2010 Kirkland Signature Series Red Wine, Washington

My fourth foray into Costco’s Signature Series line of wines that one can only assume are of higher quality, complexity and limited batches. While I loved the Stag’s Leap and Mountain Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignons, I was not a fan of the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as it was far to fruit forward bordering on sweet. This particular wine is the first of the series that is not solely a Cab Sauv, as it is a red blend featuring Cab Sauv, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot; therefore falling into the Meritage family of red blends. I purchased two bottles of this particular wine right off the bat and popped the first that very same day. It is a very pleasant red blend that is dark purple in the glass, with violet bubbles and a black core. The nose is comprised of succulent, compact blackberry, black currant, molasses and oak notes; floating atop a vanilla, caramel and crème de cassis backbone. The attack is very balanced but focused; featuring black cherry, blackberry, black currant, cream/vanilla and oak. The mid-palate is near perfect, chewy tannins; semi-sweet astringency with perfectly balanced acidity from the alcohol lovely in every sense of the word. The finish is long and complex with blackberry and vanilla, swirling amidst sugared plums and coffee mixed amidst a backdrop of chocolate covered cherry and oak. This wine is a full bodied effort with a lovely aftertaste of blackberry, oak and coffee all flavors that bring me joy that knows no bounds.

Overall, this is definitely one of the better Signature Series wines that I’ve sampled. That being said two other Signature Series wines make the grade with only the Napa Valley Cab Sauv falling short. This isn’t the best of the winners, coming in second, below the Mountain Cuvee but above the Stag’s Leap. It features wonderfully focused and compact fruit and spice flavors that are married in perfection. The saddest part of this wine is it’s price point, coming in at 19 dollars and while this wine is a nicely complex red blend, it might not be as good a QPR as the Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Meritage. I would rate this a good-bordering-on-great QPR, but the Napa Valley Meritage gets the same rating, therefore it might be more cost effective and just plain easier to purchase a bottle of the Meritage. But if you can find this wine, I would definitely recommend purchasing a few bottles; one to drink and one to cellar.

2009 The Vac Vacqueyras, France

I have been toying with this wine for the better part of 4 months, each time grasping a bottle, setting it in my cart only to go back and set it back on the shelf. But after reading through the spring Total Wine & More mailer, I finally decided to purchase a bottle. Rated 92 points by the International Wine Cellar, this wine features strawberry and cherry aromas with nuances of plum and pepper wafting from the rim of a ruby rimmed, dark purple pour. The wine is quite fruit forward, with notes of plum, blackberry and raspberry and lingering hints of cola and smoke. The mid-palate is nicely acidic, bringing up bright textures and a slight pucker factor with subdued tannins and astringency. In my opinion, this wine shines during the finish; pouring on loads of dark, smoky blackberry, black currant and plum with vanilla, leather, pepper and something akin to flower petals. These flavors swirl together mixing in a dark dance of dark fruit, then savory spices and finishes with wood and smoke characteristics. This is a medium bodied wine with cherry vanilla, oak and rose hips. This is a wonderfully complex wine, though it tries to trick you and make you think it is a nice fruit forward “California” red; in reality, it is a textured French red with earthy characteristics that mask the relatively sweet fruits thus transforming a potentially bland, one dimensional Rhone blend into something elegant, compelling and very satisfying.

Overall, I am not a huge fan of Rhone blends as they tend to be more fruit forward than I like; however this wine balances its sugars with equal helpings of spice and earth. It makes up for its shortcomings by providing a very broad range of flavors that blend nicely together leaving me quite satisfied. I don’t often seek out “sweet” French reds, but this would definitely make my list of must haves for rounding out your wine cellar. A bottle of The Vac will please most discerning wine drinkers that stop by for Coq au Vin, Beef Burgundy or a myriad of other savory dishes. It earns a good QPR and a recommendation from me.

