Bloom Gewurztraminer 2006

Price: $7.99 (regularly $9.99) @ Whole Foods (Columbus, OH)
Recommended by: the great price
Comments: OK, we have to brag. This photo was taken from our new iPhone. Why did we have to take it on our iPhone? For some reason, no one has provided a label of this wine, not even the official Bloom website! And that's a crime, because this is an excellent wine! Fantastic, when considering the price. This wine from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region of Germany provides flavors of pineapple, lemon, and a hint of pear. It finishes with some spice that came to the fore when paired (perfectly) with Moroccan swordfish. This inexpensive wine can compete with some of the best Gewurz's that we've enjoyed (and Whole Foods named it a Top 10 wine for holiday entertaining). We would definitely buy this again.
Rating: 7.5/10

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $11.99 @ Gary's Liquors (West Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: the description at the store
Comments: This is a great Sauvignon Blanc! Today we ventured down to the Haymarket in Boston and grabbed some amazing fish (tilapia) and fresh asparagus, which turned out to be a great pairing with this wine. This Russian River Valley wine had some of the potent grassiness that we've come to enjoy in Marlborough SB along with flavors of lime and a touch of basil, but it finished with a creamy woodiness that differed from the flinty culmination typical of New Zealand varieties. We really enjoyed this one and look forward to having it again very soon.
Rating: 8/10

Contrada Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $10.99 @ Blanchard's
Recommended by: Rob's palate
Comments: Rob came back from a wine tasting with sushi and wine -- woohoo! He picked up this Napa sauvignon blanc that he had tried at the tasting. It was quite a nice surprise! It has nice grassy and lemon flavors with a smooth, slightly tangy finish. It's not exactly a winter wine, but we love sauvignon blancs with sushi! We would definitely pick this one up again.
Rating: 7.25/10

Snoqualmie Nearly Naked Gewurztraminer 2006

Price: $9.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: We wanted to compare this with Chateau Ste. Michelle's Gewurz.
Comments: We have to brag. We made an EXCELLENT meal tonight. We cooked some Moroccan-spiced swordfish (with yogurt-mint sauce), couscous, and Brussels sprouts. And this wine was a perfect complement to the meal. It's an almost-organic Gewurz (organic grapes but a non-organic process), with a nice orange/grapefruit and spicy taste. The finish is long, a bit steely, and very smooth. We liked it better with the food, but it is also enjoyable on its own. Rob noted that this wine might be slightly "creamier" than and not as spicy as the Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurz, but it is just about as good (CSM now owns Snoqualmie Vineyard). We can understand how Wine Enthusiast gave it a respectable 88 and "Best Buy" designation. We will be buying this wine again soon! Did we tell you about the amazing meal? :)
Rating: 7.75/10

Clean Slate Riesling 2006

Price: $11-12 @ Spagio Cellars, Columbus, OH (we think)
Recommended by: in-store tasting
Comments: Considering the cost, this is a very nice wine. We've learned from our friends at Wine-O-Rama to keep our eyes open for German Rieslings, particularly those from the Rheingau region. This one isn't from that specific region (it's from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, the other major Riesling-producing region), but it is very tasty. We particularly liked how dry it was and how nicely it accompanied the salmon we had for dinner. Flavors of peach dominate the palate along with flowers and mineral notes. We would definitely have this one again, particularly with any fish dish.
Rating: 7.75/10

Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006

Price: 12.98 @ Gary's Liquors
Recommended by: a "best value" wine at Gary's
Comments: Karie was in the mood for a Pinot tonight, so we picked up this relatively inexpensive Monterey County one. We knew nothing about except the sign at Gary's said that it was a "best value" wine. It has a nice cherry flavor, but it doesn't have a ton of depth. It's not one that stands out but will do in a pinch.
Rating: 6/10

