Courtney Benham - Cabernet Franc

Price: $18.99
Region: California (Sonoma)
Year: 2006

I meant to write this review last weekend, but with a bunch of vacation days thrown into the mix, I'm just a little off my routine. Anyway, this wine review is going to be a slight departure from the norm since this was one we enjoyed during our annual Christmas lunch with my in-laws. I usually buy something in the $40 - $50 range for Christmas lunch, but had just been wanting to try this wine for a while, so decided to go a little lower on the scale. At just under $20, this is more then I spend on a weekly wine, but still not all that expensive. We had this particular wine with a wonderful cheese and fruit tray. the cheeses consisted of Huntsman (cheddar & blue cheese), a dill Havarti, and Brie.

I will be the first to admit I do not know how a Cabernet Franc is different from the more common Sauvignon, but I did have a bottle once when I was in Napa, and thought it was very good. This is partially the reason I've been wanting to try this particular wine. I have passed by it a coupel of times in my local wine store, but just never picked it up. Anyway, when I first pured a glass, it definitely looked like a deep dark red Sauvignon. No difference here (to my eye anyway). When I took a sniff, I was surprised at how strong the aroma was. Not bad by any means, but strong nonetheless. Now, the important part. When I took my first sip, I was hit with a very upfront taste that also hung around for a bit. There was definitely a noticeable difference between what I would expect out of a Cabernet Sauvignon, but it was very pleasant, and I would say unique. It was good to try something different for a change, and generally was fairly impressed with this wine. My only hesitation is that at almost $20, there are much more economical choices that are at least on par with this wine. That being said, if you just want to try something different, you won't be disappointed.

Today will be another holiday wine choice, as not only it is New Year's Eve, but also my 37th birthday! Here is wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!

Rating: 3.25 Corks (Slightly pricey, but different)

Per Me Sola - Sangoivese

Price: $6.99
Region: Toscana
Year: 2007

Well, as you'll notice, this is the first wine I've reviewed so far where I just couldn't find a picture online. It usually just isn't that difficult, but after 15 minutes or so, I gave up. Here is the new default photo in case that ever happens again. Anyway, this was a record fast trip to the wine store. I knew we were ordering some of our favorite pizza (called Mediterranean Salad), and I needed a wine to go along. Just seemed like a good time to head down the Italian wine isle. As I did, I got to the section where the Sangiovese wine was located, and came across a big yellow sign that simply said "PIZZA". I'm never one to ignore an obvious sign. My only hesitation is that $6.99 is getting close to the range where I tend to stay away from, but I gave it a try anyway.

The wine definitely had a nice deep color to it. I didn't get the impression it was going to be weak and timid. Additionally, it had a nice aroma as well. Nothing astounding, but pleasant nonetheless. But, as always, it comes down to taste. For some reason, I didn't have a glass with an appetizer this week, just waited to have a glass when I sat down to eat. Sangiovese is not a wine I drink on a regular basis, but have generally enjoyed it when I have. This was was along the same lines as others I have tasted. It had a nice flavor, with good length, but just slightly acidic for my taste. I will say, for $7, it is definitely a good pizaa wine, but are probably others out there that may just just a bit better.

Rating: 2.75 Corks (Not too shabby)

Chateau De Segries - Cotes Du Rhone

Price: $10.99
Region: France
Year: 2006

I only grabbed one bottle of wine this weekend, and it wasn't one of my usual bottles, so I'll have to finish my top 5 default wines next week. This week, I decided to grab something from France. I think the reason I tend to shy away from other regions besides California and Australia is because it isn't always as easy to tell what exactly I am buying. I know that is clearly a sign of my inexperience with French and Italian wines, but it just seems simpler to call a wine by the grape used to make it.

Anyway, I tend to associate Cotes Du Rhone with the Syrah or Grenache grape, which I generally enjoy, so it didn't seem like a very big gamble. My first impression after pouring a glass was that this particular wine was a little lighter in color then I expected. The smell however, was very strong, and very pleasant. I have trouble describing what smell I usually get from a wine, but this wine gave me the sense of a floral undertone. Definitely very nice. I'm still not 100% what grape this wine is made of primarily, but when I took a taste, it was very enjoyable, but slightly acidic. It had very good length, and had a fairly smooth finish. I actually enjoyed teh 2nd galss a tocuh mroe then the first, but overall it is a wine worth giving a try. Of the two, I definitely prefer the Louis Bernard, but this is not one to dismiss outright..
Rating: 3.25 Corks (Something different)

Sebastiani - Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $12.99
Region: California
Year: 2005

So, this week's normal entry was another Cabernet I had not tried yet. Interestingly enough, or at least interesting to me, is that I work for a company that used to run the IT systems for this particular winery a few years back. I can't say that I have ever searched out their wines because of it, but it was just another reason to give it a try. Now, usually when I specifically look for a Cabernet, ti is because there is red meat on the menu. That wasn't the case here as I knew dinner this night was a chicken and sweet potato stew. It just happened to be a cold winter day (it seems winter is a little colder this year already), and I just love a good bold wine on a cold day with a fire going.

