This Saturday is the Virginia Wine Festival. I will be heading out there to see what VA has to offer. It should be a good time. To get in the mood, I cracked open a bottle tonight. This past week has involved a lot of beer drinking at bars, so it is nice to sit down and relax with something a bit lighter.
Wine #17 - 2004 Chateau Montet Bordeaux Sauvignon, France.
This is a white Bordeaux. Not something I am familiar with. The color is very pale. Even more so than a Pinot Grigio. Initially a nice strong bouquet, with a little bit of everything, mostly citrus - grapefruit and lemon. The taste is quite similar. I would describe it as a bit sour, leaving your mouth dry at the end. This really is different than a lot of whites I have tried. I can see this going well with a lemon fish dinner. Not really a party wine or something you would drink a whole bottle of yourself. I say skip it.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Very Mediocre Riesling
I know it has been a while. I am not ignoring my duty, I have just been busy. The wife and I were in Ireland for 2 weeks. I looked for wine, but beer is really their thing. I recommend Kilkenny, but it is not imported to the states.
Wine #16 - 2003 Avia Riesling - Slovenia.
Until I just looked, I didn't realize that this was from Slovenia. But oh well, here goes. The wine had more of a Grigio look and aroma. Upon first taste, you do get a little mix between Riesling and Pinot Grigio. There is more of a citrus and grassy aroma and flavor than most Rieslings I have tried. If you are looking for a sweet wine, there are plenty more I would recommend. To be honest, I am not enjoying this one that much. If you have the chance, choose something else.
Wine #16 - 2003 Avia Riesling - Slovenia.
Until I just looked, I didn't realize that this was from Slovenia. But oh well, here goes. The wine had more of a Grigio look and aroma. Upon first taste, you do get a little mix between Riesling and Pinot Grigio. There is more of a citrus and grassy aroma and flavor than most Rieslings I have tried. If you are looking for a sweet wine, there are plenty more I would recommend. To be honest, I am not enjoying this one that much. If you have the chance, choose something else.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
An Idle Tuesday
Tonight I made a sausage, vegetable and BBQ sauce dish. Perfect for a red. I have been looking for another Malbec to rival my earlier favorite.
Wine #15 - 2003 Febus Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina.
The aroma is typical - hints of fruit and spice. Nothing overpowering in either direction. The taste is similar, but more spicy if not paired with food. With food, this is a nice, smooth wine. Without food, this wine is a bit spicy. Not something you would just grab and drink with friends. However, as a meal wine, I highly recommend it.
Best part - $7.99
Wine #15 - 2003 Febus Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina.
The aroma is typical - hints of fruit and spice. Nothing overpowering in either direction. The taste is similar, but more spicy if not paired with food. With food, this is a nice, smooth wine. Without food, this wine is a bit spicy. Not something you would just grab and drink with friends. However, as a meal wine, I highly recommend it.
Best part - $7.99
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
The Truck
On a hot, sticky night, it was time to grill a nice steak. Looking at the stash for a bottle to choose, there was one that had been there for a while. A long time ago, Mary and I had dinner with a friend right after the Washington Wine Festival. He gave us a bottle to try. It was a favorite of him and his wife. He affectionately called it "Ten Buck Truck."
Wine #14 - 2002 Red Truck - Cline Cellars, Sonoma, CA.
The price tag on the bottle is $10.49, but I have a feeling it is cheaper in a large, warehouse type store. The initial aroma is nice. It has hints of cherry and plum. The taste is very fruity, with a dry finish, but still leaves you with some fruit taste.
I was weary of anything just called a table wine. However, after going to Total Wine the other night, I noticed there were quite a few, and even some expensive ones. The Truck is a nice, easy drinking wine. There isn't anything complex going on, just some good tasting wine. Killing a bottle or two in one sitting should be no problem. Don't confuse this with boxed wine, or Boone's. This is just simple and tasty. But really, are you looking for anything else?
Wine #14 - 2002 Red Truck - Cline Cellars, Sonoma, CA.
The price tag on the bottle is $10.49, but I have a feeling it is cheaper in a large, warehouse type store. The initial aroma is nice. It has hints of cherry and plum. The taste is very fruity, with a dry finish, but still leaves you with some fruit taste.
