, Bordeaux Clairet, 2009 (Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France) - A store owner pushed this as a unique experience - a Cabernet Franc rose - and although I've had that as a rose before I gave it a try. OK, but not unique to me in any way from the sea of roses out there. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Cantina Bostonia, American Sangiovese (Jamaica Plain, MA) - LOL. The interesting thing about this wine is it didn't suck. I mean we're talking about a wine which looks cheap from the label and which is somehow made in a residential area of Boston called Jamaica Plain (not one of the nicer neighborhoods) and is non vintage to boot. Yet it's OK. Standard cheaper end Sangiovese taste. The alcohol content is only 12% but somehow felt harsher. I found this at Harvest natural supermarket in Central Square. 5 out of 10 for lower average, and yes I could drink this again. Don't know that I will.

Sebastien Roux; Lugana Le Creete; Lyeth 2007

2010-07-17T06:52:00.000-07:00

Sebastien Roux, 2004 (Pommard, Grand Vin De Bourgogne, France) - A co-worker kindly brought this in to our wine tasting group and it was a big hit. Opened well in advance so it could breathe, it had the classic old world style of restrained fruit and a decent finish. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Lugana (Azienda Agricola Ottella), Le Creete, 2008 (Italy) - A $19 white I had high hopes for. Everyone in our work tasting group liked it. Although Trebbiano, which can be a fairly mundane white, the vines were 45+ years old and clearly this winemaker knew more about what to make from them than the average maker. The description on the back of citrus, grapefruit, and herbs held true. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Lyeth, Meritage, 2007 (Sonoma County, California) - When I first tried their 2006 I scored it an upper average. So I brought the 2007 sample into work and although everything liked it enough there was no one blown away. I actually think it slipped a little and could now be mistaken for most any lower average red. 5 out of 10.

Passion Has Red Lips; Presidential Porto; Root: 1

2010-07-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

Some Young Punks, Passion Has Red Lips (Australia) - At $25 this wine is overpriced marketing but I bought it anyway because Nancy really loves Hard Case Crime books and especially the art on the covers and this series of wines from Some Young Punks has four different classic book covers as their labels. The wine inside (which you'll note is non-vintage) is acceptable but nothing great. Nancy was unimpressed. Personally I'd still say it was upper average for 6 out of 10 but I hoped for better. Noted I couldn't peel this label because Nancy wanted to keep it, thus the cell phone photo instead.

Presidential Porto, Ruby (Portugal) - Sorry I missed taking down the vintner on this one and my cell phone photo is too blurry to make it out. Presidential is just the sub-label on it. I bought this on Beacon Hill for around $10 and it was the only sample on the shelf. Personally I thought it was a pretty boring port - smooth but simpler in flavor. Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Vina Ventisquero, Root: 1, Cabernet Sauvignon (Colchagua, Chile) - A few years back I had this in a restaurant, back before my wine hobby and before I really was paying attention, and finally got around now to buying a bottle to review at home. A bit too fancy on the label - too busy - with the glass overprinted like an expensive tattoo. The wine inside is fine but it could have been any inexpensive cab from anywhere. Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Weber Riesling Piesporter; Zardetto; Voga Sparkling

2010-07-10T04:40:00.000-07:00

Weber, Piesporter Michelsberg, 2007 (Mosel, Germany) - This is the 2nd of two bottles of cheap Riesling I bought at a small neighborhood liquor store near home. Expecting very little, both Nancy and I really liked the first bottle and scored it well. The second bottle is from a different region. Honestly we find the two samples indistinguishable (which is both good and bad). That's good because it still means we liked it. However, the label makes a big deal about how the regional wines differ so they failed to prove their point. Regardless 6 out of 10 for upper average. Not bad for and $8 Riesling.

Zardetto, Spumante Brut (Italy) - It's OK. Just a $14 bubbly tasting like any other bubbly in the $8 to $15 range. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Voga, Pinot Grigio Sparkling Wine (Italy) - Ha! Here's marketing gone too far. A large perfume-styled bottled. The glass is quite heavy, the plastic cap is an unnecessary and unfunctional cosmetic addition to look like a pump cap. The wine inside is just any other cheap bubbly. I'd hazzard to say that people who buy this once are either curious skeptics like myself or people who want to collect the bottle. And people who buy this repeatedly are suckers who don't know a darn thing about good wine. Still, I'll admit it's not undrinkable. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Jackson-Triggs; Craftsman Harslevelu; Harveys Bristol

2010-07-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

Jackson-Triggs Proprietors' Reserve Vidal Icewine, 2007 (Niagara Peninsula, Canada) - I'm still looking for the equivalent of Inniskilin Vidal Icewine at a lower price. This sample at around $30 came close but Inniskilin still rules (although that's twice the cost). Anyway, you get a delicious sugar sweet ice wine with exotic flavors that stop short of cloying. Quality stuff. 9 out of 10 for outstanding.

Craftsman, Harslevelu, 2006 (Hungary) - A recent try out at our wine tasting group at work. Universally liked, in fact several said it was the best single varietal we'd tried in a long time. A touch sweet, a touch on the dessert wine style, yet easily drinkable and not too heavy. And only $10. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Harveys Bristol Cream (Spain) - A mixing sherry which used to be heavily marketed (even as a kid I remember hearing about "Harveys Bristol Cream" somewhere). I did indeed buy it for cocktail mixing and had a recipe or two calling for sherry in them. But personally, what a let down. The label says "rich and full bodied" on the front but I find it neither. It's more comparable to a rainwater madeira, which I've ripped in past reviews too, and the watered down madeira probably still had more complexity and flavor than this did. Honestly, I poured almost this entire bottle out. It was taking up valuable space in my liquor cabinet and wasn't getting used. 4 out of 10 for below average.

Monte Redondo; Barefoot Bubbly Rose; Weber Zeller

2010-07-04T00:03:00.000-07:00

Quinta de Monte Redondo, Ruby Porto (Portugal) - This is a $10 Ruby Port which I've only found so far in Supreme Liquors in Central Square - a store where I seldom find any real surprises and which overprices in my opinion - so I expected little from this Ruby. Nancy enjoyed it a lot, surprisingly. I'll agree it has decent red fruit flavors and lives up to Ruby flavors. To me it had some alcohol burn, almost like the quality of the fruits was good but the quality of the spirits added to turn them into port may have been cheap. Anyway, surprisingly acceptable for a $10 port. I'll go 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Barefoot Bubbly, Rose Cuvee Sparkling California Champagne - From a vendor always priced around $10 and offering cheap boring bubblies in my opinion comes a rose which what do you know is actually pretty good. Nancy was immediately struck by it and asked for repeats. It's neither bitter nor sweet like most roses. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Weber, Zeller Schwarze Katz, 2008 (Germany) - This $8 Riesling from an extra cheap wine store around the corner from home had very low expectations from me yet delivered a surprisingly flavorful and not too sweet Riesling. Despite being a cheap wine marketed for export to foreigners easily duped I actually thought this was decent enough for repeat. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Ed Hardy Sangria; Puerto Viejo; Somerset Ridge

2010-07-03T23:44:00.001-07:00

Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier, Sangria (Spain) - Ha ha, first let me confess I'm writing this whole set of reviews at 3:00AM - because Nancy broke up my night's sleep over something stupid and now I'm wired up late at night. These reviews inevitably will be kind of bitchy, no? Anyway, Ed Hardy, the tattoo-like artist whose creations decorate clothes and now wine, is not an indication of good wine so let's not fool ourselves any longer into thinking we're buying wine, we're just buying the art. This is the 2nd Hardy drink I've bought. The last was an overpriced low average bubbly. In the case of the Sangria you get nothing better than a cheap wine cooler. The store where I bought this ($8) had a sign on it saying best Sangria in the world. Liars. This wine is for suckers. A fair price on this would have been $4. If you want a better value in Sangria just buy some $3 buck Chuck and toss some leftover fruit and sugar into it. 4 out of 10 for below average.

Puerto Viejo, Reserve Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (Curico Valley, Chile) - This poser has a strip of real tree bark glued to the front. Lah dee dah.
And they've got the buzz words "Reserve Estate" on there. Uh huh. And are those the reasons it's only found on the bottom shelf of the cheap tiny neighborhood wine store across the street? Which has the nerve to ask $10 for it? Uh, this is crap wine. Reading the back label I note the maker Puerto Viejo isn't located in Chile, they're in Florida, and though I don't doubt they got the product from Chile they're really just lying when they imply they themselves have some sort of estate and this sampling really came from their own special reserve. Although not without red wine flavors the contents were on the edge of vinegary (even though dated 2008 - pretty young). Nancy, didn't like it much either, and although I had about a glass and a half of it much of the remainder of the bottle went down the sink. 4 out of 10 for below average.

Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery, Kansas Buffalo Red, Semi-Sweet Red Wine (Paola, Kansas) - The last sample I brought back from this year's. Kansas trip. Picked up in Salina. Despite a classy label this was really cheap stuff. A weak wine cooler which Nancy immediately turned her nose up at and which I mostly drank by myself - mainly since I brought it as a prize from my trip. 4 out of 10 for below average. Hey, Kansas does make some decent wines. The Smoky Hill Winery had some decent ones in past reviews. But Paola so far just gave what the typical Bostonian would expect from Kansas wines.

Casa Antiga; Casal di Serra; Oh Schist Riesling

2010-06-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

Casa Antiga, 2008 (Dao, Portugal) - This Portuguese white listed some unusual varietals in the blend including Bical and Encruzado among others. Cold I found it's flavor completely bland. Warmed to room temperature it took on some complexity and was a decent white. Nancy liked it too but I suspect for different reasons - she had it cold and like how it wasn't disagreeable, I had it warm and liked how it differed. Regardless, 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Umani Ronchi, Casal di Serra, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, 20006 (Italy) - An interesting Verdicchio, maybe more flavorful than the last sets I reviewed a year back. The only drawback was the bitter almond aftertaste didn't appeal to everyone in our tasting group. Personally I enjoyed this one. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Oh Schist, Riesling, 2008 (Germany) - This is a cleverly marketed anonymous Riesling out of Germany made a touch sweet. Although I usually rip those sorts of wines I'll admit both Nancy and I quite enjoyed this one. In a blind tasting against other quality Rieslings I think it would do pretty well. 7 out of 10 for above average.

181 Merlot; Castillo Monseran; Abbaye Saint-Ferme

2010-06-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

181 Wine Cellars, Merlot, 2007 (Lodi, Manteca, California) - I reviewed a similarly labeled Cab which looked almost identical and was also named for the number of the vine clone. They must have the same owner. I ripped the other sample for being average wine dressed up to look fancy. This sample is still guilty of the same but I'll add that by the time I got to the bottom of the bottle it was richer and more complex (concentrated?) than the start and I really enjoyed that last glass. So their Merlot got the edge over their Cab. 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average.

