Tag Archives: $9

Pinot Evil Pinot Noir NV, Chile

07 Monday May 2018

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A non-vintage wine as far as I can see that I purchased for $9.  The name and label sold me.  It is see-through as expected from a Pinot Noir.  The nose drums up strawberry, cinnamon and a baked pastry note that I find really interesting.  The palate is very warm, with flavors of red berries, strawberry and cherry extract.  The wine has a juicy acidity to it and the tannins are ever so faint.  The mid palate shows off a touch of heat, even though this wine only clocks 12.5%.  The medium length finish rounds out with red currants and a chalky component.  More cherry hits right at the end.  I have to state that it’s a delicious wine that gets 90 points from me and for the price- it deserves 5 stars.  An exceptional bargain in the world of Pinot Noir.  Well done!  Buy it by the bucketful.  Salut…

PS.  Turns out there is a French wine of the same exact name and label.  The Chilean one is what I tasted.

Cono Sur Bicicleta Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Chile

07 Monday Aug 2017

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If you read my previous post on the 2015 Cono Sur Cab, you will recall that I ended up with two different vintages from the store.  The 2016 is much darker purple, more extracted with heavier oak on the nose which disappoints me.  I don’t like too much of the stuff.

On the palate, a much different story.  Rich, thick plums alongside blackberry jam and oak shavings.  The midpalate offers up black fruits and a tapenade note.  The finish is short, with some black fruits and gentle tannins.  This version is not as balanced and smooth as the 2015.  It’s still a good deal though and should be on everyone’s party stocking list.  I’m thinking dry rubbed ribs, burgers or even shish kebabs would pair nicely here.  88 points form me and for $9, 4 stars all day long.  No picture taken BTW.  Salut….

Cono Sur Bicicleta Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Chile

07 Monday Aug 2017

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I bought two bottles of the Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon but didn’t realize I had two vintages…. so here goes the 2015.

Very nice purple in the glass.  The nose is of ripe plums, bursting violets and a blackberry component.  On the palate I get blackberry, currants, cinnamon and some earthy notes.  The wine is easy to drink with slight tannins, moderate acidity and a good mouthfeel.  The midpalate has some very nice dark cherry notes with a touch of oak.  The tail end is shortish but nice; green olives and cherry come to mind.  Overall a very serviceable wine that gets 89 points from me and 5 stars for its $9 price tag.  Drink now for best results.  Salut….

cons sur bicicleta cabernet sauvignon

Monte Degli Angeli Sangiovese 2014, Puglia, Italy

29 Saturday Jul 2017

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I have said it before, Sangiovese reminds me of Pinot Noir. It looks like Pinot, smells like Pinot and in many cases tastes like Pinot.  This particular wine starts off a little different.  It is dark, opaque and and brooding.

On the nose, I am confused.  Tar, dark fruits and a leather component would make me guess Tempranillo, for sure.  The initial tastes confirm what my nose suspected.  This wine acts like it came straight from Rioja.  Earth, gaminess, dark plums and bramble along with the creosote.  It all points to an extraction and aging issue.  This wine has been made in a different style that had me fooled.  It is delicious, no doubt, but atypical.  The mid palate is bursting with blueberry and dark plums along with the earthiness.  The finish is more blue than black fruits.  Tannins are very lithe, acidity is very mellow and the alcohol level is a mild 12.5%.  89 points from me and 5 stars because you can pick it up for $9!  Enjoy alone or with pasta, charcuterie or even veal parmesan.  Drink now till 2020.  Salut….