2 Brothers Big Tattoo Red 2005

Price: $9.99 @ Gary's Liquors (W. Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: display at store and charitable cause
Comments: Our wine rack has been empty lately (oh, the horror!), so we stopped by the local wine store tonight to stock up. We probably went overboard, but our wallets' loss is our blog's gain, right?!? Among our purchase is this interesting Cabernet/Syrah blend (50% each). We weren't expected to be blown away, and we really weren't, but it's a great value wine. It is a deep, fruity wine with a heavy cocoa flavor and very dry finish. We wish we would have tried it with food, because it would go very well with meat or pasta dish. Some of the proceeds (50 cents per bottle) are donated to the Hospice of Arlington, Va., and other breast cancer research foundations in the name of the vintners' mother. We look forward to trying this one again.
Rating: 7/10

Chateau Ste. Michelle

We apologize for our extended absence from Bloggerland, but we've been traveling for the past three weeks. However, on our travels, we were lucky enough to find time to visit the wonderful winery Chateau Ste. Michelle (in Woodinville, WA), a longtime favorite wine producer of ours. The visit did NOT disappoint! We started by doing the standard tour, which was fine. Then we got to taste some of their basic wines, which was also fine. But when we started asking specific questions about their higher-end Merlots, things got really fun. Rather than simply talk to us about the different wines, our wonderful tour guide (and new best friend) Joan ran off for a moment, only to return with her hands full of glasses of the various Merlots that CSM makes. And they were goooood. There are some older vintages at the winery that you just can't get anywhere else. And lovely, lovely Joan made sure we got to try them. We walked out with a 1999 Cold Creek Merlot and a 2004 Canoe Ridge Merlot (and a bottle of their Whidbey's Port Chocolate Sauce . . . mmmmmm). Sadly there were no remaining bottles of Whidbey's Loganberry Liquor to be found, which is Karie's mother's favorite beverage ever (she used to live on Whidbey Island), although the nice employees at CSM looked long and hard for it. To all the folks there, and particularly to Joan, thanks for a wonderful visit!

Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Price: $10.99 @ Blanchards (JP)
Recommended by: Sunset Magazine's Steal of the Year ($15 and under)
Comments: I don't know if we agree that this is a "steal of the year," but this wine was very enjoyable. Listed as a Cabernet, Louis M. Martini Sonoma County is actually 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 8% Merlot and some other stuff for the rest. Flavors of cherry, plum, currant, and spicy pepper conclude with a smooth, if short finish. We have had better red wines in this price range (Columbia Crest Merlot, Michael Pozzan Cabernet, Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz), but it was pretty yummy with pizza tonight. Our review might be a bit more upbeat if the Red Sox hadn't sucked tonight.
Rating: 7/10

Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $9.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: Sunset Magazine's Steal of the Year ($15 and under)
Comments: This wine came highly recommended by one of our favorite magazines, and it's one California Sauvignon Blancs that we have not tried. We thought maybe it would be bland, considering it's under $10, but we really enjoyed it. It's a well-balanced wine--not in-your-face with fruit and grass and has a nice acidity. It's bright and crisp-- a bit lemony and grapefruity, with some gooseberry. We had it with homemade tacos, but it would be wonderful with seafood. We would probably get it again if we were in the mood for a SB lighter than a Marlborough.
Rating: 7/10

Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2003

Price: $10.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: #64 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2006
Comments: Blah, blah, blah, 91 points by Wine Spectator. Blah, blah, blah, best value, blah, blah HOLY SHIT! This is a frickin' good wine!!! Damn! Big, round, smooth and delicious, the 2003 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz is one of the best buys we've had. Be careful. The year on this one matters. We tried the 2004 and it was good, but not spectacular. But then, recently, we found a bottle of 2003 hiding amongst the rest at Trader Joe's and brought it home, and wow! Big flavors of cherry and vanilla with pepper linger with a much longer finish than you'd expect for a wine this inexpensive. We're going back tomorrow to see if there are any more hidden bottles of this stuff because it is so damn good!
Rating: 8.5/10