Anyway, the first impression definitely didn't disappoint. This was a very deep, dark wine, almost purple in color. It was a good first sign. Next, when I gave the wine a swirl, and a smell, again, I was impressed. It had a nice strong aroma, a little earthy, but very pleasant. That why, when I first poured a glass, and gave it a taste, I was hoping for so much more. Not to say that it was bad at all, but I was really expecting a home run. The initial taste was slightly acidic, but generally decent. The wine had very good length, and the taste stuck around for a bit. I think my disappointment was mostly that the wine just wasn't as smooth, and as bold as I anticipated based on the wonderful color and smell. I think I will give it another try someday, maybe with a beef stew instead of chicken.

Rating: 3 Corks (A little better then average)

Monte Antico - Sangiovese

Price: $10.99
Region: Toscana
Year: 2004

With the next wine that makes my top 5 default wines, I stray a bit from the normal mold of California or Australia. I know based on wines like this, I should more often choose wines from Italy and France, etc., but I just always seem to gravitate to those regions I know better. Anyway, this is probably the first wine that I would classify as something I bought on a regular basis. I'm not even sure why I picked it up other then I read something a few years ago recommending it. Once I gave it a try, it was easy to see why it came highly recommended for the price.

When you first pour a glass, you can notice the deep, dark red coloring. Nothing weak looking here. Equally as noticeable is the pleasant aroma. I don't like using this term, but it just seems to fit here.. Bouquet. Just generally very appealing. In my opinion however, what makes this wine worth coming back to time and time again, is the flavor. It would be hard to call it unique, but it is definitely unique to what I usually drink. I think having a standby Sangiovese is very important to enjoy with the myriad of pasts dinner that seems to show up more often then not. To tell you the truth, this is my favorite wine to have with a plain old cheese pizza. The combination just hits the spot every time. This is the definition of what my default wines are all about. Don't have to think about what to grab when I run into the wine store when I ordered a pizza, I just know I want the same wine that made the dinner so enjyable the last time.

Rating: 3.75 Corks (My default Italian wine)

3 Blind Moose - Merlot

Price: $8.99
Region: California
Year: 2005

Another stop at the wine store next to one of our favorite Italian take out restaurants. The dinner order doesn't usually vary too much, but always looking for another wine to match up . In this case, it was a wine I remember seeing around my father-in-laws house, but don't remember ever giving it a try. After trying it, I can't decide whether to thank him for that, or wished I had tried it so I knew not to waste my money. You can see where this is going.

A dull looking red wine always starts me off on the wrong foot. There is something about being able to see all the way through a glass of red wine that bugs me. Although, I must admit it doesn't always mean a poor tasting wine, but just something that means the smell and flavor are going to have to make up for . Now, when you mix that with a wine you can barely smell, like was the case here, the chances I am going to enjoy this wine are pretty small. So, when I finally took a sip, I was not overly surprised that the only word that came to mind was dull. All the way around, that was the word that best described this wine for me. It was just boring from start to finish. At this point, it really didn't matter what was for dinner, although I very much enjoyed my dinner, the wine definitely didn't enhance the meal.

Rating: 1.75 Corks (The bottom of the barrel so far)

Pine Ridge - Chenin Blanc / Viognier

Price: $12.99
Region: California
Year: 2007

Another two wine review week. First, the 3rd on my list of default wines. Now, if you've picked up anything since I started reviewing a wine each week, it is that I tend to favor red wine. OK, that's the understatement of the blog so far, I must agree. Actually, there are just very few white wines that I enjoy drinking. I know this probably excludes me from being considered anything close to a wine expert, but again, that's the whole point of the blog anyway. I just drink and review wines I like to drink, and for the most part, they happen to be red wines. That being said, this wine is definitely the exception.

I first came upon this wine when my wife and I visited Napa for our 10th wedding anniversary. We signed up for a private tasting at Pine Ridge, which ended up being one of our favorite wineries that we visited that week. After the tasting we purchased a few bottle of wine, and this happened to be one of them. We bought this one because the variety just happens to be my wife's favorite when it comes to white wine. The reason is because it tends to be less dry and more fruity then say a Chardonay. It is hard for me to describe the color of a white wine, but I would say when you pour a glass of this wine, you do notice it has a crisp look about it. When you then start to smell, the fruity smell its you right away. That is a trend that continues right into your first sip. One of my biggest reasons for not liking a lot of white wine is the initial bite that I tend to experience. This wine just simply does not have it. It has a fresh crisp flavor, and a great fruit flavor that reminds me of pears. It is a great wine to have on a summer evening along with some appetizers of crackers and cheese. I usually don't get to have more then a glass or two though, because it is one of the few wines that my wife will have more then a glass of, so I'll usually open up another bottle of red to let her enjoy her favoriate white wine.

