Online Wine Store Specials

1. From MyWinesDirect.com:
CyberMonday Sale! 12 bottles of wine for $99 + Free Shipping. No code necessary.
Block Party Sale 30% Off! 2 Boxes of Wine = 4 Bottles + Free Shipping!
FREE SHIPPING on all products in our Holiday Gift Guide! No code necessary. Good until December 31st!

2. WineLibrary.com’s AMAZING Cyber Monday Packs!

3. Wine.com 1¢ shipping on $49 or more with code “CYBERMON”!

4. Tercero, Carina and Hope Family Wine special packages with 1¢ shipping!

5. $14.97 flat shipping in US on any order (cheaper of course if you don’t buy enough) at WineChateau.com!

Daily Deal Wine Specials

1. $30 for $60 worth of wine from Wine.com at LivingSocial.com!

2. WineTwitsDeals.com

3. Wine.Woot.com

4. $25 for $75 worth of wine from BarclaysWine.com via Groupon.com!

5. CinderellaWine.com

Let me know if you find any more amazing deals and I will post them here!

Cheers!

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Many winemakers these days have to be smart enough to market themselves in as many ways as possible. Magazines, word of mouth, local publications, online ads and, of course, social media. Based on all the damn icons and ways to “share” the posts on this site, you can somewhat tell that social media is very important these days when it comes to getting your brand out there in front of as many eyeballs as possible. In many ways, social media is one of the most effective and cheapest ways possible to advertise your product. Hell, I even started a company that handles that.

Hope Family Wines has their social media game down. Pat. I know this because I reviewed their Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon a while back, someone on Twitter noticed it and re-tweeted, which started the tiny snowball. @HopeFamilyWines contacted me and asked if they could send me some of their wines for review (a little service we offer here on Wine Welfare). After thinking about it for a few days, I mean really pondering it, I decided that yes, yes indeed I could accept their offer to send me free wine. It was a very difficult decision to come to. One that required a lot of soul searching and digging through my wine fridge to find that supplies were low.

Seriously, though, it was that simple. So, since I’m a sucker for delicious, value wines, you’re going to be seeing some reviews of wines from the diverse portfolio of Hope Family Wines, including Treana, Liberty School, Candor and Austin Hope wines.

Here’s a bit of history on Hope Family Wines:

The Hope family has been farming in Paso Robles for more than 30 years. When they arrived in this barely discovered region, they planted apples and grapes. Little did they know that the rolling, oak-studded terrain of Paso Robles would one day become viticultural terroir of significance and one of the top winegrowing regions for quality red wine within California.

About the winemaker, Austin Hope:

Austin Hope, a third-generation farmer and first generation winemaker, began working in his family’s vineyard when he was eight years old. He is a graduate of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo with a Fruit Science (Viticulture) degree. Following college, Hope worked under highly reputable winemakers in the state, most notably Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards. Today, he oversees all winemaking and viticulture at Hope Family Wines.

Along with the wine, they also sent me a little information package for the bottles I was getting. It contained information sheets telling me about the appelation, the blend percentages, how the wine was produced, etc. But I also noticed another interesting piece of marketing collateral. It was a little card advertising an iPhone app called Wine DJ. The app is designed to build you a music playlist based on the particular Liberty School wine you are drinking.

Let me repeat that: This wine company built an iPhone app to use while drinking their wines.

I don’t know how much better at marketing they could get.

Be sure to check out all the Hope Family Wines and get ready for some great reviews of Liberty School, Candor and some other Hope Family Wines coming up here at Wine Welfare.

Hope Family Wines Information:

Tasting Cellar

1585 Live Oak Road, Paso Robles, CA

805-238-4112 (open Fri-Sat, 10-4 PM)

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 3260, Paso Robles, CA 93447

Online

www.hopefamilywines.com

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• 6-pack of great value Bordeaux wines for $99.95
• Chateau Les Vergnes, A.O.C. Bordeaux, Rought 2005 for $16.99
• Chateau Loupiac-Gaudiet 2003 for $15.99
• Chateau Coucheroy 2007 for $16.49

WineLibrary.com (pretty much the place to buy great wine at the lowest prices possible both online and offline) is having another spectacular special on Bordeauxs. This time it’s 5 great examples of the wine for under $20!

Again I will point out that I have no relationship with Wine Library or WineLibrary.com other than a severe affection for their low prices. So this promo here is legit.

Here are the Bordeauxs they have on special:

Head on over to this page to purchase these great wines for under $20!

