...a bottle of wine and thou

Finca Flichman Malbec Mendoza

2005-12-14T23:14:00.000-05:00

Price: $9
Type: Malbec
Cork: Plain Jane Artificial
Rating: 2
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

I really wanted to like this wine. The scent comes rolling out the bottle the moment you pull the cork. The first sip is crisp and rich.

Then the aftertaste hits you.

I couldn't finish a glass. If you enjoy sticking your tongue into a glass then rinsing your mouth with water before you swallow, this is the wine for you. Actually, this is probably a good wine for people who enjoy tar-thick turkish coffee with no milk or sugar. I found it too bitter and tart to drink.

Cosme Palacio y Hermanos Cosecha 2002

2005-10-30T21:24:00.000-05:00

Price: $9
Type: Rioja
Cork: attractively decorated natural
Rating: 10
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

I am so sad this bottle is empty. I want more. Right now. If the bottle wasn't empty, I'd probably be able to tell you why. Suffice it to say I am eternally grateful for our fantastic local cuban restaurant, Havana Rumba, for introducing me to Rioja wines. If you like Tempranillo's and Malbec's, you'll enjoy Rioja's.

Camelot Mead

2005-09-03T19:45:00.000-04:00

Price: $9
Type: Mead
Cork: Natural with conservative decoration
Rating: 9
Purchased: Liquor Barn

A friend recently brought a couple bottles of Chaucer's Mead to a party. It was quite the hit, being something a little different. I decided to pick up some more for my next party and found Oliver Winery's Camelot Mead on the shelf right next to it.

I've heard wonderful things about Oliver Winery. The Wall Street Journal rates it as one of the 12 best winerys to visit in the US. They've won a slew of awards for several of their vintages. On top of that, it's only a few hours away in Indiana. One of these days, I really want to visit.

The Chaucer's Mead is tasty - and has the advantage of coming with a packet of simmering spices in case you want to make warm spiced mead during the winter. Oliver's Camelot Mead is better.

All meads are sweet. If you prefer dry wines, stay far far away. If you like Rieslings or Gewurtztraminers, you'll probably like mead. Camelot's mead is a clear, straw colored wine (unlike many meads which are the color of amber and almost as dense.) The flavor is surprisingly light (again, a pleasant contrast to the more standard heavy meads), far less sweet than a soda, and makes a great chilled sipping wine for hot summer afternoons. I will definitely buy this one again.

Frontier Red Lot 41

2005-07-05T20:29:00.000-04:00

Price: $10
Type: varietal blend
Cork: green marbled artificial
Rating: 8
Purchased: Liquor Barn

In sampling my way through $10 wines, I've discovered I'm partial to red blends, and "Frontier Red" is no exception. I think the thing I like about blends is they all have a taste of their own. Oh, sure, every Pinot is different, every Cabernet is different, but they still taste like Pinot and Cabernet. A good blend tastes like creativity - you can find the sources of inspiration, but those sources don't define it.

Frontier Red is a dark, almost heavy wine, nearly red-black in the glass. The scent is a little mild for my taste (or else it would've rated a 9). I like a little more flirtation before I dive right in. The wine is smooth on the tongue, coasting over the tastebuds without drying, but still lacking any excess sweetness. There's a hint of bitter in the aftertaste, so this wouldn't be a good wine for friends new to drinking reds. For those who've enjoyed reds for awhile, this is a great, inexpensive table wine for a hearty pasta dinner rife with fresh tomatoes and lots of garlic. It would also make a smooth accompaniment to grilled burgers and brats, as long as you ladle on the black pepper and grill seasonings.

I think it tastes better with food, which is another reason it gets a 8 rather than a 9. This is a wine that can hold its own against strong European spices, like an excess of pepper and garlic. I don't think it would do so well paired with curries, and it would totally overwhelm lighter fare. It's an adequate sipping wine, but really shines when paired with dinner.

Vampire Merlot

2005-05-25T05:05:00.000-04:00

Price: $14
Type: Merlot
Cork: attractive red artificial
Rating: 8
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

I bought this wine as a joke present for a pair of Goth friends. They invited us over to sample it, again as a sort of horrific joke. To our mutual surprise, it's a surprisingly drinkable wine, especially for the price.

In fact, I liked it so much I not only replaced their bottle, but picked up a couple for myself the next time I visited Jungle Jim's. The label is very eye catching. After all, who wouldn't be tempted by "Vampire" wine made in Transylvania? Okay, people with taste. Those of us with a sense of humor want a bottle just for display.

I suspect most Merlot drinkers would disagree with my 8 rating. My problem with Merlot is I don't like a heavy oak taste in my wine. While Vampire Merlot is allegedly aged in American Oak for six months, it somehow doesn't have that overwhelmingly oaky flavor that makes me turn my nose at most Merlot. In this case, I can taste the grapes, which are mellow and smooth. The wine has a mild nose to go with the mellow flavor.

If you like the taste of a usual Merlot, you'll hate this wine. If you dislike Merlot, give this bottle a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Solaris Special Release Pinot Noir

2005-05-20T21:42:00.000-04:00

Price: $12
Type: Pinot Noir
Cork: plain jane natural
Rating: 6
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

This wine is almost worth it for the bottle alone. Of course, I write Science Fiction, so of course I'd be tempted by a bottle with a giant solar flare on the front.

The scent is disappointingly mild. You have to stick your nose deep into the glass before you can smell it at all. The flavor itself is pretty uniform from the tip of the tongue to the back, though it has a sharp tangy aftertaste. The wine itself isn't all that exciting, but at the same time, it's not bland or vinegary or sugary sweet.

All in all, I'd say this is an inoffensive but unexceptional wine, not bad for a second or third bottle if you can't afford to get your friends drunk on the good stuff.

