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Mind blowing good! O.V.O.C. 2012 Regio Zinfandel, CA $8.99

| Cheap Wine Curious

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O.V.O.C. 2012 Regio Zinfandel, CA

Well, get a load of Lodi – this O.V.O.C. Zin is unbelievably priced at $8.99 (up to $11 in some regions) and it is fabulous. I would have no problem serving this to the most discerning guest.

Beep, beep, beep, I’m backing up to the loading dock and getting a case – this is a wine that is great right now, right here but would age well too. Although I believe the silver medals they won were due to the “Lodi” demarcation, but I’m giving a gold as this Zin is better than you would expect for the price. The winery is still family owned and run by siblings Anthony, Natalie & Paul. Regio is the Italian word for Royal. OVOC stands for Old Vine, Old Clone. Zinfandel enthusiasts covet old vine Zinfandels. They are royalty in the family of wines from the Zinfandel grape. Check out the family story at this link – http://www.scottocellars.com/scotto-family/ – it’s adorable and it’s still owned and managed by the second generation of Scottos.

This fragrant, medium bodied vintage is filled with flavors and aromas of fresh blackberries, currants and raspberries, with tannins that are firm but not distracting. Bottom line, yummy and case-worthy!

 

Stay curious,

loie

Wine Fear Factor Friday! Chocolate Shop, Chocolate Lover’s Wine $8.99

| Cheap Wine Curious
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Chocolate Shop – No Vintage Chocolate Lover’s Wine
Caldwell, Idaho
Ok, this is my first edition of “Cheap Wine Fear Factor.” I welcome those brave enough to take a taste of the scariest of wine offerings. Don’t be shy. These wines end up on the shelf for some reason, and someone somewhere must buy them, either regretfully, with a palate disability or verging on being institutionalized. Let’s do the world a favor and protect the innocent from imbibing in wines that can hurt. We are tough enough, smart enough and crazy enough to save the world from drinking bad wine. Are you with me? Ok, I may be the Mother Teresa of cheap wine, but let’s help the lepers and start tasting. Hail to the spit bucket!
The Bouquet is undeniably chocolate, overwhelmingly so. I’m white knuckling it with my friends, one being a well regarded Sonoma chef. When he saw this walk thru his front door, I saw his face freeze and before I could explain myself, I feared being black listed from the cullinary inside for life. After an ample preamble, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah – I had some reluctant but good humored recruits for the tasting.
First taste was a surprise – red wine forward with a huge chocolate finish. One guest expressed that it was deceiving as you expect it to be brown and syrupy but it’s actually a solid red wine first with a weirdly sweet chocolate aftertaste – ewwwww! Looking at the color, it looks like a Cab with an outer ring of brown. If paired, the sweetness needs a good savory counter – like a pretzel – so says the chef, but his kindness in that comment was countered with “in a cold day in hell” from the other guests. Overall, blech. Just have a nice red with a piece of dark chocolate and save your $8.99. Sorry – we tried it. By the way Chicolate Shop – no ingredients listed – how’d you do it????
Stay brave, stay curious,
loie

WINE FEAR FACTOR FRIDAY!

| Cheap Wine Curious
Be afraid, very afraid…
I welcome those brave enough to take a taste of the scariest of wine offerings. Don’t be shy. These wines end up on the shelf for some reason, and someone somewhere must buy them, either regretfully, with a palate disability or verging on being institutionalized. Let’s do the world a favor and protect the innocent from imbibing in wines that can hurt. We are tough enough, smart enough and crazy enough to save the world from drinking bad wine. Are you with me? Ok, I may be the Mother Teresa of cheap wine, but let’s help the lepers and start tasting.
Hail to the spit bucket!
loie

 

2012 Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Merlot, $4.99 – Caseworthy!

| Cheap Wine Curious

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2012 Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Merlot, $4.99

Organically Grown CA

Trader Joe’s

Bouquet is almost like a cab, rich, musky and leathery with fruit. First sip is bold, almost chewy, I like a Merlot that has a smooth rich flavor that goes great with comfort food. It’s bold enough to hold up against a vodka sauce and some serious parmesan. I enjoyed it with while listening to the Blue Riddim Band’s Nancy Regan eating pasta with red sauce – was a flashback to 1982 “The Quake” Midnight Dred show…but I now date myself….Let’s just say, CASE WORTHY. This is the bomb and although my husband is telling me Merlot is not fashionable, let’s bring it back people. I like the underdog. C’mon. You can spare $5 for a bottle of good wine. 100% organically grown Merlot grapes from some of California’s best Merlot-growing regions, what’s not to love.

Beep, beep, beep…load up the trunk TJ.

Stay Curious,

loie