Cantina Zaccagnini Il Bianco di Ciccio 2010 (about $17)

About the Wine:Cantina Zaccagnini is an Italian winery known for their citrusy Pinot Grigio and robust Montepulciano.  This wine is a white blend.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass the wine is hay colored with no distinct rim.  Sharp pineapple dominates the nose.  The palate is very tart with strong citrus and pineapple notes.  The finish is fairly complex, with continuing citrus and pineapple along with hints of banana.

Drinking This Wine:  I would have it with seafood, either salmon or perhaps a seafood jambalaya.  The palate is a bit sharp for a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  This is good wine for anyone who loves bold whites.  That said, it could be a few dollars cheaper.  It is good, but a little overpriced.

Apaltagua Pinot Noir 2010 (about $11)

About the Wine:  Chilean wine country is divided up according to its valleys.  I have had wines from Maipo and Colchagua valleys and the taste varies noticeably by region.  This is my first Tricao Valley wine, so it is a learning experience for me.

About THIS Wine:  A pink rim surrounds a garnet center.  Sour cherry is prominent on the nose along with, oddly, the smell of roast duck.  The sour cherry is sharp and strong on the palate, followed by a spicy finish.

Drinking This Wine:  A good sipper for anyone who likes sour drinks.  This wine would also make a good pairing with roast duck.

Overall Impression:  The wine is decent and the price is low.  This is good for the price.

90+, or Ninety Plus Old Vine Malbec 2010 (about $11)

About the Wine:  The idea behind this brand is that they repackage wines that have been rated 90 or higher by one of the more respected publications that rate wine on the hundred point system.  This repackaged wine is essentially overstock that is sold for a much lower price than the original brand.

About THIS Wine:  It is red in the center with a garnet rim.  This coloring is unusually light for a Malbec.  Earth, red fruit, and spice combine to make up the nose and all of these deliver on the palate.  The finish is very tannic.

Drinking This Wine:  I can't really see anything this tannic as a sipping wine.  It would be very good with beef and noodles or some other hearty pasta dish.

Overall Impression:  Nothing too impressive here, but the wine is decent and it is cheap.  It is good for the price.

Angove Shiraz 2010 (about $18)

About the Winery:  Angove is one of the oldest wineries in Australia, having been in operation for over a hundred years.  They are family owned and produced many of their wines organically.  Sadly, many of their grapes are sourced from other vineyards so they do not qualify as an estate winery and it is impractical for their entire line to be certified organic.

About THIS Wine:  A deep, rich red center is rimmed with garnet.  Jammy red fruit is prominent on the nose along with clove and pepper notes.  The front palate tastes of licorice, followed by heavy red fruit and fairly sharp tannins.  All of this gives way to a finish of fruit leather.

Drinking This Wine:  It made me hungry for a nice, juicy burger.  Could work with any red meat and bread dish.  The taste is fine for sipping, but I think it is better with food.

Overall Impression:  I'm a little conflicted here.  The wine is very good.  It is also eighteen dollars.  I will settle on it being reasonable for the price.

J Pinot Gris 2010 (about $16)

About the Wine:  J is an iconic winemaker known for a variety of products including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and sparkling wine.  The Pinot Gris is the least expensive of their offerings, which can go for upwards of thirty dollars.  Pinot Gris is made from the same kind of grape as Pinot Grigio and some say there is no difference.  However, Pinot Gris is grown and processed in a different way in the hopes of creating a distinctive style of wine.

About THIS Wine:  The color is a light yellow.  Peach is heavy on the nose with hints of orange.  The palate is a mix of citrus, lemon, and peach (yes, I know lemon is a citrus, but lemon has a smell distinct from other citrus fruit.)  Acidity lingers on the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Classic dry patio pounder.  You can have it with chicken or fish, but I think it is best by itself.

Overall Impression:  This is a remarkably good wine at a reasonable price.  It is a good value.

New Age, no vintage on the bottle (about $12)

About the Wine:  South America is mostly known for its bold, full flavored reds.  They do also make whites but for some reason those have never really caught on.  This wine is a white blend from Argentina.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is so light that it is almost clear and it is slightly bubbly.  The nose could easily be mistaken for that of Moscato due to the strong smell of peach, though there are floral notes here that Moscatos do not generally have.  On the palate the wine is crisp, slightly sweet, and tangy with a lot of citrus flavor that evens into a lemon finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a classic patio pounder.  It would do well with spicy or salty foods and it would also be fine by itself.

