One to Pass On

Five Rivers Cabernet 2005 Paso Robles

Hardly any bouquet. Just wasn't up to par.

A pricier selection

Doing a work meeting, I had the opportunity to order some really nice wine.

2002 Atalon Cabernet - Napa Valley

Online, I have found it as cheap as $30, but at the restaurant, it was like $80.

Super smooth, no bite. Excellent.

Catching up with some new ones

I bought a bunch of new ones that I want to try, some I already have.

Total Red - Pinot Noir: This may be just for the Total Wine store, but it is a good fruity Pinot that is easy to drink.

Sidewise Pinot Noir 2003 - Not as good as I had hoped. Not that fruity, and extremely light. Soft tannins, tart finish. I would pass on it.

Sorry, that is all I can say.

I just realized I haven't posted anything in almost 6 months. It has been busy, but I should have been more diligent. I have tried plenty of new wines, and haven't written about them. I promise to be better.

The wife and I went to Morton's last night to use a gift certificate we got as a wedding present almost 3 years ago. We had a wonderful Merlot.

Clos Du Val - 2003 (I think)

It is more than $10 if you buy it at the store (I looked today) but it is great. I highly recommend it. I am trying a few more Merlots, and I will let you know what I think.

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?

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.

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

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.