Surfrider Malibu Newton Canyon Red 2005
Posted on March 9, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Full Bodied Wines, Meritage, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Meritage (Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon; Petit Verdot)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $22
Deeply colored and full bodied. Blackberry, cassis, and jammy red fruit flavors pair well with a variety of foods such as lamb chops, chicken marsala, Osso Bucco, steaks, pork, BBQ, or day old meat loaf.
Recommendations: First of all, I want to clear something up. It’s [...]
Trefethen Double T 2006
Posted on March 8, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Full Bodied Wines, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec)
Region: Napa, California – USA
Cost: $25
Deep color on this “Bourdeaux Blend” with silky flavors of fruit. Excellent body that pairs well with most meats or with a group of friends.
Recommendations: Well, it’s official – the last bottle from my October trip to California is [...]
Vignali Roccamora ‘Carlo Alfano’ Nero d’Avola Merlot
Posted on January 22, 2010 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine, nero d'avola, red table wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (50% Nero d’Avola; 50% Merlot)
Region: Italy – Sicily
Cost: $14
Intense red colors with hints of purple featuring aromas of cherry, sweet spices and tobacco with balanced tannins on the palate. Pairs well with pasta with meat sauce, braised beef, juicy steak.
Recommendations: When this wine showed up for me I instantly started thinking [...]
Jacuzzi Sangiovese
Posted on January 13, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, sangiovese | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Sangiovese
Region: California – Sonoma Valley – USA
Cost: $22
Bright raspberry, cherry, and pepper flavors with a deep red color. Light and smooth on the palate, pairs well with grilled chicken, red meat, seasoned pork.
Recommendations: Sangiovese will always hold a special place in my heart as Chianti was the first red wine that I ever truly [...]
Canneto Rosso di Montepulciano 2007
Posted on December 16, 2009 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Italian Wine, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine, red table wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Red Blend
Region: Italy
Cost: $20
Deep purple coloring with aromas of roses, violets, and woodlands. Red and black fruits on the palate, with hints of truffle and chocolate. Pair with veal, hearty soups, hard cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino, lamb, Osso Bucco.
Recommendations: I’ve been sitting on this bottle for a few weeks since receiving it [...]
Gouguenheim Valle Escondido Malbec 2008
Posted on December 9, 2009 - Filed Under Argentinian Wine, Malbec, Medium Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, Wine's Under $30, wine advice | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Malbec
Region: Argentina
Cost: $20
Smooth on the nose with flavors of blackberry, plum, toast, and vanilla. Dark in color, pair this wine with casual foods such as hamburger, chicken wings, pizza, pasta, or steak.
Recommendations: Having enjoyed the 2007 Gouguenheim Malbec, I was excited to receive the 2008. The first thing I noticed about this wine was [...]
2008 Castello di Amorosa Pinot Bianco
Posted on November 11, 2009 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Light Wines, Medium Bodied Wines, Pinot Bianco, White Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30 | 3 Comments
Varietal: Pinot Bianco
Region: California – Los Carneros – USA
Cost: $24
A light to medium-bodied wine with flavors of apple and grapefruit. Pair this wine with seafood, especially shellfish, Chinese food, picnic food, or just by itself.
Recommendations: Another gift from my parents, my wife and I enjoyed this after pairing a bottle of their Pinot Grigio with salmon. [...]
2006 Chateau Lamothe de Haux Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux
Posted on November 9, 2009 - Filed Under Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, French Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Bordeaux (60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc)
Region: France
Cost: $20.50
Ruby red in color with soft aromas with flavors to match. Crushed berries and cedar on the nose are a lead into a smooth, slightly fruity medium-bodied red. Pairs well with chicken, pork, and veal.
Recommendations: My first impression of this wine was that it [...]
2008 Castello di Amorosa Pinot Grigio
Posted on November 4, 2009 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Light Wines, Pinot Grigio, Stainless Steel Whites, White Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, Wine's Under $30 | 1 Comment
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Region: California – Anderson Valley – USA
Cost: $20
Fruity with bright orange and melon aromas. Light, lemon and green apples on the palate end in a refreshing acid finish. Pairs with salads, melon, cheeses, seafood, or by itself.
Recommendations: I’m very hit or miss on Pinot Grigio, preferring Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for my white [...]
Peju Provence
Posted on October 28, 2009 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Chardonnay, Chardonnay Blend, Light Wines, Merlot, Red Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine, red table wine, white table wine, zinfandel | 6 Comments
Varietal: Table Wine (Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay)
Region: California – Napa – USA
Cost: $22
Dark pink coloring with a bit of cranberry and floral on the nose. Fresh ripe fruit and strawberry on the palate. Pair with spicy food, BBQ, dishes that could pair with either a red or white.
Recommendations: Anybody that knows [...]