I was weary of anything just called a table wine. However, after going to Total Wine the other night, I noticed there were quite a few, and even some expensive ones. The Truck is a nice, easy drinking wine. There isn't anything complex going on, just some good tasting wine. Killing a bottle or two in one sitting should be no problem. Don't confuse this with boxed wine, or Boone's. This is just simple and tasty. But really, are you looking for anything else?
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Tonight was a perfect night to crack open a bottle. I made Jambalaya with Andouille sausage, so I chose a red. I chilled it for 20 minutes and let it breathe a minute.
Wine #13 - 2003 Twinwells Shiraz Reserve - Southeastern Australia.
The aroma is a nice mix of sweet blackberry, with that hint of spice you usually get from a Shiraz. The taste is a nice follow because it lives up to the aroma. The initial taste is sweet. The finish is short, but you get the spice at the end. It is fairly dry for as sweet at it tastes at first.
Overall, I give it a thumbs up. It isn't too much, but it isn't super light either. It is a good medium body wine with nice flavor. This would work well without food, but I highly suggest chilling it for that initial 20 minutes to take a little of the bite out of it.
Total Wine Price - $9.99
Wine #13 - 2003 Twinwells Shiraz Reserve - Southeastern Australia.
The aroma is a nice mix of sweet blackberry, with that hint of spice you usually get from a Shiraz. The taste is a nice follow because it lives up to the aroma. The initial taste is sweet. The finish is short, but you get the spice at the end. It is fairly dry for as sweet at it tastes at first.
Overall, I give it a thumbs up. It isn't too much, but it isn't super light either. It is a good medium body wine with nice flavor. This would work well without food, but I highly suggest chilling it for that initial 20 minutes to take a little of the bite out of it.
Total Wine Price - $9.99
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Back to the Task at Hand
So it has almost been 2 months since my last review. Pre my last posting, you know things have been a little crazy. Well, we closed on the house. Memorial Day weekend we painted. The wife and I were in Vegas for a week for a trade show through work. Then we took a week to move our stuff from Maryland to Northern VA. Throw in going to Michigan for a wedding we were in and July 4th weekend, and this last 2 months has been crazy. Not to mention I was playing soccer 4 nights a week through most of that.
Well, July has arrived - soccer is over for a little while. Our new house is near a Total Wine & More. I don't remember if I have mentioned this place before, but it is Mecca. It is the size of a small grocery store, and has mostly wine, but some beer too. You can find almost anything there. They have staff recommendations, tastings, and great prices. My folks visited this past weekend and ended up buying a mixed case. Some wines they drink regularly were up to $5 cheaper at Total Wine than where they bought them in Ohio.
So, I too bought a mixed case and am ready to get back at the review game. I will have more for you this week.
Well, July has arrived - soccer is over for a little while. Our new house is near a Total Wine & More. I don't remember if I have mentioned this place before, but it is Mecca. It is the size of a small grocery store, and has mostly wine, but some beer too. You can find almost anything there. They have staff recommendations, tastings, and great prices. My folks visited this past weekend and ended up buying a mixed case. Some wines they drink regularly were up to $5 cheaper at Total Wine than where they bought them in Ohio.
So, I too bought a mixed case and am ready to get back at the review game. I will have more for you this week.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Long Layoff
Ok, so it has been over a month. I have changed jobs, bought a house. Closing is actually tomorrow. Also, outdoor soccer has started, which has me playing 3 days per week, plus my one night of indoor. With all that, I haven't had much time to try anything new. I won't lie, I have had a few new bottles, but just didn't get a chance to write something up until I realized I didn't take any notes.
Tonight was a wine night.
Wine #12 - 2003 Washington Hills Riesling - Columbia Valley, WA.
As Rieslings go, this one wasn't as sweet as I am used to. Definitely better the colder it is. It is similar to a Pinot Grigio in initial flavor, with a hint of the sweet aftertaste. You get the grassy, citrus flavors with the hint of apple finish. If Rieslings are too sweet for you usually, this may be a nice option. However, the Columbia Winery and J Lohr versions are still my favorite.
