The Reverse Wine Snob

San Polo Mezzopane Sant Antimo 2005 - One Spicy Character

2013-05-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

A lush, complex and delicious wine.

65% Merlot and 35% Sangiovese from Sant'Antimo, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy.

SRP of $35. I purchased this bottle for $19.99 as part of a special deal but the low price is normally closer to $24 so we'll cover this one as a Saturday Splurge. 833 cases produced. Imported by Winebow.

From the bottle:

"In ancient times food was very scarce in the area surrounding San Polo. Often a meal consisted of only bread, but enchanted by the breathtaking view the perennially hungry local farmers in the valley where they coined the phrase, "This panorama is worth Mezzopane". Meaning the view was so beautiful it was worth half of a meal, or half of a loaf of bread. San Polo's vineyards are surrounded by a gentle valley protected by Mount Amiata that stretches to the Romanesque Abbey of SantAntimo.

We dedicate our Mezzopane, a wine made from 65% Merlot and 35% Sangiovese, to this unique place which evokes a sense of wonder and fulfillment in all those who visit.

13.7% Alcohol"

The Sant'Antimo DOC lies in the Montalcino region in Tuscany and covers a similar area as the iconic Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. In fact, today's wine comes from just outside the Brunello production zone. It is also notable in that it is a very similar blend to another favorite Italian wine from this region, the Luce Della Vite Lucente 2009 - A Silky Smooth Saturday Splurge, which can also often be found for right around $20. Let's see if the Mezzopane tastes as good as the Lucente!

The 2005 San Polo Mezzopane Sant'Antimo Toscana begins with a very nice nose of dark fruit and spice. A little more time in the glass reveals more complexity in the form of floral, dried herb and olive notes. The wine tastes lush, rich and delicious with a wonderful spicy character. It has a full mouthfeel with loads of rich and juicy dark fruit and very good acidity. The finish is dry and long with some nice savory dried herb and olive notes lingering at the end. We found the wine to be just as good on day two. This 2005 vintage is really drinking wonderfully right now, pair it with some rustic Italian food and watch your taste buds go wild.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Saturday Splurge

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Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha 2011 - Money

2013-05-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Bulk Buy!

Once again this wine drinks like a lot more than $8.

100% Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain.

SRP of $10 and purchased for $8.

From the bottle:

"who: a custom cuvee for Eric Solomon
what: 100% garnacha
when: vineyards planted up to 100 years ago
where: high altitude vineyards (2400-3000ft) in the mountainous village of Atea planted on pure slate soils
why: grenache this great usually goes for twice the price!
how: extract cork, pour in glass (optional), drink

15.0% Alcohol"

Today's Bulk Buy is probably our most celebrated wine here at The Reverse Wine Snob. This is the third vintage we have reviewed and now all three have been Bulk Buys. The 2009 vintage was one of the first we reviewed on the site: Altovinum Calatayud Evodia Garnacha 2009 - Simply Sublime at $6.99. The 2010 followed up this success: Evodia Old Vines Garnacha 2010 - A Simply Superb Bulk Buy! In fact, we loved these previous two vintages so much that they also ended up at the top of our Top 10 Red Wines Under $20 list.

The Evodia is another old vine Garnacha (up to 100 years old) from the Calatayud that proves once again this is THE go to region for Reverse Wine Snobs right now. This wine ages for only 5 months in stainless steel but don't think for a second that makes it one dimensional or less complex than other wines from the area that spend time in oak. One taste will destroy that notion pretty quick. Speaking of tasting, let's get to it.

The 2011 Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha begins with a lovely aroma featuring rich blackberry and blueberry fruit, cola, spice, licorice and pepper. Tasting this smooth and delicious wine reveals a ton of savory fruit and nice spice. It is also loaded with great mineral notes, more so than the previous couple of vintages. Just as in the past, the finish is long and spicy. My first thought after tasting this new vintage was simply that this wine is money as it once again drinks like a whole lot more than $8.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 8 Cost Rating: 9

Overall Rating: 8.3

Bulk Buy

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Rudi Wiest Rhein River Riesling 2009 - A Crowd And Wallet Pleasing Wine From Germany

2013-05-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Our first review of a German wine? How can that be?

100% Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany.

Available for around $10. 10,000 cases produced. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Starts with a wonderful bouquet of fresh peaches. The fruit carries over to the palate with an enticing nuance of minerals from the soils of Rheinhessen. The wine is pure, bright and balanced.

11.5% Alcohol"

I'm not sure how it happened, but this is the first review of a German wine here on The Reverse Wine Snob. That's definitely an area we need to address, and we begin today with a very wallet friendly Riesling from the Rheinhessen.

The Rheinhessen, which is the largest German wine region, is bordered by the Rhine river on the north and east. It is generally considered that the closer to the river, the better the wines thanks to the unique soils and climate. Today's wine comes from the highly regarded Roter Hang (Red Slope) area, named because of the red slate soils.

Riesling is very popular in Rheinhessen, but the most grown grape in the region is Muller-Thurgau, which is an offspring of Riesling. The red Dornfelder grape is the third most produced after Riesling. But enough about the region, let's get to the wine.

The 2009 Rudi Wiest Rhein River Riesling begins with pleasant aromas of white peach, apple, lemon and a hint of tropical fruit. The wine tastes soft and fruity with lots of green apple, apricot and more peach. Bright acidity helps to create a refreshing, easy to drink wine. It ends with a hint of minerality on the slightly dry finish. Not an overly complex wine but it is likely to be a crowd pleaser.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 7 Cost Rating: 8

Overall Rating: 7.3

Recommended Buy

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Crios Torrontes and Rose of Malbec - More Scrumptious Summertime Sippers

2013-05-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

A pair of refreshing wines to help you enjoy your summer to the fullest.

Perhaps it's the long winter we just experienced or the relatively short summers here in Minnesota (or more likely both), but I've found myself on a quest lately to enjoy as many wines as I can that I would classify as "summertime sippers".

A summertime sipper doesn't necessarily have to be a wine that I would only drink in summer, but it does have to be a wine that is refreshing -- one that I would be happy to drink on a hot and humid 90 degree day. We've covered a number of these lately, beginning with the recent Summer 2013 Edition of the Top 10 White Wines Under $20 as well as our recent feature on Albarino - Made For Summertime Sipping on the Patio.

Today we have two excellent wines that fall into this category. Torrontés has long been one of our favorite white wines. The Malbec Rosé is a different story in that I've hadn't had much luck with these in the past so I was eager to give another a try. The result? Let's find out!

First up is the 2012 Crios Rosé of Malbec, which is 100% Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. This wine has an SRP of $13 and is available for as low as $10. 18,000 cases were imported. Sample submitted for review.

From the winery:

"A beautiful, deep, vibrant rosé color. Has a surprising amount of body for a rosé wine, and beautiful aromas of fresh, ripe wild strawberries. On the palate, the flavors of strawberries and young cherries come rushing in, accompanied by some spice notes and a clean, dry finish. This is the perfect chicken wine and a charming companion to mildly spicy Asian cuisine. Keep one in the fridge at all times and you’ll always have a delicious wine to enjoy with light snacks and cheeses. Best consumed in its youth.

13.8% Alcohol"

The 2012 Crios Rosé of Malbec begins with a light berry aroma with a hint of sea salt. It's a bit subdued at first but then opens up with a little time in the glass. Tasting the wine reveals an excellent texture with dark berry flavors and a hint of spice that adds a nice dimension. The wine has good fruit but is not overly sweet. It ends dry with good length. Don't drink this one too cold as it becomes more multi-dimensional as it warms up a bit.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 7 Cost Rating: 8

Overall Rating: 7.3

Recommended Buy

Next up is the 2012 Crios Torrontés which is 100% Torrontés also from Argentina. This wine has an SRP of $15 and available for as low as $10. (Spotted for $11 at Costco.) 35,000 cases were imported. Sample submitted for review.

From the winery:

"Enticing aromas that are strikingly similar to Viognier, with hints of peach pit, white pear, flowers, and orange citrus fruit. On the palate, it has beautiful structure and acidity similar to Sauvignon Blanc along with enticing fruit flavors that keep you coming back for another sip and plenty of body for a wine that shows such delicate aromas and flavors. Fruity, floral and yet still quite dry, this wine has to be tasted to be believed.

13.9% Alcohol"

The 2012 Crios Torrontés begins with wonderful and complex aromas of tangerine and lime along with hints of mint, sea salt, white pepper and flowers. The wine tastes excellent with a really pleasant texture. The fruit turns more tropical and zesty in the mouth and offers intense flavors with a nice bit of white pepper. This is a very easy to drink wine that would be great with seafood or even some grilled meats, believe it or not.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 7 Cost Rating: 8

Overall Rating: 7.3

Recommended Buy

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Michael David Winery Petite Petit 2010 - Just Plain Fun To Drink

2013-05-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

Loco for Lodi Wine #2.

85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot from Lodi, California.

SRP of $18 and available for as low as $13. Sample submitted for review.

