|
| Red Wines
| |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| |
Chateau Ste. Michelle "Canoe Ridge Estate" 2006
| Washington
| $27
| justifiably highly rated. |
Thorne-Clarke "Importer's Reserve" 2006
| Australia
| $13
| the little sister to the "Shotfire" series of wines from T-C. Also very enjoyable, with some of the edge taken off the price. |
Santa Ema "Reserve" 2005
| Chile
| $14
| very excellent. get more! |
Rosemount 2006
| Australia
| $8
| like this one. get more |
Firestone "Vineyard Select" 2005
| California
| $12
| nice! |
Dog House "Checkers' Cab" 2004
| California
| ?
| cannot drink this. |
Woodbridge "Red Dirt Ridge" 2006
| California
| $9
| It's ok. |
Fetzer "Valley Oaks" 2006
| California
| $7
| Superb value. Pours with a slightly pink impression, rounds out nicely in the glass. 2006 was a good year for Fetzer. retasted: A little too on the sweetish cherry-syrup side for me taste, but drinkable. The Fetzer Valley Oaks Zinfandel is a better choice. |
Thierry & Guy "Fat Bastard" 2006
| France
| $9
| Not bad. Drinkable, but better can be had. |
Shiraz
| |
Thorn-Clarke "Shotfire" 2005
| Australia
| $19
| |
Penfolds Hyland 2005
| Australia
| $12
| this is drinkable |
Jip Jip Rocks 2007
| Australia
| $16
| I remembered this as disappointing, but then was pleasantly surprised by this entry. good one |
Marquis Philips "Roogle" 2007
| Australia
| $11
| Very good. Same importer as Boarding Pass |
Boarding Pass 2005
| Australia
| $18
| Wow. Awesome. Full flavored, nicely raisiny, well balanced. Really good. |
Tempranillo
| |
Pontecilla 2007
| Spain
| $9
| Dark purple, lovely tannins. Excellent! Get more. |
Pinot Noir
| |
Rodney Strong 2006
| Sonoma
| $9
| pale, thin, and heady. It's ok. |
Merlot
| |
Hogue 2005
| Washington
| $8
| heady and complex. great deal at this price |
Happy Camper 2006
| California
| $9
| ok. not great. |
Cape Diamond 2006
| Oregon
| $12
| harmless enough |
Zinfandel
| |
Coppola "Red Label" 2007
| California
| $11
| really good! get more |
Fetzer "Valley Oaks" 2007
| California
| $7
| drinkable, which is good at this price-point, but nothing special |
Fetzer "Valley Oaks" 2006
| California
| $7
| still good, but I'm less impressed with this vintage than I was last year. peaked early? |
Sangiovese
| |
Rosso di Montepulciano 2005
| Italy
| $17
| not bad for a chianti. just a little thinner that I'd prefer |
Malbec
| |
Kaiken "Ultra" 2003
| Argentina
| $19
| excellent |
blends / unknown
| |
Santa Ema 2006
| Chile
| $11
| 60% cabernet sauvignon/40% merlot. Excellent! Very nice tannins. Drink right now. |
Chateau MyLord 2005
| Bordeaux
| $18
| dry, excellent. family-friendly wine |
Chateau Greysac 2004
| Bordeaux
| $20
| very good. nice tannins |
Purple Hands 2006
| Oregon
| $19
| merlot / pinor noir. good. like a medium-light pinot noir |
Jacob's Creek 2006
| Australia
| $7
| Amazing! Definitely get more. 51% cabernet sauvignon / 49% merlot |
Chateau Brisson 2005
| Bordeaux
| $19
| super. could even have stayed down a few more years. |
Ronan 2005
| Bordeaux
| $14
| oooh, nice one. where did all this good affordable French wine come from? |
Guiraud "Cheval Blanc" 2005
| Bordeaux
| $12
| nice tannins. priced too low |
Penfolds "Koonunga Hill" 2007
| Australia
| $10
| shiraz/cabernet sauvignon. nice! |
Robert Mondavi "private selection" 2006
| California
| $10
| doesn't stand out. ok. |
| |
|
| White Wines
| |
Sauvignon Blanc
| |
Monkey Bay 2007
| New Zealand
| $11
| very good at this price. nice and refreshing! this is an overachieving wine |
Chardonnay
| |
Columbia Crest "Grand Estates" 2007
| Washington
| $10
| a little harsh |
Hogue 2006
| Washington St.