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Anyway, I came here to review, so review I must.

Color

Water. Maybe with a little lemon juice squeezed in to make it look a bit “off” but Vinho Verdes are always near-clear.

Nose

Since we’re working with slight bubbles here, you get a spritzy shot of lemon along with some stone fruit scents. Peach, apricot, maybe a little honeydew melon. Then a slight sour stink.

Taste

This one beats the Broadbent Vinho Verde we reviewed previously (link above) simply due to the mouthfeel. It’s perfect. Not too over the top with good creamy lemon and bubbles that are barely-there, but can still be tasted. The wine has a very crisp flavor that makes you really want to pucker up and swish it around. Good finish of that stone fruit I mentioned in the nose with an appealing dry character.

With Food

Definitely a food-friendly wine. Seafood, to be more specific. Nothing too buttery, though, as this might not be up to the battle against fat. Better for grilled seafood with vegetables.

Where To Buy

$3.99 at Astorwines.com!

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The Ventana Dry Rosado is a definite winner. I had never heard of Ventana and I barely knew where Arroyo Seco was before buying it (despite visiting Monterey, for God’s sake). Back to the point, this wine is a stud. I’m not even sure it should be referred to as a Rose, as every Rose I’ve had before is a crying little girl compared to this. Perhaps that’s why they used “Rosado” as the specific name. I’ll have to look it up.

Color

Cranberry juice cocktail. Deep rich ruby. Stiff for a Rose, but like I said, it’s a stud. Red wine is often referred to as ruby in color. I disagree. Look at a ruby and tell me if the color is more like a Gamay or this wine. You’ll see what I mean.

Nose

Skunk. Pure skunky cherry and cranberry notes. It dominates the nose. Tart strawberry, moldy blueberry, dry carpet.

Taste

More tart but juicy as can be. This is explosive strawberry, cranberry and some gasoline. Almond sneaks in to finish you off. Huge mouthfeel like velvet. This is not Granny’s $5 Rose.

With Food

Give it it’s due. Don’t pair this with just salad or fish or even light chicken as you would a typical Rose. We’re talking 10% Syrah and 90% Grenache here, left to soak with the skins longer than usual for a Rose. Stiffen things up by putting some time of slightly darker sauce on the chicken or fish. Actually, now that I think about it, grilled fish or chicken with lime and salsa, or even a good ceviche would work perfectly with this. Hey, look at that! Another wine that works with Mexican food, and from the most unlikely of varietals.

Where to Buy

$18 at TasteMontery.com, which by the way is an awesome little wine store right nextdoor to the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas. Go get some culture and then get buzzed off the beautiful wines Monterey has to offer.

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The Foundry Viognier 2006

Yellow-green and very bright. Looks very refreshing. Lot’s of honeysuckle and citrus with a strong burst of apricot. Good rockiness on the back-end that leads to a crisp finish. A good hot summer white to enjoy with the TV outside.

WHERE TO BUY: $8.99 at WineLegacy.com!

Fair Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Apple freshness with very bright acidity. Good creamy lime flavors come through once it’s not so chilled, making this great for grilled chicken or fish with lime and some salsa.

WHERE TO BUY: $7.01 at FineWineShop.com!

Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz 2004

This is a weird one. There aren’t a lot of sweet red wines out there that aren’t fortified or taste like spiked Kool-Aid, but this one was actually pretty tasty. It fits into the summer heat thanks to the sweetness. But don’t let the name or my use of “sweetness” throw you. This isn’t sugary or syrupy, but only slightly sweet. Not a regular Shiraz, but not a straight-up dessert wine. Great juicy plums and maraschino cherries. Still a few tannins in there, but I would leave this for after the meal.

WHERE TO BUY: $11.89 at TheWineStoreRI.com!

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So last week we left off at Ortman Vineyards in downtown Paso Robles, and for the conclusion of our little 2-day sojourn to Paso Robles, we’re going to get past the blur that was Saturday night (after Ortman) and jump straight into our Sunday tastings. However, I would be remiss not to mention where we ate dinner on that Saturday night, a fantastic place called Villa Creek, right in the heart of downtown.  Since this is a wine review site for the poor, I won’t go into too much detail concerning the meal. I will only mention three things:

1. My wife had the rabbit, which was outstanding.

2. I had the brisket-stuffed poblano chile, which was for some reason even better than the rabbit.

3. I spilled an entire glass of wine on myself (If you remember where we left off last time, we were at Ortman and I’d lost my sense of taste. Add a visit to a nearby pub to that just before dinner, and it was really partytime).*

Cut to the next morning. A brilliant start at Margie’s Diner (also near downtown) with the biggest plate of breakfast I’ve ever seen, and it surely did the trick. This place was serious. There had to be like an entire bag of potatoes on that plate. Anyway, onto the wines!

