Like I said this week will have numerous reviews! We are enjoying our house guests and the occasion to share good wine. A lot of work happened today with a new door going up in our house. Our doors are poorly insulated so over the course of this week, we are trying to replace them all. I didn't actually help with this project as it was another slightly less busy day in the ER (note: if it is NOT an emergency you do NOT need to come to the ER). This first bottle of wine tonight is a red wine from the Valencia region of Spain. It was accompanied by olives, cheese and crackers and of course stories from the good old days. The label says, " Grapes. 85% Tempranillo 15% Monastrell. The wine purple red; notes of earth and species on the nose. On the palate it is meaty, medium bodied, full of rich black berries. Location Zone 8 in the town enguera, at 2037 ft. in altitude southwest of the city of Valencia, in southern valencia provinence. Soil the Sandy soil, good at storing heat, allowing for continued riping during the cool nights, more importantly, they drain well, preventing undesired moisture. Limestone subsoil, acts as a water reservoir, provides water to the vine during periods of drought. Climate: The average temperature between May and October is 60.8 degrees F. The cooler temps bestoy abundant aromas, vibrant freshness with great fruit expression.
RE
Pipon
2007
$10.99
Reviewer one: This red while still satisfying and continuing to improve my impression of red wines was a little dryer than I prefer. The color was deep, dark red and really enticing. I can imagine this wine going well with tapas in a little Spanish cafe. The taste is full but like a said before a little dry. However, this didn't stop me from having a second glass sorta of like the Washington Huskies playing Notre Dame last night, they just couldn't stop trying (just kidding...I just had to get this jab in). Anyway, back to wine. This wine was enjoyable and I would drink it again. However, I think Hey Mambo was better suited for my preference.
Reviewer two: This is another "red wine" from Spain. Another Don Simon!! Viva Don Simon!! This is another red right in my sweet spot. This wine is a little sweeter than last night's red, and a bit oakier and spicer, but not by much. I can definitely imagine this as a table wine in just about any restaurtant in Spain. The label on the back is very much like a textbook. Lots of info. None of it means anything to me. I probably liked Hey Mambo a bit better, but this wine is more extreme, more sweetness, more spicey, more oaky. But I like this wine. Tonight, 2 guest reviewers!!
Guest Reviewer 1: The cheese, olives and crackers provided a very tasty introduction to our happy hour. This deep purple wine appeared heavy enough to hold its own, so deep in fact that no light could be seen through it.. It was spicy on the nose, but on the palate it could not hold its own. It was simply overmatched by the flavors of the snacks. No oak could be found. It was not bad, just bland and not something to get excited about.
Guest Reviewer 2:I liked it - as I like most Spanish tempranillo wines. It was great with the cheese and olives appetizer. It had a hint of berry and is a wine I could drink while sitting and enjoying tapas in Tossa de Mar on the coast of Spain. When can I go back?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
On a roll
Tonight we enjoyed another good wine (in my opinion...we'll have to see what our other reviewers have to say). We have our second guest reviewer tonight so it is indeed a good night. Tonight's dinner started with cheesy bacon mushroom wraps...delicious. The main course was flank steak, salad, and Seeduction bread from Whole Foods. Overall very delightful. To help us become better reviewer's our family has bought us check lists. Tonight's wine was Hey Mambo from Napa, CA the label reads, "Down some alley off of Columbus, I bang on an unsuspecting door and of course there is some big brute just waiting to hassle me. Once inside the hollow building he points me down a dim set of stairs. A bar and table emerge out of the smokey blackness. I sit in the back corner and order the house ravioli and a bottle of wine. On the postage stamp of a stage the lights revel a luscious gem with cocoa brown hair and cranberry lips. She belts out a lonesome note to awaken her band like striking a match the room comes ablaze with music. Her voice like velvet beckoning srtays to the dance floor. A few couples and then a few more. The crowd is insatable! The music, the food, the wine all together hypnotyzing. I savor every drop."
The other guys, a division of Don Sebastiani and Sons
Hey Mambo
blend of barbera, zinfandal, syrah, petite sirah, carignane, alicante bouchet
"A Sultry Red"
2006
$11.99
Reviewer one:
Man, all of those years I refused to drink red wine I was really missing out. This one was very enjoyable. I also thought that red wine had a harsh after taste but I was wrong. This one was smooth and drinkable. I don't really know if any correlation exists between amount of wine consumed and length of time into intern year but if it does, I am in trouble since I have more than 7 months left. This wine hit the spot after a busy day in the ER. Plenty more wine and reviews to come this week as we have house guests! Stay tuned.
Reviewer two:
I picked this wine off of the shelf at our local grocery wine shop. I was drawn to it not by the label, but by the extra bit of flair on the shelf, which shouted that this wine was rated a 92. I don't really know how high the numbers go on this rating system, but I usually see numbers in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Usually these numbers have high prices by them, so to see a 92 for $11, I thought, wow, this must be really good. It is called a "bistro style wine," which I think is another way of saying "table wine." It actually reminds me a bit of good ol' Don Simon, the one euro box wine from Spain. But I like it even better than Don Simon, due to the fact that they try to make this good, not just passable. I'd enjoy this most any time. The flavor is good, and satisfying. It tasets like I think red wine should.