Rating: 3.75 Corks (By far my favorite white)

Festival 34 - Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $11.99
Region: California
Year: 2006

OK, now on the my new wine of the week. As is the case on most Friday's, one of my two main wine stores had a wine tasting tonight. Since I was in a bit of a hurry, I decided to give a sneak peak of this wine and see if it provided any interest. So, I got my little plastic cup of wine, and gave it a taste. At first taste it seemed acceptable, so when he said it is normally $14.99, but was on sale tonight for $11.99, I said why not. Plus it made for my quickest trip to the wine store in recent memory.

When I got home and sat down to dinner, I poured myself a glass for real. The color was a little on the light side for a Cabernet, but nothing overly concerning. I gave it a swirl and then gave it a sniff. Nothing too surprising here. A very pleasant smell, with some floral hints. So far, nothing was sticking out and making me take notice. So, when I took my first sip, I wasn't overly surprised to find it good, but not great. There was a little bit of a tart taste, but nothing too overt, but it was rather smooth. It didn't have a long finish, but didn't disappear right away either. My general impressions was that it was a solid choice, but even at the discounted price of $11.99, I've tasted better. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to avoid either.

Rating: 2.75 Corks (Take it or leave it)

Bogle - Petit Shiraz

Price: $10.99
Region: California
Year: 2006

Since I'm running a little late this week, I decided to do what I was going to do a while ago, and that was write two reviews in one night. First, I am going to review another one of my "default" wines, and then a bottle that I picked up at the store tonight. First, I want to talk about my #2 default wine, Bogle Petit Shiraz. I mus admit off the bat, that the choice between #1 and #2 was very difficult. I really like both of these wines very much, but what it came down to was the Yellowtail is $3 - $4 cheaper, so that was the tie breaker.

Pouring this wine into a glass is something I never get tired of. The deep rich color as it fills up the glass is very inviting. You can just tell from the onset this is a bold wine. The aroma is just as enticing. It is one of those wines I just simply enjoy smelling. All of that being said, what makes this wine tops in my book is the consistent, smooth taste. This is a wine I often pair up with a steak on the grill. I can't think of a more enjoyable Saturday evening, then a piece of grilled beef, and a bottle of Bogle Petit Shiraz. I must also admit that this is my wife's favorite wine, which is good because we get to share a bottle ervy now and again, but is also bad because we have to share a bottle every now and again :) It is also a wine that invites a cold fall day with a nice pot of beef chilli. For what I look for in a wine, this one has it for sure.

Rating: 4 Corks (A very close #2)

Yellowtail - Shiraz

Price: $6.99
Region: Australia
Year: 2006

OK, as I promised a couple of times already, I am taking a quick break from the task of picking an untried wine out each week, and am going to run through my list of "default wines". I have a pretty good list for my top five, and have decided to start at the top, instead of working my way to my number 1. Not quite sure why, but just what I felt like doing.

So, that being said, I am sure it is of no surprise that my #1 default wine is Yellowtail Shiraz. I think I could review this one in my sleep if I had to. It started a few years back when I had a membership at Costco, and used to make monthly runs to stock up on wine. I always picked up a couple 1.5L bottles of Yellowtail for a mere $9.99. Now that I no longer have my Costco membership, I just grab a bottle now and then at my local wine store, but eventhough it is a few dollars more, it is still a bargain that is hard to beat in my opinioin.

When I first pour a glass, the color is a deep dark ruby red. Definitely no lack of color here. The smell is typcial Shiraz, with just a hint of spice, but in general very appealing. As is always the case though, what really keeps me coming back is the taste. For an inexpensive wine, I find that Yellowtail always hits the spot. I happend to have a bottle this weekend because I knew I was having a simple dinner of pizza, and there's not much more I like with pizza then a bottle of Yellowtail Shiraz. It has a nice bold fruity flavor, with a slightly spicy feel, but definitely doesn't over do it. The one think I find most appealing is that from bottle to bottle, from year to year, the product is very consistent. That is definitely one of the attributes I look for in my default picks, and hence why this one ranks #1.

Rating: 4 Corks (#1 for a reason)

Mirassou - Pinot Noir

Price: $8.99
Region: California
Year: 2007

Well, looks like I missed my first week of having a review, but it was actually due to not having a bottle of wine the weekend before last. Lots going on, and just didn't get a chance to sit down and relax. for reasons of my own sanity, I am going to try to not make a habit of that. Anyway, while I was thinking about what to try this past weekend, I was kind of at a loss. I wanted to do something at least a little different, but was sure what. Then, for some reason I was thinking about the fact it was starting to turn cold out, the leaves were changing, and I happened to remember an article I read a year or two back about this time that indicated it was perfect weather for a Pinot Noir.