| $8
| works |
Pinot Grigio
| |
Thorn-Clarke "Shotfire" 2006
| Australia
| $19
| this is fine, but there are better choices that give more bang for the buck |
Cortenova 2008
| Italy
| $11
| very pale, touch of floral. nice! |
|
| blends/unknown
| |
Pillar Box 2006
| Australia
| $11
| sharp in tone, but pleasant enough |
d'Arenberg "The Stump Jump" 2006
| Australia
| $10
| reisling/sauvignon blanc. pleasant summer wine |
|
| Red Wines
| |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| |
Moon Mountain Reserve 2001
| Sonoma
|
| Nice. Dry, firm, good nose. Has held up and settled in well. |
McManis 2006
| California
| $8
| surprisingly good! nice and solid. get more |
Kumala 2006
| South Africa
| $6
| drinkable. nothing special here |
Baron Herzog 2000
| California
| $13
| no reason to wait 8 years for this wine. slightly brown in color, drinkable but not special in any way. |
Lindeman's Reserve 2004
| Australia
| $8
| a little muddy, but ok. |
Talus 2005
| California
| $7
| pale color, heady alcohol, light in flavor |
Shiraz
| |
Lindemans "Bin 50" 2007
| Australia
|
| reliable |
Thierry & Guy "Fat Bastard" 2006
| France
| $9
| Good one! Raisiny. Nice value. |
Cycles Gladiator 2005
| California
| $10
| reasonable. |
Planeta 2002
| Italy (Sicily)
| $21
| good. smooth, balanced, a touch syrupy |
Thorn-Clarke "Shotfire" 2006
| Australia
| $19
| straight-up shiraz -- excellent |
Montes "Alpha" 2005
| Chile
| $19
| good, but disappointing compared to the Australian "Shotfire" |
Malbec
| |
Terrazas 2006
| Argentina
| $11
| if it didn't say 'malbec' on the bottle, I would swear this is a cabernet sauvignon. doesn't have the clear inky blackness of malbec color, and has fruit notes of cabernet. enjoyable nonetheless. seems heady but lists as 13.5% alcohol. ...becomes more malbec-like if allowed to breathe, or possibly simply after getting down the first glass or two... |
Andeluna 2005
| Argentina
| $11
| a good instance of malbec. has that darkly transparent palate. |
Merlot
| |
Beringer "Stone Cellars" 2005
| California
| $6
| light, but not thin. has a beaujolais nouveaux quality to it. |
Black Swan 2006
| Australia
| $5
| not bad for the price |
Columbia-Crest 2003
| Washington
| $7
| not so good. has a sort of musty socks kind of aroma |
Beringer 2006 "white merlot"
| California
| $6
| terrible. why do they do this to merlot? |
Zinfandel
| |
Robert Mondavi "Private Selection" 2006
| California
| $10
| starts powerfully and impressively, but settles down (fades?) in the glass |
Fetzer "Valley Oaks" 2006
| California
| $7
| very good. amazing at this price. buy more |
Pinot Noir
| |
Cycles Gladiator 2005
| California
| $10
| pleasant little thing... good summer wine, a touch light, a touch sweet but still has some presence |
Sangiovese
| |
Monte Antico 2004
| Italy
| $20
| very nice! softened with 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% merlot |
Ecco Domani 2006
| Italy
| $10
| not bad! lacking in depth, but surprisingly good at this price level |
Grenache
| |
Tinto Figaro 2004
| Spain
| $9
| has an unpleasant initial sharpness. settles down a bit with some air, but could have been better |
Barbera
| |
Vietti 2005 "Tre Vigne"
| Italy
| $19
| bone dry, powerful, well-balanced. could be cellared a year or two more |
Tempranillo
| |
Martin Coday 2006
| Spain
| $11
| Heather really likes this one! |
blends / unknown
| |
Chateau Brisson 2005
| France
| $10
| bordeaux. very good, but with an overly astringent finish. could benefit from 3 more years in the cellar? |
St. Francis Winery 2004 "Red"
| Sonoma
| $12
| Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel. strong and powerful straight from the bottle. big and forward with heady bouquet. good |
Dingac Winery 2004 "Plavac"
| Croatia
|
| pale red/brown, but very dry, with pleasant astringency. good one! (a little surprised) |
Marquis Philips "Roogle Red" 2004
| Australia
| $14
| strangely syrupy upon first opening, expands beautifully with some breathing. best decanted. 80% shiraz, 20% cabernet sauvignon |
Chateau Greysac 2003
| France
| $20
| bordeaux. nice. needs to breathe |
Grand Veneur Reserve 2005
| France
| $16
| Cotes-du-Rhone, 70% grenache, 20% syrah, 10% cinsault. very drinkable. get more |
Rosemount 2005
| Australia
| $8
| 70% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot. A very pleasant surprise for this price. Chewy fruit. |
Mas Neuf "Compostelle" 2004
| France (Rhone)
| $19
| better than the $11 version. strong berry notes: raspberry, blackberry. good one. not too chewy. |
Mas Neuf 2004
| France (Rhone)
| $11
| funny little number. very dark red/purple. strangely syrupy on the palate, but not overly sweet. interesting. different and good. 45% syrah, 25% grenache, 15% mouvedre, 15% carignan |
Bully Hill "Love my Goat" 2003?
