Tag Archives: $10

Diseno Old Vine Malbec 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

17 Friday Aug 2018

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Slightly less opaque than what I was imagining for this Malbec.  Good color though.  The nose has a candy note, some fresh oak and some blackberries.  I’ll admit, the candy part does not appeal to my taste.  On the palate it is quite refreshing, light in body but thick in flavor.  Black berries, kirsch and bramble. There is a chewiness that I am enjoying.  This wine is very dark fruit forward.  Structure-wise it is built for immediate quaffing with very little tannic backbone, very gentle acidity and an easy mouthfeel.  It is not complex but offers easy enjoyment and gets 87 points from me.  For the price under $10 it’s a decent summer barbecue wine that I might take into the fall as an excellent part of coq au vin, even beef burgundy.  I think it would work quite well.  4 stars.  Salut….

Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Alexander Valley, USA

23 Saturday Jun 2018

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Some more Kirkland Signature wines are on the horizon in my search for value priced offerings.  This one cost $10.  It shows nicely in the glass with a see-through medium hued purple.  The nose is mostly plum with a hint of nutmeg.  The palate is very inviting, easy to drink and fresh.  Blue fruits dominate with a touch of tannic vibrancy that tickles the gums.  Acidity is present and the wine has a really nice balance.  The mid palate has a core of plum that carries through to the finish.  There’s not much complexity here, but it does serve the purpose.  This wine is great value for a Sonoma County Cabernet that drinks easily, will handle burgers, pizza and make an awesome coq au vin.  I would buy it up, serving all summer long out by the grill.  Drink till 2020.  89 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Spier Signature Pinotage 2015, Western Cape, South Africa

09 Saturday Jun 2018

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Picked this one up for $10 in Delaware, cause I was bored and wandered into a wine shop.  I also happen to really like Pinotage.  This one shows pretty light in the glass.  It’s a pretty purple though.  On the nose- textbook.  Creosote, black fruit, earth and charred wood.  On the palate, it is very fruity- plums, black berry and unique Kumquat note that I find very intriguing.  An orange like testiness with some acidity to it.  Very interesting.  The mid palate has tons of that creosote flavor I associate with Pinotage.  The tannins get a grip on the back end, but not overly so.  The finish has an oak tinge to it along with black berry cobbler.  A touch of vanilla rounds it all out.  I must say, I really like this wine.  It’s not very complex but it is really drinkable, is unique and is priced right.  88 points from me and 5 stars.  It will pair well with the marinated Flap Steaks I have on the grill.  Salut….

Cantina Zaccagnini il vino ‘dal tralcetto’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2015, Italy

24 Thursday May 2018

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Another in the latest series of inexpensive Costco finds- a Montepulciano Reserve.  I think I paid a whopping $10.  It shows a decent purple, pretty opaque.  On the nose I get tar, black berry, licorice.  On the palate it is somewhat brighter than I had imagined.  Uplifting blackberry extract, star anise, mint.  Sour cherry kicks in on the mid palate and makes me pucker ever so slightly.  Medium tannins balance the finish off which is short to medium in length.  This is the perfect wine for tonight’s burgers and tater tots.  Refreshing, somewhat lighter in style yet offering a juicy cut to the fatty patties.  Generally speaking this is an everyday drinker that deserves 87 points but get 5 stars from me for its value and easygoing style, perfect for summer.  Salut….

Borgo M Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT 2015, Italy

12 Thursday Oct 2017

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My son is visiting from Nashville so we decided to order some Chinese food.  Faced with trying to pair reds with Mogolian Beef, Walnut Crisp Shrimp, General Tso…. I gave up and looked in the fridge.  I wanted something on the lower side of the alcohol scale.  This crisp Pinot Grigio rings in at 12.5%, perfect for my Far Eastern foray.  It shows a pretty gold and pink hue in the glass and offers lemon zest, pineapple and green apple on the nose.  On the palate it is not as crisp as I had imagined, slightly more weighty and silky.  It reminds me of unoaked Chardonnay in a way.  Waxy, pear, apple and citrus peel.  The mid palate is really interesting with more green fruits, melon and a hint of beeswax.  The finish has that classic lemon profile.  This Italian Pinot Grigio is more akin to Oregonean or even Alsatian Pinot Gris with it’s heavier profile, darker complexion and flavor charachteristics.  I’m not complaining, it’s a decent wine and I am enjoying it immensely with my exotic dinner.  89 points and 5 stars for this $10 wine that needs to be stocked in multiples!  Drink now till 2018.  Salut….