It came with a milk-jug style plastic cork, which was easy to get off, but now that we have the "Rabbit" corkscrew, I think the plastic thing actually was slower.
The label was really wordy, and tried to be artsy, but really they don't need to, as I like the wine already. But I notice that the best wines say little, and the worst wines try to cover it up with a lot of prose. Fortunately, I am not really into fancy wines, so this "peoples wine" is just fine by me. I like it, and would happily drink it again.
BTW, I'm very happy to have our guest reviewer here with us today.
Guest reviewer:
And I am so happy to be here visiting the host reviewers. The dinner was superb, and the company could not be better. Tha wine paired well with the dinner. I thought the wine had a mild, light oak flavor, and was not overly complex. Yet there was enough flavor to be interesting. The red was not deep, but bright. It had long legs, and nice smoth finish. I would buy this and would love to have it again. Thank you Hosts.
The other guys, a division of Don Sebastiani and Sons
Hey Mambo
blend of barbera, zinfandal, syrah, petite sirah, carignane, alicante bouchet
"A Sultry Red"
2006
$11.99
Reviewer one:
Man, all of those years I refused to drink red wine I was really missing out. This one was very enjoyable. I also thought that red wine had a harsh after taste but I was wrong. This one was smooth and drinkable. I don't really know if any correlation exists between amount of wine consumed and length of time into intern year but if it does, I am in trouble since I have more than 7 months left. This wine hit the spot after a busy day in the ER. Plenty more wine and reviews to come this week as we have house guests! Stay tuned.
Reviewer two:
I picked this wine off of the shelf at our local grocery wine shop. I was drawn to it not by the label, but by the extra bit of flair on the shelf, which shouted that this wine was rated a 92. I don't really know how high the numbers go on this rating system, but I usually see numbers in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Usually these numbers have high prices by them, so to see a 92 for $11, I thought, wow, this must be really good. It is called a "bistro style wine," which I think is another way of saying "table wine." It actually reminds me a bit of good ol' Don Simon, the one euro box wine from Spain. But I like it even better than Don Simon, due to the fact that they try to make this good, not just passable. I'd enjoy this most any time. The flavor is good, and satisfying. It tasets like I think red wine should.
It came with a milk-jug style plastic cork, which was easy to get off, but now that we have the "Rabbit" corkscrew, I think the plastic thing actually was slower.
The label was really wordy, and tried to be artsy, but really they don't need to, as I like the wine already. But I notice that the best wines say little, and the worst wines try to cover it up with a lot of prose. Fortunately, I am not really into fancy wines, so this "peoples wine" is just fine by me. I like it, and would happily drink it again.
BTW, I'm very happy to have our guest reviewer here with us today.
Guest reviewer:
And I am so happy to be here visiting the host reviewers. The dinner was superb, and the company could not be better. Tha wine paired well with the dinner. I thought the wine had a mild, light oak flavor, and was not overly complex. Yet there was enough flavor to be interesting. The red was not deep, but bright. It had long legs, and nice smoth finish. I would buy this and would love to have it again. Thank you Hosts.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lushes
We must becoming lushes as we are already posting again. We needed to open a bottle of dry white wine to make creamed fennel for dinner. We happened to have purchased such a bottle of dry white wine not long ago and so were in luck. This is a dry white from South Africa, the label says " Groote Post 2005 the old man's blend/dry white Sauvignon blanc 62%, chenin blanc 38%. Wine of origin coastal region wine of South Africa.
Groote Post
The Old Man's Blend, Dry white
South Africa
2005
<10$
Reviewer 1: I think that I bought this wine because I was trying to expand my wine selection. Buying it I remember thinking, I probably won't like this but I should try to expand my comfort zone. However, from sip one I was hooked. Other dry wines I have had before, I needed to choke down and take a sip of water afterwards. This one, however, is smooth and pleasurable. It has no harsh alcohol taste and was really simple and elegant. Good thing that I was adventurous when picking out wines at the grocery store. I will definelty buy this again.
Reviewer 2: Wow, I can't believe we are writing about opening another bottle of wine again so soon after our last bottle. I was a little offended when reviewer 1 bought this bottle of the old man's blend. I thought that somehow she was trying to say something about myself. But as it turns out, I am happy that she got this dry white. A recipe we were making called for a dry white and I opened it up to have a taste before cooking with it. Right away the old man and I hit it off. He had a good depth of flavor with a nice balance of sweet and dry. Or at least what I think dry is. I guess when I think of dry, I think of vermouth. This isn't really dry like that. It is pleasent and goes well with a meal of creamed fennel and cheeseburgers. While we are talking about cheeseburgers I would like to give a shot out to my favorite new brand of mustard, Beaver Brand Deli Mustard, from Beaverton, OR. I am licking the container out as reviewer number 1 types this in. It is a delicous blend of slightly sweet and a little hot (like reviewer one) along with whole mustard seeds and a bit of horseradish. It is wonderful on sandwiches and burgers and goes great with Old Man's blend.
**** Note: whole bottle of wine is gone...Please read this post knowing that fact!
Groote Post
The Old Man's Blend, Dry white
South Africa
2005
<10$
Reviewer 1: I think that I bought this wine because I was trying to expand my wine selection. Buying it I remember thinking, I probably won't like this but I should try to expand my comfort zone. However, from sip one I was hooked. Other dry wines I have had before, I needed to choke down and take a sip of water afterwards. This one, however, is smooth and pleasurable. It has no harsh alcohol taste and was really simple and elegant. Good thing that I was adventurous when picking out wines at the grocery store. I will definelty buy this again.