Monte degli Angeli Sangiovese

KWV The Legend Big Bill Red 2014, Western Cape, South Africa

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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This blend is really dark purple.  Made up of 60% Petit Verdot, 20% each of Cab Sav and Shiraz.  The nose is bursting with currants, juniper, a touch of oak and black cherry.  The palate is very interesting and tasty.  The Petit Verdot punches through with violets, dark cherry and leather.  Tannins are persistent but not overpowering, they leave the gums slightly dry but give the wine a freshness.  The mid palate gives me mocha as well as more dark cherries.  The finish reveals a vanilla note as well as some wood.  The winemaker has done a superb job of balancing the acidity, tannins and the 14% alcohol- which is not noticeable.  The mouthfeel is what I would describe as wholesome yet fresh.  It is relatively smooth with great potential to mellow out and possibly develop tertiary flavor.  90 points from me, drink till 2025 and pair it with lamb chops and garlic mash.  5 stars because this wine rocks and it runs a mere $9 (But I found it for $6.09 in NJ, you people should be running to that store).  Salut….

the legend of big bill ridiculously big

Lionel Osmin & Cie La Reserve Malbec 2014, Vin de France

29 Thursday Jun 2017

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A reddish purple in the glass.  On the nose I am getting blueberry, vanilla and red licorice.  My initial impression is slightly tart with blueberry pie, and that’s about it.  The mid palate keeps the blueberry theme alive and adds a layer of tannins and some sour cherry.  The finish is bracing, the acidity and some green tannins really take over. Unfortunately, this wine is a little thin, lacks depth and is off balance.  85 points at best, but for only $9 I could go 2 stars.  We are grilling ribs and corn, might just work.   Salut….

Charles Smith ‘Kung Fu Girl’ Riesling 2015, Columbia Valley, USA

15 Thursday Jun 2017

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I am a big fan of this wine, it’s cheap, tasty and fills in for many different occasions.  I reviewed the 2011 Kung Fu Girl and gave it 89 points.  This version is better!

Pale yellow in the glass.  Lemon zest, pineapple peel and some green apple come to mind.  On the palate, much fuller weight than I was expecting, almost waxy.  Lemon curd, sweet pink grapefruit and bee pollen (yes, bee pollen, I eat it every day and this wine has a corresponding note).  The mouthfeel is delightful, albeit not what I was looking for to quench my thirsty on this 92 degree day.  I like it though, a lot.  The mid palate is very smooth with more of the same theme while the finish exhibits some lemon spritz, interesting.  90 points from me and for 9 bucks this is a must have 5 star wine for every fridge, buy it by the case.  Salut….

Ernesto Catena Vineyards Padrillos Malbec, Argentina 2014

06 Tuesday Dec 2016

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I had a few colleagues in town for a meeting and took them to a local restaurant for dinner.  This was the only Malbec available so we took a punt and tried it.  A nose of cherry, oak and black berries.  The initial tastes of dark fruits get melded into a silky vanilla blueberry compote.  The mid palate passes rather quickly with a hint of black berries and licorice.  The finish is nice with an easy going tannin profile and very faint hints of acidity.  This is a basic wine that will suffice in a pinch but I was astounded to read later on that it is only a $9 bottle that we got hosed on ($50+), but more importantly- it only got an 80 point rating from WE.  That’s rather harsh, but shouldn’t a restaurant look for any ratings before buying blindly?  I am not that down on it and will go with 86 points making it a 2 star wine.  Salut….

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Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris Columbia Valley 2015

24 Monday Oct 2016

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Pale yellow, almost cloud-like in the glass.  A nose of lemon curd, green melon and kumquat.  The flavors on the initial attack are pear, lemon and seven-up.  This wine reminds me of a steely Chablis, very minerally and biting.  Acidity is present but subsides nicely into a mid palate and finish of green pear and lemon drops.  This winery is very consistent and I really enjoy what they make.  88 points and 5 stars for this $9 effort.  A go-to winery in a pinch and on a budget.  I served it up with grilled Salmon. Salut….

set michelle pinot gris

Milestone Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

20 Monday Oct 2014

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A very basic Cali Cab that we added to our Sunday afternoon football/wine tasting extravaganza.  This was brought by a friend. Candied plums and wood on the nose were kinda intriguing.  On my first taste I knew what I was in for-  Violets, plum and twizzlers on the initial attack with a heavy dose of oak.  I just wish they had toned down the wood, this wine just is not my style at all.  Mild tannins and a hint of acidity make up a very basic backbone to this casual drinker.  84 points and 2 stars for this $9 offering.  I think I would pass, there are many wines that suit my taste for the same price.  Salut….

milestone cabernet sauvignon