Wine Fantasy

2004 Rain Dance Shiraz

2009-05-18T10:03:00.001-07:00

Price: $16
Maker: Westcorp International
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: 3 liter box
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Westcorp International, a South African wine firm, offers Rain Dance Shiraz as one of a series of box wines with that label. Currently shipping is the 2004 vintage. The packaging for this series is colorful, and the name alludes to an old African tradition, the dance that brings the life sustaining rains. The wine is packaged in a 3 liter box with squared-off corners. The spout is a twist-spigot, but doesn’t seem to have any of the dribble problems one finds with some of the cheap American boxes with this kind of dispenser.

It’s rare that the description of a wine on the packaging doesn’t over-promise, but the Rain Dance box says simply, “a smooth, easy drinking red wine with berry and fruit flavors.” We agree with that minimalist description. The wine has a pleasing aroma of spice and berries, and the flavor is smooth - berries and oak, with some peppery spice. The finish is slightly acidic, which plays well with the rest of the experience. This may not be a big, complex red, but it’s a crowd-pleaser that should prove enjoyable to a range of palates. This would be a nice selection for a cookout or group event where you want the practicality of a box but want to go a bit upscale. The Rain Dance Shiraz box would also be perfect for the “glass of red wine a day” drinker who doesn’t want to contend with oxidation issues in partially-consumed bottles.

2004 Trove Cabernet Sauvignon

2009-05-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

Price: $25
Maker: Trove Wines, Madera, California
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 3-liter box
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

At least on US shelves, Trove Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 is likely to be one of the pricier box wines on the shelf. We saw it listed for $25 for a 3-liter box, but found it on sale for $20. At its list price, it’s hardly a costly wine - a bit more than $8 per bottle - but it’s far more costly than the cheap 5-liter wines from Franzia, Almaden, and Vella… and it’s a bit higher than most of the other boxes, like Hardy’s, Wine Block, Wine Cube, etc.

So is the Trove boxed cabernet worth shelling out a few extra bucks for? Perhaps… this cab has an intriguing aroma, with a prominent butterscotch note mixing with the more expected spice and berry. The flavor is rich and complex, with jammy berry flavors, soft tannins, and good acidity. The finish lingers. This is indeed a nice wine, and people who have turned their nose up at boxed wine in the past will be pleasantly surprised, if not actually shocked.

Trove Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

2009-05-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Price: $25
Maker: Trove Wines, Madera, California
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 3-liter box
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

“… this cab has an intriguing aroma, with a prominent butterscotch note mixing with the more expected spice and berry. The flavor is rich and complex, with jammy berry flavors, soft tannins, and good acidity. The finish lingers. This is indeed a nice wine, and people who have turned their nose up at boxed wine in the past will be pleasantly surprised, if not actually shocked.”

Rain Dance Shiraz 2004

2009-05-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

Price: $16
Maker: Westcorp International
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: 3 liter box
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

“It�s rare that the description of a wine on the packaging doesn�t over-promise, but the Rain Dance box says simply, �a smooth, easy drinking red wine with berry and fruit flavors.� We agree with that minimalist description. The wine has a pleasing aroma of spice and berries, and the flavor is smooth - berries and oak, with some peppery spice. The finish is slightly acidic, which plays well with the rest of the experience. This may not be a big, complex red, but it�s a crowd-pleaser that should prove enjoyable to a range of palates.”

Delicato Merlot 2003

2009-05-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

Price: $16
Maker: Delicato Family Vineyards
Varietal: Merlot
Packaging: 3 liter box, pushbutton spigot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

We’ve been tasting mostly bottled wine lately, so it was nice to get back to our first love, boxed wine, by trying Delicato Merlot 2003. We found dark berries, oak, and sweet vanilla in the nose of this merlot. On the palate, we found cherry and blueberry notes, with enough tannin structure to make the wine interesting. Overall, if you are looking for a respectable merlot that offers the convenience of a box, this Delicato offering is a fine choice.

Delicato enters their wines in numerous tasting competitions, and often bags some medals. Their 2002 Merlot won a silver at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and was scored at 86 points in the Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide. A year earlier, the 2001 Delicato Merlot was rated one of Wine Spectator’s “100 Best Wine Values” and won gold medals both San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the New World International Wine Competition.

Vendange Shiraz 2004

2009-05-08T03:16:00.000-07:00

Price: $3.50
Maker: Vendange Wine Cellars, Lathrop, California
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: 500 ml Tetra pack
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Vendange Shiraz 2004, like its sibling Vendange Merlot, comes in a cute half-liter Tetra pack. As we previously noted, this slender container seems far smaller than a half liter, and is a monument to packaging efficiency. I suppose a square pack, rather than the current mostly octagonal shape, would take up even less space, but I suspect the octagonal scoring adds some stiffness and avoids bulging of the sides that might occur in a square shape.

The Vendange Shiraz is quite drinkable considering its juice-pack container. Its nose is quite robust, with blackberry, spice, and leather notes. Its flavor is a nice balance of berry, plum, oak, and spice. The finish is acceptably long, with trailing notes of black pepper. We found that this Shiraz was helped by letting it breathe a bit - our first pour after opening the pack had some rough edges that seemed to be mellowed by a bit of air.

As with the Merlot, the major reason to choose Vendange Shiraz over other good Australian or California Shirazes is the packaging. It’s not going to be the wine you take to the boss’s Christmas party, but for tailgating, picnics, or even home consumption it’s a great choice. The multiple varietals that Vendange puts in these convenient packs means it’s easy to please multiple tastes without ending up with a bunch of partially consumed bottles. There’s no collapsing bag inside these packs, so one would have the same concern for a partially consumed tetra pack as with a bottle. Then again, at .5 liters one wouldn’t expect to have the pack hanging around for days.

Stonehaven Shiraz

2009-05-08T03:13:00.000-07:00

Price: $20
Maker: Stonehaven Vineyards, Riddoch Highway, Padthaway, South Australia
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

We’ve liked several of Stonehaven’s bottle offerings, and Stonehaven Shiraz (Box) is definitely in the same family. This is a non-vintage offering, but we found it fairly similar to Stonehaven Shiraz 2004.

The nose of this medium-bodied Shiraz is mostly cherry fruit. The wine’s flavor has cherry and plum notes, with some of the expected pepper and a hint of vanilla. The finish adds some oak. The tannins are balanced, and for an inexpensive wine, this Stonehaven Shiraz has good structure.

Three Thieves Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

2009-05-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

Price: $6
Maker: Rebel Wine, St. Helena, Napa County, California
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 1-liter box
Alcohol: 13.9%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

It seems like just about every Three Thieves product features somewhat unusual packaging, and Three Thieves Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 is no exception - it comes in a “Tetra Brick” one liter box. This aptly named box is indeed about the shape and size of a brick, and features a plastic screw cap. Inside the cap is a pull-tab seal. The box is a pure rectangular shape, and is highly space efficient. One caution - like other Tetra Paks, this box does not have an internal bag. Like a bottle, once you open it, the wine is exposed to the air inside it. With a one-liter size, that’s not a huge deal, but the “glass a day” drinker might want to consider alternate storage after opening. The Three Thieves Bandit wine is the first we’ve seen in our market packaged in the Tetra Brick box.

On to the wine itself… This cab’s aroma is mainly ripe berries… The wine is well-structured, with raspberry, plum, and herbal notes. It’s a nice wine for steaks or lamb chops.

French Rabbit Pinot Noir 2005

2009-05-05T01:18:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Rene Clement, Orange, France
Variety: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 1-liter Tetra Pak
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

We were pleased to find a new entrant, French Rabbit Pinot Noir 2005, into the non-bottle wine arena in our local Target Super Store. Target seems to have an eclectic, if not overly large, selection of wine. They have their own Wine Cube boxed wines, a smallish selection of bottles, and one of the larger selections of little packs of single-serving bottles. The 1-liter Tetra Pack used by French Rabbit is the typical miracle of thin-wall packaging. It takes up much less space than a 750-ml bottle, but holds a third more. I should point out that this type of box packaging is like a bottle in that once opened, the wine is in contact with the air contained in the container’s void space. So, if you plan to consume the wine over a period of days, you might consider pouring the remainder into a smaller container or using some other type of preservation technique.

The packaging is cute, though this Pinot Noir wasn’t overly impressive. We found nice licorice and berry notes in the aroma, but the cherry and oak notes in the flavor had to contend with a rather acidic finish. Letting this wine breathe didn’t seem to have much effect on its flavors.

French Rabbit Merlot 2005

2009-05-02T02:31:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Rene Clement, Orange, France
Variety: Merlot
Packaging: 1-liter Tetra Pak
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

French Rabbit Merlot 2005 is the second of this brand’s Tetra Paks we have tasted, and we liked it a bit better than the French Rabbit Pinot Noir. The Merlot has aromas of cherry and mocha, which also featured in the wine’s flavor. The finish is a bit tannic.