Castillo de Monseran, Garnacha, 2007 (Carinena, Spain) - I've had lots of Garnacha samples, they all claim to be old vine and power houses, but most turn out to be just average Garnacha. That's Monseran. It's fine, just didn't blow me away. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Abbaye De Saint-Ferme, 2005 (Bordeaux, France) - This was hyped as a great buy at a wine store - just a powerhouse of a wine from the fantastic 2005 vintage year and a steal at under $15. Meh. I'll give them it has a freshness you don't always get, but I didn't care so much for the flavor. Weaker than I expected. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Alvear Cream; Martini & R Prosecco; Gloria Ferrer

2010-06-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

Alvear Cream, Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Spain) - The second Alvear I've tried and they're quality products. This PX isn't the over the top sickly sweet you often get, in fact it's Oloroso in style. Good flavor and complexity, not too heavy not too light, and priced right around $15. 7 out of 10 for above average. I only find it at Harvest in Central Square.

Martini and Rossi, Prosecco (Italy) - Nancy and I almost always like the Martini & Rossi bubblies. The Prosecco lived up to the tradition although we still prefer their Asti. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma Brut (California) - This supermarket bubbly was originally priced close to $20 but had been brought down on sale below $15. Hey it's OK but I see no reason why this should be $20 anyway. $10 samples are just as good. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Cannonau di Sardegna, Santa Rita Reserva; Wolftrap

2010-06-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

Sella and Mosca, Cannonau di Sardegna, Riserva, 2005 (Italy) - I bought this hoping I'd found yet another new grape but it turned out it's just the Italian version of Grenache. Good wine though. Less fruit forward than Rhone or New World Grenaches. Some tannins, a little cherry. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Santa Rita, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, 2007 (Maipo Valley, Chile) - A quality Cab sample for it's $10 price range. Slightly thinner body but good flavor. Would go well with food. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Boekenhoutskloof, The Wolftrap, Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier, 2009 (South Africa) - I reviewed the 2008 previously and thought it was decent for the money. The 2009 lost some edge and in fact one of the tasters in our group at work commented they'd probably never buy this again. I don't know. There's a lot more wines in the $10 range I'd prefer, but this wasn't atrocious. Clearly it's just a cheap wine targeted to the bold tastes favored in America. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Chateau Peyros, Quara Malbec; Dancing Bull Merlot

2010-06-13T06:33:00.001-07:00

Chateau Peyros, 2004 (Madiran, France) - A separate older review of the 2001 vintage was raving, especially about the powerful but silky tanins. The 2004 version, younger of course, was a little more mellow but without losing the Peyros' style. Note 2001's label is in the photo, I didn't peel the 2004 but they looked the same. 2001 was an 8 out of 10, I'd give 2004 a 6 out of 10 for upper average, but despite the score drop this is still an excellent wine I'm proud to tast and share. All in the tasting group at work approved of the choice.

Quara, Malbec, 2007 (Cafayate Valley, Argentina) - This brand was hot a few years back and I just got around to trying it. At around $10 it's a buy, and the Malbec start of the bottle was a little weak but by the bottom it was a more concentrated flavorful sample. 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average, and yes I'd say it's a good value purchase.

Rancho Zabaco Winery, Dancing Bull, Merlot, 2006 (California) - This $10 range wine owned by Gallo is decent enough but folks you're still really getting marketing. Sharp bottle / label / name and an average 5 out of 10 lower average content.

Veuve du Vernay; Barefoot Brut; Lamura Grillo

2010-06-13T06:27:00.000-07:00

Veuve Du Vernay, Brut (France) - Just one more low average cheap bubbly. 5 out of 10.

Barefoot Bubbly, Brut Cuvee Sparkling California Champagne - We've tried most all of these now. Yet again it's a low average cheap ($10) bubbly. OK for the price although it's hard to imagine why others supposedly rave about these cheap samplings from the conglomerate of Gallo.

Lamura, Grillo (Sicilia, Italy) - A single varietal version of one of the grapes used in the Marsala blends. Quite nice actually. The bouquet was floral to me, the taste subdued but decent. 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average.

Villa Jolanda; Giesen Sauv Blanc; St James Blackb

2010-06-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

Santero SPA S Stefano Belbo, Villa Jolanda, Prosecco (Italy) - This beautiful bottle has an antique photograph-look label that seems expensive. But that's it, it's just marketing. The Prosecco is simply lower average 5 out of 10. No wonder it was 2 for $20.

Giesen, Marborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 (New Zealand) - I almost always like New Zealand Sauv Blanc's and this was no exception. At the start of the bottle it seemed weaker than others and I was leaning toward a 5 out of 10 but by the time I'd reached the bottom in a day or two I'd elevated my opinion to a 6.

St. James Winery, Blackberry Wine (Missouri) - I bought this in Kansas to be one of my take home souvenirs after I unpacked the wine I'd brought with me and had an empty shipping container in my travel bag. Naturally it is what it is. An inexpensive fruit wine taylored to semi-sweet tastes of Midwesterners. Nancy tried a little and dubbed this just a wine cooler. I'd say she's right with the exception that they didn't go all out sweet with this and the fact they showed any restraint with blackberry hints they intended better than a wine cooler. Anyway I gradually finished the bottle. It was OK with ice (ahem). 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Haut Charmes; Flonheimer Riesling; Col di Luna

2010-06-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

Haut Charmes, Sauternes, 2007 (France) - A generous gift to our wine tasting group at work by one of the new staff. A classic Sauternes with honey sweetness and a touch of the exotic. Personally I'd say it's not the most complex Sauternes I've had, nor the sweetest, but it was still good. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Flonheimer Bingerberg, Riesling Spatlese, 2007 (Germany) - A $12 range Riesling with a taste more in line with $20 so really a pretty good value. We had a handful of Europeans in our work wine tasting group that day and they particularly enjoyed the Riesling. Nice sample. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Col di Luna, Rose di Valmonte (Italy) - This is 85% Raboso and 15% Pinot Nero and I had picked it up for our wine tasting group since Raboso was new to us. I remember I paid something like $25 for it at DeLuca's Market, which is generally a pretty good place, and the bottle looked classy, so I expected something special. A let down. First for a bubbly wine it had remarkably little bubbling. The champagne cork was in fine shape so it wasn't that. Upon pouring you just got a little froth on the sides, probably less so than you get with Brachetto. The glass contents, although described by some as fruity, just struck me as boring. Hey it wasn't bad, I just couldn't really say it was good, and I couldn't believe I paid $25 for it. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Rioja Vega; Rioja Vega Crianza; JP Azeitao

2010-06-05T05:27:00.000-07:00

Rioja Vega, Rioja, 2008 (Spain) & Rioja Vega, Crianza, 2006 (Spain) - $10 and $12 respectively. Nancy and I fully enjoyed both wines and considered each decent gifts for her parents. Nice old-world style wine styles, nice flavors but not overdone, medium bodies. Personally I think the cheaper Rioja is either the equal or better than the Crianza so I say save a few bucks if you want. 5.5 out of 10 for exact center average for both.

Bacalhoa, JP Azeito, Vinho Tinto, 2007 (Portugal) - I had good expectations for this wine despite its under $10 price because there's a sweet wine Bacalhoa makes, Moscatel de Setubal, which I'm quite fond of. Unfortunately this red was rather forgettable, and in fact Nancy didn't even like it, I had to finish it. Nothing wrong with it just nothing to praise either. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Sabor Real; Ficklin Tinta Port; Hugel Gentil

2010-05-31T08:39:00.000-07:00

Sabor Real, 2006 (Toro, Spain) - I thought I might have found yet another new grape since this claims to be unique as Tinta de Toro, however the web confirms this is just yet another name for the ubiquitous Tempranillo grape in Spain. Despite that fact we were quite happy with this $12 sample as it's flavor and body were more in the $20-$30 range. Nancy and I both agreed this was excellent, even a candidate to bring as a gift over to her parents. I've found it only at one place so far - Simmons Liquors on Beacon Hill across from the Whole Foods market. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Ficklin Vineyards, Old Vine Tinta Port (Madera, California) - OK I cringe at praising most sweet wines out of Madera CA because I think they're just cheap imitations of the real Maderas and Ports out of Portugal. Sometimes there are exceptions. When I first opened this port I thought I was going to rip it in the review because it was a fairly simple sweet wine on first taste. Either it opened up more later or it had concentrated down at the bottom of the bottle because by the end I thought this was quite tasty and rich. 7 out of 10 for above average. I found it at Kappy's for around $17 which is in line with real ports of comparable quality.

Hugel, Gentil, 2008 (Alsace, France) - This is a blend of French Alsace grapes (doesn't say which ones) which was highly recommended albeit by the tiny liquor store across from home. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It had complexity and finish beyond the typical white and it hadn't been sweetened up for American tastes. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Vinha da Tapada; Castelo do Sulco; Vaza Crianza

2010-05-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

Vinha da Tapada, Coelheiros, 2005 (Portugal) - A $7 red from Portugal which is simply a low average 5 out of 10. If you like the price go ahead.

Castelo do Sulco, Reserva, 2007 (Portugal) - A $6 red from Portugal which is quite weak and ordinary but still acceptable at a 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Vaza, Rioja, Crianza, 2006 (Spain) - A store had a special display of this and the store owner talked it up as a great red for the $15 or so price. Just OK folks. Sure the flavor and body are OK, they top the other two reviews this morning, but to me this is just any Spanish red from that same price range. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Rindge Zinfandel; Menage a Trois; 337

2010-05-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Rindge, California Zinfandel, East Bench, 2007 (Dry Creek Valley, California) - The lastest tried by our wine tasting group at work. This excellent Zin boasts a powerful complex bouquet. Flavor is rich and unmistakably zin but doesn't cross into the jammy zin style. Really a delightful zin made in a classic wine style. 7 out of 10 for above average (and I considered an 8).

Folie a Deuz, Menage a Trois, California Red Wine, 2008 (Saint Helena, Napa, California) - This blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon is exactly the type of bold fruit forward wine most US Zin makers try to achieve with just their Zin. Tasty and rich and just $15. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

337 Wine Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (Lodi, California) - 337 is the name of a vine clone from France and combined with the classy black label this wine comes across as a marketing to intellectuals. Contents were just OK though. The body was a little weak and the flavor although fine didn't climb above average to me. 5 out of 10 for lower average. And frankly this $15 would be more like $10 if it were trumped up with branding and packaging.

Charles de Fere; Francois Montand; Santa Cristina

2010-05-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

Charles de Fere, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Reserve (France) - A standard low average under $10 French sample, just a touch bitter but still acceptable. 5 out of 10.