Long Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Price: $3.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: TJ's large display reeled us in
Comments: We didn't expect much from this inexpensive South African wine, but it's quite enjoyable. It's nothin' fancy, and it benefited from some decanting. The tannins were a bit strong at first, but with some time to breathe, it smoothed out a bit. It's not as bold as a Cali Cab, but it's earthy and well-rounded with flavors of cherry and blackberry. It doesn't have much of a finish, but the taste overall is quite nice. We recommend it over Charles Shaw (3 Buck Chuck). For those on a strict budget, pick up a few bottles.
Rating: 6.5/10

Russell Orchards Blueberry Wine

Price: a gift
Recommended by: our neighbors (fellow Buckeyes)
Comments: You never know what you're gonna get with a fruit wine, but we were pleasantly surprised! This wine from Russell Orchards (Ipswich, Mass.) has a really tasty blueberry flavor with a nice cinnamon finish. It's made with wild Maine blueberries, and the orchard's website recommends that you try it with roast beef or leg of lamb. (We had it as a dessert, after our first bottle of wine!) If you're in the Boston area, pay them a visit! (and partake of the amazing Ipswich clams, too!)
Rating: 6.75/10

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Price: $9.99 at Trader Joes
Recommended by: It was a gift! Thanks, neighbors!
Comments: Well, the end of the summer is near, but it's not too late to partake of this happy, summery wine. Oyster Bay exhibits many of the traits that make Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs some of our very favorite wines (Matua, Villa Maria, Nobilo, Drylands). It has a bright, bold nose of citrus and grass, followed by crisp flavors of lime, grass, citrus, and kiwi. It is a bold wine, as New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs tend to be, and was a pretty yummy pairing with our spicy Chinese food tonight.
Rating: 7.25/10

Jewell Towne Traminette NV

Price: $15.00
Recommended by: curiosity and our appreciation for Gewurztraminers
Comments: Who woulda thunk it? We wouldn't. I mean we did, but that's not the point. A good Gewurztraminer from a New Hampshire winery? Unlikely. And yet, we enjoyed this bottle very much, particularly with the seafood stew we had for dinner. While visiting three wineries in New Hampshire (Jewell Towne, Flag Hill, and Zorvino) we decided to pick up this bottle since it was made with one of our favorite grapes. Happily, this wine demonstrates juicy flavors of lemon, lime, and green apple along with a bit of spice. The finish isn't as smooth as it might be, but we were impressed by this wine and would certainly get it again. Viva New Hampshire -- Live Free or ... Drink Wine! (By the way, if you are in the New England area and want to try some good wine, check out Jewell Towne in South Hampton, NH. The folks there are very friendly, and they had the best wines by far of the three wineries. However, Flag Hill in Lee, NH, has a yummy Maple Syrup Liqueur, and their vodka made from apples is worth a try. Also, check out the Boston Globe's article on New England wineries.)
Rating: 6.5/10

Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling 2006

Price: $10.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: We've loved everything we've tasted from this winery.
Comments: We just got back from a wonderful week-long vacation in Colorado, and after a long, tiring day of traveling we enjoyed some sushi and this great find from our friends at Chateau Ste. Michelle. We are fans of dry Rieslings (especially Kabinetts), and this one is wonderful. We tasted lime and peach -- a crisp and refreshing summer wine. We found it very similar to CSM's Gewurztraminer, which is probably our favorite domestic Gewurz. The two wines differ in that the Gewurz has a bit more spice to it, and the dry riesling has a bit more citrus taste. However, they both rock!
Rating: 7.75/10

Big Red Monster Red Wine

Price: $9,99 @ Gary's Liquors (W. Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: the cheesy B-movie label and price
Comments: We fell for the advertising and had no idea what we were getting with this non-vintage mystery bottle. Actually, we were surprised. This wine (a syrah, zinfandel, and petite sirah blend) will remind you that you don't need to spend a lot of $$ to get a decent wine. After decanting it for about 30 minutes (which the label recommends), it has a nice, fruity flavor (black cherry and plum) with some spice and a longish finish. And at 14.8% alcohol, it packs a punch. It's not an over-the-top wine, but if you are looking for a good wine to bring to a casual party, this would be a good one. It's also a nice pizza or burger wine.
Rating: 7/10

