| Rating |
Wine |
Date
|
| 94 |
|
7/11/08 |
|
$45.00 at Sea Smoke
This wine was purchased in a "futures" sale back in 2003, and it's been aging nicely until today.
The nose is seriously intoxicating, rich ripe fruits layered on top of a subtle oakiness. Perfectly sweet cherry, some cocoa, and a good amount of vapors.
The palate is amazing. Fairly rich and bold for a pinot, but I love it. Great structure, stickiness and multidimensional. The finish starts out with a load of spice, black pepper and more. But then it smooths out into silky soft, long finish.
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|
| 83 |
|
5/23/08 |
|
$2.39 at Smart & Final
Ripe notes on the nose but fairly balanced. Just as good if not better than a 2 buck chuck. The finish is actually in existence. Great deal if you're looking for insanely cheap wine that is drinkable.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 88 |
|
5/22/08 |
|
$9.99 at Bevmo
Nice and rich, a good mouthfeel. Good long finish, w/ spice. Black berry dominates, but nice and dry.
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|
|
| 90 |
|
5/16/08 |
|
Damp earth, brick, black pepper, and mild chili pepper (anaheim?) on the nose, with not much fruit at all. There was a rich, dense sensation on the palate. The body also showed characteristics of minerals, chalk, and dustiness.
Major spice beginning early on in the finish, lingering nicely for some time ... VERY spicy. Overall I thought it was pretty tasty, however, it would probably pair better with food as it was a little too rich/dense to just sip on its own on a warm night.
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|
| 86 |
|
2/18/08 |
|
$4.99 at Trader Joe's
A really good deal. Comes with a nice rich nose, with so deep fruity ripeness and spice. Very drinkable, and for 5 dollars I'll be back.
The bottle says "Napa County" ... not "Napa Valley", but that's still a good sign (vs. "California" or even "North Coast California"). It means we're not dealing with random grapes from all over CA, just random grapes from all over Napa County.
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|
| 86 |
|
2/09/08 |
|
$12.99 at Smart & Final
Anise, dark fruits on the nose. Sort of tart on the palate, but this wasn't decanted and may have improved in that regard. I feel like it really could've opened up with some breathing.
After a while I started getting some strong raspberry notes. The finish isn't that impressive, some ok chewiness, but the flavor doesn't linger like a better wine would finish.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 87 |
|
1/27/08 |
|
$15.00 at L.A. Cetto (Tijuana Location)
Dense notes of ripe blackberries and cola on the nose. The palate is soft, has those same flavors, with some additional notes of tobacco and wood (cigar box) near the finish.
There are a decent amount of tannins, but also a wet feel to it, and it finishes relatively short.
I heard a rumor the 2002 Nebbiolo is the best wine they've ever made.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 93 |
|
1/14/08 |
|
$35.00 at Longs Drugs
What a steal! On the nose I sensed notes of ripe cherry, leading to cherry cola, with a hint of chocolate. This wine had a multi-dimensional, well-structured palate that was dry with medium to heavy tannins with great balance. The finish brought a good amount of spice with some lingering stickiness. Overall a great example of a CA Bordeaux blend.
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|
|
| 86 |
|
1/09/08 |
|
$5.02 at Bevmo
An intense nose of citrus, grass, and some tropical notes. Taste is a little acidic, and also has a good deal of citrus flavors (mainly lemon).
There is a slight bite at the end, and an overall lively sauv blanc. A decent wine for the price (BevMo 5 cent sale, 2 for $10.04), would probably pair well with food, such as a jerk chicken dish.
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|
|
| 88 |
|
1/09/08 |
|
$12.99 at Keils
A very nice and delicate cab at this price point. I get some dark ripe fruits, some cigar box, and subtle spice.
Well balanced and velvety on the palate. Not your over-the-top sticky cab, and some might say it's a bit thin.
I actually ended up getting this bottle for $5.99, as it was mis-marked at the grocery store. I didn't realize until I opened it and was like, wow, this was $5.99? Then I looked at my receipt and it read $12.99. The store offered a refund because it was their mistake. I think it's a great deal at either price.
