2008 Mil Piedras Malbec, Argentina

Color - Ruby Red

Nose - Blackberry, plum, black cherry

Taste - This is a fruity wine, that's the first opinion I get of this wine. Even though it's fruity, it packs a huge herbal aftertaste, very clean and grassy. The initial flavors are of sour cherries, blackberries and black pepper. This wine has a comfortably smooth texture and a very nice mouthfeel; something silky and smooth and very inviting. I would caution not to drink this wine above 65 degrees because it gains a slightly bitter taste which is not very pleasing to say the least. There is the presence of clean, fruit skin flavors in the aftertaste which is very nice and compelling and makes this wine feel more complex than it is. This is better if consumed by itself, it doesn't fair well with particularly savory food. It can hold up but gets bogged down and gains a strong bitter aftertaste after the attack of the fruit.

Overall, This is very good though fruity by itself. This wine is medium bodied with similarities to Chianti or Sangiovese. Fruity and somewhat complex this a better wine than many at the 15 dollar mark and this is less than that. In one sentence. This is another Argentinian Wonder, buy it now!

Mil Piedras Wines

2009 La Finca Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Color - Purple, nearly black

Nose - Muddled berries and lots of alcohol

Taste - This is one of those wines that you get cheap, think you might have got a really good deal, and then realize why it was so cheap the moment you crack the bottle open. This tastes like they spiked sour grape juice with a healthy dose of hairspray and a smidge of rubbing alcohol. Besides the alcohol flavor there are definite flavors of raisin, acidity and a decent amount of bitterness at the end. The wine is dark in color but light-to-medium in body. There is no depth here unless you count the degradation of flavors and total lack of anything recognizable as wine. This one is a big mistake and probably destined to go straight down the drain.

Overall, I was much nicer in my review of Lucky Duck's Cabernet Sauvignon but that was just as bad as this is. For the same price the Vinas Chilenas is basically a 90+ point wine in comparison. This wine is absolutely terrible. Nothing can save it. Stay away from it. On a side not I looked up reviews of the other wines La Finca has and they apparently review quite well. I guess they just can't make Cabernet Sauvignon. I did find one good use for the rest of this bottle of wine. It made a great base for a hearty beef stew I made. The stew turned out great, so you could pick this up for a cooking wine if all else fails.

Wine, the Journey So Far pt. 2

I thought I'd come back to the journey today and leave off the reviews. It's not that I don't have any reviews ready to write. I have several I could post, I just think that it's nice to take a break now and again and write something just a little different. So here is the next part of my journey.

So I've compiled a decent amount of data on wines priced between 5 and 15 dollars, rather I've compiled a lot of date about my TASTES of those wines. I've come to realize that wines under 10 dollars, while they might taste ok and be fine for something to have around, the wines that grab on to my palate and keep me interested are those between 10 and 15 dollars. Sure I've had a few between 15 and 20 and they were all wines I would love to drink, but the quest to find those gems in the 10-15 range is one of those things that makes the journey so much fun.

I would say 1 in 5 bottles of wine I have tried in the below 5 dollar range turn out to be nearly undrinkable. Only once have I dumped a bottle down the drain, but I used half a bottle recently to make beef stew because I couldn't stand to drink the rest of it. This effect is something that on the one hand amuses me, but on the other makes me feel like I'm also just rolling the dice when I purchase wines under 5 dollars. Should I really pay the money and take the chance of getting something that I can't even stomach? At one time, I would have said it was worth it, now I think I'd rather spend a little more money and get a wine that I can drink and savor every drop.

I haven't had any major issues with the bottles of wine I've tasted that have ranged between 5 and 10 dollars. I haven't had a lot of them jump out as above average either. Off the top of my head, I would say the Santa Alicia Carmenere Reserva is the only wine that I have found that fits the bill of being a solid 20 dollar wine in a 7.99 bottle. The Anakena Indo Cabernet Sauvignon is the only other one I have yet to find and it barely makes the grade being as it is right at the 10 dollar cusp. But it's another solid wine and one of my 10 favorites right now. Would I continue to buy between the 5 and 10 dollar range? Sure this range, as of now, provides me with the most "bang for my buck" with the added excitement of finding out just what I've bought.

The 10 dollar and up section is the area of solid performers. Though I have found a few wines that are in the category that I think are overrated, Fabla Calatayud Garnacha being one I can think of off hand. I would say at the higher end of the spectrum there are great options, nearly too many to mention. Surprisingly I have been able to find solid performers at the 10.99 range consistently at my local Costco. And you can count on the staff at Total Wine & More to point you in the direction of several winners between 10 and 15 dollars. I would say this is the area I would love to just consistently sip wine from. If I could afford a bottle of wine in the area every night I would be a happy camper (wouldn't we all?). So for me these wines are my special wines for taking with me to other people's houses or for cracking open after a hard day's work.