Overall Impression:  Not a wine that will impress most aficionados, but for a cool summer drink this is a good value.

Jam Jar Moscato 2011 (about $10)

About the Wine:  Jam Jar is a brand best known for their Sweet Shiraz.  The Moscato is their offering for those who prefer white.  There is no word on whether they are planning any dry offerings, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

About THIS Wine:  The wine is a very light yellow with no distinct rim and has a nose of sweet citrus.  The palate is medium sweet and a bit tangy with an acidic finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a classic wine to enjoy while sitting poolside.  It would also go well with salty or spicy food.

Overall Impression:  I am not really impressed, but the wine is decent and it is cheap.  Jam Jar Moscato is good for the price.

Silk Oak Petite Sirah 2009 (about $13)

About the Wine:  Petite Sirah is a close cousin of Sirah and Shiraz.  Traditionally used as a blending grape, Petite Sirah is starting to come into its own as a stand alone varietal.  It is usually bold and fruity.

About THIS Wine:  An opaque center fades to a purple rim in the glass.  The nose is thick with luscious red fruit and spice.  The fruit delivers on the palate with lots of jammy raspberry and cherry.  Round tannins make a nice finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a good sipper for those who like bold, fruity wines.  It would also pair well with sweet meats.

Overall Impression:  Drinks like a twenty dollar bottle.  This wine is a great value.

Santi Pinot Grigio 2010 (about $11)

About the Wine:  Pinot Grigio is one of the classic summer wines.  It is almost always served cold and goes well with lighter foods like vegetarian and chicken dishes.

About THIS Wine:  The color is a light yellow with a clear rim.  An acidic smell is strong on the nose along with a poultry smell.  A tangy and acidic palate vanishes into an unremarkable finish.

Drinking This Wine:  It could pair well with chicken.  It is difficult to imagine wanting to sit with a glass of it by itself.

Overall Impression:  It is not so much that the wine is overpriced as it is that it is difficult to imagine wanting to buy this bland, overly acidic wine at any price.

Kenwood Jack London Merlot 2009 (About $20)

About the Wine:  The Jack London Zinfandel was the wine that made me fall in love with Zinfandel.  As a long time Merlot drinker I am very enthusiastic about their Merlot.

About THIS Wine:  The wine is very dark in the glass, almost opaque, with a garnet rim.  The nose is heavy with blackberry and oak.  Oak and tannin define the palate.  There is no distinct finish, just more oak and tannin.

Drinking This Wine:  Drinking anything this tannic without food is a guaranteed case of heartburn.  Have it with a big meal of red meat.

Overall Impression:  Too much tannin and too little of everything else.  This wine may improve with aging, but I am not optimistic.  For now it is badly overpriced.

Underwood Cellars Pinot Noir 2010 (about $14)

About the Wine: Since my last post was about Oregon Pinot Noir, I don't have much to say here.

About THIS Wine:  A pleasing ruby red color fills the glass to a garnet rim.  Tart raspberry dominates the nose but hints of licorice are also present.  Smooth, syrupy cherry creates an even palate with a slightly tart and dry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  I wouldn't really care for this as a food wine.  It makes a decent sipper.  If I was going to eat with it then I would have either unseasoned white meat or vegetarian.

Overall Impression:  I'm not blown away by this but it is not bad and neither is it expensive.  This wine is reasonable for the price.

Rainstorm Pinot Noir 2009 (about $20)

About the Wine:  Oregon Pinot Noirs are known for their rich, bold style.  This contrasts sharply with Pinot Noirs produced elsewhere, which tend toward a much more mild drink.

About THIS Wine:  The color is a garnet that fades to a clear rim.  Red fruit dominates a nose so heavy that, had I smelled it blind, I would have thought belonged to a Cabernet.  The palate bursts with jammy red fruit that gives way to a red berry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This would be good with seasoned salmon or ham.  It is a bit intense for a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  This is not a beverage for anyone who enjoys a light, subtle Pinot Noir.  For fans of the Oregon style looking for an extreme version of it this wine is good for the price.

No BS Crianza 2009 (about $10)

About the Wine:  Donald Trump is credited with saying that no one ever went broke overestimating the bad taste of the American public, a statement that he then spent the rest of his career proving.  I could rage at the indignity done to the noble tradition of wine making by names like "Sweet Bitch," "No BS,"  and "7 Deadly Zins."  Doing so would be about as useful as shouting at the rain.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark red and fades to a pink rim.  Pepper and pine combine for an unusual but pleasant nose.  Layers of cherry and mint form the palate, which thickens into a cassis finish.

