Beringer Chenin Blanc, 2005 Review

General Impression of Beringer Chenin Blanc, 2005

It is really wonderful to find a California wine that hits the 5-6 dollar price point that is not only a good wine to drink but is also a little different and unique. This wine is so wonderfully fruity it seems to be much sweeter then it is. While the residual sugar is very low and the wine itself is quite dry the fruit is so clean and up front you really are inclined to call it sweet.

The mouthfeel is also really nice with a slightly viscous feel that good Chenin Blancs are known for. It is rich and even a tiny bit creamy in texture. As the wine warms a notes of vanilla and ginger emerge which just makes it that much more wonderful.

If you are looking for a nice inexpensive white wine that will please even the typical white zinfandel addict with out offending the chardonnay and sauvignon blanc drinker give this one a try. It would be hard to argue with this wine at 9-12 dollars a bottle but at 5-6 it is just honestly a steal.

Read Our Entire Review of Beringer Chenin Blanc, 2005

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: 2005 wine, american wine, inexpensive wine, white wine, beringer wine, chenin blanc, inexpensive white wine

Francis Coppola Rosso Classic, 2004 Review

General Impression of Francis Coppola Rosso Classic, 2004

My view is strap a more fancy lable on it, put it in a boutique wine shop and sell it for 18 dollars a bottle and no one would even consider objecting to it. This is just a great tasting red wine with reasonable complexity that lets you enjoy it whether you are drinking a glass just to pass the time or having it with a full dinner.

This is a good fun wine you can afford to drink every day if you want to that will please your guests and make them feel spoiled.

Read Our Entire Review of Francis Coppola Rosso Classic, 2004

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: 2004 wine, blended wine, california wine, coastal zinfandel, inexpensive red wine, inexpensive wine, inexpensive zinfandel, meritage, old vine zinfandel, red blended wine, red wine, red zinfandel, shiraz, syrah, zinfandel, cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon

Bella Sera Sangiovese, 2003 Review

General Impression of Bella Sera Sangiovese, 2003

I selected this bottle because I could not think of any reason I was not going to enjoy it. I have found Bella Sera Pinot Grigio to be one of the best low priced Pinot Grigios on the market and a dearly love the fruity and dry simple flavors of wines made from Italy's signature grape Sangiovese.

I was not disappointed for a moment. This is an excellent wine for its' price point and has the added benefit of coming from the Di Toscana Appellation of Italy.

Read Our Entire Review of Bella Sera Sangiovese, 2003

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: 2003 wine, Chianti, inexpensive red wine, inexpensive wine, italian wine, red wine, sangiovese, wine from italy, italian red wine

Jenica Peak Zinfandel, 2004 Review

General Impression of Jenica Peak Zinfandel, 2004

The first thing you need to know about all Jenica Peak Wines is they are an exclusive private lable wine from Albertson's Grocery Store. This may bring up thoughts of the relationship of Charles Shaw (two buck Chuck) and Trader Joe's if so put it out of your mind these wines are to Charles Shaw what Mid Grade Mondavi is to Boones Farm.

This is the first Jenica Peak wine I have formaly reviewed and it was an exceptional one. Zinfandel being my favorite I am always looking out for sub ten dollar Zinfandels that are of good quality and I feel I have found a gem here. Easy drinking for a full flavored Zin at only 12.5% alochol by volume this one does not over power you but doesn't leave you wanting much either. I have been looking for a Red Zinfandel under 10 dollars that would stand toe to toe with Dancing Bull Zinfandel and I have found it.

Read Our Entire Review of Jenica Peak Zinfandel, 2004

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: zinfandel, red wine, red zinfandel, 2004 wine, california wine, coastal zinfandel, inexpensive red wine, inexpensive wine, inexpensive zinfandel, red blended wine

Almira Los Dos, 2004 Review

General Impression of Almira Los Dos, 2004

I saw one thing on the label that made me try it well more accurately two words, "old vines. As an old vine Zinfandel freak when I see those words I look deeper then finding the primary grape to be Grenache with a little Syrah to balance the wine I was hooked. In my opinion Grenache is an under appreciated grape. While the back bone of my famous Rhone wines and the key to producing some amazing French blush wines made from mostly Grenache are largely unknown.

This one is really a very nice wine, it is intense without being overwhelming so much so that you could eat a big or a light meal with it and be happy with it either way. The surprise is while light and fruity the finish is long and enjoyable.