5 reds to try again

2005-05-19T09:19:00.000-04:00

I'm afraid I was lax in my April reviews. I've got five empty bottles here which I vaguely enjoy drinking. I should buy them again and give them real reviews. At least one of them was really good, but I can't remember which. This is a good reminder why I write reviews. :)

LoTengo Malbec
Alamos Malbec
Rubens Tempranillo
Jindalee Cabernet Sauvignon
House Wine brand California Red

Two bad wines

2005-04-02T19:46:00.000-05:00

Price: $7
Type: Talus Pinot Noir
Cork: Artificial
Rating: 4
Purchased: Meijer's

Price: $13
Type: Wrongo Dongo 2003
Cork: cute yellow artificial with logo
Rating: 4
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

These two go to show an artificial cork can't protect a bad wine. I'm so disheartened by three tainted bottles and two just plain bad ones that I don't have the heart for a full review. Suffice it to say you'll get better quality out of a box.

Cork Rot!

2005-04-02T19:20:00.000-05:00

This has not been my month for wine. I've lost THREE bottles to tainted corks. This is why I list cork type in my reviews. I've never had a bad bottle of artificially corked wine.

My three misses this month were a white, a rose, and a red: Alta Vista Torrontes 2003, Huber Winery Indiana Traminette, and Vestini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2003. Hubery Winery is only half an hour from my home. I've enjoyed their wines in the past, so I'll probably try them again. I was looking forward to the Torrontes, as I've never tried one before, but alas. As for the Vestini, well, I only bought it because of the adorable label, so I doubt they'll get my money again. If they were sensible enough to use artificial corks, there is a chance all three of these brands would have new business.

Tainted corks make me angry. Wine snobs who insist plastic alters the flavor are welcome to lose 10% of their hundred dollar purchases. For those of us looking for $10 - $15 table wine, the manufacturers have no such excuse. Move to artificial corks or screwtops already!

Rex Goliath "47 Pound Rooster" Pinot Noir

2005-03-23T21:51:00.000-05:00

Price: $7
Type: Pinot Noir
Cork: plain cork with name written on side
Rating: 7
Purchased: World Market

This is really good for a seven dollar wine. It's not the most exciting Pinot Noir I've ever had, but it's also $7 a bottle. Most $7 wine is nasty, so I'm impressed. I think it would be a good second or third bottle after starting the night with the good stuff.

It's got a mild nose, so if you're really into a good, rich scent, this isn't the wine for you. The taste is surprisingly level. It tastes the same on the front of the tongue as it does on the back. Now, I prefer a wine that's got a little more complexity, but again, this is a seven dollar bottle. A single glass costs more than that in most restaurants these days.

Unlike most cheap wines, there's no sugary sweetness to this wine. The aftertaste is as mild as the scent, so this would be a good wine for people who complain about the bitter flavor of reds.

If you're looking for a level, drinkable, inexpensive wine, this is an excellent choice.

More wine recommendations from Kevin Currie

2005-03-15T18:29:00.000-05:00

Recently, I have found that 3/4 of my wine selections have come from Chile. While Chile has yet to really bust into the American market, these wines are immensely satisfying both to the palate and the budget. As it is hard to put my enthusiasm for Chilean wines into restrained words, let me be direct: Chilean reds offer some of the most powerful and best flavor for an absolutely sick value!!

Be forewarned though: these are some of the darkest, meatiest, thickest reds you will ever have. I have no doubt that one reason the Chilean market has not caught on so in the US is because US drinkers tend to like the fruitier style of wine: Merlot, Shiraz, etc. Chile's reds, by contrast, tend to contain earthier notes like tar, pepper, chocolate, menthol, etc. (Yes, even their syrahs and Merlots are this way.)

Let me show you some wines:

Ramirana Carmenre ($9-10):
This is by far the darkest of the Chilean wines I've had so far (and it is thus with ALL their reds). The nose hits you with tar, a bit of oak, tobacco (and a bit of peachiness on the top that smooths it all out). The palate shows chocolate, tobacco, dark plum and a spicy licorice. While the finish is a bit astringent and very long. (For a smoother finish one can upgrade to their Gran Reserva Carmenere, which is smoother). For $10, this is a wine not to be missed.

Marques de Casa Concha Merlot (Concha y Toro) ($13):
I generally don't like Merlots too much, associating them with a bland fruit that is, to me, quite unintersting. This merlot is much different. It is darker than American merlot's, for one, and its $13 dollar price tag belies a complexity that many $20 dollar merlots don't offer. On the nose, one detects a dark berry - blackberry and plum - flavor enhanced by a really cool menthol spiciness. The palate is quite good with the same dark berries, a hint of vanilla, and a slightly peppered finish, which is very smooth. Good wine!

Santa Alicia Gran Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($10):
I like my cabs thick and earthy (which is one I like Chile in the first place). The nose on this is very powerful, with tar, pepper, chocolate, and plum. The palate loses the tar, but retains the chocolate and plum, adding hints of vanilla and licorice. The finish is moderately smooth and quite long.

Concha y Toro Frontera Carmenere ($7):
CYT's Frontera line is quite simply one of the best values in the wine world today. If easy drinking wines leading towards the dark side is what one wants, then Frontera (and CYT's Explorador line, slightly above Frontera in price) is the best game in town! This carmenere is much less aggressive than the Ramirana and is one of the best intros to this indigenous Chilean grape. The nose contains dark berries graced with a slight spiciness of white pepper and hints of vanilla. The palate is an easy drinking combo of plum, licorice, and a light pepperiness. The finish is non-abrasive and smooth.

