Sep 06 2008

Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile, 2007)

Category: CabernetMike @ 11:28 pm
This is a Cabernet from Chile.  We reviewed the 2005 in January and thought we would compare the 2007 to that vintage.  Once again this wine falls below the 04 that we really liked.  It is not a bad wine but just not up to the level of the 04.  Give it a try with some grilled red meat and you might find this to be a decent wine that is worth the price.
$12 from Trader Joe’s
Three and a Half Trophies


  • Hints of citrus with a strong alcohol scent
  • Jammy aromas with  spicy notes.
  • Tastes of grapefruit
  • A bit sharp on the tongue
  • Overall mouth feel is a bit harsh and big with has a long finish
  • This wine is definitely a food wine that would be great with a porterhouse steak and twice baked potato
  • Bold and in your face like a school yard bully….taking it on by itself can be a bit overwhelming but pairing this wine with a hearty meal will take some of the edge off and reveal its softer side.
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1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (2 ratings, average: 5 out of 5)
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May 08 2008

Bogle Merlot (California, 2006)

Category: MerlotEddie @ 7:57 am
Bogle Merlot (California, 2006) This is a Merlot from California. This is actually our second review of this wine… we lost the notes on the first review so in theory, this review is more refined than our first.
$9 from Trader Joes
Two and a Half Trophies
  • Earthy smells, soil and roots.
  • Flat and one dimensional.
  • Very standard and typical tasting table wine.
  • Like going camping in the Pacific Northwest in the spring…While it may rain and there is something enjoyable about the way the forest smells afterwards…you really feel like you missed out on something great due to the weather.
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1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (11 ratings, average: 3.55 out of 5)
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May 03 2008

Red Flyer (California, 2003)

Category: BlendMike @ 10:20 am
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
Three Trophies
  • 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.
Have you tried this wine? Share your rating with us!
1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (3 ratings, average: 3 out of 5)
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Apr 23 2008

Charles Shaw Shiraz (California, 2007)

Category: ShirazMike @ 6:42 am
No Bottle Image Available This is a Shiraz from California. This is one of Trader Joes’ “Two Buck Chuck” wines. We really liked the Cabernet and thought we’d give the Shiraz a review.
$3 from Trader Joes
Half Trophy
  • Jammy aromas with a hint of vanilla.
  • Very acidic and sharp in the mouth.
  • It’s really hard to get past the acidity in this wine - it masks any good flavors that might be there.
  • A hint of oak.
  • Remember how Joe Blow Red was like someone who rubbed you the wrong way for a while until you found out that you really had a lot in common and grew to value their friendship…..well this is more like the person that rubs you the wrong way the first time and continues to be a pain in the butt for the rest of your life. Leave this bottle on the shelf since it is absolutely horrible. We expect better of Trader Joe’s.
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1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (3 ratings, average: 1.33 out of 5)
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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.
Have you tried this wine? Share your rating with us!
1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (1 ratings, average: 4 out of 5)
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Mar 05 2008

La Boca Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina, 2007)

Category: CabernetEddie @ 6:50 am
la-boca-cabernet-sauvignon.jpg So I was standing outside the other day grilling up a steak and drinking the last bit of the Tarazza Malbec that I had. Someone I know who lives in the condo complex we live in came by and we started talking. We talked about wine, cigars, and beer. I made the comment that I wish I had some more wine to have with my steak with and he kindly offered up a bottle of La Boca Cabernet that he is a big fan of. This wine is not as big or as bold as your traditional Cab, so I did knock a trophy off for that but overall it was not too bad. Understand this…It is a 4 dollar bottle of wine…if you are looking for something that tastes decent and are not into finding all the subtle nuances and flavors a wine can have than go ahead and give this a try.
$4.00 at Trader Joes
Two Trophies
  • Simple
  • Cherries on the tip of the tongue
  • Hints of grapefruit at first followed by a very dry finish
  • Pleasant tasting but too simple and not enough depth
  • This wine is like an attractive girl that is very shallow…You can handle her in doses every now and then but you do not want to spend a great amount of time or money on her….Luckily for you this one is very cheap
Have you tried this wine? Share your rating with us!
1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (3 ratings, average: 3.33 out of 5)
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Jan 28 2008

Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo Carmenere (Chile 2006)

