Medium ruby colored, with a hint of staining, and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium intensity aromas of red currant, blood orange, white cherry, cinnamon-driven spice box, a hint of licorice, and pomegranate. I can almost smell the acidity. The palate is dry, with high acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that are hitting on the upper cheeks. Medium intensity flavors of red fruit, some spicebox and a hint of blood orange peel. The finish is a zesty affair with the acidity firing on all cylinders. It finishes a medium (-) length without much fanfare. It’s a basic, everyday bottle that runs $8 and gets 85 points from me. Drink sooner rather than later, this 3 star effort is made from organic grapes. Salut….
Medium ruby colored with light viscosity (12% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of candied plum, black cherry, menthol, blackberry and purple licorice. It’s rather one-dimensional. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins. Slightly tart black cherry and blackberry greet me with some interesting menthol and licorice notes. Once again, not overly complex, but for $8 a pop I was not expecting much more. The finish is rather short and succinct. For an everyday drinker this is quite quaffable and gets 86 points from me- which makes it a 4 star effort in my book that needs to be popped and poured rather than cellared. I’m gonna use some in a red wine reduction, let’s see how that works out. Salut….
Deep ruby colored with staining on the walls and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of macerated blackberry, a touch of black plum, raspberry and whiff of asparagus. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that lead to a medium body. The fresh black fruit is more evident on the palate and there is a hint of rooibos tea, some mocha and raspberry- the green note is nowhere to be tasted. The finish is short in length but refreshingly tart. This is not a complex wine by any stretch, but for $8 from ALDI…. I’ll drink it on a weekday with grilled burgers, pizza or pasta. It’s funny to drink a wine that is a 2023 vintage when most of the northern hemisphere has not even begun to pick their 2023 grapes. This 86 point wine gets 3 stars from me and should be drunk by 2027. Salut….
Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV). The nose has telltale pyrazines with some green veggie notes along with blackberry, black raspberry, menthol, vanilla, cocoa and charred oak. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and lithe tannins. A medium body is layered with blackberry and black raspberry. The green note has faded but the oak nuance is present. The finish is a touch tart and goes on for a medium length. Not overly complex- this is a weekday pleasure that will go great with Beef and Ale pie, lamb chops or grilled sausages. 88 points for this $8 effort makes it a 5 star wine to load up on and drink till 2025. Salut….
Medium ruby with a touch of garnet on the rim with a watery sheen (14% ABV). The nose has classic Pinotage aromas of ripe raspberry, red plum, creosote, blackberry, a touch of vanilla and dark red licorice. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins. Medium bodied, I get dark red fruit flavors with the tar note I love in this varietal. Blackberry sneaks in as does some licorice, both black and dark red. The mouthfeel is a touch astringent at the back end where the finish is medium in length. Charred wood and blackberry are the two main flavors that are left. I like this wine and will pair it tonight alongside Cowboy steaks with baked spuds and grilled asparagus. 89 points from me for this $8, yes, eight bones, bottle makes it a 5 star effort. Drink this vintage till 2025. Salut….
Moxie and I have just moved to Virginia, where the local Costco sells wine and beer. I picked this bottle of Cava up for under $8, yes $7.99 to be precise. That is a killer price for a traditional method sparkling wine. Was it any good? You betcha.
Pale golden yellow with a fine mousse.Aromas of bread dough, lemon pith, green apple, biscuit. Very refreshing on the palate with smooth bubbles, dry, medium (+) acidity, medium (-) bodied with excellent textural feel.The flavors mirror the nose but more on the fruit side versus the autolytic components. This blend of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo gets at least 89 points from me and 5 stars.It’s my new go-to summer slurper.We are serving up some charcuterie with it. (P.s. I went back for case). Salut….
My friend Tracy got this at Trader Joes, for $8. I am absolutely blown away. Seriously delicious, with cellaring capacity and yummy flavors. Opaque, purple, inky.The nose is exactly what I expect from a 7 year old Bordeaux- some cassis, cedar, earth, game and black plum.Tertiary flavors are coming out whilst primal fruit is still very fresh.The palate is silky with nicely integrated tannins, a touch of acidity and layered fruit.A medium length finish makes for a delicious, tidy package of rich fruit and good structure.Yummy stuff to drink till 2025.91 points! Yup, for $8 at TJ’s, this is probably my bottle of the year when it comes to QPR (quality price ratio). 5 stars, only cause I can’t go 6. WAY TO GO! Salut….
Every 28 years or so, I drink some of this stuff….. You see, when Moxie and I got married, she bought 130 small bottles and removed the labels in a bathtub full of water. She hand made labels with our names, the date and some curly-hues plus a green ribbon. The bottles were placed in front of every guest setting at the reception as a parting gift. We kept one bottle, the label has faded , the ribbon fell off and the contents are probably vinegar. So, on the anniversary of our magical day we happened to be in a liquor store and bought a 4 pack of 187 ml bottles, plastic bottles to be precise- for old time’s sake. Today was beach day and it was hot. We were ordering Thai food for dinner so I popped a few of these little charmers and we thoroughly enjoyed them for what they were- light, refreshing, a touch sweet and cheap as hell. I wrote up the notes for my course, here they are. (I can’t even rate this stuff to be honest, just sit back and enjoy one). Salut….
Sutter Home White Zinfandel NV, California 9.5% ABV
Appearance- Deep Salmon color.
Nose- medium (-) intensity with aromas of strawberry, orange peel, acacia, honeysuckle and wet stone. Youthful.
Palate- medium sweet, medium (-) acidity, low alcohol, light body, medium intensity flavors of strawberry, orange peel, honeysuckle. Medium (-) finish.
Conclusion- acceptable quality, drink now, not suitable for aging or further aging.
I know, it’s crazy that I selected this wine to taste- long story. What’s even crazier is that I actually enjoyed it! Refreshing after a hot day at the beach and at 9.5% -a welcome change from the last few bombs. A 4-pack of 187ml plastic bottles. Such a bargain at $6.50! Paired with Thai food for the win.
Decent shade of color, medium opacity.On the nose I get purple fruit and charcoal. With a bit of swirling it morphs into raspberry.The initial palate has some nice black cherry and oaky char with a certain warmness to it.Fine grained tannins immediately show up and carry me to the mid palate which turns the fruit back to that plummy, purple note I caught on the nose.The finish is medium length, tannic and features more fruit and a dry black tea.Overall I’m enjoying this wine for what it is- a weekday quaffer that won’t break the bank.I would pair it with spaghetti, moussaka or even ratatouille.87 points and 4 stars for this $8 offering, drink till 2021.Salut….
Very dark purple in the glass with barely traceable legs.The aromas spilled over when I swirled the glass.On the nose I am sensing that candied licorice that I don’t care for.I also get pine and eucalyptus.On the palate, it is decent for an $8 bottle.I wasn’t expecting much complexity but this one has some nice primal fruit flavors of blackberry alongside anise, cedar and wood smoke.What it lacks in structure it makes up for with fruitiness and verve.A decent drink that has a trace of tannins, a bit of acidity and an easy going quaffability.86 points would be generous but at this price, it’s good for a BBQ or a day at the picnic site.Drink now. 3 stars. Salut….
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