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This bottle was a gift from my friend Dan Milbourne, and Aussie native himself. THANKS DAN! While the wine itself certainly had a zing to it that I suspect works for many people, it was a bit smooth for a Shiraz in my opinion and also too sweet for my choice in wine. Maybe the name of it psyched me into tasting more sweetness than really existed. I recall the body being on the rich side, which I like.
If you go to www.crushwineco.com you can read a lengthy narration on this wine by a group of wine enthusiasts. Or go to www.cellartracker.com to see the feedback from many drinkers.
Priced at just more than $10, this is a safe bet Shiraz if you like them smooth and on the sweet side. Enjoy!
Filed under: $11-$15, 2005, Australian Wines, Barossa Region, No Thumbs, Shiraz | Leave a Comment
This Yellow Label Shiraz is a simple and straight-forward wine. My first exposure to it was in the summer of 2004 at a bar on Mackinac Island in the northern tip of Michigan watching Wolverines football with my brother-in-law Wes and step-dad Bob, although it was probably a 2002 vintage. I remember liking it more then than I do now, but that is probably because my tastes have changed and matured since then (unless of course the 2004 vintage just isn’t as good). But still, this is good enjoyable simple wine and I purchase it on occasion when I don’t want to dish out the coin.
Priced at under $10, this definitely classifies as a house wine. You could keep a few in stock and enjoy it now and then. Most novice wine drinkers who aren’t turned off by stronger heavier wines would probably be impressed with it.
This wine on wine.com
Filed under: $11-$15, 2004, Australian Wines, House Wines, No Thumbs, Shiraz | Leave a Comment
Bodega Norton 2004 Privada
This Privada was a pleasant and welcome surprise. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Sangiovese, I tried it the day I bought it and it was exactly what I was expecting at that time. This wine offered your typical South American heartiness and pepperiness. It wasn’t too heavy and it had a well-balanced French oak aging. Priced at around $15 a bottle, this is an excellent buy and I highly recommend it if you like hearty wines with a fair amount of flavour.
This wine on weimax.com
This wine on thewineclub.com
This wine on tastings.com
Filed under: $11-$15, $16-$20, 2004, Argentine Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hearty Blends, Malbec, Merlot, Sangiovese, Two Thumbs Up | Leave a Comment
R.H. Phillips is behind this wine. It was given to me as a gift recently and we tried it that night.
I remember that it had a medium body and it was on the sweet side for me. I enjoyed it. It had a juicy Pinot texture.
The wine is from central California. Russian or Alexander Valley according to the site. This bottle looks to be about $15 which is fair.
>> See this wine on Vincor USA
Overall I would say this isan easy and enjoyable wine to drink. Visit the website. It is sharp and it explains the Toasted Head Legend.
>> See the website for this wine
Thank you J.C. for the wine.
Filed under: $11-$15, 2003, California Wines, No Thumbs, Shiraz | Leave a Comment
Bordeaux wines typically have an irony to them in that they are simple yet complex. Their body normally develops as you work your way through the bottle. Not in the case for this wine. Although this wine has a true French signature, I did not find it exemplary to what I expect from a good Bordeaux.
Priced at over $10 I would not purchase again. There was nothing about this wine that makes me want to buy it again, but if served to me at someone’s home or a restaurant I would drink it. I will not be classifying it as a house wine because I would not by a case of it for any reason.
It was difficult to find this particular vintage online but I did find an ‘02 label which is identical accept the year. In my search for this online I did find some interesting comments from others who have had it. I would not discredit the wine with the harshness you will see, but it was disappointing.
Filed under: $03-$10, 2003, Bordeaux Region, French Wines, No Thumbs | Leave a Comment
A pleasant pleasant surprise. Notice I wrote the word “pleasant” two times. That is because when I took my first sip I had no presuppositions and no foreknowledge of this wine, and it came as a pleasant, pleasant surpirse. I did not know from what country it came or anything other than that it was a 2001 Syrah. In fact, I assumed from the label that it was Spanish or Argentine. I bought it because it seemed like a good deal from Pennsylvania Chairman Selection and I might just go back and buy a case.
