http://www.justagrape.com Simple Wine Reviews By Regular Guys Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:17:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://www.justagrape.com/red-flyer-california-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/red-flyer-california-2003/#comments Sat, 03 May 2008 17:20:54 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/red-flyer-california-2003/ This is a red table wine from California. A blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, and Carignane. I saw this on display at Trader Joes and couldn’t pass up the $3 price tag for a review on justagrape.com. My expectations were low, considering the bottom barrel price and our past experience with “Red” labeled wines (see Cheap Red, Red Truck, Big House Red and Red Guitar), but it turned out to be a half decent bottle. We recommend it if you can find it for the $3 price, but if you have to pay closer to $9 you could probably do better. $3 from Trader Joes

• Very dark deep purple/red hues.
• Apples and cherries in the aroma.
• A little sweet and jammy off the start.
• Bold smokey berry flavors with a short finish.
• This wine is light hearted and bold at the same time. It’s that fun lovin friend you have that always speaks it’s mind and is an all around good time when you hang out.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/red-flyer-california-2003/feed/ 2 http://www.justagrape.com/il-valore-chianti-riserva-italy-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/il-valore-chianti-riserva-italy-2003/#comments Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:32:38 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/il-valore-chianti-riserva-italy-2003/
This is a Chianti Riserva from Italy. Like most Italian wines it is built for a good meal. This wine would be great with a hearty macaroni dish(or pasta dish if you are Canadian or American). Or you could give it a try the next time you throw a steak on the grill. At six bucks this will not disappoint you. $6 from Trader Joes

• Intense flower aromas – specifically lilly
• Hints of moist earth.
• Tastes like flowers with an oak finish.
• Smooth and flavorful.
• OK…so this wine had a lot of flowery aspects to it, that does not mean it is a little sissy. This wine could be like the small, undersized kid in your class that gets picked on by the school bully. That is, until he fights back and everyone finds out he is a third degree black belt in Karate. This wine definitely holds its own and can stand up for itself.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/il-valore-chianti-riserva-italy-2003/feed/ 3 http://www.justagrape.com/legaris-crianza-tempranillo-spain-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/legaris-crianza-tempranillo-spain-2003/#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:38:44 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/legaris-crianza-tempranillo-spain-2003/ This wine is a Tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Tempranillo in this region is known as Tinta Fina. This wine has already aged for 5 years and will age very nicely for another 5. $12 from Costco

• Aromas of chocolate, wood and ripe berries.
• Flavors of plumb, chocolate and vanilla in the finish.
• Abundant flavors with soft tannins.
• Very smooth and wonderfully complex.
• This is a thoroughly enjoyable bottle of wine that is fantastic to open now. We would love to have another bottle of this to keep for an additional 5 years to see how it matures. Complex and vibrant, just like your favorite charismatic Hollywood actress – except that this wine really is complex and vibrant, it’s not just putting on a show.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/legaris-crianza-tempranillo-spain-2003/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/reflexion-tempranillo-spain-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/reflexion-tempranillo-spain-2003/#comments Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:55:46 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/reflexion-tempranillo-spain-2003/ This wine is a Tempranillo from the Rioja region of Spain. We explained a little about what a Rioja was in a previous review on Marques De Riscal
The bottle suggests opening it several hours prior to drinking and we would agree. We found that with the use of a decanter that an hour was all it took to be ready. Decanting really smoothed out the wine and added a wonderful texture. This wine has received many accolades from other reviewers and being that the price was only $10.00 we would agree with them. $10 at Fresh & Easy

• Sweet black cherries dominate the aroma with an undertone of spice
• Very soft and velvety in the mouth
• Cherries and plum in the taste
• Earthy with oak flavors come through at the end.
• A great wine that is a little bit harsh right out of the bottle. Decanting and time is strongly suggested….much like a relationship that takes time and effort so to does this wine…The time you give it to breath will reward you for your wait and you will be left with a very easy drinking, smooth and comfortable wine.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/reflexion-tempranillo-spain-2003/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/chateau-st-michelle-cabernet-sauvignon-washington-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/chateau-st-michelle-cabernet-sauvignon-washington-2003/#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:19:48 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/chateau-st-michelle-cabernet-sauvignon-washington-2003/ This wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State. $13 from Fresh & Easy