And now for one of the few merlot's from the good ole' US of A that I really
enjoy:

American Winetaster's Society Merlot (2001) ($13):
While the price is over $10, I can't stress how much value this wine is. AWS is a 'small lot' buyer, who buys the left over grapes from the big dogs (the wineries that sell at prices up in the $30's and $40s), bottling this primo juice under its own name. The lots benefit from keeping supply limited (so as to keep demand and price up), while AWS benefits from the ability to sell good juice at an easy price. (The only stipulation is that they don't disclose which winery's juice is in the bottle.) This merlot has some of the purest cherry fruit I've had in a merlot for this price and offers a hint - just a hint - of oak. The palate is a smooth and lively cherry fruit with blackberry behind it. The finish - let me tell you - is smooth as water. Not - I repeat NOT - to be missed.

And for a last recco (for now)

Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($9):
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's are some of the best whites around. Their citrus is more viviacious and tangy, and their bodies are more crisp and sharp, than many of their US counterparts. With this said, the Monkey Bay is certainly not the MOST vivacious i've had (that award goes to New Z Land's sauvignon blanc), the monkey bay is certainly the most tempered. The palate is very floral and perfumy, offering citrus and a bit of grassiness. The palate is full containing bright limy citrus on the top and an apply middle. The finish is nice and balanced.

Kevin Currie

Goat Roti

2005-03-14T21:57:00.000-05:00

Price: $17
Type: red blend
Cork: plain natural
Rating: 7
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

I really enjoyed the heck out of Goats Do Roam Red, so I'm a little surprised by how disappointed I am with the high end version of the same wine. Goat Roti is clearly related to Goats Do Roam Red, but is more tannic start to finish. In fact, it dried out my tongue. It's not a bad wine, but I didn't feel it was worth twice the purchase price of the regular brand.

I honestly wonder if this is evidence that I've developed a taste specifically for $10 wines. Double the price and they're too bitter, halve the price and they're too sweet. Since I like having wine with dinner more nights than not, I can live with that.

It was worth trying once, but in the future, I'd rather have two bottles of the luscious Goats Do Roam Red than one of the Goat Roti.

Bartenura Moscato D'Asti

2005-03-12T21:40:00.000-05:00

Price: $11
Type: Moscato D'Asti
Cork: Plain Natural
Rating: 7
Purchased: Jungle Jim's International Market

This sweet dessert wine comes in an attractive blue bottle with pretty map front piece. To my surprise, I'm giving it a 7. Why surprised? Because it's a kosher wine. Passover is around the corner, so I'm looking for kosher wines which don't taste like sugar fortified grape juice.

Like all Moscato's, this is a very sweet white wine, really best for after dinner drinks or sipping with dessert. It's lightly fermented, so it would also make a good alternative to Champagne. Because it is sweet and a little bubbly, it's a good choice for people who do not have a palate for wine. If they insist they'd rather have a Sprite, assure them this is only one step away. Furthermore, at only 5.9% alcohol (less than half an average wine) this is a good choice for people who want to indulge without getting tipsy.

Weingut P.J. Valckenberg Dry Riesling 2001

2005-03-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

Price: $10
Type: Riesling
Cork: natural
Rating: 5
Purchased: gift

This wine gets a five because it is neither good nor bad, remarkable nor terrible - it just is. On one hand, it is totally free of acid, excessive sweetness, or a bitter aftertaste. It is smooth on the tongue and surprisingly easy to drink. On the other hand, it smells as strong as water and tastes about as exciting.

I'd say it's a surprisingly inoffensive wine, which in an odd way makes it quite special. Most wines with a complete absence of scent make up for it with a nasty aftertaste.

I prefer a healthy nose on my wines along with a lot more flavor, but this might be a good choice for someone new to drinking wine.

Incidentally, my husband says the total lack of bad qualities outweigh the lack of good ones and therefore gives it a seven.

Dyed-in-the-Wool Pinot Noir

2005-02-21T21:36:00.000-05:00

Price: $12
Type: Pinot Noir
Cork: unornamented natural
Rating: 6
Purchased: World Market

The first time I tried this wine, I really disliked it. Due to circumstances beyond my control, the opened bottle sat untouched for a couple of days. To my surprise, this wine actually improved with a couple days to breathe.

The label is adorable. I really, really wanted to love this wine. Instead, I found it disappointingly bitter, way too tannic, and with an odd aftertaste. After some time to breathe, the bitterness lost its edge and the odd aftertaste seems to be gone, but it's still too tannic for a pinot noir.

Like I said, I wanted to like this wine, but in the final analysis I find it drinkable, but not terribly impressive. I probably won't buy this one again.

Forest Glen White Merlot

2005-02-12T21:10:00.000-05:00

Price: $8
Type: White Merlot
Cork: plain jane natural
Rating: 3
Purchased: Meijers

This is not a good wine.

Now, this isn't a surprise, since Forest Glen is a cheap grocery store brand, but c'mon folks, you could at least TRY. There are a lot of surprisingly good wines in this price range.

This White Merlot is a sticky-sweet cloying wine with the sharp, unfinished aftertaste common to much cheap wine. I'd give it a 2 (it really is almost vinegar) except, well, there was a tiny hint of something interesting which makes me want to see what a Big Boy Vineyard could do with a White Merlot.

So I'm more than willing to try the type again, if I can find a bottle, but I'll stay far, far away from anything by Forest Glen. I don't know what fit of optimism brought this into my house.

2 Quick Reviews

2005-02-03T21:10:00.000-05:00

Rather than finish my glass, I poured Bridgeview's Blue Moon Oregon Riesling down the drain. This is the second awful bottle I've purchased from this brand (both at Liquor Barn). I won't buy any Bridgeview wines again. I'd give their Riesling a 3, only because it wasn't vinegar straight out of the bottle. This is the kind of wine that gives Riesling a bad reputation.