Now, i will be the first to admit this is where my inexperience is going to shine through. I just have never really gotten the Pinot Noir thing. I obviously love a deep, bold red wine, and these rarely, if ever fit that category for me. That being said, I have found one or two over the years that I kind of enjoyed. Anyway, what I usually look for, I just throw out the windows and try to focus on how much I enjoy the wine itself. As with all Pinot that I can remember having, the color was opaque. Just nothing there for me to get excited about, but I think that is one of the reason I never really warmed up to this wine. The smell on this one was pleasing, and almost floral. I took a sip, and wasn't immediately swayed one way or the other, but in my opinion, it had kind of an earthy taste. Again, not my favorite flavor when looking for a wine to have, but overall it wasn't horrible. So, I had a couple of glasses one night, and chalked it up to trying something I know I'm just not very good providing deep insight into. I did leave about 1/2 the bottle, and after storing it in my wine refrigerator overnight, I must say I enjoyed it the 2nd night a little bit more then the first. Couldn't tell you why that might be, but I guess as far as inexpensive Pinot Noir's go, it was acceptable.

Rating: 2.5 Corks (Middle of the road)

Hayman Hill - Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $12.99
Region: California
Year: 2005

It is definitely starting to feel more like fall these days. This past weekend was no exception. I was waling through the store this past Friday, trying to find something that would match up well with a good beef stew (I was hoping this would be dinner on Sunday night). Therefore, I picked out a Cabernet. Now I usually steer away from the signs that tout a wine, but this one just caught my eye it had a sign in front of it that said, best Cab under $20. Since it was also under my self-imposed ceiling of $15, I decided to give it a try.

When Sunday rolled around, my anticipation fro beef stew was a little misplaced. I wasn't too far off though, as we did have beef chili, which is a great cold weather dinner as well. So, right before dinner, while having some crackers and port wine cheese spread, I poured myself a glass. This wine was definitely full-bodied, based on the deep dark color. It was nearly purple. After a quick swirl, I took a sniff, and the smell was very pleasant. So far, I was on board that this would be a wine worth paying a couple of extra dollars for. When I took my first sip, I noticed right away that the flavor had great balance. It was very consistent from start to finish. In addition, it really had great length, and the taste just hung around for a couple of seconds. It was a very smooth wine, and went well with both my appetizer, and my bowl of chili. I would say overall I was very content with this wine, but I would say it was something I would rave about as the best Cabernet I've tasted under $20. Actually, I think it is on par with the Pepperwood Grove I reviewed previously, but twice the price, does not give you twice as good a wine. Worth giving a try though for sure.

Rating: 3.5 Corks (A very nice wine)

Happy Camper - Merlot

Price: $7.99
Region: California
Year: 2004

This week I didn't have time to go to the store myself and pick out something to review. In fact, I was busy both Friday, and Saturday night, so I didn't even get to enjoy a glass of wine either night. Luckily we had dinner with my wife's parents, on Sunday, which always involves a bottle of wine. In this case, it was something I had not only never tried before, but to be honest had never even seen on the store shelves before. Since my father-in-law and I usually shop at the same wine store, I knew it was something I could have stumbled across before, but just hadn't.

Anyway, the wine that was out to have with appetizers before diner, was a bottle of Happy Camper Merlot. I must admit my first impression was to laugh a little at the name, but there are plenty of wines today whose name is squarely based on a marketing ploy. So, I decided not to have any biases up front, and give it a try. The color was a little weak, but overall not too bad. What you would expect from an inexpensive Merlot. When I took a sniff, I really had trouble picking up any noticeable smell at all. I gave it a nice firm swirl to see if I could get anything the second time, and that didn't seem to help very much. When I took my first taste, it was a little stronger then the smell, which was almost non-existent, but not too much. It was smooth enough, and tasted just fine, but was kind of short in length and fairly nondescript. My overall impression is that if you are having a big party at your house, this would be a very safe bet to serve. I don't think you would get a lot of complaints since it is rather bland, but you won't get an rave reviews either.

Rating: 2.75 corks - (Rather tame Merlot. Maybe try for your next party)

Louis Bernard - Cotes-du-Rhone Villages

Price: $10.99
Region: France
Year: 2004

So far I have attempted to pick a wine each week that I have little or no knowledge on. I was also staying away from wines I knew received lots of praise and positive reviews. I just thought this would more likely then not influence my reviews. This week however, I decided to pick up a wine I knew received lots of awards, and also showed up on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list a couple of years back. I also thought I couldn't go wrong with a wine that only costs $10.99, yet had so much positive feedback.