| New York
| $9
| undrinkable as table wine. too sweet, could be a reasonable dessert wine but still has a kind of wrongness to it. our experience: do not buy wine that has the word "Goat" in the name |
Thorn-Clarke "Shotfire - Cuvee" 2005
| Australia
| $20
| blend of five varietals. excellent. worth it. |
Thorn-Clarke "Shotfire" 2005
| Australia
| $19
| very very good. inky purple, smooth and complex. easily worth the $5 upgrade price from the "Terra-Barossa" cab. sauv. / cab. franc blend |
Thorn-Clarke "Terra-Barossa" 2005
| Australia
| $12
| a good wine. if it had had more subtlety and complexity, it could have been a great wine, but still a good wine. Cabernet sauvignon / cabernet franc blend |
Leasingham "Magnus" 2003
| Australia
| $9
| good. drinkable |
| |
|
| White Wines
| |
Chardonnay
| |
Wolf Blass "Yellow Label" 2004
| Australia
| $11
| I liked this more than I thought I would. good one. |
Lindemans "Bin 65" 2007
| Australia
| $5
| unbeatable value in a nice summer wine. a touch of sweetness adds to this pleasant entry |
Clos Robert 2005
| California
| $10
| not good. quite yellow. hopefully oxidized, to have an excuse. very appley, unfinished. |
Barefoot
| California
| $5
| ok. sweet, but drinkable |
Red Bicyclette 2005
| France
| $9
| good. nice staying power |
Sky Notch 2006
| California
| $8
| good one. a little sweeter than I prefer, but would be quite acceptable with a cheese / fruit plate. |
Sebeka 2006
| South Africa
| $6
| nice! very oakey and barely recognizable as a Chardonnay, but still quite drinkable. |
Sauvignon Blanc
| |
Columbia-Crest "Two Vines" 2005
| Washington
| $7
| good one! light with a touch of sweetness |
Brancott 2007
| New Zealand
| $9
| pleasant. good appley notes. get more |
Turning Leaf "Reserve" 2006
| California
| $6
| sweetish with strong tones of apple. immature. |
Rodney Strong 2006
| Australia
| $12
| good one. |
Veramonte 2006
| Chile
| $9
| pale-colored, very floral. interesting and good |
other / blends
| |
Prosecco, Martini & Rossi
| Italy
| $13
| nice! |
|
| Red Wines
| |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| |
Charles Krug 2003
| California
| ~$20
| really nice. could have benefitted from maybe two more years in the cellar |
Wyndham Estate "Bin 444" 2003
| Australia
| $10
| a little brownish in color, and too sweet for my taste in a cabernet sauvignon. strong flavors of cherry. drinkable |
McManis 2005
| California
| $8
| McManis is putting out some quality, affordable product. very nice wine here. get more |
Dry Creek 2003
| California
| $17
| it's a year later, and this wine has become really fine. good complexity without being overpowering. get more |
Lindeman's "Reserve" 2003
| Australia
| $8
| a competent entry |
Lindeman's "Bin 45" 2005
| Australia
| $5
| surprisinging good for a wine this young. unbelievably good value at this price. impressive |
Shiraz
| |
The Little Penguin 2005
| Australia
| $6
| drinkable |
McManis 2004
| California
| $8
| nice and peppery. outstanding value. get more |
Hardy's "Nottage Hill" 2002
| Australia
| $9
| non-threatening |
Zinfandel
| |
The Zin 2004
| California
| $22
| thick and chewy with strong cherry notes. |
Rex Goliath
| California
| $6
| alcoholic, but thin. thought this was a weak california pinot noir rather than a zinfandel |
Beringer "Clear Lake" 2001
| California
| $13
| this one works pretty good. |
Big Ass Zin 2004
| California
|
| dark, strong, balance. this wine kicked our butts, in a good way |
Cellar No8 2004
| California
| $9
| enjoyable. better with some aeration |
Pinot Noir
| |
Rex Goliath "47 pound rooster"
| France
| $9
| no problem |
Lurton "Les Salices" 2005
| France
| $9
| non-threatening. drinkable, young. Heather really likes it. |
Domaine de Regusse 2005
| France
| $11
| Seems pale, thin and young, but actually turns out to be quite enjoyable. A pleasant surprise from a wine that doesn't try too hard to be something it's not. |
Silverwing 2005
| Australia
| $9
| overly alcoholic and a little thin. that said, a worthy entry and enjoyably drinkable |
Sangiovese
| |
Di Majo Norante 2004
| Italy
| $11
| not bad. a little thin |
Montepulciano
| |
Tizzonero "La Caraia" 2003
| Italy
| $19
| You can't drink Italian wine that costs less than $10. For double that price, you get a fine entry like this one. |
Capestrano 2003
| Italy
| $7
| make sangria with this. then it's really good |
Grenache
| |
Calatayud "Old Vines Garnacha"
| Spain
| $7
| great value. highly drinkable -- just a touch rough at first |
other
| |
Louis Jadot 2005
| France
| $15
| Beaujolais-Villages. very pleasant. |
Panannoz 2005
| Spain
| $8
| Jumilla. nice one! |
Falesco 2004 Umbria
| Italy
|
| quite drinkable. dry and good. not thin and stretched like I worried it would be. |
Chateau Fontenil "Fronsac" 2000
| Bordeaux
| $30
| good, but I prefer a bit more bite. maybe should have drunk this one a year or two ago |
Chateau de Segries "Lirac"
| France (Rhone)
| $14
| strange out of the bottle. much better decanted |
Leasingham "Magnus" 2002
| Australia
| $9
