2012 Terramia Montepulciano D’Abruzzo $7.99 rated buy again minus

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IMG_48942012 Terramia Montepulciano D’Abruzzo $7.99
Italy
Bouquet is light, grapey, touch of cranberry and hint of apple- that’s what I picked up. First sip is youngish, meaning not much body, flavor is light like lesser table wines and quite frankly, unremarkable. Hard to know if it will age well. I love my Montepulcinos and this one is eh. But I do think for the value, it’s a good buy and perfectly respectable on taco night at the neighbors – which is exactly what I’m doing as I write this post. Buy again minus is the best I can do with this bambino.
Stay curious!
Loie

2012 Mont Pellier, Viognier, CA $5.99 rated buy again

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2012 Mont Pellier, Viognier,
California $5.99
At first, the bouquet is a mash-up of honey and elderflower. Very floral. First taste is drier than one would expect. Not a hearty white, very light and best chilled so it is refreshing as it’s not very complex. I was keen on the balance and smoothness but I wanted a touch more fruit. It finishes a little buttery and with a light mineral taste. Should be great with fish, most seafood and I’d love it with some Drake’s bay oysters BBQ’d. Definitely the perfect match for some Szechuan spicy scallops. That would be magnifico. This hits a buy again – barely as I know some pretty good inexpensive Viogniers mere pennies more but for the price – perfectly respectable.
Stay curious!
Loie

 

2012 Mont Pellier, Pinot Noir, CA $5.99

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2012 Mont Pellier, Pinot Noir, California $5.99
Not much of a bouquet really and this made me uncertain, but the first sip was surprising. It is a light body red as expected from most Pinots, with a pleasant jammy plum that nicely lingers. Smooth, young tasting but a solid table wine and for $5.99 you get your money’s worth and then some. I craved a steak with this vino.
I’ll say this is a buy again minus at best, not wowed and I’ve met better low priced Pinot’s. It’s like that nice guy you met but there were no sparks. This is a wine for when you need companionship, and can’t find a better date.
Although, once this Pinot opened up after being decanted, it got richer and more robust, but still eh. It’s drinkable.
Stay curious!
loie

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

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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

My Happy Place…

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A Special Haiku to Honor Good Wine Deals

ValueWineAisleOlivers

8 and under wow

Amazed I stop in the aisle

3 for 10 no way

©2014 Loie Maxwell, Photography, Haiku

2013 La Playa Sauvignon Blanc $6.99

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2013 La Playa Sauvignon Blanc $6.99
Product of Chile
The lemony fresh bouquet has a hint of green grass. First sip is very refreshing and bright. It’s a classic Sav Blanc that has citrusy notes of grapefruit, lemon zest with a sharper finish than my preference but this is a delight and respectably drinkable. I think you will enjoy La Playa Sav. Blanc during those precious moments with your iPad reading BuzzFeed and catching up on emails from your elderly mother. What it is not is an oaky, creamy chardonnay that you can sip by the fire. This wine is light, with a subtle fruit and perfect for warm weather, and when you want to dream of that sunny day. With the citrusy acid, I’d pair it with a burger and some sweet potato fries. Perfect to bring along to your cousin’s BBQ at the park as a diversion when your mom asks if you got her emails. “Look mom, cheap wine!”
Buy it again!
Stay curious,
loie

2012 Crane Lake Petite Syrah 3/$10

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2012 Crane Lake Petite Syrah 3/$10
Mystery Origin CA
Bouquet suggests rose petals, hint of strawberry. First taste is decent I’m not of fan of mystery origins but it’s got that lightness of body I like in a good Petite Syrah and a second glass will go down easily. Depending on how edumacated your audience is, this is a good buy for the house but not something I’d bring to anyone’s home that I didn’t reluctantly accept the invitation. If the neighbor unexpectedly shows up with a report on the other neighbors, offer them a glass and see if they go away or if you need to exit them, do so by generously ushering them out with the bottle as a parting gift (may not be legal in your town, check with your neighbors.) Very handy to have around. Decent in the right company – price can’t be beat 3/$10.
Buy again, possibly as an unexpected guest consolation prize.
Stay curious,
loie

2012 Back House, Pinot Noir $6.99

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2012 Backhouse, Pinot Noir $6.99
Product of California
Bouquet is quite delightful, blackberry and honey. Very jammy, nice richness and oak, as one of my guests astutely mentioned “you can taste the barrel.” Nice body and medium boldness, very enjoyable. Finish is a not my preference as tannins (scale of 1-10, I’d say a 5 in that winey bitterness some people regard as harsh) but perfectly fine when paired with food. This is a Pinot you can serve with a meal and respectably bring as a guest – as we did and enjoyed with braised (for hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, until it fell off the bone) short ribs. The tannin finish makes it just shy of guest worthy. Depends on who you’re having over and does it matter? We served it happily, but then again, I prefaced my service with a deference to experimentation.
This wine is delightful. I give it a buy again+
Stay curious!
loie

2012 Dona Del Sol, Cabernet Sauvignon, CA 3/$10

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2012 Dona Del Sol
Cabernet Sauvignon
Product of California
Oliver’s Market 3/$10

Bouquet is light fruit, hint of blueberry, mild, not big. First taste is surprisingly smooth, no oak, does not have typical cab qualities of bigger, bolder richness. It could masquerade for an Itallian red table wine. It’s a young tasting, very drinkable lighter red that with some age could be interesting. I’m tempted to buy a case and put it in the cellar – but alas for now it will be braising our short ribs for next 3-4 hrs at 350. We’ll save some for a couple glasses with dinner.

Very guest worthy definitely buy again!