Being that I'm not always up on the regions in France, and which type of grapes make up certain wines, the first thing I did was check out the bottle. This particular wine was a blend of 70% Grenache, and 30% Syrah. Now, if you've read these reviews each week, you probably know by now I always love a good Syrah, but have never gone out of my way to pick up a wine that was primarily Grenache. That being said, I poured a glass to have with dinner. The color of the wine was very dark, almost ruby red. In addition, the wine had a wonderful smell. It wasn't overly distinctive, but definitely pleasant. I love the smell of a good wine, and this was definitely worth taking a second sniff. So, when I took my first taste, I was not very surprised to find how much I enjoyed this wine. It was extremely well balanced, for the initial taste, through the very smooth finish. The taste hung around just long enough to invite another taste. I must say I was very impressed with this wine. I was a little hesitant that all of the things I read about this wine would set my expectations too high, but I must say it met them all. If your just looking for a good bottle of wine tonight, this one definitely fits the bill.

Rating: 4.5 corks - (This one is going to be hard to beat)

Montecillo - Rioja

Price: $8.99
Region: Spain
Year: 2004

Had a little extra time to walk around this week, so decided to wander into a different aisle. While most of the aisles in my local wine store are set up by variety, there are a couple that focus on wines from a particular region. Int his case, I went to take a look at the Spanish wines. I have to admit, this is a region that I haven't tried too many wines from, but ones that always seem to have good things written about them. The wine I chose was a Rioja, that was primarily made from the Tempranillo grape.

The first thing I noticed about this wine was its deep ruby color. I usually don't pay a whole lot of attention to color, but this one was definitely noticeable. After giving it a little swirl, and giving it a good smell, I also think it had a wonderful aroma. The first thing that came to mind was "floral". Although I try to stay away from being overly descriptive about smell, it just seemed more along those lines the say, fruity. While the first impression based on sight and smell were positive, now came the important part, and it didn't disappoint. This wine was very smooth, with a very long finish. I just liked teh overall taste very much, and the best thing was, it was just a little different then what I usually drink every week. I think overall if it had been another Shiraz or Merlot, I wouldn't be as impressed, but the uniqueness was just a good change of pace. I will defintiely seek out some other Tempranillo based wines to see if this turns into a new staple for me.

Rating: 3.75 corks (A great change of pace)

Wolf Blass - Yellow Label Shiraz

Price: $9.99
Region: Australia
Year: 2005

I was actually contemplating skipping the review this week because I wasn't sure I was going to have a chance to enjoy a bottle of wine due to other commitments, but as things worked out, Saturday turned into a good night for some wine. We also had a lot of rain, and it just had the feeling of one of those night you could sit in, watch a movie, and enjoy some wine. I headed over to a store closer to my house, but with a smaller selection. I've talked about my default wines before, and I promise to get that list up on the website soon, but there doesn't seem to be any doubt that my default variety, when I am having trouble deciding what to have, is Shiraz.

I have read a lot of good things about Wolf Blass Shiraz, and at $10, it seemed a bargain if all of what I read was true. The color and smell were what I expected. Very dark, almost purple color, and a nice aroma with a hint of spiciness. I took my first sip, and I was not disappointed. The intial taste was very smooth, not too fruity, with an excellent finish. It definitely had slightly spicy flavor you would expect from a Shiraz, but not bitter, and definitely not overpwering. This wine went especially well with the chicken, artichoke pizza that we ordeered. So all in all, I would say a very good bottle of wine, for a rainy Saturday night!

Rating: 3.5 corks (Won't be disappointed)

Coastline - Cabernet Savignon

Price: $8.99
Region: Paso Robles - California
Year: 2006

A little late again on my review, but this past Monday being Labor Day, my schedule was just a little off. Anyway, the Saturday and Sunday part of this weekend was fairly normal. I bought a couple of different wines, but the one I decided to review was a Cabernet Savignon that I had never tried before. To be honest, I had never even noticed it before, there was a section of Cabernet wines in the store that were listed in the buying guide for the store, so it seemed like a safe enough bet.

I opened up this bottle of wine to have with a good block of sharp cheddar cheese as an appetizer. There are few things I like better then a quality cheese and a good glass of red wine, so I was hoping I found a gem, even though at this price it is a rare find. As would be expected for a Cabernet Savignon, the color of the wine was very dark red, but the smell was a little light. It definitely had a nice smell, but it just wasn't very strong. The first sip started out well enough, with a good first impression, but then the the taste seemed to become muted. The taste just didn't linger much at all, so in general, it had no length. One of the best parts of drinking a wine to me is when the taste hangs around for a few seconds, and this wine just died off too quickly. I wouldn't say it isn't totally without merit, as the initial taste is good, but I was just hoping it would hang around a bit longer. For the price, it is definitely worth giving a try, but it doesn't rise to the top of the list.

Rating: 2.75 corks (A middle of the pack wine)

Goats Do Roam - Red Table Wine

Price: $9.99
Region: South Africa/Rhone style
Year: 2006

Fist, sorry for the delayed review. it has been a busy week at work, and I just found some time today to write the review. This past weekend was a normal wine weekend. Just looking at my local store for a bottle of wine to relax with. I ended up going to the movies with my two sons on Friday night, so I didn't have a glass with dinner, but instead when I got home and the kids went to bed. Just a glass or two to relax with after a long week.

