http://www.justagrape.com Simple Wine Reviews By Regular Guys Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:00:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.justagrape.com/barbed-wire-california-2009-blend/ http://www.justagrape.com/barbed-wire-california-2009-blend/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:36:41 +0000 Eddie http://www.justagrape.com/?p=666 This wine was purchased to kick off the weekend with burgers on a charcoal Weber grill.  The burgers were made with garlic, onion, smoked gouda, and worcestershire sauce.  It was a relaxed evening of conversation, dinner, homemade brownies and ice cream for dessert while the kids ran wild.  A perfect way to celebrate the 80 degree weather in Phoenix.  This wine is a great food wine that is bold enough to stand up to strong flavors yet it is also easily enjoyed on it’s own.  I would be interested in having this again with some hard cheeses such as Parmesan and Romano. $12 from Target

• Rich and deep aromas of cedar, and a hint of vanilla at first.
• Earthy flavors of moss followed by fruity plum at the finish.
• Touch of red apple on the tip of the tongue.
• Really opens up the flavors after decanting but is still slightly tannic.
• Bold, strong and aggressive yet contains a soft side that fits into every situation.  This wine is comfortable at a hockey game as well as a night spend listening to the opera.  Versatile and hip it is a wine for just about any occasion.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/barbed-wire-california-2009-blend/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/bogle-phantom-california-2006/ http://www.justagrape.com/bogle-phantom-california-2006/#comments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 03:43:12 +0000 Eddie http://www.justagrape.com/?p=650 This wine has been reviewed by us before.  We have been a fan of this wine since we first tried it in a wine bar in Tempe.   We really felt like the 2005 was a lot better but this is still a pretty good wine itself. $19 from Total Wine

• Aromas of cedar with a hint of vanilla.
• Tastes of dark chocolate at the start and finish.
• Flavors of plum and black cherry.
• Mouth feel is a little harsher than past Phantoms.
• This wine is kinda like going to Hawaii and when the plane lands it is raining…sad…but you are still in Hawaii and the longer you are there the warmer is gets.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/bogle-phantom-california-2006/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/ora-montepulciano-dabruzzo-italy-2008/ http://www.justagrape.com/ora-montepulciano-dabruzzo-italy-2008/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 04:46:14 +0000 Eddie http://www.justagrape.com/?p=643 Ora Montepulciano D’Abruzzo from Fresh & Easy.  This is a new wine that we picked up to have after a great Thanksgiving Day meal.  The price led us to not expect much but we were very surprised by the depth and character of this wine. $5 from Fresh & Easy

• Pepper and Spice smells
• Earthy with damp hay
• Tastes of sour cherry with plum at the end
• Smooths out a lot after decanting
• Intense, deep, complex, yet at a price point that is undeniably perfect… like ordering Monday Night Football tickets online and ending up with Bowl Game tickets by accident.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/ora-montepulciano-dabruzzo-italy-2008/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/dos-brotos-lake-county-ranch-red-california-2008/ http://www.justagrape.com/dos-brotos-lake-county-ranch-red-california-2008/#comments Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:17:31 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/?p=638 This is a red table wine that we picked up on a recent visit to the ever popular and frequently visited Trader Joes. $7 from Trader Joes

• Smokey with rich blackberry smells and a hint of vanilla
• Tastes very smooth and rich with velvety mouth feel
• Tastes smokey too with more of the blackberry and cherry coming through
• Nice medium long finish. A great wine to have with a meal.
• This wine is like the perfect dinner guest… full of great conversation and an appreciation for good food… as an added bonus, they don’t overstay their welcome and leave at just the right moment… welcome back anytime!