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|
|
| 87 |
|
1/08/08 |
|
$8.99 at Keils
Probably the most intense sauv blanc I've ever tasted. I just noticed even the bottle says so, here's the first sentence: "Fresh, crisp and intense."
The nose contains some grass and floral notes, along with strong citrus aromas. Then it hits your palate like someone threw a lime at your mouth. There's so much tart acidity that it triggers those glands at the back of your jaw under your ears.
It might be a little rough on the edges because of it's young age (2007). It should also definitely be paired with some type of food. Regardless, I think you're going to need to be a sauv blanc lover to appreciate this wine.
2/2 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 82 |
|
12/24/07 |
|
Spings Liquor Outlet
Something funky on the nose, not particularly inviting. Tart on the palate, red raspberries, some spice, and a mineral nature to it. A bit thin and one dimensional, nothing really impressive here.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 87 |
|
12/24/07 |
|
$8.99 at Spings Liquor Outlet
What you'd expect out of a malbec-syrah blend ... A rich inviting nose of ripe fruits, red brick, and other earthy notes. There was an initial tartness on the palate the opened up quickly with a little airtime, and a bit wet. Nice black pepper spice as the finish begins, moving into ripe cherry notes. An overall soft, enjoyable wine for the price.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 90 |
|
12/15/07 |
|
$9.99 at Trader Joe's
An ideal sauv blanc, for me. Citrus and tropical notes on the nose, not too much though. The palate experience is nice and clean; similar to the nose, those same characteristics are there. The typical sauv blanc acidity is there as well, but it's balanced by the slight sweet notes of melon and pear.
As you ease into the finish it's subtle, but great, begging for more. Highly enjoyable and recommended, especially due to the price point. I'm a big fan of sauv blancs and I will be back for more of this in the near future.
2/2 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 87 |
|
12/15/07 |
|
$12.99 at Costco
Smells like a creamy/oaky chardonnay. Tastes the same, but nice and balanced, with vanilla being the dominant taste.
Some needed acidity begins to sneak through as your work your way to the finish, and the finish hangs around for a bit.
Again, this doesn't taste at all like a pinot gris/grigio, but for not really liking chards (because that's what it tastes like) this wine was somewhat enjoyable for the price.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 84 |
|
12/02/07 |
|
$4.99 at Trader Joe's
Got some spice and chocolate notes on the nose. This wine has a good taste to it, but I wouldn't say it's typical sangiovese. It's leaning more towards an oaked out $5 bottle of cab or something. It seems balanced, a little wet, but it's totally drinkable.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 89 |
|
11/28/07 |
|
K&L Wines
A fantastic nose of raspberry, anise, wood, and rich dark fruits. But the taste screams young age! Very, very tart and thin, with a little red brick dust for fun. I wish there was a lot more on the palate to rave about, but unfortunately, this wine doesn't seem to bring it. I worked the hell out of it for hours--decanting, whisking, swirling, somersaults? ... just trying to bring out the true intention of the winemakers, but I somehow couldn't quite get there. I finally got some black pepper out of the finish, just barely.
Lacking richness and boldness on the palate, this wine displayed incredible tartness and immaturity (because it's French vs CA?). The nose was phenomenal, but that's about it. If it actually tasted like this 20 years from now (I might have opened it a few years before prime), and I thought the same thing, I would say I'm not a fan of French Bordeaux vs California meritage blends.
For some reason I'd like more out of a 7 year old French Bordeaux, but maybe I just don't like French Bordeaux's.
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|
|
| 84 |
|
11/14/07 |
|
$5.99 at Trader Joe's
Not as spicy as I would like out of a syrah. I'm not sure what to make of this. It seems totally oaked out, but has a nice dry mouthfeel, and coats all over.
I'm gonna say if you're into saving some cash, and are into drinkable wines that might not display the true varietal characteristics, then hit this up. I think it's totally drinkable at this price point.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 87 |
|
11/11/07 |
|
$8.59 at Smart & Final
This is my style sauv blanc, it reminds me of NZ sauv blancs.