From the winery:

"Like elephants whose size is imposing, Petite Petit is large! A blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot, offering a joyous explosion of color and fun! It is a substantial, dense, full-bodied, whopper style of wine loaded with pure black fruit and vanilla flavors that coat the palate. It reveals remarkable richness with a finish that is slightly dry and seems to linger.

One of the best vintages in recent memory, 2010 was a cool, long growing season combined with a medium crop resulting in very balanced and flavorful wines.

14.5% Alcohol"

Today we have our second wine in our quick series on the wines of Lodi and already a theme is emerging. These wines are just plain fun to drink. The Michael David Petite Petit, a blend of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot (thus the name) not only comes in a whimsical bottle, but also offers up a really pleasing alternative to Zinfandel.

The 2010 Michael David Winery Petite Petit begins with a very nice aroma of plum, vanilla, lots of spice and a bit of smoke. The wine tastes fruity without being too sweet and even has hints of vanilla and chocolate. With loads of rich, savory fruit, a nice slightly chewy texture and smooth but firm tannins this would make a nice BBQ wine -- I couldn't help but think it would go well with brats and other grilled fare when I was drinking it. Sounds fun to me!

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 8 Cost Rating: 6

Overall Rating: 7.5

Recommended Buy

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Vinum Cellars Paso Robles Zinfandel 2011 - An Easy Drinker

2013-05-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

Juicy and jammy.

100% Zinfandel from Paso Robles, California.

SRP of $14 and available for as low as $11. 1,900 cases produced. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Vinum Cellars is a small California winery well known for producing wines of the highest quality. The grapes are selected from premium coastal and cool climate growing areas within California. The wines are made by hand in small batches to allow the varietal character of each wine to express itself.

13.5% Alcohol"

The 2011 Vinum Cellars Paso Robles California Zinfandel begins with aromas of ripe, jammy, sour berry fruit along with hints of anise and leather. Tasting the wine reveals more juicy and jammy fruit including blueberry, blackberry and strawberry rhubarb. This is not an over the top Zin (thus only 13.5% alcohol), but has a soft, easy to drink mouthfeel with a nice bit of spicy black pepper underneath. It ends with sour fruit and a bit of bramble and has good length.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 7 Cost Rating: 7

Overall Rating: 7.0

Recommended Buy

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Castellare Il Poggiale Chianti Classico Riserva 2009 - Crazy Good Chianti

2013-05-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Ciliegiolo from Tuscany, Italy.

SRP of $35 and available for around $30 (Saturday Splurge). 750 cases produced.

From the winery:

"Made from 90% Sangioveto, 5% Canaiolo, and 5% Ciliegiolo grown in the Il Poggiale vineyard, the grapes come from an elevation of almost 1,500 feet above sea level. The combination of high elevation and extremely low yields results in a wine that manages to simultaneously show both restraint and layered richness. This classic red holds great aging capability.

This Riserva is a brilliant garnet color with layered aromas of red cherries, earth, rose flowers, and leather. On the palate, the wine shows excellent structure with firm, integrated tannins and is full-bodied with plenty of spice.

This wine goes well with rich fare such as osso bucco, beef stew, casseroles, roast beef, or even Hollandaise sauces.

13.7% Alcohol"

The 2009 Castellare di Castellina Il Poggiale Chianti Classico Riserva begins with a really lovely aroma featuring loads of red and black cherry along with some nice floral notes. You'll find secondary notes of licorice, earth, baking spice and more. The wine tastes wonderfully smooth and delicious with rich sour cherry fruit, more perfectly integrated baking spice and some nice olive notes. There's even a little smoke and some mineral notes on the long finish. This one is just as fabulous on day 2.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Saturday Splurge

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Top 10 White Wines Under $20 - Summer 2013 Edition

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

NEW LIST! Includes 9 new wines!

It's time for the next update of The Reverse Wine Snob Top 10 White Wines Under $20 list, just in time for summer! This update brings a ton of new wine to the list of 12 wines. (Yep, that's right, there are 12 wines on the Top 10 list...thanks to a 3 way tie for the 10th spot.) In fact, we've had so much good wine recently that only 3 wines from the previous list even made the cut this time around! Check out the full list below and get your summer sipping on...

A lively little number.

10) TIE 2011 Pazo Torrado Albarino - Made For Summertime Sipping on the Patio
100% Albarino from Rias Baixas, Spain and available for around $13. This is patio wine at its best -- pure, refreshing, easy to drink AND interesting. Salty, green apple aromas with complementary floral notes lead into a lively texture with fresh acidity and lots of lime, green apple and citrus flavors when tasting. It ends with a nice clean finish and good length. If you haven't discovered Albarino yet, this is a great place to start. Plus, the fact that Albarino is one of the chosen few white wines produced and labeled as a single varietal in Spain should give you a little more motivation to check it out.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Wildly Good!

10) TIE 2010 Wild Horse Unbridled Chardonnay - As Good As Chardonnay Gets.
100% Chardonnay from Santa Maria Valley, California. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Chardonnay. I love the fruit, and hate the heavy buttery oak. (OK, hate is probably too strong a word, but it's not may favorite.) So you would think a Chardonnay aged in 100% French oak wouldn't be high on my list, but in this case the oak aging enhances everything about this wine instead of overpowering it. Green apple, pear, lemon custard, a really nice minerality, excellent acidity and a lively mouthfeel are just a few of things you'll find in this excellent wine.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

A wonderful white Bordeaux.

10) TIE 2008 Chateau le Thil Comte Clary Blanc - Delectable
The name Bordeaux conjures up images of expensive red wines, but what you may not know is that there is a whole world of affordable white Bordeaux out there. One of the most common blends is Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon which is exactly what we have here. Delectable aromas of honey, lemon and flowers lead into a really wonderful, delicious mix of flavors and a pleasing texture when tasting. A nice, lightly spicy mineral streak lasts all the way into the refreshing finish which itself features some long lasting tropical fruit. Deliciously delectable!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Refreshingly complex.

9) 2010 Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco - Something Special From Alto Adige
Maybe it's the name but Pinot Bianco, AKA Pinot Blanc, just kind of sounds unexciting, doesn't it? This 100% Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige is anything but. Available for around $15, it begins with pleasing, fragrant aromas of apple, pear, chalk and a little honeysuckle. Tasting the wine reveals a really nice spicy mineral streak on top of a wonderful, complex mouthfeel. Lush flavors of tart apple, pear and melon combine with a bright acidity in the mouth. Chalky minerals and citrus zest reveal themselves on the medium-long finish. A delicious and refreshingly complex wine!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Why should Mimosas
have all the fun?

8) 2011 Innocent Bystander Pink Moscato - A Beauty for Breakfast
It's not often you can recommend a wine for breakfast, but this blend of Gordo Muscat and Black Muscat from Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia is a perfect fit. Only 5.5% alcohol with natural effervescence and good acidity, it's a great match for all kinds of breakfast and brunch foods. Strawberry, peach, watermelon, rose and ginger ale aromas on the nose, the wine tastes delightfully fun with fresh and fizzy fruit flavors. Moderately sweet, but nowhere near cloying, and with just the right amount of bubbles, this wine is sure to please. It ends with more sweet fruit notes that linger a long time. Available widely for around $10.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Pinot Grigio that tastes good,
really good.

7) 2009 Domaines Schlumberger Les Princes Abbes Pinot Gris - Pinot Gris From Alsace, The Better Pinot Grigio
If you're in the mood for a little more substance and complexity than so much of the watered down, lifeless Pinot Grigio that's out there, then you owe it to yourself to check out Pinot Gris from Alsace. One of my favorites from the area, this wine begins with aromas of earthy apple, quince and white peach with hints of smoke and lemon. When tasting the wine you're treated to a lovely, rich and even a bit chalky mouthfeel. Lovely mineral notes also add intrigue. What's interesting is that many times a wine with a thick mouthfeel like this would be very sweet, but that's not the case here. A wine that just gets better and better with every sip.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Fantastic! Intriguing!

6) 2011 Nuraghe Crabioni Vermentino di Sardegna - Excellent Italian Whites.
Fantastic and intriguing, fantastically intriguing, or intriguingly fantastic -- take your pick, just do yourself a favor and seek this one out! When you do you'll find a 100% Vermentino from Sardinia, Italy that presents quite an intriguing aroma in the glass. Lemon, almonds, dried herbs, sea salt and mineral notes to name just a few. Tasting reveals good acidity, good balance, salty and spicy mineral notes and a rich and soft texture that is really pleasing to the mouth. Tropical fruit and lemon carries into the finish where a touch of fennel also appears. This wine can be found for as low as $14.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Crisp and Clean!

5) 2011 Indaba Chenin Blanc - A Steal At $7
100% Chenin Blanc from Western Cape, South Africa. This wine offers insane value at a cost of only $7. Medium-bodied with a thick and luscious mouthfeel, crisp and clean flavors of zesty citrus and melon, nice minerality and even a bit of spice, it's hard imaging anyone not enjoying this wine. At the same time it still offers enough complexity to please even your most discriminating guests. Stock up!

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Just about the
perfect patio wine.