Category: CarmenereEddie @ 6:42 am
Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo This wine is a Carmenere from Chile. Carmenere used to be grown in the Bordeaux region of France but is now only found in Chile. Carmenere tends to be a mellow grape that produces soft tannins and it is much more mellow than a malbec or cab.
$9 at Trader Joes
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Spicy and peppery with a little bit of smoke and oak.
  • A masculine tasting wine in the sense that it is more earthy rather than fruity.
  • A bit harsh on the tongue at first but decanting mellowed and rounded it out.
  • Once decanted, oak, and a coffee flavors came out followed by slight berry tastes.
  • Not very complex but very easy and enjoyable to drink.
  • A great every day wine.
  • Excellent wine for the price. Much like going into a gas station and buying a $1.00 scratcher and winning $20.00. It is not going to make you rich and will not do cartwheels down the street; but non the less, you are happy you picked up the ticket.
Have you tried this wine? Share your rating with us!
1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (1 ratings, average: 4 out of 5)
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Jan 17 2008

La Boca Malbec (Argentina 2006)

Category: MalbecEddie @ 7:06 am
2006 La Boca Malbec This wine is a Malbec from Argentina. Argentina, with its sinking currency is now finally able to challenge Chilean wine for a corner of the inexpensive wine market in North America. The label has been created to replicate the colorful houses that make up the town of La Boca that is nestled at the foothills of the Andes. We do suggest trying this because for the price it is well worth it.
$3.00 at Trader Joe’s
Two Trophies
  • Hints of Chocolate and coffee in the aroma
  • The aroma is intense
  • The taste was slightly spicy witha little plum
  • A bit harsher than past vintages
  • Very dry wine with a lot of tannins
  • One dimensional in its flavor and a little boring.
  • This wine is like free tickets to a baseball game between two teams you do not have a vested interest in. Your glad you got them and not upset that you went, but were not overly thrilled while you were there. It was better than sitting around the house all night but not exactly the World Series either.
Have you tried this wine? Share your rating with us!
1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (1 ratings, average: 2 out of 5)
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Jan 15 2008

Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages (France 2006)

Category: GamayMike @ 7:20 am
Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages This wine is a Gamay Noir from the Beaujolais region in east central France. Beaujolais is a sub-region of the larger Burgandy region in France, and is known for producing fruit forward and light wines. Nearly all of the wine produced in the Beaujolais region is of the Gamay grape variety. This wine is very common in the US and can be found at almost any store.
$8 from Trader Joes.
Three Trophies
  • Strawberry bouquet.
  • Light and dry with moderate tannins.
  • Easy to drink with a very short finish.
  • Not complex, simple.
  • This wine is like that song you hear and enjoy right away. After a while though it gets a little boring, because it’s not layered with intricacies that take multiple listens to hear. It still is nice to play once in a while though because it does have a good rhythm.
Have you tried this wine? Share your rating with us!
1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (1 ratings, average: 4 out of 5)
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Jan 10 2008

Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon (California 2005)

Category: CabernetMike @ 3:59 pm
Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon This wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma California. This is the legendary “2 Buck Chuck” that is sold exclusively by Trader Joe’s. There has been speculation and stories about why this wine is being sold for $2. According to Trader Joes however, the value priced Charles Shaw wines began as a result of an excessive supply, not because of other urban legends you may have heard. For the price, this is a great wine well worth giving a try. We have compared this wine to others in the same price point and above ($6.00 - $10.00 a bottle) and Charles Shaw comes out on top!
$3 Purchased from Trader Joes ($2 in California)
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Strong cherries in the bouquet.
  • Notes of green apple.
  • Hints of oak and plum.
  • Medium tannins - decanting is recommended.
  • An easy to drink wine, that can be enjoyed with a variety of foods.
  • Makes a great Sangria.
  • This wine is not the girl that wears Gucci, Fendi, or Prada. She wears baggy sweats and a baseball cap with her hair pulled through the back and she is proud of it. If you can get past the department store store clothes she wears, you will find she is definitely worth taking the time to get to know. Unlike the Cheap Red Wine we strongly suggest trying this bargain wine out.
Have you tried this wine? Share your rating with us!
1 Trophy2 Trophies3 Trophies4 Trophies5 Trophies   (5 ratings, average: 3.6 out of 5)
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