2010 Mendoza Station Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina

Color - Dark red

Nose - Blackberry, Cherry, Licorice

Taste - On the first sip this wine is sweeter than I expected it to be, though not cloying. Very smooth, not complex at all. Unfortunately this wine only hits on the tip of the tongue then just slightly in the mid palate, then it fades. There are both sweet fruit hints, blackberry for sure with some cherry. Smooth very light tannins for a Cabernet Sauvignon especially on this young. There is a slight "wood" and tobacco flavor on the finish which is quite short in my opinion. Pleasant though something I'd only really drink paired with very mild foods, chocolates, or as a liquid appetizer. It can be very underwhelming and forgetful even when you're still drinking it.

Overall, it's a decent red if used as a generic table wine or the "go-to" for quickie get togethers. Not a wine to impress anyone. This wine is good enough to be consumed by itself, it's not complex at all, sweet for a Cab (in my opinion), really nothing special, but it still lingers in my mind as a decent cheap red that you can drink any time, any place.

2009 Redwood Creek, Malbec, Argentina

Color - Dark ruby red, nearly purple

Nose - Blackberry and Tobacco

Taste - The fruit is the first thing this wine brings, lots and lots of dark, jammy fruit. Black cherry, plum and currant right on the attack. The tannins are very smooth, though a little light for my taste. The alcohol bite is present just for a second and then fades. The wine is fruity, sweet, has a longer finish than I had expected and a heavier mouthfeel as well. It's my favorite Malbec right now, and at 5.99 on sale who can pass it up? Even at 7.99 it's a great bargain. Pairs well with any savory food and quite a few sweet chocolate dishes, just don't expect it to do wonders on your palate with "serious" dishes. It's passable for an every day red wine. Buy this instead of your run-of-the-mill table wine, Chianti, or other similar dinner wine.

Overall, this is a great wine for the price. Don't expect complexity or elegance, this isn't your high end Argentinian wine. But it's nice, slightly sweet, not too dry and very drinkable. This is one you can drink without food and it will hold up nicely. I would advice to always have a bottle or two around the house just in case you get a hankering for a decent sweet red wine that doesn't break the bank.

Redwood Creek Wines

2009 Nbed 2gether Dream Easy Red, Malbec/Bonarda, Argentina

Color - Violet/Purple

Nose - Raspberry Jam, Sweet Dark Cherry

Taste - On first taste this wine seems rather fruit forward but transitions into a rather spicy, clean grassy flavor. The Malbec definitely pushes the fruit flavor, while the Bonarda adds some depth, though I could use more Bonarda and less Malbec. Even though it's fruity, it is slightly dry with a medium body. Good clean finish, though rather short, the tannins bite just a bit as the wine leaves the tongue.
I've tried three of the four wines from this Négociant (the French term for a wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name). First their Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, then their Chilean Carmenere, and finally this particular Argentinian blend. Unlike the Carmenere this wine gets better after waiting a few days and serving it colder rather than closer to room temperature. The wine becomes more complex though not anything super spectacular just a little more broad on the palate. Still sweet, the tannin bite is still present but the sweetness and slight vanilla spice of the Bonarda cover it well and make this wine quite pleasant.

Overall, The wine sells for 16.99 at Fry's/Krogers. In my opinion that's robbery for this wine. It's a decent wine, but not a 17 dollar bottle of wine. But it's often on sale for 5.99, and that makes this wine a steal. Pick it up when it's cheap and keep lots of it around. It's a pretty decent fruit-yet-dry red for 5.99.

2008 Anakena Ona, Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere/Syrah, Chile

Color - Dark Red nearly Purple

Nose - Amazing nose! Blackberries, subtle spice and vegetal tones, licorice

Taste - This wine is a wonderful fruit explosion with awesome creamy spice hints (vanilla and licorice) just as the fruit fades. The wine absolutely screams "Drink Me!". The color, the nose, the taste all make me want to consume the entire bottle as soon as possible. I paired it with gouda for a great blend of creamy cheese and crisp wine. Slightly sweet, but not overwhelming. Just a tad bit too much acid from the alcohol. The tannins are rich, round and smooth. All of these things make this a must have for a wine of this price (14.99 at Total Wine), buy it now, because it's superb! The perfect wine for the price. Develops a nice vegetal clean edge when consumed with something sweet (chocolate, fruit, etc). Smooth, creamy, complex with savory foods and cheeses. This wine is my second favorite wine at this price.

Overall, just complex enough to impress the wine snobs, smooth enough to appease the everyman. Perfect for any occasion. Drink it now and taste the flavor of Awesome! The only reason that this wine is my number 2 is because my current favorite wine is just a little more complex and inviting than this wine, but this isn't far off.

