Mar 15 2009

The California Wine Party Blend (California, 2006)

Category: BlendMike @ 7:29 pm
No Bottle Image Available This is a blend from Paso Robles California.  I picked this wine up at Trader Joes, simply because it had an interesting marketing angle, and it was only $6.  Turns out it was fairly decent, although probably not capable of government leadership if it were a real person.
$6 from Trader Joes
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Fruity aromas with overtones of alcohol
  • Flavors are a bit watered down.
  • Short finish
  • Tastes of blackberry
  • Very easy drinking with good mouth feel.
  • Overall it was not a bad wine.  It was enjoyable while it lasted but it kind of fell off the map with the finish…kinda like the way Giuliani fell off the map after Florida.  If this wine were the Governor of California it probably wouldn’t have much budget balancing success either… but people would still vote for it again.
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Feb 21 2009

Albero Tempranillo (Spain, 2006)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 8:30 am
No Bottle Image Available This is an organic Tempranillo from Spain.  I hadn’t browsed the wine isle at T.J.’s in a while and was intrigued to find an organic Tempranillo from Spain there.  There is also a Cabernet from Albero that we want to review as well.  Jason has some more insights as to the origin of this wine and a review as well.  Overall we were pleased with this $6 wine and would buy it again.
$6 from Trader Joes
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Strong cherry aroma with hints of vanilla.
  • Decent balance, with a weak short finish.
  • Simple and pleasant, but lacks any enjoyable complexity.
  • Chocolate on the finish.
  • This wine like having the Monday of a long weekend off… you’re really happy to have the day off but you don’t really do anything really exciting or very interesting.
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Apr 21 2008

Il Valore Chianti Riserva (Italy, 2003)

Category: ChiantiMike @ 6:32 am

No Bottle Image Available
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
Four and a Half Trophies
  • 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.
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Mar 07 2008

Ombretta Chianti (Italy, 2006)

Category: ChiantiMike @ 7:08 am
No Bottle Image Available This wine is a Chianti from Tuscany. Chiantis are very good buys and you can find decent bottles for around $10.00. You can get great bottles for around $20.00. Chiantis….like most Italian wines are built for food. If you are looking for a wine that goes great with a meal yet does not break your wallet than you should try out a few Chiantis and this is one we would recommend starting with.
$6.00 From Fresh and Easy
Three Trophies
  • Deep purple color
  • Rustic aroma with hints of berries
  • Flavors of toasted oak
  • Black Cherry notes
  • Solid buy at $6.00…Its like playing softball with your old glove that you have had for years….It may not be as fancy or as nice as some of your friends gloves but you know it will work for you and after all……whether it works for you is all that really matters
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Feb 23 2008

Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington, 2004)

Category: Cabernet SauvignonMike @ 8:31 am
Columbia Crest This wine is a Cabernet from the Columbia Valley in Washington. I picked this up at Fresh and Easy but I have had it before. It can be found in Fry’s and Basha’s but the price at Fresh and Easy was the cheapest I have seen. The Two Vines line from Columbia Crest has produced many “Best Buy” and “Best Value” designations from wine aficionados.
$6.00 Purchased at Fresh and Easy
Four Trophies
  • Strong aromas of fruit that is dominated by Black Cherry
  • Nice balance between sweet and dry with moderate tannins
  • Cherry and oak flavors right away and a hint of cocoa on the finish
  • Full bodied and robust
  • A little sharp on the tongue at first but decanting led to a very soft and velvety feeling in the mouth
  • A wonderful and enjoyable wine for the price….Like eating a burger from a charcoal grill…it is still just a burger but that charcoal grill makes it taste like so much more.
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Feb 08 2008

Redwood Creek Pinot Noir (France, 2006)

Category: Pinot NoirMike @ 6:56 am
Redwood Creek Pinot Noir This is a Pinor Noir from France. It is imported and bottled by Frei Brothers Vineyards in Modesto California.
$6 Purchased from Fresh and Easy.
One and a Half Trophies
  • Woody aroma with a hint of pepper.
  • Light flavors with not a lot going on.
  • Watered down with a really short finish.
  • Very thin and light…not much fun at all…sort of like spending your day off cleaning your house.
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Jan 21 2008

XS Red Cabernet Sauvignon (California, 2005)

Category: Cabernet SauvignonEddie @ 8:24 am
xs-red.jpg This is a Cabernet Sauvignon from California.
$6
Two and a Half Trophies
  • Fruity bouquet
  • Middle of the road in terms of sweetness
  • A little harsh right out of the bottle
  • Plums and cherries in the initial taste then fades very fast
  • A bit boring and run of the mill. This wine does not excite or entice you. Like going on a blind date and having nothing in common with the person you were set up with.
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Jan 08 2008

Cheap Red Wine (California)

Category: BlendMike @ 7:11 am
Cheap Red Wine This wine is a blend of unknown grapes from California.
$6 Purchased at Whole Foods
One and a Half Trophies
  • Sweet bouquet.
  • Acidic with hints of grapefruit and cranberries.
  • Not very complex, and the flavors seem to be mumbled together quite a bit.
  • Jammy and a little hard.
  • This wine tastes even sweeter with food.
  • This is like the non-conformist girl that does not wear make-up or take regular showers….she screams that she is independent and goes against the grain. She is proud of the fact that it only cost her a couple of bucks to get dressed each day and she ain’t changing for nobody. Our advice is to walk right by her cause she will get on your nerves.
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