We like the compact size of the French Rabbit Tetra Paks, though neither of the reds we have taste has been particularly impressive. We’d like to see the fruit a bit more prominent and a bigger flavor overall. Still, this isn’t a bad Merlot.

Free Range Merlot 2005

2009-05-02T02:24:00.000-07:00

Price: $29
Maker: JuiceBox Wine Company, Manchester, MA
Varietal: Merlot
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Free Range Merlot 2005 is the first of the Free Range Wines we’ve sampled. This box wine has a robust nose,with leather and tobacco notes blending with berries. The wine smoothly combines blackberry and cherry flavors with oak and soft tannins. It’s a medium-bodied Merlot that will appeal to those who prefer a wine that leans toward a more European style without being too mineral-dominated. The finish is long, well balanced, and a bit dry.

Free Range’s own description says their Merlot originates in “the region surrounding the walled medieval town of Carcassonne in the south of France,” certainly a nice image to have in mind as one sips the wine. Their literature says that half of the grapes are from Carcassonne and half from B�ziers.

Instant Party Wine Bar

2009-04-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Nothing goes better than wine and parties. And we like wine boxes - that’s in our name, right? The holiday season gave us great opportunity to try a different concept. We usually serve wine, even at large parties, and that tends to be a bit of work. We usually settle on two or three varietals in bottles, at least one white and one red, and invariably guess wrong on what our guests will enjoy. We end up spending a lot of time opening bottles, scrambling in our cellar for replacements after our initial stock runs out, and so on. So, this year, we decided to take a different approach. We set up a wine bar with five colorful boxes from Free Range Wines. They offer a total of seven unique varietals and appellations. Their red wines include Red Bordeaux, Merlot, and Pinot Noir; their white wines are White Bordeaux, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadet.

The Free Range boxes worked well for a party wine bar - they formed a brightly colored, compact block. We set up five boxes, each with three liters of wine - the equivalent of four bottles. That’s like having 20 bottles of wine on your table, ready to pour - all in a space just over two feet wide. This gives your guests plenty of selection, and at the same time prevents you from running dry every few minutes. We set the boxes on a platform (a box covered with a holiday cloth) to make pouring easy and to catch any drips. We also invited guests to comment on the wines they tasted by dropping a pre-printed square into a cup on top of each box.

What were the results? Well, we poured a lot of wine - about three or four times as much as past parties that featured a choice of bottled red and white. (Admittedly, when we added the wine bar we eliminated the “holiday punch” option, which in the past accounted for a fair amount of our beverage consumption.) Guests seemed to really enjoy the selection, and most sampled several wines before settling in on their favorite wine. It may have had nothing to do with the addition of the wine bar, but guests seemed to enjoy themselves more and stay longer than in past years.

The survey part was slightly less effective. We had four ratings (cleverly marked, “Yum”, “It’s OK,” “I Want MORE!,” and “Yuck.”) We found almost all of the comments were non-committal but favorable “Yum” ratings, with just one “Yuck” and a few “I Want More!” comments. From a statistical standpoint, we probably didn’t learn too much about the wines. (Measuring the consumption was probably at least as good an indicator!) In addition, we found the comment cups seemed to get juggled by guests a few times - if you try this, we recommend labeling each cup and perhaps securing it in place to avoid any possible confusion. Despite the lack of statistical significance, people seemed to enjoy getting a voice in the wine selection.

Free Range Red Bordeaux 2005

2009-04-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

Price: $29
Maker: JuiceBox Wine Company, Manchester, MA
Varietal: Bordeaux
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Free Range Red Bordeaux 2005 is the last red boxed wine from Free Range Wines - we’ve already tried Free Range Merlot 2005 and Free Range Pinot Noir 2005. This red is quite different from the other two. Its aroma is slightly smoky, and has red berry and mocha notes. The flavor is the most approachable of the three FreeRange reds, with a big, juicy nature that blends cherry and oak, and leads into a slightly peppery finish.

Free Range Red Bordeaux 2005 is a blend of varietals, all from the Bordeaux region of France. It is composed of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Whether you are a glass-of-red-wine-a-day drinker, or are looking for party wine that’s a step above the typical box (and quite a few bottles), this Bordeaux would be worth a try.

Free Range Muscadet 2005

2009-04-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

Price: $29
Maker: JuiceBox Wine Company, Manchester, MA
Varietal: Muscadet
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Free Range Muscadet 2005, a boxed wine from Free Range Wines, is by far the best Muscadet in a box we’ve ever encountered. In fact, it’s the ONLY boxed Muscadet we’ve ever seen. This varietal, from Nantes in France’s Loire Valley, is difficult to find in a bottle in the U.S., far less a box. Tasting Free Range Muscadet, we found a melony aroma with light floral notes. On the palate, the wine is a bit tart, with green apple flavor, a mineral character, and a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. While this wine isn’t our favorite among the four white wines offered by Free Range, that’s less a measure of the wine and more an indication of our preferences.

Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

2009-04-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

Price: $19
Maker: Black Box Wines, Madera, California
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 7.5 out of 10

The last time we tried Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon, we were relatively impressed. Black Box is generally highly regarded in the box arena. (Indeed, for a long time they were Google’s #1 choice for “box wines”… no longer, though. ;)) Despite this background, we were disappointed by Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. The aroma was nice enough, with blackberry and licorice notes. The flavor, though, was lacking - there were plum and oak notes, but the tannins were a bit sharp and there was an unpleasant earthiness. Perhaps we should have been prepared - we bought this box at a large enough wine outlet, but oddly the cab boxes were marked down to $13 (vs. a typical discounted price of $19 and a list price of $24). The other Black Box varietals were normally priced. Did these cab boxes end up stored next to the warehouse furnace for a few days? Or did the wine manager open one, taste the wine, and decide to blow them out quickly? We’ll never know, but our 2005 Black Box cab experience was definitely worse than our 2004 tasting.

Fish Eye Shiraz

2009-04-25T02:57:00.000-07:00

Price: $19
Maker: Fisheye Wines, Ripon, California
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

One of the newer boxes we’ve spotted in our local market is Fish Eye Shiraz 2003 - we’ve seen their wines in the standard 750ml bottles, but it’s now available in 3-liter boxes as well. The wine has a nice aroma with leather, berry, and spice notes. The flavor is plummy with additional cherry and oak notes leading into a slightly peppery finish. We found this wine to be a bit better if it’s given a chance to breathe. That’s a bit more challenging for a boxed wine, since you can’t just leave it uncorked on the counter for a while. So, either decant some or pour your glasses early.

One minor quibble we have with this wine’s packaging is its twist-spigot pouring mechanism. This is similar to the dispensers used on some of the 5-liter ultra-cheap boxes, and has an annoying tendency to dribble. The spigot doesn’t actually leak, but shortly after one pours a glass an additional drop of wine is released. By that time, the glass is gone and the drop lands on whatever is underneath the spigot. This isn’t a huge issue, but since some makers seem to have perfected the drip-free, push-button spigot we see no reason for a winemaker to incorporate the old-style twist kind.

Vendange Zinfandel 2004

2009-04-25T02:51:00.000-07:00

Price: $3.50
Maker: Vendange Wine Cellars, Lathrop, California
Variety: Zinfandel
Packaging: 500 ml Tetra pack
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Our Rating: 7.0 out of 10

We were excited to find that one local merchant expanded their assortment of Vendange Tetra Packs to eight varietals. We immediately picked up a Vendange Zinfandel 2004 - we’re partial to Zins, and the Vendange packages are compact and inexpensive. Unfortunately, our excitement lasted only until we opened the wine. The nose was promising, with juicy blackberry and raspberry backed up by mild licorice and clove notes. On the palate, though, the wine was a disappointment. Weak berry and spice notes fought with an unpleasant sharpness that lingered on the back of the tongue long after the rest of the flavors had dissipated. Based on our experience with other Vendange reds, we tried letting this wine breathe for a bit; unfortunately, that didn’t help.

Black Box Merlot

2009-04-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

Price: $18
Maker: Black Box Wines, Madera, California
Varietal: Merlot
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Black Box Merlot 2004 is a decent enough Merlot, though we fail to see why many people seem to hold up Black Box as the pinnacle of bag-in-box wines. The aroma is nice, with pepper, clove, and berry notes. The flavor offers some cherry and blackberry notes, with quite a bit of oak and a medium spicy finish. There’s not a lot of complexity, and the feel is a bit generic, but it’s an adequate red wine.

Trove Merlot 2004

2009-04-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

Price: $18
Maker: Trove Wines, Madera, California
Variety: Merlot
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Trove Merlot 2004 styles itself as an upscale boxed wine. By and large, it’s not bad. This Merlot has a great, juicy aroma… all berries, with spicy overtones. The flavor is plummy, with plenty of oak and a pepper finish. The balance isn’t bad, but we’d like to see brighter fruit notes and more complexity.

The Trove web site at trove-wines.com seems to be defunct, at least at the moment. Trove is a brand of Constellation Wines - why can’t these wineries manage to keep a website operational? This is the second review I’ve worked on in the last hour or two, and the second dead website.