| very good! pleasant cassis flavor. outstanding value -- get more. 60% shiraz, 40% cabernet sauvignon |
Primus 2004
| Chile
| $14
| enjoyable. 23% carmenere, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 47% merlot |
Lindeman's "Bin 55" 2004
| Australia
| $5
| peculiar little wine. possible to drink. 60% shiraz, 40% cabernet sauvignon |
| |
|
| White Wines
| |
Pinot Grigio
| |
McManis 2005
| California
| $8
| it's ok. actually quite pleasant |
Kris 2005
| Italy
| $11
| not bad. a touch pricey for what you get |
Chardonnay
| |
Echelon
| California
| $10
| strange at first, but becomes eminently drinkable. a little lighter and sweeter than the typical in-your-face California chardonnay of the late 90's -- refreshing. |
Red Bicyclette
| France
| $8
| drinkable, but somewhat harsh. even at this price, there are better options |
Columbia Crest "Grand Estates" 2003
| Washington
| $10
| not bad. a touch sweet and strangely floral for a chardonnay |
Graham Beck "Pinno" 2004
| South Africa
| $7
| very drinkable. nice value. not too dry |
Sauvignon Blanc
| |
Concha y Toro "Frontera" 2004
| Chile
| $5
| this is surprisingly pleasant! serve well chilled to gently tone down the sweetness. outstanding value |
Gewurztraminer
| |
Covey Run 2006
| Washington
| $8
| nice! |
other
| |
Hugues Beaulieu "Picpoul de Pinet" 2006
| France
| $7
| what a pinot grigio should be. very pleasant summer wine. |
|
| Red Wines
| |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| |
Dry Creek 2003
| California
| $17
| enjoyable. seems young yet |
Graham Beck "Railroad Red - Reserve" 2003
| S. Africa
| $10
| not bad. chewy and raisiny, a little overpowering for my taste. |
Peter Lehmann "Barossa" 2002
| Australia
| $15
| good. mature and balanced |
Alexander Valley Vineyards 1999
| California
|
| nicely aged, well balanced, rich presentation. very fine. |
Columbia Crest "Grand Estates" 2002
| Washington
| $10
| pleasant enough. good value at this price. a little sweet and floral |
Parkers Estate 2004
| California
|
| very pretty ruby colour. a little raw yet. |
Judd's Hill 1999
| California
| $38
| well this is a fine wine. dry, balanced, sophisticated. however... I would prefer if it were more lively; a little more forward on the palate and chewy in texture. |
Bulletin Place 2003
| Australia
| $8
| not bad for the price. a little harsh. make sangria or cook with it |
Los Voscos 2004
| Chile
| $10
| nice ruby color. overqualified cooking wine, also makes a casual drinking wine |
Hogue "Genesis" 2001
| Washington
| $14
| excellent! dark, balanced, playfully assertive. Heather says, "tastes like 'More!'" second tasting: oakey and smokey. nicely aged. very fine. |
Pascual Toso 2003
| Argentina
| $9
| heady little number. dark and strong. uncomplicated |
Merlot
| |
Pepi 2002
| California
| $9
| drinkable |
Cape Diamond 2004
| Oregon
| $13
| very nice. good like the 2003 |
Cape Diamond 2003
| Oregon
| $12
| pleasant enough. this is eminently drinkable |
McManis 2004
| California
| $8
| pleasant! has a nice chewy raisiny feel |
Pepperwood Grove 2004
| California
| $6
| pretty wine. a little light at first, but opens up nicely when allowed to breathe a little. are inexpensive California merlots starting to make a comeback? |
Forest Ville 2003
| California
| $5
| here's a very pleasant surprise -- a nice wine for $5. doesn't over-challenge itself. nicely drinkable |
Hogue 2003
| Washington
| $9
| unsettled. tried this one again and liked it. |
Zinfandel
| |
Parducci 2003
| California
| $9
| a little muddled, but doable. |
Santino "Old Vine" 2002
| California
| $9
| can't beat it for the price. a touch of sweetness. get more |
Cline "Ancient Vines" 2004
| California
| $14
| good, but a little sweet for my taste. Heather likes it. |
Cellar No8 2002
| California
| $9
| good one! nice casual wine |
Shiraz
| |
Penfolds "Bin 28" 2002
| Australia
| $19
| two thumbs way up! very nice |
Sylvan Springs "Hard Yards" 2004
| California
| $18
| good one. surprising maturity for a vintage this young |
Tintara 2004
| Australia
| $16
| nice. oakier than usual for a shiraz |
Goundrey 2003
| Australia
| $13
| very drinkable. |
Masterpeace 2004
| Australia
| $10
| good one! |
Jacob's Creek "Reserve" 2002
| Australia
| $12
| pleasantly oakey. breathes well. solidly enjoyable |
Meridian "Reserve" 2002
| California
| $14
| awesome. smooth and balanced. |
Rosemount Estate "Mudgee Hill of Gold" 2002
| Australia
| $15
| good, deep purple. unusually (but pleasantly) oaky for a shiraz. could probably benefit by aging a couple more years |
Rosemount Estate "Diamond Label" 2003
| Australia
| $9
| strange brownish hue. drinkable if necessary |
Malbec
| |
Lurton 2004
| Argentina
| $8
| ok. good color but needs bigger flavor. common problem with Malbec? |
Graffigna 2001
| Argentina
| $15
| inky-purple color. not much there taste-wise. |
Chianti
| |
Tiziano 2003
| Italy
| $10
| very good! crisply put together |
Della Scala 2003
| Italy
| $6
| ok. nice and dry, but weak |
other
| |
Hermitage 1999
| France (Rhone)
| $45
| well-matured. enjoyable |