• Anise and wood in the aroma.
• Tastes of woody oak and dark berries
• Very earthy, leathery flavors and aromas
• Decanting with a filter is recommend as there is some sediment.
• Very Earthy and comfortable…like walking into your grandfathers library and he is sitting there by the fire. there is a distinguised air about it and it makes you want to linger there for a long time.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/chateau-st-michelle-cabernet-sauvignon-washington-2003/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/blue-grouse-pinot-noir-british-columbia-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/blue-grouse-pinot-noir-british-columbia-2003/#comments Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:16:04 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/blue-grouse-pinot-noir-british-columbia-2003/ This is a Pinot Noir from Vancouver Island. I first tried this wine at Haro’s Restaurant in the Sidney Pier Hotel on Vancouver Island. I enjoyed it so much that I brought a bottle home to enjoy again. $20 CAD from British Columbia Liquor

• Aromas of fruit with a slight touch of mint
• Nutmeg, and anise were also detected on the nose
• Very smooth with soft tannins.
• Slightly sweet off the start
• Very dry finish
• Subtle cherry flavor mixed with oak and earth
• A great wine with an incredible bouquet that is very different from the taste….much like a girl in your class that you do not really know outside of class; but once you do get to know her you find that she is very different from your original conceptions. That is not a bad thing…just and unexpected twist.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/blue-grouse-pinot-noir-british-columbia-2003/feed/ 2 http://www.justagrape.com/amarone-della-valpolicella-italy-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/amarone-della-valpolicella-italy-2003/#comments Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:32:19 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/amarone-della-valpolicella-italy-2003/ Amarone is a wine that refers to an old fashioned wine making method of drying the grapes on racks in order to bring out their flavors. Amarone is traditionally a rich and dry red wine made in the Venitian region of Italy. $17 Purchased at Trader Joe’s

• Intense, rich and fruity bouquet.
• Dry and tart.
• A wine meant to be enjoyed with a meal.
• Decanting is strongly recommended; but if no decanter is available then you should allow the wine to breathe for an hour before drinking it.
• A wine like this is like an independent and strong woman… she knows what she wants and is going to tell you whether you want her to or not. She is outgoing and somewhat abrasive but you will always know what she means. She does not beat around the bush.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/amarone-della-valpolicella-italy-2003/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/black-mountain-california-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/black-mountain-california-2003/#comments Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:52:47 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/black-mountain-california-2003/ This wine is a Malbec from California by Trader Joes private label winery Black Mountain. $5 Purchased at Trader Joe’s

• Strong blueberry notes
• Good with shrimp
• Girl that looks really good, but once you date her you want someone else; not satisfying and leaves you wanting something else.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/black-mountain-california-2003/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/marques-de-riscal-spain-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/marques-de-riscal-spain-2003/#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:50:39 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/marques-de-riscal-spain-2003/ This wine is a Tempranillo from the Rioja Region of Spain. The Rioja region is in Northern Spain and known for producing outstanding grapes. The region was granted Denomination of origin status in 1926 and in 1991 became a qualified denomination of origin. This is important because it means that it is a protected region and only wine made from grapes produced here can be called rioja wines. $14 Purchased at Trader Joes.

• Very dry wine.
• A lot of tannins (decanting is recommended).
• Spicy and robust.
• This is a wine that is better enjoyed with a meal than on it’s own.
• This is definitely a wine that needs to be accompanied by a meal. It is like going to a football game by yourself…it is enjoyable to do, but much more fun with company.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/marques-de-riscal-spain-2003/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/sagelands-vineyard-four-corners/ http://www.justagrape.com/sagelands-vineyard-four-corners/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:25:43 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/sagelands-vineyard-four-corners/ A Merlot from the Columbia Valley in Washinton. $17 Purchased at The Wine Rack

• Very smooth, easy.
• Inexpensive wine that tastes much more expensive than it is.
• Great bouquet.
• Bouquet is fruity but taste is much more mild.
• This wine like the girl that has everything…looks, easy to get a long with, great personality…and she loves sports. Pick up a bottle of this and you will thank us later.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/sagelands-vineyard-four-corners/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/masi-campofiorin-ripasso-rosso-del-veronese-italy-2003/ http://www.justagrape.com/masi-campofiorin-ripasso-rosso-del-veronese-italy-2003/#comments Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:05:53 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/masi-campofiorin-ripasso-rosso-del-veronese-italy-2003/ A blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara from Italy. It is an unfiltered wine, which means that you need to decant in order to keep the sediment out of the glass. $16 Purchased at The Wine Rack

• Green apple.
• Wood smoke.
• Soft, velvety, full bodied wine.
• Very good.
• Peppermint.
• If you can find this baby you should really consider picking her up…she is haunting and majestic like an Italian Princess but priced for the mere pauper.

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