Delicato Shiraz 2005

2009-04-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Price: $17
Maker: Delicato Family Vineyards
Varietal: Shiraz
Packaging: 3 liter box, pushbutton spigot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Delicato likes to brag about their many gold medals, and one honor for Delicato Shiraz 2005 is that the wine received a �Best Buy� designation from Wine Enthusiast magazine. Our experience with Delicato Shiraz 2004 wasn’t bad, so we looked forward to the 2005 Shiraz. We found the nose to be filled with dark berries, plums, and spice. The flavor is quite plummy, with blackberry notes and a tiny bit of spice in the finish. It’s a bit sweet, although I hasten to add that it’s not a sweet wine by any stretch of the imagination. Rather, it’s a bit less dry and less complex than I’d like in a Shiraz. On the plus side, it’s a smooth, gulpable wine with a moderately spicy finish.

Delicato seems to be on a roll… Delicato Family Vineyards was named the International Wine and Spirits Competition USA Producer of the Year for the third time in 2006.

Vaca Morada Malbec

2009-04-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Price: $16
Maker: Vinalia SA, Mendoza, Argentina
Varietal: Malbec
Packaging: 3 liter box, pushbutton spigot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Vaca Morada Malbec is the first new boxed red wine we’ve found in a while, and we’re glad we did. This non-vintage wine (termed a 2006 by the importer) from Argentina has a leathery nose backed up with raspberries and spice. The flavor is juicy and well balanced, with dark berry notes combining with chocolate and light pepper. Light acidity perks up the finish and balances the fruit. Vaca Morada Malbec is a pleasant and accessible wine that will please a variety of red wine drinkers.

Corbett Canyon Chardonnay 2005

2009-04-18T02:56:00.001-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Corbett Canyon Vineyards
Varietal: Chardonnay
Packaging: 3 liter box, twist spigot
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Corbett Canyon Chardonnay 2005 was a favorite in Wine Blogging Wednesday #31. Despite its modest price - ounce for ounce, it’s cheaper than Two Buck Chuck from Charles Shaw except in California (where Two Buck Chuck really costs $2 a bottle) - Citizen Wine’s blind tasting event picked the Corbett Canyon Chardonnay as one of the best whites. We’re not big Chardonnay drinkers, but we finally decided to sample this wine. The nose wasn’t overwhelming, but had cut grass and tart apple notes. On the palate, this wine was crisp and refreshing, with Granny Smith apple and mild pear notes leading into a slightly acidic finish.

Box Star Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

2009-04-18T02:51:00.000-07:00

Price: $14
Maker: Imported by International Cellars, Madera, California
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 3 liter box, push-button spigot
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Box Star Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is a relatively new mass-market offering, and it’s not bad. This Cab has a licorice and berry nose, and a flavor with cherries, chocolate, and a bit of clove. The finish has some oak and soft tannins. Don’t expect a lot of complexity, but it’s certainly drinkable.

Peter Vella Cabernet Sauvignon

2009-04-17T03:34:00.001-07:00

Price: $10
Maker: Peter Vella Wines, Modesto, California
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 5 liter box, push-button spigot
Alcohol: 11%
Our Rating: 6 out of 10

Peter Vella Cabernet Sauvignon is an ultra-cheap box wine - we found a 5-liter box on sale for less than ten bucks. We have studiously avoided these offerings from Vella and Franzia because we’ve invariable been disappointed. But, it was on sale, and this box proudly exhibited a gold medal from Chef’s Best - the coveted (?) “Best Taste” award for 2007. Before we knew it, a box had somehow found its way into the shopping cart. As it turns out, we could have saved the trouble of lugging this box home. This wine is light-bodied for a Cab - it weighs in at a mere 11% alcohol, and the color is a rather light ruby shade. The flavor, unfortunately, was mostly oaked prunes. Pouring a glass and letting it breathe for a while slightly improved the flavor, but we’d consider this acceptable only for starving college students looking to buy massive quantities of wine for not much money.

Lizard Flat Shiraz 2004

2009-04-17T03:30:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Heath Wines, Bowden, South Australia
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: 1-liter Tetra Pak
Alcohol: 14%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Lizard Flat Shiraz 2004 comes in one of those 1-liter Tetra Pak that seems way too small to hold a third more wine than a 750 ml bottle. It has the typical screw cap closure, making it easy to open and reseal. This Shiraz has some licorice and vanilla in the nose, and is very juicy on the palate. Cherries and blackberries are the main notes, with some oak and rather light pepper. The wine isn’t too complex, but the finish lasts suprisingly well. At 14%, this Shiraz is at the high end of alcohol content for a Shiraz. Overall, Lizard Flat Shiraz is an accessible, fun wine that is well suited to its informal and convenient packaging. It’s a nice choice for picnics, outdoor entertaining, and home consumption.

Lindemans Reserve Coonawara Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

2009-04-16T00:20:00.000-07:00

Price: $10
Maker: Lindemans Wines, Australia
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.2 out of 10

I’ve enjoyed other Lindemans wines, and I looked forward to the Lindemans Reserve Coonawara Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 with considerable anticipation, even though I had found the bottle on the clearance shelf for a fraction of its normal price. After a few sips, though, I found out why it might have ended up in the sale bin. The aroma was fruity, with slightly musty berry notes. The flavor, though, was all oak and sharp-elbowed tannins. Things improved slightly after letting the wine sit overnight - some spice emerged in the nose, and the flavor finally showed some blackberry fruit.

Killer Juice Merlot

2009-04-16T00:08:00.000-07:00

Price: $19
Maker: Killer Juice Vineyards, Ripon, California
Varietal: Merlot
Packaging: 3-liter box, twist spigot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Killer Juice Central Coast Merlot 2006 is another in one of my favorite series of box wines, the Killer Juice/Angel Juice lineup. This medium-bodied Merlot has a juicy flavor, mostly blackberries, with some vanilla and plum. Its finish is long, with black pepper and robust tannins.

Starling Castle Riesling 2006

2009-04-14T05:45:00.000-07:00

Price: $10
Maker: Imported by Prestige Wine Group from Germany
Varietal: Riesling
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 9 %
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

One’s first impression of Starling Castle Riesling 2006 comes from its gorgeous bottle. The surface of the bottle is frosted, except for one polished area on the front in the shape of a bird in flight. Like the better-known Belvedere Vodka bottle, the clear spot on the front of this wine bottle lets you view an image on the opposite side, in this case an ancient castle. With the light golden color of the Riesling, it’s a very nice effect and surprising for a wine this affordable. But, enough about the bottle… Starling Castle Riesling starts with melon and peach aromas, leading into pear, pineapple, and grapefruit flavors. This wine is at the sweeter end of the spectrum for a Riesling, but is saved from being cloying by a light crispness in the finish.

Overall, Starling Castle Riesling is light, sweet, and refreshing - it would pair well with fruit or cheese. The sweetness would match up with some spicier Asian fare as well. This is kind of a light-duty wine, but overall is certainly pleasant enough.

Blue Nun Riesling

2009-04-14T05:42:00.000-07:00

Price: $19
Maker: F.W. Langguth Erben GmbH & Co. KG
Varietal: Riesling
Packaging: 3-liter box, push-button spigot
Alcohol: 10.5%
Our Rating: 8.2 out of 10

It’s taken us quite a while to get around to tasting Blue Nun Riesling, a non-vintage German wine that has been marketed in the U.S. for decades. This was in part because I tend to lean toward red wines, and in part because I’ve avoided man of the ever-present supermarket boxed wine. This Riesling has pear and pineapple flavors, with a hint of citrus in the finish. It’s relatively sweet and simple, and lacks the crisp, acidic finish that might tone down the sweetness.

Corbett Canyon Chardonnay 2005

2009-04-13T03:49:00.000-07:00

Yellow Tail Chardonnay 2004

2009-04-13T03:41:00.000-07:00

Price: $8
Maker: Casella Wines
Variety: Chardonnay
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Our Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Most of our sampling here is in the red wine category, but after experience with a few crowd-pleasing Yellow Tail reds we decided to try Yellow Tail Chardonnay 2004. Like their reds, this Yellow Tail product is an approachable wine. The nose wasn’t particularly strong, but yielded apple and peach. The flavor included peach, apple, melon, and spice, balanced with modest acidity. Perhaps it’s not a transcendent experience, but it’s at least as good as you’d expect for a high volume wine.

Other opinions on this wine run the gamut. LogDriver gave it four stars, noting, “this affordable Chardonnay was buttery and rich. Sweeter than usual, I even got hints of chocolate and caramel if I exhaled deeply.” April said it “exhibits a golden straw colour with ripe peach and melon aromas and sweet oak nuances. The palate is fresh and approachable with balanced acidity and a lingering finish of delicious peach, melon and tropical flavours.” CorkReview was a bit more reserved, noting, “Yellow Tail, the ford or chevy of Australian wines so it is allowed to disappoint once in a while… The nose was rather weak but did display peachy vanilla an coconut aromas, as claimed on the bottle. I just would not use the phrase ‘leaps from the glass.’” April’s experience was closest to mine, though I have to agree with CorkReview on the relatively weak nose not doing much leaping.

