Wow. If you really want to find good Italian wines, go to real Italian Restaurants. I’m not talking about the Olive Garden types baby, but the real mom & pop places. On a recent trip to Germany, I discovered this little sweetheart at Isola Bella Ristorante in Binsfeld. This wine is quickly becoming one of the best chiantis that I have had.
Add comment May 13th, 2007 jeff
A bit of everything.
This wine combines a lot, despite the name, it doesn’t hit you in the face like a truck. It is well balanced and pleasant.
In the glass it is a red with dark purple. The nose is light, no hints of oak are detected. The taste of this wine is unique, complete with a lite oak. My tongue finds more of a Syrah flavor than anything else, but still detecting some slight oak and pepper. The finish is smooth to the slightest hint of bitterness.
Add comment April 16th, 2007 Derek
Why did I buy this?
This is a combo of both Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, 53% and 47% respectively. Perhaps they should have made up their mind and stuck with that. I’m thinking they needed to drown out a bad batch of Cabernet with some Shiraz.
The appearance is light red, very light, looking very young. The nose is flat with a slight plum. Upon tasting you realize that neither the Cabernet nor the Shiraz shine through, both are incredibly boring when combined here. The finish is entirely too mellow and weak.
Add comment April 9th, 2007 Derek
Want to be rich, lose weight, and look good naked? Buy this wine.
I am not much of a white wine lover, let alone dessert wines but this wine really hits the spot. It is a little young, but you would not be able to tell the difference. If you never have had a Riesling, this wine will cause you fall in love with anyone you drink it with.
6 comments April 7th, 2007 jeff
Ummm Ummm good.
This is an exciting wine. Complex, yet “Simple and True”. It’s an inside joke within my family to call a wine “Simple and True”. I believe the story is that my Dad encountered some weird wine snob at a winery out west, who had several meaningless terms to describe a wine.
Add comment April 2nd, 2007 Derek
I had this wine at a wine tasting in Chicago at Que Syrah Fine Wines . This is a very nice specialty wine shop with a wide variety of wonderful wines.If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend you stop by.
During the tasting the Sommelier informed our group that Primitivo is essentially the same as a Zinfandel. Upon further review online I came across this piece of information about the relationship between Primitivo and Zinfandel
Add comment March 26th, 2007 Derek
I tried this wine a couple of nights ago and each time I would leave a little left to give it a second chance the next night. It is hard to find a Bogle that I like. After hearing such good things, I am not sure if I have the right “BOGLE” wine or that I have lost my superhuman wine powers. I hear that Bogle’s old vine Zinfandel is one of their best wines. I will have to try it and give it a bad review also.
Add comment March 22nd, 2007 jeff
Give a wine a silly name, then drink.
There seems to be many wines of late with whimsical names; Fat Bastard, Roaming Goats, Kangaroo Parts, Jackaroo, and more. While these names are a bit silly I do think it’s a great way to take away much of the mystery and pompousness surrounding wine.
2 comments March 19th, 2007 Derek
I was really excited to try this wine because I have heard great things. I thought the price was a little much, but in the name of science, I was willing to give it a try.
The color is a dark ruby and the legs were consistant with a 13.5% ALC Merlot. The aromas are very warm and spicy, almost as if pepper is exploding from the bottle. There is not a whole lot of forward fruit but the taste is very clean and even throughout ending with a little warm tartness. The textures are very smooth and velvet-like.
Add comment March 17th, 2007 jeff
Could a Robert Mondavi wine disappoint? It’s quite possible, but not likely.
I was excited to try this wine since I paid $7.99, but I am sure you could find this around $6.00. Never be fooled by price my friends as it is very easy to have high expectations and then quickly end up dissapointed.
Add comment March 13th, 2007 jeff
The boss is really ridin me. Drink more wine he says. Work nights, weekends, and holidays; just get it done. As a professional, I will devote my efforts to the cause and provide our readers with informative meaningless opinions.
At $7.99, I thought this little gal was a little pricy to take out on the town. I have seen it at other places for around $5.99. The color is a deep red and it has slightly heavy legs. The aromas are strong with hints of strawberry that linger. I thought this wine had good subtle foward fruit, smooth velvet textures, and a clean finish.
