The Good Wine Guru » dark cherry

Big House Red 2010

George — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:00:51 +0000

Varietal: Petite Sirah; Tempranillo; Syrah; Grenache; Malbec; Mourvedre; Nebeillo; Tannat; Souzao; Aglianico; Barbera; Zinfandel; Petite Verdot; Cabernet Franc; Charbano; Nero d’Avola; Sanviovese; Sagrantino
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: This Big House Red lives up to that old Fruit Bomb moniker that you’ve come to expect. It starts with a nose full of blackberries and raspberries, with hints of leather and spices. The palate is clean, exhibiting flavors of cranberries, roses, and a touch of rhubarb. This finish lingers, with flavors of vanilla and a touch of dark cherries in the finish. Pairs well with all grilled meats, lasagna Bolognese, grilled vegetables, or even sashimi grade Ahi tuna.

My Review: The previous version of this wine was one of those that I was torn on. I liked what they were trying to do by creating a table wine with a little bit of everything that could then go with a little bit of everything, but I felt that the attempt created a wine that just fell flat. This vintage was different.

Now, to preface, I’m not saying that the 2010 Big House Red is some revolutionary wine, but I did like it better than the previous years bottles I had tried. They’ve changed the mixture some and I think it’s for the best. On the nose I got mostly raspberry with a touch of spice and in the mouth I got dark cherry and some cranberry with a juiciness that made me feel like the Zinfandel as much as anything was coming through.

With a dinner of pizza after a trip the grocery store to stock up after the Thanksgiving holiday, a simple bottle of inexpensive red was a welcome sight and I continue to be a proponent of what Big House is doing – making nice affordable wines that might not set the world on fire, but are certainly welcome after a long day at work.

FlipFlop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

George — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:06 +0000

Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California – USA
Cost: $7 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Black pepper notes and berry aromas for this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with blackberry fruit, dark cherries, and a long, lingering finish. Pairs well with New York strip steak, spinach ravioli, or Portobello mushrooms.

My Review: This one has been sitting in my rack for a while, and I’m regretting that I took so long to get to it. When I see an inexpensive California Cabernet come my way, I have certain expectations – fruit forward, medium-bodied, and not too dry. With FlipFlop Wines having sent me several samples, I knew they were making nice, approachable wines, but nothing that was going to change the way you looked at a particular grape, which is perfectly fine. Opening up the bottle of 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t change my outlook on the grape, but it may have changed my outlook on inexpensive California Cabernet.

For one, the wine was darker in the glass than I was expecting, with not much light actually making its way through. On the nose I got the black pepper and berry aromas that were advertised, but they seemed more robust than in your usual sub-$10 California Cab, and I wasn’t overwhelmed with an alcohol aroma either.

In my mouth the wine was nothing like I was expecting. Where I was expecting a fruit-forward wine with not much body, I got a fairly dry, fuller-bodied wine that still had berry flavors, but berry that had some character to it, thanks in part to the dark cherry. I took the advice of the bottle and paired it with a New York strip off the grill and I’m glad I did – this was a better than average steak wine. It may be the best value steak wine I’ve ever had.

As I’ve said, this wasn’t the first bottle of FlipFlop wine that I’ve had, but this may actually be the first one that totally surprised me. I’ve had my issues with California Cabernet in the past, but it’s wines like this that are making me look forward to my trip out to San Francisco next month – wines that defy expectations.

If you want to give the 2009 FlipFlop Cabernet Sauvignon a try and can’t find it in your local store, follow this link and you can order it directly from them.

Lucky Duck Tempranillo

George — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:00:58 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $4

Dark garnet in color with aromas of berry and dark cherry. On the palate, dark cherry, spice, and bittersweet chocolate. Pairs well with grilled lamb, olives, and rich cheeses.

Recommendations: So I don’t remember where or when, but somewhere, on some blog or website, I had read about the Lucky Duck line of wines. Unfortunately I don’t remember what that blog/article/website said. So, when I came across the wines at my local Wal-Mart while poking around after buying new glasses (the eye kind, not the drinking kind), I knew that I was familiar with the wine’s name, but not much else. However, since I’m always looking for something new to try, I grabbed some.

The wine itself was a dark garnet color in the glass, and the aromas of dark cherry were pretty in your face. That cherry and some berry carried into the palate in what was a very bright, fruit forward wine, but also very clearly a Tempranillo. With a dinner of beef stew that the wife had been cooking all day it was a nice bright note against the heartiness of the meal.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that this is an amazing Tempranillo and that you simply must buy it. However, at $4 a bottle, it’s a noticeable step up from the usual cheap cabernet/shiraz/merlot table wines you usually find at your big box stores, with a selection that included a Malbec as well (that I will be reviewing at a later date). Is this wine even in my top 30 all time-time Tempranillos? No, of course not. Would I buy it again as an inexpensive wine to keep around as a slightly above average table wine? Sure.

If you’re looking for a quality Tempranillo that really shows off all that the grape has to offer, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a cheap bottle of wine that’s different than the usual varietals you see on the shelves, than you should absolutely give this one a whirl. I mean, what do you really have to lose beyond the four bucks?