Francois Montand, Blanc de Blancs, Brut (France) - Another standard low average $15 French sample, better quality bubbles but same standard taste. 5 out of 10.

Santa Cristina Antinori, Sangiovese, 2007 (Italy) - Despite labeled Sangiovese it also contains Merlot. Decent low average sample of Italian red, OK but forgettable. 5 out of 10.

Vinicola Cave de Amadeu, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001 (Brazil) - This is a very cheap red ($5.50) among all the other cheap Brazilian wine imports in the tiny liquor store across from home. Yet Nancy quite liked it anyway and could see it as a repeat house wine. Personally I though the body was pretty weak and the flavor although acceptable was pretty cheap too. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Ribolla Gialla; Bostavan Lidia; Duche de Longueville

2010-05-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

Marco Felluga, Ribolla Gialla, 2006 (Collio, Italy) - A recent trial at our wine tasting group at work. Although none were blown away by this we all thought it was an agreeable standard white, and after trying a different sample which stank we like the Ribolla all the more. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Vinaria Bostavan, Lidia (Moldova) - A stinker red we tried in our work tasting group. Meant to be a cheap sweet dessert wine in a cool genie-like bottle yet it doesn't even rise to the quality of a wine cooler. To me the bouquet was queer, kind of like a fish tank. The slightly sweet taste was cloying with hints of thistle. Most people either poured the rest of their tiny glass out, or dilluted it with water to finish, or in my case slammed it back like shot. Really a stinker. 1 out of 10 for never buy it again (and it's been years since I bestowed that distinction).

Duche de Longueville, Cidre Bouche de Cru, Muscadet de Dieppe (France) - This $5 French cider was actually made from clear grape juice instead of a brown cider so it comes out looking golden yellow and bubbly like a sparkling white wine instead of heavier like a cider. Frankly I'm not sure legally it should be called a cider. Despite that fact though the price was right and since both Nancy and I like sweet and bubbly things we both thoroughly enjoyed this bottle. I'd rather have it than many of the low end sparkling wines. 5.5 out of 10 for center average.

Italo Pietrantonj; Lapostolle Carmenere; Amestoi

2010-05-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

Italo Pietrantonj, Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, 2006 (Italy) - This was recommended in a store selection as a great Montepulciano for the $12 or so price. Yes it was good but neither the flavor not body climbed above average for me. Simply 5 out of 10 for lower average. Also although the lip of the bottle was slightly fluted I found it made spilling more likely except when you were pouring rapid volume, so what looked cool initially turned out to be more of a negative.

Lapostolle, Casa, Carmenere, 2008 (Rapel Valley, Chile) - We loved their Cabernet Sauvignon. The Carmenere was good too just not as much. It has some richness with dark fruit and mocha but not the body or itensity the cab sample had given. At least it wasn't that burnt overdone style you sometimes find cheap Carmenere to be. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Amestoi, Rubentis, Getariako Txakolina, 2009 (Spain) - This is a Basque rose of Txakolina and I'd never seen it as a rose before. Tasting like an upper end white with hints of sea salt and citrus and a smooth yet effervescent body this indeed probably was among the better Txakolinas we've had, and we're always fans of it. Don't know if I'd spend $25 for it again but yes it was classy and quality. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Bouvet Brut; Freixenet Carta Nevada; Trocadero

2010-05-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

Bouvet, Signature Brut (France) - A $10-$15 range French bubbly with a touch of bitter which in a blind taste testing would probably be mistaken for an inexpensive Spanish Cava. OK but just 5 out of 10 for low average.

Freixenet, Carta Nevada, Cava (Spain) - A golden cava with a little more fruit than the other Freixenet offerings. Nancy and I liked it better than their others - 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Jean Paul Trocadero, Brut (France) - A $15 sample from the tiny liquor store across the street, I didn't expect much but it was pretty good. The back label says it's a "Savoie" style of blend but was made a little fruitier than the traditional. A solid 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average.

Veuve Moisans; Gruet; Zuccardi Organic; Two Hands

2010-05-09T02:56:00.000-07:00

Veuve Moisans. Cuvee Extra, Blanc de blancs, Brut (France) - Affordable French bubbly with a cool bottle and label. Contents were low average but fine nonetheless and this is worth repeating for an inexpensive house bubbly. 5 out of 10.

Gruet, Demi-Sec (New Mexico) - We tried two other Gruet's which we genuinely didn't like but this one was fine. Must be the Demi-Sec - not fully Brut or Extra Dry. Nancy in fact agreed it would be upper average, 6 out of 10.

Familia Zuccardi, Vida organica Chardonnay, Sparkling Wine, Partida Limitada, 2007 (Argentina) - Fancy bottle, fancy name, respectable varietal, fully organic -- and yet just low average. Frankly I liked it fine when we popped the bottle and it had tiny bubbles and class, enough so I'd have given it a 6 for upper average. Nancy drank most of it though, thought it was just OK in the beginning, and by day 2 probably because it's organic it had turned a little and she didn't like the flavor by then plus it had gone rather flat. In the end it's just a 5 out of 10 for lower average, and I suspect Nancy would have argued for lower.

Two Hands, Brilliant Disguise, Moscato, 2007 (Australia) - This was a smaller bottle (500ml) I ordered from Wine.com. I had a devil of a time getting the cork out, it battled me every centimetre. Contents were fantastic to me yet Nancy wasn't impressed. It was mildly sweet and not syrupy or overdone. There was a general tropical fruit aspect I couldn't put my finger on. I'd love to enjoy this again. 8 out of 10 for very good.

Offley Ruby Port; Osborne Fine Ruby; Noval Black

2010-05-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

Offley, Ruby Porto (Portugal) - The label claims it's "a pioneering, contemporary porto wine brand". Well, I only see it in store displays with the cheaper end of ports so I didn't expect much and I was right. Really it's just any average over blended nondescript port sample. Cheap enough that it's the only port sample I've ever had where the reusable cork broke off in the bottle. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Osborne, Fine Ruby (Spain) - Osborne is a major Spanish sherry label and it's unclear from this port's label whether the grapes came from Portugal or Spain. At a little over $10 I expected even less from this Ruby than Offley's, yet personally I liked it better. A little fresher and fruitier. 6 out of 10 for upper average. Really a pretty good buy and worth a repeat.

Noval, Black Porto (Portugal) - A ruby-style port made from concentrated grapes. It reminded me a lot of Barbadillo's La Cilla Pedro Ximenez - a sugary super-concentrated raisin flavor, though Barbadillo's is a white grape product and Black Porto is a red. I quite enjoyed it and give an 8 out of 10 for very good. At $22 it's a little pricey and personally I'd still rather have La Cilla than this, I think I'd given that a 10. Anyway, if you like ruby ports give Noval Black a try.

Castas de Santar; Wily Jack; Monsaraz

2010-05-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

Casa de Santar, Castas de Santar, 2003 (Dao, Portugal) - I've had good wine by this maker but the sample in this review was a solo old bottle I found on the shelf and probably isn't indicative. When I first opened it the flavor and bouquet were quite good and would have scored a 6 out of 10 for upper average, but the wine turned quickly. By day 2 it was starting to go to vinegar and Nancy wouldn't touch it - it would have been a 4 out of 10 for below average. Not undrinkable but no longer pleasant.

Wily Jack, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (Sonoma, CA) - This cheap California red was at Harvest in Central Square. Good all around flavor although the body was a bit thin. I'd still score it a solid average 5.5 out of 10, worth trying for the price.

Monsaraz, 2007 (Alentejo, Portugal) - A cheap red blend from Portugal, acceptable for the price but nothing special. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Juan Gil, Domaine Des Terres Falmet, Mad Dogs

2010-05-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

Juan Gil, Monastrell, 2006 (Jumilla, Spain) - Brought in by another member of our tasting group at work, this had a bountiful bouquet and nice red fruit flavors yet a medium to light body to it. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Domaine Des Terres Falmet, Cinsault, 2008 (Vin de Pays D'Oc, France) - This is the only pure Cinsault sample I've ever found in Boston and unlike the rose's you usually see Cinsault listed in this was a pure dark red. Medium bodied but full flavored one wonders why this grape isn't more often made as a stand alone red instead of being blended to oblivian. Nice wine. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Monastrell, 2006 (Jumilla, Spain) - Despite the catchy title (which really doesn't make much sense since this is a Spanish wine, no?) it's really just an average red and may even be a little over priced from it's Spanish brethren. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Moelleux; Baron Herzog Champagne; Esprit deFlore

2010-04-24T06:35:00.000-07:00

Chateau Moncontour, Moulleux, 2000 (Vouvray, France) - I'm excited to review this because it was new and different. This was the last bottle of it's kind in the dessert wine section of Wine Emporium in the South End, and at $22 it was a little stretch above my typical price range. The back label said it's from 60 year old Chenin Blanc vines and only on special years when the crop is right do they make this Moelleux. Relatively low alcohol (10.5%). Anyway, I thought this was delicious with hints of pear, tropical fruits, and honey, and a very smooth body. It kind of reminded me of an ultra-light-weight Sauternes. 8 out of 10 for excellent. One of the classier wines I've tried in quite a long while.

Baron Herzog, Brut American Champagne (Bayonne, New Jersey) - A cheap American bubbly (around $6 I think), and the back label confesses they pretty much source the grapes from everywhere. Yet I've got to say this was still a perfectly acceptable cheap bubbly. I'm not sure in a blind tasting against cheap cavas or cheap California bubblies that people could single out the Baron Herzog. And this is from a less common place, and is Kosher for Passover. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Jean-Luc Baldes, Esprit de Flore, 2007 (Cahors, France) - 90% Malbec, 10% Merlot, this was a full bodied red fruit wine with substantial tanins and indeed does have the hints of cranberries and strawberries from the tasting notes on the label. A quality modern version of an Old World Cahors classic, but still not my favorite from that region. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Notro; Lapostolle Casa Cab Sauv; Old Moon Zin

2010-04-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

Notro, Sangiovese-Bonarda, 2008 (Mendoza, Argentina) - This $6 bottle was at Harvest health foods in Central Square and had a shelf note it was a great buy. Yes indeedy. Not only is it rare to find a blend of these two varietals but both the flavor and body have a richness you seldom get in this price range. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Lapostolle, Casa, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Rapel Valley, Chile) - A dusty $16 sample from the tiny liquor store across the street. We were outright surprised by the richness and intensity of the flavor and I went right back to buy out the other two samples on the shelf. The back label says the winery's terroir was carefully chosen and the winery was started by the French granddaughter of the creator of Grand Marnier. Well a Grand job she has done. Look for great things from this winery. 7 out of 10 for above average (and it's rare I give above 6).