Tonight was a wine night.
Wine #12 - 2003 Washington Hills Riesling - Columbia Valley, WA.
As Rieslings go, this one wasn't as sweet as I am used to. Definitely better the colder it is. It is similar to a Pinot Grigio in initial flavor, with a hint of the sweet aftertaste. You get the grassy, citrus flavors with the hint of apple finish. If Rieslings are too sweet for you usually, this may be a nice option. However, the Columbia Winery and J Lohr versions are still my favorite.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Sunday Drinking
Another busy week in the books. Sorry I have been away for so long. Tonight I cooked up some marinated chicken and decided to roll with a Malbec.
Wine #11 - 2003 Alamos Malbec- Catena, Argentina.
I didn't have time to do the 20 minute rule, or really let the wine breath. I must say it was spicy. It was a little rough. Later on, I did chill it more and let it breath. It did get much better. The flavor did become a bit more cherry to go along with the spice. It was not as good as the other Malbec I had (Elsa), but it was ok. I give it the mediocre vote.
$9.99
Wine #11 - 2003 Alamos Malbec- Catena, Argentina.
I didn't have time to do the 20 minute rule, or really let the wine breath. I must say it was spicy. It was a little rough. Later on, I did chill it more and let it breath. It did get much better. The flavor did become a bit more cherry to go along with the spice. It was not as good as the other Malbec I had (Elsa), but it was ok. I give it the mediocre vote.
$9.99
Monday, March 28, 2005
Happy Easter
I hope everyone had a great Easter. I got to spend time with my extended family, so that was very nice. Tonight, we had a pork tenderloin marinated in a peppercorn dressing. It was great. So the wine choice became clear: A nice spicy red.
Wine #10 - 2002 Thierry and Guy Fat Bastard Shiraz- Fat Bastard Wine Company, France.
Yes, I bought it because of its name. And the fact that it was $8.99.
At the wine class, we learned the 20 minute rule: Pull a white out of the fridge 20 minutes before you want to serve it, put a red in for 20, then open and serve. So, I put in the wine for 20 minutes to get it the right temperature. This wine had a fairly light aroma, a little spicy and a little fruity. The taste matches up fairly well. I got more fruit in the taste when I had it with the pork. The finish is short with not a whole lot of action. This wine is fairly easy drinking. Not a bad wine to pair up with food, but I am not sure I would want to drink several glasses without a meal.
I had a glass of Blackwing from last week to compare. My initial review holds true. To be honest, the aroma kills it before you even take a sip. I would choose Fat Bastard over Blackwing without hesitation.
Wine #10 - 2002 Thierry and Guy Fat Bastard Shiraz- Fat Bastard Wine Company, France.
Yes, I bought it because of its name. And the fact that it was $8.99.
At the wine class, we learned the 20 minute rule: Pull a white out of the fridge 20 minutes before you want to serve it, put a red in for 20, then open and serve. So, I put in the wine for 20 minutes to get it the right temperature. This wine had a fairly light aroma, a little spicy and a little fruity. The taste matches up fairly well. I got more fruit in the taste when I had it with the pork. The finish is short with not a whole lot of action. This wine is fairly easy drinking. Not a bad wine to pair up with food, but I am not sure I would want to drink several glasses without a meal.
I had a glass of Blackwing from last week to compare. My initial review holds true. To be honest, the aroma kills it before you even take a sip. I would choose Fat Bastard over Blackwing without hesitation.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Back in the Saddle
Good Friday indeed. It has been a rough week as well as a busy one. A perfect night to sit down with a glass of wine and some CSI on TV. I am waiting for the wife to get home, so I don't know what is for dinner. However, I think it may be best paired with a red.
Wine #9 - 2002 Oak Grove Pinot Noir Reserve - Oak Grove Vineyards, San Martin, CA.
This is a very simple wine. A fruity, but not overwhelming aroma. The taste is the same. A little fruity, not overwhelming. Not a long finish. The wine just drinks super easy. It doesn't have all that much flavor, but the flavor it does have is nice. You could easily drink a whole bottle without even thinking about it. I ended up having some pasta and sausage for dinner, and this was a fine wine for that. But, you don't need food to drink it.
