2008 Los Nevados Malbec, Argentina

Color – Inky purple with a very dark red rim

Nose – Blackberry, black currant, minerals

Taste – This is one of a few bottles I picked up recently on a trip to Cost Plus World Market. I chatted with their “Beverage Specialist”, and after some time passing wine stories back and forth I decided we had similar tastes in red wines. He recommended this Malbec due to its level of “spicy-ness”, more akin to a Carmenere was my guess and he agreed. So I was pleasantly surprised when I popped the cork, took a first sip and found that to be a very true statement. If you don’t let this decant it does have a lot of spicy, peppery flavors that mix and mingle with dark fruits and berries (plum, blackberry, dark cherry) all of these flavors balanced with firm tannins and a decent alcohol bite. But if you let it decant, the peppery flavors soon fade away nearly altogether and you are left with a somewhat earthy Malbec. Either way this wine is a good one. Right now I am sipping the wine after it’s been open for just over a day and enjoying the flavors of blackberry and black currant on the attack, a mid-palate characterized with nice acid, tannin and alcohol and a medium-long finish personified by flavors of tobacco, dark cherry, pepper, and wet earth. I would have to say this is a full bodied effort as it feels rather weighty in my mouth and with a texture that almost feels like there is sediment, chalk or very find sand mixed into the liquid (which is not the case at all).

Overall, I would have to say this is a fabulously satisfying Malbec with a good-to-great QPR. If consumed right after opening you will be in for a treat, as this wine tastes like a decent blend of Carmenere and Malbec. If you let this sit overnight or decant it for a while this wine taste like a Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec blend. Neither of those are bad things as this wine has awesome flavors, is priced just right, and is VERY drinkable. I will be purchasing this again at 9 dollars a bottle, it is worth it all the way.

Los Nevados Wines

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

2007 Lost Sonnet Meritage (58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc), California

Color – Very dark red

Nose – Black Currant, black cherry, minor spice box notes

Taste – I’ve glanced at this bottle in passing more times than I can count on my numerous visits to Trader Joe’s; not a single time in the past was I tempted to pick it up. After my first journey with Meritage went so well, I finally broke down and purchased a bottle of the Lost Sonnet. I got home, let the bottle get a little chill from my wine cooler, popped the cork, poured a glass and sat down to wait for fifteen good minutes while the wine got some air. Upon my first sip I wondered to myself where the vanilla and chocolate covered cranberries from the tasting notes were, as I couldn’t find evidence of either of them. I also had a hard time picking out “Christmas spices” in the nose, was that supposed to be nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla? I finished my glass with mostly negative thoughts and let the bottle sit for a few days. When next I opened the bottle I was in for a rather more pleasant experience. The aroma actually evinced minor spice notes; though the flavor still lacked the chocolat-y cranberries. The attack is plum, black currant and sugared berries. The mid-palate is full of thick tannins and tingling alcohol that leave my tongue very much aware of both itself and the wine. The finish is medium in length with the promised vanilla taking the lead, followed closely by some chocolate tinges and finally delicate flavors of anise and black pepper. The wine is full bodied and tastes much better as it reaches room temperature.

Overall, I went back and forth on this wine. I hated it at first, and after it mellowed a little it grew on me to a certain extent; but in all honesty I can’t really get behind it 100 percent. It is a decent price, but the quality is just a little bit lacking. It isn’t as complex as I expected it to be and is far from versatile (DO NOT TRY IT WITH PASTA, though it was a perfect pair with salmon). I won’t buy it again but if I found myself in the mood for a Meritage; I’d buy the Kirkland Signature Rutherford Valley Meritage instead. This isn’t bad, but it pales in comparison and for only 4 dollars less this just isn’t the smartest buy around. Pass on this one.

Two Wines from Santa Alicia Vineyars & Winery

What follows are two reviews of Santa Alicia wines that I purchased and tasted about a month ago. Due to my lack of internet I have a sizable backlog of reviews so I figured I would post these two reviews together. Hopefully these reviews make sense and assist you on your journey with wine.