Trader Moon Wine Company, Old Moon {old vine} Zinfandel, 2008 (Manteca, California) - We've thoroughly enjoyed every other inexpensive red sample in the Moon series at Trader Joes. But my complaint with this one is I wouldn't even guess it was Zinfandel, or especially old vine Zinfandel, if the label didn't tell me. This could be any cheap red wine. And for that it gets a simple 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Bolla Valpolicella; Montecillo Crianza; rojo mojo

2010-04-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

Bolla, Valpolicella, 2008 (Italy) - This $5 Italian from a small neighborhood store was fine for the money but didn't express the tasting notes on the back. Just a standard cheap red, but still 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Montecillo, Crianza, 2006 (Spain) - This $12 Spanish red had pretty good fruit and was popular with both Nancy and myself. 5.5 out of 10 for a solid average finish.

rojo mojo, Monastrell, 2007 (Spain) - Monastrell can be a bold rich red but to us the rojo mojo's version had a lighter body and really could have been most any cheap red. Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Isabella; Terra d'Oro; Dom Michelle XDry; Chaucers

2010-04-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

Goose Watch, Rose of Isabella, 2007 (Finger Lakes, NY) - A simple fruit jam of a rose wine made on the sweet side. Enjoyable mainly if you prefer white merlot or white zin. Still, OK. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Terra d'Oro, Moscato, 2008 (Amador County, CA) - This was a fun gift from a co-worker. A sweet but not overly sweet Muscat, it's most distinguishing characteristic is taste of lychee fruit. Fun. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Domaine Ste Michelle, Extra Dry (Washington) - A standard average quality American bubbly. Plenty good enough for it's $15 price but it's true you can get the same quality for less. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Chaucer's Cellars, Chaucer's Mead (California) - This is 100% honey wine. Personally I thought it was too sweet and heavy and I'm horrified to think of how many calories must be in a glass of pure honey wine. Nancy really loved it though so we'll likely have it again. It reminded us both of Sauternes, however, the latter is far more complex and classy. Still, this is a 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Goats; Astica; Folonari Bardolino; Stefano Farina

2010-04-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

Goats do Roam, Red 2008 (South Africa) - A flavorful western style red but with the body of a cheaper wine. More similar to an overly doctored Australian red than a Californian. Solid 5.5 middle of the road wine.

Astica, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 (Cuyo, Argentina) - A weak mild Cab with a weak body. OK but at $7 you really do get what you pay for. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Folonari, Bardolino, 2006 (Italy) - A simple weak red blend from Italy, OK but only $5 and tasting like it. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Stefano Farina, Barbera d'Asti, 2008 (Italy) - A thin weak Barbera however it is quite fresh and has decent fruit. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Lamartine; Casa de Mouraz; Sensi Negroamaro

2010-04-11T05:46:00.000-07:00

Chateau Lamartine, 2006 (Cahors, France) - A few years back I reviewed a much older sample from this winery (2001 I think) and found it's flavor to be nearly gone. This latest sample, which is 90% Malbec and 10% Merlot, was store recommended and very much was worth the $19.99 price. It has substantial fruit but still in the French fashion (not the overblown New World style) and the tannins are ever present but silky smooth. I could feel them working in my veins, bestowing me health. And Nancy really liked it too. When I went back to the same store to get more there was only a single bottle left and I'll give that to Nancy's folks for a present. If you can find this anywhere I highly recommend you try it. 7 out of 10 for above average (and it's been a while since I stepped above the average categories in a rating).

Casa de Mouraz, 2007 (Dao, Portugal) - A complex flavorful red fruity wine with a substantial serving of tannins too. In fact we had this right after the Lamartine and felt genuinely spoiled to have two very good wines so close together. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Sensi, Negroamaro, 2008 (Puglia, Italy) - Negroamaro is usually a rustic wine and when I first popped this bottle I thought I'd gotten quite the lame sample instead of what was expected. Apparently it just needed to open up, and/or the flavor had concentrated at the bottom, because by the time we finished the bottle we thought we'd done quite alright. 5.5 out of 10 for dead center average.

Fantinel Prosecco; Borges White Port; Incanto

2010-04-10T05:16:00.000-07:00

Spilimbergo, Fantinel, Prosecco (Italy) - A $15 Prosecco I found on Beacon Hill, this sample tries to be a little classier than the sea of other cheap Prosecco's. Bubbles were finer, taste smoother, and it's not cheating on the "extra dry" label. Nancy quite liked it too. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Borges, White Port (Portugal) - A $10 white port from the little liquor store across from home. It's only the second white port I've tried, and the other had more of an anis kick to it. This sat in the fridge for a while after opening and I drank more of it than Nancy. 5 out of 10 for lower average but not really worth repeating.

Incanto, Rose, Vino Frizzante (Italy) - A $3 rose bubbly from Trader Joes (and sorry the label is hard to see - it was easier against the red juice in the bottle). Thoroughly a juice box with just a hint of cheap alcohol, this was drinkable but sub-par. 4.5 out of 10 for below average. I mean you're better off with any Brachetto than this sample, although you'll surely pay more for the Brachetto.

Grao Vasco; Frontera Cab; Barefoot Pinot Noir

2010-04-10T05:07:00.000-07:00

Grao Vasco, 2007 (Dao, Portugal) - This is a $3! obscure Portuguese import which I found at a tiny average liquor store a block from home. Curiously it lists "Jaen" as one of the grapes, which seemed new. On the net it says Jaen is believed to be an ancient variation of Cabernet Franc (and also that Mencia in Spain is thought to be too, which is the first time I'd seen that). Anyway, yes it is weaker than your typical Portuguese blend, but the flavor is OK, it clearly achieves a low average 5 out of 10, and for the price it was really pretty accceptable.

Concha y Toro, Frontera, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 (Chile) - This claims to be "America's Favorite Best-Selling Chilean Wine". What you get is a thoroughly low average and forgetable Cab which could easily have been a cheap box wine. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Barefoot, Pinot Noir (California) - This is Gallo by another name, low end and cheap. I'll grant sometimes these are a decent value but this sample (which claimed to be a new release) is overblown. Back label says "medium bodied wine with tantalizing flavors of ripe cherry and wild raspberry. Hints of vanilla and spice compliment a smooth lingering finish". Yeah, some imagination there. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Epicuro Aglianico; Nerelo del Bastardo; Bacchus

2010-04-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Epicuro, Aglianico, 2007 (Beneventano, Italy) - The cheapest Aglianico grape sample I've ever seen (Trader Joes, $5), it certainly is not the strongest or most flavored I've encountered but it did fine for the price. Dead center average at 5.5 out of 10.

Santini, Nerelo del Bastardo (Italy) - It's kind of funny that the story on the back of the bottle says when Italians make BIG flavored wines they're going against the DOC rules and thus are categorized as bastards. Well, frankly this sample tastes like a fairly decent sample out of California - so pretty much all the new world wines are bastards, no? Anyway, 6 out of 10 for this, upper average, and the fact it's a cheapy from Trader Joes makes it an easy repeat.

Peter Brum, Bacchus, 2007 (Rheinhessen, Germany) - The only sample I've ever seen of the Bacchus grape. it came in a peculiar shaped red tinted glass bottle and only cost around $8. Inside was pretty much what we expected - a cheap and sweet dessert wine. The curious thing about it was an aftertaste that hinted at something we'd probably find nasty unless it wasn't so sweet, AND also that the empty glass took on a bold aroma - kind of like Marigold flowers. Well, not undrinkable, in fact we enjoyed the differences, but still just a 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Franzia Cab; Vella Cab; Joseph Handler Sweet Red

2010-04-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

Franzia, Vintner Select Cabernet Sauvignon (California) - This claims to be "the world's most popular wine" and it's owned by one of the big soft drink companies. They give you mass quantities of unremarkable low average cabernet sauvignon for a low price. Eh. It's OK. Frankly of the 3 box wines we've tried at home Nancy liked this the least and I was the one who had to finish it. Just 5 out of 10.

Peter Vella, Family Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon (California) - Another box wine, OK but nothing remarkable. We'd place it below the Corbett Canyon but above the Franzia. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Joseph Handler, Sweet Red, 2009 (Rheinhessen, Germany) - This is a Dornfelder grape sample which always presents as a lower alcohol higher sugar cheap dessert wine style. Same with this, no surprise. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Ferreira Ruby Porto; Messias 10 Yr Porto; Roditis

2010-03-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Ferreira, Ruby Porto (Portugal) - This $15 ruby had nice enough flavor and freshness. Didn't blow us away but didn't disappoint. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Messias, Porto 10 Anos (Portugal) - We simply loved the $10 ruby port by Messias. In this case you have an older sample and the price ratcheted up to $30. Flavor was good, and yes it was smoother than the ruby, but neither of us thought it worth spring the extra when we can be happy with the cheapy. Still, 7 out of 10 for above average.

Lafazanis, Roditis, 2004 (Greece) - The latest grape tried in our tasting club at work. A big disappointment. Very weak, not much flavor, just a pee yellow color and actually a slight bitterness not unlike a beer. Maybe it was past prime, but in this case I'm going 4 out of 10 for below average.

Clos Amador; Henckel; Louise D Estree Brut

2010-03-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Clos Amador, Cava, Brut Nature (Spain) - A $12 cava which blends in with all the other inexpensive cava's you've tried. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Henckel, Trocken, Fine Sekt (Germany) - A dry bubbly out of Germany. Although Nancy usually goes for the sweet she was happy enough with this one. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Louise d' Estree, Brut (France) - This is a $5.99 bubbly from Trader Joes and although in the dry style Nancy liked it so much she actually wrote down the name of it so she could find it again (which is unheard of for her - I buy the wines). I asked her for a rating and she agreed on 6 out of 10 for upper average. Pretty good for the price. Sharp label too.

Villa Cerrina Asti; Gancia Asti; Santome Prosecco

2010-03-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

Villa Cerrina, Asti (Italy); Gancia Asti (Italy) - The same basic sweet Asti you always expect, with low alcohol. The only real difference to me is price - the Cerrina being a Trader Joe's product is around $5 and the Gancia was 2 for $18. Nancy loves this style of wine and was happy with both. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Santome, Prosecco, V.S.A.Q. Extra Dry (Italy) - At around $11 this was certainly an acceptable Prosecco but it didn't live up to the store's hype about all the many flavors in the tasting notes. Still, a 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Bull's Blood; Castillo de Fuente; Monarchia Olivier

2010-03-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

Vitavin Company, Egri Bikaver, Bull's Blood of Eger, 2006 (Hungary) - The first time I tried Bull's Blood it was a different maker and year and it was so god-awful I swore to never buy it again. This latest sample however came from Trader Joes and was only priced at $2.99 so what the hey I gave it a shot. Once again it's an old world style dry red with less flavor than I'm used to and bit to much touch of the cellar. BUT it was not nearly as bad as the first sample, in fact Nancy was able to drink it too. I'd score this about a 4 out of 10 for below average.

