Top rated wines all under $20

Aug 21 2008

Rockcliffe Family Cabernet (Washington, 2006)

Category: CabernetEddie and Mike @ 10:10 am
This is a Cabernet from Fresh & Easy.  We picked this up one Saturday night and enjoyed it with bruschetta.
$12 from Fresh & Easy.
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Slight aromas of nutmeg and other Christmas spices.
  • Slight hint of cherry in the taste with holiday spices.
  • A bit tart on the finish…a bit like raspberry
  • This wine really conjured up images and feelings of Christmas….Felt like going home to family after being away for a long time and laughing together around a big Christmas dinner…..of course sine it is the middle of the summer and fond memories are all that are left we no longer remember all the Christmas fights over politics and sports with drunk Uncle “Larry”
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Jun 22 2008

Primarius Pinot Noir (Oregon, 2006)

Category: Pinot NoirMike and Eddie @ 10:00 am
No Bottle Image Available This is a Pinot Noir from Fresh & Easy. The bottle states that this is an an Oregon Pinot, but it was actually bottled by a winery in Washington.
$12 from Fresh & Easy
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Very transparent and light in color.
  • Earthy aromas.
  • Very good mouth feel, silky on the tongue.
  • A hint of blackberries.
  • Black cherry tastes with a short finish.
  • This wine is the NBA in the late 90’s… it has a lot of redeeming qualities (M.J. is still in the league after all). It is still worth your time… but really it’s too watered down with not enough going on… it could have been much better if it were more focused.
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May 23 2008

Tin Roof Merlot (California, 2005)

Category: MerlotMike and Eddie @ 7:43 pm
Tin Roof Merlot (California, 2005) This is a merlot from Tin Roof. We had this wine with steak on the grill to celebrate the end of the teaching year for Eddie.
$8 from Costco
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Subtle mint and smoke in the smell.
  • Bold and robust.
  • Tastes of prune straight from the bottle, but after decanting more of a plumb taste.
  • More dry than sweet
  • A bit tart on the finish
  • Bold and in your face….like Like the drunk guy at the hockey game…he is loud but at the same time some of the things that he says just crack you up and you hate seeing him thrown out. Our recommendation is that you try this wine out. It may not be for everyone but for someone it will be a very good time.
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May 15 2008

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Pinot Noir (France, 2006)

Category: Pinot NoirMike @ 8:02 pm
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Pinot Noir (France, 2006) This wine is a Pinot Noir from France. My wife Vanessa picked up this bottle of wine and we enjoyed it with some fantastic stuffed Peppers and Chiles with Mozzarella. We always enjoy a good Pinot Noir and this wine was pretty decent for the price of $9.
$9 from Sprouts
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Aromas of cherry and flowers
  • Simple, smooth and drinkable.
  • Strawberry flavors.
  • Refreshing mineral finish.
  • This wine has many simple characteristics, is easy drinking and rather refreshing… but, like that hard to get to know friend of yours, it does have something more to offer if you take the time to get to know it.
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May 11 2008

Catena Malbec (Argentina, 2005)

Category: MalbecMike and Eddie @ 4:40 pm
Catena Malbec (Argentina, 2005) This is a Malbec from the Mendoza region in Argentina.
$18 from Costco
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Spicy aromas with a hint of marmalade.
  • Oak flavors with higher tannins.
  • Decanting is recommended.
  • Tastes of dried cherries.
  • Like a person who floats around from one group of friends to another group of friends….they come and go as they please and you never know when they are going to show up… but when they do show up, they are usually pretty fun to hang out with.
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Apr 03 2008

Foodies Cabernet Sauvignon (California, 2005)

Category: CabernetMike and Eddie @ 6:36 am
No Bottle Image Available This is a Cabernet Sauvignon from California
$8 at Cost Plus World Market
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Strong floral aromas.
  • Smooth and rounded with good body with tastes of plum and dark berries.
  • Easy to drink with soft tannins.
  • I was really surprised by this wine. I think the packaging lowered my expectations for some reason, but it turned out to be pretty decent. This wine was like going to a movie that you know nothing about, not expecting anything much and then being quite surprised by the quality and depth. Not a Oscar winner, but certainly worth seeing.
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Mar 25 2008

Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington, 2003)

Category: CabernetMike and Eddie @ 6:19 am
Chateau St. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon This wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State.
$13 from Fresh and Easy
Three and a Half Trophies
  • 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.
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Mar 11 2008

Yelcho Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile, 2004)

Category: CabernetEddie and Mike @ 5:09 pm
Yelcho Cabernet Sauvignon I picked this wine up to have with some people who were going to be sitting by the fire pit at our condo this evening. My choice for it was based on finding something new and since I had not had a Chilean wine in some time I figured I would give it a shot. Outside of the high acid content I would not say that I was disappointed. I suppose it would have been much better with a meal though.
$8.00 at Frys
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Fruity but musty aroma
  • Tastes of blackberries at first and a very slight hint of peaches
  • Raisins and toasted oak mixed some black pepper
  • A little more acidic than I normally like
  • This wine is a little like dating a girl who can be very sarcastic…ya like her a lot but sometimes her sarcasm in front of others kinda makes ya cringe
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Feb 29 2008

Nathansons Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

Category: CabernetEddie and Mike @ 6:59 am
nthanson-creek.jpg
This is a Cabernet Sauvignon that my wife Lynnette picked up from Sprouts. She bought it so I could make a pan sauce to go with the steak she purchased as well for me to grill.
$5.00 at Sprouts
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Light, fruity and pleasant aromas
  • A rush of fresh raspberries right off the bat
  • Oak undertones
  • More Sweet and fruity than earthy but not overwhelmingly sweet
  • This is not as big and bold as you might expect from cabernet but it is still good.
  • Decent wine, but you feel a little bit tricked since it did not have the usual characteristics of a Cab…Kinda like going to a movie because of the previews you saw….Then the movie turns out to be very different than you expected….but the pan sauce was excellent!
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Feb 21 2008

Le Grand Pinot Noir (France, 2006)

Category: Pinot NoirMike and Eddie @ 6:55 am
Le Grand Pinot Noir A Pinot Noir from the hills of Limoux in Southern France. I found this wine at Cost Plus World Market while searching for a new Pinot and was excited to find this bottle at such a great price.
$10 Purchased from Cost Plus World Market
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Spicy aromas with cherries, slightly peppery.
  • Very smooth and somewhat light.
  • Not complicated or elaborate.
  • Simple yet enjoyable…this wine is fine if you want to just sit down and have something to drink after work that tastes good but you don’t have to think about it too much.
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