Wine On The Cheap

Green Fin table wine

2011-09-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

oh, Trader Joe's, you really know how to surprise a fella! If you haven't tried the Trader Joe's, Blue Fin, Pinot Noir, you are missing out a great tasting $4 bottle of wine. So when they added a Green Fin table wine and said it was made with organic grapes but didn't up the price I had to give it a shot. O.K., to begin with I am not a big table wine fan I fined them to be quite plain but from the opening of the bottle of Green Fin to the last drop in my glass it was very flavorful and yummy. We had it with tri-pepper chicken pasta and it really added to the overall flavor of the meal. So you can add this to your shopping cart the next time you are a T.J.'s.

Purple Moon

2011-04-21T15:14:00.001-07:00

This is a 4 dollar Trader Joes Shiraz. Fruity and mild with a great after taste. Great with burgers or as a night cap.

La Granja Tempranillo

2011-04-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

So first let me say this; after opening the bottle let it sit for a while, if you are in need of instant gratification have a bottle of the Little Penguin Cabernet Sauvignon–Shiraz handy, drink that, then return to this Tempranillo later. if you follow my instructions you will be very pleased. This wine was $3.99 a Trader Joe's and at that price you could buy a case. Here is what the winemaker has to say about their wine:

"La Granja means in Spanish "the farm 360" it is located in a traditional temper in the low great wine growing region in the north of Spain. The little piggy is flying because it expresses a song which the Spanish children sing when somebody has asked for something which is impossible to realize, has a dream or says something absurd. And every day drinking soft rounded juicy red wine, with rich ripe raspberry flavors. A great match to barbecue roasted pork chops, spareribs, sausages, and grilled vegetables and cheeses."

Makulu: Earthy and yummy!

2011-04-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

It is nothing short of amazing that I am enjoying a wonderful Cabernet that came halfway around the world from Africa and it only cost me $3.99 at Trader Joe's! The winemakers have this to say about their wine, “the Zulu word Makulu means 'big' and this range of wines certainly live up to the name. Makulu Wines originates from the heart of the Western Cape where a combination of ideal soil and dynamic conditions provide grapes of great character and quality.

With a nose of ripe dark berry fruit and a hint of fresh pepper, this classic South African Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied on the palate. Best enjoyed with barbecue, steak or roasted leg of lamb.”

What I liked about this wine is that it was unique. It had some earthy qualities (I don't mean it tastes like dirt) that seem to cause it to taste better with every sip. While I am sure that it would taste great with the recommended meats it also tastes great with chicken cacciatore.

A rose by any other name would taste as yummy

2010-10-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

Got a text about this wine saying it was a great by for five bucks. So I headed down to Cash Wise and sure enough I found this rose for $4.94. I had never had a sweet red and though I am not a great lover of sweet wines I am game for a new experience besides the color was right so how bad can it be....well not bad at all! This wine is fruity but not over powerfully sweet. It goes down smooth and finishes dry. I liked it with my chicken I would like it with anything I think.

Wine On The Cheap: Mondavi Field Blend or Ménage à quatre

2010-09-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

Wine On The Cheap: Mondavi Field Blend or Ménage à quatre: "Mondavi for $4.99. Yep, and as the kids say, 'this is like...awsome.' Smooth, yummy and very much like the party field blend standard Mén..."

Mondavi Field Blend or Ménage à quatre

2010-09-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

Mondavi for $4.99. Yep, and as the kids say, "this is like...awsome." Smooth, yummy and very much like
the party field blend standard Ménage à trois. The blend is made up of Cabernet, Merlot,Petite Verdot and Syrah. Hyvee has it this week and all other CK Mondavi's for only $4.99 We enjoyed this one with Pasta and sausage. This would be a party favorite I think.

Concannon Merlot

2010-09-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

So I got a text from my friend Eric saying, “Just bought Concannon, Righteously Rose at Cashwise for five bucks and it is really good.” Well I haven’t had the Righteously Rose yet but the Merlot was sure yummy. It is very pleasant with no after taste. We had it with Pork Ribs and it went very well. I bought the wine for $4.99 and if you buy 12 bottles there is a rebate for $24 until 12/2010 bringing the actual price after tax down to $3.41 a bottle! Thanks Eric! I bought a variety so stay tuned for my Concannon companion.

Famenco Tempranillo: Plums and spice and everything nice

2010-09-07T17:41:00.000-07:00

Yeah Baby! I found a $4 rock star and its name is Famenco! This is not a usual, "well it's good but I can tell it is cheap" wine, this is a cool labeled, Tempranillo, tasty wine that will make the snobs say things like, "lovey, sink me, if this isn't the best wine I have had since we were in the old country!" I love everything about it and it was fun to swirl in the cup and take small delightful sips while you fought off the urge to gulp it down. It was $4.46 at Cashwise and I feel like driving over there and leaving a little extra in the give a penny take a penny cup at the register. They should have called it Famenco Yummy!

Little Penguin Shiraz or Cabernet....hmmm how about both!

2010-09-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

"Oooh Little Penguin," a friend said when I opened a bottle of Shiraz/Cabernet and that is what I love about this wine, It's cheap, yummy and well liked.
It is not to harsh, not over bearing, a little fruity but always smooth and I love the mixture of these two grapes usually with other wine makers and always with Little Penguin. I got this at Cashwise for $4.99 and that is swell as well. 8 out of 10 Yummies

Fair Hills Wine: Would you like a little wine with your alchohol?

2010-09-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

This won't take long. I don't know what Fair Hill's other wines taste like but their Cabernet Sauvingon taste like red rubbing alcohol. It has no body or fruity taste it is just....blah. Luckily, I only had to part with $2.95 so at least it has that going for it.
I give it 2 out of 10 Yummies
Mostly because I like the label and the easy screw top cap.