Castillo de Fuente, Macabeo (Valencia, Spain) - An interesting white the Macabeo grape (also known as Viura in Italy) has the aromatics of a muscat but a light flavor. Quite easy to drink, and everyone in our tasting group at work was fine with it. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Moncarchia Cellars, Olivier, 2006 (Matra, Hungary) - This is the Irsai Oliver grape which is a hybrid. The back label was pretty accurate on this one - with a "muscat aromatic nose, and a brilliant crystal-clear, pale straw color" (one tasting group member compared it to pee). The fruit flavors listed on the label are a bit to dramatic but it's fair to say there is citrus. Anyway, it's an OK wine to drink but just a 5 out of 10 lower average score.

Bears' Lair Cab Sauv; Tuscan Moon; Velvet Moon

2010-03-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

Bears' Lair Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (California) - A $5.99 Trader Joes offering, Bears' Lair is a full flavored and well bodied cab which scores a respectable 5.5 rating despite being so inexpensive.

Trader Moon Wine Company, Tuscan Moon, Sangiovese, 2008 (California) - A quite nicely flavored Sangiovese which would hold up against many Italian competitors yet only costs around $5 at Trader Joes. Go for it. 5 out of 10.

Trader Moon Wine Company, Velvet Moon, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (California) - A bold fruit forward and smooth Cabernet going for about $5 at Trader Joes. 5.5 out of 10 for a solid average performance - which is amazing considering the price.

Gold Rush; Condesa; Happiness; Ed Hardy Blanc

2010-03-06T03:36:00.000-08:00

Val D'Or, Gold Rush, Red (Sierra Foothills, California) - This $4.99 blend was bottled for Trader Joes. Big flavors but more of a cheap wine's lighter body to it. A value for the low price. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Bodega Virgen de La Sierra, Condessa de Sarabella, Garnacha, 2007 (Calatayud, Spain) - A $3.99 bargain Spanish red from Trader Joes which flavors matching your typical $10 range of reds from that country. My only complaint is it doesn't taste uniquely like Garnacha, it could have been anything. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Oreana Winery, Project Happiness, Syrah, 2006 (California) - This $6.99 Trader Joes sample looked like it was just marketing - big ol' smiley face on the front - catchy name like Happiness. I expected little, and the first glass didn't wow me or Nancy. I thought by the time I got to the bottom of the bottle though it was quite the fresh and concentrated red Syrah flavor and achieved a 6 out of 10 for upper average. Happiness achieved.

Christian Audigier, Ed Hardy, Brut Blanc de Blanc (France) - Cool label care of Ed Hardy but the bubbly instead was a combo of tart and bitter. Nancy couldn't even finish a glass of it. I thought it was fine but just average for 5 out of 10, and I wouldn't spend $16 on it again, it's more like a $5 to $8 bubbly.

Tola Catarrato; Aquila D'Oro; Lagranja 360

2010-03-06T03:27:00.000-08:00

Tola, Catarrato, 2008 (Sicilia, Italy) - An Italian grape tried recently at our work tasting group. Reportedly it's common in the blend of Marsala but considered rather tame by itself. Yes it seemed tame to us too. Not bad though. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Aquilo D'Oro, Chianti, 2008 (Italy) - A $4.99 Trader Joes cheap chianti (this blend Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Trebbiano, & Malvasia). Not a standout but the flavor was good for the price and Nancy really liked it. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

S. Coop, Vitivinicola de Longares, Lagranja 360, Tempranillo, 2008 (Carinena, Spain) - A $3.99 Spanish red from Trader Joes. Acceptable and undistinguishable from the sea of other low price reds out of Spain, but still an amazing value for the price. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Villa Cerrina; Harris Ruby; Almond Creek Sparkling

2010-02-28T05:29:00.000-08:00

Villa Cerrina, Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, 2008 (Italy) - At Trader Joe's I was grabbing a cheap Argentina wine when a woman asked me if it was any good. I said OK for the price. She asked then if it was as good as the Montepulciano because that one is fantastic, and I had to say I hadn't tried it. So now here it is. $5.99 and it's OK. Just OK - not fantastic. Really nothing remarkable about it other than the fact that it's $5.99 and it's OK. I think the Argentina sample I was holding was actually better. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Charles Harris, Ruby Porto (Portugal) - A $10 port from Trader Joes which to me seemed weaker than the average ruby. Nancy liked it and I'll admit when we got down near the bottom of the bottle it picked up some strength and flavor. Overall though just a 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Almond Creek Vineyards, Almond Flavored Sparkling Wine (California) - At $5.99 in Trader Joes you knew it would either be horrid or a surprisingly decent value. It's the latter. The almond flavor by the way is so subtle that if had the wine in a blind taste test you might miss it completely. You get a basic cheap California bubbly with a slight intrigue of different flavor. Still just a 5 out of 10 for lower average but decent enough for the price.

Buronfosse Poulsard; Concejal, Corbett Canyon

2010-02-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

Peggy et Jean-Pascal Buronfosse, Poulsard, 2007 (Cotes du Jura, France) - A recent trial at our work tasting group. I'd heard of Poulsard a year back when a store in the North End tried to sell me a pricey bottle. Then half a year back several from our work wine group stopped at a new wine store near Central Square and I spotted this bottle, cheaper than the previous but still $21. Bought it, and expected a lot from it. Now that we finally opened it - big disappointment. The color is kind of a burnt rose, the smell and flavor a little stinky. The bottle was in good shape so I don't think it spoiled, it simply wasn't good. Not undrinkable, but not worth $21 either. 4 out of 10 for below average.

Concejal, Airen, 2005 (Spain) - Airen is reportedly the most widely planted grape in the world and that's apparently because it's used for brandy. It's usually too plain to be worth making into a dry or sweet sipping wine. This particular bottle I found in a $5 bargain bin in a small wine shop imbetween Central and Harvard Squares. It sat in lock-up several years (we probably should have drank it younger). Anyway, it sips like water, has an aftertaste of wine, and pretty much lives up to the reputation of being bland. Not undrinkable but just 4 out of 10 for lower average.

Corbett Canyon, Cabernet Sauvignon (California) - This is a box wine and comes out to a cost equivalent of $3 a bottle. I didn't expect much but Nancy and I both were pleasantly surprised. Decent flavor and body, not made too much on the sweet side, and none of the plastic or chemical taste we get sometimes out of other box wines. A solid 5 out of 10 lower average for this box, and one we plan on repeating many times to come.

La Gourmande; McManis; Croft Pink; Porto Messias

2010-02-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

Mas de la Dame, La Gourmande, 2006 (Les Baux de Provence, France) - So I had several samples of reds in the past from this winery and I'd remarked how their tannins really seemed to get my blood flowing. Well another winner. This organic wine is half Grenache and half Syrah (all hand harvested), and vinified naturally. It has robust red fruit and cherry flavors and assertive tannins - quite the eye opener of a red. Thoroughly enjoyed it and so did Nancy, and she usually doesn't care for tannins. 7 out of 10 for above average, and a reasonable value at $16.

McManis Family Vineyards, Pinot Noir, 2008 (California) - I have a high opinion of their Petite Syrah and expected a similar performance from the Pinot Noir. Not quite as stellar, it's a subdued pinot noir, more smooth than flavorful, but still a 6 out of 10 for upper average. And a reasonable value at around $12.

Croft, Pink, Porto (Portugal) - This claims to be the first rose version of port wine and when I asked a store attendant if it was actually any good or just a gimmick he said pretty good. Sorry, didn't appeal to me. You get a sweet and slightly cloying rose where the sweetness overwhelms the fruit in my opinion and comes across as just a sexed-up wine cooler. Not undrinkable, not unpleasant, just really not worth the extra $10 to go pink port instead of simple rose wine or even wine coolers. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Porto Messias, Ruby (Portugal) - Now here folks is a nice find. Only $10.12 a bottle at the tiny neighborhood liquor store across from my home. Full red fruit flavors in a rich and full body. Easily tastes like it should cost double. Watch for the black and red label and the peculiar short necked bottle it comes in. This probably is my new go-to house ruby port. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Epicuro Salice Salentino; Malagousia; Yellow Pinot

2010-02-21T14:01:00.000-08:00

Epicuro, Salice Salentino, Riserva, 2005 (Italy) - This $6 wine from Trader Joe's is a fresh and flavorful blend of 80% Negroamaro and 20% Malvasia Nera. I've had samples of Salice Salentino 3 times this price yet only a fraction of the flavor. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Domaine Gerovassiliou, Malagousia, 2004 (Greece) - The latest tried in our wine tasting group at work. Malagousia is thought to maybe be related or the same as Malvasia. Could be true but most Malvasias I've had were more flavorful. A member of our tasting group appropriately called this the "Coors Light of wines". There just really wasn't much of anything there. Granted it is a 6 year old white and perhaps we should have drank it younger. But just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Casella Wines, [yellow tail], Pinot Grigio, 2008 (Australia) - This was a gift from a co-worker (thank you very much). Once again [yellow tail] has done the enviable job of taking a relatively inexpensive grape juice sample, selling it as a highly affordable wine, and yet still having it come out tasty and enjoyable. It's still just 5 out of 10 for lower average, but it was a solid performer. I do taste the green apples and pears referenced on the label.

Zarafa Pinotage; Zonin Frizzante; Ironstone Symph

2010-02-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

Mountain River Wines, Zarafa, Pinotage, 2009 (South Africa) - This $3.99 red from Trader Joe's was really quite the fruity and fun sample. Nancy loved it too and you just can't go wrong for the price. 5.5 for dead center average.

Zonin, Prosecco, Frizzante (Italy) - This $5.99 sample from Trader Joe's isn't really very distinguishable from their $10-$15 range samples, and if anything it might express a little more fruit. Although 5 out of 10 for lower average I'd actually prefer buying this over their step up Proseccos.

Ironstone Vineyards, Obsession, Symphony, 2005 (California) - This is a hybrid of Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris and apparently it's usually made as a sweet wine. We tried it in our tasting group at work and although everybody tolerated it I personally seemed to find the most offense with it. This is just a wine cooler folks. Sweet, a little cloying, and left a bit of a burn at the back of the mouth. 4 out of 10 for below average.

