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 [...]
Wrongo Dongo 2008
Posted on March 5, 2010 - Filed Under Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Spanish Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10 | Leave a Comment
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 [...]
Pepperwood Groves Pinot Noir 2007
Posted on March 4, 2010 - Filed Under Chilean Wine, Light Wines, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, South American Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10 | 1 Comment
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Chile
Cost: $10
Light to medium red in the glass with aromas of red berry, spice, and black cherry. Light on the palate with flavors of berry that will pair well with turkey.
Recommendations: I had been hearing good things about Pinot Noir from Chile, and given my love of Pinot Noir in general, I [...]
Marques de la Real Defensa Navarra 2006
Posted on March 3, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Full Bodied Wines, Merlot, Red Wine, Spanish Wine, Tempranillo, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Navarra (50% Tempranillo; 25% Merlot; 25% Cabernet Sauvignon)
Region: Spain
Cost: $11
Robust color with floral and fruit aromas. Flavors of ripe fruit that pair well with meat, pasta, or cheese.
Recommendations: I’ve become a huge fan of Spanish wines over the last few years, and so I never pass up the opportunity to enjoy one. I let [...]
Virginia Wine Expo 2010 in Review
Posted on March 3, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Light Wines, Meritage, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Red Wine, Riesling, Virginia Wine, Virginia Wine Expo, White Wine, Wine Reviews, white table wine | 1 Comment
Well, the 3rd Annual Virginia Wine Expo has come and gone. I found some new vineyards and visited some old favorites. Here’s the long and short of my experience.
Athena Vineyards (http://www.athenavineyards.com)
Athena Vineyards is worth going to just to check out their unique bottle designs. Owned by former nurses, Athena Vineyards offers a great deck wine [...]
Brazilio Red Wine 2006
Posted on February 25, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, South American Wine, Syrah, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: 50% Syrah; 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Brazil
Cost: $10
Ruby red color with aromas of crushed fruit and smoke. Smoke flavors carries through to the palate with a subtle yet robust finish. Pairs well with meats, pastas, and roasted chicken.
Recommendations: I’d never had a wine from Brazil, so I was instantly interested in this wine when I [...]
Codirosso Chianti 2008
Posted on February 23, 2010 - Filed Under Chianti, Italian Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, red table wine | 1 Comment
Varietal: Chianti
Region: Italy
Cost: $8
Medium dark color with notes of cherry on the nose with berry on the palate. Soft tannins pair well with pastas and meats.
Recommendations: Given as how Chianti is my first love of red wine, I was excited to open up this bottle, and finally got the opportunity this past weekend. Paired with [...]
Santa Cristina Sangiovese 2007
Posted on February 17, 2010 - Filed Under Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine, sangiovese | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Sangiovese (90% Sangiovese; 10% Merlot)
Region: Italy
Cost: $14
Ruby red with hints of purple color featuring aromas of ripe fruit with floral hints. Fruit on the palate with soft tannins on the finish. Pairs well with meat, roast beef, white meat, or medium-aged cheeses.
Recommendations: If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m a fan of [...]
Root:1 Carmenere 2007
Posted on February 16, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, South American Wine, Syrah, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Carmenere (75% Carmenere; 15% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Syrah)
Region: Chile
Cost: $13
Deep red in color with gentle and silky tannins and rich flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, vanilla and spice. Pair with pasta, grilled meats, spicy entrees, eggplant, or bell peppers.
Recommendations: I’ve been a fan of Root:1 wines for a while, regularly keeping their Sauvignon Blanc [...]