Bodega Benegas Don Tiburcio 2006

George — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:00:19 +0000

Varietal: Blended Red Wine (50% Malbec; 20% Cabernet Franc; 20% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Petit Verdot; 5% Merlot)
Region: Argentina
Cost: $13

Deep purple in color with a hint of smoke and tobacco on the nose at first that quickly dissipates. Dark cherry flavor with a slight tannic finish that will pair well with red meat, pastas, and BBQ.

Recommendations: Stop reading this review and go buy this wine right now. I’ll wait. You’re back? Good. I picked up this wine at one of my local wine shops after an evening tasting and Tuesday night was my chance to finally open it. I shouldn’t have waited so long.

Deep purple in the glass with a hint of smoke and tobacco on the nose at first that fades after a bit of swirl and turns into crushed fruit aromas from the Malbec. Dark cherry flavors that just barely hit you in the back of the jaw with just the right amount of tannins before moving into a smooth finish. You’d never believe that this wine has 14% alcohol/volume.

I paired my wine with a steak I picked up and threw on the grill and the combination of the red meat and the flavors from the wine were amazing. I’m pretty sure I could pair the Don Tiburcio with just about anything (or nothing at all), but I think something bold in flavor itself is called for with this blend of flavors.

While my house is currently teeming with wine bottles, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t already planning to pick up a couple more bottles of this for the near future. For around $13 it’s one of the best value wines I’ve had and I highly recommend going and picking up a bottle…or six.

Wrongo Dongo 2008

George — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:00:27 +0000

Varietal: Monastrell
Region: Spain
Cost: $9

Dark violet color with aromas of spice on the nose and fresh fruit on the palate. Pairs well with roasts, steaks, and BBQ.

Recommendations: I will admit that the name of this bottle alone caught my eye when I was in the store. I had never heard of Monastrell before (though apparently it’s the same thing as Mourvedre, which I have heard of), so I decided to give it a try.

Opened the same night as the Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir, we paired this wine with the same cheese and crackers. Far more robust than the Pinot, the Wrong Dongo had aromas of cherry and spice with the same cherry on the palate.

While only paired with the cheese and crackers, I can see how this would pair well with a dinner of grilled or roasted meat, and certainly some BBQ. The big surprise for me was that even with the high alcohol content (15%/vol), I didn’t get a heavy alcohol taste, which has been a sticking point for me lately.

I don’t know that this wine lives up to its name of being “wrongo”, but it was certainly interesting and worth checking out if you’re looking to expand your varietal horizons. Paired with something off the grill it should be enjoyable and for the price it’s hard to argue against picking it up just to display.

Diseno Malbec 2007

George — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:00:10 +0000

Varietal: Malbec
Region: Argentina
Cost: $12

Deep red color with aromas of berry and tobacco. Dark cherry, blackberry, and spice on the palate allows this wine to pair well with BBQ.

Recommendations: My wife had picked this wine up a while ago, and since we’ve been snowed in and our selection is starting to wane, we paired this wine with a meal of lemon-mustard chicken and mac n’ cheese. The wine was fairly dark in the glass, and while I did grab a hint of berry and tobacco on the nose, the alcohol (13.5%) was what I really picked up at first sniff.

In the mouth, I was able to taste dark cherry and blackberry, but again the alcohol was prevalent until the wine was allowed to open up, helping to mellow it out. While it went well enough with our meal, it would have paired much better with BBQ of some type, and if you pick this bottle up I would recommend that you do just that.

In the end I have a hard time recommending this wine. While it’s not a bad value, there are better Malbecs out there for the same price and even less. The alcohol flavor and aroma passed as the wine opened up, but it was hard to get past at first. Pass unless you’re curious or it’s the only thing left in your wine cellar.

Potomac Point Winery Cabernet Franc

George — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:49:53 +0000

Varietal: Cabernet Franc (2007)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $22.99

Light coloring with a fruit flavors and a finish of dark cherry, spice, violet, and black currant on a medium to full-bodied wine. Will pair well with red meat, pasta, or by itself.

Recommendations: Potomac Point is another of my favorite winerys here in Virginia, and while they’re relatively new, they’re already producing some great wine. Their Cabernet Franc is everything that you would want in Virginia’s signature grape, with nice spice and pepper on the finish and not too much fruit in the beginning.

I paired this red wine with a steak, and the pairing of Cabernet Franc and red meat continues to be one of my favorites. While the only way to currently get this wine is to visit the vineyard or find it in a Virginia ABC store, it’s well worth it if you’re in the area to stop in and pay them a visit. Their tasting room and patio are a great way to spend a day trying this and other great wine. Give this one a shot.

Spanish Quarter Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo

George — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:00:24 +0000

The Spanish Quarter Cabernet Sauvignon/Tempranillo

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) / Tempranillo (45%)

Region: Spain

Cost: $9.99 – 14.99

Silky flavors thanks to an excellent blending of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Tempranillo. Deep purple-red coloring with dark cherry, blackberry, and hints of spice and chocolate on the nose. A light sweet oak finish goes well with the berry and dark chocolate flavors. An excellent pairing with lamb, beef, and tomato-based pasta dishes.

Recommendation: Grab this if you see it. A great introduction to Spanish wine, and one that is sure not to disappoint, and not last long in your wine cellar.