Dry Creek Fume Blanc 2005

Price: $11.99 @ Luke's Liquors (Rockland, MA)
Recommended by: considered a "Best Value" wine by Luke's
Comments: This is our first Sonoma sauvignon blanc, but it's a good 'un. It has a very nice citrusy (grapefruit and lemon) and grassy flavor. It isn't as in-yer-face as Villa Maria, but it can compete with the Marlborough sauvignon blancs (our usual favorites) and has a smoother finish than many of them. We'd certainly get this one again, particularly on a night like tonight when we're having summer sammiches made with brie, avocado, tomato, and sprouts.
Rating: 7.5/10

Terrazas Reserva Malbec 2005

Price: free--it was a gift!
Recommended by: Chloe's mom
Comments: After watching Chloe, the black lab, this week for some friends, we received this lovely bottle as thanks. This is the first Malbec we've reviewed, and after tasting it, we realized how reticent we have been. They are super-groovy. This one exhibits wonderful flavors of plum, raspberry, and licorice (and hints of vanilla and chocolate). It has a great, long finish that lasts and lasts. The only quasi-negative we can say about this wine is that it has a high alcohol content (14%), which was noticeable in the first sip. Of course, high alcohol wines are not necessarily bad (wink, wink). We're both looking forward to drinking more Malbecs, and this was a great one to start with.
Rating: 7.5/10

The Nose Knows ... or Doesn't

Slate.com is running a three-part series on the science (or crapshoot) of wine tasting (the second part appeared today, and the final section will be published tomorrow (6/22).

Our take: Barley, our dog will be taking over this blog from now on. :) He can smell a tennis ball from a mile away. Meanwhile, Rob and I need to brush up on our study of "gustatory pleasure."

Best line:

Admittedly, this kind of superheavy metaphysical question is perhaps better pondered over a bong than a bottle of wine.

Enate Tinto Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2002

Price: $10.00 @ Solera (Roslindale, MA)
Recommended by: It just sounded good!
Comments: We enjoyed the Enate Gewurztraminer, and we have had some great Cab-Merlot blends in the past, so we decided to give this one a try. It did not disappoint. This Spanish wine is smooth, fruity, peppery -- everything you expect in a solid, balanced blend. It will not blow you away, but for the price it's very tasty and probably a great pizza or burger wine.
Rating: 6.5/10

Three Knights Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Price: $5.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: the price and the region (Knights Valley produces some great Cabs)
Comments: There's not a whole lot to say about this wine other than it's pretty good for the price. (This is produced by the folks who make Two Buck Chuck.) It has a nice taste, and the tannins and finish are smooth, but there's not a lot of depth to it. However, with a slice of pizza or a juicy burger, this is a nice, cheap, enjoyable accompaniment.
Rating: 6.5/10

Fratelli Perata Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Price: $13.50 @ Solera (Roslindale, MA)
Recommended by: helpful wine dude at Solera
Comments: (We're a bit tired, so pardon the lame review.) This Cab (also 12% Merlot) from Paso Robles is smooth and very enjoyable. It is fruit-forward, has a nice finish, and would be great with anything other than the ice cream we ate shortly before drinking it (Ben & Jerry's AmeriCone Dream rocks! Oh, this is a wine review -- sorry!). We suspect that a nice meaty dinner would really bring out the great flavor of this wine. We recommend it, but we still prefer Michael Pozzan's Knights Valley Cab, which is virtually the same price.
Rating: 7.25/10

