The Good Wine Guru » inexpensive wine

Naked Grape Pinot Grigio

George — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:21 +0000

Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Region: California – USA
Cost: $6

Winemaker’s Notes: Light-bodied, crisp white wine with aromas of pear, lemon, and honey.

My Review: While doing some grocery shopping with my wife recently, we walked down the wine aisle at our local store, as we are wont to do, and the line of Naked Grape wines caught my eye. Priced under $10, I thought I would give it a try if for no other reason than to see what the newest sub $10 wine tasted like

On the nose I picked up a little citrus and pear, while in the mouth I got citrus flavors of lemon on the front of the wine, with a hint of honey on the finish. My wife and I didn’t pair the wine with anything, simply opening the bottle to sip at one evening as we relaxed, but the hint of honey at the finish would definitely make something with some spice an interesting option.

As to whether it’s worth buying – you can do better for not much money, but to be honest you can do a lot worse. I don’t know that I can recommend rushing out to pick up a bottle, but if you’re looking for an inexpensive, simple wine, there are probably better options at your store for maybe only a dollar or two more.

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?

Il Valore Sangiovese 2008

George — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:00:39 +0000

Varietal: Sangiovese
Region: Italy
Cost: $6

Garnet colored in the glass with aromas of cherry and crushed fruit on the nose. Cherry, crushed fruit and a spice finish in the mouth. Pair with pasta or meat.

Recommendations: Given that my wife and I have been snowed in for the better part of two weeks, our supplies of wine are starting to run low. While watching a movie (The Neverending Story for those that care), we opened up a this bottle of Sangiovese that I had picked up at our local Trader Joe’s in anticipation of the coming snow storms.

Fairly light in the glass and on the palate, I got flavors of cherry and spice, along with a little fresh crushed fruit. In typical Sangiovese style, the wine was rather dry and would have paired great with a pasta dish or some red meat, though it was a good compliment to the realization that the movies from my childhood may not have been as good as I thought they were.

While certainly not the best Sangiovese I’ve ever had, not even the best in the last 30 days to be honest, it’s really hard to argue against a passable bottle of wine that’s less than $10. Worth it to keep around the house for cooking/pairing with quick pasta dishes, but not good for much else beyond being a cheap table wine.

Ponga Sauvignon Blanc

George — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:18 +0000

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Cost: $9.99

Light and juicy with just enough grapefruit flavor to let you know it’s a Sauvignon Blanc wthout overwhelming you with citrus flavors. Great for seafood, sushi, appetizers, or on the patio.

Recommendations: While Terra Andina Sauvignon Blanc has take its place in my heart as my go-to summer deck wine, Ponga is certainly giving it a run for the its money. Light and crisp with just enough citrus to be refreshing without beating you over the head with it, this white from New Zealand was the perfect compliment to a lunch of cheese, crackers, hummus, and home made bruschetta that my wife and I enjoyed this past weekend. That being said, I would definitly recommend pairing the Ponga with a piece of spicy tilapia or even some sushi.

If you’re in the market for a deck wine and don’t want to spend a lot of money on it, the Ponga Sauvignon Blanc is a great value with a great taste. Half the fun of drinking it is just saying the name, but you’ll get a lot of enjoyment drinking this on the deck as the temperature continues to climb. Grab this one.