Pomar Junction Winery

This was a great place. A former railroad junction (go figure) the place boasts a great old tasting room, and out back you can climb into an authentic caboose car and admire the view of what was once a fairly busy California crossroads of sorts. Besides Pomar’s awesome website, they had some pretty good stuff for a new winery. Their under-$20 standouts are as follows:

Pomar Junction Syrah Rose

COLOR: A nice strawberry juice. Dare I say that it looks like a hearty white zinfandel?

NOSE: Strong strawberry, metal, cheese rind. All good signs of a great rose. A good nose for a cool summer wine.

TASTE: Here come the strawberries again along with the the cheese rind. The metal dissipates among a strong mid-palate of hard candy and a hint of marsala. Absolutely delicious and unfortunate that this has to come in the form of a rose when such a wine is difficult to market to the general public with their current perceptions of rose.

WITH FOOD: Like I said, a good cool summer wine with barbecued chicken and a strawberry salad.

WHERE TO BUY: $12.00 from the winery itself.

Pomar Junction “Picnic” Chardonnay – Canvas Series

COLOR: Pale. Almost too pale. Usually I look for at least some semblance of straw color, but this looked like a Sauvignon Blanc.

NOSE: Green apple, caramel corn and a nice shot of minerality.

TASTE: Good mouthfeel. Rich for a Chardonnay at this price. Good acid, strong finish, a little empty on the mid-palate, but the green apple is there for the most part throughout the whole movie.

WITH FOOD: Honestly? Keep this solitary. No sense in pairing this with food that will most likely destroy it; even lemon chicken. It’s on the cheap side, so treat it as such.

WHERE TO BUY: $12.00 from the winery itself.

So we had soaked our stomachs in the first wines of the day with Pomar Junction, and now it was time on to some even more serious wines.

Wild Horse Winery

We were lucky to have stopped at mostly wineries I had never heard of before or seen on store shelves. Wild Horse was the only exception. You will recognize the label immediately and I think I have even seen some of their wines in grocery stores. While everything we tried here was absolutely delicious, take note of the “Unbridled” Merlot and the Cheval Sauvage, there were only a couple that were under the $20 mark, and among those there was one standout:

Wild Horse 2008 Malvasia Bianca

COLOR: Rich gold but not to the apple juice level. Looks very calm in the glass. What did that even mean?

NOSE: Strong, strong aromatics here, even though it was chilled. Once you plow through the initial honeysuckle smells, you get into some tangerine and cantaloupe and some ruby red grapefruit juice.

TASTE: The melon is strong with this (*cue Darth Vader breathing*). Great lychee flavors (go out and by some, their nuts) support a very rich mouthfeel and strong honey flavors. It feels like it would be too rich for even a hot day, but once you get to the finish, which stays but doesn’t really make it’s presence felt, you will know that this stuff will be good all summer long. Plus, I should point out that my brother bought an entire case.

WITH FOOD: This is a tough one, but I can’t see anything wrong with fish or even some spicier foods. It’s not going to really cut through the buttery dishes, since the acid is not the lead here.

$20 from the Wild Horse Winery

And finally, we reach the grand finale of our trip, wherein I experienced the best California red wine I have had thus far in my life. This will be a tough one to beat because the flavors were wacky and the varietal is Italian.

Bella Luna Winery

This place was the spitting image of an Italian home, right down to the half-dead dog in front and the custard paint. Run by two old fellas, both veterans of the Vietnam conflict, named Kevin Healy and Sherman Smoot. Kevin served us that day in the “tasting room” which was basically their enormous garage. The most interesting thing, other than the taste of the wine I’m about to go over, is that their Sangiovese vines are head-trained, meaning no trellises (those T-shaped things you normally see holding up the grapevines). this makes the vines grow, well, everywhere. Sort of like your lazy neighbor’s bushes.  Also interesting is that all of their fruit is dry-farmed, meaning no water unless it rains.

Bella Luna 2008 “Lot One” Barbera – San Benito County

I’m not going to go through the whole spiel here since this isn’t an under-$20 bottle, so I’ll give you the gist of my thoughts on this wine.