Aromas were as expected from a sauv blanc, with a citrus and vegetable nose. One the palate the same characteristics persisted. I tasted some lemon, apple, grass, and other vegetable flavors. The acidity was well balanced with some sweetness.
The finish was dry and spicy, but didn't last too long. I thought this was a good deal for the money.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 84 |
|
10/31/07 |
|
$6.99 at Albertsons/Lucky
Rich berry action on the nose, strong cherry, with maybe some cedar and oak. Strong oak on the palate, but it's pretty thin and one dimensional. It does coat your gums a bit, but the finish on the palate is fairly quick. An ok wine for the price.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 88 |
|
10/30/07 |
|
$6.99 at Cal Mart
A pleasant nose with some anise and sweet dark fruits. The taste brings some cherry, some earthiness, but finishes a bit tart.
It has a good sticky mouthfeel which leads to a nice long finish. I think this is a great bargain if you can find it under like $12.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 85 |
|
10/26/07 |
|
$7.99 at Costco
The nose is pleasant, with deep notes of chocolate spice and sugary fruits.
Nothing special on the palate, nice and smooth, sort of ripe, but didn't necessarily taste of a cheap wine. I must also admit I'm not a zin fan. It was drinkable for the price point and I'll leave it at that.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 83 |
|
10/26/07 |
|
$8.99 at Trader Joe's
The color is the first thing that strikes me: gold, more like a chard. It's hard to pull anything significant out of the nose, maybe some kind of spice, and that's about it.
The taste leaves even more to be desired, albeit, there's nothing really funky going on and it's pretty smooth and easy to drink. There are no crisp finish and no citrus or tropical notes that I like to in a sauv blanc.
If you like those over the top sauv blancs like I do, steer clear of this baby.
2/2 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 90 |
|
10/19/07 |
|
$14.99 at Costco
Big grapefruit, lime and other tropical and citrus notes on the nose. I thought the nose was the best part about the tasting experience, as it really examplifies what I expect out of this varietal.
A tad grassy on the palate, not as crisp, and "tingly" as I would like, but nice and smooth. The finish is not as sharp as I'm looking for, but it does linger a bit, and the overall taste was pretty pleasant for me.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 86 |
|
10/17/07 |
|
$11.99 at Costco
Typical zin nose with sweet fruity notes. Nice smooth mouthfeel with a decent finish. Probably a goto zin at this price point.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 88 |
|
10/03/07 |
|
$11.99 at Costco
On the nose there are mainly floral notes, with a bit of fruit.
The taste is pretty enjoyable, lots of sour apple. The finish is not as sharp as I expected/want from a sauv blanc. It's nice and smooth, seems pretty balanced.
Not as citrusy/tropical as I like in a quality sauv blanc, but not bad for the money, however, I think I prefer the style of Nobilo's cheaper counterpart available at Trader Joe's (non-Icon label).
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|
|
| 86 |
|
10/03/07 |
|
$5.02 at Bevmo
A rich nose with hints of chocolate, ripe fruits, and cinnamon.
Decent mouthfeel for the price, with strong notes of cherry. Nice and dry with a good amount of spice, I recommend bringing some food in with this wine.
Got this at BevMo's 5 cent wine sale (2 for $10.04), Overall a great deal for the money when you're looking for a bargain.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 87 |
|
8/20/07 |
|
This wine has a very delicate mouthfeel, which might been a result of it's age and the hour or so it decanted. However, it tasted a bit "wet".
Contained hints of tomato, it was nice and spicy, with a relatively long finish.
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|
|
| 86 |
|
8/20/07 |
|
A rich nose of black cherry, lots of spice, chocolate, cinamon. The finish was slightly tart.