2007 Santa Alicia Anke Blend 2, Chile

Color – Ruby red with violet hints on the rim

Nose – Raspberry, strawberry, green bell pepper

Taste – This jumped right out at me as I scanned the shelves at Cost Plus World Market the other day. A blend with Carmenere, Petit Verdot and Shiraz, I had to try it. Despite the fact that this is just a little more than I like to pay for wine, I went ahead and purchased a bottle. The wine looked good in the glass after I’d poured it, it swirled nicely and the aroma was pleasant enough, but the flavor lacked what I expected. It has Carmenere leanings for sure (blackberry/black current with pepper and spice notes). But it doesn’t have a lot of other flavors. It tastes more like just another Carmenere than a blend. That’s not to say it’s a bad wine, just not a lot beyond normal. The attack is spicy blackberry/black currant flavors. The mid-palate is mild astringency, delicate tannins and invisible alcohol. The finish is medium in length with dark fruit skins, leather, green bell pepper and cut grass. The wine wants to be full-bodied but falls short only reaching medium-bodied weight and a texture that is a little watery in the mouth.
Overall, I would rate this a poor QPR, just missing out on and even rating. This doesn’t work for me. It doesn’t taste bad, but it purports itself to be something special, something a little more than your normal Carmenere. But it lacks anything that a 7 dollars bottle of Carmenere will give you and it’s twice the price. It’s not bad if you want something to sip on that can hold up to food or being enjoyed by itself; but I wouldn’t pay the price for it again there are far too many other red blends that are superior to this one and a lot of those are several dollars cheaper than this one. In short, pass on this one.

2005 Santa Alicia Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Chile

Color – Very dark purplish red

Nose – Blackberry, currant, brown sugar

Taste – A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to do a little shopping at Cost Plus World Market and this wine just about jumped off the shelf at me. ‘A 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for less than 10 dollars?’ I thought to myself ‘That’s got to be a joke.’ After talking with Larry the Beverage Specialist, I decided to purchase a bottle and see what this wine was all about. I expected this to be an earthy, bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Something that goes beyond the normal Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon flavors of either ripe dark berries and fruit or wet soil and green bell peppers. I got some of both of those flavors when I took the first sip. The attack features blackberry, burnt brown sugar and pepper. The mid-palate is largely a blend of alcohol warmth and ghosts of green bell peppers. The finish is medium-to-long, filled with flavors of spicy black pepper, more green bell peppers, fruit skins, coffee, and tobacco. This Cabernet Sauvignon is full bodied with subtle astringency and complex flavors and textures. As good as this wine is, I expected just a little bit more from something that has sat in the bottle for so long. But as I thought about it, this wine makes perfect sense. The flavors and textures have mellowed from what was most likely a very powerful, young red wine but the wine itself holds up nicely and is extremely drinkable.
Overall, I would rate this a near-great QPR, 10 dollars for a Cab Sauv with the complexity and flavor profile exhibited here is pretty hard to find. Drinking this wine is not only pleasant but also very fulfilling. This really pours a great glass of wine. Complex for the price, dark in color, a nose that is packed full of amazing characteristics and flavor for days you can’t miss with this one. I recommend you buy this before it clears off the shelves.

Santa Alicia Vineyards & Winery

2009 Spiral Wines Cabernet Sauvignon, California

Color – Red with a pinkish rim

Nose – Strawberry, grape juice

Taste – I had read good things about this wine prior to purchasing my bottle. Not overjoyed reviews, but reviews of this that rate it a good buy in both the price and flavor department. Having sampled this wine, I don’t know that I agree with those reviews. I didn’t think this wine was terrible; it’s a drinkable, inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon. My problem is that this wine’s flavor is lacking of almost anything you can find in a good, inexpensive bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. From the pour this wine looks, smells and tastes “light”. What I mean by that is that its light in color, the nose is nearly non-existent, and the flavors (really just one flavor, strawberry) show up right away and then disappear. I am not saying this is a bad wine, far from it, it’s an OK wine, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase it. The attack is made up of strawberry-ish flavors that remind me of communion wine that run for the hills immediately after they touch the tongue. They are replaced with some tingling acidic sensations that might be tannins with a meager dose of heat from the alcohol in the mid-palate. The finish is very short and the communion wine flavor comes back with some dark fruit jamminess. This wine is light bodied with a mouthfeel slightly heavier than water. It’s not an unpleasant wine to drink and you can sail through a bottle by itself, but it’s far from being a memorable wine.

