Haraszthy Zinfandel 2009 (about $16)

About the Wine:  I selected this Zinfandel through the tried and true method used by wine drinkers everywhere: it had a label I really liked.  Look at the cute bear!  This is a link for the winery website http://haraszthyfamilycellars.com/

About THIS Wine:  It is ruby in the glass with a pink rim, very light for a Zinfandel.  The juice for Zinfandel wine is often left to macerate until it is black as night.  Intensive research, done by reading the back of bottle, indicates that this maker only makes Zinfandel so I assume that the light color was not some kind of accident.  The nose is fairly alcoholic, though sour cherry and raspberry do come through.  Zins tend to be high in alcohol and this one is over fifteen percent by volume, explaining the strong nose.  The palate is medium dry and very juicy with layers of red fruit and blackberry.  The finish is surprisingly light given the boldness of the palate, though dry raspberry does come through.

Drinking This Wine:  It would work well as a sipping wine.  This is also a nice alternative to Pinot Noir as something to have with white meat, especially pork.

Overall Impression:  I'm not blown away but the wine is pleasant and does not have any of the bitter or sour notes that are common to lighter reds.  At sixteen dollars a bottle it is reasonable for the price.

by Ben Stiebel

Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2010 (about $14)

About the Wine:  The pertinent question in California Chardonnay is "How over oaked is it?"  This has become such a problem with California Chardonnay that some experts have recommended regulation to stop it.  Such controls are common in European wine making but the idea is fairly shocking to the American wine industry.  This is a link to the winery website http://www.sbwinery.com/

About THIS Wine:  The wine is hay colored in the glass with no distinct rim.  Oak dominates the nose, though hints of peach and salt air are also present.  The palate is very oaky, so much so that it is hard to taste anything else.  The creamy finish that most people associate with oaky Chardonnay is absent and there is a tingly, lemon finish instead.

Drinking This Wine:  This is too big for a sipping wine but it lacks the buttery qualities that make oaky Chardonnay good with chicken and lobster.  It might work with seafood pasta.

Overall Impression:  This wine is overly bold without much complexity.  It would be fine for ten dollars but at fourteen it is overpriced.

 by Ben Stiebel

Santa Ema Reserva Merlot 2009 (about $13)

About the Wine:  There is a corner of Santa Ema's Maipo Valley vineyard that produces grapes with distinct notes of dark chocolate, regardless of the variety of grapes grown.  They have used this area for some years to grow the Merlot that goes into their Reserva.  It was their 2008 vintage that first got me really loving wine.  Here is a link to the winemaker's website http://www.santaema.cl/en/enologos.php

About THIS Wine:  The deep burgundy center is surrounded by a purple rim.  Green pepper is sharp on the nose, so much so that it is hard to detect anything else.  Red fruit and green pepper make up a palate that ends in a strawberry and spice finish.  Sadly, the dark chocolate notes that have been the signature of this wine are absent so far as I could tell. 

Drinking This Wine:  This would work as a dry sipping wine.  It would also go well with shepherd's pie and other hearty, meaty dishes.  It is not bold enough for a steak wine.

Overall Impression:  For those of us who enjoyed the '08 vintage this is nothing but a disappointment.  For anyone less emotionally invested it is good for the price.

 by Ben Stiebel

Chateau Ste Michelle Cold Creek Riesling 2011 (about $17)

About the Wine:  I reviewed the previous vintage of this Riesling and liked it, but I've learned the hard way that wines change drastically from one year to the next.  Last year's favorite can be this year's dishwater.

About THIS Wine:  It is clear in the glass.  Pear nectar dominates the nose and that flavor delivers on a very nice palate with a lasting finish.  The wine is what I would describe as medium sweet, definitely sweet, but not overpoweringly so and other flavors come through.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a very nice sipping wine.  It would also work with southwestern chicken or other spiced poultry dishes.

Overall Impression:  Very few Rieslings get the balance of sweetness and other flavors right, but this one pulls it off well.  This wine is good for the price.

 by Ben Stiebel

Red on Black Nemea 2010 (about $10)

About the Wine:  This is a Greek wine made with a grape called Agiorgitiko because apparently the Greeks are competing with the Germans for the coveted "lovers of unpronounceable wines" market.  Nemea is the region that it is from.  The nice thing about obscure varietals and regions is that they can be hidden treasures and great values.  The bad thing is that there is sometimes a very good reason they are obscure.