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|
|
| 85 |
|
8/16/07 |
|
A freshly chlorinated pool nose. Watery yet flavorful? ... yeah. Very tart finish, but a lot going on before that. Picked up some strawberry and various floral notes.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 88 |
|
8/09/07 |
|
$14.99 at Jug Shop
Bell pepper, cheese, and some berry notes on the nose. The taste is very musty and smokey, like drinking out of a cigar box (cedar?). A nice full and long lasting mouthfeel.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 90 |
|
8/09/07 |
|
$28.00 at William Cross
A nice, rich, inviting nose with hints of boysenberry, chocolate, and cinnamon.
The taste brings some cherry, and it has a very round mouthfeel ... balanced. Some oaky vanilla on the finish. Overall, a very enjoyable wine.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 86 |
|
8/06/07 |
|
Some maple syrup on the nose, and the sweetness ends there. This wine is ultra dry, on the verge of watery.
Like a typical CA rose with an ice cube. It finished with a bit of sour strawberry. I think I enjoyed this wine so much because it was so distinct from the roses I normally drink.
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|
| 86 |
|
8/06/07 |
|
This bordeaux-style wine is from South Africa. To me, the nose consisted of the holy trinity of cajun cuisine, onions, peppers and celery.
The taste continued on from the nose, with hints of tomato and black pepper added to the sauté. I just kept getting more cooked food flavors than typical wine flavors.
It had a good body, lots of structure, good mouthfeel ... but just not that tasty.
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|
| 87 |
|
8/03/07 |
|
This is the Russian River Valley Estate bottle, which I think is the "regular" (non-reserve) one you'd find at a chain store.
A damp earthy nose, with a balanced taste, highlighted by red fruit flavors. Nice finish that lingers a bit.
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|
| 87 |
|
8/01/07 |
|
A pungent nose that is kind of fumey, worried me a bit. The taste is a somewhat tart, I like that. There's a hint of blueberry, good overall flavor, some carbonation, with a crispy kick on the finish. A bit "wet" tasting, but not too sweet.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
| 88 |
|
8/01/07 |
|
Very inviting nose, with floral and other pale fruit notes. A nice smooth taste, the opposite of empty/flat. Green apple flavor was the most distinct, with maybe a touch of vanilla.
The finish could've been a bit sharper, but overall I really enjoyed this wine.
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|
|
| 84 |
|
7/27/07 |
|
$4.99 at Bargain Bank
It's a shame my local Bargain Bank is going out of business, it's deals like this that make me a regular customer.
For a $5 wine I thought this was very tasty. A sophisticated nose of rich, ripe fruits, chocolate, and cedar. Balanced on the way in, with a nice bold mouthfeel.
It stood up well to a rich braised beef/pasta dish, I needed another sip upon each bite!
0/0 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 89 |
|
7/26/07 |
|
$19.99 at Bevmo
Initially had a funked out nose, then with a number of swirls it really kicked in. Some spicy dried fruit on the nose ... fig? And a wet smell.
Some nice structure and stickiness on the palate. A bit tart on the finish. But I really did like this wine, I really like super tuscans.
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|
|
| 88 |
|
7/26/07 |
|
$19.99 at Trader Joe's
Thought this wine had a great nose, consisting of some damp, earthy flower bed, with hints of strawberry and other fruits.
The mouthfeel and taste was nice, some nice spice, well-balanced. It finished a bit flat, I think we might have decanted it for a little too long.
Overall, I thought it was well-priced at Trader Joe's ... one of the better pinot's I've had.
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|
|
| 88 |
|
6/24/07 |
|
$9.99 at Costco
Honeysuckle, with some mellon and grapefruit on the nose. The mouthfeel was very balanced, lemon and other citrus flavors, and a nice long, lasting finish which was pleasant. A bit tart near the end but I like that.
Another solid Marlborough sauv blanc. All in all I thought this was a solid deal for $10 at Costco and I'd buy again.
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|
|
| 87 |
|
6/22/07 |
|
$8.99 at Trader Joe's
A rich nose of ripe fruits, cloves and 5 spice. The taste keeps that going with white pepper, cinnamon, some vanilla and cherry cola.
Honestly, it was like eating a fresh cinnamon roll (the larger donut varietal), conservatively dipped in some rich red berry syrup. I think it might pack a little too much flavor for a sipper. Also, the finish leaves a little to be desired.