Voga Pinot Grigio 2004

2009-04-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Voga I.C.R.F, Calmasino, Italy
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 12%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

The packaging of Voga Pinot Grigio 2004 caught our attention. Unlike virtually every other wine bottle on the shelf, Voga’s 2004 bottle is a perfect cylinder, with a large vertical logo imprinted on the bottle. Even the closure, which is a bottle neck that accepts a standard cork, is camouflaged by a black plastic cover that matches the diameter of the bottle to extend the cylindrical appearance. The black top on the clear, golden bottle makes a dramatic statement. In this Voga bottle, Italy once again shows why it is a leading source of product design expertise.

The Pinot Grigio itself is a pleasant enough wine. Its aroma has strong apple and melon notes, augmented by mint and citrus. The flavor is a mild mix of lemon and cantaloupe. The finish is brief and refreshing.

Meridian Chardonnay 2004

2009-04-11T23:15:00.000-07:00

Price: $8
Maker: Meridian Vineyards, Santa Barbara County
Varietal: Chardonnay
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.4%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Meridian’s motto is that life can be complicated, and that wine doesn’t have to be. Their Meridian Chardonnay 2004 fits the motto well. It’s nose hints at pear and cantaloupe, and these same notes continue onto the palate, along with a bit of grapefruit. The texture is a bit syrupy, and the finish has a nice twinge of acidity that makes this a refreshing and pleasant wine. Like the slogan, it’s uncomplicated… but it’s also quite good.

The Meridian website suggests pairing it with “a seaside picnic lunch of turkey burgers, a Sunday brunch omelet, or a lazy afternoon sitting on the patio with friend.” We’d forego the turkey burgers (blech!), but the other two suggestions sound fine. This is indeed an accessible and fun wine that would be fine for hot weather entertaining or serving with lighter dishes at any time of the year.

Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Blend Chardonnay

2009-04-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

Price: $3
Maker: Charles Shaw Winery, Napa County, California
Varietal: Chardonnay
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Blend Chardonnay (aka Two Buck Chuck) has a nice pear aroma, and flavor notes of pear and oak. It was medium bodied, and had good clarity. We’re not regular Chardonnay tasters, but this one was better than its $3 price tag would suggest.

Ballatore Gran Spumante

2009-04-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

Back to the wine at hand… Ballatore Gran Spumante is an inexpensive sparkling white wine from Ballatore Cellars of Modesto, California. I normally avoid Asti Spumantes and the like as they are too sweet for my taste, so I wasn’t anticipating much when I popped the cork on this wine. The nose was quite mild, with a hint of peach. The flavor was actually better than I had expected, though perhaps I’m damning it with faint praise. Yes, it was relatively sweet, but there were nice peach, apricot, and melon notes, leading into a slightly acidic finish that left my mouth filled with the lingering flavor of grapefruit. The bubbly nature of the wine was restrained, forming many tiny bubbles on the tongue for a pleasant tingle. Overall, Ballatore Gran Spumante was better than some of the Asti Spumantes I’ve tried, and would make an inexpensive holiday party choice if most of the guests would prefer a sweeter wine. It would be best served with dessert, but non-fussy guests would probably be happy to drink it alone or with any part of the meal. It definitely fits Culinary Fool’s “party” wine category, offering both a low price and a taste that will appeal to guests who aren’t big wine fanciers.

At a mere 8% alcohol content, a glass or two of Ballatore Gran Spumante won’t get your guests overly buzzed - an advantage or disadvantage, depending on your viewpoint. You should be able to find this wine for well under $10, perhaps as low as $6 - $7. At that price, you can buy a few extra bottles to keep your holiday guests’ glasses topped up!

Free Range White Bordeaux 2005

2009-04-09T03:07:00.000-07:00

Price: $29
Maker: JuiceBox Wine Company, Manchester, MA
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc 50%, Semillon 50%
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Free Range White Bordeaux 2005 is the flagship white wine from Free Range Wines - their other offerings, all boxed wines, include Free Range Red Bordeaux. This wine is a 50/50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. It has a powerful aroma that leaps from the glass - we found apple, pear, and citrus notes. Apple notes dominate the flavor, with hints of citrus and melon. There is a crisp and refreshing acidity in the finish.

Semillon is often associated with sweet dessert wines, but don’t be misled - Free Range White Bordeaux 2005 isn’t a sweet wine. Despite the 50/50 split between the varietals, it seems that the Sauvignon Blanc plays a stronger role in both the nose and the flavor. This wine was one of the hits of our party wine bar - it was one of the first to be finished.

Free Range Chardonnay 2005

2009-04-09T03:03:00.000-07:00

Price: $29
Maker: JuiceBox Wine Company, Manchester, MA
Varietal: Chardonnay
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Free Range Chardonnay 2005 is another upper-tier boxed wine from Free Range Wines. This Chardonnay has aromas of green apple and citrus. On the palate, it offers an interesting mix of tart apple flavors, oak notes, and a creamy texture. The effect is one of balanced complexity.

Chardonnay is an all-too-common varietal, and many of the less-expensive brands have too much oak and not enough of anything else. Free Range Chardonnay fortunately is in no way over-oaked, and has a nice depth that will interest a variety of palates. The wine comes from Le Bousquet d’Orb, which is near the picturesque walled city of Carcassonne in the south of France. The town’s website proudly proclaims, “The highly appreciated Chardonnay produced by the wine Cooperative - which won an international gold medal in 1999 - is just one example of the ‘good life’ cultivated here in Le Bousquet d’Orb.” Chardonnay lovers will agree that Free Range Chardonnay is part of the “good life.”

Free Range Sauvignon Blanc 2005

2009-04-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

Price: $29
Maker: JuiceBox Wine Company, Manchester, MA
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Free Range Sauvignon Blanc 2005, a box wine from Free Range Wines, is a varietal one doesn’t often see in that kind of packaging. That’s a shame… this Sauvingnon Blanc offers a sweet red apple nose with a hint of vanilla. The flavor offers mild apple, pear, citrus, and oak notes. The finish is slightly peppery. Free Range describes the wine as “light and lively”, which isn’t too far off.

The grapes used for Free Range Sauvignon Blanc 2005 come in equal parts from B�ziers and Carcassonne, in the scenic Languedoc-Roussilion region in south France. This wine is a cut above most boxed whites, though we found it a bit more forgettable than its siblings, Free Range White Bordeaux 2005 and Free Range Muscadet 2005. Free Range having such a strong selection of boxed wines (three reds and four whites) is truly an embarrassment of riches - “glass a day” drinkers are likely to be pleased with how long each box lasts, but disappointed that they can’t move on to the next Free Range box wine sooner

Fetzer Valley Oaks Gewurztraminer

2009-04-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland, Mendocino County, California
Varietal: Gewurztraminer
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 12.0 %
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Gew�rztraminer means “spice grapes” in German, and this wine is a good example of the varietal. Fetzer Valley Oaks Gewurztraminer 2005 has a pleasing nose with melon, floral, and spice notes. The flavor is interesting - it starts off with strong sweet peach notes, and neatly transitions into a spicy grapefruit finish. Along the way, there are green apple and honeydew notes. The crisp acidity in the finish balances the early sweetness well.

Gew�rztraminer food pairing suggestions often involve spicy foods, and the Fetzer Gewurztraminer would serve this purpose well. It would also be a fine choice to enjoy alone, and the fact that it’s not unforgivingly dry will let it appeal even to those who crinkle their nose at a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

Leonard Kreusch Estate Riesling

2009-04-07T02:45:00.000-07:00

Price: $7
Maker: Leonard Kreusch, Germany
Variety: Merlot
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 11.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Leonard Kreusch Estate Riesling 2005 has a mild spicy pear aroma, and a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. Its flavor notes include pear, apple, and grapefruit, with the latter being most prominent in the finish. This is a pleasant enough Riesling that would be fine for serving with seafood or to take some of the bite out of spicy food with its sweetness.

Angel Juice Pinot Grigio

2009-04-07T02:43:00.000-07:00

Price: $19
Maker: Underdog Wine Merchants, Ripon,CA
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 12%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Angel Juice Pinot Grigio is appropriately named - it’s a mild, pleasant wine that some will think is heaven-sent. (After I wrote that line, I found that the winemaker had put similar wording on the box…) The nose is floral with some woody notes and a hint of clove. On the palate, the wine is light-bodied and delicate, with pear, melon and citrus leading into a slightly acidic finish.