It isn't complex and there isn't much to it. So, all in all, it just depends what you are looking for.
Wine #9 - 2002 Oak Grove Pinot Noir Reserve - Oak Grove Vineyards, San Martin, CA.
This is a very simple wine. A fruity, but not overwhelming aroma. The taste is the same. A little fruity, not overwhelming. Not a long finish. The wine just drinks super easy. It doesn't have all that much flavor, but the flavor it does have is nice. You could easily drink a whole bottle without even thinking about it. I ended up having some pasta and sausage for dinner, and this was a fine wine for that. But, you don't need food to drink it.
It isn't complex and there isn't much to it. So, all in all, it just depends what you are looking for.
Busy, busy, busy
Sorry I have had such a long gap between posts. This week has been nuts. The wife had a birthday. I went to the U. of Maryland NIT game. We had soccer. Goodness, tonight is the first night I will get to bed before midnight.
Monday night was great. We attended a wine class in DC. The Wine Tasting Association (WTA) sponsors classes all the time. This was a "How to Taste Wine" class. Overall, it was great. I learned what a true "corked" bottle smells like. I learned some proper terminology and some hints when selecting wines. And of course, the proper steps in tasting a wine. We tried 12 wines overall. Some were under $10, and some were over. To be honest, I didn't have anything that really wowed me. But then again, it was somewhat tough to know the exact wine you were drinking. It was set up as a blind tasting to help train us with the info we were given.
There is another class Monday at the same restaurant, Rosemary's Thyme. As a restaurant, the food was marginal. However, their backroom is a nice setting for such an event.
Now that I have a little time, I will get back to trying the wines. More to come soon.
Monday night was great. We attended a wine class in DC. The Wine Tasting Association (WTA) sponsors classes all the time. This was a "How to Taste Wine" class. Overall, it was great. I learned what a true "corked" bottle smells like. I learned some proper terminology and some hints when selecting wines. And of course, the proper steps in tasting a wine. We tried 12 wines overall. Some were under $10, and some were over. To be honest, I didn't have anything that really wowed me. But then again, it was somewhat tough to know the exact wine you were drinking. It was set up as a blind tasting to help train us with the info we were given.
There is another class Monday at the same restaurant, Rosemary's Thyme. As a restaurant, the food was marginal. However, their backroom is a nice setting for such an event.
Now that I have a little time, I will get back to trying the wines. More to come soon.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Today's Tasting
Just an aside from the last posting - I did finish that bottle with no problem, and damn was it good.
There is place near me called finewine.com. You would think that this is just a website, but they have two brick and mortar locations in the DC area. They were having a tasting today where you paid $5 to get in, but you got it back with any wine purchase. Overall, the tasting was ok. I definitely tried more wines that I didn't like. I was also disappointed that most of the wines were over $10. Yes, most wines are, but that isn't what this site is about.
I did buy two wines (neither of which I tried while there.)
Wine #8 - 2002 Blackwing Shiraz - Step Rd Winery, Australia.
I discovered Shiraz at the Washington Wine Festival. I tried 3 and liked them all. This one I am not a fan of. There is no real fruit in the aroma. It is more spicy. You get that spice in the finish too, and in my opinion, too much. The spice sticks around.
I will continue to look at different Shiraz. Anyone know how to say the plural?
There is place near me called finewine.com. You would think that this is just a website, but they have two brick and mortar locations in the DC area. They were having a tasting today where you paid $5 to get in, but you got it back with any wine purchase. Overall, the tasting was ok. I definitely tried more wines that I didn't like. I was also disappointed that most of the wines were over $10. Yes, most wines are, but that isn't what this site is about.
I did buy two wines (neither of which I tried while there.)
Wine #8 - 2002 Blackwing Shiraz - Step Rd Winery, Australia.
I discovered Shiraz at the Washington Wine Festival. I tried 3 and liked them all. This one I am not a fan of. There is no real fruit in the aroma. It is more spicy. You get that spice in the finish too, and in my opinion, too much. The spice sticks around.
I will continue to look at different Shiraz. Anyone know how to say the plural?
