Continue reading »]]> I just changed to Disqus for comments on this blog. I’ve used the Disqus system on other blogs, and I think it works well. You can log in with credentials from common social media sites, and I’m hoping this cuts down on comment spam (which you don’t see, but I do) by requiring some level of accountability for the comments.

The existing comments will be imported into Disqus, so they will reappear. This may take a few days, though.

Continue reading »]]> This is an older review that I never published at the time. I don’t have a photo, but I think there’s still enough information to be useful.

Maggie and I are currently enjoying a bottle of Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc. This is produced in the Marlborough region of New Zealand., an area that is known for Sauvignon Blanc.

This wine is quite typical of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, with gooseberry, grapefruit, and some tropical fruit. It’s a very crisp, refreshing wine. We’re enjoying it by itself, but it has enough acidity and flavor to hold up well to food, too.

This producer, Monkey Bay, apparently only makes Sauvignon Blanc, or at least under this label. They are are part of Constellation Brands, which includes a wide variety of familiar brands, including other Marlborough producers.

We bought this wine on sale for $9.34. The regular price at the store was $10.99. Even at the regular price, I think this is an excellent value!

Continue reading »]]> I can’t pass up trying a new bourbon, so I had to get this when I was at the Costco liquor store. In fact, this was one of the main reasons I went there.

There’s a bit of heat from the alcohol (103 proof), but there’s also some good flavors of caramel, a hint of vanilla, and other oak influences. It’s not the best bourbon I’ve had, but it’s also very reasonably priced.

This bourbon sells for $19.99 for 1 liter (in Minnesota). This puts it at about the same price point as Jim Beam White Label. However, it’s a 7-year-old small batch bourbon, which sounds more like the Knob Creek (also by Jim Beam). The general consensus on the internet seems to be that this Kirkland Signature bourbon is also made by Jim Beam.

It’s been a while since I’ve had Knob Creek, but this seems similar to that bourbon. There are other bourbons around the same price point that are smoother, but this isn’t a bad bourbon. If you like bourbon, it’s worth trying.

I’m giving this a “Good” rating.

Added May 5, 2013

This bourbon is really growing on me, and I’m not noticing the harshness as much. It might be that this bourbon needs to breathe a bit, or maybe I’m just getting used to it. I don’t know. I’m going to change my rating to “Very Good” on this. Keep in mind that I love bourbon, and I haven’t met a bourbon that I wouldn’t drink. If you don’t like bourbon as much as I do, you probably won’t like this one as much as I do, either.

Continue reading »]]> A quick review here, as I almost ran out of wine before I got around to writing anything.

This is really good. It’s a rich, fruity wine with some chocolate on the finish. Good tannins, but not overpowering. My wife, who typically prefers sweeter, fruity wines, loves this wine. This is a fairly dry wine, but the fruit gives the impression of a somewhat sweet wine.

My wife bought this wine at the local liquor store for around $10, making this a good value.

I’m giving this a “Very Good” rating.

Continue reading »]]> I’ve heard about the good values at Costco, and I recently bought a Costco membership. I’ve been impressed so far with the Kirkland Signature products, and a friend of mine kept telling me about the good values at the Costco liquor stores here. (Here in Minnesota, Costco has to have a separate store for alcoholic beverages due to state law.) The Costco I normally shop at does not have a liquor store, due to local laws (the city operates it’s own liquor stores and does not allow private stores), so I had to drive a bit farther to get to a Costco liquor store.

I noticed right away that their prices on alcoholic beverages are quite good. In fact, it was difficult to not buy too much at once. I especially couldn’t pass up the 1.5 L (Magnum) bottle of Chardonnay for $7.99. (Prices may vary due to local laws and taxes.)

I wasn’t expecting much, but I was hoping that it would be a decent low-end wine. After all, it’s only $4 per 750 ml.

After chilling the wine, I opened the bottle and poured. The nose was very promising, with some nice light fruit notes.

After the first taste, my wife and I were both very impressed. This wine is very well balanced with some decent complexity. On the palate, there’s some nice fruit along with some mineral and floral notes. There’s a bit of oak on the finish, but definitely not excessive at all. We are both very impressed.

I generally prefer red wines, and it takes a fairly good white for me to like it. I like this wine. It’s quite good, and an excellent value. I’m giving this wine a “Very Good” rating.

If you have a Costco store nearby that sells wine (either in the store or in a separate store), check it out. Depending on state laws, you may not even need a membership to purchase alcohol there. Unfortunately, some state and local laws prohibit Costco from selling wine.

Continue reading »]]> I saw this wine at a local wine store and had to try it. The name is funny, the picture (a donkey, aka ass, with a bandage) is cute, and the price ($4.99 in Minnesota) can’t be beat.