Instead, I poured myself a glass of The Little Penguin's Shiraz. I bought both these $7 bottles from Meijers in a fit of optimism. Unlike Bridgeview, The Little Penguin's Shiraz is a very drinkable red. I'd give it a 7 - which isn't bad for a $7 bottle. I'm in a rush, or I'd write more.

Big Tattoo White 2003

2005-01-29T18:28:00.000-05:00

Price: $9 bottle
Type: Riesling & Pinot Blanc blend
Cork: attractively decorated natural
Rating: 8
Purchased: don't remember

This is a lovely white table wine. I like the enjoyable price point, the casual labels (which look like they could be glued on by any home vintner with a laser printer), and most of all, the taste.

I've already admitted I'm partial to Rieslings, so it shouldn't be much surprise that I enjoy this wine. It went beautifully with a dinner of grilled chicken, garlic pasta, and green beans.

It is slightly sweet with a subtle fruit flavor, reminiscent of peaches or apricots. The attractive scent promises exactly what follows (unlike many whites which smell delightful but taste entirely different.) It flows smoothly on the tongue, not drying but not cloying.

This is definitely a wine I'll buy again.

Incidentally, the brothers Alex and Erik who designed both the wine and the label. donate fifty cents for every bottle sold to the Liliana S. Bartholomaus fund. The fund supports breast cancer treatment and research. This bottle is a good choice all around.

Untested Wine Recommendations

2005-01-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

I have no idea whether these will be any good or not, but the following have been recommended.

Reds:
Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec ~$8
Bolla 2001 (red wine blend) ~$9
Bodega Wineart Malbec ~$15

Whites:
Chateau Ste. Michelle Johannisberg Riesling ~$9
Firestone Gewurtzraminer ~$9
Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling ~13

Clos du Bois Pinot Noir

2005-01-22T19:22:00.000-05:00

Price: $13 bottle
Type: Pinot Noir
Cork: attractive natural cork decorated with name and logo
Rating: 8
Purchased: Liquor Barn

This was one of the first reds I remember liking, so when it came time to give it a review, I expected to give it a resounding 10. Imagine my surprise when my memory of this wine didn't hold up to the reality.

Now, don't get me wrong. It's a wine I'll definitely buy again, but since starting this blog experiment, I've found wines I like even better.

This is a mildly scented red with a medium dark color. It's pleasantly sweet on the tongue, not too tannic, but with a mild bitter aftertaste. All in all, I'd say it's a mild wine, but without being boring. I think it would be an excellent choice for beer or white wine drinkers who are just venturing into the world of reds. It's neither overwhelming nor watery. It's good with a well flavored but not (hot) spicy meal. If you drink it with a hot meal, the spices will overwhelm the wine's flavor.

I'll buy this one again, specifically for meals flavored with herbs rather than curry.

Ravenswood Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

2005-01-21T20:12:00.000-05:00

Price: $16 bottle
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cork: attractive natural printed with bold logo
Rating: 4
Purchased: gift

I'm beginning to collect enough data to see trends. I know one of the things I dislike about Chardonnay is the oak flavor other people seem to enjoy so much. It seems I'm not partial to Cabernet Sauvignons for the same reason.

I realize that there are those who will denouce me as an infidel for not appreciating the (arguably) most popular white and red in the US, but this blog is for my personal reference. I don't have to like oaky wines just because they're popular.

So, if you're a white wine drinker who likes Chardonnay, you'll probably like Cabernet Sauvignon. If you don't, then steer away. That said, I've found Cabernet Sauvignon blends well in the many American and Australian house wines. I won't avoid blends just because it is included. It can add a richness of flavor as long as it's one taste among many.

I liked the Aaku (previous review) a little better than the Ravenswood. This one has almost no nose and a flat, uninteresting flavor with a dull, bitter finish. Like the Aaku, I wouldn't discretely push it over towards my husband if it were served at dinner, but it's not a wine I'll buy for myself.

Aaku Cabernet Sauvignon

2005-01-18T21:07:00.000-05:00

Price: $7/bottle
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cork: plain jane natural
Rating: 5
Purchased: World Market

So much for the cute label theory. And to think, I was doing so well.

This is a pretty average wine. It's the kind of thing I wouldn't discretely hide behind a napkin at a restaurant, but I won't buy a second glass, much less another bottle.

I find this one a little too bitter, a little too tannic, and a little too bland. There aren't any intriguing subtleties which make me think a second try will bring out something I didn't notice the first time around. It's just not an impressive wine.

The Stump Jump Vintage 2002

2005-01-12T19:32:00.000-05:00

Price: $10 bottle
Type: Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedere blend
Cork: plain jane natural
Rating: 10
Purchased: World Market

Trust your friendly local winesellers. They know whereof they speak. I stopped by our new World Market Wines today hoping to find some of the oh so tasty White Shiraz we picked up on our last trip to Jungle Jim's. They didn't have any White Shiraz, but they did have a lot of the wines I've favorably reviewed here displayed on prominent endcaps. This made me feel like I was in their target demographic, so I browsed the somewhat small store feeling completely at ease.

Based on the other bottles I brought to the counter, the wine seller recommended I try The Stump Jump. I am so glad I listened!

Looking over my previous blog entries, it seems I'm partial to blends, and this is no exception. The wine is 80% Grenache, 14% Shiraz, and 6% Mourvedre. I'm starting to understand why Australia has become such a dominant force in the world wine market. The Australians are willing to try new things. They also have a lighthearted attitude which frustrates stuffy old world wine snobs. I approve.