Overall, I’d say don’t bother with this one. Sure it’s not bad, but that doesn’t mean it’s good either. It’s an average inexpensive wine without the nasty flavors that you find in most inexpensive wines. If you are looking for something a little more complex go for the Trentatre Rosso (even the 2009 vintage is superior to this). If you want something a little more fruit forward Tres Pinos Three Pines Cuvee is a better bet. And if you want a Cabernet Sauvignon at nearly this price but with much higher marks Alexander & Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon is the way to go. You can get all of these wines (including the Spiral Wines Cabernet Sauvignon) at Trader Joe’s between 5 and 9 dollars.

2009 Darien Tempranillo, Spain

Color – Smooth, garnet red

Nose – Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry

Taste – Yet another interesting and fulfilling glass of this particular varietal, this wine shows what a simple but pleasing drink Tempranillo can make. This is the least complex Tempranillo I’ve sampled, but also one of the most enjoyable. That may sound like a contradiction but it’s not; to put it simply sometimes you really just want a wine that is going to be simple while being drinkable, this is one such wine. On the attack this wine has a nice mix of dark and red fruits; cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry and perhaps a little blueberry as well but there is also enough tannin and alcohol to tame the fruits. The mid-palate is “warm” with alcohol, the tannins firm but not overbearing and the fruits disappear except for some dark, semi-sweet blackberry flavors. The finish is medium, even on the short-to-medium side with flavors again of cherry, blackberry, but also hints of sour cranberry and dust. This Tempranillo is firmly of the medium bodied variety leaving off the “weight” that a few of the Tempranillos I’ve sampled have contained. It went perfect with grilled meat, both chicken and beef, showing off the fruit in contrast to the smoky, charred flavor of the meats.

Overall, I would rate this a good QPR as the bottle only set me back 6 dollars or so. This is another Trader Joe’s wine, but it’s also one of their winners. I’m not saying this is a bulk buy wine, but it’s a GREAT table wine (if only it came in 1.5 liter bottles). It is perfect for summer barbecues, cold cut sandwiches or just by itself. It won’t turn heads or be featured in the Wine Spectator, but it’s a solid red wine that you can sip without feeling guilty over the price. I recommend this one for your summer get together!

Bodegas Darien

2009 Bonterra “Organic” Cabernet Sauvignon, California

Color – Dark red with a lighter, even red rim

Nose – Raspberry, cherry, blackberry

Taste – Based on the way that the nose presented itself, I was prepared for a fruit bomb or barring that at least something that featured fruit, in what I would consider abundance. That’s not necessarily the case here; yes there are some fruit flavors as the wine touches my palate. I can taste sour cherry, minimal raspberry, and what tastes most like tar and chocolate. The mid-palate is characterized mostly of tannins that are just a little too present and alcohol that is slightly muted. The finish is fairly long with more sour cherry added to leather, chalk and possibly burnt blackberries. The finish is also very astringent, my mouth felt like I’d taken a blow dryer to it as the mid-palate moved into the finish. The wine is medium-to-heavy bodied and not what I’d expected in the least. This wine is absolutely useless without food. It deteriorates into an undrinkable mess of tannins, alcohol and super sour cherry, so be forewarned. That being said, it tastes very good when paired well. I sampled it with a pot roast and it was very satisfying leaving my mouth quite happy.

Overall, this wine is an OK QPR. At 10 dollars there are better, or more well-rounded wines out there, but that doesn’t mean this is a bad wine. It’s just not a very balanced wine at this price. This is a good example of a Cabernet Sauvignon that isn’t too fruit forward or too “green” it’s right in the middle with some spice hints but also a decent level of fruit to it. I would advise trying this maybe as a sixth bottle if you are purchasing half a case or something interesting to try if you are in the mood for something new.

Bonterra Vineyards