2010 Aberdeen Angus by Finca Flichman Cabernet Sauvignon, Agentina

Color - Purple with a red rim

Nose - Black cherry, blackberry

Taste - On first impression this seems to be yet another average Cabernet Sauvignon. While this has some fruit, it seems pretty dry with a lot of astringency. To be quite honest this wine is rather unremarkable, I had it with food and by itself. It's better with food but not by much. It's pretty much what you'd expect from an 8 dollar wine, well maybe an inferior 8 dollar bottle. There's just a lot lacking. The flavors are muted, tannins are pretty weak though they show up only to dry the mouth but without any other flavors going on the wine turns out rather bland and forgettable. I'm not saying this is a bad wine, it just doesn't work for me especially at this price. If you're taste buds work like mine, then take it from me and pass.

Overall, this would be a good-to-great wine if it were priced at 5 dollars, but at 8 it's a little bit too much money for not enough pay off. I know that's only a measly 3 dollars difference, but in the world of budget wines 3 dollars is half a decent bottle if you know what you are looking for. I wanted this to be a good wine, something I'd keep in the cellar at all times; but it just doesn't live up to what I'd expected. For the same price pick up anything by Anakena.

Finca Flichman Wines

2008 Cruz Alta 100% Bonarda Reserve, Argentina

Color - Inky purple

Nose - Strawberry, forest floor, minerals

Taste - This is my third 100% Bonarda and this one is completely different from the other just as much as they were different from each other. I get cherry and strawberry right from the first sip. This is a fruity wine but nothing close to being a fruit bomb, you can just taste the fruit in it more-so than other wines. I'm surprised at the lack of depth because the nose led me to believe it would be more complex. There is heat from the alcohol but it is minimal and fades rather quickly. The wine is medium-bodied with a medium finish. Concerning the finish, I had hoped for some some spice and perhaps more tannins. The tannins in this wine are very light almost invisible, closer to those of a few of the light Merlot's I have had. It's not a bad wine just nothing to on about and definitely overpriced.

Overall, I'd say pass on this one. The Maipe Bonarda and Munoz de Toro Argie are both more satisfying and more complex. The main thing is the flavor and this is too run-of-the-mill and lacks the depth I look for in a wine. Pass on this and pick up a different Bonarda or if you want to take a ride on a varietal that has some similarity to Bonarda try a nice Cabernet Franc.

5 Cent Sale at BevMo!

To be quite honest I don't usually shop at BevMo!. It's too expensive, has a limited selection, and their employees are far from wine experts. But their 5 cent sale is the only time I will shop their. Those of you that don't know, the 5 cent sale works thusly. Buy one bottle of wine that qualifies for the 5 cent sale at full price and get the second for 5 cents. That's a screaming deal, even for bottles that are priced much higher than Trader Joe's, Fry's or Total Wine & More. Here are three mini-reviews of the bottles I purchased during my visit to the store.

2009 Calloway Cellar Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast California
This has a bland rather subdued nose of cherry and raspberry that flows over into the flavor of the wine itself. It's fruity on the first sip, with flavors of caramelized cherries with a liberal dash of alcohol and some bouncy tannins that really don't do much to make this wine better. It's not a bad wine, just a mediocre one. Not nearly worth 8 dollars, closer to a 5 dollar wine.

2009 Challis Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, California
This has a decent nose of red and black fruit (specifically cherry and blackberry) with minimal floral notes. It tastes pretty darn good for the price (9.99), with fruit jumping right out at me (cherry and currant) the mid-palate has some wood but it's minimal, and then a medium finish. I would say this is a good wine, nothing spectacular, but it holds up to most wines priced at the 10 dollars, though this would probably sell for 7 dollars at a supermarket or Total Wine.

2009 Trumpeter Malbec by Rutini Wines, Argentina
This is a real winner, it's thick and rich. Perfect for a big, bold red wine. It's fruity, yes, but not too fruity. It's more like a rich steak, with layers of flavor, black currant, pepper, vanilla, and oak piled on top of one another. It's full bodied but with a rather short finish, but is pretty much fantastic. It goes for around 14 dollars at BevMo! but would probably go for about 10.99 if sold anywhere else. I would pay 14 for it, and would find it an amazing deal for 11 dollars. It's definitely a keeper.

I don't know if the 5 cent sale is good or bad. Yes I got a pretty darn good bottle with the Trumpeter Malbec, but the Calloway Cabernet Sauvignon is not worth the time and the Challis Lane Cabernet Sauvignon is merely average. I would say stick to shopping at Total Wine or if you want to just pick up a cheap bottle get one from Fry's or Trader Joe's. Total Wine and their employees will point you in the right direction to find a superior bottle, no matter what your price range. And the supermarkets will have a range of pretty decent 5-8 dollars bottles for you to pick up. Sure I will be buying a few bottles during the next 5 cent sale, but only because I like the treasure hunt and need more fodder for this blog. In the meantime I will be sticking to Total Wine, Trader Joe's and Fry's. You can be sure I will keep you appraised of every purchase I make at any of these wine purveyors.

2009 Cave de Saumur Saumur Champigny Reserve des Vignerons, Cabernet Franc, France

Color - Ruby red

Nose - Cherry, red currant

Taste - This has quite beautiful flavors of cherry and flowers. Yes literally something similar to rose petals that I picked off my mom's roses and ate as a child. This wine is dry but not very astringent though it does go through a lot of changes on the palate. Cherries then flowers meld into sour cherries and there is a slight bitterness in the aftertaste but it is mild and unoffensive. This is a medium bodied wine with a nice long finish and rather subdued tannins though they come alive with the right food (pizza, hearty beef stew, cheese). I like this wine though I'm not used to the peculiarities of Cabernet Franc. This is fruity but it's more floral-forward than anything else. It's like drinking potpourri or one of those "rose hips" teas. While not bad it's definitely an acquired taste.