The Stump Jump starts with a strong, fruity boquet that practically jumps out of the bottle. Remember, I like spicy foods, so strong flavors appeal to me. You don't need to stuff your nose into a glass to appreciate this wine's aroma. It comes to you.

On the tongue, it's a fantastic blend of sweet and tannic, beautifully balanced for my tastes. The balance leaves it slightly tart without drying the tongue. I taste a strong cherry flavor, but this is more like LifeSavers cherry than actual fruit. Since I love my LifeSavers, this is fine by me.

It goes well with spicy food (almost a prerequisite for my table wines). I liked it so much I had a half glass after dinner. On its own, I'd only bump it down to a 9.

This is a tasty wine. I will definitely buy it again.

Indigo Hills California Pinot Noir 2001

2005-01-09T19:57:00.000-05:00

Price: $9
Type: Pinot Noir
Cork: natural cork with name printed on side
Rating: 6

This isn't a bad wine, but it's not terribly impressive, either. I find it both watery and boring on the tongue. The mild scent is equally uninspiring. Again, it's not bad, it's just not exceptional. I've paid a lot more for a lot worse at restaurants.

On the other hand, a new wine drinker might like it. It takes awhile to develop a taste for red wines. If you know someone who still cringes at the sight of reds, this one is mild and inoffensive enough that it might be a good gateway wine to darker reds. It's not too bitter, not too sweet, not too tannic - well, it's not too anything. It just is.

Goats do Roam Red 2002

2005-01-04T20:36:00.000-05:00

Price: $9 bottle or $4/glass
Type: red blend
Cork: plain jane artificial
Rating: 9

I first had Goats do Roam at the late Abyssinia restaurant here in Louisville. When I saw it at our local Liquor Barn, I had to pick up a bottle.

As you can tell from the rating, this is a wine I really enjoy. It goes beautifully with spicy foods, such as Ethiopian or Indian. The full aroma wafts out as soon as you open the bottle. You can tell from the scent this is going to be a tasty wine.

It rolls smoothly along the tongue, a medium bodied wine that isn't too drying. I'd say it has a distinctly spicy finish, which is probably why it pairs so well with spicy foods. There's a generic fruitiness to it I can't quite pin down. Not cherries, not blackberries - more a Minute Maid Fruit Punch idealized vision of "fruitiness."

There's a slight bitter bite at the end, but unlike many wines which finish bitter, I think in this case it adds a pleasant kick to the spicy finish.

Goats do Roam Red is a blend of Pinotage, Shiraz, Cinsault, Grenache, Gamay Noir, and Carignan. With the notable exception of Shiraz, I've never heard of these grapes. I'm very glad the people at Charles Back wineries have, though. This is a tasty wine I'll definitely want on the table the next time I'm making spicy food.

Red Dust Shiraz 2002

2004-12-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

Price: $10 bottle
Type: Shiraz
Cork: plain Jane natural
Rating: 6

This tastes like wine. That's it. No more, no less. I don't detect any cherry or asphalt or coffee or any of the other little flavors one is supposed to ferret out sip by sip. Instead, this is a plain, unpretentious red wine which tastes like nothing more than wine. If you're looking for an average shiraz, this will do fine. I've drunk far worse.

I picked this one up because I liked the name. I'm all over the new commercial space programs, so a Mars themed wine tickled my fancy. Okay, they were probably referring to the red dust of the Australian outback, but I am free to interpret it my own way. Regardless, the exciting name makes its unexciting cork and uninspiring flavor a bit of a disappointment. I'll finish the bottle, and I certainly won't turn it down if anyone offers me a glass, but it's not one I'll actively seek out again.

Bonny Doon Ca' del Solo Big House Red

2004-12-25T20:59:00.000-05:00

Price: $10 bottle
Type: blend
Cork: stelvin screw cap
Rating: 9

Oh, my! I understand why Kevin Currie found this wine so difficult to describe. I also have to agree wholeheartedly with his suggestion you just buy a bottle and discover it for yourself. It's well worth your ten dollars.

First, this starts with a rich, bold aroma. When I smell a wine this strong, I expect an equally strong aftertaste. Instead, Big House Red finishes smooth and easy, without any dry bitterness. My husband was stunned. With every sip, he was braced for a strong bitter aftertaste which never came. I don't know how they did it. A richly dark wine with this much flavor normally has a serious kick at the end. The smooth finish takes some getting used to.

The flavor itself is a real delight for the tongue. I don't know where to begin describing it. The wine is sweet but not cloying, tangy but not tart. There's so much in there I don't know where to start. All I can say for sure is I like it.

I wish I could offer a better analysis, but there's a lot going on in this wine. Big House Red is a blend of 8 different grapes. The result is a, well - Big - flavor which defies easy categorization.

One incidental thing I really love is the easy to open stelvin screw cap closure. I understand the nostalgic appeal of corks, even artificial ones, but the security of having a reliably good wine (no cork taint!) makes the screw cap well worth it.

I will definitely buy this wine again. In fact, I want to try their Big House White as well.

Pascual Toso Malbec 2002

2004-12-24T02:08:00.000-05:00

Price: $10 bottle
Type: Malbec
Cork: conservatively decorated natural
Rating: 8

I went looking for the Medrano Malbec recommended by Kevin Currie, but couldn't find it at our local liquor barn. Since Louisville suffered from record setting snowfall yesterday, I wasn't willing to risk back roads. Instead, I picked a mystery Malbec. I wasn't disappointed.

The Spanish Pascual Toso has an incredibly rich and complex scent - very strong, very inviting, more than a little fruity. This makes the notably milder flavor something of a surprise. It's soft, more subtle than the aroma suggests. This wouldn't be a bad wine for people who are new to drinking reds.