4) 2011 Esporao Monte Velho White - A Summertime Slam Dunk!
Another perfect patio sipper, this time from Portugal. This wine is a blend of Antao Vaz, Roupeiro and Perrum, a trio of grape varieties native to Portugal. Available for around $8, this wine begins with a fresh and fruity aroma of apple, pear, white peach and a little citrus zest. Tasting reveals a fresh, fruity and easy to drink wine with crisp acidity and a nice spicy mineral streak that adds interest. It ends with lots of citrus soaked mineral notes that last a surprisingly long time. This one will be particularly good when the heat really ratchets up in August. A summertime slam dunk!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Buy It By The Case!

3) 2009 Trimbach Riesling - A Delicately Delicious Bulk Buy!
100% Riesling from Alsace, France that can be found for as low as $14. The first question you may ask is whether this wine is French, German or a combo of the two. My response would be, who cares, it's delicious! The wine opens with delicate and enticing floral, tropical fruit and apricot aromas. The wine tastes simply delicious and features a great mouthfeel, a lovely texture and excellent balance. It is crisp and clean but still rich and substantial. It ends with a very long, dry finish. Those rich flavors just keep going and going. You'll want to buy this gem by the case.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

So easy to drink
and so delicous...

2) 2011 Argillae Orvieto - Exploring The Indigenous White Varieties of Italy.
A blend of 60% Trebbiano and Grechetto plus 40% Chardonnay, Malvasi di Candia and Sauvignon from Umbria, Italy. This is a recent find that we absolutely adore. It begins with aromas of citrus, delicate floral notes and a hint of tropical fruit. The wine tastes very fresh, rich and flavorful in the mouth. There are even a few hints of nuts and a light spicy minerality that comes out on the excellent finish. Easy to drink, delicious and available for as little as $12.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

1) 2011 Stadlmann Gruner Veltliner - Gruner Love

Make your mouth come alive.

We've long adored Gruner Veltliner from Austria, and this one offers a stunning combination of taste and value. It begins with an enticing aroma of green apple, tropical fruit and a little peach as well as white pepper and some mineral notes. It's when tasting the wine however, that it just comes alive. The first thing that stands out is that it is bright, clean and delicious with a fabulous, refreshing mouthfeel. You'll also find great acidity and tasty tart fruit along with slightly salty minerals and a little white pepper and other spice. It ends with wonderful length -- lime soaked mineral notes linger in your mouth for a long time. One of the few white wines I've been tempted to buy by the case, this is truly an unforgettable wine. Available for around $14.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

The top 10 list is subject to change at any time as new wines are reviewed and as vintages become unavailable, but it is typically updated every three months. Many of the wines on the list were samples submitted for review, please click through the links to the full reviews for more details. Cheers!

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St. Francis Old Vine Zinfandel 2008 - A Hedonistic Delight

2013-05-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Makes a savory statement you can't help but enjoy.

89% Zinfandel with the remaining 11% being a blend of Alicante Bouschet, Mourvedre, Carignane, Syrah and Petite Sirah from Sonoma County, California.

SRP of $24 and available for $15.99 at Costco. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"This wine was produced from hand-picked grapes grown on some of the finest "old vines" Zinfandel vineyards in Sonoma County. Aged for 15 months in American oak barrels, this deeply colored, rich red wine displays the unique character of "old world style" Zinfandel.

15.5% Alcohol"

The grapes for today's wine come from the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley, all from vines that are 55 to 100 years old. We've talked about old vines in the past, and how there really is no standard for what constitutes old, but in general as vines age they produce fewer, but more flavorful grapes. This is the perfect for the big and rich, high alcohol style that is quite popular for Zinfandel right now, and today's wine does that style proud.

The 2008 St. Francis Old Vine Zinfandel begins with really pleasant aromas of blackberry, plum, black pepper and a little caramel. The wine tastes smooth and rich with lots of blackberry and plum flavors just like the nose. This is definitely a big and fruity wine, but it is also backed up with lots of other savory notes like caramel and molasses plus a little pepper and spice. And while it may not be super complex, it certainly makes a rich and savory statement that you can't help but enjoy. It ends with more rich fruit and vanilla notes that last for a long time. We found it to be just as good on day 2.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 8 Cost Rating: 5

Overall Rating: 7.3

Recommended Buy

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Quinta Do Portal Reserva Red 2009 - Rich and Powerful

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Deep.

50% Touriga Nacional, 40% Tinta Roriz and 10% Touriga Franca from Douro, Portugal.

SRP of $28. Purchased at Costco for $19.99.

From the bottle:

"This lovely wine is a fine example of the quality potencial of the Douro region. The grapes are carefully selected from Classic red Douro varietals including Touriga Nacional (50%), Tinta Roriz (40%) and Touriga Franca (10%) from our best vineyards in the Pinhao valley. It has aged in new French oak barriques for 9 months in our cellars.

13.8% Alcohol"

Today we've got another wine that likely only falls into our price range thanks to the excellent prices and low margin of Costco. Check out our recent Costco Week series to get more info on why the largest retailer of wine in the U.S. is a great place for Reverse Wine Snobs to shop.

The 2009 Quinta Do Portal Reserva Red begins with a simply lovely aroma that is reminiscent of Port - there's lots of dark ripe fruit, spice and some enticing vanilla and cedar notes. Tasting the wine reveals wonderful, rich, dark, deep fruit. This wine has some some serious fruit but it's perfectly balanced by lovely spice and big, dry tannins. Add in great acidity and a long finish and this one is a winner. Highly recommended.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 1

Overall Rating: 7.0

Recommended Buy

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Uvaggio Vermentino 2011 - Loco for Lodi

2013-05-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

A Reverse Wine Snob's paradise? Lodi Winegrowers declare:
"Other regions can have Saturday night, we'll take the other six."

100% Vermentino from Lodi, California.

SRP of $14 and available for as low as $12. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Uvaggio - sounds like 'Bellagio' - is Italian for 'really great wine made by two incredibly hip wine lovers'. We have moved far beyond the conventional chocolate and vanilla by making Barbera, Moscato, Primitivo and Vermentino. We say since California has a Mediterranean climate, we should make wine with the grapes that actually thrive there.

Indigenous to Sardinia and Liguria, Vermentino is becoming popular as the white grape to grow in the Maremma region of Tuscany. It produces an aromatic and flavorful wine, perfect as an aperitivo or with a meal. Think of Vermentino as where Pinot Grigio meets Gruner Veltliner, having aromas and flavors of pear, lime, green melon, and cilantro-like mint.

Our Vermentino will partner well with seafood, more delicate Southeast Asian cuisine like Thai or Vietnamese, chicken, pasta, or any Mediterranean dish calling for a white wine.

12.5% Alcohol"

Lodi, pronounced Low-die, is 90 minutes east of San Francisco and 35 minutes south of Sacramento. Grapes have been grown in the area since the 1850's when settlers who came out for the Gold Rush struck out but instead found a different type of gold. The area even prospered through Prohibition thanks to the provision of the Volstead Act that allowed for home winemaking, which created a great need for grapes to be shipped across the country.

Lodi has a Mediterranean climate with a variety of soils conducive to grape growing. There are about 75 wineries in the area and more than 750 growers. In total the area accounts for 17% of California's total production. About 60% of the wines produced are red.

Most importantly, and perhaps because the area doesn't have quite the name recognition as places like Napa, the region as a whole is dedicated to producing high quality wine at very reasonable prices. Thus the "Other regions can have Saturday night, we'll take the other six" declaration, a statement we can't help but love. Wineries and growers in the area also tend to have an innovative spirit which explains why Vermentino and other Italian varietals are not at all uncommon here.

Vermentino is a white grape variety that is primarily produced in Italy and also in France in the Languedoc-Roussillon area. We recently covered this grape for the first time as part of our feature on the indigenous white varieties of Italy: Excellent Italian Whites - Exploring the White Wines of Italy Including Two Bulk Buy Selections! Let's see how the California version of this grape measures up...

The 2011 Uvaggio Vermentino begins with a very nice light fruit and floral aroma. This easy to drink wine tastes crisp and fresh with an excellent texture, good acidity and flavors of lime and green apple. On the finish the fruit turns tart, a little white pepper appears and then you're left with lingering mineral notes. This would be a great match with seafood. We have reviews of several other wines from Lodi coming over the next couple weeks so stay tuned as we explore this excellent value region!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 8 Cost Rating: 7

Overall Rating: 7.8

Recommended Buy

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Yalumba Eden Valley Shiraz Viognier 2008 - A Solid Shiraz

2013-05-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

An easy to drink wine with wide appeal.

97% Shiraz and 3% Viognier from Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia.

SRP of $20 and available for as low as $12.

From the bottle:

"Rich, generous Shiraz from Eden Valley is co-fermented with 3% Viognier - The subtle, aromatic and exotic grape variety that enhances the colour and adds elegance and finesse. Bright and youthful, this is a deliciously spicy, silky and savoury wine. A Barossa stalwart with an alluring twist.

14.5% Alcohol"

The 2008 Yalumba Eden Valley Shiraz Viognier begins with aromas of cherry, blackberry, violets as well as hints of menthol, pepper, vanilla, leather and even a little chocolate. This one offers quite a complex aroma under the initial fruit and floral component. Tasting this smooth, medium-bodied wine reveals nice blackberry flavor followed by a bit of peach, likely from the Viognier. There's also a nice streak of spice that lasts all the way through to the finish. An easy to drink wine that should have wide appeal.