d'Arenberg "the Stump Jump" 2004
| Australia
| $9
| good value for the money. 50% grenache, 26% shiraz, 24% mourvedre |
Tizzonero "La carraia" 2003
| Italy
| $20
| good! not thin like some overplanted italian varieties. initially smoky then settles pleasantly |
Primus "Veramonte" 2003
| Chile
| $15
| very fine. needs a couple more years to develop. 43% merlot, 36% cabernet sauvignon, 21% carmenere |
Chateau La Paws "Cote Du Bone Roan" 2002
| California
| $14
| 80% carignane, 16% syrah, 3% grenache, 1% viognier. interesting, but a little muddled |
Cap de Faugeres 2001
| Bordeaux
| $23
| awesome. just awesome. |
Cotes Du Rhone 2003
| France
| $10
| nice! remininscent of Chateauneuf-du-Pape with strong hints of cassis |
Bridgeview "Blue Moon" 2002
| $9
| Oregon
| ok. a little raw |
2 Brothers "Big Tattoo Red" 2003
| Chile
| $8
| 50/50 Cabernet sauvignon / merlot. dark purple-blood color. good but seems a little unfinished. better after allowed to breathe |
Torres "Sangre de Toro" 2003
| Spain
| $10
| good dry Spanish table wine |
Matthieu de Brully 2003
| Rhone (France)
| $12
| starts weak, but ends reasonably |
Massolino "Barolo" Parafada 1997
| Italy
| $55
| nice. browny-red. not too overpowering, well-blended. |
Cline Oakley "Five Reds" 2002
| California
| $9
| pleasant! not too dry. balanced and interesting blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignane and Grenache. |
Hermitage 1999
| France (Rhone)
| $45
| fine. well-matured |
| |
|
| White Wines
| |
Sauvignon Blanc
| |
Kumala 2005
| South Africa
| $6
| enjoyable. super value at this price |
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003
| Washington
| $9
| drinkable |
Casa Lapostolle 2005
| Chile
| $10
| kinda funny-tasting. strong honey tones |
SIMI 2004
| California
| $11
| this is more like it! snappy and refreshing |
Covey Run 2004
| Washington
| $8
| drinkable |
Covey Run 2003
| Washington
| $8
| disappointingly dull. not lively enough |
Montes "Reserve" 2004
| Chile
| $10
| it's ok. a softer feel would be an improvement |
Kenwood 2004
| Sonoma CA
| $11
| Very nice! |
Chardonnay
| |
Robert Mondavi "Private Selection" 2005
| California
|
| good entry |
Jip Jip Rocks 2005
| Australia
| $15
| much too harsh for this price |
Dog House 2004
| California
| $8
| good one! |
Blackwing 2003
| Australia
| $9
| good! not too dry, interesting flavors. pleasantly finished |
Alamos 2004
| Argentina
| $9
| nice. better than most tried recently. retried: good! |
Louis Pierre & Fils 2004
| France
| $9
| ok, but has rough edges |
Argyle 2003
| Oregon
| $12
| hard to believe this is a chardonnay. more like a very full-bodied sauvignon blanc. fruity, with a touch of sweetness works very well with fruit and cheese, not well with fish. very interesting |
Hardy's "Nottage Hill" 2004
| Australia
| $9
| ok. kinda harsh |
Estancia 2003
| California
| $8
| it's ok. |
Columbia-Crest "Two Vines" 2002
| Washington
| $7
| drinkable if a little harsh |
Reisling
| |
Leasingham Magnus 2004
| Australia
| $10
| pleasantly sweet but lacking in complexity |
Danting 2003
| Germany
| $16
| very good |
Pinot Grigio
| |
Campanile 2004
| Italy
| $8
| pleasant summer wine. lemony tones |
|
| Red Wines
| |
Merlot
| |
Carmenet 2001
| California
| $8
| not bad |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| |
Smoking Loon 2004
| California
| $9
| very pleasantly surprised by this one. well blended and balanced |
Casa Lapostolle 2002
| Chile
| $11
| not notable, but still a nice one |
Covey Run 2002
| Washington St.
| $9
| starts strong, but fades in the stretch |
Kaiken (Montes) 2002
| Argentina
| $11
| Wine Spectator gave it 91. Not so sure. A good wine but doesn't jump out and say, "I am special!" to me |
Wyndham Estate "Bin 444" 2001
| Australia
| $8
| nice! fragrant and not too dry |
McManis 2003
| California
| $9
| very drinkable! excellent everyday wine |
Shiraz
| |
Tintara 2003
| Australia
| $16
| very nice! deep purple colour |
Peace 2003
| Australia
| $9
| sweetish. tastes strongly of cherries. |
Annie's Lane 2002
| Australia
| $11
| nice! |
Red Bicyclette 2003
| France
| $9
| nice! surprising, in a good way |
Lindemans "Bin 50" 2003
| Australia
| $6
| Still good. Continue to buy. |
Malbec
| |
Kaiken 2002
| Argentina
| $11
| Good malbec. Better than the Kaiken cabernet sauvignon. |
Trapiche 2003
| Argentina
| $7
| This is a pretty wine out the bottle. Nice start. Slightly less solid on the finish but very pleasant. Cannot go wrong at this price. |
Zinfandel
| |
Francis Coppola 2003
| California
| $13
| drinkable, but on the harsh side. there are better choices for this price |
Renwood 2002
| California
| $11
| nice. peppery |
Woodbridge "Fishnet Creek Old Vine" 2001
| California
| $9
| Memorable. Get more. |
Buena Vista 2001
| California
| $8
| Nice one! Very smooth. Quite enjoyable, with some staying power. Heady little number. Chill slightly to keep it under control. Seemed light and pale on second tasting |
Pepperwood Grove 2001
| California
| $7
| Slightly peculiar, but better after the first glass. Heather likes this one. |