That being said, it was enjoyable for the price, and I would recommend this to anyone who's ready for a mouthful of rich flavors. (I decanted it for an hour)
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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|
|
| 88 |
|
6/15/07 |
|
$14.99 at Trader Joe's
The nose is big with some decent spice, some cinnamon, and a sweetness to it. It tastes a little over-ripe, but it's still somewhat enjoyable due to the body/mouthfeel and spice.
I would say it's more of a food wine than a sipper, that could stand up to heartier comfort foods such as a beef stew.
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|
|
| 85 |
|
6/14/07 |
|
$4.99 at Trader Joe's
A nice spicy wine with an earthy taste to it. A tad over the top with the ripeness, kind of raisiny. There is also a good deal of some smokiness going on with some pepper on top. Thought this was a great deal for $4.99.
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|
| 85 |
|
5/20/07 |
|
$8.99 at Bevmo
The nose is decent, cherry aromas shining through. The taste is uber smooth, could be interpreted as somewhat thin. There is no distinct finish, but it doesn't necessarily disappoint. If you can find this for less than $8 it's probably a good buy.
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|
| 87 |
|
5/15/07 |
|
$11.99 at Trader Joe's
Nose had hints of cinnamon, cedar, and deep ripe fruits -- the auroma was very rich and enticing.
The taste was long and rich, spicy, sticky, chalky, and a bit sharp. This could probably sit around for a while and soften up over time (even though it did decant for about an hour).
I would definitely recommend this cab for $12.
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| 84 |
|
5/09/07 |
|
$8.99 at Cala/Ralphs
I can't get a whole lot more than oak from the nose. Slightly tart, vanilla, sweet and raisiny, but it does have a real sticky mouthfeel.
If you're into a shallow-type oaky cab, you may be into this, but I don't think it's worth $9.
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| 87 |
|
5/04/07 |
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$11.99 at Cala/Ralphs
Cherry cola on the nose with some spice. Taste is overall very balanced, with solid notes of cherry, raspberry, and definitely some oaky vanilla action.
The finish lingered a bit with some breathing, somewhat spicy and satisfying. I would recommend this pinot for $12.
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| 85 |
|
5/01/07 |
|
$5.99 at Trader Joe's
Spicy and forward, thin and watery. Despite the initial thin feel, the finish does stick around for a bit, but not sticky.
Tastes like a pinot, or atleast the mouthfeel. Cherry cola.
Seems like this wine could soften up over time (decanting) or in the ole wine fridge. Tasted (and held up) well with my pesto/mushroom pizza.
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| 85 |
|
5/01/07 |
|
$9.99 at Cala/Ralphs
Nice and light, maybe a little too light, not surprisingly tasty. Nose brings black cherries, pepper, some damp earth (rain), and maybe a little cheese.
I like this wine, but not sure if it's necessarily worth the price -- even though it's not really expensive.
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| 90 |
|
4/23/07 |
|
$12.99 at Trader Joe's
These tasting notes are for the *Reserve Stagecoach* Stonehedge Cab -- NOT the normal Stonehedge Cab.
Aroma smells of rich ripe oak, asking you nicely to take a sip. The taste was pleasant, with layers of different lingering enjoyable flavors. The feel was delicate, yet abrasive at the same time, where it felt chalky, powdery, and almost sandy at times.
The slightly spicy finish lasts for a very long time, with a full mouth coat that you have to work to cleanse. Hours later remains of the wine still clungs to my mollars.
Overall I enjoyed this wine, but it would probably be better paired with a bold meal. It maybe a little overpowering on its own.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 83 |
|
4/23/07 |
|
$7.99 at Trader Joe's
The nose is a little powerful with petrol vapors. The taste is tart lemon, golden apple, and strong and uninviting.
Tastes like a crappy sauv blanc at times. This is not a wine that you can ease into, it just hits you hard.