For a less expensive version of this wine plus more information on this style of wine, check out the Yalumba The Y Series Shiraz Viognier 2010 - You'll Like It.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 7 Cost Rating: 7

Overall Rating: 7.0

Recommended Buy

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Franciscan Estate Magnificat Napa Valley Meritage 2009 - Make Mine A Meritage Wine 11

2013-05-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Magnficent Magnificat.

64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec from Napa Valley, California.

SRP of $50 and available widely for $30 (Saturday Splurge). 6,146 cases produced. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"To create Magnificat, we begin with our finest lots from our Estate and other select vineyards then craft a blend as seamless and harmonious as the Bach masterpiece it honors in name. This 2009 blend, our 25th vintage of Magnificat, was aged for 20 months in oak and shows layered aromas of cassis and plum, with alluring ripe black fruit flavors and hints of vanilla and spice.

14.5% Alcohol"

As the bottle mentions, 2009 is the 25th vintage of this wine. For the last wine in our series on Meritage we've chose one of the originals, a wine that has been produced since 1985. The Magnificat, named for Bach's masterpiece, is also a wine that has been consistently good over the years. We found the 2008 vintage to be particularly delicious and the 2009 may be even better.

The 2009 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Napa Valley Meritage begins with lots of lovely plum aromas as well as blackberry, vanilla, cedar, spice and dark chocolate. It smells excellent and better yet many of these flavors carry over when tasting this truly delicious and smooth wine. There's loads of rich fruit, lovely spice and intriguing layers of dark chocolate plus hints of black pepper, vanilla and oak in the mouth. It ends dry with good length. The 2009 might even be a bit better than the 2008, which means this magnificent wine is definitely Saturday Splurge worthy!

Wine in the "Make Mine A Meritage" series:

Lyeth Meritage 2010 - Make Mine A Meritage Wine #1
Hahn Winery Central Coast Meritage 2010 - This ain't no second class Bordeaux.
Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Meritage 2008 - Smooth Drinking Ahead!
Fox Run Vineyards Meritage 2010 - Proof the Finger Lakes offers a lot more than Riesling.
Arrowhead Red Meritage 2008 - It's easy to fall for this Meritage from Niagara.
Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner Meritage 2008 - Splice the mainbrace!
Estancia Reserve Meritage 2009 - Sweet oak and rich fruit wrapped up in a smooth package.
Kirkland Signature Rutherford Napa Valley Meritage 2011 - A Sure Thing!
Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Series Meritage 2008 - A Work of Art
Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Meritage Reserve 2008 - A blackberry patch in a bottle.
Franciscan Estate Magnificat Napa Valley Meritage 2009 - Magnificent Magnificat.

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Saturday Splurge

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive database.

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Gruner Love Featuring the Stadlmann Gruner Veltliner 2011

2013-05-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Exploring the pride of Austria with Snooth and Aldo Sohm at the People's Voice Awards Wine Writers Seminar.

Make your mouth come alive.

We've long been fans of Austrian Wine here at The Reverse Wine Snob, going so far as to do a whole series of reviews featuring many of the varieties indigenous to Austria, entitled "Awesome Austrians". And while Austria produces tons of great wine, it's claim to fame/pride and joy/national treasure/crown jewel/magnum opus is Gruner Veltliner. And so it was that we sat down in NYC with Snooth and the award winning sommelier Aldo Sohm for a fascinating exploration of the different styles of Gruner Veltliner.

This is the fourth article from our sponsored media trip to New York with Snooth. Other installments to date include:

Gruner Veltliner, an offspring of the Traminer and St. Georgen grapes, makes up 29% of the vineyard acreage in Austria. Interestingly, St. Georgen was a previously unknown grape variety that was found as a single vine in an overgrown pasture that hadn't been used as a vineyard in over 100 years. The link to Gruner was only able to be determined through DNA analysis. (Sounds like a new spin-off of CSI!)

Austria, with a latitude between Champagne and Burgundy, abundant mountains, and lots of rocky soils (Aldo even showed off his rock collection) is a prime area for growing grapes. The range of soil types and growing conditions also creates a fascinating study into just how different one grape can express itself. The Gruner Veltliners we tasted possessed a range of flavors from citrus to tropical to mineral to nutty to spicy, even one I noted as a "Dill Lover's Delight".

And while all of the wine at this tasting was particularly good, the standout for me was the spectacular 2011 Stadlmann Gruner Veltliner, which is a 100% Gruner Veltliner from Thermenregion, Austria. (Ironically this is not an area particularly well known for Gruner.) It has an SRP of $16 and is available for as low as $14. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Since 1780, the Stadlmann family has been producing wines made from the indigenous grapes of Austria's Thermenregion. Today, Johann Stadlmann VII continues this tradition, creating expressive and dynamic wines. "Gruner Veltliner", the most popular signature varietal of Austria, is a fresh yet well structured wine, with aromas of green apple and lime. This wine is perfect with fresh salads, seafood, poultry and light meat dishes.

12.5% Alcohol"

The 2011 Stadlmann Gruner Veltliner begins with an enticing aroma of green apple, tropical fruit and a little peach as well as white pepper and some mineral notes. The wine tastes bright, clean and delicious with a fabulous, refreshing mouthfeel that simply makes your mouth come alive. You'll also find great acidity and tart fruit (green apple, pear and lime) along with slightly salty minerals and a little white pepper and other spice. It ends with wonderful length -- lime soaked mineral notes linger in your mouth for a long time. One of the few white wines I've been tempted to buy by the case, this is truly an unforgettable wine.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 6

Overall Rating: 8.3

Bulk Buy

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive database.

Want more info on Gruner Veltliner and Austrian Wine? Check out these great posts by my fellow writers who also attended the seminar:

Jameson Fink, Wine Without Worry - High Line Park and Gruner Veltliner: Contemplating Time and Space
VineSleuth - Gruner Veltliner: A Delicious Puzzle
Benito's Wine Reviews - Snooth PVA: Wines of Austria
My Vine Spot - #SnoothPVA: Wines of Austria Master Class
Vindulge - So you think you know Grüner
Wine Julia - SnoothPVA: Terroir Driven Grüner Veltliners of Austria Create Food Friendly Wines with Distinctive Flavors
The V.I.P. Table - My 2013 Vinous Revelation: Grüner Veltliner
Also check out the summary article from Snooth - Austrian Gruner Veltliner: Reports From Our Favorite Writers on Austria's Chosen One

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Albarino - Made For Summertime Sipping on the Patio

2013-05-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Two Prime Picks for #AlbarinoDay!

Finally, a made up marketing day that I wholeheartedly support.

While I may not be a fan of all these made-up days, created solely for marketing purposes (#CabernetDay and the like), I am a fan of anything that promotes Albarino. Why? Let me put it this way...if Spain, which has more vineyard land than any other country, chooses Albarino as one of the very few white varieties that it produces and labels as a single varietal, there just might be something special here.

Today I've got a couple picks to help convince you of this, but first let's find out a little bit more about Albarino.

Albarino Quick Facts:

Accounts for 90% of the grapes grown in Rias Baixas (ree-ahs-buy-shuss), Spain.
Also produced in Portugal where it is called Alvarinho -- and is used in some of those delicious Vinho Verde wines.
Usually fermented in stainless steel which produces a lighter bodied wine.
Barrel fermentation and oak aging are also occasionally used which produces a fuller wine.
Many times produced slightly effervescent, or frizzante.
This is a low yielding variety that is expensive to cultivate.
Generally best consumed within 3 years.
A great match with seafood.
Info taken from here and here.

Of course the best way to experience Albarino is to taste it, and so in addition to the two fine selections below be sure to check out all of our other recommended Albarino buys here. And now onto today's picks!

First up is the 2011 Pazo Torrado Albarino.

A lively little number.

100% Albarino from Rias Baixas, Spain. SRP of $15 and available for as low as $13. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Pazo Torrado is a 100% Albarino wine from the Salnes Valley belonging to the Rias Baixas Designation of Origin in Galicia. The camelia flower on the label, symbolizes the freshness and floral beauty of this wonderful Albarino, with aromas of citrus and tropcial fruit flavors.

12.5% Alcohol"

The 2011 Pazo Torrado Albarino begins with a salty, green apple aroma with complementary floral notes. Tasting the wine reveals a lively texture with fresh acidity and lots of lime, green apple and citrus flavors. This is a very pure and refreshing wine. It ends with a nice clean finish and good length. It's both easy to drink and interesting - two things that don't always go together.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 8 Cost Rating: 6

Overall Rating: 7.5

Recommended Buy

Our second pick is the 2011 Adega Pazos de Lusco Albarino.

Why not make every day #AlbarinoDay this summer?

100% Albarino from Rias Baixas, Spain. SRP of $22 and available for as low as $19.99. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"A Pazos de Lusco was founded in 1996 upon acquisition of the historic Pazo Pineiro estate, a 12 acre property offering ideal growing conditions for the spectacular, aromatic Albarino grape variety. Lusco, the result of superb fruit and natural wine-making, offers concentration and elegance on a par with the world's finest dry white wines.