Anakena Wines

2009 Maipe Bonarda, Argentina

Color - Deep red with violet hints

Nose - Black Currant, Blackberry, Vanilla

Taste - The first thing that hits me is that the tannins are very, very smooth for a wine that is this dark. It's nice and dry, has a long finish with a good clean finish. The wine has a very pleasant mouth feel, slightly spicy as the wine leaves the mouth. It has a somewhat smoky flavor. The wine is medium-bodied and it coats the mouth quite nicely. This is the first Bonarda I've ever tried. It's made me want to try a few more. It reminds me of a "light" Cabernet Sauvignon. It's not particularly sweet, not reminiscent of a Malbec or Merlot. It has depth and body, isn't overly complex, but has enough flavor to keep me guessing. Pair it with grilled meats, pasta, smoky cheeses, or savory dishes.

Overall, I will definitely be drinking this wine in the future. It's turned me on to a brand new varietal. One that I am learning to love just as much as I love Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a wonderful nose, nice color, and great taste. It's quite "mild" for a wine that is as dark as it is. On my third drinking it became amazing. The vanilla in the nose dominates the wine. The flavor is just slightly more fruit forward, I would have loved the vanilla in the nose to be more present in the taste. But I would say overall this has become a favorite of mine and I will be purchasing it at my next visit to Total Wine.

Chakana Wines

What do I do...

I'll be honest, I don't know a lot about wine. What I do know is all self-taught, and encompasses close to nothing. What I can tell you is that I will be reviewing mostly red wines (I don't like white wines that much, those whites that are reviewed will be reviewed by my wife because she enjoys white wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc). I am partial to South American and Washington State wines. I used to like Australian wines, but nowadays they seem almost generic in their flavor. The same, in my opinion, goes for Californian wines. I will review wines from those other regions, but not as much as wines from South America and Washington State, as well as Spain.
I am becoming quite fond of Bonarda. I've tasted three wines that featured Bonarda (two 100% Bonarda, one, a blend of Malbec and Bonarda) were all quite pleasing. The Bonarda varietal, in my opinion, has the most varying complexity of the reds I enjoy (Malbec, Syrah, and mostly Cabernet Sauvignon). Though I am also becoming acquainted with Carmenere and liking that particular varietal quite a lot as well. I try to use plain English in my reviews, though some terms like "tannin" don't have a quick and easy plain English term. Eventually I will link a wine 'dictionary' that I will compile myself consisting of terms I frequently use to better help my readers.
I hope I do justice to the wines I review. I am not picky about wine. I like wine even if it's not some super complex, amazing vintage. I enjoy drinking wine without food. My biggest endeavor in writing this blog is to identify wines that can be enjoyed without food because I like to drink wine without food more than I like drinking it with food. Most wines I have enjoyed in the past 2 months fail in this category, or if they don't fail they fall right into the average category. There are, however, a select few wines that are 100% enjoyable without pairing them. Those wines will be listed directly under my "Top 5 Wines...So Far" list. If you are like me and enjoy drinking a glass (or bottle) of wine just for the hell of it, then maybe this list will help. If you read this blog because you like to laugh at a wine beginner then all I can say is thanks for at least reading it. Hope I provided you with a few minutes of laughter. Hopefully you will use my words as a guide map in your wine journey. And whether you stay true to my map of wine or stray from it, I would appreciate a few comments along the way, either giving me your own review of the wines I've tasted or reviewing those you chose above my own choices. Regardless, I hope your voyage through vintages as as pleasant as mine!

Lucky Duck Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Color - Purple

Nose - Very strongly acidic in the nose, too much alcohol for me to filter the scents

Taste - Very dry and with a LOT of tannins. The finish is so bitter the wine nearly has a vinegar flavor. It's possible I got a bad bottle, but more likely the wine is just too young to be consumed. I do detect a slight hint of blackberry and plum on the tongue. The wine doesn't change much as you drink, except to become somewhat "stale" tasting if held in the mouth too long. Medium bodied, not complex at all. Very short finish which is acceptable considering the wine's faults. I would suggest pairing it with highly acidic and spiced flavors otherwise it might overwhelm the flavor of whatever you are eating. Do NOT drink this wine without food, it is undrinkable. I paired it with pizza on my second drinking and it improved somewhat, I also let it sit in the glass for nearly 30 minutes. It now exudes a nose that has hints of blackberry and licorice, tastes semi-sweet with hints of licorice, vanilla and cut grass.

Overall, I would stay away from this wine. I received it as a gift and have heard Lucky Duck wines can be purchased under 5 dollars at Wal-Mart. I have not tried any of the other other 4 varietals, but this one was very poor. I would say stay FAR away from this wine. There are too many other wines that can be found for similar prices that are much more enjoyable.