Thursday, March 17, 2005
A New One for Me
St. Patrick's Day - a time to celebrate being Irish. And considering my wife and I could technically be Irish citizens, it is time to celebrate. Normally I would be kicking back some black and tans, or maybe a Smithwicks...and I still might...but with my famous Shepherd's Pie, I needed a wine. While I was searching for wines on my birthday money trip, I found variety I had never heard of - Malbec. I got to try one at the Wine Festival, and was impressed. So tonight, I am cracking open the bottle so I can celebrate...Argentina style.
Wine #7 - 2003 Elsa Malbec - Valentin Bianchi, Argentina.
The aroma of this wine is fantastic. It kind of has a plum and cherry fragrance that is not too heavy. In fact, it is not what I would consider an overpowering wine aroma. The taste fits the smell, which I enjoy. Sometimes you get a big surprise when comparing the two, but these fit. The taste is a little fruity with just a hint of spice. The finish is just right - light and not too dry.
If you are looking for a new type of wine (at least new to me) try a Malbec. And let me recommend this one. I may be sticking with wine over beer tonight...maybe.
PS - $7.89
Wine #7 - 2003 Elsa Malbec - Valentin Bianchi, Argentina.
The aroma of this wine is fantastic. It kind of has a plum and cherry fragrance that is not too heavy. In fact, it is not what I would consider an overpowering wine aroma. The taste fits the smell, which I enjoy. Sometimes you get a big surprise when comparing the two, but these fit. The taste is a little fruity with just a hint of spice. The finish is just right - light and not too dry.
If you are looking for a new type of wine (at least new to me) try a Malbec. And let me recommend this one. I may be sticking with wine over beer tonight...maybe.
PS - $7.89
Sunday, March 13, 2005
A Big Disappointment
Yesterday, the wife and I attended the Washington International Wine and Food Festival at the new Washington Convention Center. We discovered this event back in 2001, the last year we lived in DC before moving back a few months ago. Back in '01, the event was at the Reagan Trade Center. It was fabulous. They had 3 different rooms of wine exhibitors, all organized by country or region. We went both Saturday and Sunday, and felt it was worth every penny.
This year was quite the opposite. Let's start at the beginning. First, the line to get in was massive. Truly a logistical nightmare. In 01, we got a nice cloth bag to hold all our swag. This year, only a paper bag big enough to hold a 6-pack. The whole thing was in one big room. It was setup like a low class trade show. Aisles were narrow. It was very hard to get to any of the tables. And my goodness, they oversold this thing. It seemed to me as though they didn't care how many people came. It was awful.
In terms of wine, there didn't seem to be many vendors. I am pretty sure I only saw three (3) tables from Italy. There couldn't have been more than 15 from California. It was a let down.
I did find some decent wines, when I could get to a table to try some. I have no idea how much they cost as that information wasn't readily available. However, I would guess they were all over my threshold of $10.
I am seriously considering trying to put together my own wine show. I think I could put it together much better than what I saw yesterday. Keep an eye out, you may see something on the horizon.
This year was quite the opposite. Let's start at the beginning. First, the line to get in was massive. Truly a logistical nightmare. In 01, we got a nice cloth bag to hold all our swag. This year, only a paper bag big enough to hold a 6-pack. The whole thing was in one big room. It was setup like a low class trade show. Aisles were narrow. It was very hard to get to any of the tables. And my goodness, they oversold this thing. It seemed to me as though they didn't care how many people came. It was awful.
In terms of wine, there didn't seem to be many vendors. I am pretty sure I only saw three (3) tables from Italy. There couldn't have been more than 15 from California. It was a let down.
I did find some decent wines, when I could get to a table to try some. I have no idea how much they cost as that information wasn't readily available. However, I would guess they were all over my threshold of $10.
I am seriously considering trying to put together my own wine show. I think I could put it together much better than what I saw yesterday. Keep an eye out, you may see something on the horizon.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Frankie Says Relax
The wife and I are going to the DC Wine Expo this weekend, which I may or may not have mentioned. I am hoping to taste some new, great wines that I can share with you here. My wife's favorite wine is a Riesling. So, I like to get new ones to see if she can find an absolute favorite. She has one now, but that can always change. This one I nabbed because of the clever name.