Arnoux & Files Vins des Cotes du Rhone 

2007 Trivento Amado Sur (72% Malbec, 16% Bonarda, 12% Syrah), Argentina

Color classification…Ruby red with an even red rim

Aroma arrangement…Black cherry, currant, vanilla, buttered toast

Taste taxonomy…After two unsuccessful trips to Cost Plus, I had almost decided I wouldn’t return for a few moths so they could get in some new offerings. But I was in the neighborhood and dropped in not expecting to find anything that would pique my interest. I’m glad I stopped by since I picked up this Argentinean red blend featuring three of my favorite varietals. I let this wine get some air for a good 30 minutes before I went ahead and tasted it. I recommend at least that long as this wine is rather tight and leans toward flavors that are young and dense. Even after decanting the flavors were very focused and intense with some complexity in how the flavors played across my palate. On the attack this wine brings forth big flavors blackberry, burnt toast, leather and wood smoke; these flavors while intense are also somewhat unbalanced seeming to jump and bounce across my tongue rather than transition smoothly. The mid-palate carries this “sneak attack syndrome” to the next level by pouncing out of nowhere as the attack mellows in flavor. The mid-palate has a lot of heat from the alcohol though not enough to cause any undue harm to this wine’s flavor; it also features some playful, nearly perfect tannins that bring on subtle astringency and a smooth, smoke-like texture to the wine right as the mid-palate melts into the finish. Speaking of the finish, it’s long; very long. It’s also the most balanced part of this wine as the flavors play perfectly with one another. The flavors in the finish are even darker than those in the attack; dark, smoky berries complemented by chocolate mingled with tar and topped with vanilla and oak. This is definitely a full bodied wine; in color, nose and flavor. The aftertaste is somewhat lighter nicely mixing blackberry and brown sugar.

Overall, I enjoyed this wine, but it didn’t stand out like I wanted it too. The predominant flavors are of a rather young, dark Malbec. The Bonarda doesn’t make a very noticeable impact on this wine, though the Syrah probably adds to the already intense smoke/vanilla/oak present in this wine. At 12 dollars a bottle, this is probably priced right where it should be. I can’t see paying much more for this wine, though 12 dollars isn’t a deal here. So this gets a Fair QPR, just average where red blends are concerned. I can’t recommend this with a ton of enthusiasm, it’s an average wine at a relatively average price. If you want to make the call you can find this at your local Cost Plus, just don’t go looking to be “blown away”.

*As an aside, the Wine Spectator awarded the 2009 vintage of this wine 90 points and listed it on their annual “100 Outstanding Values”. Therefore I will be on the lookout for that particular vintage in the hopes that it fares better than the 2007.*

Trivento Wines

2008 Cruz Alta Chairman’s Blend (85% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah), Argentina

In living color…Deep ruby red with hints of purple throughout

Heavenly aromatics…Blackberry, boysenberry, smoke, clove

Taste sensations…I have enjoyed quite a few wines from Cruz Alta’s catalog, but I always felt they were slightly overpriced for the quality of the wine. Sure they were all good, solid wines; but I had heard them talked up as these amazing, complex wines for bargain prices. It is true that most of them fall into the value wine category, but I have enjoyed other, less expensive wines more than I enjoyed those from Cruz Alta that I had sampled. It was with all of these reservations in the back of my mind, I went out on a limb and took the advice of a Total Wine “expert wine specialist” and purchased this bottle. My palate is truly appreciative of that man’s advice. This is an immensely excellent red blend; combining elegant fruit flavors, subtle savory textures and enough heat and complexity to carry this wine through and bring me great pleasure. The attack flows over the tongue with smooth blackberry, plum, black cherry and molasses. The mid-palate carries the silky-ness of the attack with focused yet subtle tannins, delicate alcohol acidity and warmth and near perfect levels of astringency all mingled together to ground the fruit forward attack. The finish is pleasantly long, characterized by cassis, black pepper, tobacco, bittersweet chocolate and hints of wet leaves. This is a silky-smooth while at the same time somewhat “weighty”, full bodied wine. It moves from attack to mid-palate to finish like a liquid ninja gliding across the tongue and leaving faint reminders of its passing. Truly an exceptional red blend!

Overall, I have to rate this wine a good QPR. I wanted to go out on a limb and say great QPR, but it is a little pricey. However for the quality exhibited here you won’t find many other wines that can compete with this. The Anakena Ona red blend is the only one that comes to mind, all others at the 10-15 dollar mark are decidedly lacking (though still decent in and of themselves). The Kirkland Signature Rutherford Valley Meritage comes close to this wine, but doesn’t have the complexity, balance and smoothness that this wine carries. In my opinion this ties the Anakena Ona as my favorite red blend sub-20 dollars. I highly recommend this wine if you enjoy intense red wines or quality red blends from south of the border.