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| 84 |
|
4/23/07 |
|
$5.99 at Cala
Oaky vanilla, smooth and overly ripe fruity.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 86 |
|
4/22/07 |
|
$9.99 at Trader Joe's
Nose gives hints of honey and cinnamon. The wine seems balanced, but offly sweet, kind of buttery. Good overall mouthfeel and body, nice structure.
It seems like a well-made wine but I'm just not a big fan of this varietal because of how sweet it is.
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| 87 |
|
4/22/07 |
|
$9.99 at Cala
The taste brings cherry/strawberry. It's light, but it has a decent mouthfeel.
Earthy and berry, with a spicy wet and not so crisp finish that tries to linger. I like this pinot for the price.
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| 84 |
|
4/21/07 |
|
$10.99 at Costco
Nothing! Thin as hell, and wet. Leaves me wanting much more. Where is this wine? I'm done. If you like wines that don't try to front on you, this one may work.
For the positives, this wine has a great nose, and maybe that's one of the reasons I was let down. And, after it was able to breath for a while the wine did improve to have more body.
I just think you could find a cheaper pinot that would beat this one. Or
2/2 users found this review helpful.
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| 85 |
|
4/20/07 |
|
$6.99 at Costco
A nice deep nose, with hints of leather and red fruits, like I walked into some old barn. Quick and thin on the palate, without much to hold onto. Notes of ... merlot?
It's just not that impressive, but it's a solid well-made wine.
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| 86 |
|
4/20/07 |
|
$4.99 at Cala
A nice soft feel to it, with a real fizzy kick to it.
Tastes of strawberries and under-ripe cherries. It may be a little thin, but if you swoosh it around for a while you can get a lot more out of this wine (spice and more body).
Would seem to pair well with lighter meals. A good deal for the price.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 85 |
|
4/18/07 |
|
$4.99 at Trader Joe's
A very ballsy nose. Spicy while being rich in ripe boysenberry, and other dark fruits I could not identify. With that kind of nose you'd expect the taste to be more full bodied, not to say it was overly thin. The flavor was unimpressive, but the finish brought some nice lasting spice.
Overall, a good deal for the price, especially if Syrah is your thing (it's not really mine).
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| 84 |
|
4/18/07 |
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$10.99 at Costco
Slightly acidic, doesn't really open up in your mouth. A little chalky and sweet like candy. I would expect more for $11 (because I'm a bargain wine shopper), but that might be asking too much since this is already on the cheaper side for wine prices.
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| 87 |
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4/16/07 |
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$11.99 at Bevmo
Light and spicy. Good layers and texture probably from the multiple varietal blend. Very enjoyable and good for the price.
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| 85 |
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4/16/07 |
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$8.99 at Bevmo
Not a bad cab, oaky/vanilla with good spice on the finish. Slightly musty, not great on its own (maybe better with food).
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| 86 |
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4/16/07 |
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$8.99 at Bevmo
Nose kinda brings it -- salt and pepper. Sweet but dry at the same time, nice and layered. My mouth is sticky. The middle of the taste is the best part because the finish is a little weak.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 84 |
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4/16/07 |
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$8.99 at Bevmo
Fruity, thin, smooth ... I could drink a lot of this wine. Finish is flat and unimpressive. (non-reserve version)
0/0 users found this review helpful.
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| 84 |
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4/16/07 |
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$7.99 at Bevmo
I like the mouthfeel of this wine, but it's kind of stale. Also fruity and spicy.
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| 83 |
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4/16/07 |
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$8.99 at Bevmo
Dusty, earthy, flat, cherry, candy.
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| 82 |
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4/16/07 |
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$7.99 at Bevmo
Smokey. When you take a quick sip and swallow there's something funky going on. But then if you swoosh it around in your mouth for a bit it mellows out. Flat, and I really want to say smoked mussels ... ok, I guess I just did.
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| 81 |
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4/16/07 |
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$4.50 at Bevmo
Sweet-butter-water, where's the popcorn. Finish falls terribly flat. Maybe viognier isn't my style?
