Saporoia Rosso Di Montalcino 2012 (about $15)

About the Wine:  One of the fun things about studying wine is learning about the obscure, tucked away corners of the world where wine grows.  There are regions within regions and all but unknown regions that border some of the most famous.  Montalcino is a region is Tuscany, the same part of the world that gives us Chianti.  Brunello is the best known red from Montalcino, a wine that generally starts at around $40 per bottle and can age upwards of a decade.  Rosso Di Montalcino is sometimes called "Baby Brunello" because it is made from the same varietal, Sangiovese Grosso, but does not need to age nearly as long and is much cheaper.

About THIS Wine:  In the glass it is blood red with a lighter red rim.  Cherry and cedar notes are present on the nose.  The palate is full and savory with a bone dry, tannic finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Let it breath for an hour and then have it with something hearty.

Overall Impression:  This is not a bad bottle, though I would say a little less complex than I would have hoped for.  The wine is reasonable for the price.

Fowles Are You Game Shiraz 2013 (about $17)

About the Wine:  Everything about this label puts the wine firmly into "I immediately regret this decision," territory when purchasing it.  Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your view, Aussie winemakers tend to give stupid labels to some really good wine.  I suppose if I wanted a classy label I should have bought a Rhone.

About THIS Wine:  Very dark, almost opaque purple in the glass with a violet rim.  The nose is tight.  This could have done with a little more age.  It does give up some nice dark berry fruit and some interesting notes of spice and forest floor.  The palate is big and plush.  It has a drier finish than I would have expected.  I suspect that this wine will drink best young, not just because it isn't meant to age, but also because its tannin structure keeps it from being overly sweet.

Drinking This Wine:  This isn't really a food wine.  More like something to sip on a cold night.

Overall Impression:  The wine is not bad, but it doesn't taste like seventeen dollars.  This wine is fine but it is overpriced.

Oak Lane Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (about $11)

About The Wine:  South Africa's signature grape is the hybrid Pinotage, commonly known as "Pino what?"  The failure of that varietal to catch on in a big way means that the country might do better to invest in more widely know varietals like Cabernet and Shiraz.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark and fades to a clear rim.  The nose is big.  There is baker's chocolate, green pepper, and an oily component that is hard to name.  Chocolate and green pepper are strong on the palate.  The tannins are pretty fierce.

Drinking This Wine:  Let it breath and then have it with steak.

Overall Impression:  This is a dry, steak wine.  At this price it would be hard to label as anything other than a good value.

TheARTof Monterey Syrah 2011 (about $15)

About the Wine:  I've seen Monterey as a hidden gem for a while.  2011 was a cold, damp year that produced wines that were more reserved than is common for California.  In a hedonistic grape like Syrah that may very well be a good thing.

About THIS Wine:  The color is about right, meaning dark as night with a purple rim.  The nose presents notes of chamomile, cooking spice, and bacon fat.  I'm not quite sure what to make of that.  The palate has good fruit, but that is overshadowed by the structure.  This may well be most tannic Syrah I have ever tasted.

Drinking This Wine:  This wine definitely needs food.  Steak or a big, juicy burger would work well.

Overall Impression:  It's a good bottle.  I'll say this wine is reasonable for the price.

Pennywise Petite Sirah 2012 (about $11)

About the Wine:  I am not sure where in California the grapes that make this wine are from.  Based on the labeling, I'd say the winemaker wasn't sure either.  That's okay.  Maybe.  Sometimes winemakers source from many regions for the best quality.  Sometimes they buy in bulk and call it a day.

About THIS Wine:  Very dark in the glass with a purple rim.  It's about the right color for the varietal.  The nose has a smoky quality I would not have expected.  Dark fruit is also present but in a muted, almost Old World way.  The palate is full and fruity and satisfying.  There is a bit of tannin structure, but not enough to require aging or decanting.

Drinking This Wine:  This would be a good BBQ wine.  It's just a tad heavy for a sipping wine.

Overall Impression:  It's an eleven dollar wine and I didn't spit it out.  That makes is good for the price.

Cune Vina Real Crianza 2010 (about $17)

About the Wine:  Cune, or CVNE, is one of the best producers in the Rioja region of Spain.  Their better offerings can get into hundreds of dollars per bottle and the 2004 CVNE Imperial made wine of the year a few years back.  This is one of their entry level offerings.  The Crianza designation means that it does not have to be aged as long as Riservas and Gran Riservas do.

About THIS Wine:  It is opaque in the glass with a purple rim.  The nose is tight, as can be expected of such a young Rioja.  With a little patience notes of grilled, spiced meat come through.  The palate is bone dry with solid tannins.  This will benefit from breathing.

Drinking This Wine:  The traditional dish to have with Rioja is a sausage stew.  As I told my coworker, "This wine is cheap and it wants some sausage.  It's the your mom of wine."  It's hard being this classy.

Overall Impression:  I have always found amazing value in Spain and this is another one.  This wine is a good value.

Alamos Malbec 2014 (about $9)

About the Wine:  This is one of the less obscure wines I've reviewed.  It's a Catena production. That family is essentially the Rothschilds of Argentinian wine.  It is easier to explain the obscure when you know the common.  Also, the price point speaks to me.

About THIS Wine:  The nose is dense and jammy.  That jammy fruit, especially red fruit, defines the palate.  But there is structure here and a surprisingly long finish.  The wine is neither as sweet nor as alcoholic as I had feared. 

Drinking This Wine:  I'm planning to have it with a roasted turkey leg and I expect it will be a good pairing.  Nothing too heavy, as it is not that big of a wine.

Overall Impression:  I have wines for twice the price that weren't half as good.  This Malbec is a steal.

(About $12)

About the Wine:  I had never come across Nero Di Troia before and the price was right.  It was brought to Italy by survivors from the Trojan War (Troians) according to a legend that I just made up, literally just now.  If you want to read some actual research about the varietal, you can do that here.  The varietal seems to have a similar story as Sagrantino.  It has always had potential and a local following, but it takes a certain touch to make it at all accessible to the larger market.


About THIS Wine:  The wine is ruby red in the glass with an almost clear pink rim.  I must confess, I am a little disappointed.  I was expecting something black as night to go with the name.  The nose is dark and brooding.  It has some of the elements of a young  Nebbiolo, but has nice cherry notes to soften things up a bit.  The palate is very weighty and tannic but it has a freshness of fruit that balances things out.  While more approachable than something like a Nebbiolo of the same age, this is no fruity Barbera or even light Dolcetto.  It is a big wine.


Drinking This Wine:  Pork steak or a hearty sandwich would make a good paring.  There is something soft and casual about the wine that I would say makes it inappropriate for anything formal but great for a Tuesday night selection.


Overall Impression:  I am a sucker for obscure varietals that are inexpensive and drinkable.  This wine is a good value.