I have a few friends I work with in South Africa, and one of the topics we chat about sometimes is wine. They tell me how good the wine is from their local "wine farms:. I've been wanting to give this one a try for quite some time because apart from the fact it is from South Africa, I think ti is also a pretty funny concept and story. I'm not quite sure what grapes make up this wine, but I believe it is a Rhone style wine that is described as "spicy" on the label.

It has a very nice color and a nice smell as well. I would say a touch of a floral smell. While at first taste, I would not describe it as overly spicy, it did have a nice little bite to it that soon finished smoothly. Upon further tasting, it had an overall nice character. it was relatively smooth, and the finish was not overly long, but it didn't go away right away either. i was quite pleased with the wine and would surely give it another try. maybe with friends next time to have a laugh or two about the name and its origin.

Rating: 3.5 corks (A solid choice)

Pacific Peak - Merlot

Price: $2.97
Region: California
Year: unknown


I went away with the family this weekend to the beach. Normally that would mean a glass of wine out at a restaurant, but not this time. The reason is because we happened to stay in a NJ beach town that is considered a dry county. Kind of strange, I must admit, but it was a fun family weekend nonetheless. Anyway, I did get back in time for dinner at my wife's parents house, which included a wine I had not tried yet. It is not from a lack of noticing the wine that I hadn't tried it, but the simple fact that it only costs $2.97, caused me to steer clear. However, since a bottle was opened, I gave it a try.

A Merlot is definitely something I usually have with a light appetizer, which was the case here. Nothing really stood out from the moment I took a look, to the first taste. In my opinion, everything was right on par with a bottle of wine that cost three dollars. The color was a little weak, the smell was dull, and the overall taste was bland. Simply nothing stood out in my mind about this wine. If I drank wine every day of the week, I guess its low price would be a factor to consider, but I enjoy the overall experience of a glass of wine too much to settle for this selection.

Rating: 2 Corks (You get what you pay for with this wine)

Little Penguin - Shiraz

Price: $7.99
Region: Australia
Year: 2006

Nothing too out of the ordinary this weekend. I went out to dinner Saturday night, but to a new Irish pub in town, so I had a half and half (Guiness & Harp). No wine to review from that meal. We did have a nice family dinner on Sunday evening, so in the time I dropped my son off for guitar lessons on Sunday afternoon, I dropped by my favorite wine store which is right around the corner. I only had about 30 minutes before I had to get back to pick up my son, so there wasn't a lot of browsing going on. I knew we were having a chicken and pasta dish, so if I had time to think about it, the smart choice would have been to go over to the Italian wine section, and pick something out to change up the pace a little. Instead, I found a bottle of Australian Shiraz that I have almost bought on more then one occasion, but just always seemed to put it back for some reason. I must admit that in this price range, and when it comes to Australian wines, I always gravitate to Yellowtail, which I find is hard to beat. Which reminds me. Starting soon, I am going to do a few weeks of two reviews. I am going to do my normal weekly review, but am also going to review one of my "default" wines as well. I will create a separate list of my top 5 default wines, which I can guarantee, Yellowtail Shiraz will be one of them.

Now, on to the the wine for this week. The color was very much like a lot of Shiraz, but it seemed to be a shade on the paler side. Nothing too noticeable, but just a little lighter in color then I was expecting. The smell was also reminiscent of an inexpensive Shiraz. It had a little bit of a floral smell to it, but overall generally appealing. Again, not to sound like a broken record, but the first impression after taking a sip, was not overly surprising. Shiraz is usually one of my favorite varietals, and the taste was not bad, but what did surprise me was how short it was in length. That isn't usually a word I would use to describe a wine, and I'm not trying to sound overly complex, but it was almost like the taste was there, and then it wasn't. One of the things I enjoy about a good wine is the smooth finish that tends to linger for a moment. This wine simply did not have that. Overall I would say it was an acceptable wine, but not something I would rush out to buy.

Rating: 2.75 corks (Acceptable, but surely nothing special)

Toasted Head - Merlot

Price: $12.99
Region: California
Year: 2003

In my day to day life, and conversations, there are a few people I talk to where the conversations tend to gravitate towards wine. It is not uncommon that we find ourselves making recommendations to each other on recent wines we have enjoyed. This weekend happened to be one of those times where I followed up on a recommendation from a good friend and former colleague. When we worked together, we would almost provide each other with weekly recommendations, but the communications have been a little less frequent as of late. However, with a recent email exchange came the perfect opportunity pick up like old times. So, this one is for you Roland...