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/dos-brotos-lake-county-ranch-red-california-2008/feed/ 2 http://www.justagrape.com/francis-ford-coppola-rosso-california-2008/ http://www.justagrape.com/francis-ford-coppola-rosso-california-2008/#comments Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:07:18 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/?p=631 This wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Cabernet.  We picked it up and had it with some fantastic pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw from the Aarti Party recipe.  Overall it was a winning combination. $9 from Fry’s

• At first open, the smells are sweet and a bit jammy.
• Grassy, alfalfa summertime smells follow a bit later.
• Tastes of vanilla, lavendar and honey with peach at the end.
• Very smooth and enjoyable – improving over time with decanting.
• Great all around wine for the price… easy drinking and relaxing… like spending a lazy summer afternoon lounging around in a hammock… sure you didn’t accomplish anything productive, but you felt so good doing it.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/francis-ford-coppola-rosso-california-2008/feed/ 1 http://www.justagrape.com/marietta-old-vine-red-california-non-vintage/ http://www.justagrape.com/marietta-old-vine-red-california-non-vintage/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:17:21 +0000 Eddie http://www.justagrape.com/?p=623 This wine was a request for a review by a visitor to our site.  We heard good things about it and figured we would go ahead and give it a try.  We actually bought it once before and planned on reviewing it; but then just ended up having it with dinner and missed out on reviewing it.  Since we really liked it, we felt like we needed make a point to review it… so here we go!!!! $9 From Total Wine

• Rich aromas of vanilla and over ripe berries
• Sweet components yet nicely balanced
• Very smooth and easy drinking
• Flavors of plum on the tip of the tongue
• Subtle sweetness that leads to a pretty good finish
• A good wine that feels a little like a nice visit from your grandmother.  She is sweet and charming but not overly gushing with wet kisses.  Her stories charm you and when she leaves it almost feels as if she is still here.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/marietta-old-vine-red-california-non-vintage/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/vola-sangiovese-italy-2009/ http://www.justagrape.com/vola-sangiovese-italy-2009/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:23:22 +0000 Eddie http://www.justagrape.com/?p=610 This is a limited time availability wine available from Trader Joes.  We’re not certain if it will return again this year or if it is gone for good.  Very hard to pass up at $1.99 a bottle and we were not disappointed when we opened up the first one at home.  This flavor profile and texture of this wine can be found in others for $8 – $10.  If you can still find this at your TJ’s pick it up!!! $2 from Trader Joes

• Smells of strawberries, pepper and sawdust
• Soft mouth feel and is very smooth after decanting
• Tastes of cedar and nectarine with a medium finish
• Changes and evolves as you drink it.  This is a wine that keeps you interested all the time… You know its crazy buy you enjoy your time with it… it’s fun because you don’t know what is coming next… but it all makes sense when you realize it is a very schizophrenic wine.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/vola-sangiovese-italy-2009/feed/ 20 http://www.justagrape.com/sokol-blosser-meditrina-oregon-non-vintage/ http://www.justagrape.com/sokol-blosser-meditrina-oregon-non-vintage/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 20:27:31 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/?p=471 This is a blend of Syrah, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel from Sokol-Blosser in Oregon.  This is a very unique blend that we liked quite a bit.  We have usually been impressed with Sokal Blosser wines, and that is how this one made it into our reviewing wine glasses. $13 from Costco

• Smells of cherry, candy apple with a hint of tobacco and cloves
• Flavors of strawberry and subtle vanilla
• Smooth and velvety after decanting
• You meet a girl… she initially seems very girly and feminine… then you get to know her more later, and find that she loves cigars, scotch and is a huge fan of video games.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/sokol-blosser-meditrina-oregon-non-vintage/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/campo-viejo-crianza-tempranillo-spain-2005/ http://www.justagrape.com/campo-viejo-crianza-tempranillo-spain-2005/#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:33:26 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/?p=462 This is a Tempranillo from the Rioja region in Spain.  We have really been digging Rioja wines recently (even though not all our tastings have made it into real justagrape reviews!), so I wanted to give this one a shot when I saw it on the shelf. $11 from Bashas

• Strong strawberry and vanilla smells; Very sweet.
• Smooth yet dry.
• Slightly woody and plumb taste with a nice long finish.
• Great foot wine, you can eat a solid meal with this one.
• This wine is a well written plot to a good movie…. it has it’s highs and lows, but in the end it all comes together just right.
  