BUY IT IMMEDIATELY, EVEN IF IT IS $38

Basically, if you like red wine or have even the slightest interest in Italian varietals, this is a wine worth checking out. The fruit is definitely there but it doesn’t explode, and there are strong vegetal characteristics like asparagus, broccoli, green beans, and green bell pepper. Great firm tannins that don’t muscle their way in. Everything is perfectly, PERFECTLY balanced. I can’t wait to open this thing again. I even asked Mr. Healy for another try of it at the tasting room, which I’m not used to doing.

$38 at Bella Luna Winery

So that concludes our little Paso Robles Wine Country adventure here at Wine Welfare. Other trips are coming, including a number of trips up to the Edna Valley region, Santa Ynez, including Los Olivos, and a trip up to Napa, so stay tuned. AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THIS SERIES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

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Cheers!

*My wife will probably repeat that I have obsessed over this embarrassing accident since it happened nearly three weeks ago.

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Hello, fellow Wine Welfare recipients! Hope all is well with you in your worlds, and in your pocketbooks/wallets, of course. I wanted to let you in on a SPECTACULAR deal from WineLibrary.com that isn’t really so much a sale as a great selection of Bordeaux (yes, actual BORDEAUX wines) for under $20!

If you have read this site at all, you know that I love Old World wines with their musty fruit, cow poop and barnyard scents, muscle, delicacy and the undeniable lack of oak masking. Basically, if the wine stinks, I’m going to love it. It’s just the way some palates work.

The other thing you know for sure if you have read this site is how often the great under-$20 deals we link to are on WineLibrary.com. They consistently have the best prices around and it seems like they are always offering free shipping (and I have to say again that I wish they had an affiliate program). I mentioned a snow sale they were having just a couple of weeks ago, but this is different.

Wine Library has put together a spectacular list of under-$20 Bordeauxs, wines that are normally unheard of at that price point. It almost doesn’t matter which one you choose. It’s Bordeaux and it’s less than $20. So don’t be cheap bastards and pass up a great deal. I’m not sure how long this insanely awesome list will last.

Just CLICK HERE.

Cheers!

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The folks at WineLibrary.com are apparently snowed in (store located in New Jersey) and have shut down for today. You might recognize the name since they are often the cheapest game in town for the wines we review on Wine Welfare. Makes me wish they had an affiliate program, dammit.

Anyway, due to the loss of in-store business, they are offering a ridiculous deal for today only:

Free Shipping on the 50 wines listed here!

Just enter the code “LOTSOSNOW” during checkout and you get free shipping!

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A MUST BUY. Though the label may look like it was drawn by a 14-year-old girl, this wine kicked serious ass (and it’s $13!). We stumbled upon the Bocage Merlot while traveling through Salinas and the Monterey area, home of John Steinbeck. We realize that you readers probably have absolutely zero interest in John Steinbeck, or the museum we visited in Monterey that bears his name, so let’s just pretend we didn’t mention it at all.

COLOR: Inky purple with a blue tint to it when you tilt against a frosted lamp with a 60 watt bulb. I’m serious, you need to follow those instructions exactly.

NOSE: Crack open a can of black olives and throw some dried blueberries and chocolate on them. Shake it up and take a whiff. If you don’t throw up, that’s what the nose is like.

TASTE: Absolutely scrumptious. We don’t use that word too often, but this wine is very complex and very satisfying. We didn’t finish that first day and came back to it 2 days later, and it had taken on even more flavor. Silky and balanced, this wine brings seriously ripe fruit that conjures leather, blueberry, big black olives (which I hate, though they were good here), with a great shot of dark chocolate in the mid-palate. The finish is bland at first, but give it a moment and you will be rewarded with an aftertaste similar to finishing a pizza with only black olives. Something about the finish made me think of browned mozzarella, pizza dough, tomato sauce and black olives. Who knows why I think of these things? Stop staring at me!

WITH FOOD: Great pizza wine, let me first say that, but we had it with mushroom ravioli and spaghetti bolognese. I see no reason to suggest anything other than those items.

WHERE TO BUY: $10.99 at CAWineClub.com or $12.95 direct from San Saba Vineyards OR $13 from A Taste of Monterey!

SPECIAL NOTE: Thanks to the dude at A Taste of Monterey who suggested we shouldn’t pass it up at $13. Despite it not even being on their tasting menu, something told me that it would be good, that something being that dude.