2006 Veramonte Primus, Chile

Color – Purple with a dark red rim

Nose – Blackberry, brown sugar, black currant, raisin

Taste – This turned out to be a stellar deal that is currently available at my local Costco for 14 dollars. I call this a stellar deal because this wine is quite good and sells for 20 dollars at Total Wine, you do the math. On to the wine review! First off you need to know that decanting or aerating this wine is a must. I recommend a minimum of an hours decanting if you truly want to enjoy this wine, but overnight decanting is probably best. This wine is HUGE in the flavor/texture department and if you don’t let it get some oxygen you will get a kick in the palate. That being said, if you decide to sip this after some decent breathing, this wine tastes fantastic. The attack is full of dark fruit/berry flavors; blackberry, plum, dark cherry and black currant with veins of brown sugar and chocolate present as well. The mid-palate is all about balance. The fine balance of firm tannins, alcohol heat and smoky, astringent leather flavors/textures; all of these blend into a long, pleasing finish. The finish tastes again of dark fruits (mostly plum and raisin) with some spice (vanilla and anise), tobacco, chocolate, brown sugar and just a hint of oak. All of these flavors blend effortlessly together into a very pleasant mélange of playful tastes. I enjoyed the finish so much more than the attack and mid-palate that I would close my eyes as I swallowed every sip and let the tastes wash over me. This is a full bodied wine that benefits from being served at or just slightly above room temperature and the weight of it changes when you serve it warmer, so I advise sampling it cooler and warmer so you know what you are getting.

Overall, this is a really good wine for the money. I wouldn’t hesitate to spend 20 dollars on this bottle and at 14 this is almost a great QPR. For a red blend with lots of flavors, complexity and textures going on this one still manages to take my palate on a journey without being pretentious or losing sight of the final destination. I would recommend this wine to anyone that enjoys big, bold red wines; you won’t be disappointed with this effort.

Veramonte

2006 Waterbrook Melange Noir (28% Cabernet Franc/21% Syrah/19% Cabernet Sauvignon/17% Sangiovese/14% Merlot/1% Tempranillo) , Washington

Color – Dark red, with a purple core

Nose – Blueberry, vanilla, grapes

Taste – I had hoped when I picked this up on clearance at my local supermarket, that this would be a standout wine. I had hoped it would surpass the two other Waterbrook wines I had tasted up to that point. Unfortunately I was sadly mistaken. This isn’t a bad wine, but it doesn’t have the depth and complexity that the Waterbrook Syrah and Waterbrook Cabernet-Merlot characterize so well. This wine looks big, bold and dark. It smells just a little more timid than that. But it’s in the flavor that it fails for me. The attack is full of jammy, fruity blueberry, raisin and plum flavors with veins of brown sugar, molasses and leather running through all the fruit. The mid-palate is relatively one dimensional, with the alcohol and astringency hiding and chewy, playful tannins showing up as the mid-palate makes its way into the finish. The finish might have redeemed this wine had it been just a little more complex and a little longer. It’s a medium finish that holds more brown sugar, molasses and plum flavors and brings on hints of vanilla, licorice and very minimal baking spices. The wine itself is medium bodied, though when left to sit and reach slightly above-room temperature this wine feels “heavier” on the tongue.

Overall, I can’t call this a bad/poor wine or QPR. At its normal price of 17 dollars I would have called it a poor QPR. But I picked this up at 9 dollars and for that price this wine is lightyears ahead of most other 9 dollar wines. The reason I deride it is because the other Waterbrook wines I’ve tasted have been so good, I expected the same from this wine. I didn’t get it. It’s a little thin, a lot confused as far as flavor goes and lacking anything I would call depth or complexity. If you can get this for under 10 dollars then I would recommend grabbing it just to try it and maybe you‘ll prove me wrong. If you can only find this for more than 10 dollars I’d advise passing and grab any other Waterbrook red wine.