About THIS Wine:  A pink rim surrounds the garnet center.  Mint, berries, and other aromas I can't quite describe make a complex nose.  The palate was drier than I expected and it is quite thick with a curious mix of red fruit and green apple.  These flavors linger in a finish that goes on and on.

Drinking This Wine:  Not really a sipping wine.  It would be very good with lamb or ribs.

Overall Impression:  Definitely a hidden treasure.  At ten bucks a bottle this wine is a steal.

 by Ben Stiebel

J Pinot Gris 2011 (about $16)

About the Wine:  I had a previous vintage of this Pinot Gris and loved it.  The question now is whether the new vintage holds up.  This is a concern at the best of times and more so given that California had terrible weather for wine growing in 2011.

About THIS Wine:  It is very light in the glass, almost clear.  Sharp tangerine dominates the nose.  That flavor delivers on the palate, which is not nearly as acidic as Pinot Grigios and Pinot Gris usually are.  There is some acidity in the finish, which is otherwise bland.

Drinking This Wine:  This vintage could work as a sipper or go with unseasoned or very lightly seasoned chicken or white fish.  It is too light to stand up to anything heavier.

Overall Impression:  This is not a bad wine but it doesn't taste like sixteen dollars.  It is overpriced.


 by Ben Stiebel

Primus 2010 Carmenere (about $18)

About the Wine:  Veramonte is a South American maker known for their big, bold reds.  They use Carmenere in their blends to add body and flavor and they make this Carmenere for those wanting the undiluted experience.

About THIS Wine:  The center is opaque with a purple rim.  Seasoned steak pretty much defines the nose and palate.  The wine tastes like liquefied T-bone crusted with cooking spices.  The finish is dry and spicy.

Drinking This Wine:  Drink it with steak, of course.

Overall Impression:  This wine is very intense and definitely not for everyone.  For those with a palate suited to it this Carmenere is good for the price.

by Ben Stiebel

Sweet Layla Moscato NV (about $11)

About the Wine:  The Brotherhood Winery in New York makes a product called Sweet Lolly that is approximately the sweetest thing in the history of ever.  It is certainly possible that the similarity in the names is coincidental and this not in fact a knock off of a third rate wine.  The cute label and lack of a vintage do not make me optimistic.

About THIS Wine:  The wine is clear in the glass.  The nose reminds of Fresca or Sierra Mist lemon lime soda.  The palate is overpoweringly sweet without any depth that I could detect.  There was no distinct finish that I could make out.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a good wine for drinking when your marriage unravels and you realize it was all your fault.  It is the perfect way to reflect on how sweetest things in life can be terrible.  Get comfortable in a cheap motel and curl up with this and some microwave burritos.

Overall Impression:  I can't imagine buying this at any price.

by Ben Stiebel

Santa Ema Merlot 2010 (about $10)

About the Wine:  The Santa Ema winery has a special place in my heart as the makers of the first wine I ever fell in love with.  The 2008 Reserva Merlot completely blew me away.  This cuts two ways in reviewing their other products.  One is that loyalty to a brand can cloud one's judgement in terms of that brand's products.  Everyone who works for Gallo is guilty of this.  Every.  Blessed.  One.  It is also possible to compare all of a winery's products to that one you loved, thus judging other vintages and varietals unfairly.

About THIS Wine:  The center is crimson and fades to a garnet rim.  Green pepper and onion make up an unusual nose.  The palate is dry and jammy with hints of green pepper.  There is no finish to speak of.

Drinking This Wine:  A little dry for a sipper.  This could work with a burger or with red beans and rice.  Something simple and hearty.

Overall Impression:  For ten bucks this wine is not bad, but neither is it anything special.  It is reasonable for the price.

Red Diamond Pinot Noir 2011 (about $11)

About the Wine:  Red Diamond is a staple in the inexpensive wines market.  They are not highly regarded but they are a go to brand for their price point.