Raymond R Collection Merlot 2004

Price: $13.50 @ Solera (Roslindale, MA)
Recommended by: wine seller at Solera
Comments: This here is a big, round, juicy Merlot. You wanna go out and get yourself a bottle. Honest. For the price, it's hard to find a wine this good. R Collection is 84% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. This blend lends itself to a complexity that belies the sub-$15 price. Flavors of plum, blueberry, and raspberry explode on the palate, followed by pepper, vanilla, and chocolate for a long finish. We had this with eel and the pairing was ideal, although it would go great with any meat for you carnivores. Rob can't wait to get another bottle and not share it with Karie! Sideways be damned, we loves us some good Merlot.
Rating: 8/10

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2004

Price: $8.99 @ Gary's Liquors
Recommended by: a Wine Spectator "Best Value" wine
Comments: Can we agree with Wine Spectator two nights in a row? Say it isn't so! This wine is fantastic -- it earned every one of its 90 points. We had tried the Grand Estates Merlot before and enjoyed it, but this year's vintage is much better. Flavors of cherry and chocolate dominate the palate along with a healthy dose of blueberry, all brought together by a surprisingly long, smooth finish. For the price, this wine can't be beat. We'll be getting another bottle or two for the shelf soon!
Rating: 7.75/10

Paringa Shiraz 2005

Price: $9.99 @ Derby Street Wine & Spirits, Hingham, MA
Recommended by: We love the Paringa Sparkling Shiraz, so we wanted to give this one a try.
Comments: For once we agree with Wine Spectator! This 87-rated wine was a nice surprise. For the price, it's smooth, complex, and delicious. It's not as fruit-forward as many other Australian Shirazes; instead it has an enjoyable earthiness and balance. Additionally, the wine's long finish is unexpected for a Shiraz in this price range. We look forward to enjoying this one again soon!
Rating: 7.75/10

Corks Galore

Looking to put those used corks to practical use and don't need another bulletin board? Well, make a chair! According to BoingBoing,

Crazy for Corks: an impressive pictorial catalog of projects you can undertake with your collection of Champagne corks.

Link

I'd love to see my Golden Retriever lying in this bad boy!

Yellowtail Reserve Shiraz 2005

Price: $10.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: we can't remember
Comments: Australia is the source of many of the Shiraz wines we've enjoyed. This one stands out among the rest for the quality and price. It's flavors are dominated by bold blackberry and some cherry, chocolate, and mocha, with a healthy dose of pepper spice as well. The wine has a fairly long taste, but not so much as the Wolf Blass Gold Label (but this is also much less expensive). We should note, however, that we like it more than the Wolf Blass Yellow Label (which costs a few dollars less).
Rating: 7.5/10

Bohemian Highway Merlot 2004

Price: $5.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: Robert and Marjorie at Wine-O-Rama
Comments: We saw this wine near the checkout lane at Luke's and remembered that Robert and Marjorie had raved about this wine. For $6, it was definitely worth a try (what's another bottle in our already full shopping basket?)! After spending way too much money at Target and Luke's tonight, we opened this bottle as soon as we got home, and toasted another Red Sox victory over the Evil Empire. We were definitely not disappointed (in the wine or the game)! It has very distinct, bold raspberry and cherry flavors and is a bit sweeter than many Merlots. It's also much smoother than we expected. If you see this in your local wine shop, pick this one up!
Rating: 7.25/10

Conclass Rueda 2005

Price: $9.99 @ Gary's Liquors
Recommended by: enticing advertising at Gary's, and we've enjoyed other Spanish whites
Comments: This wine is just another reason to love Spanish wines! It is 70% Verdejo, 20% Viura, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc, and is a lovely pairing with our brie, tomato, avocado, and sprout sandwiches. (It would also go very nicely with seafood.) The citrus (lime and grapefruit), mineral, and acidic flavors blend very well, creating a nice, summery treat. It's probably not as good as Naia or Las Brisas, but we would definitely enjoy this again.
Rating: 7.25/10