Reviewer 2: Wow, I can't believe we are writing about opening another bottle of wine again so soon after our last bottle. I was a little offended when reviewer 1 bought this bottle of the old man's blend. I thought that somehow she was trying to say something about myself. But as it turns out, I am happy that she got this dry white. A recipe we were making called for a dry white and I opened it up to have a taste before cooking with it. Right away the old man and I hit it off. He had a good depth of flavor with a nice balance of sweet and dry. Or at least what I think dry is. I guess when I think of dry, I think of vermouth. This isn't really dry like that. It is pleasent and goes well with a meal of creamed fennel and cheeseburgers. While we are talking about cheeseburgers I would like to give a shot out to my favorite new brand of mustard, Beaver Brand Deli Mustard, from Beaverton, OR. I am licking the container out as reviewer number 1 types this in. It is a delicous blend of slightly sweet and a little hot (like reviewer one) along with whole mustard seeds and a bit of horseradish. It is wonderful on sandwiches and burgers and goes great with Old Man's blend.
**** Note: whole bottle of wine is gone...Please read this post knowing that fact!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Blah, boring wine
I know that you can hardly believe your eyes that we are already posting again. In fact we are a little disappointed in the lack of comments. Tonight, for dinner I made our favorite spinach, pesto lasagna. We have it every year on this day to celebrate the start of fall racing season (although, this year today was the 2nd race). We both had long weekends with Reviewer one having a 30 hour, sleepless shift, at the hospital and reviewer two finishing the garage work yesterday and taking his team to race today. Keep that in mind as you read this likely incoherent review. Tonight's wine is a pinot grigio. The Label says, " On its journey from the wine country hills to the Pacific, the Bohemian Highway meanders through vine yards, red wood forests, and palm groves. This wine embodies the casual, free-flowing spirit you will find a long the way. Bohemian Highway California Pinot Grigio is zesty and crisp with refreshing aromas and flavors of melon, tropical fruit, a cool lemon/lime to finish. So follow your instincts and go with the flow."
Bohemian Highway
Pinot Grigio
Napa, California
2007
< 5$
Reviewer 1: My exhaustion is definelty impairing my ability to be discriminating. My first sip of this wine was uneventful and unmemorable. It just kinda blends in with the delicious meal but not in a good way that it would actually add to the meal. However, after reading the lable about melon, tropical fruit, and cool lemon/lime, I really wanted to like this wine. I mean doesn't that just sound delicious. If only I was on a tropical beach drinking it with my spirit flowing in the wind. So back to reality, this wine isn't bad it just isn't anything special. Not my favorite three dollar wine.
Reviewer 2: Boy did I have a long day at work today. But still not as long as reviewer number 1. It was a long, hard day but when I got home, I got one of my favorite meals-pesto lasagna. Reviwer 1 asked me to pick out a wine and also get a bottle of San Pelligrino to drink with our meal. I kinda wanted a red but went with this white because it was in the referigerator when I went for the San Pelligrino. Also, it was a hot day and a Pinot often tastes good on a hot day. So I poured us each a glass while the lasanga was still cooking to enjoy with our salad. It was an immediate let down. Maybe I am becoming a wine snob but I think that I can taste the difference now between a bottle that cost 15-20$ vs. a bottle that cost <5$. There seems to be a certain depth of flavor that accompanies good wines. It sort of reminds me of the saying, "Beauty is skin deep but ugly goes all the way to the bone." But I guess maybe it is the opposite because the good wines have a depth of flavor that goes all the way through, but the bad wines have an unpleasant taste that barely masks the blandness of the base. But I guess I would rather have a some what bland, bad wine than have one that has a horrible bold flavor that makes you run out of the room looking for a bottle of listerine. Verdict: I won't buy this again.
* As forwarned- coherency is impaired by fatigue.
Bohemian Highway
Pinot Grigio
Napa, California
2007
< 5$
Reviewer 1: My exhaustion is definelty impairing my ability to be discriminating. My first sip of this wine was uneventful and unmemorable. It just kinda blends in with the delicious meal but not in a good way that it would actually add to the meal. However, after reading the lable about melon, tropical fruit, and cool lemon/lime, I really wanted to like this wine. I mean doesn't that just sound delicious. If only I was on a tropical beach drinking it with my spirit flowing in the wind. So back to reality, this wine isn't bad it just isn't anything special. Not my favorite three dollar wine.
Reviewer 2: Boy did I have a long day at work today. But still not as long as reviewer number 1. It was a long, hard day but when I got home, I got one of my favorite meals-pesto lasagna. Reviwer 1 asked me to pick out a wine and also get a bottle of San Pelligrino to drink with our meal. I kinda wanted a red but went with this white because it was in the referigerator when I went for the San Pelligrino. Also, it was a hot day and a Pinot often tastes good on a hot day. So I poured us each a glass while the lasanga was still cooking to enjoy with our salad. It was an immediate let down. Maybe I am becoming a wine snob but I think that I can taste the difference now between a bottle that cost 15-20$ vs. a bottle that cost <5$. There seems to be a certain depth of flavor that accompanies good wines. It sort of reminds me of the saying, "Beauty is skin deep but ugly goes all the way to the bone." But I guess maybe it is the opposite because the good wines have a depth of flavor that goes all the way through, but the bad wines have an unpleasant taste that barely masks the blandness of the base. But I guess I would rather have a some what bland, bad wine than have one that has a horrible bold flavor that makes you run out of the room looking for a bottle of listerine. Verdict: I won't buy this again.