About THIS Wine:  The center is garnet and fades to a clear rim.  The nose reminds me of the inexpensive chewy candy they sell at dollar stores.  The smell is not unpleasant, it is just not what I associate with wine.  Mild red fruit makes up a palate that ends in a licorice finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is mostly a sipping wine.  It could work with pork steak.

Overall Impression:  This Pinot Noir is one dimensional but pleasant enough.  It is reasonable for the price.

Milbrandt Merlot 2009 (about $16)

About the Wine:  Washington State is rapidly emerging as a wine growing region.  Chateau Ste Michelle and Pacific Rim have established themselves as Riesling brands and have already started branching out into other varietals.  Now those makers and others have begun making names for themselves with their reds.

About THIS Wine:  A pink rim surrounds a dark red center.  Blueberry and vanilla are prominent on the nose.  Red fruit, dark fruit, and cooking spice make up a pleasantly complex palate followed by a medium dry finish accented with oak.

Drinking This Wine:  It is okay as a sipper but would do better accompanying lamb.

Overall Impression:  This wine is bold, yet subtle.  As such it is reasonable for the price

Colosi Nero d'Avola 2010 (about $14)

About the Wine:  This one is going to be kind of a cheat.  I went to a better wine store than the one where I work and talked to a very qualified wine consultant who, after a long discussion of my tastes, picked this bottle for me.  Such is the benefit of talking to qualified professionals rather than just picking up something with a pretty label.

About THIS Wine:  It is crimson in the glass with a distinct, violet rim.  Blackberry and cherry are very prominent on the nose along with hints of tomato.  I find the tomato smell common in Italian wine and I usually like the wines where I find it.  The palate is quite spicy with layers of red fruit that make for a very nice drinking experience.  It finishes with slightly dry cherry.

Drinking This Wine:  The salesman gave me this as a pasta wine, but I actually prefer it as a sipper.  It is both too light and too spicy for pasta.  By itself it is full, flavorful, and pleasant.

Overall Impression:  This is great wine.  If it was a less obscure varietal, a Cab or even a Zinfandel, it would go for twenty dollars easily.  At fourteen it is a steal.

by Ben Stiebel

Purple Malbec 2009 (about $12)

About the Wine:  Malbec is essentially the national grape of Argentina but originated from France.  A crop blight destroyed most of the Malbec vines in the mother country and production there has never fully recovered.  It is still used as a blending grape in Bordeaux Rouge blends.  To see a pure French Malbec is very rare. 

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark purple and fades to a violet rim.  Dark fruit and cherry are prominent on the nose and deliver on the palate along with a fair dose of spice.  The finish is spicy and dry.

Drinking This Wine:  Steak wine all the way.  Have this with a juicy hunk of red meat.

Overall Impression:  I really like this wine.  At twelve dollars a bottle it is a good value.

by Ben Stiebel

Ergo Tempranillo 2010 (about $12)

About the Wine:  Ergo is made by Martin Codax, a well respected brand that was recently acquired by Gallo.  Gallo prides itself on maintaining the integrity of the brands it buys.  How well that works out varies a lot from one brand to the next.

About THIS Wine:  The center is crimson and fades to a pink rim.  Sour cherry, blackberry, and smoke make up a pleasantly complex nose.  Unfortunately, the wine smells a lot better than it tastes.  Jammy, slightly bitter fruit dominates the palate. There is no finish to speak of.

Drinking This Wine:  I don't think this would work as a sipper. It could work with beef and rice.

Overall Impression:  This wine is very  mediocre and ten dollars a bottle would be pushing it.  At twelve it is overpriced.

by Ben Stiebel

The Big Red Monster NV (about $11)

About the Wine:  Some wine makers forgo vintages and descriptions of the wines they make in favor of giving the wine a catchy name and a colorful label.  In the wine world this is known as a "concept wine."  In the rest of the world this is known as "phoning it in."

About THIS Wine:  The center is opaque with a violet rim.  Dry, jammy blackberry dominates the nose.  Dark fruit and spice make up a nice palate with a spicy plum finish.  I had it with a friend who said it reminded her of Shiraz and I can definitely see the comparison.

Drinking This Wine:  It is a little heavy for a sipping wine.  The label recommends steak or pasta.  I had it with a bucket of KFC and it worked pretty well.