J.W. Morris Gewurztraminer 2005

Price: $3.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: duh, the price!
Comments: Four words. Bang For Your Buck! We're big Gewurz fans, and this is the least expensive one we have found. When we saw it at Trader Joe's we had to give it a shot. And, lo and behold, it's good! Not great, mark you, but what do you expect for the price? We find flavors of apricot and lime dominating the palate with a bit of spice that really came to the fore when we paired this wine with Indian food. It might be a bit too sweet for a Gewurz and tasted more like a Riesling (more spice, please!). We found this wine comparable to Covey Run and better than some of the $10+ Gewurz and Rieslings we've had. So when you're in the mood for a nice white and want to take a step up from 2-Buck-Chuck (without shelling out much more money), this is the wine to reach for.
Rating: 6.5/10

Viña Aljibes Rosado Rosé 2005

Price: $11.99 @ Wine Gallery
Recommended by: We tried this wine in the jukebox.
Comments: We haven't tasted many Rosés, so not much to compare this to. It is a dry wine, made with Syrah and some Granache, with a nice smell of vanilla with tastes of cherry and other red berries. It reminds us of the sparkling Shiraz we really like, but without the bubbly taste, of course. We're a bit indifferent as to whether we will buy this again, but it was a nice evening treat.
Rating: 6.5/10

Enate Gewurztraminer Somontano 2003

Price: $13.99 or $14.99 @ Wine and Cheese Cask (?)
Recommended by: We love Gewurz and never had one from Spain
Comments: Tonight we had . . . wait for it . . . SUSHI! Gewurztraminer is among our favorite wines to have with sushi (perhaps only Sauvignon Blanc is better), and this one did not disappoint. It's a dry wine, with a flowery taste (and maybe a hint of honey) and spicy finish. For the price, however, it would be worth buying an Alsacian Gewurz, and still the best value is Chateau Ste. Michelle. This one was definitely worth trying, though!
Rating: 6.75/10

P.S. Go Buckeyes! Beat the Gators!

We want one!

So, for the past few days we haven't been drinking any wine worth blogging about (mmmm . . . Three Buck Chuck paired with cereal -- the breakfast of champions!). However, I did stumble across this beauty on Neatorama (one of my favorite non-wine-related blogs) today. From bornrich.org:

The unit titled The “Vin au Verre” is a synonym of “wine with glass” in French. The unit features electronic temperature control (15°/19°C for red wines, 6°/10°C for white and rose wines), anti-oxidation system, LED lighting inside and can keep up to 8 opened bottles of wine ready to serve at the perfect temperature. The storage system can preserve the wine for up to three weeks and the dispenser uses inert nitrogen gas under low pressure to push the wine out of the bottle through the spigot and thereby controlling oxidation to keep your wine tasteful.

So, if we place this on our wedding registry, would someone be so kind as to buy it for us? Please? :)

Coopers Creek Riesling 2004

Price: $12.99 @ Wine shop near Charles/MGH
Recommended by: Wine shop employee
Comments: We typically drink (and love) the Sauvignon Blancs from the Marlborough region of New Zealand and, oddly enough, this Riesling bears noticable traits of that grape. This wine is crisp, steely, and grassy, exactly as we have grown to expect of the wonderful Sauvignon Blancs of this region. Indeed, I'm not sure I can identify a single aspect of this wine that suggests it is a Riesling! Perhaps one can attribute this to the unique attributes of the terroir from which this grape is taken or perhaps one would attribute this to the fact that I am blogging about it after having consumed most of the bottle by myself (Karie being away with the family). Either way, this is a wine to enjoy with sushi (as I just did) or with spicy foods that similarly highlight the wine's strengths. I personally look forward to getting Karie's more balanced opinion when we share a bottle after she returns. Cheers!
Rating: 7/10

Naia Verdejo 2005

Price: $13.99 @ Wine and Cheese Cask (Somerville, MA)
Recommended by: Sunset Magazine (we think!)
Comments: Yet another example of why we love Spanish wines! We are munching on chips and guacamole, enjoying the blizzard-like conditions, and watching some March Madness on the tube. This wine pairs well with all of it! It's a heavier wine than Las Brisas, but shares many of the characteristics we love in that wine. It has robust flavors of lemon, lime, honey, and kiwi (and maybe some apple). You notice the crisp steeliness one finds in a Sauvignon Blanc (this wine is 100% Verdejo). We will be getting this one again soon!
Rating: 7.75/10