Waterbrook Wines

2008 Zingari Toscana, Italy

Color – Ruby red with a near black core

Nose – Blueberry, strawberry, cherry

Taste – This is a recent addition at my local Costco that sells for 9 dollars, and while I’m not overly familiar with Toscana (This is a blend of Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah and Alicante; I was unable to find the specific quantities of each) I figured I would try it just to see if it passed my test. First off this wine benefits from decanting, and if you have the patience it really needs to sit overnight before you drink it. I sipped my first glass of this right after opening the bottle just to see what the wine tasted like and while it’s not bad it’s very tight with sharp flavors and tannins that tend to bite just a little. When I poured my second glass of this the following day the wine had softened, the berry flavors were not as sour and the tannins had mellowed giving this wine a pleasing all around flavor. The flavors on the attack are all berries and cherries; strawberry, raspberry and blueberry with a little ripe red cherry mixed in. The mid-palate has a mild alcohol tingle to it, tannins that still bite but not nearly as much as before and subtle astringency. As the mid-palate moves into the finish semi-sour cranberry flavors begin to pop up blended with sour cherry and raspberry flavors. The finish itself is medium in length with middling complexity that only really shows up in the aftertaste where flavors of leather mingle with the berries present throughout this wine. This is a light-to-medium bodied wine with limited depth in its flavor but that’s not necessarily a bad thing as the wine fares well with pizza, pasta and even salads.

Overall, I would say this is a decent-to-good QPR. The flavors are limited and they aren’t what I really seek out in a wine, but the wine itself isn’t bad rather it’s not my “cup of tea”. It drinks well with pizza and pasta as one would imagine, and doesn’t taste terrible by itself. It’s not going to win huge votes of admiration in my house, but I wouldn’t pass it up if I saw it at a pizzeria and wanted a glass of red to go with my slice of pepperoni pie. I would recommend this if you like cherry/berry reds with sour notes in the mid-palate and finish or as an alternative to your house Chianti. As for me, I’ll pass on this for now, but give it a passing grade.

Petra Wine

2007 Waterbrook Syrah Reserve, Washington

Color – Dark purple with violet highlights on the rim

Nose – Blackberry, blueberry, black currant, molasses, licorice

Taste – Yet another recommendation from the Beverage Guru at Cost Plus, this wine was not on the top of my list as I chose my bottles. However upon opening and sipping all of my purchases, this one shot right to the top as the best of the bunch. This wine is not just big, it’s HUGE. Intense coloration, deep dark purple with violet and ruby highlights on the rim when held up to the light. Lots of fruit aromas pour forth from the glass with each swirl and underlying them is just a hint of molasses and licorice. And when the wine touches your lips and tongue, hold on because the flavors absolutely assault the palate. Sugared blackberries, black currants, and blueberries piled on top of licorice and vanilla that melt finally into very light notes of molasses, brown sugar and oak. The mid-palate is the only part of this wine that can be just a little rough as the astringency, tannins and alcohol push just a little too hard and bring out some pucker in the form of sour black cherry/blackberry flavors. But these soon give way to a nice long finish with leather, caramel, burnt sugar (think crème brule) and more oak. This is definitely a full bodied wine, I sipped the next to another full bodied red and the texture in this Syrah is much more mature and “heavy”. The aftertaste is quite pleasantly berry-ish with some sugar and a nice zing of alcohol.

Overall, this is a new favorite of mine. I am pretty sure I paid 13 dollars for this, and I think it’s worth every dollar plus about 7 more. I don’t even have to give it a second thought, this is a great QPR. The quality exhibited in this wine is truly a marvel. I was able to stretch this bottle over three separate tastings; once with a grilled top sirloin, the second with hamburgers and baked beans, and the third time all on its lonesome. Each time the wine held up superbly, though it tasted much better when it was warmer, this wine tightens up just a little on the palate when it’s chilled. I highly recommend this wine if you are a fan of fruit forward, big bold reds this wine is for you. If you are a fan of great tasting red wine in any form and want a great experience with a bottle of red then this wine is DEFINITELY for you.

Waterbrook Wine

2009 Tres Pinos Three Pines Cuvee Red Wine

Color – Ruby red

Nose – Cherry, cut/wet grass

Taste – This particular red blend features Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel in unknown quantities and is available at Trader Joe’s for $4.99. Does it pass the cheap wine test? Yes it does. How does it fare when measured against the previous red blends I’ve purchased from Trader Joe’s that were similarly priced? Right smack in the middle. That being said the nose is rather simple and truly the cut/wet grass really only comes out with vigorous swirling. The first taste shows off cherry, strawberry and/or raspberry and some definite heat. The mid-palate settles in with some quite rambunctious tannins and peppery flavors. The tannins flow right into the medium finish along with some tart cherry, damp soil and wet leather flavors. As far as mouthfeel goes this is a little bit watery and can almost seem like you’re drinking something other than wine as far as body goes. I would say this is light-to-medium bodied with the only real “oomph” coming from the tannins. In all a decent red wine, superior to the Chariot Gypsy but inferior to the Trentatre Rosso.