* As forwarned- coherency is impaired by fatigue.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Back already...
Tonight I got home in time to make dinner (something is wrong when I felt guilty about leaving the hospital after only working 11 hours)! We made spit pea soup with bacon, leeks, parsnips, carrots, parsley, bay leaves, and marjoram. It was yummy. However, it look a long time to cook and we decided we needed a bottle of wine to pass the time. Tonight's bottle is a cabernet from the Finger Lake region in New York. The label says, "A medium bodied dry red that includes both cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Highlighted by aromas of bright berry fruit and hints of black pepper this medium bodied dry red finishes with smooth tannins and subtle oak undertones."
Swedish Hill
Blue waters Cabernet (75% cabernet franc and 25% cabernet sauvignon)
Romulus, New York
not dated
cost: unknown, gift from friend
Reviewer 1: My taste for red wine is not as developed as my taste for white. As you have probably noticed our postings are more often white than not. I just don't enjoy the heavy taste of reds I have tried. This wine is not an exception, it really does not have much flavor except for the aftertaste of alcohol. That being said, I did enjoy three glasses and am not totally trashed. So it must be missing more than just flavor. Despite my lack of enjoyment for reds in general, this did pair well with the split pea soup. I don't think that a white would have done as well. Maybe I am finally realizing that choice of wine, even cheap wine, can improve a meal if done well. I guess we have more to learn and write about in the future.
Reviewer 2:The label on this bottle of wine does much to atract me to it. It has a picture of a dock leading out to an empty stretch of one of the finger lakes and it is called Swedish Hill. It is almost enough to think that they are trying to butter me up by calling it Swedish. At first taste I wasn't too impressed with this wine. In general I don't like Cabernets but I think most of the cabernets I have had have been full bodied and exessively spicey. So although I didn't like it at first taste, this wine has grown on me. it is fairly mild and unoffensive. It at first seemed to have no flavor but know seems to have a fairly tolerable if not mildly pleasent flavor. That being said while I don't dislike this wine, I would rather have a one liter box of Don Simon any night of the week. I drove through Romulus, the town where this wine is made, on my way to and from Ithaca. It was a barely a wide spot in the road. A collection of 5-10 houses and the speed limit was 55 mph right on through town, not necessarily a place where you might expect to find fine wines.
Swedish Hill
Blue waters Cabernet (75% cabernet franc and 25% cabernet sauvignon)
Romulus, New York
not dated
cost: unknown, gift from friend
Reviewer 1: My taste for red wine is not as developed as my taste for white. As you have probably noticed our postings are more often white than not. I just don't enjoy the heavy taste of reds I have tried. This wine is not an exception, it really does not have much flavor except for the aftertaste of alcohol. That being said, I did enjoy three glasses and am not totally trashed. So it must be missing more than just flavor. Despite my lack of enjoyment for reds in general, this did pair well with the split pea soup. I don't think that a white would have done as well. Maybe I am finally realizing that choice of wine, even cheap wine, can improve a meal if done well. I guess we have more to learn and write about in the future.
Reviewer 2:The label on this bottle of wine does much to atract me to it. It has a picture of a dock leading out to an empty stretch of one of the finger lakes and it is called Swedish Hill. It is almost enough to think that they are trying to butter me up by calling it Swedish. At first taste I wasn't too impressed with this wine. In general I don't like Cabernets but I think most of the cabernets I have had have been full bodied and exessively spicey. So although I didn't like it at first taste, this wine has grown on me. it is fairly mild and unoffensive. It at first seemed to have no flavor but know seems to have a fairly tolerable if not mildly pleasent flavor. That being said while I don't dislike this wine, I would rather have a one liter box of Don Simon any night of the week. I drove through Romulus, the town where this wine is made, on my way to and from Ithaca. It was a barely a wide spot in the road. A collection of 5-10 houses and the speed limit was 55 mph right on through town, not necessarily a place where you might expect to find fine wines.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The cheapest yet
Can you believe that we are posting again so soon. It has been a long week here. So far I have worked over 60 hours and although I have tomorrow off, I am on call Sunday starting at 7 am. The weather here has turned to fall with morning temps in the 40's. Tonight we are enjoying home made pizza with our cheapest wine yet. It is a box wine that one of our friends brought for us from Europe. I believe that it cost one euro.
The label says (translated from Spanish by reviewer 2) " Since 1890, 4 generations of artisian wine makers have conserved a tradition of quality. As this tradition has brought about the results of a constant investigation to bring about the best new technologies to our winery. Today Don Simon wine is the best flavored in its 100 year history. The elaborate wine made from the virgin grape with our most vigorous artisian standards and bottled with the most advanced microfiltration allows us to preserve intact all of the flavors and aroma. Don Simon is the most consumed Spanish wine in the World. The wine with the most tradition of quality and we hope you drink it at your table every day."