Estremadura Cerejeiras 2005

Price: $4.49 @ the Wine and Cheese Cask (Somerville, MA)
Recommended by: the sale rack!
Comments: This Portuguese wine is pretty unimpressive. It reminded us of Three Buck Chuck and is quite acidic. (Well duh, it is under $5! What did we expect!?!) It got a bit better as we drank it, but we still would not recommend it. Perhaps it would be a bit tastier with some food (pizza?). Sadness.
Rating: 5/10

August Kesseler "R" Riesling 2004

Price: $10.99 @ Wine and Cheese Cask (Somerville, MA)
Recommended by: Our wine blogger friends at Wine-O-Rama recommended Rieslings from the Rheingau region.
Comments: In fairness to the folks at Wine-O-Rama, they recommended Rieslings from the Rheingau region that were over $13. However, this less expensive wine is surprisingly good, particularly for the money. Our first sips revealed flavors of apricot. As we drank it, however, flavors of green apple and lime dominated. It's not too sweet, but it is definitely a Riesling. This wine probably goes great with spicy food, but we're just pairing it with a bad movie on a relaxing Sunday evening!
Rating: 7/10

Chateau d'Oupia Minervois 2005

Price: $8.99
Recommended by: wine seller at the Wine and Cheese Cask (Somerville, MA)
Comments: Zut alors! This wine is tres mal! But what should we expect from a French wine under $10? It is fruit-forward with strawberry and plum tastes, and a bit of pepper spice, but there is no finish at all. (This wine is a blend of 60% Carignan, 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache.) We will definitely not be partaking of this wine again. If you want a decent red blend under $10, make a run for Espania!
Rating: 5/10

Michael Pozzan Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Price: $13.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: We really enjoyed the Beringer Knights Valley Cab, so we wanted to try this one.
Comments: Oh, happiness! This wine was a nice surprise. It's a young wine, but it doesn't taste immature (that sounds pretentious, doesn't it?). This wine exhibits a complex flavor dominated by cherry, blueberry, and plum. It's a fruity wine, but not overly so. Instead, it is very smooth and balanced; really amazing for the price!
Rating: 7.5/10

Smoking Loon Pinot Noir 2005

Price: $8.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: the price
Comments: Paying less than $10 for a domestic Pinot Noir is a little scary. When Rob poured the wine into the decanter, we were not reassured. It looked a bit watery. The initial taste wasn't bad, however. But that's as good as the wine got. It has light flavors of strawberry and cherry, but there is little spice to give it an extra oomph. We will not be in a hurry to try this again.
Rating: 5/10

Foris Gewurztraminer 2003

Price: $14.99 @ Luke's Liquors

Recommended by: We wanted to try an Oregon Gewurz

Comments: We had this wine with Indian cuisine, and it was a perfect match. The spiciness of the food really brought out the spice in the Gewurz. The Foris is a bit flowery with a hint of citrus, which together hide the dryness of this wine behind sweet flavors. It's not as spicy as the Chateau Ste. Michelle, but it is definitely worth trying. If you are new to Gewurz, try the Chateau Ste. Michelle, but if you want to try a new American one, we recommend this!