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Definitely give this one a day or so once you pop the cork, otherwise decant it for at least 2 hours before enjoying. This seems odd for a wine at this price, but we might as well take this time to suggest that you DECANT EVERY SINGLE RED WINE YOU INTEND TO DRINK.

Color: Clarified cranberry cocktail. Watered down and light in a decidedly Pinot way.

Nose: Sour cherry, must, white pepper and garlic. Sounds like a crappy dessert.

Taste: Cola (Pepsi Cola to be exact), hard cherry candy, white pepper and paprika. Nice shot of green bell pepper on the mid-palate leading to a strong finish of cherry preserves and smokey blackberry.

With Food: Game, sweet spice-rubbed meats and pork. Also good on its own.

Where to Buy: $8.04 at InternetWines.com! Also at Cost Plus World Market for around $6.99.

Check out our other Pinot Noir reviews.

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If you’re not still in that food coma thanks to that Christmas gut-busting, you might want to check out some good champagne and sparkling wines for your upcoming New Year’s celebration. We’ve got some great ones for you, too. These are guaranteed to not only please the palate, but keep you away from hangover territory (hopefully), unless of course you drink 5 bottles. Then you’re done for, and don’t come crying to us when you’re stumbling around for a bottle of water with your tongue feeling like a hot sock.

What’s that? You’re not really into partying for New Year’s anymore? You say it’s just all about drinking, and you can’t handle waking up hungover?

Suck it up, crybaby. This is 2010 we’re talking about here. Not a simple dinner or birthday party. You don’t get to eat some cookies and sip a soda, the freaking year is ending. And WHAT a year. So it’s time to kick up your heels and really have a blast while simultaneously tying one on.*

In fact, this might be the first time we recommend you try ALL THREE of these, instead of just choosing one. For less than $20, you have no excuse.

Cristalino Brut – $5.95 at NapaCabs.com Or $6.99 at Your Local BevMo

The Sprite of bubblies, and at this price, who can pass it up? The Cristalino is a Spanish Cava that comes across as shockingly simple upon first taste, but shortly explodes into brain melting flavors of lemon-lime and walnuts. And if you think that’s strange, the mid-palate and finish offers up a nice shot of yeast and bread dough. Moist then absolutely bone dry. A fantastic start to the night with some cheese and crackers.

Conde de Subirats Brut – $9.98 at WineLibrary.com

Silky smooth with a veritable salad of scents and flavors. A nice brown, round scent that makes you think of burnt toast with a little lemon custard. The custard returns in the first hit, and it’s brought some kiwi, dried fig and some mango with it. An odd mix, but it goes down like liquid velvet. Just awesome. Save this one for a special moment.

Chandon Blanc de Noirs – $12.99 at Your Local Bevmo or Pretty Much Anywhere

Chandon has always been a solid producer, offering a delicious array of sparklers at very good quality to price ratios. The Blanc de Noirs is no exception as flavors of strawberries and buttery toast coat your palate. This sparkling wine is made with Pinot Noir and shows a delicious salmon color. Perfect for after appetizer quaffing when the dancing is in full swing and your aunt has her dress up over her head.

Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2002 – $19.99 at BevMo

Oh waaaaaiiiit, we missed a “9″. That sucks. Seriously though, buy this and you’re automatically a baller. Word.

That’s all folks. We hope you enjoy some or all of these fantastic bubblies. From our family to yours, we wish you a Happy and SAFE 2010!

Cheers!

*If you’re driving, don’t tie one on, please.

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Ahhh, Christmas time. When you’re a kid it’s all about presents. When you’re a teenager it’s all about presents and no school. When you’re an adult, it’s all about no work and food.

Which is where we come in.

That’s right, we’re reviewing some Christmas wines for you at Wine Welfare. These two reds and two whites are sure to pair perfectly with whatever fattening grub you’re throwing on that table this year. So light a nice warm fire, cozy up next to that Christmas tree, and enjoy your family becoming slightly blurry as you polish off a bottle of one of these wines with your favorite uncle.

Neyers 2006 Zinfandel Pato Ranch – $17.98 at WineLibrary.com or available at most wine stores or BevMo!

The Holidays are not complete without a delicious California Zinfandel. Sure, you could go with a Primitivo (basically Zinfandel in Italy), but American Thanksgivings and Christmases tend to call for the big, juicy California fruit bomb that is Zinfandel.