I looked at the back of the bottle, too, to see what exactly I was buying. This wine comes from Argentina and is 50% Malbec and 50% Syrah. These are both grape varieties that I enjoy in wine, and Malbec is what I’d call a “signature” grape for Argentina, much like Shiraz for Australia, Zinfandel for California, and Carménère for Chile.

Since this is such a cheap wine, we weren’t sure what to expect.

The wine is fairly fruity, with some decent acidity and tannins, although neither the acid or tannins are excessive at all. Maggie commented on some peppery flavors. Like most red wines, a bottle-top aerator improves the flavor, and decanting would probably help, too. The result is a well-balanced wine with good flavor. I don’t think this is a wine that would age well, but you don’t buy a $5 bottle to cellar it!

Malbec and Syrah are both grapes that, in my opinion, will pair with a variety of foods. I think this blend would pair with beef quite well, including hamburgers and beef tacos.

Overall, this wine definitely exceeded our expectations. If you’re looking for an easy-drinking, budget-friendly red wine, you should definitely try the Broke Ass wine!

Continue reading »]]> I really enjoy bourbon. For those who aren’t familiar with it, bourbon is an American whiskey that is made from at least 51% corn. Straight bourbon has been aged for at least two years in new oak barrels. A lot of bourbon comes from Kentucky, but it can be made anywhere in the US.

Bourbon can be quite affordable (at least in the US), with a 750 ml bottle available for $12-$15. There are more expensive premium bourbons, but I find that even the low-end bourbons are very drinkable and enjoyable.

A couple of recommendations for low-cost bourbon:

Jim Beam White Label – This is probably one of the best-known bourbons, and is available for around $15 for 750 ml or $29 for 1.75 L. It works well for mixed drinks, but it is also smooth enough to drink neat or on the rocks.

Rebel Yell – I tried this recently, and I really like it. It is very smooth, smoother than the Jim Beam White Label, with some nice vanilla flavors. This costs around $13 for 750 ml.

Cabin Still – Not quite as smooth as Rebel Yell. It is a sour mash, like Jim Beam, but it isn’t aged as long. (It’s been too long since I’ve had Jim Beam, so I can’t say how it compares there.) I almost always drink my bourbon neat, and this one is no exception. At $11 for 1 liter (equivalent to $8.25 for 750 ml), this is an excellent value.

[Edit: July 4, 2012 - Added Cabin Still]

Continue reading »]]> I bought this wine from WineShopper using some referral credits I’ve earned. This is the second time I’ve been able to order wine from there with referral credits, and I’ve been impressed with the company and the wines so far. (A special thanks to those who have clicked on the link from this blog and made a purchase.)

This wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina. I’ve had Malbec from Mendoza before, but not other varieties.

BenMarco is part of the Dominio del Plata winery.

The wine is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Brian’s Review

There’s lots of fruit on the nose, with blackberries and other berries dominating. I taste a lot of fruit, too, along with some vanilla and a bit of chocolate. This is a very good, fruit-forward wine. This is a fairly easy-drinking wine, especially for a Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m really enjoying this wine, and I’ll give it an “Excellent” rating.

This wine definitely benefits from decanting.

Maggie’s Review

This is a very good wine, especially if you give it time to open up. It’s very fruity and juicy, easy-drinking, and is surprisingly complex.

Continue reading »]]> I’m starting something new on this blog post. My wife, Maggie, will be adding her opinion on the wine. We have fairly similar tastes in wine, but we won’t always agree. I hope you find the two viewpoints helpful.

Today’s wine is the Apothic Red 2010. This is a red blend from California.

Brian:
Very fruity,  some sweetness, some oak. It’s fairly mild for a red wine. It might work well with dessert, particularly with chocolate. Not my favorite type of wine, but it may be a good choice for people who don’t like the more tannic reds. It does open up as it sits, revealing more chocolate and vanilla.

Maggie:
Chocolate covered black cherries. Delicious. It’s a fairly mild wine. I think it might be appreciated by those who don’t care for the bolder red wines.

Continue reading »]]> I’ve had the 2010 vintage of the Big House White, and I recently picked up the 2011. I’m wondering if this will be a similar blend.

Just poured my first glass. It is definitely a different blend. It’s a bit drier without as much tropical fruit. (The 2010 was particularly strong in banana. My wife and I called it “the banana wine”!) It’s a nice, refreshing wine with good balance. There’s more mineral and floral notes here compared to what I remember of the 2010 vintage.

This gets a “Very Good” rating, but I don’t like this quite as well as the 2010.

Since the Big House blends change each year, I recommend trying a bottle of a new vintage first before getting a box.