13.0% Alcohol"

The 2011 Lusco Albarino begins with pleasing aromas of pear, a little citrus, sea salt and a hint of lemon custard. Tasting the wine reveals a substantial mouthfeel with a nice zestiness to it. You'll also find lots of citrus and mineral notes plus a little tropical fruit that builds into the finish. This is a bigger wine than the Pazo Torrado, with everything amplified a bit. On the finish the tart tropical fruit continues for a surprisingly long time and a bit of lemon custard from the nose reappears.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 1

Overall Rating: 7.0

Recommended Buy

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Andrew Murray Vineyards Esperance 2011 - Making The Excellent Seem Easy

2013-05-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Fantastic once again!

60% Grenache Noir, 25% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre from Paso Robles and Santa Ynez Valley, Central Coast, California.

SRP of $25 and available for as low as $19.99. 600 cases produced. Sample submitted for review.

From the winery:

"The 2011 Esperance is the fulfillment of a dream to produce a rich, red wine blend that rivals the famed wines of Gigondas, in the southern Rhône Valley, while retaining an Andrew Murray Vineyards 'house style'. This vintage was given a more serious winemaking regimen with more new oak. I also chose a bigger Syrah to blend in with the Grenache and Mourvedre, so the resulting wine is a bit more profound. I believe this is perhaps the best Espérance that we have ever released. All of the extra effort has yielded a rich, concentrated wine with aromas and flavors of ultra-ripe strawberries, black cherries, and blueberries, mixed in with the spiciness of cinnamon and vanilla from the toasty new French oak. We chose to close the bottle with the Stelvin ScrewCap to preserve the freshness and avoid 'off' flavors. It is a blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre that is 100% delicious.

15.0% Alcohol"

We've long been fans of Andrew Murray Vineyards here at The Reverse Wine Snob, so much so that their Tous Les Jours Syrah was once #1 on our Top 10 Reds list. It's been a vintage or two since we've reviewed any of their wines so were quite excited to try out the new vintage of their GSM blend, Esperance. We absolutely loved the 2009 vintage of this Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend. However, since it had been a while since we tried one of their wines I had a little trepidation that these new vintages may not live up to what we loved so much about these wines in the past, or that perhaps our tastes had changed. It turns out those fears were unfounded and this wine was just as delicious as we remembered the 2009 to be!

The 2011 Andrew Murray Vineyards Esperance GSM Red Blend begins with an awesome aromas of lots of ripe berries, cinnamon spice, and vanilla with some nice floral notes. When tasting the wine you'll find tons of delicious fruit layered with peppery spice wrapped up in a silky smooth mouthfeel. This is a big, rich and spicy wine. The deliciousness carries through to the long finish. The Esperance will be at its best after a couple hours in the glass so plan accordingly and then be prepared to be blown away.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here or get it direct from the winery here.

Taste Rating: 10 Cost Rating: 1

Overall Rating: 7.8

Recommended Buy

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive database.

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Crazy For The Calatayud - Bodegas Filon Garnacha 2011 Plus Five More Favorites Under $12

2013-05-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Bulk Buy!

It's hard to believe this wine is only $8.

100% Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain.

SRP of around $10 and available widely for $8.

From the bottle:

"The incredible composition of land that make up the slopes of of many hills in the district of Calatayud, in most cases covered with slate and very poor in nutrients, allowing the cultivation of vineyards that produce wonderful grapes Grenache, which gives highly concentrated and elegant wines with aromas reminiscent of cherries and black plums.

14.5% Alcohol"

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. We're simply crazy for the Calatayud region in Spain. In fact, this may be one of the best value locations in the whole world right now with tons of delicious wine made from old vine Garnacha for well under $15. Here are five of my favorites that I've covered recently:

Atteca Old Vines Garnacha 2010 - Powerfully good Garnacha.
The Show Garnacha 2010 - No Circus Clowns Needed.
Los Dos Grenache + Syrah 2010 - Another Spanish Wonder.
Las Rocas Garnacha 2009 - Garnacha Love.
Evodia Old Vines Garnacha 2010 - A Simply Superb Bulk Buy! Previously #1 on our Top 10 Red list!

You can add today's Bulk Buy to this superb list (and to the next Top 10 list).

The 2011 Bodegas Filon Garnacha begins with a very pleasant aroma of menthol, black cherry and a bit of smoke. The wine tastes smooth, supple, and harmonious. The dark, rich fruit, cola, spice and mineral notes just flow together perfectly. The savory flavors continue on the long finish and are joined by some nice spicy mineral notes and a hint of smoke that lingers in the mouth for a good time. It's hard to believe this wine is only $8!

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 9

Overall Rating: 9.0

Bulk Buy

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive database.

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Celebrate Finger Lakes Wine Month With Free Shipping On All New York State Wine from Marketview Liquor!

2013-05-06T08:58:00.002-05:00

This post is sponsored by Marketview Liquor.

Perhaps my favorite part of running this site is the opportunity to try wine from regions that I may never have considered on my own. While finding another delicious Malbec from Argentina or another value priced Garnacha from Spain is lots of fun, I probably get the most satisfaction in finding delicious wine from unexpected regions.

For most of the country, New York State is still a rather unexpected spot to find great wine, but thanks to the success of the Finger Lakes (and other areas) that perception is changing. And since this month is "Finger Lakes Wine Month", our friends at Marketview Liquor have come through with a promotion that makes it even easier to try these wines -- free shipping!

For the entirety of this month, every New York State wine (not just the Finger Lakes) ships for free on orders of 6+ bottles (mix & match) at Marketview Liquor! This is no small selection either, Marketview offers the world's largest assortment of Finger Lakes wines. See all 900+ wines from New York State here, and get every one of them with free shipping!

To help you decide just which wines to try, below you will find two sets of recommendations. First are three wines from Marketview Liquor -- they are truly experts on these wines and so I encourage you to try their recommendations. Following that I also give you my three top picks from New York State (plus one limited quantity bonus pick). These are four of my very favorites that score very high on my rating system and hold their own against wine from any other region.

First up, from Marketview Liquor:

The Finger Lakes Wine Alliance has named the month of May “Finger Lakes Wine Month,” and Marketview Liquor is excited to celebrate the abundance of world-class wine made right in their own backyard. Along with dozens of other New York retailers and restaurants, Marketview will be participating by promoting the wines of the Finger Lakes all month long. They'll be pouring Finger Lakes wines in store throughout the month, and be featuring dozens of wines in various promotions throughout May. Year after year the recognition and renown of the Finger Lakes wine region continues to grow and we are all proud to take part in promoting such an exceptional wine region. Celebrate Finger Lakes Wine Month at Marketview Liquor!

Lamoreaux Landing 2011 Dry Riesling
Lamoreaux Landing is one of the most gorgeous wineries in the Finger Lakes, and the wines have been equally exceptional for years. Somehow, Lamoreaux not only makes crisp, focused, and mouthwatering Riesling, they also manage to keep their prices lower than most wines from the region. If you are looking for one, everyday, go-to Finger Lakes Riesling, this would be the one.

Red Tail Ridge 2010 Blaufrankisch
The Finger Lakes region is constantly searching for a cool-climate red varietal that may match well to the region. If this wine is any indication, Blaufrankisch (often known as Lemberger) may be the way to go. Red Tail Ridge is a relatively new project in the Finger Lakes, and they’ve been strong coming out of the gate. This wine is just delicious, deep red and blue fruit with soft tannins and a silky mouth feel. The type of red you hope the Finger Lakes is capable of consistently making.

Boundary Breaks 2011 No. 239 Dry Riesling
A brand new project in the Finger Lakes, 2011 is Boundary Breaks first vintage, and what an introduction! Grown on prime Seneca Lake property, Boundary Breaks is focusing on single clones of Riesling that they hope will truly suit the region, and result in exceptional Riesling. Well, it appears they are on to something. This Riesling is lightly sweet with some lovely lingering acidity and a touch of mineral backbone. Keep your eye on Boundary Breaks, they are just getting started.

And now for my picks:

Fulkerson Winery Semi-Dry Riesling 2011 - A Fantastic Finger Lakes Riesling for only $10.
Pleasant aromas of apple, honey, peach and a little pineapple combine with lovely sweet and light flavors of lemon, apple and nectarine when tasting. This is one nice Riesling for only $10!

Get it with free shipping from Marketview Liquor here.

Red Newt Semi-Dry Riesling - Finger Lakes Riesling Roundup Round Two.
My favorite wine from last year's Riesling Roundup. This one begins with aromas of pear, honey and even some mineral notes. The wine has good balance and tastes excellent with lots of sweet pear and honey along with some spicy white pepper. It finishes clean with good length. The Finger Lakes is known for Riesling and this is one of the best I've tasted.
Get it with free shipping from Marketview Liquor here.