Panilonco; Tres Pinos; La Finca Cabernet Sauv

2010-02-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

Vinedos Errazuriz Ovalle, Panilonco Chief of Lions, Reserve, Merlot/Malbec, 2009 (Colchagua Valley, Chile) - A $3.99 wine from Trader Joe's this was a mild lower average wine (5 out of 10) yet still a great value for the price. Equal to many $10 wines.

San Antonio Winery, Tres Pinos, Tierra Roja, 2008 (San Luis Obispo County, California) - Another $3.99 wine from Trader Joe's and this mix of Merlot, Cab, Zin & Syrah really packs in a lot of flavor. Easily upper average for a 6 out of 10 and an amazing value for the price.

La Finca, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 (Mendoza, Argentina) - An yet another $3.99 wine from Trader Joe's, and although perfectly acceptable as a value Cab it really didn't stand out in any other way. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Charamba; Lustau; Liebfraumilch; Taylor Fine Ruby

2010-02-06T05:07:00.000-08:00

Aveleda, Charamba, Vinho Tinto, 2007 (Douro, Portugal) - A $6 Portuguese red which doesn't stand out in any way but is still tolerable and enjoyable to drink. First glass packed more flavor than those that followed, in fact it felt cheaper as we went. But still 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Lustau, Capataz Andres, Deluxe Cream Sherry (Spain) - This didn't appeal to Nancy for some reason but I thought it was fine and drank most of it myself. Like the label says the style falls between an Oloroso and a Pedro Ximenez (because in fact it is a blend of the two). Didn't blow me away but at least scored a 7 out of 10 for above the average wine.

Dr. Beckermann, Liebfraumilch (Germany) - This was from Trader Joe's and the 1st bottle I bought was on sale for $3 and the return trip they'd gone up to $5 because someone got smart. This is good wine for the price. It's a basic sweeter side of Riesling. Nancy immediately took a shine to it. I'd say it's dead center average at 5.5, but considering the price it's a great buy.

Taylor Fladgate, Fine Ruby Porto (Portugal) - At around $12 I think this port was fine for the price. Not the most complex but a decent burst of red fruit and a little spice. One of the nicer looking bottles for that price range. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Andre Cold Duck; Cooks Gr Reserve; J Roget Pink

2010-02-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

Andre, Cold Duck (Uva), American Sparkling Burgundy & Andre, Strawberry (Fresa), American Sparkling Champagne - OK these are 2 for $12 and obviously quite a departure from most of the other bubblies I've reviewed. I'd heard of "Cold Duck" for a long time, I think it always was stereotypical of really cheap crappy bubbly, but hey I reviewed a regular Andre earlier and it came out OK so I gave it a try. And funny story, when I got to check-out with the Cold Duck it turned out the bottle was leaking and though I offered to buy it anyway they said they'd just get me another bottle. Then the sales clerk got on the intercom and said "I need another bottle of... Andre... COLD DUCK!?" and I just melted with embarrassment. Ha, serves me right huh? Anyway, Nancy and I were both surprised we didn't hate the Cold Duck. It smells like it will be a very sweet wine but actually it's only a touch sweet, and it doesn't have the cloying Concord grape juice taste the look and name hint it will have. Really it was a solid low average bubbly and got a 5 out of 10. The Strawberry sample didn't really taste like that fruit though and had a sweet syrupy wine cooler aspect to it so although not undrinkable I'll score that sample just a 4 for below average.

Cook's, Grand Reserve, California Champagne - A $6 sample from California it is exactly what you'd expect - a low flavor large bubbled cheap bubbly. Not undrinkable but not remarkable in any way. I don't know where they get off calling it Grand Reserve unless of course their regular bottlings are a whole lot worse. This sample is 5 out of 10 for lower average.

J Roget, Pink, American Champagne (Canandaigua, New York) - This was only $3.99. Plastic stopper was hard to release, bubbles were huge, flavor was cheap but OK. When I'd tried their Blanc I think I only scored it a 4 but this Pink was still enjoyable enough to reach lower average for a 5.

Marselan; Foja Tonda Casetta; Manzoni Bianco

2010-01-30T04:54:00.000-08:00

Domaine Sallies, Marselan, 2007 (France) - Another new grape tried by our wine tasting group at work. Marselan is a hybrid of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache which was created in the 60s but took a while to catch on. Although very dark in color it has more of a medium body and a flavor not nearly as pronounced as you'd expect from Cab. 5 out of 10 for simple average.

Albino Armani, Foja Tonda Casetta, 2005 (Vallagarina, Italy) - A rare indigenous Italian grape we tried at our wine tasting group at work. The bottle calls it both Foja Tonda and Casetta (?) It yields a very dark wine with a mildly aromatic bouquet and a nice rich complex flavor including cherries and I think smoke. Really a very nice sample and everyone in our group liked it. 8 out of 10 for excellent.

Vigna Dogarina, Manzoni Bianco, 2007 (Campodipietra, Italy) - A unique grape variety which I tried at home instead of our tasting group at work - since we're trying to use up what we stocked at work. This was really quite a nice discovery. It reminds me of a dry version of Gewurztraminer, aromatic and a little floral and spicy. I happily had this bottle to myself for a week while Nancy picked at the cheap bubblies in front of it. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Albero Sparkling; Verdi Spumante; Osborne Solaz

2010-01-30T04:43:00.001-08:00

Albero, Spanish White Wine, Sparkling White - This is a $3 bubbly white from Trader Joe's. It has cheap style bubbles and mild run of the mill flavor but hey for $3 it's perfectly acceptable. Plus it's actually organic. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Bosca, Verdi Spumante (Italy) - This $5 bubbly from Kappy's had shelf neighbors which were all flavored wine cooler type wines. I went for this one because it presented like a Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, which we like. But this clearly is the cheaper version of the Spumantes (which sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?). Sure it was drinkable, in face Nancy thought it was fine, but it feels cheap in your mouth and really anyone can make a mildly sweet low alochol wine. Oh, and I even wondered if this really was wine, it says "Malt Beverage with Natural Flavors" along the bottom. 4.5 out of 10 for somewhere in the below average range. And one final comment, the bulby golden plastic topper is different and looks nice but it's hard to grip for unscrewing and rescrewing and clearly this wine is more about looking good than being good.

Bodegas Osborne, Solaz, Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Spain) - These were 2 for $12 at Kappy's and although I didn't expect much it turned out this was a solid dead center average red at a good price. Make it an affordable staple in your casual drinking supplies. 5.5 for center average.

Andre Champagnes; Schloss Biebrich Sekt

2010-01-24T04:53:00.000-08:00

Andre', California Champagne, Extra Dry & Blush - Your eyes have passed over these countless time in stores. They're always down on the bottom shelfs and with a price of just $6 you assume they'd be terrible and go on to some other selections. In fact Andre' is the same brand which makes Cold Duck, which I suppose now I also have to buy and review for this blog but which I expect to be probably a sweet red concord grape-juice like wine. We'll see. Anyway we're pinching some pennies right now so I gave Andre' a try. And to my total surprise it wasn't undrinkable. Sure you have cheapness - from the thin paper label to the strange twist off plastic bubbly cork (which you can actually twist back on believe it or not, though it doesn't seal well) to the eruption of very large bubbles. But the taste, instead of horrid, actually is a standard generic California white bubbly taste. I'd never put it up against the better know brands like Korbel, but if you want bubbly for under $10 they're all going to be somewhere comparable to this one so you might as well save a little money and just pay $6. Heck, I even debated with myself whether I should score this below average but honestly no, it's not any worse than other typical Californian bubblers, so 5 out of 10 for lower average (a very low 5 but a 5 nonetheless). And once again Nancy and I agree the white version was preferred over the rose.

Schloss Biebrich, Sekt (Germany) - This is a $4 bubbly from Trader Joe's ($4!!!!). My expectations were pathetic, my pleasant surprise was we both really quite liked it. I'd best compare it to a Spanish Cava with hints of bitter. Even in body and bubbles it was quite acceptable. 6 out of 10 for upper average to the $4 wonder from Trader Joe's.

Ferrando Erbaluce; Verget Sud Roussanne; Bassi

2010-01-23T09:19:00.001-08:00

Ferrando, La Torrazza, Erbaluce Di Caluso, 2007 (Italy) - A new grape variety tried by our club at work, this was an aromatic tasty white which the whole group enjoyed, though no one was blown away. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Verget Du Sud, Roussanne, 2007 (Vin De Pays Du Vaucluse, France) - Another tried by our wine group at work, this screwcap white is the one and only bottle of single varietal I've ever seen for this and it set in our lock-up for several years. We were pleasantly surprised that it was pretty good. It had some similarities to a Sauvignon Blanc. 5.5 for exactly average.

Bassi, Pignoletto, 2008 (Italy) - The internet had a report this might be the same grape as Grechetto but they're not sure, and since they're not sure I'll count it separately for now and I simply tried it at home instead of bringing it to our work club. This was quite a nice white, a little zing to it, substantial finish, not too heavy nor too light. My only complaint is I remember it was above $20 and I don't think I'd pay that much for it again. Regardless I'll score it a 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Chateau La Motte; Pennautier; Washington Hills R

2010-01-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

Chateau La Motte, 2007 (Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France) - Recommended by a store as quite a good Bordeaux for the price - but I find out simply lower average for a 5 out of 10.

Chateau de Pennautier, 2006 (Appellation Cabardes Controlee, France) - I'd never heard of this Appellation before but it's down in the Languedoc area. In this case I truly did think the store was right that it's a good value for the price. Although the flavors were average the texture and tannins were quite good. A solid middle 5.5 in the average range and a decent value around $12 if I remember right.

Washington Hills, Summit Reserve, Late Harvest Riesling, 2007 (Columbia Valley, Washington) - I've had some great whites from this label, and how can you go wrong with a late harvest Riesling with all the sweetness it promises. And yes this was indeed sweet and Nancy loved it for that reason alone. Not overdone either, it's not like we were getting a Sauternes style from it, just a simple sweet white. And that's why I'll score it a 6 out of 10 for upper average instead of higher, because it wasn't too complex.