This is just ones of those wines that sticks out from a marketing stand point (at least to me). A big old bear on the label, breathing fire, and called Toasted Head. However, these are also wines that I tend to shy away from, for a reason I'm not quite sure about. Anyway, when my friend recommended I give it a try, I thought writing a review was the perfect opportunity. While you might start to see a pattern here with my Friday nights, this past Friday was a relax with a tasty burger from a local hamburger joint kind of night. Just the type of meal I look to pair with a bottle of merlot. Now, since I was in a different part of town then normal, I went to a wine store that is not my usual lower price mega-store, so I probably paid $2 more then I normally would have, but still reasonable.

So, in taking a first look, the color was a little pale compared to some of the recent shiraz and cabernet varieties that I have had, but still appealing. The smell reminded me of something right away, but it wasn't overly pleasant. After trying to place the smell, all I could come up with was the faint smell of rubbing alcohol, but not nearly that pungent. Overall, color and smell were OK, but nothing to write home about. At this point, my expectations were not sky high, but with the first taste, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a rather smooth merlot, and had a nice finish. I wouldn't say outstanding, but pleasant for sure. What I also found is that in my opinion, the second glass was even a little better then the first. There are still some merlots that are a part of my "default" wines that in a pinch I would grab before I grabbed another bottle of Toasted Head, but overall a solid choice. So far, no clunkers in my first few weeks of writing reviews.

Rating: 3.25 corks (Might work for you)

Francis Ford Coppola - Rosso & Bianco

Price: $9.99
Region: California
Varietal: Zinfandel 48%/Syrah 27%/Cabernet Savignon 25%
Year: 2006

OK, back to having a little more time to roam the wine store and pick out something I hadn't tried before. While I have had a few different bottles of Coppola wine, namely the Merlot and Cabernet Savignon, I hadn't yet tried the relatively inexpensive blend called Rosso & Bianco. On this particular day, I wasn't looking for something to have with a particular dinner, just something to enjoy on a Saturday night at home. While I will be the first to admit red zinfandel is not my first choice of wines to kick back and relax with, I thought I'd give this one a try since it was blended with two other varieties I enjoy very much.

Based on the grapes used for this blend, it was no surprise that the color was a deep dark red. When I swirled the wine around the glass, and took my first sniff, I was again not surprised by what I smelled. When I took my first sip, that made it three for three. To me, this wine looks, smells, and taste like a classic bottle of red zinfandel, but with just a tad less edge. Maybe the syrah and cabernet just round off the corners a little. I am not the best at relating the smell and taste of a wine back to everyday food items, but the word that first came to mind was spicy. Now, I will be the first to agree with the notion that a good serving of spicy food needs a wine that can stand up to it, and this is when I would be the first to purchase a good bottle of red zinfandel (and for the price, this one might qualify). However, if I am just looking for a bottle to sit back and relax with on a Saturday night, my preference is for something a little smoother. The one prop I will give this wine is that the 2nd glass seemed to be a little better then the first.

So, maybe this one is just a victim of the circumstances, and given a different scenario I would rate it a little higher, but given how it played out, I am going to give this one 3 corks. Not a bad wine, but not an everyday wine either.

Rating: 3 corks (match this one up with the right dish)

Black Box - Merlot

Price: $19.99
Region: California (Sonoma)
Year: 2005

I didn't have a whole lot of time this weekend to walk around the store looking for an interesting wine to review. This was the last weekend of my son's summer baseball tournament season, and there was lots of time on the road, and in the stands watching baseball. While I hope this is definitely not the norm, I had to fall back on a wine I have had five or six times in the past. Since I most definitely was only going to make one stop at the wine store this weekend, I wanted to pick up something that would last me a couple days. Therefore, I picked up a box of Black Box Merlot.

As I mentioned above, I have tried this wine a few times before, so I am kind of straying from my original guidelines, but it won't happen often. One other bit of information, is that I already know I really like this wine, however, I have never tried to observe it in detail, and have definitely never written a review on it. So hear goes. First, even though it is $20, you get 4 bottles of a standard 750ml bottle of wine, so if you look at it like that, it is really only costing you $5 per bottle. Given that, the Merlot had a deep rich color, and a wonderful smell. The smell was definitely not overpowering, but pleasing. I never have bought a wine because it smelled good, but it is still a pleasant experience when you find a good smelling wine. It just seems adds to the all around enjoyment. The taste of the Black Box Merlot is tough to beat for the price. It is a very smooth wine, with no bite whatsoever. Sunday, I was enjoying a simple backyard cookout, with the main course being hamburgers. I'm not sure I could have picked a better combination for what I paid for the dinner and wine. Overall a very relaxing end to a very hectic weekend, and one I will try again before the end of the summer. And the best thing is, I have some left over for the week just in case the mood strikes me to have a glass some time after work.

Rating: 4 corks - (Definitely worth putting on the "buy" list)
____________________________________________________________________

Terra-Barossa - Shiraz

Price: $12.99
Region: Australia
Year: 2006

I had a couple of wines to choose from this weekend, but I decided to go with a wine I had at my wife's parents house for dinner. This is usually the type of wine I would have tried before, because I generally like Australian Shiraz, and the price is about the range I find myself buying, but interestingly enough, I had never had this selection. It was paired with a Mexican salad as the main course, so something that was a little spicy. The general rule of thumb seems to be that a Shiraz, or a Zinfandel stands up well to spicy food. So, here is what I thought...