Three Brothers Zero Degree Dry Riesling 2011 - Four Delicious Finger Lakes Rieslings For Under $15!
Dry Riesling may not have a lot of sugar in it, but that doesn't mean it can't have a lot of fruit. This one begins with a bit subdued aroma of apple and peach, but those fruit flavors explode when tasting. It's actually quite refreshing to find a wine with so much fruit that is not overly sweet. And if you're looking for a bit more sweetness Three Brothers has an entire line of Riesling from Dry to Sweet to explore.
Get it with free shipping from Marketview Liquor here.

BONUS PICK - LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE at Marketview!
Arrowhead Red Meritage - It's easy to fall for this Meritage from Niagara.

A recent find from our Make Mine A Meritage series this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc will make you think twice about New York's ability to make quality and affordable red wine. Available for as low as $13 this wine combines complex aromas with luscious jammy fruit, a silky smooth texture, fine tannins and good acidity when tasting. This is really an exceptional wine for the price, especially considering it comes from a smaller wine region that doesn't have the long growing seasons and economies of scale of bigger regions.
Get it with free shipping from Marketview Liquor here.

Don't let this deal pass you by - visit Marketview Liquor and get all your New York State wine shipped for free on orders of 6+ bottles! (Mix & match, no coupon code needed.)

This post sponsored by Marketview Liquor.

Advertise on The Reverse Wine Snob!

Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Meritage Reserve 2008 - Make Mine A Meritage Wine 10

2013-05-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

A blackberry patch in a bottle.

41% Cabernet Franc, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot from Niagara Escarpment, New York.

SRP of $25 and available at that price (Saturday Splurge). Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"This wine is aged for 23 months in oak barrels. Each barrel is individually selected for this blend with a goal of making the best possible wine, rather than emphasizing individual varietal character. Highly structured with lots of complexity and body to go well with up to the heartiest meals.

Arrowhead Spring Vineyards is a sustainable winery located in Niagara County, NY. We specialize in hand crafted, traditionally made wines. We make our wines with an obsessive focus on quality and respect for the environment. Please be environmentally responsible and recycle this bottle, aluminum capsule and cork (empty first!)

13.3% Alcohol"

We're nearing the end of our ongoing series on Meritage, with just one more wine to go after today. Hopefully you've found some new wine to try as we've made our way through this series. I also hope that I've encouraged you to try wine from some new places, like New York state. You may remember one of the wines we covered earlier in the series was a knock-out from the Niagara Escarpment in New York: Arrowhead Red Meritage 2008 - It's easy to fall for this Meritage from Niagara. Well, we liked it so much we had to include it's big brother as well, the Reserve.

The Reserve uses a similar blend, but ups the Cabernet Franc from 31% to 41%, the Cabernet Sauvignon from 35% to 39% and drops the Merlot from 34% to 20%. Cabernet Franc is a popular variety in cooler climates, as it ripens earlier and more reliably than Cabernet Sauvignon. And while New York is a cooler climate area, the conditions in the Niagara Escarpment help to create moderate temperatures which in turn means an easier time ripening grapes. If the grapes don't ripen sufficiently then you have lower sugar levels (and thus lower alcohol) and generally more "green" flavors in the wine (but generally also higher acidity). For today's wine it doesn't appear there was any issue ripening the grapes because this one is loaded with ripe fruit flavors!

The 2008 Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Meritage Reserve begins with lots of ripe berry aromas, vanilla, maple syrup and brown sugar. Tasting the wine reveals tons of ripe, juicy blackberry. You'll find some nice vanilla and black pepper notes as well, but this one is mostly about the ripe berry fruit. Sweet oak notes, fine tannins and a nice underlying streak of minerality round out this medium-bodied wine which we found to be surprisingly good with dark chocolate. It finishes with good length, those berry and oak notes lingering in the mouth for a good bit. The whole thing was even a bit better on day two leading me to believe the wine is still a bit young and will probably get even better from here. Yum!

Wine in the "Make Mine A Meritage" series:

Lyeth Meritage 2010 - Make Mine A Meritage Wine #1
Hahn Winery Central Coast Meritage 2010 - This ain't no second class Bordeaux.
Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Meritage 2008 - Smooth Drinking Ahead!
Fox Run Vineyards Meritage 2010 - Proof the Finger Lakes offers a lot more than Riesling.
Arrowhead Red Meritage 2008 - It's easy to fall for this Meritage from Niagara.
Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner Meritage 2008 - Splice the mainbrace!
Estancia Reserve Meritage 2009 - Sweet oak and rich fruit wrapped up in a smooth package.
Kirkland Signature Rutherford Napa Valley Meritage 2011 - A Sure Thing!
Chateau Ste Michelle Artist Series Meritage 2008 - A Work of Art
Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Meritage Reserve 2008 - A blackberry patch in a bottle.
Franciscan Estate Magnificat Napa Valley Meritage 2009 - Magnificent Magnificat.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Saturday Splurge

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Excellent Italian Whites - Exploring the White Wines of Italy Including Two Bulk Buy Selections!

2013-05-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

The words "Italian wine" no doubt conjure images of iconic wines like Barolo, Brunello, Chianti and so forth, and rightly so. However, as temperatures (slowly) climb and summer approaches, the best thing coming out of Italy may well be the rich, mineral soaked, delicious white wines made from all sorts of grapes you simply won't find anywhere else. Don't let the unknown names deter you -- there is great delight to be had in all these indigenous varieties, which is exactly what we found in New York at the Snooth People's Voice Awards Wine Writers Seminar on the white wines of Italy.

Finding delight in indigenous Italian whites!

Today we have our third report from this series of seminars which was part of our recent sponsored media trip to NYC. The other installments we've covered include:

And so today we turn to these excellent Italian whites and as is our custom, I've also included reviews of two of my favorites under $20, which just so happen to both be Bulk Buys!

Italy has more indigenous grapes than any other country in the world, and it shows in their white wines. There are the better known, although perhaps still a bit under radar, varieties like Friuliano which is pretty much exclusively grown in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, and Trebbiano -- "the Chardonnay of Italy", which is a component of Frascati (as well as other blends). There are also varieties like Gavi, made from the Cortese grape and Soave, which was the highest selling Italian wine region in the U.S. in the 1970's, made from the Garganega grape.

Then there are the lesser known varietals. Take for example, Ribolla Gialla. The wine we tasted, the Luisa Ribolla Gialla was a full-bodied wine that came with a claim to be the rare white that would make a great match with meat (although that's probably speaks more to this specific wine than the variety).

There is also Fiano di Avellino grown in Campania, one of the least fruit driven wines in the world. It was a fascinating look into a white wine with very little fruit, and as such, a wine sure to polarize. The wine we tasted, the Terredora di Paolo offered tons of complexity in the glass in the form of spicy mineral and salt notes, but almost no fruit.

We also discovered wines like Pigato from the Riviera Ligure di Ponente DOC, an area on the coast between France and Tuscany. Our guide at the tasting, Giuseppe Capuano from Vias Imports assured us that this is the quintessential variety to pair with pesto.

We sampled Kerner from Alto Adige, a variety created in Germany by crossing Schiava (a red grape we covered here) and Riesling. There was also Nosiola, a lighter-bodied white from Trentino and Grillo, a popular white in Sicily.

The variety of wines across Italy, which is smaller than the state of California, is simply amazing and we haven't even mentioned the usual suspects such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Gris, Pinot Bianco and the like.

My two favorite finds of the tasting; however, were a Vermentino from Sardinia and an Orvieto -- a blend made up of primarily Grechetto and Trebbiano. Both of these wines were not only excellent, but different than just about anything else you may have tasted. Let's find out more!

First up is the 2011 Nuraghe Crabioni Vermentino di Sardegna, a 100% Vermentino from Sardinia. This wine has a SRP of $21 but can be found for as low as $14. Sample submitted for review.

Fantastic! Intriguing!

From the winery:

"Overlooking the Asinara Gulf, Nuraghe Crabioni is a 35 hectare property in the celebrated area of Sorso in Sassari, which is historically renowned for its viticulture. The vineyard benefits from its unique location, enjoying both warm southern winds and cooling maritime breezes. Nuraghe Crabioni wines flaunt a balanced, but distinct character.

13.0% Alcohol"

The 2011 Nuraghe Crabioni Vermentino di Sardegna presents quite an intriguing aroma in the glass. You'll find lemon, almonds, dried herbs, sea salt and mineral notes. The wine tastes...tasty! Good acidity, good balance, salty and spicy mineral notes and a rich and soft texture that is really pleasing to the mouth are just a few of the things you'll find. Tropical fruit and lemon carries into the finish where a touch of fennel also appears. Fantastic and intriguing, fantastically intriguing, or intriguingly fantastic -- take your pick, just do yourself a favor and seek this one out!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 6

Overall Rating: 8.3

Bulk Buy

Second, is the 2011 Argillae Orvieto, a blend of 60% Trebbiano and Grechetto plus 40% Chardonnay, Malvasi di Candia and Sauvignon from Umbria, Italy. This wine has a SRP of $17 and is available for as low as $12. Sample submitted for review.

So easy to drink and so delicous...

From the bottle:

"Orvieto is Umbria's - and one of Italy's - most famous white wines. Argillae Orvieto is dry, with a pleasant complexity of aromas, citrus, tropical fruits and floral scents. It pairs beautifully with hors d'oeuvres, salads, pasta with seafood or vegetables and light second courses.