Nero d'Avola
| |
Morgante Sicilia 2002
| Italy
| $16
| good |
Periquita
| |
Tamara 2001
| Portugal
| $9
| good - like a zinfandel/cabernet sauvignon cross |
Nero d'Avola
| |
Morgante Sicilia 2002
| Italy
| $16
| Very nice; quite enjoyable and a nice change of pace |
Amarone
| |
Zenato 2000
| Italy
| $25 1/2
| chewy, raisiny. densely flavoured and not overly sweet |
| |
Blends
| |
Lyeth 2002
| Sonoma
| $14
| Ok. Not flawed, but not special. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 9% cabernet franc "meritage" |
Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Morgeot" 1999
| France
| $49
| An older wine. Dry, very nice bouquet, a touch of smoke. Dark, unfiltered. Very good but just a touch of chalkiness detracted somewhat. |
Saladini Pilastri "Pregio del Conte" 2001
| Italy
| $20
| very nice. solid and powerful |
Graham Beck "Railroad Red" 2002
| South Africa
| $9
| good: must be allowed to breathe before drinking |
Cuvee des Galets 2001
| Bordeaux
| $11
| oxidized. unfortunate |
| |
|
| White Wines
| |
Pinot Grigio
| |
Campanile 2003
| Italy
| $9
| not bad. a bit thin |
Gabbiano 2003
| Italy
| $8
| good one! a little more substantial than most pinot grigios |
Sauvignon Blanc
| |
Rosemount Estate 2003
| Australia
| $8
| very nice. lightly fruity |
Pascual Toso 2003
| Argentina
| $10
| ok, but seemed a little harsh |
Casa Lapostolle 2003
| Chile
| $8
| pleasant |
Chardonnay
| |
Louis Pierre & Fils 2004
| France
| $9
| not up to the better California chardonnays, but easily drinkable |
Concha y Toro 2001 "Casillero del Diablo"
| Chile
| $11
| good |
Blackwing 2003
| Australia
| $10
| still good |
Robert Mondavi 2003 "Private Selection"
| California
|
| very nice! solid Chardonnay |
Callaway 2001
| California
| $7
| pale and thin. ok to drink |
Beringer 2002 "Stone Cellars"
| California
|
| very good! |
Columbia Crest 2002 "Grand Estates"
| Washinton
| $10
| not memorably good or bad. I kind of expected more from this one. |
Pinot Blanc
| |
Valley of the Moon 2003
| Sonoma
| $14
| a little sweet for my taste. reislingesque |
Blends
| |
Vin de Savoie "Abymes" 2003
| France
| $10
| nice, light |
Falesco "Vitiano" 2003
| Italy
| $10
| Heather says: "this is what a pinot grigio should taste like" |
| |
|
| Rose
| |
Marques de Cacenes 2003
| New Zealand
| $7
| Nice! Dry and well-balanced. Much better than I expected. |
|
| Red Wines
| |
Pinot Noir
| |
Acacia 2002
| Napa Valley
| $25
| complex and subtle. slight edge to the WillaKenzie 2000 "Aliette" but the Acacia is fully worthy |
Pinno - Graham Beck 2003
| South Africa
| $10
| interesting and drinkable |
Au Bon Climat 2001
| Santa Maria Valley
| $20
| very heady and a touch thin in development. sweetish |
Rodney Strong 2001
| Sonoma
| $15
| adequate, but not exciting. |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| |
McManis 2001
| California
| $9
| good one. nice oakey undertone. could be a little firmer |
Columbia-Crest "Grand Estates" 2001
| California
| $10
| good wine. nice oak tones |
Indigo Hills 2000
| California
| $8
| not too memorable |
Hanwood Estate McWilliams 2002
| SE Australia
| $9
| very nice. improves when allowed to breathe. buy more |
Kendall-Jackson "Vitner's Reserve" 1999
| California
|
| excellent! smooth and balanced |
Jacob's Creek 2001
| Australia
| $7
| Good value for the price. Quite drinkable but a little too "in your face". Resampled: VERY nice. incredible steal for $7 |
Black Swan 2003
| Australia
| $9
| Mostly harmless. Not distinguised. |
Coppola Black Label Claret 2002
| California
| $15
| Good. 2001 is a better bargain. |
Coppola Black Label Claret 2001
| California
| $10
| Nice entry. |
Casa Concha 2001
| Chile
| $13
| Excellent value. Smoky, oaky solid cabernet with subtle black cherry. A shade light on nose. |
Stonehedge 2001
| California
| $9
| Nice. Light cabernet lacking in forward flavour but finishes well. |
Rothbury Estate 2001
| Australia
| $6
| Very aggressive and perfumy. A nice cabernet, if a trifle overpowering. Chill this one slightly to calm it down. |
Merlot
| |
Cape Diamond 2002
| Oregon
| $13
| It's ok. |
Montes Special Cuvee 2002
| Chile
| $10
| A nice merlot. Nothing special but quite drinkable. |
Santa Ema Reserve 2001
| Chile
| $10
| Good. Not too cloying as merlot can sometimes be. |
Malbec
| |
Montes 2002
| Chile
| $10
| Good drink; a little different, not just another cabernet sauvignon. |
Pascual Toso 2002
| Argentina
| $10
| Nice wine! Earthy like a zinfandel but a little more organic. resampled: still like this one |
Tempranillo
| |
Fuentespina 2001
| Spain
| $9
| Somewhat thin. |
Chianti
| |
Gabbiano 2002
| Italy
| $8
| Ok, but lacks substance. |
Zinfandel
| |
A⋅Mano 2001 (primitivo)
| Italy
| $11
| Still nice. Well rounded. |
Rosenblum Vitners Cuvee XXV
| California
| $11
| Very pleasant. Well blended: almost non-varietal in nature. |
Rancho Zabaco "Dancing Bull" 2001
| California
| $9
| Nice! Surprised by how pleasant this entry is. Deep purple color. |
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
| |
Domaine Bois de Boursan 2000