Neyers is one of California’s best wineries, working out of Sage Canyon in the Napa Valley. They are consistently earning 90-point scores and astounding wine-lovers everywhere. Their Pato Ranch Zinfandel is no exception, with delicious tobacco and cherry flavors swirling around a foundation of moist, stinky soil. Sounds good, right? Trust us, this should be on your table with that turkey or prime rib, especially at this price.

Marquis Philips Sarah’s Blend – $11.99 at WineAnthology.com or at BevMo!

Never even heard of this one before we tasted it, but the Marquis Philips Sarah’s Blend is both delicious and available in most wine stores. Deep, dark opaque color, like ink-infused Welch’s grape juice. The grapes keep coming as well, in the form of Nerds candy flavors. This is an Australian Bordeaux blend: Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Chocolate and plum jam come through like gangbusters, but the acid fights back to balance it all, leading to a cakey, long finish. Delicious with duck.

Big House White – $6.99 at WineLibrary.com or available pretty much everywhere!

Shockingly good for less than seven bucks. The Big House White is a rather odd blend of Malvasia Bianca, Muscat Canelli, Viognier and Rousanne. We’d never had any blend like it before, but this didn’t mess around. The funny thing is, you can taste elements of all of those varietals, but you taste more flavors of varietals that are not in the wine. Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay (big time, buttery and creamy) and the like. Big pina colada flavors and spiced apples. Serve this one only slightly chilled before the meal or with appetizers. Might not hold up to the likes of turkey, gravy and stuffing.

Fleur Des Pins Graves Sauternes – $12.98 at WineLibrary.com!

If you’ve never had a Sauternes, now is the time to try one. Holiday sweets go magnificently well with Sauternes, no matter if they’re cookies, cakes or candy. Sauternes makes everything better. We’ll go into more detail about Sauternes later on, but for right now, if you can’t find the Fleur Des Pins Graves, just pick up any one you can find. You may find it difficult to locate one under $20 (we did), but rest assured, even a $30 375ml bottle of this stuff will put a smile on your face. This is solid 50/50 Bar, with delicious lemon picking up as well. Very sweet, but with that smokey characteristic often found in botrytis wines (moldy grapes; again, more on this later). The result is you enjoying a magnificent flavor explosion and then passing out on the couch watching A Christmas Story. ‘Tis the season.

One last thing and, we didn’t really want to mention anything because we’re so embarrassed, but…well, this is post number 100 for us here at Wine Welfare. That’s all we’re going to say. Feel free to maybe, we don’t know, leave a comment, compliment or congratulate us. Whatever you like. Really. We don’t need validation or anything. But one last time, just to clarify:

100 POSTS!!! WOO HOOOO!!!!

So that’s it. We sincerely hope you check out at least one of these four bad boys, and slap some serious enjoyment onto that Christmas of yours.

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Happy Holidays and Cheers!

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The Villa del Borgo label is owned by Vin Divino and is used only in the United States. They know how we Americans love them fancy soundin’ names on our wine because that must mean it’s good. Well, in this case, the wine is good. Very good. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find estate-grown (meaning it’s grown on the winery’s actual grounds and vineyards) and bottled Italian wines at this price. The wine is done in 100% stainless steel, with no malolactic fermentation and it never touches oak. This means you get more fruit and natural acid than fake vanilla wood flavors.

Color

Green-washed tea. Kind of like underripe hay.

Nose

Have you ever had Werther’s Originals? Or at least a caramel candy? That’s what this smells like. Not caramel alone, but the caramel candies. That and citrus.

Taste

More caramel candies, purple sweet tarts, grass mixed with orange peel, green apple, parma violets. That’s everything we could think of. The acid is surprisingly low, but there is enough to cut through and please your tongue. It leaves a great finish and gives you a satisfying pucker.

With Food

Creamy cheeses and tart fruits. Since the acid is slightly low, you may want to compensate. As for main foods, maybe a lemon chicken or cream sauce would work. Seafood of course, but no tuna or salmon. You want to have food that’s got some fat to it so that the acid can break through the oil.

$9.59 at WineChateau.com!

Check out our other Pinot Grigio reviews!

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2007 Mazzone Immensus Malvasia

This is a brilliant, 100% Malvasia that is at an absolutely ludicrous price right now.

Color

Light gold in color, but with a nice thick look. Definitely not a weak-looking white.

Nose

Very light and not heavy-handed, despite the color. Good citrus here: lemon and orange. There is also an element of heavy cream to it.