Ironstone Obsession California Symphony 2005

2009-04-06T04:40:00.001-07:00

Price: $7
Maker: Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, California
Varietal: Symphony
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 12%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Ironstone Obsession California Symphony 2005 is a moderately sweet white wine made from Symphony grapes, which are a California varietal derived from Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris in the 1960s. Its nose has floral, pear, and sweet melon notes. The flavor features peach, cantaloupe, pear, and honey. It’s saved from being too cloying and sweet by a tingly, acidic finish. We found it to be eminently drinkable.

We served this at a small party and it was a huge hit with the ladies. There wasn’t a drop left at the end of the evening, and several went to the trouble of writing down the details so they could shop for it themselves. The San Francisco Chronicle notes, “Its aroma is strongly floral, with some star anise. It’s very slightly sparkling (’frizzante’ is the technical term), and its flavors are reminiscent of a good Gewurztraminer: strongly floral, with notes of Meyer lemon and prickles of pepper on the finish.” So, if you are looking for an inexpensive, slightly different, crowd-pleasing white wine, try the Ironstone Symphony.

Corbett Canyon Chardonnay 2005

2009-04-06T04:31:00.000-07:00

Alice White Lexia 2006

2009-04-05T03:33:00.000-07:00

Price: $2
Maker: Alice White, Woodbridge, California
Varietal: Lexia
Packaging: 175 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 10%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

We picked up Alice White Lexia 2006 in one of the increasingly popular 175ml bottles that one finds in four packs or even in dump bins in supermarkets. It’s a convenient package for solo wine drinkers who find it difficult to finish a whole bottle before it starts to decline, and handy for situations where people can’t agree on the same wine. This Lexia (another name for Muscat of Alexandria) comes from South Eastern Australia and has aromas of peach and pineapple, with floral overtones. The fruitiness continues in the flavor, with sweet pineapple, melon, and apricot notes. There’s a hint of acidity in the finish, but a bit more would have added some welcome crispness. We paired Alice White Lexia with spicy Hunan chicken, and the combination worked nicely. If your taste runs to a sweet wine with tropical fruit flavors, you could do a lot worse.

Polka Dot Riesling 2006

2009-04-05T03:29:00.000-07:00

Price: $8
Maker: Imported by E. & J. Gallo from Pfalz, Germana
Varietal: Riesling
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 10.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

With its fun, informal label, Polka Dot Riesling 2006 is clearly aimed at a casual, unpretentious crowd. The wine itself reflects that attitude. This Riesling has a flowery nose with some peach in it. The flavor is sweet for this varietal, with pear, peach, and a hint of sweet pink grapefruit. It’s a pleasant, sweet wine that would go well with spicy ethnic cuisine. The other day I had a dish called simply “spicy catfish” in a Thai restaurant, and this would have paired nicely with it.

Starling Castle Riesling 2006

2009-04-03T07:05:00.000-07:00

Blue Nun Riesling

2009-04-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

Jacob’s Creek Shiraz 2003

2009-04-02T09:11:00.001-07:00

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz 2003

Price: $12
Maker: Jacob’s Creek
Variety: Shiraz
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Tasting Notes. The strongest note in the nose is licorice, backed up by ripe blackberries. On the palate, this wine is very smooth. Plum and chocolate cherry flavors, with oak, soft tannins, and mild spice in the finish. This is a well-structured wine that lingers impressively.

Comparing the two wines, there were definitely some similarities, notably the licorice aroma and fruit-forward nature. The regular Shiraz was a bit rougher, though, while the Reserve was smoother and more complex. There’s no doubt that given the choice between the two, we’d pick the Reserve as the better wine.

The next question is a bit different: is Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz worth twice as much as Jacob’s Creek Shiraz? That’s a question that in part relates to the economics of the buyer. For a well-heeled wine buyer, $12 is still a cheap wine… there would be no reason to consider the even cheaper regular variety. For a starving artist (do they still exist?), the extra $6 might well be significant. So, we’ll ask the question in a more provocative way - if one found oneself at the wine shop on the way to a small dinner party with just $12 in cash, should one buy a single bottle of the Reserve or two bottles of the regular Shiraz?

I’ll weasel out of that question by saying it depends on the guests. The regular Shiraz from Jacob’s Creek is good enough to please the casual wine drinker, and the extra bottle might add to their enjoyment (not to mention further dulling their palates). For guests who would appreciate a better wine, go with the Reserve; you’ll run out quickly, but they will compliment you on your selection.

Chateau Tour Boisee Minervois 1999

2009-04-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Price: $17
Maker: Domaine La Tour Bois�e
Varietal: 30% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 10% Cinsaut
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.8%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

We tried Chateau Tour Boisee Minervois 1999 (Marie Claude) as part of WBW #33. From the beginning, this wine makes its presence known. It had a prominent nose, with berry, anise, spice, and caramel notes. Its flavor was a mix of juicy cranberry and plum with peppery notes, with a mineral character. Overall it was quite astringent and puckery, though the bold flavors and complexity balanced the wine to the point where the astringency wasn’t unpleasant. Extra breathing time rounded out the flavor to a degree, but some bite remained in the wine’s sustained finish. Our personal tastes lean toward the slightly fruitier, less dry offerings of California and Australia vineyards, but it was interesting to try the more European Chateau Tour Boisee Minervois. After this intriguing experience, I might have to seek out some other reds from similar regions to compare.

Chateau Tour Boisee Minervois

2009-04-01T06:14:00.001-07:00

Our primary selection for this WBW challenge was Chateau Tour Bois�e Minervois 1999, which we found for $17. Though we found this wine to be a bit dryer and more mineral in nature than our usual California and Aussie fare, we liked it quite a bit. The nose was very prominent, exhibiting berry, anise, spice, and caramel notes. On the palate, this wine was a mix of juicy cranberry and plum with peppery notes. Overall it was quite astringent and puckery, though the bold flavors and complexity balanced the wine to the point where that character wasn’t unpleasant. Extra breathing time rounded out the flavor to a degree, but some bite remained in the wine’s sustained finish. The wine is composed of 30% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 10% Cinsaut. For additional commentary and wine details, see Chateau Tour Bois�e Minervois 1999.

We also bought a secondary bottle - Les Hauts del la Brune Coteaux du Languedoc 2004. This cost only $8, and hence didn’t meet the WBW #33 criteria. Check out the full report. Like the Minervois, this is a rather dry red, but overall it is not nearly as flavorful. We’d happily trade two bottles of this Languedoc for one of the Minervois.

Les Hauts de la Brune Coteaux du Languedoc

2009-04-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

Price: $8
Maker: Domaine de la Brune
Varietal: 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

We picked up Les Hauts de la Brune Coteaux du Languedoc 2004 as an alternate choice for WBW #33 - its inexpensive price disqualified it from the $15 - $30 price range, but we thought we’d give a sub-$10 wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region a try. At that price, and with its 80% Syrah composition, this wine would compete directly with a broad range of Shiraz/Syrah wines from Australian and California. The nose was very mild, with spicy berry aromas predominating. Our initial take on this wine was that it was rather thin and very dry. Even an hour or two of breathing didn’t alter our feelings much. Oddly, after being stored for a day (with argon) and another hour or two of air, the wine smoothed out considerably. We found mainly cherry, currant, and black pepper notes, with slightly sharp tannins. We’re not crazy about this wine, but ultimately it was fairly drinkable.

Santana Tempranillo 2004

2009-03-31T08:16:00.001-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Bodegas Victorianas, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

We tried Santana Tempranillo 2004 as part of Wine Blogging Wednesday #35. For WBW #35, Passionate Spain, our assignment was to try a wine from Spain, preferably under $10.

We found Santana Tempranillo had a very nice licorice and raspberry nose with some spicy and woody notes. On the palate, this wine was light-to-medium-bodied. It wasn’t overly fruity, with dark berries yielding to herbal, woody flavors; mild pepper and prominent tannins dominated the slightly acidic finish. This wine was a bit less fruity than we usually find in wines in this price range, but was surprisingly accessible and well balanced. This wine grew on us, and we found it to be more sophisticated than one might expect for a $5 wine. All in all, Santana Tempranillo is a great value, particularly if you are looking for a red that’s a bit less fruity than similarly priced California or Aussie wines.

Manyana Tempranillo 2005

2009-03-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

Price: $7
Maker: Bodegas San Valero Soc. Coop, Cari�ena, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Manyana Tempranillo 2005 is a surprisingly light shade of red in the glass, and has a mild fruit nose with berries and licorice. The wine is light-bodied, starting with cherries and strawberries leading into a moderately dry finish. This wine wasn’t particularly to my taste - light, dry reds just aren’t in my sweet spot (no pun intended, of course).

Manyana Tempranillo is imported by the ubiquitous Prestige Wine Group - they also offer a Crianza and a Shiraz from this winery.

Montevina Sierra Foothills Zinfandel

2009-03-30T02:59:00.000-07:00

Price: $7
Maker: Montevina Winery, Plymouth, Amador County, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14.2%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

The winery presents Montevina Sierra Foothills Zinfandel 2003 as a fun, informal wine, describing it as a “perfect complement to everyday celebrations like balanced checkbooks, successfully parked cars, and Wednesday evenings.” (Don’t forget to complete the parking job and exit the car before starting the celebration!) This Zin has a beautiful ruby red color, and a nose with raspberries and licorice. The flavor is nicely structured, with pleasant red berry notes and a long-lasting finish with chewy tannins. A bit more complexity would make this Zin even more attractive, but the structure and fruitiness make for a very pleasant experience.