I think it has a surprisingly strong cherry flavor, but perhaps I've been drinking too much wine lately and now think I taste flavors that are not really there. It's not too tannic. I hate that just-licked-a-cat dry feeling the tongue gets with the driest wines. This wine glides smoothly over the tongue. I also like its mild aftertaste.

Based on my dinner tonight, I'd recommend this wine (or another Malbec if this one isn't available) with red meat, strong spices, or both.

Firesteed Oregon Pinot Noir 2002

2004-12-22T18:16:00.000-05:00

Price: $11 bottle
Type: Pinot Noir
Cork: attractive tan artificial with logo and icon
Rating: 9

Golly. What a tasty wine! Now remember, my goal is a glass a night. However, like the Thirsty Lizard White Shiraz, this is a bottle my husband and I finished in a couple of hours, not a couple of days.

I am especially pleased because this is another wine chosen entirely by its pretty label. The last one from that experiment yielded disappointing results, so I tried not to get my hopes too high for this one.

The nose is somewhat weak, which led me to expect a watery wine. Instead, it has a delightfully rich taste, making up for the weak aroma. The smooth flavor rolls over the tongue, not too acidic, not too tart. I tasted strong notes of cherry, making me think this would pair well with fruit or a meat seasoned wtih fruit. The aftertaste is well balanced - not too bitter, not too sweet. This smooth wine just begs to be drunk in front of a roaring winter fire.

Since we had a hearty soup for dinner tonight, I don't know if this one will improve alongside beef. I am pleased to find it is a red I enjoy drinking on its own, though, with no need for meat.

Why I hate natural corks

2004-12-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

I was cheerfully prepared to review Chrisman Mill's award winning Sweet Jessamine Rose. I've enjoyed this sweet after-dinner wine before and remember it being well worth buying more than once. I can't tell you anything more about it, though, because this time my brand new bottle was tainted with the evil of cork taint.

In case you've ever wondered, the whole purpose of smelling the cork is to make sure it hasn't rotted. If you nod and tell the sommelier to pour, you're accepting responsibility even if the wine is moldier than a bachelor's carpet. On a white or blush wine, you can actually see the rot - faint discolored patches of a blue-green that look disturbingly like mold. If your cork has rot, just pour the bottle down the sink, no matter what you paid for it. You can't even use it for vinegar.

I've read anywhere between 5 - 15% of all wines bottled with natural corks will rot by the time they reach the consumer. I'd say I lose about one out of every ten bottles to it.

As far as I am concerned, there is absolutely no reason for this. Artificial corks are superior in every measurable way except tradition. C'mon folks - tradition isn't perfect. The Romans lined their wine amphorae with tar - no kidding, tar! - in order to preserve wine for shipping. They also said it improved the flavor. And hey, it was traditional. As for later generations, it made complete sense for Europeans to stop bottles with a soft wood. It really was the best thing available, and was a heck of an improvement over tar. Time marches on. The industrial revolution brought about a whole new set of preservative technologies, ones where you don't have to lose any bottles to cork rot. I'll take consistently good wine over poisonous tradition any day.

This is clearly catching on among some producers. I'd say about a quarter of the wines I drink now have artificial corks. A number of Australian producers have gone one further, introducing Stelvin screw caps on $100 bottles of wine. These new screw tops are apparently much more expensive than traditional corks, but are also airtight and guarantee you'll get a quality bottle every time. Considering people are unlikely to buy a second $100 bottle of wine if the first is awful, they're willing to risk a few raised eyebrows in exchange for consistent quality.

As a consumer, I'd love to see all producers move to artificial closures. Until then, I'll keep noting who uses natural cork and how many of those bottles I have to pour down the drain. I see no reason to pay an extra 10% premium on the cost of wine lost to unnecessary cork rot.

Torres Coronas Tempranillo 2002

2004-12-18T22:40:00.000-05:00

Price: $10 bottle
Type: Tempranillo
Cork: natural and uninspired
Rating: 7

I freely admit I'm partial to Tempranillo wines, so it was no surprise that I liked this one. Honestly, the only bad bottle of Tempranillo I've had cost $4 for a bottle. Hmm...I wonder if that had anything to do with the quality?

This ruby red wine has a moderate aroma, pleasant but not overwhelming. It's very smooth on the tongue, with a pleasantly sweet but slightly watery foretaste. It really shines when it hits the back of the tongue, deepening in flavor then mellowing for the aftertaste.

Like most Tempranillo's, this one paired well with spicy food, in this case an Indian dinner. This is one I'll probably pick up again.

Bridgeview Oregon Pinot Gris 2002

2004-12-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

Price: $11 bottle
Type: Pinot Gris
Cork: elegant marbled grey artificial with name, phone, and website printed on it
Rating: 4

I find this plain white wine to be perfectly average. It's not one I'll seek out again. The slightly sweet aroma is very faint. The flavor itself is so watery you don't notice anything until the bitter aftertaste hits. It might as well not even be in your mouth.

So why am I giving it a 4 instead of a 1? Because while it's not good, it's also not actively bad. I've had wine that tasted like vinegar. This would make a slightly below average $3 glass of House White at your local Italian chain restaurant. It's inoffensive enough to get you drunk, if that's your goal for the evening. At $11 a bottle, I find it too pricy to use as a wine cooler base, though I might do so anyway just to finish off the bottle.

If you know someone who doesn't like the taste of wine, this actually might be a good selection. Honestly, until the aftertaste hits, the flavor is just one step removed from water.

Ramon Bilbao Roija Tempranillo

2004-12-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

Price: $12 bottle retail - $6.50/glass restaurant
Type: Tempranillo
Cork: unknown
Rating: 9

First, if you live anywhere near Louisville, KY, you absolutely must visit Havana Rumba. Every single thing I've tried there, from appetizers to lunch sandwiches to entrees to dessert, has been absolutely fabulous. You won't find anything like it in a chain restaurant.