Overall, regardless of how I feel about this wine, it still has a good QPR. It’s hard to find wines that I would seek out that only cost a fiver. This is one of those wines. It’s not pretentious or complex but it is pretty darn satisfying. It needs a little time to breathe after opening it and tastes a lot better if its slightly chilled; but I would still say this wine is a decent value and one you might want to think about purchasing on your next trip to Trader Joe’s.

On Tonight's Menu...Two Red Blends

So tonight I thought I would stray from the strict review of a single wine and review two red blends. I don't specifically seek out red blends, though I will pick them up now and again if they jump out at me. These two piqued my interest when I was shopping, both from their descriptions and their prices. Let's see how they faired.

NV Oreana ? 55% Cabernet Sauvignon/45% Syrah, California

Color - Dark red

Nose - Cherry, blackberry, spices

Taste - Be warned, straight off this has BIG BOLD FRUIT flavors. This thing is the closest to a fruit bomb of a red wine that I have ever tasted. The Cabernet Sauvignon seems nearly invisible, while what I can only imagine is the Syrah bombards my palate. Sure there are underlying tones of Cab goodness like vanilla, cocoa, blackberry and black pepper but you really have to search for them on every sip. I would love this wine if the cherry/blueberry/cranberry/gooseberry/(insert any other berry here) flavor didn't flood my mouth with every sip. The mid-palate holds all of the Cabernet Sauvignon flavors but they last for only a few seconds before they fade into a 20 second tannic and alcohol filled finish. The wine is medium bodied with a completely unremarkable mouthfeel. I don't doubt that the Cab in this wine would be a magnificent wine by itself but for this doesn't work at all. Overall, this is way too fruity for my tastes. This wine might be what some people are looking for, I'm not one of those people. It doesn't have the depth or complexity I'm used to. It's still a decent wine despite it's faults, even I can see that it's not a bad wine. I just can't see buying it again, but you'll have to choose for yourself.

Oreana Winery

2009 Thistle Dew Cabernet Sauvignon 65%/Petit Verdot 35%, Australia

Color - Purple with a dark red rim

Nose - Cherry, raspberry

Taste - There's some nice jammy, cherry fruit that jumps right out at me on the first sip. Though I will say this tastes way better a day or two after opening. The cherry hints fade into a nice mid-palate of tannins with a slight hint of heat. This wine is absolutely nothing spectacular; it's right in the middle of the pack of average, sub-ten dollar wines. It has a rather unimpressive nose, medium body, and medium finish. The aftertaste has tinges of clean fruit skins. I'm not even close to being familiar with Petit Verdot, this is only the second wine I've had that featured the grape. I would hazard a guess and say that this wine would probably be overwhelming and too young to drink if it didn't have a healthy dose of Petit Verdot. As a blend it's pretty decent. Reminds me of the Notro only this is more balanced and not as fruity. Overall, this is an OK wine. It's not too hot which is nice in a blend. I'd say it makes a nice sipping wine, food tends to run over it though it might hold up to fish, poultry and salads. Try it if you want to sip something new and don't want anything too complex, as this is a rather simple red blend.

2008 Concha y Toro Trio Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah/Cabernet Franc, Chile

Color - Red with a nearly black core

Nose - Black currant, oak, and possibly mint

Taste - This wine is why I fell in love with Concha y Toro a few years ago. The Casillero del Diablo wines are ok, though some would rate them higher. In my opinion this wine is perfect for its price and perfect to drink just about any time. There are big berry flavors right from the gate, but even more than that I get smooth tannins and a nice sour grape flavor. It is medium-to-full bodied with a medium finish and a nice bite from the alcohol. This paired great with rotisserie chicken with cheese and potato casserole. I get some intense pepper spice on the aftertaste and the mouthfeel is incredible with food. Big, juicy and bold it makes my mouth want more. The tannins will do well with just about any meat, making a fine compliment to your meal.

Overall, this is a buy it now wine. I got it at Costco for 10 dollars and that's a great QPR. I would say this is the best wine for the most people I have ever tasted. From wine snobs to wine newbies this wine will probably be perfect for them. It has just the right amount of everything to keep almost everyone on their toes and not too much of any one thing to chase anyone off. It's right in the middle, the perfect starter wine, but also a wine that veteran wine lovers will like. I would say go out and stock up on this one. I will definitely purchase this wine in the future, it rates in my top 10 wines.

Concha y Toro Wines

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.

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