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/campo-viejo-crianza-tempranillo-spain-2005/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/torres-coronas-tempranillo-spain-2004/ http://www.justagrape.com/torres-coronas-tempranillo-spain-2004/#comments Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:27:10 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/?p=234 This is a tempranillo from Spain. This was another of our 4th of July wines that we had that day. $10 from Fresh & Easy

• Aromas of leather with a hint of peppermint behind it
• Earthy and woody in the initial taste
• A lot of tannins, even after decanting for 1 hour.
• Hearty and robust – would be great with a steak.
• A very intensely masculine wine would be akin to fighting a bull….or running with them…neither is one you would want to do on our own. So to is this wine…it must be paired with a rich and hearty meal in order to be fully enjoyed.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/torres-coronas-tempranillo-spain-2004/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/georges-debceuf-beaujolais-villages-france-2006/ http://www.justagrape.com/georges-debceuf-beaujolais-villages-france-2006/#comments Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:02:19 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/?p=233 This is a Gamay from France.  I picked this up as part of our 4th of July celebration.  I know…I know…why am I buying a French wine to celebrate the birth of America…..well it is in honor of the Marquis De Lafayette who helped our troops overcome the British.  But don’t worry…I also brought some Sam Adams beer to go with the BBQ as well.  Anyways…we enjoyed this as a precursor to our meal with brie cheese and crackers topped with dried cherries. $9 at Fresh & Easy

• Fruity aroma with a touch of cinnamon
• The aroma is very inviting
• Citrus notes on the initial tasting
• You must decant this wine for about 45 minutes and it becomes very smooth and mellow
• Mouth feel is much softer after the decant
• Flavors of raspberry and strawberry come through at the end
• I have to admit that I was not to sure about this wine when I bought it.  I was not sure that it would really be as good as it was…kinda like how the British Crown may have underestimated the will of the Revolutionary soldiers.  This wine surprises you with how good it is and you really must try this.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/georges-debceuf-beaujolais-villages-france-2006/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/boarding-pass-australia-2005/ http://www.justagrape.com/boarding-pass-australia-2005/#comments Tue, 06 May 2008 16:30:26 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/boarding-pass-australia-2005/ This wine is a Shiraz from South Australia. $15 from Costco

• Smells like green apple.
• Very rich and creamy mouth feel.
• Full bodied.
• Peppery and bold with a great finish.
• Looking at the label we did not expect much from this wine. It was kinda like going out on Halloween and expecting those little bite size candies that you usually get……but…every once in a while you run into that house that that gives you the full size candy bar….now that is exciting!!

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/boarding-pass-australia-2005/feed/ 0 http://www.justagrape.com/la-vendimia-rioja-spain-2006/ http://www.justagrape.com/la-vendimia-rioja-spain-2006/#comments Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:07:18 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/la-vendimia-rioja-spain-2006/ This wine is a Rioja from Spain and is a blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo. $16 from Dish in Scottsdale

• Smells like flowers.
• Sweet off the start but ends up being very well balanced.
• Great for lighter dishes, wouldn’t hold up well to steak or pasta.
• Smooth and flavorful, not overpowering.
• Light, happy, and enjoyable all on its own…like taking a nap on a hammock in your backyard it is easy to do and so refreshing.

]]> http://www.justagrape.com/la-vendimia-rioja-spain-2006/feed/ 2 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/joe-blow-red-california-2005/ http://www.justagrape.com/joe-blow-red-california-2005/#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:48:36 +0000 Mike http://www.justagrape.com/joe-blow-red-california-2005/ When we first looked at this bottle with it’s funky label we did not have high expectations. We have been disappointed in the past with trendy looking labels. This bottle did not just surpass our expectations….it smashed our expectations. This is a bottle that you must pick up when you get the chance. The price is right and the complexity is so much fun. $9 from Sprouts

• Strong aromas of fresh, and crisp red berries
• Slight scent of dark moist soil
• Not very sweet, but has a nice balance of fruit and earthiness
• Felt soft and velvety in the mouth
• Flavors of strawberry and caramel with a hint of vanilla on the tip of the tongue
• Like meeting someone that just rubs you the wrong way at first but then after a while you find that you misjudged them and they have actually become a good friend that you would not trade for the world.

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