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 87 |
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4/16/07 |
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$12.99 at Henry's
The nose was waaaay better than the beginning of the first taste, which was kinda funky. After that it was dusty, spicy, cherry, crabby (shellfish), sticky, all while being really soft. Finish falls flat a bit.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 84 |
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4/13/07 |
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$6.49 at Trader Joe's
Tasty sour apple (as in the green candied variety) and very very smooth, leaning towards thin and watery. Where you would expect a crisp punch in the mouth from a sauv blanc, the finish just dies.
Overall, the taste was there but this wine lacks any texture and crispiness that you'd expect from a sauv blanc.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 84 |
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4/13/07 |
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$6.59 at Costco
The nose is spicy, the taste is fruity and flat. Vanilla, and some funk. Musky (wasn't happy to learn where that scent originates) and watery.
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| 85 |
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4/12/07 |
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$6.89 at Costco
Did a double take when I took the first sip just because others at our blind tasting were saying it was really good. I didn't see the "really" in the "really good", but I'm no pro. Bold and spicy though.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 88 |
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4/12/07 |
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$7.99 at Costco
Vanilla nose, great spice, thick mouthfeel, very bold. I like it!
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 86 |
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4/12/07 |
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$13.99 at Trader Joe's
Spicy. Is this a syrah? Slightly thin, but at the same time I think it has some potential (aging?).
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| 84 |
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4/12/07 |
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$7.99 at Trader Joe's
On the dry side, slightly bitter and not well balanced. Fell flat.
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| 88 |
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4/12/07 |
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$18.99 at Costco
Great color, great nose. For some reason I want to say it smells like the beach (coconut surf wax?). It's well balanced, dry, I like it. Would go well with food or on its own.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 87 |
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4/12/07 |
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$13.99 at Costco
Bold nose that hits you hard. Spicy with a great structurally sound mouthfeel. Got some vanilla too.
I think this would go well with red sauce pasta and/or beef, because I pulled lots of tomato, and it has what it takes to stand up to hearty food.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 85 |
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4/12/07 |
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$5.99 at Trader Joe's
Not bad, a bit spicy throughout the taste, and pretty balanced.
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| 81 |
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4/12/07 |
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$6.99 at Costco
Tart and sour. Not dry enough for a pinot grigio. Not very balanced overall.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 83 |
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4/12/07 |
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$8.99 at Trader Joe's
Watery, lemon flavor. A little too acidic and tart.
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| 84 |
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4/10/07 |
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$5.99 at Bargain Bank
A bit too much sugar alcohol vapors on the nose. Slightly too acidic of a taste. And a bit watery.
I made this wine sound really bad but it's not that bad. I was just standing it up next to a slightly better pinot grigio and this one came in 2nd (out of 2).
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| 87 |
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4/10/07 |
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$6.99 at Bargain Bank
Inviting aromas of honeydew melon and some fragrant spice. Nice and dry, really smooth, enjoyable all around. Good deal for $7.
1/1 users found this review helpful.
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| 85 |
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4/08/07 |
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$1.99 at Trader Joe's
Grape jelly on the nose, with some tobacco, oak, and vanilla. Then, the vanilla decided to stick around for the taste (when doesn't it?), which ended up turning into grape yogurt. Some cherry too, but hardly any dimension or structure to this wine.
It is a solid companion for those bargain shoppers, but it's fairly inconsistent across vintages and varietals. I recommend picking up a case and hoping you get 8 winners. (8 $2 winners) > (1 $16 winner) ... don't you think?
2/2 users found this review helpful.
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| 85 |
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4/06/07 |
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$7.99 at Trader Joe's
Nose is sugar and cinnamon, prob too sweet. The good thing is that goes away on the taste. Vanilla, berry, with a nice mouthfeel. The finish is slightly thin but still good.
0/0 users found this review helpful.
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| 87 |
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4/06/07 |
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$8.99 at Trader Joe's
Nice bold nose, which implies something good is coming. Taste was spicy, with berry and slightly rough tannins.
A 2003 which would probably get softer with a little time or even some decanting time. Overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was a great deal.
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| 86 |
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4/06/07 |