Tonight, I decided to try a glass of their recommended Spanish Tempranillo with my Ropa Vieja. Oh, my! This was some very tasty wine. In fact, this is the first wine I've tried in a restaurant which I want to seek out in my local liquor stores.

It starts off with a rich aroma - strong enough not to be drowned out by the wonderful mingled scents of well spiced foods on the tables around us. The nose hinted of berries, with a strong followthrough of cherry when the wine hit the tongue.

This Tempranillo was very smooth, with a rich mouthfeel. The flavor was sweet without being cloying. The strong aftertaste balanced the sweetness with a slight hint of bitterness. Have I mentioned tasty yet? I really like this wine.

I gave this a 9 on it's own. I would be very content sipping this without food. That said, it gets even better when paired with beef. I suspect it'd perform just as well alongside any other spicy foods appropriate to a red wine. As part of a good meal, I'll up the rating to a 10. I love a wine that pairs well with spicy foods - one of the many reasons I'll be seeking this one out again in the future.

Wine recommendations from a real live wine seller!

2004-12-13T14:11:00.000-05:00

I take back all I said about wine store workers. Kevin Currie sent me the following list of recommendations for good $10 wines. With his permission, I'm blogging them here so the next time I'm wandering a wine store desperately trying to remember the name of that Malbec I heard about, I'll know where to find it.

My name is Kevin Currie. I work at a small wine shop called "Wine Country" in Eldersburg, Maryland. As such, I like diddling on-line to find tasting notes and internet writings on wines. I perchanced upon a page you all are involved in questing for the "perfect wine under $10 dollars." It is a quest that I share (as wine shop workers can't always afford much more than that).

I am writing because I have some good recommendations of wines under $10 that I have lately tasted - wines that have become staples in my repitoire).

First, as we all know, there are infinite values to be had from Chile and Argentina. For two great wines under $10, try these:

San Estaban Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003:

This is a really dark cab leaning towards the earthy, rather than fruity, notes. The nose suggests black pepper, a bit of tobacco, and a slight hint of smokiness. The palate: what you smell is what you get! Intense pepperiness, milder tobacco flavors, and a hint - just a hint - of 'tarriness,' make this a monster cab. The soft but lingering finish is mostly pepper - just the way I like it! A few of the tasting notes I've seen on this wine suggest flavors of black cherry but to be honest, I didn't get much of that. For those that like the earthier side of wines, this is a great Chilean Cabernet. The price, in our store at least, was 8.99

Medrano Malbec 2003:

As you may know, malbec is being billed as the 'next big thing' to replace shiraz (and sales of shiraz seem to have peaked maybe two years ago). To me, this is a good thing as malbecs have a similar fruitiness and soft tannic finish, while generally being more complex (IMO) than shiraz. This malbec, from Medrano, seems a bit 'darker' than some - offering not only dark cherry and blackberry, but has a mushroomy feel to it accented by a slight bit of oakiness. Good and complex wine listing (again, in our store) for 9.95.

Here are a few others from different areas that I've enjoyed:

Columbia Crest Shiraz 2003:

It might be gathered from my above recomendation that I don't particularly love shirazes. True; I like them okay, but don't love them. This shiraz, though, might be as close as I will ever get to loving a shiraz. Oh my goodness, the cherry! That is what immediately hits your nose on this wine! The fruit-forward and somewhat jammy pallate shos a nice amount of cherry and blackberry. The tasting notes on Columbia Crest's website suggests slight tones of chocolate and white pepper. Again, I must dissent with those tasting notes. This very full wine is 'fruit forward' from beginning to end. No wonder it was called one of the best values in Wine Spectator's annual list. Our store retails it for 8.99.

Bonny Doon Ca' del Solo Big House Red 2003:

Out of all the reds under $10 dollars that I've tasted, I can say unqualifiedly that this one is the biggest one I've tasted. That should really be no surprise when we realize that about 8 very unusual and big-flavored grapes are used in this blend: grenache, syrah, petite syran, malbec, sangiovese, barbere, etc. Unfortunately, describing this wine is really hard, as the flavor is so complex to my palate that is is difficult to pull the flavors apart. You know those kind of wines? The ones that are so big, with so many flavors pulling in different directions, that they are just hard to describe? The flavors I did detect were these: plum, coffee, black cherry, licorice, currant, and raspberry. I'm sure there are more in there; I just haven't gotten around to them yet! Anyhow, this is a really fun wine, and given its fullness and bigness, surprisingly easy to drink. As an added bonus (IMO) Bonny Doon wines come complete with screw caps! CHECK THIS ONE OUT! We retail it for 8.99 (but I've seen it carried in most places for 9.99).

Okay, so i think I got a little carried away and have rambled more than I would have liked. Hopefully, though, I have offered some decent suggestions that you find as pleasing as I do. I will be curious, should you get around to it, to hear your thoughts on these wines.

We still have a dozen bottles left from my birthday gift, so it'll be a few months before we're out wine shopping again. When we do, I'll be sure to check these out!

Wente Riesling 2002

2004-12-10T23:44:00.000-05:00

Price: $9/bottle retail - $5/glass restaurant
Type: Riesling
Cork: unknown
Rating: 7

I tried this wine at Bristol Bar and Grille tonight. It was well paired with the Green Chilli Won-Tons appetizer.

I know they're not to everyone's taste, but I enjoy Rieslings. Their sweetness is refreshing with appetizers and light meals.