Read Our Entire Review of Almira Los Dos, 2004

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: grenache, syrah, shiraz, almira los dos, almira, red wine, spanish wine, spain wine, inexpensive red wine, inexpensive wine, wine from spain, spanish red wine

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay, 2004 Review

General Impression of Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay, 2004

This wine is something a bit different then most sub ten dollar domestic Chardonnays. Not the typical crisp light fruity chardonnay it is much fuller bodied and honestly quite wonderful. Mondavi has really pulled off producing a value priced wine that tastes and feels more like some of the higher end Chardonnays that sell in the mid twenties and higher.

Read Our Entire Review of Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay, 2004

~ Jack Spirko

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Technorati Tags: robert mondavi, chardonnay, white wine, california wine, american wine, inexpensive wine, inexpensive chardonnay, best chardonnay

Napa Ridge Coastal Vines Zinfandel, 2002 Review

General Impression of Napa Ridge Coastal Vines Zinfandel, 2002

I warn you right now some wine snobs will scoff at this review!

This is exactly why I love Zinfandel! Is it the best I have had? No but it is pretty damn good. My advice to you if you really want to get the most from this one is use the biggest wine glass you have, I mean with a huge bowl. I tried it in both a typical "red wine glass" then in my huge 22 oz mega red wine glass and the difference was enormous especially on the aromas.

This is just a plain excellent hedonistic zinfandel that lets you linger on it. You could easily sip this one slowly all night long with good friends and great conversation. It will do well with typical Zinfandel food but hedonists like me will wallow in it not believing their luck to pick this one up so cheap. You can normally find it for a dollar or two less then I paid. Having sampled it a year ago I paid the extra when I found it at Centennial on my way home from work just to see if they extra year had do it well, I was not disappointed.

Read Our Entire Review of Napa Ridge Coastal Vines Zinfandel, 2002

~ Jack Spirko

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Technorati Tags: coastal zinfandel, old vine zinfandel, zinfandel, red wine, california wine, inexpensive zinfandel, 2002 wine

Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay, 2005 Review

General Impression of Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay, 2005

First thought come on America wake up! How can the Australians make such an exceptional Chardonnay, ship it all the way to the US , pay tariffs for import and still keep a price where a retailer can sell fewer than five bucks? Other then Barefoot Chardonnay I have yet to find anything close from the US under five bucks or under six for that matter.

This Chardonnay was also clearly made with the intention of exporting to the US catering to the US with enough Oak to have that distinctive oak character that many Americans think is a “Chardonnay taste”. This wine has a lot going on at this price point great flavors like cedar and spice and oak in the back ground with lots of citrus up front and in the aroma. You will never be displeased with this wine if you want a nice Chardonnay.

Read Our Entire Review of Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay, 2005

~ Jack Spirko

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Technorati Tags: 2005 wine, australia wine, australian wine, lindemans, lindemans wine, white wine, chardonnay

Sutter Home Family Vineyards Zinfandel, 2001 Review

General Impression of Sutter Home Family Vineyards Zinfandel, 2001

Well I did the usual popped the cork and gave it a bit of breathe time. Not much mind you this is a four dollar bottle of wine. I then poured a small bit and was under impressed. Drinkable sure, decent sure, something I would buy again even at four bucks probably not. Then I got to thinking sure it is a cheap wine even four our standards but given it was a bottle of 2001 and had been locked in a bottle for 5 years it could use just a bit more breathing time.

So did the additional breathe make it wonderful, no but it made it a LOT better. Initially the alcohol was high in the aroma and taste but with some more time to breathe the flavor and aroma came through a lot better.

This is a good wine, past its time for sure but when you buy in a supermarket that is not uncommon. After a good twenty minute breathe the flavors come through and the alcohol went back to the undertones where it belongs. It had a lot of berry flavor and the brightness the wine is known for was still evident. It was also one of those wines that the more I drank the better it tasted.

Read Our Entire Review of Sutter Home Family Vineyards Zinfandel, 2001

~ Jack Spirko

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Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz, 2005 Review

General Impression of Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz, 2005

Like just about any wine from Lindemans this one was excellent. I am not a huge fan of Shiraz (or Syrah as it is also known) wines but I do enjoy them and they certainly have a place in my wine rack. This is one of the better ones under 8 dollars a bottle and with out a doubt at the top of the Australian list for this price point.

This is a nice wine, the color is very purple and the aromas make you think of berries and cherries. That body is medium to full bodied and it is one of those wine you like even better after the 2nd or 3rd glass. I found the oak more noticeable after the first glass as well.