Hoya de Cadenas; Mon Plaisir; Blandy's 10 Year

2010-01-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

Vicente Gandia, Hoya de Cadenas, Reserva Tempranillo, 2005 (Spain) - Although a perfectly acceptable and drinkable Tempranillo it is far too ordinary to warrant "Reserva" distinction and truly couldn't match the flavor of other Spanish reds in this same price range. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Mon Plaisir de Chateau Roques de Jeanlice, 2007 (Bordeaux, France) - Hyped by a wine store as an amazing Bordeaux for the price (around $12 to $15 I think) and coming from the famous 2007 vintage which was a very good year all across France I expected to be blown away. No. It's fine. It's balanced, mildly flavored, lightly textured, but just doesn't step out of "average" to me, so 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Blandy's, Malmsey Madeira, 10 Years Old (Portugal) - It's no secret that both Nancy and I love good Madeiras, and around the time I bought this we were out of stock and she made a special request. I hunted around but was mainly just seeing Rainwater Madeira (which is junk to me, it's literally watered down Madeira) and when I asked the owner of the small store across from home if he had anything good he offered to order something. So he fished through the catalog and came up with a 10 Year Old (we usually just see 5 Year on the shelves) for $35. I agreed and he custom ordered it for me. Anyway we've greatly enjoyed it. Madeira's heated solera style process oxidizes the wine and concentrates flavors. This was a rich, sweet, and complex sample, made extra smooth by the additional aging time. Honestly I'm not sure it was so much better than the 5 Year to demand the higher price but it certainly was a quality product. And keeping with past scores I've given Madeiras I'll say 10 out of 10 - this is a world class original delicious product.

Sangre de Toro; Castano; Riscal; Faustino VII

2010-01-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

Ahh, here's quite the sampling of cheap Spanish reds.

Sangre de Toro, Tempranillo, 2007 (Spain) - If you regularly shop for wine you've seen this brand dozens of times, it's got the silly plastic bull toy hanging from the neck of the bottle. Literally for years I passed this brand up because I was so sure it had to be cheap lame plonk if it had a toy stuck to the bottle, but a week ago I was buying cheap wine in the tiny store across the street from home and though what the heck. And you know what, it's pretty good. A bold fruit forward Tempranillo with solid body and at $10 quite a value. 6 out of 10 for upper average. Now the question in my mind is whether their more generic red which sells for around $7 is pushing my luck or not?

Castano, Monastrell, 2006 (Yecla, Spain) - This Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) sample had waiting for several years in our lock-up of our wine tasting group at work. When we opened it several agreed the bouquet indicated a bold flavorful wine was inside, but then the taste was much more subdued - more like a European style blend. Anyway we all liked it well enough, and the price was reportedly around $10 so it's affordable. A good wine, just not the best of this grape we've had. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Riscal, Tempranillo, 2006 (Spain) - A cheap Spanish red which is easy enough to drink but otherwise unremarkable. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Bodegas Faustino, Faustino VII, Rioja, 2006 (Spain) - A $13 Rioja with decent flavor and body but really nothing much different than you'd expect from a Rioja in this price range. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Cambas; La Ferme Julien Blanc; Simi Chardonnay

2010-01-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

Cambas Winery, Mantinia, 2006 (Greece) - This is the Moschofilero grape and the sample set in our lock-up at work for more than a year until we got around to trying it in our wine tasting club. Although many Greek wines have disappointed our group this was a rare ray of light. A light weight, highly aromatic, thoroughly pleasant white, it didn't blow anyone away but we all genuinely liked it and found it so easy to drink it might be dangerous for getting one tipsy. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Rhone Valley Vineyards, La Ferme Julien, Blanc, 2008 (Cotes du Luberon, France) - This was a very cheep screw-top white I picked up from Trader Joe's but what caught my eye about it is "Bourboulenc". That's one of the grapes I've tried in vain to find a sample of for years. Granted this bottle was only 30% Bourboulenc but I'll still declare a minor victory here. And how was it? Fine. Just fine. Probably a good value for the very cheap price but otherwise unremarkable. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Simi, Chardonnay, 2006 (Russian River Valley, California) - The 2nd of two Simi gifts from a co-worker and again I had very high expectations. Well done. It's a rich, smooth, balanced sample of Chardonnay with a longer than average finish and quite the pleasant after taste. 7 out of 10 for above average.

Simi Landslide; Adega Borba; Ferreira Reserve Port

2010-01-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

Simi, Landslide Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Alexander Valley, California) - This was a wonderful gift from a co-worker. Having already tried a different Simi year's past (also a gift) I had high expectations, and in fact this latest sample is from a primo single vineyard. It was terrific. Bold flavors, rich texture, long finish. Nancy and I both loved it and after a short debate we settled on a 7.5 ranking - which is well above average. Nice show.

Adega Coop de Borba, Borba, Vinho Tinto, 2007 (Portugal) - I've had reserve wines and rose wines from this maker and they're usually listed as Adegaborba. And whereas those were special creations from the winemakers this sample was the cheaper mass distributed version of their wines. Didn't matter, it was still quality wine, in fact I recommend anything and everything I've tried from these people so far. It's a standard red, nice fruit flavors but not overpowering, medium body. Still just a 5 out of 10 for lower average but at $8 I'd say that's a value.

Ferreira, Dona Antonia Reserve Porto (Portugal) - My first try from this Port maker. Nice ruby fruit flavors. Personally I thought the brandy or whatever liquor was used in the process was a little sharp, in fact it burned a little after a larger swig. But Nancy quite liked this wine, wasn't bothered by the alcohol, and after a short debate we still settled on a 7 out of 10 for above average.

Simonnet-Febvre; Rustico; Saracco; Villa Romanu

2010-01-01T03:30:00.000-08:00

Simonnet-Febvre, Crement de Bourgogne Brut (France) - This $18 French Burgundy bubbly was a new addition in the tiny liquor store across the street from home. OK, but not really any different to me than the many $10-$15 bubblies, and in fact Nancy didn't care for it much though she did help drink it too. Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Nino Franco Spumanti, Rustico, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene (Italy) - This was a gift from a co-worker (thank you) and we greatly looked forward to trying it over New Years Eve. It has a nice tart almost apple-like quality. An upper average sample for 6 out of 10. We enjoyed it.

Saracco, Pinot Nero, 2005 (Italy) - This was heavily promoted in a store in Brookline and claimed to be a $35 bottle on sale for $15. I definitely saw some qualities here. It has a rich dark flavor, kind of like a quality Cabernet Sauvignon but with a body lighter like a Pinot Noir. Didn't blow either of us away though. Sure I'd gift it, sure I'd drink it again, but I wouldn't make a big deal about declaring it a $35 bottle. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Villa Romanu, Vinho Tinto, 2005 (Portugal) - This $8 red from the tiny liquor store across the street really delivered. You get a peppy flavorful red which is fresh and smooth and really a steal for $8. Highly recommend this as a value if you can find it. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Eco Domani Merlot; Aquinas Merlot; Rainoldi

2009-12-25T05:47:00.000-08:00

Ecco Domani, Merlot delle Venezie, 2007 (Italy) - Ecco I'm pretty sure I read once is owned by one of the large Califorinia makers - Gallo I think. It's mass produced wine which you can find anywhere the other mass produced California wines happen to be, so needless to say there was no surprise my tiny corner liquor store was carrying it. I'd tried their whites before to lame reviews. Now here's a red and again it's just what I expected. A drinkable but pretty much weak flavored red with a weak cheap body. Sharp label though, they always look pretty don't they. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Aquinas, Merlot, 2002 (Napa Valley, California) - We've had more recent vintages of both their Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon and they're simply excellent as well as a great value at around $15. When I saw this solo bottle of Merlot at the corner store for $23 I hesitated for several trips in until I finally bought it. I just hadn't seen their Merlot anywhere else and I figured the higher price meant it was probably even more impressive than the other samples. Such a shame. It had one of those synthetic corks which are like a sponge wrapped in a plastic tube and as soon as I pulled it and sniffed the cork I got a nasty chemical type of smell. The wine in the bottle had the same. Sure, the wine inside was super dark, rich, intensely flavored, but there was no escaping the off-putting smell. Nancy tried it and she thought it smelled like mold. I don't know, to me I smell chemicals. In either case neither one of us would drink more than a sip of this wine and the rest got poured out. I'm going to assume simply something went wrong with this sample and not lower my opinion of Aquinas for it - however, I'll confess I'm not planning to buy their Merlot varietal again any time soon. 1 out of 10 for don't repeat.

Rainoldi, Rosso di Valtellina, 2007 (Italy) - This is a Nebbiolo grape wine and my past experience with that varietal is it's a very bold and flavorful grape. This particular wine, however, is more of a smooth and balanced wine and had I not read the label on the bottle I would have assumed it was a different grape entirely. Regardless it's a classy and tasty wine, and Nancy really liked it too. I'll give it a 6 out of 10 for upper average, and at $15 I thought it was a pretty good buy. Beautiful label too.

Torley; Kenwood Cab; Washington Hills Gewurz

2009-12-25T05:37:00.000-08:00

Torley, Grand Cuvee Brut (Budafok, Hungary) - I was excited to try this because reportedly it's the top selling bubbly in Hungary, and it was only in the $15 to $20 range in Davis Square. It's kind of a cross between a cava with a touch of bitterness and a touch fruity California bubbly. Personally I liked it, though strangely Nancy didn't. As we finished the bottle together we doctored it with a little creme de cassis to make Kir Royal cocktails - and those were good. I'd score this a 6 out of 10 for upper average, though Nancy would have gone lower.

Kenwood, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Sonoma County, California) - This was $16 at the supermarket and I expected just another lower average cab. Well it was perfectly acceptable, didn't taste cheap or have a weak body, but I still wouldn't score it any higher than a 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Washington Hills, Gewurztraminer, 2007 (Washington State) - I had very high expectations for this because year's back I had a different vintage from these people which blew me away. In the 2007 example they've lost their edge. Sure it's still a clean, fragrant, tasty expression of Gewurztraminer, in fact it's still 6 out of 10 for upper average, but it's just not as good as their past renditions.

Watch Sparkling; Jose Michel; Marques de Alella

2009-12-18T04:29:00.001-08:00

Watch Wine, California Sparkling Wine (Waltham, MA) - Here's a shocker, the urban suburb of Waltham actually makes wine. I find samples in a store in Brookline, and apparently all the grapes are grown out of state in California but then turned to wine in Waltham. I wasn't sure what to expect. Personally I found the bubbly to be bland and boring, but Nancy reported she quite liked it so they did something right. I'll just score it a 5 out of 10 for low average.

Jose Michel, Pinot Meunier Champagne (Moussy, France) - You don't see pure Pinot Meunier very often and this particular sample was pointed out to me by an attendant at Eno, the upscale wine store in downtown Providence, RI. $45 is steaper than usual for me, and being a champagne I'd always expected a lot from it, in fact I'd kind of hoped to save it for one of the times a VIP guest was visiting from France and stumbled up on our wine tasting group at work. Thank goodness we didn't save it. I pulled the cork and there was no pop. Strangely the fluted cork didn't flute, it stayed flush after pulled, and the wine showed no hint of bubbles at all. We smelled it, it smelled good, and we tasted it, it tasted good, and in fact we could see why the taste combined with bubbles would have been a very good champagne, but as a flat wine we were all rather disappointed. Sorry, not worth $45 without the bubbles. So what I suspect would have been a 7 or 8 out of 10 wine with bubbles actually ends up as just a 5 for lower average. The taste itself was good, it just wasn't the wine it was supposed to be.