Overall Impression:  The juice is decent and the price is certainly right.  This one is good for the price.

by Ben Stiebel

Terre Di Chieti Merlot 2009 (about $10)

About the Wine:  Italian winemakers have been experimenting with new blends and varietals in recent years.  Super Tuscans, Red Bordeaux Blends, Merlots, and other concoctions have resulted, some quite wonderful.

About THIS Wine:  The purple center fades to a garnet rim.  Earth and musk are prominent on the nose.  Dark fruit defines a palate that is pleasant but lacking complexity.  The finish is dry with hints of spice.

Drinking This Wine:  This would go very well with lasagna or seasoned lamb.

Overall Impression:  I have insulted the products of the distributor who brought this so frequently and thoroughly that, when he has a supplier he really does not like, he brings that person by the shop for a dose of bile.  For once he brought a winner.  This wine is good for the price.

by Ben Stiebel

Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (about $13)

About the Wine:  Cono Sur is a sort rising of star in the organic wine world.  The bicycle represents the preferred method of transport between different parts of the vineyard.

About THIS Wine:  It is clear in the glass, very light for a Sauvignon Blanc.  Orange and grapefruit make up a rather pleasant nose.  Sharp acidity defines the palate, though on the second sip a detected a variety of citrus flavors.  Those flavors really shine in the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Too acidic for a sipping wine, this would go well with shellfish or a light chicken and rice dish.

Overall Impression:  Not a bad wine at all and the price is reasonable.  This one is good for the price.

by Ben Stiebel

Don David Chardonnay 2010 (about $10)

About the Wine:  This Chardonnay originally  went for around twelve or thirteen dollars but the distributor put it on clearance.  That can mean one of a few things.  One possibility is that the distributor is no longer carrying the brand and does not want to make the investment to market and distribute it.  Another possibility is that a new vintage is in so the distributor wants to eliminate the old one quickly.  A final possibility is that the product is just unsellably awful and the distributor wants to wash their hands of it.  I happen to know that this distributor is still carrying Don David products and that the brand is best known for Malbec.

About THIS Wine:  I was worried that it might be madeirized because it was golden yellow in the bottle and the glass.  In Chardonnay this can mean spoiled or it can mean heavy oak.  In this case it was the latter.  Oak is heavy on the nose with prominent citrus notes and those flavors deliver on the palate.  The finish is surprisingly crisp for such an oaky Chardonnay.

Drinking This Wine:  I can't really see curling up with a glass and sipping it.  The oak is too overbearing for a sipping wine.  It would go well with white fish or salad.

Overall Impression:  This wine is not very good but it is also pretty cheap.  For what it is I think it should be just a little cheaper.  At ten dollars a bottle, this one is overpriced.

Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz 2011 (about $10)

About the Wine:  Shiraz is usually known as a dry red.  There are two ways to make dry reds into sweeter wines.  One is to do a late harvest, leaving the grapes on the vines longer and allowing them to develop more natural sugar prior to harvesting.  The other way is to artificially sweeten the wine after harvesting.  Given the price of this wine, the later is more likely.

About THIS Wine:  A dark red center fades to a pink rim.  Sweet plum is prominent on the nose and delivers on a tart palate with a dark fruit finish.

Drinking This Wine:  No idea.  The palate is too sharp for a sipping wine, too sweet for a dinner wine, and too thick for snack foods.

Overall Impression:  The difference between this and Manischewitz is that Manischewitz costs less.  At ten dollars a bottle this is overpriced.

Milbrandt Riesling 2010 (about $14)

About the Wine:  Riesling is a versatile grape in that it ranges from painfully dry to cloyingly sweet, depending on the terroir and the maker.  Sweet Rieslings are the best known and most popular in America but dry Rieslings also have a strong following.

About THIS Wine:  It is hay colored in the glass with no distinct rim.  Sweet citrus, pear, and apple are present on the nose.  The palate is very mild, almost bland, with a mineral finish.

Drinking This Wine:  There is  not enough going on to make a good sipping wine.  This would go well with spicy chicken.

Overall Impression:  This has a lot more subtlety and complexity than most Riesling in its price range, though I am not sure it's actually good.  I'll say it is reasonable for the price.