Read Our Entire Review of Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz, 2005

~ Jack Spirko

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Technorati Tags: lindemans, lindemans wine, shiraz, 2005 wine, red wine, syrah, australian wine, australia wine, inexpensive wine

Di Majo Norante Sangiovese, 2004 Review

General Impression of Di Majo Norante Sangiovese, 2004

Of all of Italy's wines I love Chianti above the rest. So what we have here is pretty much a Chianti from another region of Italy so they can't call it a Chianti. In fact unlike many Chianti Wines this one is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes and it is a great wine. This wine is very easy to drink something you can enjoy with friends and it will just be dynamite with pastas or pizzas. This is an exceptional wine that just feels like Italy in a bottle.

Read Our Entire Review of Di Majo Norante Sangiovese, 2004

~ Jack Spirko

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Folie a Deux Ménage a Trois, 2004 Reviewed

General Impression of Folie a Deux Ménage a Trois, 2004

When I see a bottle labeled "table wine" even though I know better it always prejudices me a bit against it. In the US Table Wine simply means the wine is a blend and does not have enough of one grape to call the wine legally a Zinfandel or Merlot and has an alcohol level of 7-14%. Thinking this three grape blend of my top favorite US Red Varietals (Merlot, Cabernet and Zinfandel) might be similar to a light burgundy or decent Meritage I picked up a bottle.

My one regret? I now have to go back to Costco and buy more. This is an excellent red wine with a lot going on.

Read our Entire Review of Folie a Deux Ménage a Trois, 2004

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: blended wine, meritage, folie a deux, califonia wine, table wine, red blended wine, old vine zinfandel, cabernet, merlot

Barefoot Chardonnay, 2003 Review

General Impression of Barefoot Chardonnay, 2003

Wow for five bucks! That was what I was muttering as I brought down the glass after my first taste of Barefoot Chardonnay. I was rather shocked honestly at how good this wine is. It did not help impressions that I had to look on the back to find the date of the wine is very small numbers below the UPC code. But this is an excellent Chardonnay. Very easy to drink and very easy to like and just as good as many popular Chardonnays that are 2-3 times higher. Doesn't have that really heavy oak that some nice Chards do but there is nothing wrong with this one especially at 5 bucks.

Read Our Entire Review of Barefoot Chardonnay, 2003

~ Jack Spirko

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Technorati Tags: chardonnay, barefoot wine, california wine, white wine, inexpensive wine

Dancing Bull Zinfandel by Rancho Zabaco, 2003 Reviewed

General Impression of Dancing Bull Zinfandel by Rancho Zabaco, 2003

The first word out of my mouth after the first sip was "wow" and that pretty much sums it up. This is an excellent Zinfandel and unless I find some really amazing replacements it is going to hold a place on our top ten list for a very long time.

Given the bottle told me this was Rancho Zabaco's playful version of Zinfandel I was a bit concerned. While I don't have to have big bold heavy Zin I am certainly a hedonist with Zinfandel and relish it above almost all other reds. No let down at all with this one.

While easy to drink the flavors are full and even intense with a lot of black cherry and raspberry flavors. This is an exceptional Zinfandel and I would be shocked to find that it would not enjoy even a bit of aging.

Read our complete review of Dancing Bull Zinfandel by Rancho Zabaco

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: old vine zinfandel, old vine zinfandel, red zinfandel, rancho zabaco, red wine, california wine, 2003 wine, inexpensive wine

Rex Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster Chardonnay Reviewed

General Impression of HRM Rex Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster Chardonnay

Well it is a big name and for a chardonnay and a sub 10 dollar one it is a big wine. It is certainly a bigger wine then many good and well liked chardonnays like say Kendall Jackson or similar. There is a good oak quality but the intensity of flavor makes it less pronounced then lighter oaked versions. If you only enjoy Chardonnays for the oak this many not be a perfect fit for you. That said I personally loved it.

Read our entire review of Rex Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster Chardonnay

~ Jack Spirko

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Tags: rex goliath, giant 47 pound rooster, chardonnay, white wine, california wine, 2004 wine

Blackstone Zinfandel, 2002 added to our review list

General Impression of Blackstone Zinfandel, 2002

As always it is hard to not please me with any decent Zinfandel but this one was very good indeed. Lots of berry with a lot of fruit flavor as well. There is definitely a nice peppery spice to it in the finish with some good oak quality as well. Zinfandel is one of the harder wines to find under 10 dollars, especially from the Lodi area of California. This is a great one and the Lodi vines that the Zinfandel grapes come from are 85 plus years old, so this is indeed an "old vine Zinfandel" so for under 9 bucks this is a very hard one to beat.

Read our entire review of Blackstone Zinfandel, 2002

~ Jack Spirko

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Technorati Tags: 2002 wine, blackstone wine, california wine, lodi wine, old vine zinfandel, red wine, zinfandel