Add comment March 13th, 2007 jeff
Drinkable but boring.
Something has been lost for the 2006 year. I’ve had their 2005 and 2004, but can not remember being so disappointed afterwards. This wine shouldn’t be served with any other wine or you will feel the shame you have brought upon your dinner. Skip this wine, it may be decently priced, but it’s not worth it.
This wine was the lowest rated wine in a blind tasting we had last Friday night. 3 out of 3 drinkers agree, this wine is just OK.
Add comment March 12th, 2007 Derek
In this insane world we live in you can still find good wine just about anywhere. No Exuses.
On a recent trip to Oklahoma I went on a quest to find some wine; anything other than Arbor Mist anyway. I found a little liqour store that had a not so shabby wine selection. I was shocked becuase I thought that my quest would end up “fruitless” ( pardon the pun).
Add comment March 11th, 2007 jeff
Whaddabargin, yup it’s great and it’s dirt cheap, $3.99. You don’t even have to travel to Trader Joe’s to find this deal, but you may have to find a specialty grocer in your area. Out of 3 wines sampled in a blind tasting last Friday night, this was the stand out winner. 3 out of 3 drinkers agree, Foxbrook is great!
7 comments March 5th, 2007 Derek
“Citra”. Might as well call it shitra! I have never drank a bottle of Listerine, but I am almost certain the experience is similar. This Italian red is so bad I can’t imagine anyone who would spend the money to import it, but it caught this fool.
Add comment February 18th, 2007 jeff
Can you find a better wine for $5.99, I challenge you!
This wine is somewhat of a private label from Trader Joes. Supposedly Black Mountain is a relabeld wine, that costs a bit more at liquor stores, if it was known who the original winery is.
Smooth, velvety, goes down so easy with a perfect balance of spice. Wonderful texture with a subtle flavor, not overly anything, just right. Enough writing off to Trader Joes to buy some more.
1 comment September 8th, 2006 Derek
The more I drink and learn about wine, I discover a real interest in old world wines. I can’t help but notice the strong consistencies in character and smoothness throughout these wines. It would only make sense that the creators of old world wines would hold close to lasting traditions and make wines that represent all the qualities of their regions.
Add comment August 2nd, 2006 jeff
I really liked this wine. I started thinking this was a 3.5 star wine and as I drank more I wanted to kick it up to 4.o. But after further review and consulting with my colleague, I reamain with my 3.5 rating.
The aromas are light with hints of cherry and plumb. The body was very smooth with and oaky flavor and a strong metallic aftertaste. The wine had a lot of forward fruit but did seem overly dry throughout. I found this grape to be similar to a merlot without the velvety textures and this wine seemed to have more acidity.
Add comment July 31st, 2006 jeff
This wine is the last of the bunch from a Sunday run to find alcohol, for research purposes only. It was a fitting wine to finish up on, offering a category we have yet to review on.
The smell of this wine is of apples and apricots, reminding me of spring. Very bright and fresh to the nose. Clear and crips apple flavors, with hints of cinnamon. The finish is quick, leaving bits of fruit as it fades away. Not overly sweet, well rounded.
1 comment July 31st, 2006 Derek
Finally, the bottle of Oliver Winery Soft Red is finished and we can move onto something enjoyable. I was waiting in eager anticipation, watching the Soft Red get tipped over then tipped some more. Horray, it was finally over and now I can try ANYTHING else.
3 Blind Moose is a well built Chardonnay. The smell is light with ample citrus notes. It’s taste is fresh, oaky, but with perhaps too much butter tones. Properly sour body, citrus-orange, with short highlights. It finishes off overly rounded with little crispness, that lasts long.
Add comment July 31st, 2006 Derek
(5 out of 5)
(4.67 out of 5) (4.56 out of 5) (4.5 out of 5) (4.5 out of 5) (4.5 out of 5) (4.4 out of 5)
(4.17 out of 5) (4.12 out of 5) (4 out of 5)