13.5% Alcohol"

The 2011 Argillae Orvieto begins with aromas of citrus, delicate floral notes and a hint of tropical fruit. The wine tastes very fresh, rich and flavorful in the mouth. This is another really tasty one, although don't drink it too cold to really enjoy it. There are even a few hints of nuts and a light spicy minerality that comes out on the excellent finish. Easy to drink and delicious!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 7

Overall Rating: 8.5

Bulk Buy

Want more info on Italian Whites? Check out these great posts by my fellow writers who also attended the seminar:

The V.I.P. Table: A Regional Tour of Italian Whites
Benito's Wine Reviews: Snooth PVA - il gran giro d’Italia con dodici vini bianchi
Vindulge: Learning about the white wines of Italy with Snooth – one region at a time
Wine Julia: #SnoothPVA - Indigenous Varietal Italian White Wines From North to South
My Vine Spot: #SnoothPVA - White Wines of Italy
Also check out the summary article from Snooth: PVA WHITE WINES OF ITALY SEMINAR - Four great views on a broad selection of the white wines from The Boot

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Hermanos Malbec Tannat 2011 - Malbec With A Deep, Dark And Delicious Twist

2013-05-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Bulk Buy!

A standout in a sea of Malbec.

70% Malbec and 30% Tannat from Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina.

SRP of $15 and available for as low as $13. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Brothers - we played soccer, we fought a lot, we generally caused trouble for our parents. But we Domingo Brothers ("Hermanos" in Spanish) became the best of friends, and 50 years after our father and uncle opened a winery, we started one of our own on a hillside above Cafayate. We named the winery Domingo Molina - Domingo for our father's last name and Molina for our mother's. Over the decades, our family has located the best vineyard sites in Salta Province, all 5800 - 7300 feet above sea level. This extreme altitude and 340 days of sun yield wines with intense aromas and soft tannins which are a pleasure to drink, especially with our brothers - Osvaldo, Gabriel & Rafael - the Hermanos de Domingo Molina.

13.9% Alcohol"

Tannat (pronounced Ta-Not) has taken on a new life in South America. Originally grown primarily in southwest France, it has now become quite common in Uruguay, Brasil, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. This is an up and coming varietal that produces seriously big, tannic wines. Some even feel that Tannat could be Uruguay's Malbec -- the variety that puts them on the wine map like Malbec did for Argentina. Today's wine clocks in at only 30% Tannat, but even that amount is sufficient to help this wine stand out from the crowd.

The first thing you notice about the 2011 Domingo Molina Hermanos Malbec-Tannat is how dark and inky it is in the glass, no doubt thanks to the Tannat. The wine begins with strong, dense aromas of blackberries, plums, olives and mint dark chocolate -- nice! (Any wine that smells of mint dark chocolate is certainly a friend of mine.) Tasting the wine reveals wonderful dark fruit with the Tannat adding a bigness to the wine that separates it from your average Malbec. The flavors when tasting are similar to the bouquet just wrapped up in a really silky, velvety texture. You'll also find some nice mineral notes. It ends dry, with dusty tannins and good length. A deep, dark and delicious twist on your standard Malbec!

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 6

Overall Rating: 8.3

Bulk Buy

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive database.

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Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - Why pay for Napa Valley when Colchagua Valley will do?

2013-05-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

A Fab Cab.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Valley, Chile.

SRP of $19 and available for as low as $17. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"The label depicts a piece of silver jewelry previously used as an adornment by the Mapuches, who are indigenous Chileans.

This wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown between the Chimbarongo Creek and the Tinguiririca River on the Maquis Estate in central Colchagua Valley.

The two-meter-deep alluvial soil contains 25% clay, which produces Cabernet Sauvignon that is ripe and elegant and has extraordinary complexity.

The grapes were picked during the last week in March due to a long, dry summer with temperatures almost 3C higher than average, allowing for an earlier harvest. The grapes show good concentration and black fruit aromas.

13.5% Alcohol"

Here in Minnesota we've been listening for years to the tagline of Second Wind exercise equipment, as stated by their owner Dick Enrico, "Why buy new when slightly used will do?" There's even a bobblehead doll of Mr. Enrico stating the tagline in multiple languages. (Trust me, I should know...I "won" it in the office white elephant gift pool a few years ago.) The implication of course being that most exercise equipment is never actually used by the original purchaser so you are able to pick up like new equipment at big discounts -- basically getting the same quality for less. I couldn't help thinking of this tagline when tasting today's wine from Colchagua Valley, Chile.

We're big fans of Chilean wine here at The Reverse Wine Snob, previously covering many different Carmenere as well as a series on Coastal Whites. One area where we've been lacking; however, is Cabernet which might be Chile's strength. Over the next few weeks we'll try to fill in that gap with a few of our favorites, starting with today's wine.

The 2010 Vina Maquis Cabernet Sauvignon begins with big, deep, thick aromas of black currant, plum, blackberry, lots of cola and a little cedar. It's a very enticing bouquet. The wine tastes big and dry with tart blackberry, more cola and a really nice, almost chewy, mouthfeel. Like many wines, this one needs some time to open up -- it's a bit oaky after popping and pouring, but some time in the glass does wonders. Interesting iron-like mineral notes reveal themselves on the long finish and add another layer of complexity. Delicious!

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 9 Cost Rating: 4

Overall Rating: 7.8

Recommended Buy

Find out more about my rating system and check out the Wine Ranking to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive database.

Advertise on The Reverse Wine Snob!

Reveling in the Wine of Ribera Del Duero Plus 3 Top Value Picks From This Region

2013-04-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

A rather harsh and desolate land produces big, powerful wines.

As you may remember from my post on Oregon wine a couple weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be included in a sponsored media trip to New York by Snooth as part of their People's Voice Awards. That excellent seminar (Oregon Wine - Pinot Noir and Much Much More) was the first of many. Today I have another favorite from the weekend, this time on Ribera Del Duero, Spain. And, of course, this wouldn't be The Reverse Wine Snob if we didn't have some recommendations for you so below I've also selected my three top values from this excellent region interspersed with some information about Ribera Del Duero!

Ribera Del Duero sits on the northern plateau of Iberian Peninsula and literally means "banks of the Douro", referring to the river that splits the region and supplies much needed water to the area. This is the same river that flows through Douro and Porto in Portugal, which makes you wonder if there's something magic in the water! The soil in the area is clay -- there's really no topsoil at all.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to growing grapes here is the lack of moisture in the winter. And what a winter it can be, hitting 10 below zero. Combine that with temperatures approaching 105F in the summer and you have one extreme climate. Despite the extreme temperatures, the area, which sits at about 2800 ft above sea level, offers that magical combination for grapes -- hot days and cool nights.

Ribera Del Duero Value Pick #1

Tastes like a lot more than $10!

Our first value pick is a wine that we've previously reviewed as part of our recent Costco Week series and offers the most extreme value in the tasting, especially when you consider that it can be had for just $10! The 2011 Bodegas Barco de Piedra Tempranillo is a 100% Tempranillo featuring deep, dark and rich fruit with a smooth, full texture. This is a great example of a lightly oaked Tempranillo that proves the wine can still be robust and powerful without spending a long time in barrels. It ends nicely with spicy mineral notes and more dark fruit that sticks around for a long time. Read the full review.

Ribera Del Duero produces Tempranillo almost exclusively. (The local name for the Tempranillo grape is Tinto Fino or Tinta Fina.) There is very little to no white white wine production although there is one white grape grown here called Albillo which is sometimes blended in very small quantities into the red wines. Speaking of the red wines, they must contain at least 75% Tempranillo, although most contain at least 90%. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot usually make up the additional 10% but Garnacha, Malbec and the aforementioned Albillo occasionally show up.

The aging requirements for wine in Ribera Del Duero are the same as Rioja, with Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva designations. In other words much of the wine produced here is built to age, and that it does quite well.

Ribera Del Duero Value Pick #2

Heavenly.

Our second value pick is the 2009 Seleccion de Torres Celeste Crianza another 100% Tempranillo with an SRP of $28. (14.0% Alcohol; sample submitted for review.) Lucky for us, it can be had for around $17. The Celeste begins with a really lovely and expressive nose of dark fruit (blackberry, black cherry, black currant) as well as some vanilla. This medium to full-bodied wine wine tastes simply succulent with lots of juicy fruit and a smooth texture. Beware however that if you simply pop and pour this wine you're likely to be disappointed, but let it breathe and you will surely be rewarded. It also has some relatively big tannins that I loved. This is a wine you can easily cellar for few years and it will only get better. It finishes dry with tart, lip-smacking fruit flavors and good length. Heavenly!

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 10 Cost Rating: 4

Overall Rating: 8.5

Bulk Buy

As part of our seminar we tasted 12 different wines, paired with fantastic food from Salinas restaurant in NYC. And while the food was amazing -- Galician style pumpkin-chicken soup with smoked bacon, chorizo, potato & broccoli rabe or Ribera Del Duero braised short ribs with confit potatoes & crispy leeks anyone? -- the wine was even better.