| France
| $37
| Overpowering bouquet of cassis. Could have benefitted from some cabernet sauvignon blending (heretical) |
Petite Syrah
| |
Bogle 2002
| California
| $10
| Interesting. Resembles a plain but drinkable merlot. |
Shiraz
| |
Lindemans "Bin 50" 2003
| Australia
| $6
| Nicely plummily drinkable. Awesome price. |
Bordeaux
| |
Chateau Fontenil "Fronsac" 2000
| France
| $30
| Excellent! Smooth richness. Not too dry. |
Blends
| |
Zenato "Superiore" Valpolicella 2000
| Italy
| $12
| pleasant and non-threatening |
Falesco's Vitiano Umbria 2001
| Italy
| $36
| Substantial, powerful, typical dry Italian entry. A little light on nose could open up a bit more. |
Bolla's Valpolicella 2002
| Italy
| $9
| Overly stretched wine. Not as bad as the 2001, but still no reason to drink this. |
Comme a Cayenne 2001
| France
| $15
| Sharp taste. Oxidized? Not drinkable. French table wine. |
Hardys 2002
| SE Australia
|
| Nice wine. Good presence. Listed as cabernet merlot, but merlot predominates and cabernet modifies. |
Domaine Puydeval 2000
| France
| $10
| Like an oakey, mellowed cabernet sauvignon. much better after allowed to breathe. great buy for $10. 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Syrah, 10% Merlot |
Goats do Roam 2002
| South Africa
| $10
| Good, but a little unfinished. Pinotage, Shiraz, Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan. |
| |
|
| White Wines
| |
Sauvignon Blanc
| |
Torlesse Waipara 2003
| New Zealand
| $11
| a little sweeter. pleasant once you get rolling with this one |
Graham Beck 2003
| South Africa
| $11
| fruity and fairly sweet, but not overpoweringly so. very drinkable. good value at this price |
Carmenet 2002
| California
| $8
| a little overpoweringly sweet |
Dry Creek 2002
| Sonoma
| $12
| pleasant |
Pascual Toso 2003
| Argentina
| $10
| A little overly-fruity and light on the palate. Not bad. |
Montes Reserve 2003
| Chile
| $10
| Nice! Citrusy and a slight touch of pleasant metallic sharpness. Tried again -- nothing special here. |
Pinot Grigio
| |
Falesco "Est! Est!! Est!!!" 2003
| Italy
| $11
| listed only as white table wine, resembles a very light pinot grigio |
Campanile 2002
| Italy
| $10
| another non-special pinot grigio |
McManis 2002
| California
| $9
| nothing special |
Zenato 2002
| Italy
| $11
| acceptable, but lacking in charm |
Ecco Domani 2002
| Italy
| $9
| Unbeatable for the price. Get more of this one. |
Chardonnay
| |
Blackwing 2003
| Australia
| $10
| a little sweeter; nice. Good with cheese |
Rothbury Estate 2002
| Australia
| $6
| good, a little bit lighter, a touch of sweetness, very affordable |
Echelon 2002
| California
| $10
| kind of nasty |
Haizas 2001
| Chile
| $12
| sweet. pleasant enough |
Hess Select 2002
| California
| $10
| good one. solid performer |
Woodbridge "Ghost Oak" 2001
| California
| $9
| passive on the palate but acceptable for casual use |
Carmenet "Cellar Selection" 2001
| California
| $8
| Pleasant when properly chilled |
Smoking Loon 2002
| California
| $9
| acceptable |
Villa Mt. Eden 2000
| Monterey CA
| $9
| Average. |
Pascual Toso 2002
| Argentina
| $10
| No problems, but a little thin. No reason to switch from the excellent California chardonnays |
Frei Brothers Reserve 2001
| Russian River Valley, CA
| $17
| Excellent chardonnay. Not too forward. |
Meridian 2001
| Santa Barbera
| $9
| Another typically solid chardonnay entry from California. Excellent house wine. |
Chateau Souverain 2002
| Sonoma County
| $14
| Good chardonnay. |
Chenin Blanc
| |
Snoqualmie 2001
| Columbia Valley (WA)
| $6
| surprisingly pleasant, medium sweet. |
Reisling
| |
Hogue 2002
| Columbia Valley
| $9
| Reasonable reisling. |
Blends
| |
Zeller Schwarze Katz 2001
| Germany
| $8
| Nice summer wine. Just a shade too sweet. |
Borgo Buon Natale 2000
| Santa Maria Valley, CA
| $17
| Very drinkable. Nice blend -- more substantial than a pino grigio with less attack than a chardonnay. 40% Tocai Friulano, 33% Pinot Grigio, 27% Pinot Bianco. |
|
| Red Wines
| |
Merlot
| |
Delicato 2001
| California
| $6
| Drinkable. A little harsh, but good value for the money. |
Casa Julia 1999
| Chile
| $10
| "Wow" Okay, it's not fabulous, but I think it's about as good as you can get for ten bucks. Buy it if it's still available. |
"La Colline" 2001
| Cecile Pichelin (Rhone) France
| $5
| Surprisingly good entry. Full, smooth, with a strong cassis note. Flavors are "muddy", but for $5, this is a damn impressive wine. Goes well with spaghetti, would be a very good cooking wine. |
Blackstone Merlot 2000
| California
| $12
| Not bad but not terribly complex. A little sweeter than some. |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| |
Chateau Ste Michelle 1999
| Columbia Valley
| $17
| Nice wine, but not noteworthy. Wine Spectator gave it a 90. |
Smoking Loon 2000
| California
| $10
| VERY nice, very dry Cabernet. Heather says she can really get blasted on this one. we have tried several bottles |
Smoking Loon 2000
| California
| $17
| different label from the other Smoking Loon 2000. Is it the same? This entry is not nearly as dry, and while good, is not exceptional. |