Wine #6 - 2003 Relax Riesling - Schmitt Sohne, Germany.
This Riesling is a little different than what I am used to. The first sip I took had relatively no aroma. The usual fruity, sweet flavor of a Riesling was quite short. I am used to a longer finish and a much sweeter taste. After a while, the aroma got a little stronger, and the finish a little longer. It does have a typical apple flavor that many Rieslings have. But I must say, it is a bit drier than most. The initial flavor is not dry, but it dissipates quickly.
In terms of recommendations, it is a tough call. If you like really sweet wines, I would pick a different one. If you want something just a touch sweeter than a Chardonnay, I would go for it.
Cost - $7.65.
Bottom line: Frankie says relax. So have a glass or two and enjoy.
Wine #6 - 2003 Relax Riesling - Schmitt Sohne, Germany.
This Riesling is a little different than what I am used to. The first sip I took had relatively no aroma. The usual fruity, sweet flavor of a Riesling was quite short. I am used to a longer finish and a much sweeter taste. After a while, the aroma got a little stronger, and the finish a little longer. It does have a typical apple flavor that many Rieslings have. But I must say, it is a bit drier than most. The initial flavor is not dry, but it dissipates quickly.
In terms of recommendations, it is a tough call. If you like really sweet wines, I would pick a different one. If you want something just a touch sweeter than a Chardonnay, I would go for it.
Cost - $7.65.
Bottom line: Frankie says relax. So have a glass or two and enjoy.
Monday, March 07, 2005
A Nice Surprise
Monday's are never good for much, but trying a new wine is a perfect Monday activity. So, tonight I cracked open a bottle from my birthday stash.
Wine #5 - 2000 Piccini Chianti Riserva - Piccini S.N.L. - Italy.
The first thing you notice is the very fruity aroma. It is a little cherry or plum-like. As far as wine goes, this one smells great. Your first taste gives you a hint of that fruit, but the finish is quick. Although the finish is quick, I wouldn't necessarily call it dry. You get a little flavor to stick around.
My favorite Chianti is a Ruffino Classico Riserva. However, this wine is like $30 a bottle, so I don't drink it often. I have a bottle that I got for Christmas, and I am sincerely thinking of opening it just to compare it to this one. This wine is top notch for a low priced wine. I don't want to call it cheap, because that could imply something negative. Remember when I talked about the Italian wine region rankings? This one is DOCG - a.k.a. the best.
Nothing negative to say here.
PS - only $8.55
Wine #5 - 2000 Piccini Chianti Riserva - Piccini S.N.L. - Italy.
The first thing you notice is the very fruity aroma. It is a little cherry or plum-like. As far as wine goes, this one smells great. Your first taste gives you a hint of that fruit, but the finish is quick. Although the finish is quick, I wouldn't necessarily call it dry. You get a little flavor to stick around.
My favorite Chianti is a Ruffino Classico Riserva. However, this wine is like $30 a bottle, so I don't drink it often. I have a bottle that I got for Christmas, and I am sincerely thinking of opening it just to compare it to this one. This wine is top notch for a low priced wine. I don't want to call it cheap, because that could imply something negative. Remember when I talked about the Italian wine region rankings? This one is DOCG - a.k.a. the best.
Nothing negative to say here.
PS - only $8.55
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Going With a White
Time to mix things up. The first three wines I picked were reds. Mostly because the wife is fond of reds. She is very picky about whites. However, I like a Pinot Grigio, so my birthday cash went towards one.
I cooked some marinated chicken tonight, so a white was in order.
Wine #4 - 2003 Forest Glen Pinot Grigio - Forest Glen Winery - Sonoma, CA.
This wine has a very light bouquet. In terms of flavor, most of it comes with the finish. You taste the fruit (apple/pear) at first, then you get an ending that is a little spicy.
I enjoyed this wine a lot. The wife only had one glass, but I had no trouble finishing the bottle.
PS - only $7.99
I cooked some marinated chicken tonight, so a white was in order.