All in all, I've discovered quite a bit about myself in the since January 9th when I started writing this blog. I am learning about my palate, what price ranges bring the most complexity, and where I can find the best wines in the three price ranges that I frequently purchase. What does the journey ahead hold for me? Probably a class or two at Total Wine and a few wine tastings at Arizona Vineyards. To finish part 2 off, I will list my top picks in each of my price ranges.

2010 Trader Joe's Vinas Chilenas Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile at 3.99 has superior quality for the price. Nothing fancy, but it's light years ahead of any wine under 5 dollars.

2008 Santa Alicia Carmenere Reserva, Chile at 7.99 at Cost Plus World Market is an amazing deal. This wine was rated 90 points by the Wine Advocate, and it deserves every point. As I've said before this wine should be double that price, thank god it's not.

I can't decide on just one wine in the 10-15 dollar price range. Instead I'm going to list my three favorite varietals in this category: 2007 Munoz de Toro Argie Bonarda, Argentina, 2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina, 2007 Bodega Flechas de los Andes Gran Malbec, Argentina. Funny they are all from Argentina, if I were to have an honorable mention I would list 2008 Concha y Toro Trio (Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah/Cabernet Franc) Reserve, Chile and 2005 Condado Di Oriza Crianza, Tempranillo, Spain. Any of these choices can be found between 10 and 15 dollars, and three of them were rated above 90 points.

Hopefully this was just as fun to read as one of my reviews. If not I apologize. If it doesn't it should help you take another look at your own development and journey with wine. Drinking a glass of wine should be about education, pleasure and relaxation. If you can get that from a glass or a particular bottle, and you haven't gone broke in the process, then you've come a good way in your journey.

2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina

Color - Dark purple with a violet rim

Nose - Black currant, chocolate, vanilla

Taste - This particular Argentinian gem is actually a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. Had I known that when I purchased this I might not have picked it up, but I learned it after I sipped it for the first time and boy am I glad I didn't know that particular fact. The wine has an incredible mouthfeel and flavor. I was floored by the complexity and warmth of this wine. It is dry, there is a little heat from the alcohol, but the flavor profile is what grabs me. Vanilla-tinged black currants fade into a light chocolate flavor then finally transition into black pepper and leather. The flavors keep me captivated with every single sip. The wine is full-bodied with a wonderful long finish. There is a warmth and velvety mouthfeel to this wine with a slight butter-y texture. The wine is somewhat astringent but not in a bad way. I like the immense intensity of this wine, it's now one of my favorites.

Overall, this wine is a 20-25 dollar bottle of wine hiding at an 11 dollar price point. The Wine Advocate gave this 90 points, I'd say it's definitely deserving of a point or two on top of those 90 points. I say buy it now and every time you can find it. It's an amazing example of a great Cabernet Sauvignon under 20 dollars.

Crios de Susana Balbo

2010 Trader Joe's Vinas Chilenas Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Chile

Color - Dark red bordering on purple

Nose - Red currant, raspberry

Taste - This was a huge surprise to me when I took the first sip. I really wasn't expecting a whole lot since the bottle was less than 5 dollars. But was I ever wrong. Cherry and a little plum come right through as far as the flavors go and right on the finish I detect a hint of black pepper. This is particularly light in my mouth and very smooth. There are hints of tannins and the finish is medium with a clean almost vanilla-like aftertaste. There is a slight heat from the alcohol though it's minimal. The flavor is pretty basic Cabernet, nothing fancy though if paired with a creamy cheese or cheese based pasta sauce there are slight herbaceous notes (possible green bell peppers). Not much depth to this wine, there are aren't any major faults to it either.

Overall, this wine has one of the best Quality-to-Price Ratios I've come across. It has the basic Cabernet characteristics though they are on the light side. What makes it so great is that it tastes pretty darn good all by itself. Sure when it's paired a few more "tiny" flavors come through, but mostly this wine is a pretty good "stand-alone" wine. Don't expect to be overwhelmed, but do expect your mouth and your wallet to be happy. Pick this up on your next trip to Trader Joes.

2009 Redwood Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, California

Color - Purple with a violet rim

Nose - Blueberry, vanilla, grass

Taste - I get dry with lots of raspberry and cherry jam flavors. The tannins are nearly invisible but the wine doesn't taste like juice. It's not particularly warm and the alcohol is rather soft in this Cabernet Sauvignon. I rarely drink white wines so it's rather pleasant when I find a red that goes well with chicken, fish or white sauce pasta. This one does just that and more. The vanilla and berry hints compliment the creamy pasta wonderfully making the wine take on a pleasant, creamy texture and also brings out the bite and heat of the alcohol. The wine is still far from complex and very fruity for a Cab (in my opinion). It is closer to a Malbec or Tempranillo. It's still good and a decent wine for the price, but the Redwood Creek Malbec is a better wine at the same price.

Overall, get the Redwood Creek Malbec if you want to try this brand name, while this is a decent wine to keep around for daily drinking or for parties, there are better Cabernet Sauvignons at much lower prices (Vinos Chilenas). It's nothing fancy but for 5.99 it's a good deal and it does taste pretty with Fettuccine Alfredo.

Redwood Creek Wines