Armador 2001
| Valle del Maipo, Chile
|
| Nasty and brutish. |
Bogle 2000
| California
| $12
| Nice entry. Medium sweetness. Good nose, good flavor, slightly muddy finish. |
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2000
| Columbia Valley
| $18
| very good. a little more sweet and more complex than Smoking Loon 2000, but also twice the price. 90 rating from Wine Spectator |
Black Opal 2000
| SE Australia
|
| soft and plummy. good. |
Amberhill 1999
| California
|
| Heather calls this one "skunky". tried another bottle... better. Not skunky. Has a slight metallic aftertaste but works well with steak. |
Columbia Winery 1999
| Columbia Valley, Oregon
|
| a good cabernet sauvignon with no major flaws, but doesn't grab you with how great it is either. |
Rosemount Estate "Show Reserve" 1999
| "Coonawarra" Australia
| $24
| excellent. very enjoyable. substantive |
Zinfandel
| |
Stevenot Old Vine 1999
| Calaveras, CA
| $14
| Very pleasant selection with good balance and a fine finish. |
Rancho Zabaco 2000
| Sonoma, CA
| $13
| Very nice. A little more sweet. |
Makor 2000
| California
|
| truly excellent zinfandel. not too earthy |
Bogle Vinyards "Old Vine" 2001
| California
| $12
| Good zinfandel, but not outstanding. |
Nalle 1999
| Sonoma, CA
| $22
| Excellent zinfandel. On par with the 2000 Makor. |
Seghesio "Home Ranch" 2000
| Alexander Valley CA
| $25
| Excellent Zinfandel. Very "zinfandel-ly", in a good way. -- tried another bottle: disappointing; almost no nose |
Cline 2001
| California
| $9
| quite drinkable, but nothing special |
Primitivo (zinfandel)
| |
A⋅Mano 2001
| Italy
| $10
| Excellent entry. very drinkable, not too earthy |
Pinot Noir
| |
Castle Rock 2001
| Russian River Valley, CA
| $12
| Very pleasant and a little sweet. |
Camelot 2001
| California
| $10
| Nice, light pinot noir. Works well with fish. Does not make Heather depressed(!) |
Fleur de Carneros
| Napa
|
| Nice, light pinot noir. uncomplicated. |
Omaka Springs "Reserve" 2000
| Marlborough, New Zealand
| $16
| Good pinot noir entry. Firm flavors and nice finish. |
WillaKenzie Estate "Aliette" 2000
| Oregon
| $27
| nice, substantial yet subtle. not sure it's worth the price though |
Shiraz/Syrah
| |
Canyon Road
| California
| $9
| Very nice shiraz, a little sweet and smoky (in a good way). |
Thomas Hyland 2000
| South Australia
| $15
| Quite pleasant. Nice plummy undertones. |
Sangiovese (chianti)
| |
Di Majo Norante 2001
| Italy
| $9
| Don't like it, but hard to say why. slighly metallic taste? |
Qupe
| Central Coast CA
| $16
| Soft and plummy. A touch sweet. Very good. |
Blends
| |
GSM 2000
| Barossa Valley, Australia
| $27
| Very nice, well balance. Very perfumy, possibly overly so. (40% Grenache, 38% Syrah, 22% Mourvedre) |
Santa Barbara Winery 2000
| California
| $15
| Very nice. Sturdy - needs strong food. (59% zinfandel, 29% carignanae, 12% sangiovese) |
Hogue Fruit Forward 1999
| Columbia Valley-Washington State
| $10
| Heather really liked this wine.. "rich, fruity, and smooth with a nice finish. It probably cannot stand up to spicy food, but it would be nice with savory dishes or as a stand-alone wine (51% Cabernet Sauvignon - 45% Merlot - 4% Cabernet Franc) |
Rosemount Estate 2001
| Australia
| $8
| Too sweet with the cabernet a bit overpowering. No major flaws but still seems lacking in presence. (55% Shiraz, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon) |
Buckleys's 2000
| South Australia
| $11
| Nice. Didn't particularly work with lamb but would have been nice with beef. (55% Cabernet, 45% Shiraz ) |
Covey Run 2000
|
| $9
| Drinkable, but seems a little unfinished. (42% Cabernet sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 17% Cabernet franc) |
Bolla's Valpolicella 2001
| Italy
|
| A confused wine. Dry but random tasting, in a mostly bad kind of way. |
Penfolds 2001 "Koonunga Hill"
| SE Australia
| $12
| Surprisingly nice. The Merlot mellows the Cabernet just the right amount. Not stunning, but quite drinkable. (84% Cabernet 16% Merlot) |
REDS 2000
| California
| $10
| Generic drinkable table wine. Nice for the price. Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Carignane, Barbera and Grenache. |
| |
|
| White Wines
| |
Riesling
| |
Ockfener Bockstein 2002
| Germany
| $14
| Very nice riesling. |
Pinot Grigio
| |
Tiefenbrunner 2001
| Pinot Grigio delle Venezie/Italy
| $11
| A nice entry...a very dry, crisp light wine. Andy says, "enjoyable, nonthreatening...a nice summer wine" |
Cavit Collection 2002
| Italy
|
| plain and pale but drinkable. |
Bordeaux
| |
Chateau Daubrin Sainte Crox-du-Mont 2001
| Bordeaux
|
| extremely sweet -- dessert wine only |
Chardonnay
| |
Saint-Aubin 2001
| Burgundy
| $15
| Dry, pleasant. |
Geyser Peak 2001
| Sonoma County
|
| Good chardonnay. Not too dry. |
Sauvignon Blanc
| |
Kenwood 2001
| Sonoma
| $10
| good nose, not too sweet, pleasant to drink, like a very nice pinot grigio |
Kenwood 2002
| Sonoma
| $10
| a little sweet, floral, good. even better than the 2001 |