Drinking This Wine: This is a good sipping wine and it would also pair well with barbecue.

Overall Impression:  I like everything about this wine but the name and I do not think it would be overpriced at fifteen dollars a bottle.  At ten it is a great value.

Ique Malbec 2010 (about $11)

About the Wine: Malbecs are variously described as "rustic," "earthy," and "unpleasant."  When done right these wines offer an excellent drinking experience, one that is full and rich but also smooth and layered.

About THIS Wine: It is nearly opaque in the glass with a violet rim, promising a heavy, tannic wine.  The nose is very thick with dominant cassis and notes of chocolate.  The palate is heavy with a flavor vaguely reminiscent of stout beer followed by a jammy fruit finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This Malbec benefits greatly from having some time to open up before drinking.  Ique is a bit heavy and thick for a sipping wine.  More than anything else it made me crave a slice of stuffed crust pizza.

Overall Impression:  The wine is decent and the price is hard to beat.  This wine is good for the price.

Luscious Pina Tropical, no vintage (about $7)

About the Wine:  Normally I don't bother with wines under ten dollars but this one made enough of an impression that I felt the need to write about it.

About THIS Wine:  The color is a dark, slightly off pink.  It put me in mind of one of the Gatorade flavors I won't drink because of the color.  Sharp citrus and tropical fruit imitations dominate the nose, though notes of cough syrup and Kool-Aid are also prominent.  The palate is painfully tart and tangy, so intensely so that it is all but impossible to taste anything else.  Sour pineapple lingers in a finish that is difficult to eradicate.

Drinking This Wine:  Certain beverage are best drunk on certain occasions.  Sparkling wines mark celebrations, Moscatos are best drunk poolside on hot days, and Cabernets go well with very heavy meals.  This wine is the perfect consolation beverage for a failed diet.  Mix with inexpensive vodka and enjoy with Little Debbies.  That said, it is good drink to mark any crushing personal failure.

Overall Impression:  I work part time at a winery where we are forced to taste customers on this filth.  My boss there described this wine as "Sort of a tropical Boone's Farm."  This may not place in the top ten of awful, gut rot wines on the market today, but I think it definitely deserves an honorable mention.  I didn't like it very much is what I'm saying.

Tormaresca Neprica 2010 (about $10)

About the Wine: Neprica is a traditional but obscure Italian red blend.  According to the distributor I talked to, it is being released at the price it is in the hopes that the low price will drum up some interest and allow it to compete in the already saturated red blend market.

About THIS Wine:  The dark purple center contrasts with a garnet rim.  Black cherries, cassis, and spice make up a pleasant nose.  Thick, rich, jammy fruit forms a luxurious palate that gives way to a light raspberry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This makes a very good sipping wine but it would also go well with a hamburger or any other meaty sandwich.

Overall Impression:  This is a great value because the distributor is trying to create interest.  This wine would not be overpriced at fifteen dollars a bottle.

Sangre de Toro Red Wine (blend) 2010 (about $11)

About the Wine:  Spanish reds are known for their smooth body and supple character.  Some wine drinkers look down on them for being too mild and not complex enough, but many Spanish wines are pleasant sipping wines and good wines for the novice drinker.

About THIS Wine:  The center is violet and fades to a garnet rim.  Dark fruit is pleasant on the nose.  Licorice and red fruit make up a pleasantly mild palate that fades into a dry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Enjoy with Spanish rice or as a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  The wine is not spectacular but the price is.  Sangre would not really be overpriced at fourteen or fifteen dollars, so this is a good value.

Castello del Poggio Moscato d'Asti 2010 (about $14)

About the Wine: Moscato is probably the sweetest wine you can buy that is not artificially sweetened.  It is known for its fruity flavors and sweetness ranging from just a bit sweet to completely cloying.  Asti is a region in Italy known for producing especially good Moscato, so d'Asti Moscatos tend to be more expensive.

About THIS Wine: In the glass it is clear with no distinct rim.  Intense peach dominates the nose along with hints of pear.  The palate is refreshing with crisp, tart sweetness that does not really linger in any kind of finish.