Hernando Cortes Pinot Noir 2009 (about $12)

About the Wine:  2009 was an excellent year for California Pinot Noir so finding one at this price point could potentially be a great find.  Less encouraging is the fact that the front label list its origin as "California" which is a pretty big place and not at all specific in wine making terms.

About THIS Wine:  A pink rim surrounds a violet center.  The nose made me wince with strong, one could even say offensive aromas of forest floor.  Red fruit and sour cherry are prominent on a reasonably good palate but there is no finish to speak of.

Drinking This Wine:  This would go well with roast duck.  I generally expect a little more flavor and finish from a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  I have had ten dollar bottles that were better.  This one is overpriced. 

Restivo Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (about $13)

About the Wine:  Argentina is know first, last, and always for its Malbec.  They also make excellent Cabernet Sauvignon but the terroir does not seem to give it anything all that distinctive so Argentinian Cab has yet to gain recognition.

About THIS Wine:  The center is reddish purple with a violet rim.  Cranberry dominates the nose and delivers on the palate.  The finish is fairly dry.

Drinking This Wine:  This is pretty standard steak wine.

Overall Impression:  There is nothing special here but you can do worse for thirteen dollars.  This one is reasonable for the price.

Orzada Carignan 2009 (about $20)

About the Wine:  Carignan is well known as . . . Just kidding, this one is pretty is obscure.  Carignan is a grape originally cultivated in France and used mostly for blending.  Like many other French reds it grows better in South America than it does in its mother country.

About THIS Wine:  The center is purple with a violet rim.  The nose is very floral with notes of violet and orange blossoms.  The palate is thick and velvety with a lot of orange and hints of green pepper.  The finish is pleasantly syrupy.

Drinking This Wine:  This Carignan is a little too overbearing for a sipping wine.  It would go well with meaty dishes like beef and noodles or steak.

Overall Impression:  It is expensive but worth it.  This Carignan is reasonable for the price.

Babor Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (about $10)

About the Wine:  South America is best known in the wine world for its bold, robust reds.  Malbec, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Carmenere, and Cabernet Sauvignon have all found good homes in the vineyards of Chile and Argentina.  Less known are South American whites, including Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.

About THIS Wine:  It is very light in the glass, almost clear.  Floral notes and hints of citrus make up an agreeable nose.  The palate is light for a Sauvignon Blanc, though there is enough sharp citrus present to clearly identify the varietal.  It finishes with light citrus.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a pleasant sipping wine for hot weather but it does have enough structure to be drinkable in the colder months.

Overall Impression:  The wine is cheap and pleasant.  This one is good for the price.

Machmer Gewurztraminer 2010 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Gewurztraminer can be sweet, dry, or medium depending on how late it is harvested.  Spatlese wines are almost invariably on the sweeter side.

About THIS Wine:  It is hay colored in the glass with a clear rim.  Lemon is strong on the nose with prominent mineral notes.  Sweet citrus defines a slightly acidic palate that fades into a mild orange finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a good patio pounder for anyone who likes something sweet.

Overall Impression:  This is a good wine but fifteen dollars is a bit steep for a simple, sweet wine.  This one is good, but overpriced.

Esperto Pinot Grigio 2010 (about $12)

About the Wine:  I have written about Pinot Grigio several times before.  It is the biggest seller among dry wines in the summer, being lighter and easier drinking that Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

About THIS Wine:  Esperto is straw colored with a clear rim.  Acidic citrus is prominent on the nose with hints of musk.  Lemon and orange flavors are present on a moderately acidic palate and the citrus flavors linger in the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This is a little too acidic for a sipping wine.  It would be good with a fruit platter.

Overall Impression:  The wine is cheap and it is a good representation of Pinot Grigio.  It is reasonable for the price.

Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2009 (about $14)

About the Wine:  Columbia Crest is one of the largest and best known producers in Washington State.  They make several low end productions that have sapped the prestige of the brand but in the wine world it is crucial not to judge any product until its been tasted (except White Zinfandel.)

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is opaque with a dark purple rim.  Vanilla and jammy blueberry are prominent on the nose and those flavors deliver on the palate, which is thick and heavy.  Blueberry and spice linger on the finish.

Drinking This Wine:  It is a bit heavy for a sipper.  Lamb would pair well with it.

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