Rating: 6.75/10

Marqués de Cáceres Crianza Rioja 2003

Price: $9.99 @ Luke's Liquors
Recommended by: on sale at Luke's!
Comments: We've had a fair number of Spanish reds now, and this one rates in the middle. It has a nice raspberry flavor and a decent, lasting, dry finish, but it lacks some complexity. We prefer Vina Alarba and Cortijo Crianza, to name a few Spanish blends.
Rating: 6.25/10

Meridian Merlot 2004

Price: $6.98 @ Gary's Liquors
Recommended by: the price
Comments: The best thing we can say about this wine is that it is worth the price! Of course, it didn't cost very much. However, we're stuck on a troubling question: is it any better than 2 buck Chuck? It's a toss up. This wine is your basic merlot. The taste is pleasant and simple, but it certainly won't blow you away. It's a good pizza wine that we'd consider having again, but we're not in a hurry to do so.
Rating: 6/10

Estola Reserva La Mancha 2001

Price: $5.99 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: no one!
Comments: Reviews of this wine on other sites offer strikingly different pictures. While some find it mediocre and inoffensive, others find it watery and bad. Of course, in either case, we don't recommend this wine very highly. It has a fairly bearable flavor, but one that doesn't last very long at all. The dry finish is not too bad, but that's the best we can say about it. What a shame--we usually like Spanish wines. For the money, you can do better with Señor Dos Buck Chuck!
Rating: 5/10

Schwarzböck Grüner Veltliner 2002

Price: $7 @ Blanchard's
Recommended by: We liked the Grüner Veltliner we tried at a restaurant.
Comments: We didn't know much about this wine, but after reading a few sites online, it sounds like this wine is up and coming. Grüner Veltliner is the most produced wine in Austria, and it's a really versatile wine (apparently it can be paired with artichoke and asparagus). We found it to have some characteristics of Sauvignon Blancs and especially Gewurztraminers, with its fruit and spice. This particular Grüner Veltliner is very smooth and dominated by flavors of apple, almost giving it a "cidery" taste. For the price, it's definitely worth trying, and we look forward to trying other Grüner Veltliners.
Rating: 6.5/10

Craftsman Neszmely Gewurztraminer 2005

Price: $8.99 @ Wine Galley
Recommended by: never had a Hungarian wine before
Comments: This wine is a nice, dry Gewurztraminer. It has subtle floral aromas and honey flavors with a hint of citrus (maybe pineapple?) and a soft acidity. This is a wine to have with food, namely spicy dishes. We enjoyed it with our spicy Indian food, and it was a great pairing. I don't know if we will be in a hurry to get this wine again, however, since we enjoy some other comparably priced Gewurzes more (especially Chateau Ste. Michelle).
Rating: 6.5/10

Cortijo II Crianza 2000

Price: $11.99 @ Gary's Liquors
Recommended by: We liked the Cortijo III, so we wanted to give this a try.
Comments: This Spanish blend (70% Tempranillo, 20% Grenache, and 10% Mazuelo) is a fabulous wine for the money. When I first tasted it, I thought it was at least a $20 bottle. It's really smooth and complex, with a mixture of fruity, spicy, and tobacco flavors. The fact that it's aged 7 years can't hurt! We will definitely be enjoying this again.
Rating: 7.25/10

Cortijo III Tempranillo 2005

Price: $5.98 @ Gary's Liquors (W. Roxbury)
Recommended by: enjoyed at a friend's party
Comments: We first tasted this wine at our neighbors' New Year's party. I thought maybe we had just had so much alcohol that everything was good. But, upon the second tasting, this wine is good, especially for the low price. It's nothing to rave about, but it's a great everyday Spanish wine (100% Tempranillo). The flavor is a straightforward cherry and raspberry, with a short but smooth, dry finish.
Rating: 6.25/10

Las Brisas 2005 Rueda

Price: $13.00 @ Solera
Recommended by: Atlantic Fish Co. (wine flight)
Comments: Dios Mio! Me gusta los vinos de Espana! Here's another Spanish wine we really dig, but this one is white. Without knowing it was from Spain, we would have guessed it was another great Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. However, this one is only 50% Sauvignon Blanc with the other half consisting of Verdejo. The result is a wine that demonstrates all of the characteristics of a great Sauvignon Blanc: crisp, complex, citrusy, grassy. It has flavors of lemon, grapefruit, peach, and green apple. Yummy! The smell also carries a bit of kiwi. It goes great with seafood and we look forward to having it again soon. Viva la Espana!
Rating: 7.75/10