To give you an idea of just how good I thought the wines were, I gave multiple 10/10 taste ratings, which is a rarity here at the site. Of the 6 wines that I liked the best, I've profiled the three least expensive ones here. The three other wines that I loved, but didn't include, were $85, $100 and $160 per bottle respectively. I honestly felt like the three I've included here, and especially the last two, were every bit as good at a much, much lower price.

And one last note -- all three reviews are based on tasting full bottles of my favorites either before the tasting (as with the Barco de Piedra) or a couple weeks after the initial tasting for the other two. As always there are no one sip tasting notes here!

Ribera Del Duero Value Pick #3

Worth every penny.

Our third value pick is the 2005 Legaris Reserva, another 100% Tempranillo, this time with an SRP of $36. (14.5% Alcohol; sample submitted for review.) The lowest price to be had for this one is around $25, making it a Saturday Splurge, but one worth every penny. The Legaris begins with a wonderful aroma of dark berry, licorice, sweet spice and some floral notes. This full-bodied wine tastes super rich and juicy with lots of dark fruit flavors and has a smooth, silky, dry texture with lasting notes of plums and raisins. This one needs some time to breathe just like the Celeste, but wow, what a fantastic wine. The finish lasts and lasts, but I found myself having a hard time waiting to take another sip.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Saturday Splurge

Also check out my other articles to date in the Snooth PVA Wine Writers Seminars series:

Want more info on Ribera Del Duero? Check out these great posts by my fellow writers who also attended the seminar:

The V.I.P. Table: Ribera del Duero - Thriving through Adversity
Benito's Wine Reviews: Snooth PVA - Ribera del Duero
Brunello Bob: Ribera del Duero Lunch -Salinas NYC
Wine Julia: #SnoothPVA - Experiencing Spain in New York City with Ribera del Duero Wines at Salinas
Vindulge: Wine and food are a great match for Ribera del Duero
My Vine Spot: #SnoothPVA - Ribera del Duero Lunch at Salinas
avvinare: Ribera Del Duero Tasting During SnoothPVA at Salinas
Also check out the summary article from Snooth: PVA RIBERA DEL DUERO - Reports From Our Favorite Writers

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Club W - Delivering Delight and a Free Bottle of Wine!

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

This post is sponsored by Club W.

I have to admit that I've always been a bit skeptical of wine clubs. Sure some of the wine has always looked good, but at best you might get to choose between a shipment of reds versus a shipment of whites. I'm sure you know as well as I do that even though you and Aunt Rosie both like red wines, you don't exactly have the same palate as the woman who enjoys Merlot with an ice cube in it. With all these different tastes, how could a wine club possibly please everyone? And so I figured, rather than love half the wine I received and dump the other half, why not save my money, do my homework and choose my own wine. But then I tried Club W.

The best package you'll get all month!

Club W does things a bit differently than your average wine club. The first thing you'll notice upon signing up is that they actually ask you what you like! Wait, that's right, this is a wine club that actually wants to fit wine to your individual tastes! Seems like common sense, doesn't it? The Club W "Palate Profile" is a series of 6 questions designed to determine your taste preferences so that their individual recommendations are tailored to your individual palate.

Better yet, if your tastes change (as mine often do with the seasons) just re-do your palate profile and get all new recommendations! Or if you know exactly what you want, skip the profile altogether and just choose your wines. Don't want a shipment (like in August when it's 100 degrees outside and too hot to ship)? Simply put your service on hold and start it up again whenever you like.

Now you might think a service like this would be expensive, but it's not. For just $39 a month (plus $6 shipping) you get three wines tailored to your palate. (That's $13 a bottle.) Up it to 6 wines a month and your shipping is free. Since there's no distributor taking a cut Club W is able to keep their prices firmly in Reverse Wine Snob territory.

Lastly, lest you think this is all hot air, I speak from experience. I tried Club W myself (the palate profile and everything) and was introduced to wines I loved, including some small production wineries that I may never have found on my own. Wines like the Innocent Bystander Pink Moscato 2011 - A Beauty for Breakfast and the fabulous Vinum Cellars family of wines.

And one more thing -- I saved the best news for last. Sign up today through the link below, enter the special code created just for readers of The Reverse Wine Snob and get a free bottle of wine in your first shipment from Club W!

Click Here To Get A Free Bottle of Wine in Your First Shipment From Club W! (A $13 Discount) Enter Code 411snob at Checkout. (Code is case sensitive.)

This post sponsored by Club W.

Advertise on The Reverse Wine Snob!

Weekend Wine Getaway in Temecula Featuring Monte De Oro Winery

2013-04-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

Just a few weeks ago my wife and I decided to enjoy a little wine country getaway. In looking at our options, we were intrigued by Temecula -- being just an hour north of San Diego it would allow us the opportunity to have a wine country experience but also enjoy time in San Diego. And so off we went, sans kiddos, for four days of fun. And while we enjoyed the entire trip, the highlight was our stop at Monte De Oro Winery, to which we were kindly invited by one of the winery's owners. (Skip all the way to the end for our impressions on Temecula in general.)

The lovely patio at Monte De Oro Winery in Temecula.

The first thing you notice about Monte De Oro is the really beautiful building. Monte De Oro is very much a family owned winery, it's just that there are a whole bunch of families! Originally started in 2002 with about 50 investors they now have about 70 different owners. They produce about 10,000 cases of 13 different wines with several of the vineyards just planted in 2007.

Budding grapevines.

Baby grape flowers.

Since our trip was in April, bud break was already in the rear view mirror and the grapes vines were already beginning to flower. (Click the photo on the right to enlarge it.)

The soils in the Temecula Valley tend to be granite and sandy loam. Temperatures can easily hit 100 degrees in July/August, so the vineyards are irrigated pretty regularly; however, the area also benefits from the "Rainbow Gap". This is a gap in the mountains that allows the cool air from the Pacific Ocean, which is just 20 miles away, to flow through the valley and cool down the temperature. This also helps create the classic weather pattern for growing good grapes -- warm, sunny days and cool nights. Monte De Oro is ideally positioned in the valley to take advantage of these favorable conditions.

After exploring the vineyard a bit, we then traveled inside to the cellar and the racks and racks of wine ageing in mostly French oak barrels.

Next came the really fun part -- tasting wine from the barrel. And this wasn't just any wine we were tasting, but two brand new wines from Monte De Oro, a 2010 Petite Sirah and a 2010 Tempranillo. Both of these wines were the first vintages from vineyards planted in 2007. (It takes 3 years before you can begin harvesting grapes for wine production when planting new vines.) Both wines were getting ready to be bottled and then will be aged for another 6 months before release.

Cellar Manager David Allbright using a wine thief to extract samples from the barrel.

Both wines were surprisingly well formed at this point, which bodes well for these varietals in the future. It'll be interesting to see how the wines from these vineyards develop over the next few years.

And of course, this wouldn't be The Reverse Wine Snob if we didn't also have a wine pick for you! So today we have one of the more affordable wines we tasted on the entire trip, the 2009 Monte De Oro Cuvée De Oro Red Wine.

A certifiable quaffer!

35% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre, 23% Syrah and 13% Cinsault.

SRP of $28 and available for $22 for wine club members (Saturday Splurge). 387 cases produced. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Monte De Oro Winery is pleased to present its second Cuvee De Oro offering. This wine is a proprietary Rhone varietal blend and 35% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 23% Syrah and 13% Cinsault. Temecula Valley's soils are created from decomposing granitic materials that provide ideal drainage for grapevines. These soils contribute to clean, pure varietal flavors you will see in this wine. Barrel aged for 27 months this wine was bottled on May 29, 2012. 387 cases were produced. Enjoy!

15.0% Alcohol"

The 2009 Monte De Oro Cuvée De Oro Red Wine begins with pleasant berry aromas as well as a bit of menthol. This wine needs some air to really open up but when it does you'll find a nice mix of light spice and berry fruit in the mouth. The primary flavors are strawberry, raspberry and wild cherry, all a bit on the tart side. It ends with a dry medium length finish. While it's not overly complex, this is one very easy to drink wine - a certifiable quaffer.

Buy this wine direct from the winery here.

Saturday Splurge

Lastly a note about Temecula in general. This is a relatively new wine area, with the first winery opening its doors in 1969. Because many of the wineries are small operations, their costs are high, which means their wines can be expensive; however, I was not prepared for just how expensive they went! But to be honest it wasn't the price that bothered me, it was that the price was not nearly justified by the quality of the wine at many of the 8-10 wineries we visited -- a bad combination.

Unfortunately some of the wineries seemed to be more interested in creating a cool space for tasting than producing quality wine. Undoubtedly this is due to the fact that they generate the majority of their revenue off of tastings, which were not cheap either, averaging around $15. While we enjoyed our trip and especially our visit at Monte De Oro (easily one of the more fairly priced wineries in the area) I'd have a hard time recommending a visit to this area solely for the purpose of visiting the wineries. Frankly you'd be much better off some place like Sonoma, where you can find a lot more quality at similar prices. If you're in the San Diego area already, it's definitely worth a day trip to check it out.