Also tonight, we have a dinner guest who will review this "vintage."
Don Simon
Vino Tinto
Spain
undated 1 liter box,
< 1 euro
Reviewer one: I have been craving a stiff drink all week after feeling like an idiot for 90% of the time. So really anything would do the trick. The first drink of this wine made me shutter. I would have to agree that the microfiltration mentioned on the label does preserve a lot of taste. However, I am not sure that is a good thing. Now by the end of my first glass, I am enjoying each sip. I can envision myself in Spain sitting in a cafe sipping my wine with lunch and totally being able to enjoy the rest of the day. I don't know that I would actually purchase this wine but hey it was free and the night is young.
Reviewer two: This is the most sold Spanish wine in the world (El vino espanol mas vendido en el mondo). So I guess it is to Spanish wine like Bud is to American beer. I don't drink Bud that often, but when I do, I'm pretty ready to not have any more. But I'm not here tonight to bust on Don Simon. I'm actually pretty satisfied with the Don. It is billed as a red table wine, and right on the label you're encouraged to drink it every day. This is the sort of wine that you could drink daily. Not awesome, but there is nothing really wrong with it. It is a bit oaky, a bit fruity, and you don't really have to be pretentious to enjoy it. It might not be the best wine I've had, but it is probably the cheapest. And at that price, it is definitely a bargain.
This wine was actually a gift from one of my athletes who took a trip to Spain over the summer. I asked her to find a really cheap box of wine and bring it back, since I had what I thought was a very good wine on the cheap several years ago when I was there (also bought from a grocery store for less than a euro.) So I feel very European drinking this. It is a very Euro tradition, daily wine, decent quality, without all the pretentious labels and high prices. And luckily, it is a full litre, not just 750ml, so I can have another glass! Next time you're in Europe, bring me back another box!
Guest Reviewer
First off, I loved the packaging. The adult-size juice box design ensures easy portability and drinkability; perfect for a (byob) night out on the town or to keep fueled at a raging houseparty. The wine itself is not bad if your looking for cheap intoxication or to pair with a mid-week meal of leftovers, but if you are looking for flavor, you'd be better off with something in a proper bottle or with one of the newer generations of boutique boxed wines. Not for sipping- a bendy straw would be a nice addition.
The label says (translated from Spanish by reviewer 2) " Since 1890, 4 generations of artisian wine makers have conserved a tradition of quality. As this tradition has brought about the results of a constant investigation to bring about the best new technologies to our winery. Today Don Simon wine is the best flavored in its 100 year history. The elaborate wine made from the virgin grape with our most vigorous artisian standards and bottled with the most advanced microfiltration allows us to preserve intact all of the flavors and aroma. Don Simon is the most consumed Spanish wine in the World. The wine with the most tradition of quality and we hope you drink it at your table every day."
Also tonight, we have a dinner guest who will review this "vintage."
Don Simon
Vino Tinto
Spain
undated 1 liter box,
< 1 euro
Reviewer one: I have been craving a stiff drink all week after feeling like an idiot for 90% of the time. So really anything would do the trick. The first drink of this wine made me shutter. I would have to agree that the microfiltration mentioned on the label does preserve a lot of taste. However, I am not sure that is a good thing. Now by the end of my first glass, I am enjoying each sip. I can envision myself in Spain sitting in a cafe sipping my wine with lunch and totally being able to enjoy the rest of the day. I don't know that I would actually purchase this wine but hey it was free and the night is young.
Reviewer two: This is the most sold Spanish wine in the world (El vino espanol mas vendido en el mondo). So I guess it is to Spanish wine like Bud is to American beer. I don't drink Bud that often, but when I do, I'm pretty ready to not have any more. But I'm not here tonight to bust on Don Simon. I'm actually pretty satisfied with the Don. It is billed as a red table wine, and right on the label you're encouraged to drink it every day. This is the sort of wine that you could drink daily. Not awesome, but there is nothing really wrong with it. It is a bit oaky, a bit fruity, and you don't really have to be pretentious to enjoy it. It might not be the best wine I've had, but it is probably the cheapest. And at that price, it is definitely a bargain.
This wine was actually a gift from one of my athletes who took a trip to Spain over the summer. I asked her to find a really cheap box of wine and bring it back, since I had what I thought was a very good wine on the cheap several years ago when I was there (also bought from a grocery store for less than a euro.) So I feel very European drinking this. It is a very Euro tradition, daily wine, decent quality, without all the pretentious labels and high prices. And luckily, it is a full litre, not just 750ml, so I can have another glass! Next time you're in Europe, bring me back another box!
Guest Reviewer
First off, I loved the packaging. The adult-size juice box design ensures easy portability and drinkability; perfect for a (byob) night out on the town or to keep fueled at a raging houseparty. The wine itself is not bad if your looking for cheap intoxication or to pair with a mid-week meal of leftovers, but if you are looking for flavor, you'd be better off with something in a proper bottle or with one of the newer generations of boutique boxed wines. Not for sipping- a bendy straw would be a nice addition.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
It happened again
Once again it has been a long time since our last post...no excuses. But we are now settled into our house, have an internet connection, and have re-established our collection of cheap wines. Our goal for this year is 2-4 posts/month with guest reviewers.