Vignamaggio Il Morino Tusacany 2015, Italy

14 Thursday Sep 2017

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It’s pasta for a quick pre-ballet dinner with my daughter so I needed a quick and easy Italian wine.  This one rolled in the other day at $10 so I figured it was worth a shot.  The glass shows off a decent color palette of purple that is somewhat see-through.  The nose offers red berries, raspberry and some clove.  The Sangiovese in the blend gives me some cherry notes on the palate while the Merlot component brings out some  plum while adding a bit of backbone to the wine.  On the mid palate is where I get a nuttiness, almonds and a touch of oak.  The wine has some very dry tannins that kick in on the finish and add a bite to the gums.  Acidity is nice and the wine is balanced.  I’m not sure I would go as high as the pros with 92, more like 89 points for me.  Still a good value IMHO and worthy of 4 stars.  Perfect for the midweek pasta dish or perhaps a thin crust wood oven pizza.  Drink till 2020.  Salut….

Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico DOCG 2014, Tuscany, Italy

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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See-through purple.  Nose of sweet strawberries and spring flowers, very intriguing.  On the palate I get more strawberries and nutmeg.  The wine is juicy but not biting with acidity.  I am enjoying the mouthfeel, it is very subtle yet supple.  The tannins are so carefully hidden that I barely perceive them.  The mid palate exhibits some more spices and the core fruit.  The finish is short in length but pleasant enough.  This wine is a nice, easy to drink wine that has an interesting nose.  I think it gets 89 points and can be found for $10.  This is a good deal, 5 stars from me.  Pasta, pizza or a rack of ribs come to mind.  Salut….

Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico

Cono Sur Bicicleta Carmenere 2015, Central Valley, Chile

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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It has been a while since I have bought this brand.  Chilean value is what I think of when I see it.  Let’s see how this Carmenere fares. Very purple hues in the glass make for a good beginning.  On the nose I am getting candy, some oak and black currants.  My first taste is quite nice.  The wine is fresh, fruity, upbeat and charming.  Black berries and twizzlers come to mind.  The acidity pops up and there is a very slight trace of tannins on the back end.  This is not a complex wine but would rock a BBQ party, perhaps some pizza or even hamburgers.  It will keep everyone happy with its $10 price tag and it get 88 points from me.  This 4 star wine should be a staple, especially if you have parties and barbecues.  Salut….

Cono Sur Bicicleta Carmenere

Charles Smith ‘Eve’ Chardonnay Columbia Valley Washington 2014

08 Saturday Oct 2016

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Pale yellow and offering apple, quince and lemon notes on the nose.  Somewhat subdued on the palate on day one, I am writing this on day two where the wine has really opened up.  The mouthfeel is really nice, not flabby or overly acidic.  Yellow apples are the key ingredient and they are backed up with lemon zest and nutmeg.
This is a relatively ‘clean’ chard that provides good balance without going heavy into the buttery side or steely on to the minerally side.  88 points and a great wine for sipping or pairing with some cajun seafood.  I’m going 4 stars on this $10 effort.  I am a big fan of this winery, they produce very consistent wines at several price points.  Salut….
eve chardonnay

La Boheme Act 4 Syrah Gamay Yarra Valley 2013

14 Sunday Jun 2015

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Indeed, a blend of Syrah and Gamay.  Best known as the key ingredient in Beaujolais, the Gamay grape is lighter and more perfumed than most.  It can be made in several styles from the easy drinking Nouveau to the cellar worthy Cru Beaujolais.  I have fond memories of drinking it in the cafe’s of Paris and long to return- slightly chilled and always refreshing with a lunch of steak frites.  When I saw the two varietals combined and from Australia no less I felt obliged to spend $10, my curiosity was immense.

Interesting nose of grape jelly with a touch of oak.  Light and refreshing, like Gamay should be. Tart and tannic like a syrah can be. Very unique attack with some plum, purple skittles, and violets. Medium finish and a tannic exit. A must try just to see how the two grapes intertwine. 87 points. 3 stars. $10. 13.5%  make it a tidy number for an al fresco lunch without being too heady.  I will be buying more soon, as I feel this one might develop some interesting hints in the short term.  Salut….

La boheme syrah gamayIMG_2691