Marques de Alella, Pansa Blanca, 2007 (Spain) - This is the Xarel-lo grape and it's usually used as part of the Cava sparkling wine blends but in this case is a solo sample. When cold from the fridge it had almost no flavor, but as it warmed a more herbal essence started to come out. The finish lasted quite a while but I can also say it played a little poorly on my digestion. I guess I can see why they blend this, because although not unpleasant by itself it just doesn't seem to be a solo player. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Chateau Greysac; Toasted Head Cab; Spanish Quar

2009-12-18T04:18:00.000-08:00

Chateau Greysac, 2005 (Medoc, Bordeaux, France) - The owner of the small liquor store across the street had put this aside for me as a recommendation to try so I gave it a shot. A decent inexpensive Bordeaux ($15) which is a little more fruit forward than usual and all around enjoyable. Nancy liked it too and actually drank more of the bottle than I. However, I'd still just call this an average wine so 5 out of 10.

Toasted Head, North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 (California) - A weak and thoroughly boring cab in my opinion. Not expensive yet still probably overpriced by about $5. Nancy liked it better than I. But still low average at 5 out of 10.

The Spanish Quarter, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo (Spain) - Here's a cheap wine (well under $10 in most stores) which I avoided buying for a long time because I was certain it would be swill, yet I eventually picked it up from a supermarket. And you know, it's not nearly as bad as I expected. Sure it's still a 5 out of 10 low average but it had at least a medium body and some flavor beyond it's price range. Actually I was pleased with the find - not that I'd drink this all the time - but when the budget is squeezed and can see buying this and feeling OK about it.

Castilla Perelada; Guidobono Barbera; Cresta Rosa

2009-12-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

Castillo Perelada, 3 Fincas, Crianza, 2006 (Spain) - I bought this because it listed a grape on the back I hadn't heard of - Samso - but I looked it up later and found out it's just another name for Carignan. Regardless this was a high quality wine. Rich, nice texture, a little complex. A fine Crianza sampling. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Guidobono, Barbera D'Alba, 2008 (Italy) - We both really liked their Nebbiolo so we had high expectations of the Barbera and weren't disappointed. Mild but nicely flavored and silky. You've got to grab Guidobono's when you see them because so far they've always been under $20 yet they taste like they could command a much higher price. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Cresta Rosa, Petillant Rose Wine (Spain) - There's a tiny liquor store down by the Salem MA Pickering Wharf which is called "The Bung Hole". I (and everyone really) always laugh when they see it. I try to go in and give it business every now and then but most of their small selection is mainstream or cheap wines. A couple unique wines I tried were terrible from there. Cresta Rosa, being a rose from Spain and a brand I hadn't seen before, was at least something different. And you know, it was OK. A standard average 5 out of 10 rose. And it cost only $9 so I'm satisfied with my choice this time around.

Daniel Pardiac; Mionetto il; Truro Vignoles

2009-12-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Daniel Pardiac, Brut, Blanc de Blancs (France) - A cheaper French bubbly which indeed tastes like it costs. Nancy, who usually will drink most any bubbly, had an instant dislike to it. Luckily we were able to use it up by mixing it with Creme de Cassis. 4 out of 10 for below average.

Mionetto, il, Prosecco Del Veneto (Italy) - This $10 Prosecco comes with a bottle cap instead of a cork or twist off. I'm not against that, in fact it makes sense where bubblies are concerned, and if it had tasted decent I would have celebrated that fact, but alas it tasted as cheap as its bottle cap. Nancy still thought it was OK so 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Truro Vineyards, Vignoles, 2008 (Truro, Cape Cod, Massachusetts) - The lastest grape tried at our wine tasting group at work. Strange because it was extremely tart but had no sweet, almost like grapefruit juice without the sugars. Not undrinkable but I personally had a worse reaction to it than anyone else at the sampling. 4 out of 10 for below average.

Fitz; Batasiolo; Running Brook; Jockey Club Porto

2009-12-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

Fitz, Riesling Extra Tocken (Germany) - This is a dry sparkling Riesling, a grape which I'd never had as a bubbly before. It was fine but not a standout to me. In a blind tasting I'd have thought maybe it was a New York State bubbly. 5 out of 10 for average.

Beni di Batasiolo, Barbera D'Alba, 2007 (Italy) - I'd had a white from Batasiolo before which was pretty good so I had high hopes for this red although it was on special sale in front of one of my wine stores. It was just OK. Weak flavor in the first glass but it concentrated a little as I got down into the bottle. Smooth enough with a general red fruit flavor. OK. Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Running Brook Vineyards, Cabernet Franc - Merlot, 2004 (North Dartmouth, Massachusetts) - I'd had a decent sweet wine from this Massachusetts vineyard and here was a chance to try the red. They made me proud. Although not a particularly bold red it was indeed balanced and I'd say it had an overall impact of "freshness" on me. In fact the wine was kind of rejuvenating. I'd score it dead center in average for 5.5 out of 10 and I'd quite enjoy repeating this one or would even give it as a gift.

Burmester, Jockey Club, Porto, Reserva (Portugal) - the Burmester Soto Voce was a slightly cheaper port from them which I really thought packed great flavor for the price. At about $10 more I expected Jockey Club to be a big step up but it let me down a little in that regard. It's still a very smooth and nicely flavored port but it didn't strike me much different from the average tawny. Nancy agreed that she liked it but we'd had better. Yet when she and I discussed scoring it we both managed to muster a 7 out of 10 for above average so hey if you don't mind $25 for your port go for it.

Kavaklidere Turkey; Cobetckoe Latvia & Lithuania

2009-12-02T04:58:00.000-08:00

Kavaklidere, Okuzgozu d Elazig 2006, Narince de Tokat 2006 (Turkey) - I found these red and white samples from Turkey in Davis Square, Somerville. Exciting because not only are they grape varieties I've never seen or tried before (Okuzgozu is red, Narince is the white) but because they're from a Muslim country and Muslims are of course against producing or drinking alcohol. And I have to admit due to their obscurity I kind of expected these to be weak or bad wines -- but they're not. They were a hit with both Nancy and myself, Nancy even recommended getting the red again to bring as a gift to her parents. I'd say these are made in the European style so they're not bold but they're definitely smooth and balanced with mellow flavors and the red has just a hint of tannins. I'd have guessed these were French in a blind tasting. Both are 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Cobetckoe, Hrphctoe Semi Sweet (Latvia) & Bonotoe Semi-Sweet Sparkling Wine (Lithuania) - I bought these in Pampelmousse in Salem solely because they were from countries from which I've never tried wine before. As expected they were cheap sweet bubblies with a little off-putting cellar flavor to me. Nancy enjoyed the sweetness and thought they were fine but personally I'll score them below average for 4 out of 10.

Marquis de la Tour Brut & Rose; Monkey Business

2009-11-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

Marquis de la Tour, Brut & Rose (France) - Two affordable bubblies from France which reminded me a little more of Cava than to French bubblies. Really pretty decent for the price. A solid average 5.5 score for both.

Monkey Business, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 (North Coast, California) - The last time I tried Monkey Business it was a Zinfandel which really impressed me for the price. Now here is the Cab and again I was wowed. It's a fresh rich Cab with present but not overdone red fruit flavors and a surprisingly long finish. It's hard for Cabs to break out of the "average" Cab category with me but I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for above average. Again, good wine for the money.

Kenwood Zin; Tess Parker Viognier; Hans Wirsching

2009-11-25T17:22:00.000-08:00

Kenwood, Jack London Vineyard, Zinfandel, 2006 (Sonoma Valley, California) - A red Zin tried recently at work. Decent flavor and for once not overdone with the bold and jammy style of many other Zins. But still just average to me. 5 out of 10.

Tess Parker, Viognier, 2006 (Santa Barbara County, California) - A rich bodied Viognier. Not necessarily complex in flavor or fruity but with a great mouth feel. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Hans Wirsching, Scheurebe, 2006 (Germany) - A decent average white in that unmistakable German style. Very similar to Silvaner, which makes sense since it's a hybrid of that grape. Still, just average to me, 5 out of 10.

Sterling; Wente; La Marca; Domaine Jean Masson

2009-11-22T10:45:00.000-08:00

Sterling, Vintner's Collection, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Central Coast, California) - This $13-$15 range wine packed substantial flavor for the price. Recommend. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Wente, Southern Hills, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Livermore Valley, California) - This $15 bottle drank more like a $10. No matter it was on sale. Just 5 out of 10 for lower average.

La Marca, Prosecco (Italy) - One of the less expensive Prosecco's in a display yet it still scored a solid average 5.5 in taste. A good buy. And the bubbles stayed persistent even after the cork got pushed out of the bottle and we hadn't noticed for a while.

Domaine Jean Masson, Cuvee Nicolas (Savoie, France) - This is the second time I've tried a sample of the Jacquere grape and although once again it was a decent enough wine it really didn't stand out in any way. 5 out of 10 for lower average.

Villa Mt Eden; Wild Horse; Don Pascual Tannat

2009-11-18T03:20:00.000-08:00

Villa Mt. Eden, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grand Reserve, 2005 (Napa Valley, California) - A solid rich cabernet. The fact we both enjoyed it tells you it packed lots of flavor (for me) yet still wasn't too bold (for Nancy). 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Wild Horse, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 (Paso Robles, California) - Another rich cabernet but not overblown. It's a few dollars more than the Villa Mt. Eden cab and maybe just a smidge better. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Don Pascual, Tannat, Reserve, 2007 (Uruguay) - Tannat is named for tannins (or vice versa) and often the wines are harsh, although those bitter tannins are great for your heart and circulation. I've had some rough Tannats and some tamed. This sample is tamed. And I mean that as a good thing, because you can get some of the health benefits of Tannat without feeling a cringe. Otherwise this is just an average red with average flavor so 5 out of 10.

Barefoot Moscato & Pinot Grigio; Gancia Brachetto

2009-11-18T03:14:00.000-08:00

Barefoot Bubbly, Moscato Spumante (California) - Just another knock-off of sweet and low alcohol Martini & Rossi Asti. Well done though, and it's a style we like. 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Barefoot Bubbly, Pinot Grigio (California) - Other than the oddity that this is a bubbly made from Pinot Grigio this dry white is just low average and boring - 5 out of 10.

Gancia, Brachetto D'Acqui (Italy) - We generally like the sweet fruitiness of Brachetto wines. From personal experience I'd put Banfi Rosa Regale as top of what we tried, and I'd put Gancia and Mariposa in about a tie. Regardless, 6 out of 10 for upper average.