You might enjoy visiting the Montevina website - it’s a bit heavy on animation and short on content, but worth a look.

This isn’t the most spectacular Zin we’ve tasted, but for under $10 we’d rate it a nice bargain.

Bocce Zinfandel 2004

2009-03-28T05:28:00.001-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Bocce Cellars, Graton, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.9%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Bocce Zinfandel 2004 features a colorful, old fashioned label that is reminscent of the winery’s history and the Cesar Mondavi’s love of playing bocce. The wine has a pleasant nose with lots of blackberry, licorice, and spice. Its flavor is fruit-forward with cherries and blueberries, and a somewhat tannic finish. With time, the flavor deepened and the finish became longer and more pleasant. This Zin doesn’t excel in any single area - it’s not big, it’s not complex, and the finish is comparatively short - but the overall effect is very, very nice. Bocce Zinfandel is likable and a fine pairing with Marinara-based dishes.

Valley of the Moon Zinfandel 2004

2009-03-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

Price: $15
Maker: Valley of the Moon Winery, Glen Ellen, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 15%
Our Rating: 9 out of 10

Valley of the Moon Zinfandel 2004 was a find on a recent trip to a Chicago suburb, where we stumbled across a WineStyles outlet. We’re glad we stopped, because this Zin has a lot going for it. The nose is nice but not overwhelming - berry aromas mixed with oak and vanilla. The wine really explodes on the palate, though. Lush, jammy raspberries and strawberries give this Zin its fruit-forward character, while soft tannins and a bit of oak provide a lengthy finish.

According to the Valley of the Moon website, the winery has been in operation since 1863. At one point in the winery’s history, it was owned by Senator George Hurst, father of William Randolph Hearst. This is a wine that the publishing magnate himself might have been happy to serve his celebrity guests at San Simeon.

Gallo Sonoma Reserve Zinfandel 2004

2009-03-26T06:56:00.001-07:00

Price: $10
Maker: Ernest & Julio Gallo, Modesto, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.9%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Gallo Sonoma Reserve Zinfandel 2004 is the second of Gallo’s Sonoma Reserve series we’ve tried lately, and we liked this one just about as much as Gallo Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. This Zinfandel has a likable nose of raspberries, spice, and licorice. Its flavor is rounded and fruity, with raspberries and cherries leading the charge, and oak and tannins providing complexity and a fairly long finish. Bold, fruity Zinfandels are one of our favorite categories, and this Gallo wine does a reasonable job of representing that varietal.

Ravenswood Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel 2004

2009-03-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

Price: $12
Maker: Ravenswood, Sonoma, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14.5%
Our Rating: 9 out of 10

Ravenswood Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel 2004 was a nice find. It is a full-bodied Zin, leading with intense cherry, raspberry, and plum fruits, then offering chocolate and smoke notes, and moving into a big finish with black pepper, oak, and modest tannins. This is a bold, palate-filling wine, and it would have been a great match with the flavorful and well-seasoned smoked sirloin I had the night before (if only the restaurant had offered it!).

If we have any complaint at all about this yummy wine, it’s that the Ravenswood County Series wines come in very similar-looking bottles. The only distinction is the county of origin, with a few also bearing the “old vine” distinction. This may be a strong branding statement, but the occasional wine drinker or random shelf-browser might well be confused or have difficulty remembering which variation he tried and liked. Stores, too, may hesitate to devote a lot of shelf space to a half-dozen similar-looking Zinfandels. Ravenswood has a page devoted to this wine where you can also sign up for their Zinsider newsletter from their Department of Zinformation. These guys really like their Zins…

Baron Herzog Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2004

2009-03-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

Price: $12
Maker: McWilliam�s Hanwood Estate, New South Wales, Australia
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14.1%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Baron Herzog Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2004 is the first kosher wine that we’ve tried, at least knowingly, and we liked it. It has aromas of berries and smoky leather. The wine is medium to full-bodied and nicely structured. Flavor notes include cherries, dark berries, chocolate, and toasted oak.

The Baron Herzog website says, “These old-vine Zinfandel grapes are taken entirely from gnarly, head-trained vines in the Watts Vineyard. The wine is aged in 30% new and 70% one year old American barrels for six months.”

This isn’t the biggest and boldest Zin we’ve tasted, but it has a lot to offer with its pleasantly complex flavors.

Toad Hollow Cacophony Zinfandel 2006

2009-03-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Price: $13
Maker: Toad Hollow Cellars, Paso Robles, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14.8%
Our Rating: 9 out of 10

Toad Hollow Cellars seems to have our number dialed in. We really liked their Erik’s the Red, and Toad Hollow Cacophony Zinfandel 2006 is at least as pleasing. This Zin starts with black cherry and plum notes, and after this fruity introduction, the flavor explodes with more fruit, spice, and soft tannins. This is the kind of Zin we like - big and bold, with a playful attitude.

I paired this with grilled tenderloins, which proved to be a perfect combination.

According to the Toad Hollow website, “Our fifth release of the Toad Hollow Cacophony Zinfandel is a Paso Robles appellation where the long hot days and chilly nights are just what zinfandel vines thrive upon. The new offering is 92% zinfandel with a smattering of other fun Paso Robles area varietals folded in for additional character, and dare I say, excitement!”

Toad Hollow Cacophony Zinfandel 2006

2009-03-24T08:04:00.001-07:00

Folie � Deux M�nage � Trois Red

2009-03-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

Price: $10
Maker: Folie � Deux Winery, St. Helena, Napa County, California
Varietal: Blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Folie � Deux M�nage � Trois Red 2006 is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon that most heavily favors the Zin side of its heritage. It has a nice aroma of spicy berries. It’s flavor is jammy, with strawberries, raspberries, and chocolate notes, and the finish is slightly peppery. This red wine leans toward the sweet side a bit.

Temptation Zinfandel 2005

2009-03-23T09:07:00.001-07:00

Price: $12
Maker: Alexander Valley Vineyards, WH, Sonoma County, Healdsburg, California
Varietal: Zinfandel
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Our Rating: 8.9 out of 10

If you favor big Zins, Temptation Zinfandel 2005 might punch your ticket. It has a moderately strong berry aroma, and a warm, fruity flavor with black cherry and chocolate notes. This Zin builds in intensity as it approaches the finish, which is long and slightly acidic. This wine isn’t overly complex or subtle, but is definitely nice to drink. I opened it to accompany outdoor-grilled strip steaks, a pairing which worked out just fine. I’d also pair this wine with fun food, like Chicago deep-dish pizza.

Infinitus Cabernet Sauvignon - Tempranillo

2009-03-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Price: $7
Maker: Cosecheros y Criadores, SA, Spain
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon - Tempranillo blend
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Infinitus Cabernet Sauvignon - Tempranillo 2004 is easy to spot on the shelf with its black and white label - “Infinitus” appears in two-inch high letters. Tempranillo is hardly a common varietal here in the States, but this wine might make help break the ice. The aroma is mild berry, but the flavor is a bold mix of blackberry, spice, and oak. In the European tradition, this isn’t an overly fruity wine but has plenty of flavor. On first pour, the wine seemed a bit harsh, but some breathing seemed to mellow it out nicely.

Red Guitar Navarra 2005

2009-03-22T01:49:00.001-07:00

Price: $8
Maker: Bodegas ADA, S.L., Navarra, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo and Garnacha Blend
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Red Guitar Navarra 2005 was an interesting find on our local shop shelf - it’s an uncommon mix of 55% Tempranillo and 45%Garnacha. Its aroma is a mix of berries, leather, and carmelized sugar. The flavor, if given a chance to breathe, is a well-structured combination of blackberry, oak, and tannins. This Red Guitar wine isn’t as fruity as some California blends, but isn’t overly mineral in nature either. We like it a lot, and its uncommon composition makes it an interesting find for entertaining. This is labeled as an “old vine” blend. We can’t say how much impact the age of the vines has, but it’s certainly a nice enough wine for the price.

Infinitus Tempranillo 2005

2009-03-22T01:31:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: CIV USA (Importer)
Varietal: Tempranillo
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Infinitus Tempranillo 2005 is a tasty Spanish red wine that offers a great value for under $10. Its aroma is spicy berries with a subtle leather note. The flavor starts off with lots of juicy blackberry and plum flavors, and segues into spice and oak notes with a dry, almost astringent, finish. This combination makes Infinitus Tempranillo more interesting than the typical fruit bomb red wine. We liked this wine a little better than the Infinitus Cabernet Sauvignon - Tempranillo 3004 we tried last year.