This wine is priced around $20 and I got it for $10. This was an excellent deal. The first thing I noticed was the resemblence of a French. Lo-and-behold, this wine was aged in French oak. I totally underestimated the character of French oak aging. The other first thing I noticed was that it did not resemble the body and texture of a French. It had California all over it. Lo-and-behold, this is a Sonoma, CA wine.
Get this wine. This is a $30-$40 bottle in my opinion. California wines have gained respect on my pallette in that they offer body and flavor. This wine is smooth, hearty, balanced, and sophisticated like a California French. Get it.
Filed under: 2001, California Wines, French Wines, Sonoma Valley, Syrah-Shiraz, Thumbs Up, U.S. Wines | Leave a Comment
Spanish reds always seem to have body and flavor. Although I do not drink them often, I am typically confident in what to expect. This bottle was no exception. A hearty red with texture that serious red wine drinker can appreciate. There was a dryness to the wine probably due to the tannins, but the oaky richness gave the wine balance as well.
I live in Pennsylvania and this wine was priced just over $10, but in my searches online it seems you can get this for under $10 which I think is a good deal. I would pay $12-$15 for it if I had to though. You could make this a house wine depending on your budget and of course availability in your area.
If you try it be sure to let us know what you think.
See this wine online:
Filed under: $03-$10, $11-$15, 2002, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, House Wines, Spanish Wines, Tempranillo, Thumbs Up | 1 Comment
This wine was a random selection for me. French wine in PA is a tricky purchase and it is typically overpriced in my opinion. I much rather buy it at my hometown store Village Corner in Ann Arbor.
Medoc has a predictable airiness and sourness to it but its tone and flavor can vary a bit. By tone I mean dry vs. moist and rich vs. thin. By flavor I mean how sweet or non-sweet it can be. This Medoc definitely has a sweetness to it I have not come across in Medoc, but it certainly has the dry sourness you find in a Medoc. Priced at about $16 a bottle, I don’t think this is worth it, but it certainly reveals its French character and is a dependable wine. If you find it for under $15 then go for it.
Locating this wine online was not a successful conquest. The best I cando is direct you to the vinter’s website where this particular wine was not accessible.
Filed under: $11-$15, 2003, Bordeaux Region, French Wines, Medoc, Thumbs Down | Leave a Comment
This French Pinot is simple and tasty, not too sweet, and pretty smooth. It is easy to drink and will appeal to most red wine drinkers, novice and experienced. The body has a delicate touch but is made up by the well-balanced flavor which a good Pinot should do. I recommend a decanter for this if you are going to drink it with one or more people, otherwise let it sit in your glass about 5-10 minutes after you open it. The sugars need some air and some twirling. Joseph Drouhin seems like a well commercialized French vinter because his wines do not have the sponginess you find in most French wines. His wines are tapered to the mainstream palette. This wine is typically about $14 in stores but I have seen it online for about $10. The link below is the only thing online I found for this particular vintage but it is a great description of the wine so check it out.
See this wine online:
Wine.com
Filed under: $11-$15, French Wines, No Thumbs, Pinot Noir | 1 Comment
This was a random pick for me. I did not even realize it was Sangiovese. I thought it was Chianti. I bought it because of the price (<$10) and the description seemed promising. The wine was not a disappointment and I will go back for more. This could make for a good Italian house wine.
My familiarity with Sangiovese is minimal. I do not buy this varietal. I like Chianti and consider Sangiovese to be lighter. This wine was sound and not too light. It had body and fruitiness but not too much. I do not like strong fruitiness in my wines. Good value wine and then some.
See this wine online:
Barone Ricasoli Website
The Wine Buyer
WineAccess.com
Filed under: $03-$10, Italian Wines, No Thumbs, Sangiovese | 2 Comments
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