This Riesling had a very nice mouthfeel, but a pretty average flavor. The sweet start was followed by a slightly bitter aftertaste. All in all, I'd call it a pleasant flavor, good enough for restaurants with limited selections, but not a wine I'd actively seek out.

Little Boomey Shiraz Cabernet 2003

2004-12-07T20:02:00.000-05:00

Price: around $8
Type: 55% Shiraz, 45% Cabernet blend
Cork: natural cork with printed logo and website address
Rating: 5

There are two types of 1 to 10 scales. On mine, 1 is vinegar, 5 is average, and 10 is elixr-of-the-gods. On other scales, 7 is average (a C), 8 is acceptable (a B), 9 is good (an A) and 10 is excellent.

If you ask me, why bother having a 1 to 10 scale if you're only going to use the 5 to 10 portion? When I give this a 5, I mean it's a perfectly average wine. It's not vinegar, but it's not one that'll inspire me to drain the whole bottle in one sitting.

I'm always embarrassed to ask wine store clerks to recommend a good $10 bottle of wine. They somehow always point out something half again the price, talk the $15 bottle down, and tell you if you want something drinkable, here's a decent $20 bottle, but it's nothing to write home about. When I say Thank You then go back to staring blankly at the $10 bottles, they scoff.

I always want to ask, "Listen, you superior ass, if you know this sucks why do you stock it?" But I know they'd haughtily respond, "Cheap drunks are our bread and butter." And I'd still buy a $10 bottle of wine.

So I spare myself the scorn and pick based on, well, cute labels. Little Boomey wasn't recommended by anyone, but it came home with me because the label is just adorable.

I was really optimistic when I opened the bottle. This Shiraz/Cabernet has a great nose. The rich scent might have biased me a bit, because I was very disappointed at the distinctly acidic taste. Worse yet, it's the kind of full tongue acidity (as opposed to a sort of biting aftertaste) that makes my tongue feel like I've been licking a cat.

The flavor is, well, pretty average. If you ask for "house red" at a restaurant, it might taste like this. It's not remarkably good or bad, it's just there.

That said, I suspect it will improve when paired with beef. I've noticed I prefer a tangier, more acidic red with beef and a lighter, more fruity red for lighter meals. Therefore, tomorrow night, it's beef for dinner. I'll post a second opinion of it as a pairing as opposed to a standalone wine. I don't expect it to miraculously transform from an average red into something droolworthy, but I'm willing to give it an openminded second chance.

___________

Okay, I lied. Beef wasn't on the menu last night. I didn't want to let it sit so long the wine turned to vinegar, so my husband and I finished off the bottle. It's still drinkable, but unremarkable.

Funky Llama Malbec 2003

2004-12-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

Price: around $8
Type: Malbec
Cork: Adorable yellow plastic with the word "Funky" and a picture of a llama
Rating: 6

I'm not sure Funky Llama vineyards are still in production. According to their label, they should have a website up at www.funkyllama.com, but that just got me a "no such address" error. A google search turned up half a dozen people who referenced the wine on their websites, but no one selling it. Funky Llama is either hiding from the world of technology or has gone the way of the Funky Dodo.

If they're gone, it's not a major loss for humanity. This is a solid, drinkable wine, but by no means remarkable. I certainly wouldn't turn down a glass if offered, but it's not worth spending an afternoon scouring your local wine stores.

Since this is the first Malbec wine I've known I was drinking, I feel safe in saying I'll certainly try Malbec's again. The core flavor seems very pleasant. I'm docking this example for details. First, it has a very faint aroma. Once drunk, I find it a little watery on the tongue. The finish is a shade more bitter than I like. It might be better with some red meat, but that wasn't on my dinner plate tonight.

Again, it isn't a BAD wine, just unremarkable. I'll certainly finish the bottle over the next couple nights, but unless I'm dying for another cute cork, I'll move on to other Malbec's.

My husband says he finds it rather nice. He ranks it a 7.

Thirsty Lizard White Shiraz

2004-12-03T23:35:00.000-05:00

Price: around $10 per bottle
Type: White Shiraz
Cork: Plain Jane artificial
Rating: 10
Purchased: Jungle Jim's

I bought this Australian wine at Jungle Jim's International Market a little over a month ago, so I don't remember the exact purchase price. I remember my husband and I were looking for $10 bottles of wine and this one had a disgustingly cute label, so if you tell me your local Wine-O-Rama is charging something far from that range, I'll be shocked. Then I might make an extra trip to Jungle Jim's in the near future.

So who cares where I got it, what about the wine?

This is my first experience with a White Shiraz. Like a White Zinfandel, this is a blush version of a red wine. As such, it's best served chilled.

I gave this a nine out of ten because - damn, it's tasty! Seriously, it's a good sipping wine, something you don't need a hearty medium-rare steak in front of you to appreciate. If you're looking for something to serve with appetizers, or just looking for something to sip without food, I'd recommend it.

It tastes pleasantly sweet as it hits the tongue, then finishes up with a hint of tannins as it glides smoothly down your throat. I think it tastes a little like berries, which means professional wine tasters probably say it tastes like asphalt. This actually embodies my mental picture of "fruity finish" whereas most bottles with that on the label make me really worry about the quality of fruit these reviewers eat.

I marked it from a 10 down to a 9 because the bottle is needlessly difficult to open. My foil cutter did no good (never a problem before) and I had to resort to a knife. Then, my nice rabbit corkscrew had a devil of a time penetrating the very dense artificial cork.

I quite like artificial corks. They eliminate the problem of cork rot, and if you've ever had a bottle of wine where the cork's gone bad, you know exactly how awful it can be. I would be thrilled if every vintner moved to artificial corks, so I consider this a plus. Well, as long as you can still get into the bottle.

That said, this is one I'll definitely pick up again.