Taste

Remember 50/50 bars? This is what this wine reminds us of. Great richness, good acidity, with fresh-cut pineapple and a finish that lasts quite awhile. The tangy flavor makes you want more. Let it warm up a bit and you will see just how light but full this thing can be.

With Food

Great for cream sauces and lemon chicken. Shellfish would also work quite well, so long as you don’t have too much butter with it, as that could all get a bit overwhelming for your mouth.

Only $5.50 on sale at WineLibrary.com!

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Qupe Syrah 2006 Central Coast

A very reliable producer with lucscious fruit from Santa Barbara. This is our first Qupe wine on Wine Welfare, but everything we’ve had from them has been stellar.

Color

Deep inky purple. Not sure if this is filtered or not, but the this is not a very clear red. Looks gorgeous.

Nose

Smoke, deep red cherries, very ripe blackberries, moist earth. Give it a few minutes to open up and you will get some pine and a touch of rhubarb, which seems strange for a Syrah. Usually the tartness is reserved for Pinot.

Taste

Wow. A fruit explosion. The cherries and blackberries really come through and are joined by smoked meat and a healthy dollop of vanilla cream. Not too much oak, and the heat is very well balanced. The wine does not let up all the through to a lengthy finish.

With Food

BBQ steak or ostrich only. Very balanced acidity and fruit that can tear through a good cut of red meat.

Qupe Syrah 2006 Central Coast – $11.98 at WineLibrary.com!

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Castellani La Cattura – Our First Super Tuscan

Super Tuscans are rebels. Back in the day in Italy, the DOC (Denominazioni di origine controllata), which is basically the Wine Police of Italy, said that Chianti always had to consist of no more than 70% Sangiovese and at least 10% of  a local white grape. As time passed, Chianti sales started to suck, so some of the winemakers decided to break the DOC rules by blending the Sangiovese with other varietals like Cabernet. The Castellani La Cattura, for example, is made from Teroldego and Syrah grapes. By breaking DOC regulations, these wines could no longer be called “Chianti,” but that didn’t matter to these new winemakers of the Rebel Alliance. They decided to give these wines a new name, one that best described the kind of wine they were creating and where it came from.

Thus, the “Super Tuscan” was formed. Though it has never taken on an “official” status, it stands to this day as the signifier of some of the best wines Italy has to offer.

Color

Inky red withe purple tint. Much darker than most Chiantis you may have seen. Think of a thick-looking Hawaiian Punch.

Nose

Wood. Pure oak all the way. A bit too much if you ask us, but some might dig it. Letting it breathe for an hour or so may help. If the oak dissipates enough, you will find scents of dark raspberries, rich cherries and soil. Early morning forest, dead leaves, and…despite all of the scents we just described…peaches.

Taste

The oak stays put and doesn’t fade much on the palate. Since the wood/vanilla elements the oak brings forth are so prominent in the front of the wine, the mid-palate is flabby. Basically, you get a nice expolosion of vanilla and then it’s like there is water on your tongue. Swallow and then you will find the fruit, and it’s raspberry all the way; nice and tart, but a little late to the party. We were going to sleep by the time the cherries or anything else even bothered to appear.

This wine received an overall 90 point rating from some wine dudes, but…nope.

With Food

Pasta with red sauce. Not much more you can do with this because it’s not as full-bodied as we would like. Ironically, it would not go with rabbit.

$12.98 at WineLibrary.com!

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A Quality Pinot Noir for Less Than $20. Repeat: A Quality Pinot Noir for Less Than $20

Before we get into this, we feel the need to again point out (besides the title of this review and the header right above this) that this is a Pinot Noir for under $20, made by a world-renowned winery. That should really be enough to go on, but we’ll review it anyway.

Au Bon Climat was started in 1982 by Jim Clendenen (this handsome devil). Over the years, through solid techniques learned in the vineyards of France and throughout California, Jim has carefully reinvested in his winery to become a 30,000-case-per-year business. Good for him.

So, just to reiterate: Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir for under $20.

Color

Red fruit juice and a bit more solid than other pinot noirs. Pinot noirs tend to be slightly clearer rather than inky purple.

Nose

Smells of earth, strawberry, cherry and must. Also, if sour has a smell, this smells sour.

Taste

Do not drink this right after opening. If you can, open it, decant it, and leave it for 30 minutes to an hour. The tartness will really kill you if you don’t. What this means is that the wine is essentially unbalanced and needs air so that the fruit can be pushed to the top a bit. Once it’s ready, there are great strawberries and slightly sour cherries right from the get go. The mid palate isn’t that strong as the acid starts to take over again. The finish is…well, the finish. The wine doesn’t linger, just packs its bags and takes off. Still, for the price and the winery it comes from, a spectacular deal.

