You might suspect this wine to be too young judging by it’s vintage, but such is not the case. The appearance is a clear transparent red and very reflective. The aromas are of cherries with subtle blackberry highlights and oak. Thats the way I see it Diegs. The flavors are complex and full of character. The textures are smooth and consistent throughout with a lingering finish that compels you to enjoy another sip.

I don’t think I could have tried this wine in a better environment. I ejoyed this wine with penne arrabiatta con salsicia and with several good friends, finished three liters of this wine before buying a bottle for myself. Needless to say I did very thorough research. I’m glad I can’t quit you Melini.

Melini Borghi D’ Elsa Chianti

Price: 8.00 Euro

ALC: 12.5%

Year: 2005

Producer URI: n/a

Purchase Location: Bensfild, Germany

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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.

Nothing is really distinct about this wine, it’s just surprising how well balanced it is, especially since I wasn’t expecting much. For the price this wine blend will definitely appear on my table again.

Cost: $8.90
Year: 2004
Alcohol by Volume: 13.5%
Purchase Location: Trader Joes, Indianapolis IN
Producer URI: www.redtruckwine.com

CorkReview.com Quick and Dirty:

Good wine, no truck bits

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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.

Cost: $8.59

Year: 2004

Alcohol by Volume: 13.5%

Purchase Location: Sunflower Market, Indianapolis IN

Producer URI: http://www.jacobscreek.com/

CorkReview.com Quick and Dirty:

Pick a side don’t hide

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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.

At $10.99 I thought it was a little pricey, but after tasting it I will do anything it takes to gather the cash (almost anything) . The appearance looks like white grape juice and the legs are long baby. The aroma of strong peaches and pears explodes from the glass. The textures are smooth and light but with complex characters. The taste is strong, bursting with several tones of fruit flavors. The finish is almost intoxicating causing you to be addicted and longing to pour another glass. This wine tasted awesome at 40 F.

This wine would taste good with chocolates, cakes, or anything that competes for its sweetness. I can’t wait for summer to sit on the back porch and sample this on a hot day with a cool breeze. If you happen to run out and buy this wine imediately, be sure to invite me over.

Columbia Winery Cellarmasters Riesling

Year: 2006

Price: $10.99

Purchase Location: Tacoma, WA

ALC: 10%

URI: www.columbiawinery.com

Senior Editor – J.W.

Value:

Quality:

CorkReview.com Overall

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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.

Anyway, I tried the Babcock Black Label Syrah in Chicago at a small wine shop called Que Syrah during a wine tasting. Be careful though, they have decorative plates placed throughout the store. We lightly bumped in to one, sending it shattering into little pieces.

This 2002 Syrah is a dark red-purple with lots of legs. The nose is of dark cherries. It has a very spicy taste, smoky, with a long strong mouth filling finish. This Syrah is peppery throughout, full bodied and long lasting.

I found a really neat online publication showing a group touring the Babcock winery back in 2003. You can check it out here http://www.grape-nutz.com/visits/cc/03_05/journal.html#bab . Also, according to their website, http://www.babcockwinery.com/ourwines.html, it appears all of the 2002 has been sold out, which is no surprise.

Cost: $22.99
Year: 2002
Alcohol by Volume: ?
Purchase Location: Que Syrah, Chicago IL
Producer URI: http://www.babcockwinery.com

CorkReview.com Quick and Dirty:
Quality

Value

Overall

Very complex, intense, and very wonderful.

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5. Rosa Del Golfo Primitivo 2004 (Zinfandel) I had this wine at a wine tasting in Chicago...

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

“…genetic brother of Zinfandel comes from the Primitivo di Manduria DOC in southern Italy. Here limestone, clay and siliceous soils combine with the nearby Mediterranean to create a unique terroir. The vines average between 35 and 40 years in age.”.

With this information, I think it would be fine to file this review under Zinfandel and leave Zinfandel in the title.

This is a spicy wine, as a Zin should be. A musty honey locust aroma comes off of the wine. A sweet peppery mineral taste with hints of clove, with a slight sour at the end. The finish is short and gentle.

Cost: $16.99
Year: 2004 Alcohol by Volume: 13.5%
Purchase Location: Que Syrah Fine Wines, Chicago IL
Producer URI: www.rosadelgolfo.com

CorkReview.com Quick and Dirty:

Quality

Value

Overall

Excellent wine, complex, but the price isn’t justified.

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At 11.99, I had high expectations for this cab. As we have repeated in class before, price does not imply quality. The color is a deep red, obviously. I thought the aromas where clean, warm, and fruity. The taste was kind of thin, but even throughout, ending with heavy textures and tannin. This wine seems pretty uneventful and lacking in character.

I had this wine with lasagna and it did not seem to make any compliments to my meal. Shame on you Bogle. Try with snake, sharkfin, or cats feet. I can’t wait to get my hands on their old vine zinfandel.

Senior Editor – J.W.

Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon

Year: 2003

ALC: 13.5%

Price: $11.99

Purchace Location: Lawton, OK

URI: www.boglewinery.com

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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.

This was one of the wines we rated during a blind tasting during the first Friday of March 2007. We came to the consensus that this wine was just ok. Nothing about it is very memorable, if it’s a good deal in your area then pick it up, otherwise I’d pass on it.

A spicy nose, very subtle. Medium-smooth mouth feel, lite and easy. Perhaps a subtle oak, but nothing bold you would expect in a Cabernet. The finish is dry, a slight metallic hint, but overall flat finish hiding much of the berry. This wine is good, but leaves you wanting something a bit more complex.

Cost: $7.99
Year: 2005
Alcohol by Volume: 13%
Purchase Location: March Supermarket, Indianapolis IN
Producer: Mendoza
Producer URI: N/A (bottle says funkyllama.com, but that website hasn’t existed since 2001)
CorkReview.com Quick and Dirty:
Quality

Value

Overall

Funny name, ok wine

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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.

I can’t say that it is a bad wine but nothing really stands out except for the aromas. This wine was very even from start to finish and with nothing exceptional about it, I can’t get excited to describe it. Try with chicken, rice, or steak.

Senior Editor – J.W.

BOGLE Merlot

Year: 2004

ALC: 13.5%

Price: $11.99

Purchace Location: Lawton, OK

URI: www.boglewinery.com

Value:

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CorkReview.com overall

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The color is deep burgundy and almost looks like Welch’s grape juice. The legs are long and inviting and the aromas are an intense mixture of black cherry and concord grapes. There is a subtle hint of forward fruit quickly overcome by rough textures and peppery notes. Don’t get me wrong, the taste is very sophisticated but may be too dry for some. The finish is clean and smooth with light after tastes .

You would think with all this fancy talk I would include a delicious meal. Nope cheese and crackers for this guy.

Senior Editor – J.W.

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Zinfandel

Year: 2004
ALC: 13.5
Purchase Location: Lawton, OK
Price: $7.99
URI: www.woodbridgewines.com

Quality

Value

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