Wine Blogging Wednesday 35

2009-03-21T00:47:00.001-07:00

We were happy to see Michelle from My Wine Education’s straightforward selection for Wine Blogging Wednesday #35 - “Passionate Spain.” In addition to leaving the field wide open - a wine from Spain - Michelle encouraged us to select a bottle that cost under $10 - definitely in our preferred “affordable” category here at Box Wines.

For the first time in recent memory, we didn’t have to make a last minute run to the wine shop to find something suitable for this month’s WBW challenge. We had just returned from our Trader Joe’s expedition, and just happened to have a bottle of Santana Tempranillo 2004 in our mixed case. It cost about $5 - just about as affordable as you can get outside of Two Buck Chuck. We haven’t blogged about this varietal much at all. The only one we’ve tried lately has been Infinitus Tempranillo 2004, which we enjoyed. (The Santana Tempranillo is actually a blend that includes 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.)

Santana Tempranillo

2009-03-21T00:41:00.000-07:00

Manyana Tempranillo 2005

2009-03-20T01:20:00.001-07:00

Price: $7
Maker: Bodegas San Valero Soc. Coop, Cariena, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Manyana Tempranillo 2005 is a surprisingly light shade of red in the glass, and has a mild fruit nose with berries and licorice. The wine is light-bodied, starting with cherries and strawberries leading into a moderately dry finish. This wine wasn’t particularly to my taste - light, dry reds just aren’t in my sweet spot (no pun intended, of course).

Funky Llama Tempranillo

2009-03-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Funky Llama
Variety: Tempranillo
Packaging: Bottle, artificial cork
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Tempranillo tends to be a lighter wine than many other reds, but Funky Llama Tempranillo 2004 is no wimpy wine. It has a prominent raspberry jam nose. On the palate, it’s juicy but well balanced, with red berries and cherries up front and a lengthy finish that’s a bit spicy and tart. This Tempranillo has a lot of character, and will stand up to heavier fare than most examples of this varietal.

Fuente del Ritmo Tempranillo 2004

2009-03-19T01:17:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Bodegas Centro Espanolas, SA, Tomelloso, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Fuente del Ritmo Tempranillo 2004 has a fairly dark garnet color and an aroma of cherries, vanilla, and chalk. The flavor is fruity, with black cherry and currant notes, leading into a finish with lots of tannins and a bit of pepper. This wine should definitely be allowed to breathe - out of the bottle, even with a bit of air, the wine was somewhat harsh. Time and breathing mellowed it out into a smoother and more balanced structure. The fruit notes strengthened, while the acidity was muted.

McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2005

2009-03-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

Price: $11
Maker: McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate, New South Wales, Australia
Varietal: Shiraz
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

We picked up a couple of bottles of McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2005 when we spotted it on sale for nearly half price. We don’t buy multiples too often - there are just too many other wines to try and to write about. In this case, though, we almost regret not picking up a few more at the $6 - $7 sale price. This Shiraz has a powerful and pleasant nose, full of juicy berries and spice with a hint of licorice. The flavors were plum and blackberry, with a bit of chocolate. There was very light pepper in the wine’s long, slightly acidic finish. Shortly after opening, this Shiraz was pleasant but not overly distinguished. Surprisingly, the next day it had improved with deeper and more complex flavors. So, give this wine a chance to breathe.

Hardy’s Shiraz 2006

2009-03-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

Price: $15
Maker: Hardy’s
Varietal: Shiraz
Packaging: 3 liter box, push-button spigot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Hardy’s Shiraz 2006 is an adequate if unspectacular boxed wine. It has a nice aroma of spice and licorice. The flavor is rounded and fruity, but not all that complex. The fruit has an unusual prune character along with some cherries; there’s oak and faint pepper in the finish. This wine isn’t offensive, but it kind of fails to excite.

Makulu Shiraz 2005

2009-03-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

Price: $6
Maker: South Africa, Imported by Prestige Wine Group
Varietal: Shiraz
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 14%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Makulu Shiraz 2005 is a bold and fruity red wine. There’s a mild berry aroma, but it’s on the palate that this wine gets big. In that respect, this Shiraz is like its sibling, Makulu Iswithi Pinotage 2005. It’s like the Pinotage, too, in its intense fruity character. The wine leads with blackberry and raspberry notes, then transitions into a finish with a bit of oak and a mild tannic bite. At 14% alcohol, this is a heftier Shiraz than most. Overall, we like this wine. We’d prefer more spice for a Shiraz, but this wine is very nice on its own merits. This wine is fruity, but doesn’t have the sweetness of the Pinotage.

Lizard Flat Shiraz 2004

2009-03-15T23:38:00.001-07:00

Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

2009-03-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

Price: $6
Maker: Banrock Station Wines, Kingston on Murray, South Australia
Varietal: Shiraz (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%)
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

We’ve seen Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, an Aussie bargain wine, on the shelf numerous times, and finally brought a bottle home. This wine is mostly Shiraz (80%) with some Cabernet Sauvingon blended in. It has a fairly potent aroma of berries, cedar, spice. On the palate, it’s very juicy - we found it to be medium bodied with flavors of ripe cherries, oak, and nicely balanced tannins. It’s not particularly spicy for a Shiraz. We recommend letting this wine breathe for quite a while, as that brought out the fruit and made the wine more pleasant overall.

Wyalla Cove Shiraz

2009-03-14T08:41:00.001-07:00

Price: $5
Maker: Wyalla Cove, Adelaide, South Australia
Varietal: Shiraz
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Wyalla Cove Shiraz 2004 has moved to near the top of my “bargain buy” list. I found it at a local supermarket, Aldi, that is otherwise known for its lack of shopping bags (you have to supply your own) and its inability to take credit cards. That’s perhaps not the most promising start for a wine shopping expedition, but the selection looked a bit like Trader Joe’s - a lot of mystery labels, all priced under $10. In any case, Wyalla Cove Shiraz is a fruity delight for its price. The nose is an enticing blend of leather, licorice, and spice. Cherry and plum dominate the fruity flavor, with some peppery spice in the finish. This Shiraz may not be the most complex wine - it’s a bit sweeter than typical, though hardly a “sweet” wine - but it’s very pleasant and drinkable.

Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet 2006

2009-03-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Price: $6
Maker: Lindemans Wines, Australia
Varietal: Shiraz 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40% blend
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet 2006 is another bargain blend from this major Australian winemaker. It has blackberry, plum, and cocoa notes with a slightly peppery finish. It isn’t overly complex, but is pleasant and very drinkable.

Funky Llama Tempranillo 2004

2009-03-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Fuente del Ritmo Tempranillo

2009-03-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet 2006

2009-03-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

Ravenswood Vintners Blend South Eastern Australia Shiraz 2004

2009-03-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

Price: $9
Maker: Ravenswood Vintners, Reynella, SA, Australia
Varietal: Shiraz
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.9%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Ravenswood Vintners Blend South Eastern Australia Shiraz 2004 is, as the name suggests, an Aussie import under the Ravenswood label best known for their California Zinfandels. If you are looking for Shiraz, Australia isn’t a bad place to look for it. This one has a nice aroma of leather and spice. It’s got jammy raspberry and black cherry notes, a bit of chocolate, and a light oak finish. All in all, it’s what you might expect from Ravenswood - a big, fruity Shiraz with a sort of Zin sensibility.

Flat Creek Estate SuperTexan Sangiovese 2004

2009-03-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

Price: $20
Maker: Flat Creek Estate
Variety: Sangiovese
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Texas isn’t the first, or even second, state that comes to mind for fine U.S. wines, but Flat Creek Estate SuperTexan Sangiovese 2004 will certainly help the Lone Star state earn a place on the wine map. This Sangiovese has a lovely garnet color that transmits a bit more light than many reds. The wine has an inviting aroma, with strawberry, spice, and light floral notes. It’s on the light side of medium-bodied, and it’s well-structured. Cherry, strawberry, and licorice notes combine with oak and a moderately acidic finish to produce a complex and pleasing wine.

2005 McPherson Sangiovese

2009-03-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Price: $16
Maker: McPherson Winery, Lubbock, Texas
Variety: Sangiovese
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.1%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Lubbock, Texas may not be the Napa Valley, but McPherson Sangiovese 2005 is a very approachable red wine. It has a medium red color in the glass, and aromas of cherries and spice. This wine is fruity and approachable, with prominent cherry and strawberry notes. It’s well-structured, with nicely balanced tannins and some spice in the finish. This is a warm, mellow wine that is easy to drink. Although Sangiovese is the grape used as the primary component in Chianti, I found this wine to be fruitier than the typical Chianti and more to my personal liking.

Alexander Valley dry Ros of Sangiovese 2007

2009-03-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Price: $12
Maker: Alexander Valley Vineyards, Sonoma County, Healdsburg, California
Varietal: Sangiovese
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Alexander Valley dry Ros of Sangiovese 2007 has enticing aroma of melon and flowers, and is a crystal-clear dark pink color. It’s flavor is an interesting mix of watermelon and berries, with a crisp acidity that’s so tingly on the tongue that one expects bubbles to form. We see very few Ros wines here, and even fewer of this quality.