Overall, this is an interesting wine, but something that will only please certain people. Personally I think it's easier to grow accustomed to Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, or Merlot than Cabernet Franc. I'd say try this or another good sub-fifteen dollar Cabernet Franc, but if you're like me you'll stick ot other wines and varietals. That's not to say this isn't a really good wine, it definitely is, it's just not my particular cup of tea, though it might grow on me. I'd pick it up if I couldn't decide on that last bottle and wanted something different yet pleasant.

Cave de Saumur Wines

2009 Nbed 2gether Carmenere, Chile

Color - Dark red

Nose - Raspberry Jam, green bell pepper, cocoa

Taste - This is smooth, slightly fruity with hints of acid from the tannins which are just present on the tip of the tongue. I detect some creamy raspberry tones on the sides of the tongue and vegetal notes on the finish. The wine wants to be a heavy hitter like a Cabernet Sauvignon but falls short though not in a bad way. This is a pleasant wine by itself, though a little too vegetal at times. It has a very nice creamy flavor and texture when paired with cheese. The wine tastes better above 60 degrees. It tastes somewhat bland when served cooler. It's both fruity and vegetal upon my second drinking a few days later, though it remains rather one-dimensional. It has such a light "weight" on my tongue that I am left feeling as if I've just sipped water instead of wine, and sometimes it tastes nearly "flat" I'd say drink the bottle in one sitting as it loses most of it's limited complexity if given time to breathe.

Overall, this is an everyday run-of-the-mill medium-bodied red wine, you can find a thousand out there just like it. If you pick this up when it's on sale for 5.99, then you got a decent price, anything more than that and I'd pass. I would also advice that this is not what you will get if you pick up nearly any other bottle of Carmenere. This doesn't have the Carmenere spice, though it does have the green bell pepper hints that a lot of Carmenere has. It just tastes like a regular red blend, nothing special. You can keep it around for your friends that aren't wine snobs and bring it out a big social events, but I'd pass on it and pick up anything by Columbia-Crest, Redwood Creek or Concha y Toro for the same price and much more (though still rather limited) complexity and depth.

Carmenere, Two Sides of the Same Grape

What follows is two vineyards offerings of the Carmenere varietal, a grape thought to be extinct that showed up in Chilean vineyards that had been confused with Merlot grapes. These two particular wines are under 10 dollars a bottle and show the differences in a good bottle and a bad one. Without further ado, on to the reviews.

2009 Panilonco Carmenere Reserve, Chile

Color - Dark red almost violet

Nose - Blackberry, cherry, grass

Taste - I get cherries and blackberries on the first sip, but they fade rather quickly. There is a lot of heat from the alcohol that runs over the flavors and mouthfeel of this wine. The wine starts fruit forward, but it's a flash in the pan as the wine has little or no depth and really no finish to speak of. For a Carmenere it lacks the spice and finish I'm used to. It's not bad if it were a cheap red blend and really not bad for as cheap as it is. It's just disappointing that this grape could be this "bland". It's good if you like some bite with your grape juice, but beyond that, nothing special.
Overall, yet another Carmenere down, too bad this is one was a disappointment. Not bad, just not good either. I'd say this is another mediocre wine, this time one from Chile. It has absolutely no depth or character. It's a step in the direction of Carmenere but you should splurge and get something a little more expensive that is going to have a lot better flavor.

Vinedos Errazuriz Ovalle S.A.

2009 Anakena Indo Carmenere, Chile

Color - Purple, nearly black

Nose - Green bell pepper, blackberry (muted especially after decanting)

Taste - I can describe this in just one word: awesome! I will admit that I've tasted wines rated higher, described as more complex, and with bigger bouquets; but this wine beats them all hands down. This is an exquisite, spicy Carmenere that satisfies every need I have when drinking wine. This hits my palate with a nice burst of dark fruit, but quickly fades to a very spicy, green bell pepper flavor on the mid-palate. Then I get distinct tones of sour cherries and the heat of alcohol on the long finish. The body of the wine is medium-bordering-on-full. There is a strong level of astringency that cleans and dries my mouth, but with a wine that is this bold it fits rather nicely.
Overall, this wine cements why I like South American wines especially when they are made at this caliber. What is even more surprising is just how good every wine from Anakena has been. They are exceptional and of decidedly superior flavor and quality, especially for the money. I would hazard a guess and say that Anakena will become the "go-to" vineyard for me, and it should be for you too.


Anakena Wines


There are several other Carmeneres I've tried recently. I would say only one of them comes close to the Anakena, the others fall somewhere in between, some better and others worse than those I reviewed here. I have come to love the Carmenere grape as much as I love Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. It's different and brings it's own flavors to the table. It goes with different foods, and surprisingly I've found more Carmeneres that I can drink by themselves than I've found Cabs that can be consumed without food. I would say you can find the best selection of Carmeneres at Total Wine & More, though Cost Plus has a few decent offerings as well. None of those I've had from the supermarket or Trader Joe's has been worth the time or the money. So if you want to try something new, I would advise picking up the Anakena Indo Carmenere, Santa Alicia Carmenere Reserva or perhaps the Porta Carmenere Reserva, you won't be disappointed.

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