With Food

Duck would be ideal because the wine isn’t built to stand up to anything to muscular. Even turkey or chicken would work. We would suggest staying away from steaks, rich red sauces or strong cheeses with this one. Enjoy it with the white meat or by itself.

$17.94 at NapaCabs.com!

Au Bon Climat website

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No More “Recession Wine”

If you are into wine, then you have heard this term by now. Heck, you’ve probably heard if you don’t care too much for wine, because the term “recession wine” is everywhere. We here at Wine Welfare are determined to help stop the use of this term because we feel it causes negative thinking when it comes to finding good wines under $20 (though it would be a good name for a wine website). We are doing this for a number of reasons:

1. By labeling a wine with the word “recession,” you are immediately invoking negativity. We don’t care if the wine is made from table grapes found in your local grocery store and fermented in an abandoned L.A. school bus. If it tastes good, it tastes good.

2. Wine is either good or bad, and neither has to do with how much it costs.

3. You should not drink wine you do not enjoy just to save a few bucks. If you have always liked that $10 bottle of Merlot but now it costs $12, spend the extra $2 on it.

4. Think about how stupid you would feel if we were living in boom times and people were calling that same $12 bottle of Merlot “Wealthy Wine” (another good website name).

You get the picture. Now onto the Pepperwood Grove Viognier 2006.

Bad News

Not the most structured white, but when we picked up the Pepperwood Grove Viognier, we weren’t expecting a hearty white Burgundy. The wine is a bit too crisp and tart for our liking. We usually prefer Viogniers that roll along like a red carpet: softer and more silky. This one kind of hits you in the face and moves on; a drive-by Viognier. Imagine someone fires a green apple at your face, then dumps a blob of honey on you when you’re bleeding on the ground, and then leaves you, wondering what the heck just happened.

Sorry about that, we’ve been off for about a week and had a Tangent Attack there…

Good News

Uh….$6.99 and it tastes good?

Color: Golden and clarified. Very pleasing and looks syrupy, which is deceiving because it is not at all.

Nose: Booze. Seriously, just booze. You might find a flutter of honey or maybe some pear, but this baby is as noseless as Michael Jackson. Wow. Too soon? We just lost some readers.

Ahem.

Flavor: The flavors really are the best thing about this wine, which, let’s face it, is the most important factor. Good minerality, which is kind of odd for a Viognier. Again, not too syrupy. Good apple, peach, lime, clover, a touch of honey, very faint butter, and a touch of cinnamon. The flavors are concentrated just enough, but the tart really comes through and is almost too much to bear. Your mouth clenches, but thankfully the finish is brief and the wine is gone before you know it. So basically the pros and cons balance out.

With Food

Seafood, chicken, this one runs the whole board. Don’t get too buttery with the shellfish, though. This baby can’t handle it. We would also suggest it with some strawberries or peaches and a mild cheese.

Only $6.99 at GreatCorks.com!

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More great deals from the BevMo 5¢ Wine Sale! This is the Fess Parker White Riesling, from Santa Barbara County. Fess Parker is renowned, at least in the United States, for created top-notch varietals, both white and red. Would you expect any less than Davy Crockett?

Good News: Focused. This wine does not mess around and puts a laser beam on the classic flavors of the Riesling grape. Apples, steel and floral scents on the nose with a nice minerality (more often found in the great German Rieslings, not so much in California) and great acid. Most American Rieslings provide too much sweetness, particularly in the finish and aftertaste, but the Fess Parker maintains its focus. The finish fades nicely and leaves you with a full, stinky-cheese type of quality on the back of your tongue.

With Food: The Fess Parker White Riesling will go well with any spicy or Asian foods, as well as a wide variety of cheeses and dried fruits. Enjoy at the end of the meal if you are not eating spicy foods but having a dessert. Rieslings are known for being able to stand up to even the spiciest of foods, but a lot of American Rieslings are generally too sweet and lack the acid, making them back down from a spicy curry or Kung Pao Chicken. This is where the Fess Parker differs, as it can handle the toughest. Just think of it as a German Riesling, something like Dr. Loosen Rieslings.

$13.04 for 2 bottles at the BevMo 5¢ Wine Sale!

$11.95 at WebWine.com once the sale is over.

Check out our other Riesling reviews here.

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