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Price: $11.99 at Trader Joe's
Recommended by: We're fans of Gewurztraminers
Comments: We've been drinking more Chardonnay lately. Why, since other white varietals are so good? Particularly Gewurztraminer, and this one reminded us why we're such big fans. Michel Leon is fairly dry, but with some really nice fruit. It has some floral notes and a bit of spice. It was a perfect complement to the Indian food we had for dinner, and we look forward to having this wine again. Chardonnay, as we noted some years ago, kinda sucks (OK, OK ... with the exception of a few).
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $12.99
Recommended by: gift from Mike
Comments: We were delighted when our friend Mike brought this wine over, but we chose poorly when we ordered Chinese food to accompany it. The Chinese food was great, the wine was great, but the pairing didn't quite work. This wine, with 60% Shiraz and 40% Malbec, will go better with other foods, particularly grilled meats. It has a nice, earthy, cherry flavor with hints of cocoa and tobacco, and it exhibits a long smooth, happy finish. For the price, this is a great wine, and we look forward to trying it again soon!
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $10.99
Recommended by: manager's selection at Macy's Liquors (W. Roxbury, MA)
Comments: We usually drink Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand (and some from Napa) and love them, but this wine will force us to think about other regions. Petit Bourgeois is a bright, tangy wine that has no shortage of flavor, yet finishes very smooth. Flavors of pineapple loom large along with a pleasant, forward grassiness. It was a great complement to our yummy veggie sandwiches on a hot summer day. Not our favorite, but we would buy this again.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $9.99 @ Gary's Liquors (W. Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: Boston Globe
Comments: This wine was listed in the Boston Globe as one of the best wines you can find for under $10. We agree! It is similar to Gruner Veltliner on the nose but exhibits flavors of both Gewurztraminer (spice) and Sauvignon Blanc (fruit) on the palate. Flavors of lime are most present, tempered with a buttery smoothness and a nice spicy finish. We had it with sushi (surprise!) and it was a fantastic pairing. It went particularly well with the sweetness of the unagi (eel). We'll be looking forward to this one again soon.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $12.99 @ Blanchard's (W. Roxbury, MA)
Recommended by: wine tasting
Comments: At a wine tasting event that included many good wines, this inexpensive Spanish red stood out as a super value. It has bold flavors of bright red berries as well as blueberries (particularly in the finish). The wine consists of a "tempranillo clone" called "Tinta de Toro," and it would be a good wine at nearly twice the price. The smooth, long finish on this happy wine guarantees that we'll be getting another bottle soon! Viva la Espana!
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $15.00 @ Luke's Liquors (Rockland, MA)
Recommended by: we love CSM wines!
Comments: After visiting their winery last fall and enjoying just about every Chateau Ste Michelle wine we've tried, we were excited to find one that we have not tried. This red blend has 9, yes 9, varietals -- Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Souzão, and Touriga -- and was tasty to the last drop. It got better as we drank it (not with food but just as a "hard-day-at-work-and-now-chilling-out" wine). It has flavors of cherry, chocolate, and spicy pepper with hints of raspberry and vanilla and a smooth, long finish. It still is not as tasty as our favorite domestic red blend (Artesa Elements), but we'd definitely get this one again.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $7.99 (regularly $9.99) @ Whole Foods (Columbus, OH)Recommended by: the great priceComments: 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
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
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
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
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
Price: $10 @ Gary's Liquors; this is a very popular wine, so it shouldn't be difficult to find.
Recommended by: Description at the wine store enticed us
Comments: It's finally cold in Boston! And alas, we've broken out a new Cabernet to keep us warm. This one was a really nice surprise, as it does not taste like a $10 bottle of wine. It has a bold cherry, vanilla, and coffee flavor, and for a young Cab wine the tannins are not harsh at all. We should note that it has a very smooth, relatively long finish. Karie did not like it quite as much as the Casa Lapostolle Cabernet, but Rob liked it a bit more. For the price, it really can't be beat.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $15.99
Recommended by: Food and Wine magazine?
Comments: This is a special Sauvignon Blanc. From Groth and Hess, we've learned how good Napa Sauvignon Blancs can be, but this may be our favorite so far. The wine has strong flavors of grapefruit and lime with hints of kiwi. The taste is long and delicious, and we look forward to having it again. Right now, it is our favorite Sauvignon Blanc. Its flavor reminds us a bit of Matua, and it may be better (although it also costs a few dollars more).
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $13.00 @ Blanchard's
Recommended by: Abe, the wine guy
Comments: We were about to pick up another bottle of the Santi Solane ripasso, when Abe, the wine guy recommended that we try this one instead. Thanks, Abe! You da man! This Italian red is delicious in every way that the Santi is, and it might be even better. The black cherry flavor is big, and the taste lingers. We will definitely be getting this one again!
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $7.99 (in Portland, Maine)
Recommended by: wine shop owner who specialized in Spanish wines
Comments: To the crazy, overly friendly wine shop dude in Portland (he even gave us a free bottle), thank you for introducing us to this wine! We don't know anything about grenaches, and very little about Spanish wines in general, but after this one, we want to try more! This is a tasty, tasty wine. Bursting with flavors of black cherry and raspberry, followed by a peppery finish, this wine is a mouthful of happiness. With the price under $10, we want to go out and buy a few more bottles. Now. (But we'll wait till the effects of this 14% alcohol wine wear off a bit.)
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $11.99 @ Wine Gallery
Tasting notes: This Spanish (Navarra) red is a helluva wine for the price. It is 60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon, and it is a really tasty, fruity wine. It has hints of blackberry, blueberry, and cherry, with a remarkable complexity. We will definitely be enjoying this wine again.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $11.49 @ Trader Joe's
Recommended by: a friend who likes petite sirahs
Tasting notes: This petit sirah may be as good as Bogle but costs a few dollars more. It has a bold, dark fruity flavor, with hints of blueberry and raisin. It has some tartness to it, but a smooth finish. We will definitely get this wine again.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $13.00 @ The Wine Gallery (Brookline, MA)
Recommended by: the wine jukebox at the wine shop
Tasting notes: This is a very nice red. You can taste the hints of cherry, vanilla, and almonds. It finishes dry but smooth. It's light but does not lack in flavor at all. What a treat! We did not drink it with food, but it is supposed to go well with veal, roasts, pork, pizza, game, duck, and chicken.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $10.79 at Trader Joes
Recommended by: Whole Foods, Columbus, Ohio (if you live in the Columbus area, visit this store -- and visit now!)
Tasting notes: A very powerful fruit flavor of kiwi and other fruits. It's almost overpowering but very good; however, we prefer Matua, another Marlborough sauv blanc.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $9.99
Recommended by: Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buys of 2005
Tasting notes: This Chilean wine was a very nice find. It has a great bold taste with coffee and chocolate notes. This is another one that will find a place on our rack quite often.
Rating: 7.5/10
Price: $11.99 at Trader Joe's