As with most Australian Shiraz, the color was deep red. I swirled it around a bit to release the aroma, and it was as I expected. It just smelled like a Shiraz, which is to say in my opinion a little spicy, for lack of a better adjective. Now, in the buying guide of my local wine store, it indicates this wine scored well with Wine Enthusiast, so my expectations were automatically a little high. I gave it a taste, and my first impression was that it was good, but nothing that stood out as exceptional. It paired well with the salad, but I have tasted similar Shiraz from Australia at a little cheaper price ($8 - $10). overall it was a good wine, but nothing spectacular. Based on the price, the high expert review, and my experience, I would say it ranks as a solid 3 corks..

Rating: 3 Corks (Give it a try)
______________________________________________________________

PepperWood Grove - Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $6.99
Region: California
Year: 2006

I've thought about picking up this wine a few times in the past, but each time decided to pass. It just happens to be at the price range that make me hesitate. I tend to solidly buy wine in the $8 - $12 range, and I usually need to have a recommendation from someone to buy below, or over that range for an every day wine. Now, I had a reason to give it a try.

Although I don't specifically rate sight and smell, those characteristics do tend to have some impact on whether I enjoy a wine or not. The color on this wine what you would expect out of a Cabernet, very dark red. For the darkness of the color, the smell was actually underwhelming. It was a little weak which was kind of surprising. I then gave it a taste, and was quite surprised. It started off slightly weak, but it got better quickly. It had a very good finish for a wine in this price range, and very little bite. I must say it was much better then I was expecting. For a wine that cost only $6.99, I would have to say overall it was very good. One I would definitely buy again.

Rating: 3.5 Corks (A bargain for the price)
______________________________________________________________

Additional Guidelines...

Before I review my first wine, I wanted to create a space to create guidelines, rules, or goals for my reviews, and then update along the way if necessary. I'll try to keep this in a list format to make them easier to read....

• The majority of the wines reviewed will be under $15, because as I mentioned, that is what I usually drink. There will be exceptions for special occasions or dinners out, but the goal here is to provide some information that most people can understand, on wines they can afford.
• I will attempt to stay away from wines I already know well. There are a group of wines that I call my default wines, but my goal is to break out of the habit of buying the same thing each week, and hopefully help others to do the same thing.
• I will provide a verbal review of each wine, along with what food I enjoyed it with (unless I happen to be drinking the wine without food), but will also have a simple rating system as follows...
• 1 Cork = Leave it on the shelf
• 2 Corks = Below average, there's better out there
• 3 Corks = Average, worth giving a try
  
• 4 Corks = Very good wine, definitely worth buying
  
• 5 Corks = Highly recommend, a can't miss selection
  

Getting Started... My weekly wine reviews

Like many people I am sure, I very much enjoy a bottle of wine. Sometimes with my wife or family, other times with friends, and every so often by myself to just relax, and enjoy. Over the years, I have purchased many magazines, read many newspaper reviews, and even purchased daily wine calendars, in an attempt to feel knowledgeable on the subject. I often went online to read one the many websites that provide in depth reviews. The problem was, I rarely related to the reasons they decided to recommend a particular wine. it seems there are so many things to take into consideration when reviewing a wine; color, smell, viscosity, food pairing, etc. It started to become a difficult task to pick out a bottle of wine. Most of the reviews talk about things I just don't seem to experience when I drink a good glass of wine. What I do know when I drink a glass of wine, is that it is either enjoyable, or it is not. Usually this come down to taste, but I will admit there are other determining factors as well. What I have found though, is that a complex wine review, doesn't always make it easier to head out to the wine store and pick out a bottle for the evening.

All of this led me to a very simple idea... Pick out a relatively inexpensive bottle of wine every weekend, that I then review in simple terms, that can easily be understood. I will be the first to admit, I have read hundreds of wine reviews, and I can rarely taste or smell what the experts indicate they taste or smell. To be honest, sometimes I'm not sure I would want to. One of my all time favorites what the "hint" of pencil shavings in a particular high end wine. Now, I don't know about you, but when I go search out a new bottle of wine, pencil shavings is not on the top of my list of tastes to uncover. I promise to keep it simple, and to the point, and provide not the view of the expert, because I am not one, but of the everyday person looking for something new to try. My goal will be to review wines under $20, because simply enough, that is what I usually buy. When special occasions arise, a more expensive bottle may be in order. While one might wonder why anyone would care what I think about wine, I don't find it any different then an expert providing his or her opinion on the topic. I am sure some will agree, and other disagree, but that is what opinions are all about. I look forward to this endeavor and providing Wine Reviews You Can Understand... Milt