Makulu Iswithi Pinotage 2005

2009-03-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Price: $6
Maker: South Africa, Imported by Prestige Wine Group
Varietal: Pinotage
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.7%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Makulu Iswithi Pinotage 2005 is a new South African import from Prestige Wine Group. It’s a change of pace from most of the reds we write about here. The nose is spice and berries, not all that atypical, but on the palate this wine is rounded and somewhat sweet. Cherries dominate the powerful fruitiness, and there are some cola characteristics. This Pinotage isn’t cloyingly sweet - there is enough acidity to even things out, and the finish is long and pleasant. This would be a great wine to serve a group that includes people who aren’t regular wine drinkers and who might find a typical Cab or Merlot too dry.

Gala Rouge Pinot Noir 2004

2009-03-08T04:40:00.001-07:00

Price: $8
Maker: Bon Vivant Vineyards, France
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Gala Rouge Pinot Noir 2004 is packaged attractively with a vintage art poster label, and modestly refers to itself as “vin extraordinaire.” Its nose is quite interesting, delivering licorice and black pepper. On the palate, it’s relatively well structured - it’s not too fruity, with light cherry and plum notes mixing with oak and slightly sharp tannins. Overall, there’s quite a bit of flavor in this Pinot Noir.

French Rabbit Pinot Noir 2005

2009-03-08T04:37:00.000-07:00

Free Range Pinot Noir 2005

2009-03-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

Price: $29
Maker: JuiceBox Wine Company, Manchester, MA
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 3-liter box
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Free Range Pinot Noir 2005 is the second boxed wine from Free Range Wines that we’ve sampled. The nose is subtle, with spice and berry notes. As one might expect from a Pinot Noir, the flavors are subtle, too, with cherry, oak, and a hint of licorice. The flavor is one that builds into the lengthy finish.

Free Range Pinot Noir comes from Limoux, France. Like FreeRange Merlot and the brand’s other wine boxes, this varietal is packaged in a colorful, attractively designed rectangular box. No fancy octagons or other odd shapes - just a space-efficient container that seems like it couldn’t possibly hold four full bottles of wine (it does!).

Pinossimo Pinot Noir 2005

2009-03-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

Price: $7
Maker: Bouchard Ain� & Fils, France
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Bouchard Ain� & Fils Pinossimo Pinot Noir 2005 grew in stature after some heavy breathing on its part. My initial impression was that it was very thin, even for a Pinot Noir. Eventually, the nose developed some nice raspberry and spice notes, and the flavor, although still on the light side, became more intense and rounded. We found cherry and oak with soft tannins in the finish. Our tastes run to bigger reds from bolder varietals, but for well under $10 Pinossimo Pinot Noir is worth considering by those who enjoy a lighter red.

Georges Duboeuf Pinot Noir 2005

2009-03-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

Price: $7
Maker: George Duboeuf
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

It’s been only a few months since we tasted Georges Duboeuf Shiraz 2003 and Georges Duboeuf Merlot 2003, but it’s apparent a lot has changed with Georges Duboeuf Pinot Noir 2005. The bottle is now an explosion of color, as the glass vessel features a floral plastic overlay that completely encases it. The cork is now artificial, and, interestingly enough, is not only labeled with the name of the maker but the varietal as well. Beyond the packaging, it’s not a bad wine. The nose is rather earthy. On the palate, this Pinot Noir is well balanced, with cherry and raspberry notes leading into a spicy finish. The tannins were a bit prominent, but after a bit of breathing things smoothed out a bit

Gala Rouge Pinot Noir

2009-03-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

Price: $8
Maker: Bon Vivant Vineyards, France
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Gala Rouge Pinot Noir 2004 is packaged attractively with a vintage art poster label, and modestly refers to itself as “vin extraordinaire.” Its nose is quite interesting, delivering licorice and black pepper. On the palate, it’s relatively well structured - it’s not too fruity, with light cherry and plum notes mixing with oak and slightly sharp tannins. Overall, there’s quite a bit of flavor in this Pinot Noir.

Smoking Loon Pinot Noir

2009-03-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

Price: $7
Maker: Don Sebastiani & Sons, Napa County, California
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10

Smoking Loon Pinot Noir 2005 is the second installment in this brand that we’ve sampled. We liked Smoking Loon Merlot 2004 reasonably well. The Pinot Noir seemed slightly lacking in character. The nose was mild and mostly cherries. The wine was smooth on the palate, but even for a Pinot Noir (which I often consider too light) this one was a bit bland. Cherry and strawberry notes dominate the mild fruitiness, and there’s just a hint of spice. Overall, this wine doesn’t offend in the least - it’s quite drinkable. It won’t be on our shopping list, though.

2005 Makulu Iswithi Pinotage

2009-03-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

2005 Rosemount Estate Pinot Noir

2009-03-02T21:48:00.000-08:00

Price: $8
Maker: Rosemount Estate, Denman, New South Wales, Australia
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Rosemount Estate Pinot Noir 2005 has a nice spicy blackberry nose, and plenty of cherry and red berry flavor. The finish was fairly long, with the cherry notes continuing and with a bit of tannin bite. This isn’t at all a wimpy Pinot Noir - it’s fruity and pleasant, and with just enough complexity to keep it from being boring.

2005 Concannon Limited Release Petite Sirah

2009-03-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Price: $14
Maker: Concannon Vineyard, Livermore & San Luis Obispo, California
Varietal: Petite Syrah
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Concannon Limited Release Petite Sirah 2005 (Limited Release) sets high expectations by calling itself “America’s Finest Petite Syrah.” We haven’t tasted enough Petite Syrahs to confirm their assertion, but this red wine doesn’t disappoint. It delivers a big, rounded black cherry flavor and a long, peppery finish with well-balanced tannins. This is a very pleasant wine by itself, and would pair well with a nice grilled strip steak.

d�Arenberg The Stump Jump Red (2005)

2009-03-01T00:04:00.001-08:00

Price: $8
Maker: d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, Australia
Varietal: Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvedre blend
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Our Rating: 9 out of 10

d�Arenberg The Stump Jump Red 2005 was another find on my Trader Joe’s expedition, and the second winner in a row. This is a big, bold, spicy red wine that Shiraz and Zinfandel lovers will enjoy. The nose is a powerful mix of spice and licorice. On the palate, this wine starts with juicy currant and plum, and finishes with chewy tannins and long-lasting pepper. It’s well-balanced and moderately complex. I admit to favoring bold reds, and this one hit my sweet spot.

Cline Ancient Vines

2009-02-28T23:58:00.000-08:00

Price: $15
Maker: Cline Cellars, Sonoma, California
Varietal: Mourv�dre
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Cline Ancient Vines Mourv�dre 2005 appealed for several reasons - one doesn’t encounter too many Mourv�dre (or Monastrell) selections in the wine shop, and anything that claims to be from “ancient vines” always has extra appeal for me. The first sip was a bit disappointing - the wine didn’t seem to have the flavor intensity that I’d expect from an old vine, relatively high alcohol red. Fortunately, some extra breathing time brought the Cline Mourvedre around nicely. It has a nice, if undistinguished, fruity aroma. The flavor offers rounded plum and chocolate-covered cherry notes, with a slightly peppery finish. The extra air turned the wine into a big, bold red that would compare with a good Zinfandel.

Boho Central Coast Merlot 2006

2009-02-26T10:43:00.001-08:00

Price: $22
Maker: Boho Vineyards, Ripon, California
Varietal: Merlot
Packaging: 3-liter box, twist spigot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Boho Central Coast Merlot 2006 may well be the nicest boxed Merlot we’ve tried. It has blackberry, clove, and leather aromas. On the palate, it offers juicy cherries and chocolate notes, leading into a long oaky finish with chewy tannins.

Boho seems to be a young brand with an environmentally conscious personality. The packaging is a natural brown cardboard box, and there are a host of slogans proclaiming the winery’s green orientation: “Protect The Wine, Protect The World;” “Better Wine - Better Value - Better Environment;” “Respect for the Earth - Passion for Handcrafted Wines - Value for Money.” Some might say this is sloganeering overkill, but this Merlot speaks for itself. I think that the packaging may appear a bit downscale to some buyers, but most who take a minute to study the box will no doubt get what Boho is trying to say.

Concannon Central Coast Merlot 2006

2009-02-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

Price: $9
Maker: Concannon Vineyard, Livermore & San Luis Obispo, California
Varietal: Merlot
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Concannon Central Coast Merlot 2006 starts with a big licorice nose, and its flavor features raspberry, strawberry, and a bit of tart cherry. It’s not an overly complex Merlot, but it’s eminently drinkable. Concannon wines tend to hit our “sweet spot,” so to speak - big and fruity - and this one comes pretty close. The last vintage we tasted of this wine was Concannon Central Coast Merlot 2003, and it was a very nice wine too.