Wines

I don’t give a grade this good too often. It’s a pretty agreeable wine. And it ought to be good for the price.

I’ve had a bad run of luck with wines from Chile of late. This one is decidedly in the plus column. It’s a good representation of a Cab for the price. Drink it alone, or with a sturdy beef dish. This is one I wouldn’t mind trying in another year.

I tried this on an airplane flight to New York. It might not “jump out of your glass” as the label suggests, but a worthy change of pace for the white Zinfandel you may be drinking, and inexpensive to boot.

This review is just in time for Passover. Labeled as “America’s Classic Wine” I’m again forced to ask the question, classic how? Other flavor variations exist, but frankly, who still drinks this stuff anyway, and why? Like some wines in this price range, the label suggests you server this wine chilled. I’d go with really chilled (like the freezer). But it does have an easy to open screw top cap.

What can be said that hasn’t been said already? By their own admission they label themselves “The American Classic”, but classic in what way? Is it a wine, or a quick route to a cheap buzz? I’m guessing the later. This one is definitely manufactured instead of lovingly crafted in a small boutique winery. In large letters they suggest serving this “wine” very cold. If your freezer can’t do the trick, might I suggest a couple of minutes in liquid nitrogen? The highly stylized bird on the front is faintly reminiscent of some better foreign Vodkas. But the handy screw top cap is a plus.

Formerly know as Mad Dog 20/20, this “wine” is being repositioned in the market place. They’ve gone somewhat upscale by creating a plethora of fruit flavored variations – think a really bad version of the Arbor Mist group and you get the idea. I’ll only be testing the one original Red Grape “wine” version, thank you very much. Like its cousin, Thunderbird, this “wine” is built (in a giant steel vat probably), not crafted then carefully aged in oak. And like Thunderbird, the maker suggests serving this one cold. A couple of minutes in liquid nitrogen should just about do it. Easy to use screw top cap: a plus.

A nice port, but if you are going to spend the money for this kind of thing you can do better elsewhere. See my Taylor Fladgate review...

Somewhat out of my usual price range (and type) but I’ve gotten to were I like a nice port once in a while. You might too. Nice before or after dinner

A leftover handed to our group by a crowd leaving the scene. It turns out it is pretty good, so you wonder why they didn’t take the bottle home. Were they teetotalers?

Another “find” at the tasting counter of a local grocery store. It’s nicely drinkable, by itself or with a dinner.

Once again you get what you pay for. A better choice if for no other reason than it’s not as cloyingly sweet as say Beringer White Zinfandel. You’ll spend twice a much, but you’re worth it.

It’s somewhat unusual to find a wine Bordeaux. And a bit more unusual to find an $8 wine from Rothschild. It’s serviceable, but nothing spectacular.

It’s another colorful bottle (orange this time) from the Luna di Luna people. What it contains is so-so at best and might be best when paired with dinner. But my pet peeve with this wine is the white lettering on an orange bottle. How do you read that? With difficulty!

It’s an OK wine now, but a year from now might be better. And don’t forget to let it BREATH!

It’s named Noble, which might indicate a regal wine. In this case it’s more likely it indicates old. It’s a pass for me on this one.