Xplorader Merlot Magnificent

2010-08-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

I have a new favorite Merlot, Xplorader. They say the Merlot is a “gateway wine” what I mean is when you first start drinking wines you usually aquire a taste for the sweet wines like a Zinfandel and then after a little more courage you might move on to a dry White wine like a Sauvignon blanc and then finally you may try crossing over to a red and the first stop on the red wine bus is usually Merlot because of it’s fruity and pleasurable palette appeal. Well I have been around the Merlot block a few times and haven’t crossed this $4.92 Cashwise beauty before. What makes it different and appealing is its spices. It is not just the normal Merlot mix of grapes it has some pizzazz as it journeys down your throat and makes the heart merry. We enjoyed this wine with Amy’s crockpot chicken taco’s it was very, very yummy.

Crane Lake Malbec

2010-08-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

I know how easy it is to look at a plane labeled, cheap wine like a Crane Lake in our favorite liquor store and just pass it by knowing it won't satisfy our flavor picky wine pallet but believe you me the Crane Lake Malbec is not that kind of a wine. I love how it seems to go with any meal and it is a great night cap wine. Granted, it won't knock you down and cause a come to Louis Pasteur meeting but it is fun and usually around $3.00. 6 out of 10 on the yummy scale.

Up Jacob's Creek and you can keep the paddle!

2010-08-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I can't decide what I want and that is a perfect time for a Shiraz/Cabernet blend. This $4.97 wine is so good I swear the manager at Cashwise liquor must be buying this on the black market at a reduced price. This is a medium bodied, Australian wine that went great with our homemade pizza. Jacob's Creek Shiraz/Cabernet is perfect to enjoy with friends or to enjoy by yourself on the back deck with your sweety. Yummy

7 out of 10

2010-07-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

Hey, This was a really fun wine. Another $4.46 Special at Cashwise, I would highly recommend this Chilean Concha Y Toro wine. It went great with our chicken and pasta supper. It is so fruity that you feel like you mouth is full of Carménère grapes and spices. We ate out on the deck on a wonderful Minnesota summer eve and the wine not only helped us appreciate the evening; eating as a family together, it also reminded us of a simpler time when men were men and women were woman.(Not really:) but it was still pretty yummy.)

That is one big bottle of fruity relaxation

2010-07-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

So it is 9 P.M. and the sun is setting here in Minnesota and I have my beautiful wife Amy by my side; we are watching a God inspired pink sunset retreat while we enjoy this fruity and robust Gionelli Cabernet Sauvignon. I know you are thinking, "No way you got a 2006 Italian wine in the mega size for $5" but you would be wrong-I did indeed. $4.96 at Cash Wise and it is definitely yummy. Before you read the back of the bottle try to guess what candy they say is evident in the palette along the obvious fruity taste. 8 out of 10

New Rule! Reviews of expensive wines as long as I didn't pay for them

2010-07-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I love wine is because of my friend Simon. Simon knows wine. When we use to go to restaurants and I was just a novice he would string together these french-Latin-Arabic-German like phrases and order wonderful yummy wines which is one of the reasons I can appreciate wines today. So I was over at Simon's new posh Twin Citie's town home and he introduced me to this $13 gem, Ravenswood old vine Zinfandel. It is hard to describe the fullness I experienced but it was woody and really full flavored. It went perfect with Maren's (Simon's wife and my close personal friend) Asian rice noodle and chicken cuisine. This would be a great wine to take with you when you want people to not just drink a bottle of wine but experience wine and smile. 9 out of 10

Crane Lake Cabernet Sauvignon

2010-07-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

First, let me say $3.94. O.K. I don't know how Crane Lake does it but they have a yummy cheap wine (look for my review on their Malbec) Now I open this when my friend Dan comes over because we will probably drink the whole bottle and I won't feel bad, besides it is really good. It is smooth and very full of flavor. 8 out of 10

Bolla Merlot....Dry but not dusty

2010-07-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

O.K. this was yummy as well. Bolla Merlot was kind of dry so I liked it with the Pizza my friend Cheryl brought over for cooking co-op but I don't think I would just open this one and drink it for sheer pleasure. On a humid night on the back porch in Minnesota it was a good way to enjoy a nightcap. I would give it a 6 out of 10

Bolla...Yummy

2010-07-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

So I walked into Cashwise just looking for a little somethin', somethin' when behold, the manager had some specials! Oh, there was nothing advertised but sure enough with little red tags in every isle it said, "managers specials" and right in my price range ($4.43). So here is one, a Bolla Sangiovese and it was really good. Kinda bold with a fruity tail. I had it with a pork role on the grill and

and nice salad. 7 out of 10 rating.

Rex...the 47 pound, king of them all!

2010-07-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite wine. I have had opurtunity to drink some pretty expensive wines before but I would take a yummy taste of Rex any day! Now Rex tries not to be a cheap contender but several months ago I got Rex in both the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon for $5.97 a bottle with a $47 rebate if you bought 24 bottles which brought the effective price down to $4.01 a bottle. This wine goes with anything and every occasion and my neighbors who love Ménage à Trois and Bogle like it as well. 9 out of 10

Wisdom with age

2010-07-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

I didn't start drinking wine till I was thirty so I don't have anything to prove. When my friends describe a wine they like they always finish the statement by saying, "and I got the wine for a mere $10 to $15!" Are you kidding me? $10 is a lot of money, I like to spend $5 or less and Although I have drank some crappy, glorified, "red water" for five bucks I more than often luck out. When I am hunting for a cheap wine I sometimes forget the name and mix it up with "glorified red water" of a similar name or bottle design and find myself sulking for a week or so for such a faux pas. So, the reason for this blog is to help me document the finest wines for five or less. Enjoy