Today's wine is a Pinot Grigio. It accompanied a meal of grilled hamburgers, tomato and cheddar salad, corn on the cob, and sauteed swiss chard. A fine fall evening with crisp air and leaves just beginning to turn made this a perfect meal...except for the wine. The label says, "This wine is made from pinot grigio grapes, grown in the unique microclimates of the Veneto Trentino regions. It has a fragrant bouquet, a dry, clean taste with an elegant background of green apple. It pairs well with seafood, appetizers, pasta, pizza, and light foods."
Folonari
Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie)
Italy
2006
<10$
Reviewer 1: I actually disliked this wine. If you review the previous posts you know that this is quite unusual for me. But this wine had a harsh after taste that was sort of like rotten green apples. Maybe it was because it wasn't paired with the proper food...but I doubt it. This is heavier than other pinots that I usually enjoy. There is nothing elegant about it. To be fair, I am on backup call and have only had one glass. Thus, my usual judgement could be impaired. However, I doubt that I could force myself to drink a second glass and will probably have nightmares tonight about the wine remaining in the bottle waiting in the fridge for me to drink tomorrow.
Reviewer 2: Although we haven't been reviewing wines regularly on the website, we have been drinking a fair number of wines. We had a very good 2006 Hugel Gentil from Alsace and also had a wonderful champange at a friend's house. (We went to dinner that dinner and saw the same champange listed on the menu for 85$/bottle. It was much better than the champange we had to celebrate the purchase of our first house, or the birth of our new nephew.) But I digress. Tonight's pinot grigio, is rather uninspiring. The best thing that I can say for it, is that it has a somewhat crisp, refreshing taste. I don't note any green apple. It could really say on the lable that it tasted like dish water and they would be closer to the truth. Tonight's meal was a perfect fall affair and I am glad that I had a Spotted Cow so that I was not left to accompany my meal with this sub-par wine from Folonari.
Today's wine is a Pinot Grigio. It accompanied a meal of grilled hamburgers, tomato and cheddar salad, corn on the cob, and sauteed swiss chard. A fine fall evening with crisp air and leaves just beginning to turn made this a perfect meal...except for the wine. The label says, "This wine is made from pinot grigio grapes, grown in the unique microclimates of the Veneto Trentino regions. It has a fragrant bouquet, a dry, clean taste with an elegant background of green apple. It pairs well with seafood, appetizers, pasta, pizza, and light foods."
Folonari
Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie)
Italy
2006
<10$
Reviewer 1: I actually disliked this wine. If you review the previous posts you know that this is quite unusual for me. But this wine had a harsh after taste that was sort of like rotten green apples. Maybe it was because it wasn't paired with the proper food...but I doubt it. This is heavier than other pinots that I usually enjoy. There is nothing elegant about it. To be fair, I am on backup call and have only had one glass. Thus, my usual judgement could be impaired. However, I doubt that I could force myself to drink a second glass and will probably have nightmares tonight about the wine remaining in the bottle waiting in the fridge for me to drink tomorrow.
Reviewer 2: Although we haven't been reviewing wines regularly on the website, we have been drinking a fair number of wines. We had a very good 2006 Hugel Gentil from Alsace and also had a wonderful champange at a friend's house. (We went to dinner that dinner and saw the same champange listed on the menu for 85$/bottle. It was much better than the champange we had to celebrate the purchase of our first house, or the birth of our new nephew.) But I digress. Tonight's pinot grigio, is rather uninspiring. The best thing that I can say for it, is that it has a somewhat crisp, refreshing taste. I don't note any green apple. It could really say on the lable that it tasted like dish water and they would be closer to the truth. Tonight's meal was a perfect fall affair and I am glad that I had a Spotted Cow so that I was not left to accompany my meal with this sub-par wine from Folonari.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Gosh, it is almost June
I don't know how it happened but it is now almost June and the last post was in February. Thankfully, February was NOT the last time I drank a bottle of wine. I guess life got a little busy between finishing school, taking national exams, graduating, coaching, planning a wedding, buying a house. It is certain that now that I have graduated, bought a house, and will be making next to nothing, I will continue to drink 3 dollar bottles of wine for a long time.
Today's wine review is for Holy Cow Chardonnay. We received this wine at a wedding "shower" if that is what you call it when your grandparents and cousins show up for Sunday morning breakfast. The bottle has no description of this wine but it does have a really cool cow with a halo on the label.
Charles Smith Wines
Holy Cow Chardonnay
Washington
2006
cost unknown
Reviewer 1: Well the first time I tried this wine it wasn't cold and I didn't even finish my glass. However, tonight I tried again after it had been probably chilled and I drank two glasses. For those of you that know me, well you know the condition that I am in as I am typing this. I better be careful at the wedding. Anyway, this wine was very dry and while I would say that I don't love chardonnay this one was satisfying. It went well with our dinner of Risotto with spring vegetables and smoked ham. I really like the label and if I was more of a chardonnay fan I would buy this wine. But for now I will stick with the pinots.
Reviewer 2: I appreciate the fact that we were given a bottle of wine from Mattawa, Washington. But this wine is not tops on my list. It was much better when chilled (I'm still trying to train reviewer #1). I can't say much more than that because I didn't get any more because reviewer #1 drank 2 glasses. But in general I don't enjoy a chardonnay as much as a pinot grigio, reisling, or muscat. The wine was fine when chilled and contributed to a delicious risotto.