Wine #4 - 2003 Forest Glen Pinot Grigio - Forest Glen Winery - Sonoma, CA.
This wine has a very light bouquet. In terms of flavor, most of it comes with the finish. You taste the fruit (apple/pear) at first, then you get an ending that is a little spicy.
I enjoyed this wine a lot. The wife only had one glass, but I had no trouble finishing the bottle.
PS - only $7.99
Saturday, February 26, 2005
A Bit Different from the Norm
I know it has been a few days, but I wanted to wait until payday. It just so happened I got a nice, late birthday card with some green in it as well. So, I decided to try a local wine store I hadn't been to. It was pretty good. Decent selection, better than the small carryouts you see. I grabbed 5 bottles, that way I have some ready to roll.
As you will see, I will try to review a bunch of varieties, as well as a bunch of different labels. Some of the varieties will be common, and some will be new to both you and I.
This review is for a type you may not have heard of before. It was the house wine at an Italian place in Georgetown that my old roommate and I went to. It became a favorite of mine very quickly. As you can guess, it is an Italian variety - Montepulciano D'Abruzzo.
Wine #3 - 2001 Belmondo Montepulciano - Calmasino, Italy
This has a light aroma. It just kind of smells like a red wine, nothing special. The finish is super fast and fairly dry. The taste is not very fruity, but you get a hint of oak. The longer you let it breathe, the more fruity and less oaky it gets. This is a very light wine overall. It is a DOC, which is like the silver medal type of Italian wines. Italian government designates regions that are tops for what grapes they produce.
If you are looking for a very light, somewhat watery, but still tasty wine, this will work. I suggest letting it breathe for a while before drinking. If you want to impress a date, order this variety which most folks have never tried.
PS - I snagged this bottle for $6.09.
As you will see, I will try to review a bunch of varieties, as well as a bunch of different labels. Some of the varieties will be common, and some will be new to both you and I.
This review is for a type you may not have heard of before. It was the house wine at an Italian place in Georgetown that my old roommate and I went to. It became a favorite of mine very quickly. As you can guess, it is an Italian variety - Montepulciano D'Abruzzo.
Wine #3 - 2001 Belmondo Montepulciano - Calmasino, Italy
This has a light aroma. It just kind of smells like a red wine, nothing special. The finish is super fast and fairly dry. The taste is not very fruity, but you get a hint of oak. The longer you let it breathe, the more fruity and less oaky it gets. This is a very light wine overall. It is a DOC, which is like the silver medal type of Italian wines. Italian government designates regions that are tops for what grapes they produce.
If you are looking for a very light, somewhat watery, but still tasty wine, this will work. I suggest letting it breathe for a while before drinking. If you want to impress a date, order this variety which most folks have never tried.
PS - I snagged this bottle for $6.09.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
What a night!
So, I thought I would break into a new bottle tonight, but wasn't sure when. My dinner of chicken nuggets really didn't call for a nice wine. I started watching TV when I heard the sink or washing machine making a little noise. Only I hadn't used either in a while. Drip, drip, drip...it started to be more consistent.
Turns out, my neighbors above me flooded their washing machine and it started to leak through my ceiling light fixture. Water just came through and kept on coming. Luckily, it didn't do any real damage to my kitchen.
Needless to say, it was time to break into a bottle.
Wine #2 - 1998 Mourvedre - Horton Winery - Orange County, VA
This is the only Mourvedre that I know of, but that isn't saying too much. I looked it up, and it is a grape grown primarily in France and Spain near the Mediterranean Sea. However, this wine comes from Virginia, where I called home for a year. I first found it at the DC Wine Expo in 2001.
This wine has a very subtle bouquet, nice and light. The taste follows that pattern too. Very light, with a woody, fruity flavor. The finish is more fruity than woody. Overall, this is a nice light red. I would even suggest drinking it a little chilled. It takes a bit of the bite out of it, without losing too much flavor.
I now have the floor mopped up and am enjoying glass #2.
Turns out, my neighbors above me flooded their washing machine and it started to leak through my ceiling light fixture. Water just came through and kept on coming. Luckily, it didn't do any real damage to my kitchen.
Needless to say, it was time to break into a bottle.
