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Tim Lemke

Tim is the founder and chief reviewer at Cheap Wine Ratings since 2007.

Review: Monte Velho Reserva Red

Earlier this year, I took a trip to Portugal to visit one of the biggest wine producers there, Esporão. You can read all about that visit here. They have grown to be one of my favorite producers on the planet because they consistently create interesting, high-quality wines at very reasonable prices. The wine I’m writing […]

Review: Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva

Chianti, as a type of wine, can be a little bit confusing to the average wine consumer. Why? Because there are a few different designations, each of which means something slightly different. You have Chianti, Chianti Classico, Chianti Rufina, Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Colli Fiorentini and the list goes on. All of these different designations are […]

More than Value: Excellence at Esporão

For several years I’ve been screaming from the tree tops about the incredible deals to be found on Portuguese wines. And for me, “deal” does not just mean “cheap.” From the time I started this website, back in 2007, my mission has been to find wines that are both inexpensive and excellent! The wines produced […]

Review: Domaine Bousquet Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon

Over the years of reviewing wines on this site, I’ve featured a lot of wines from Domaine Bousquet. Simply put, I’ve become a fan of theirs for creating high-quality, delicious wines at a great value, while also following world-class sustainability practices. While they consistently release really good wines, the Gran-Cabernet Sauvignon that I’m highlighting in […]

Review: Traversa, Sauvignon Blanc

Wine makers and wine connoisseurs often talk about terroir. This is the idea that the place grapes are grown influences the characteristics of wine produced from those grapes. Many factors go into terroir, like daytime and nighttime temperatures, soil composition, rainfall, sunlight, etc. Some would even argue that people are a part of terroir, which […]

Familia Deicas, Atlántico Sur Albariño

One of the best strategies for finding great wine at great prices is to focus on regions that are under the radar. What I mean by that is regions that consistently produce good wine, but for whatever reason most people haven’t heard about it yet. Uruguay is one of those regions that I’ve been talking […]

Review: Gaia Pinot Noir Rosé

Gaia is one of the wine brands produced by Domaine Bousquet, a producer I’ve written about extensively here. Pretty much every time I write about Domaine Bousquet, I talk about how they’re doing the right things (in my opinion) when it comes to making wine. And so, I’ll do that again. The name, Gaia, is […]

Review: Santa Margherita, Chianti Classico Riserva

This Friday, September 6th, is National Chianti Day and that’s as good of an excuse as any to have some Chianti. Although, truth be told, I don’t need an excuse. Chianti Classico is one of my “go to” wines. By that, I mean it’s a style of wine I choose often because it’s consistently pretty […]

Review: Corvezzo, Prosecco DOC Rosé

One of the appealing things about Prosecco is that it’s a sparkling wine that frequently costs less than many other sparklers. Sometimes, however, you find yourself wondering if that lower cost means lower quality. I believe you can find inexpensive Prosecco that offers outstanding quality. The wine I’m highlighting today is one such wine. The […]

Review: Domaine Bousquet Malbec

When you shop for food and beverages, do you seek out organic products? I do, sometimes but not always. For me, it’s about striking a balance between quality and cost. If cost wasn’t a consideration, I would buy organic much more often. One of the reasons I became a fan of wines from Domaine Bousquet […]