Today's wine review is for Holy Cow Chardonnay. We received this wine at a wedding "shower" if that is what you call it when your grandparents and cousins show up for Sunday morning breakfast. The bottle has no description of this wine but it does have a really cool cow with a halo on the label.
Charles Smith Wines
Holy Cow Chardonnay
Washington
2006
cost unknown
Reviewer 1: Well the first time I tried this wine it wasn't cold and I didn't even finish my glass. However, tonight I tried again after it had been probably chilled and I drank two glasses. For those of you that know me, well you know the condition that I am in as I am typing this. I better be careful at the wedding. Anyway, this wine was very dry and while I would say that I don't love chardonnay this one was satisfying. It went well with our dinner of Risotto with spring vegetables and smoked ham. I really like the label and if I was more of a chardonnay fan I would buy this wine. But for now I will stick with the pinots.
Reviewer 2: I appreciate the fact that we were given a bottle of wine from Mattawa, Washington. But this wine is not tops on my list. It was much better when chilled (I'm still trying to train reviewer #1). I can't say much more than that because I didn't get any more because reviewer #1 drank 2 glasses. But in general I don't enjoy a chardonnay as much as a pinot grigio, reisling, or muscat. The wine was fine when chilled and contributed to a delicious risotto.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Pinot Comparison
Tonight we are making brocoli rabe with sausage for dinner and we are cooking with Redwood Creek Pinot Grigio. This wine is from California and the label says, " The fish were indeed biting today. We reflected as a thin fog weaved its way through the redwoods, softening the afternoon light. While the trout cooked over the fire, I retrieved the bottle of Pinot Grigio-chilled to creek temperature. We took our first sip. It was light and crisp, with red apple and floral notes as well as hints of ripe citrus. And, evidently, remarkable moments. " Huh, kinda poetic for wine label?
Redwook Creek
Pinot Grigio
California
2006
$5.99
Reviewer 1: Not bad. Okay, I know that I always say that but really I think that this is better than the first pinot we tasted. It has a little stronger aftertaste than I find ideal but it is smooth over all. It has a bold flavor that is not quite perfected as after a few sips hints of mouth wash can be tasted. We are not drinking it "chilled to creek temperature" so maybe that would make it better. That being said, I would probably buy this wine again but next time try to drink it surrounded by red woods.
Reviewer 2: There are instructions on the cork of the bottle about how the cork could be used as a fishing float, which I suppose is for the best. The wine itself, however, is not without its redeeming qualities. Judging from the story on the label, they intend for this wine to be hardy and they intend that the bottle will probably be carried into the woods and that whoever is bringing it won't be too upset if it breaks in transit. This wine is not as good as the Masocanali but is still fairly enjoyable. Definitely better than the Barefoot. It is a little more harsh and not quite as refreshing as the Masocanali. I can't say that I taste the apples, but at least don't taste the trout either.
Redwook Creek
Pinot Grigio
California
2006
$5.99
Reviewer 1: Not bad. Okay, I know that I always say that but really I think that this is better than the first pinot we tasted. It has a little stronger aftertaste than I find ideal but it is smooth over all. It has a bold flavor that is not quite perfected as after a few sips hints of mouth wash can be tasted. We are not drinking it "chilled to creek temperature" so maybe that would make it better. That being said, I would probably buy this wine again but next time try to drink it surrounded by red woods.
Reviewer 2: There are instructions on the cork of the bottle about how the cork could be used as a fishing float, which I suppose is for the best. The wine itself, however, is not without its redeeming qualities. Judging from the story on the label, they intend for this wine to be hardy and they intend that the bottle will probably be carried into the woods and that whoever is bringing it won't be too upset if it breaks in transit. This wine is not as good as the Masocanali but is still fairly enjoyable. Definitely better than the Barefoot. It is a little more harsh and not quite as refreshing as the Masocanali. I can't say that I taste the apples, but at least don't taste the trout either.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Valentine's Day special
For Valentine's day, I splurged on a bottle of wine that was about 15$. We are finally getting around to drinking it tonight. According to the bottle: "Maso Canali is crafted from 100% Pinot Grigio grapes grown in Trentino's finest vineyards. Possessing a cool, Mediterranean microclimate, the hillside location of these premier vineyards provides the perfect terrior for growing Pinot Grigio Grapes. Maso Canali Pinot Grigio has a brilliant golden color with aromas of tropical fruit and apricot. This wine is well-balanced with ripe flavors of apple and pear, leading to the clean finish."
Maso Canali
Pinot Grigio
2006
Italy
$15
Reviewer #1: I am the worst wine reviewer in the world. My palate is not very refined. But I would say that this is smooth and doesn't force you to shutter once swallowed. I wouldn't say that I am to the level of tasting the apricots or pears but then again after one glass I am a little tipsy so not a very good reviewer.