Wine #2 - 1998 Mourvedre - Horton Winery - Orange County, VA
This is the only Mourvedre that I know of, but that isn't saying too much. I looked it up, and it is a grape grown primarily in France and Spain near the Mediterranean Sea. However, this wine comes from Virginia, where I called home for a year. I first found it at the DC Wine Expo in 2001.
This wine has a very subtle bouquet, nice and light. The taste follows that pattern too. Very light, with a woody, fruity flavor. The finish is more fruity than woody. Overall, this is a nice light red. I would even suggest drinking it a little chilled. It takes a bit of the bite out of it, without losing too much flavor.
I now have the floor mopped up and am enjoying glass #2.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
The First of Many
Since this is the first day of my blog focusing on lower priced wines, I figured I should at least give you one review. I wouldn't want you to have to wait too long. Plus, you will now have an idea of what to expect.
Wine #1 - Solaris Special Release - 2002 Pinot Noir - Carneros
Solaris Winery - Rutherford, CA
I enjoy a good Pinot Noir, and this is one. It has a nice fruity aroma. The flavor is very subtle, but there is one to speak of. I would say a little woody or smoky. It is a very dry Pinot Noir, which is actually kind of nice. There is no extended, lingering aftertaste. After a few drinks you will feel a warmth in your cheeks, but that is the nature of a red I guess.
Overall, I would say this is a fine wine for the price. I think I paid $9.99 for the bottle, but I know for sure it was under $10. If you enjoy a Pinot Noir, I suggest giving this one a try. It was also a staff choice from one of the employees at Total Wine and More. 2 votes - thumbs up.
Wine #1 - Solaris Special Release - 2002 Pinot Noir - Carneros
Solaris Winery - Rutherford, CA
I enjoy a good Pinot Noir, and this is one. It has a nice fruity aroma. The flavor is very subtle, but there is one to speak of. I would say a little woody or smoky. It is a very dry Pinot Noir, which is actually kind of nice. There is no extended, lingering aftertaste. After a few drinks you will feel a warmth in your cheeks, but that is the nature of a red I guess.
Overall, I would say this is a fine wine for the price. I think I paid $9.99 for the bottle, but I know for sure it was under $10. If you enjoy a Pinot Noir, I suggest giving this one a try. It was also a staff choice from one of the employees at Total Wine and More. 2 votes - thumbs up.
Welcome to 10 Dollar Wines!
For a while now, I have been wanting to create a blog and write about something interesting, something I enjoy, something that other people might enjoy. Then, last week, it hit me. I was in one of my favorite stores in Alexandria, VA - Total Wine and More (formally called Total Beverage.) My wife and I picked out a few new wines to try, but since we are trying to buy a house in a few months, we stuck to the cheap stuff.
Eureka!
There are some other wine sites and blogs that have occasional features on bargain wines. But I figured that why not dedicate one strictly to wines that are affordable? Why not indeed.
So here you have it. 10 Dollar Wines will focus on my reviews of bottles of wine that I can find under $10. I will tell you right now, I don't have a formal wine education. I don't have a wine cellar in my apartment, nor will there be one in the new house. I just like certain wines, and I will tell you what I like or don't like. Pretty simple.
If anyone has any suggestions for wines to try, I am all ears. If any vineyards want to send me free bottles of their $10 wines, I will gladly drink them and review them.
And yes, you will get posts from me that may not be related to wine. But isn't that the beauty of a blog? Exactly.
Eureka!
There are some other wine sites and blogs that have occasional features on bargain wines. But I figured that why not dedicate one strictly to wines that are affordable? Why not indeed.
So here you have it. 10 Dollar Wines will focus on my reviews of bottles of wine that I can find under $10. I will tell you right now, I don't have a formal wine education. I don't have a wine cellar in my apartment, nor will there be one in the new house. I just like certain wines, and I will tell you what I like or don't like. Pretty simple.
If anyone has any suggestions for wines to try, I am all ears. If any vineyards want to send me free bottles of their $10 wines, I will gladly drink them and review them.
And yes, you will get posts from me that may not be related to wine. But isn't that the beauty of a blog? Exactly.
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