Drinking This Wine: This makes a great sipping wine or it would go well with snack foods like chips or fruit dishes. 

Overall Impression:  This is not as cloyingly sweet as some Moscatos and has a pleasant flavor and character.  It is good for the price.

Barone Ricasoli Chianti 2010 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Chianti is probably the best known of the Italian reds.  It is a dry red blend based on Sangiovese and produced in the Chianti region of Tuscany.  In theory the regulations the Italian government has placed on what can be called "Chianti" tightly control the taste and quality of the wine, but different makers do manage to produce very different products.

About THIS Wine:  The violet center contrasts sharply with the pink rim.  The nose is heavy with lots of dark fruit and hints of spice.  Jammy raspberry is dominate on the palate and fades into a light cherry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This makes a nice sipping wine but would also go well with lasagna or meaty pasta dishes.

Overall Impression:  Barone Ricasoli drinks like a twenty bottle.  At fifteen it is a good value.

Arca Nova Alvarinho 2011 (about $13)

About the Wine:  Alvarinho is a white grape cultivated mostly in Portugal.  Wines made from it have a lot of citrus flavor and are vaguely comparable to dry Riesling.

About THIS Wine:  This Alvarinho is clear in the glass with no distinct rim.  The nose is heavy with ripe, tangy citrus.  The smell reminded me a bit of California Sauvignon Blanc.  The palate is very tangy and acidic.  Those qualities linger in the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  The palate is very sharp, making it difficult as a sipping wine.  Seasoned white fish or salmon might work as a pairing.


Overall Impression:  One of my coworkers tasted this wine and immediately said, "We're not charging people too much for this, are we?"  The wine only seems to suit a very particular palate.  Sauvignon Blanc drinkers find it dull, Riesling drinkers find it offensive.  I suppose if your palate favors very acidic, very citrusy wine then this is reasonable for the price.  Otherwise, don't bother.

Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2007 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Reserve or Reserva is a designation for wines that are aged longer than their counterparts to achieve a particular taste.  The idea is that the wine develops fully while absorbing the qualities of whatever kind of oak it is aged in.  In Old World wines this is almost universally a sign of quality.  In New World wines it is less meaningful because the use of the terms Reserve and Reserva  are not regulated and some wineries will put the designation on anything.

About THIS Wine:  This wine is opaque in the glass with a dark purple rim.  Chocolate dominates the nose.  The palate is very thick and creamy with chocolate notes present.  Unfortunately this gives way to a sharp, slightly bitter finish.

Drinking This Wine:  The bitter finish makes it a definite food wine.  Have it with something with a sauce sweet enough to counteract the finish.

Overall Impression:  This wine is not very good.  It would be reasonable at ten dollars a bottle.  Anything over that is overpriced.

Crios Rose of Malbec 2011 (about $13)

About the Wine:  If a diligent reader learns nothing else from this blog, they will learn how much wine aficionados hate White Zinfandel.  In this case it is relevant because, to most American wine drinkers, blush wines are synonymous with the light, sweet White Zinfandels that dominate the inexpensive wine market.  Of low quality and often artificially sweetened, White Zin turns many people off to the wonderful and varied world of blush wines.

About THIS Wine:  The center is pink and the wine has a clear rim.  The nose is very floral with strong acidity.  The palate is a curious blend of bright strawberries and potent acidity that fade into an unremarkable finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Definitely a food wine due to the mouth watering acidity.  This would be the perfect companion to a fruit platter of grapes, strawberries, and apples.

Overall Impression:  This is nothing spectacular, but the price is reasonable and I have never a wine like it.  It is reasonable for the price.

Flying Fish Merlot 2010 (about $14)

About the Wine:  Washington State is probably best known for its Riesling, but a number of good Merlots are also produced there.  Washington Merlots tend to be bold and fruit forward to the point that some in the industry describe them as fruit bombs.  The thing about fruit bombs is that while they do not impress connoisseurs, they are very approachable.

About THIS Wine:  The center is violet and the rim is pink.  The color does not fade exactly, it is more like the shades between pink and violet are in circles.  I have no idea why it does that.  Oak dominates the nose, though hints of fruit are present.  Strangely, oak is not present on the palate, which is instead defined by dark red fruit with subtle tannins.  The oak does resurface in a mildly spicy finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a very accessible sipping wine.  I think it would also be great with a pork steak.

Overall Impression:  The wine is good and the price is reasonable.  This wine is good for the price.