Reviewer #2: "You spent how much on this wine? No wonder it tastes so good!" This is by far the best wine to date that we have reviewed at 3 dollar connoisseur. Unlike the other two wines we have reviewed so far this particular wine doesn't taste like it would be used to take the paint off of walls. I believe that a lot of that has to do with the fact that we spent 5x as much on this bottle of wine. Using my own vocabulary since I am not trained in wine tasting I would describe Maso Canali as crisp and refreshing. It is from Trento, Italy and wines from Trento always remind me of a friend of mine whose last name was Trento. He has nothing to do with this wine (at least I don't think so). But I love northern Italy and this particular wine makes me want to go back even more.
Maso Canali
Pinot Grigio
2006
Italy
$15
Reviewer #1: I am the worst wine reviewer in the world. My palate is not very refined. But I would say that this is smooth and doesn't force you to shutter once swallowed. I wouldn't say that I am to the level of tasting the apricots or pears but then again after one glass I am a little tipsy so not a very good reviewer.
Reviewer #2: "You spent how much on this wine? No wonder it tastes so good!" This is by far the best wine to date that we have reviewed at 3 dollar connoisseur. Unlike the other two wines we have reviewed so far this particular wine doesn't taste like it would be used to take the paint off of walls. I believe that a lot of that has to do with the fact that we spent 5x as much on this bottle of wine. Using my own vocabulary since I am not trained in wine tasting I would describe Maso Canali as crisp and refreshing. It is from Trento, Italy and wines from Trento always remind me of a friend of mine whose last name was Trento. He has nothing to do with this wine (at least I don't think so). But I love northern Italy and this particular wine makes me want to go back even more.
Dinner at a friend's
Yesterday we had dinner at a friend's house and she made a pork tenderloin and rosemary polenta. It was delicious. Before the meal we had a meal of appetizer of brie and manchego cheeses along with crackers and some fig jam. We also sampled some of Cycles Gladiator 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cycles Gladiator
Cabernet Sauvignon
2005
California
Cost unknown
Reviewer #1: I almost spit this wine out as soon as a tasted it. It wasn't the worst wine I have ever tasted but it was extremely strong and oaky. I was glad that I hadn't poured a whole glass to suffer through.
Reviewer #2: I like a good robust red wine on occasion. But the Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon was a bit too much. It was overly strong and overly oaky. It tasted like it had been aged in old oak whiskey barrels. And I mean that in a bad way. But I don't like Cabernet Sauvignon to begin with.
Cycles Gladiator
Cabernet Sauvignon
2005
California
Cost unknown
Reviewer #1: I almost spit this wine out as soon as a tasted it. It wasn't the worst wine I have ever tasted but it was extremely strong and oaky. I was glad that I hadn't poured a whole glass to suffer through.
Reviewer #2: I like a good robust red wine on occasion. But the Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon was a bit too much. It was overly strong and overly oaky. It tasted like it had been aged in old oak whiskey barrels. And I mean that in a bad way. But I don't like Cabernet Sauvignon to begin with.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The beginning
Over New Year's we went to visit my fabulous brother and sister-in-law down south and it turns out they have become quite the wine snobs. We cooked dinner one night using a 15$ bottle of red wine and they wouldn't let us finish the rest because it wasn't good enough to drink. We laughed at the notion as we tend to buy wine that is less than 15$/bottle. So we decided to start a blog to document our wine use over the next year. This might be the most boring blog ever as we don't drink a lot and don't know anything about wine...Here is the first bottle:
Barefoot
Pinot Grigio
California
88 points - Beverage Testing Institute
$4.99
The label says "Barefoot Pinot Grigio is a crisp and refreshing wine with bright aromas and flavors of citrus and fresh green apple. Hints of Jasmine complement a bright, delicate, flavorful finish. Barefoot Pinot Grigio is a perfect match with poultry, seafood, spicy pasta, and pizza. Refreshing!"
Reviewer One:
Pinot Grigio is one of my favorite types of wine. I have yet to have a bad pinot. It is easy to go down, light and goes with anything. This particular wine is similar to all the other 5$ pinots that I have had before nothing special but not bad. A guess it is really hard to review wine when you are as cheap a drunk as I am...it doesn't take much before everything is tasting okay.
Reviewer Two:
This tastes like I thought a 5$ bottle of wine would taste. It is a little harsh with not enough depth of flavor. It almost provides a warming sensation like a brandy or cheap liquor rather than the refreshing taste that I would expect from a pinot grigio. I say it maybe got 88 points out of 200.
Barefoot
Pinot Grigio
California
88 points - Beverage Testing Institute
$4.99
The label says "Barefoot Pinot Grigio is a crisp and refreshing wine with bright aromas and flavors of citrus and fresh green apple. Hints of Jasmine complement a bright, delicate, flavorful finish. Barefoot Pinot Grigio is a perfect match with poultry, seafood, spicy pasta, and pizza. Refreshing!"
Reviewer One:
Pinot Grigio is one of my favorite types of wine. I have yet to have a bad pinot. It is easy to go down, light and goes with anything. This particular wine is similar to all the other 5$ pinots that I have had before nothing special but not bad. A guess it is really hard to review wine when you are as cheap a drunk as I am...it doesn't take much before everything is tasting okay.
Reviewer Two:
This tastes like I thought a 5$ bottle of wine would taste. It is a little harsh with not enough depth of flavor. It almost provides a warming sensation like a brandy or cheap liquor rather than the refreshing taste that I would expect from a pinot grigio. I say it maybe got 88 points out of 200.
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