1. Home
  2. Tim Lemke

Tim Lemke

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

Martini Sparkling Rosé

All of the sparkling rosé wines we’ve reviewed recently have been on the dry side.  Brut, to be precise.  But not every bubbly wine drinker is into the dry wines, so let’s check out one that’s off dry (i.e. slightly sweet). The Martini Sparkling Rosé is an Italian sparkler made from a blend of brachetto, malvasia […]

Alma Negra Rosé Malbec

It’s time to put a little twist into these sparkling rosé wines we’ve been reviewing lately.  So, you’re probably familiar with malbec and know it to be a tasty, full red wine with deep, inky-dark color.  Would you believe that you can get a sparkling rosé wine out of it?  Well, not only can you […]

Juvé y Camps Brut Rosé

Yet again, we’re tasting some pink, bubbly wine.  And again it’s a brut rosé Cava. If you love sparkling wine, but haven’t discovered Cava yet, you’re missing out on some awesome bargains.  Cava is Spain’s version of Champagne.  Of course, Champagne being not just a generic name for sparkling wine but being a sparkling wine […]

Segura Viudas Brut Rosé

We’ve been reviewing some rosé wines lately, and more specifically we’ve tasted a number of sparkling rosé wines.  So, let’s continue that theme with another rosé cava that’s an absolute bargain. Segura Viudas Brut Rosé is made from 90% Trepat and 10% Garnacha.  The grapes come from an estate in Torrelavit, Alt Penedès in Spain.  I’d say […]

Freixenet Cordon Rosado Brut

It’s time to talk about more pink bubbly stuff.  Wine, that is.  Cava, to be more specific. Yesterday, we highlighted a unique rosé cava from Freixenet, their Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut.  But if you’re looking for an even better bargain, then it may be the Freixenet Cordon Rosado Brut that piques your interest.  It’s a […]

Freixenet Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut

Freixenet is a pretty big name in the bubbly wine aisle as they are a pretty reliable brand for tasty-yet-affordable sparkling wines.  They are known for their cava, which in simple terms is Spanish sparkling wine made in the traditional champenoise method… yes, there are more specifics to cava, but let’s keep it simple for […]

Mumm Napa Brut Rosé

Some guys might say it’s not too masculine to drink sparkling wine.  Some might say it’s not too masculine to drink rosé, or “pink” wine.  Well, I’m going to throw all caution to the wind and drink a wine that’s both pink and sparkling… and I’ll admit that I love every sip of it! Mumm […]

SPELLwine Napa Valley Syrah

Last week I reviewed the SPELLwine sangiovese and this week we’re checking out their syrah. I admit it.  I have a prejudice against Californian syrah.  I’ve had far too much of it that is over-extracted, syrupy sweet and too overpowering to pair with anything I eat.  It’s not the grape’s fault.  I’ve had plenty of […]

Quinta Cruz Pierce Ranch Tempranillo

While I love a bargain on wines, I get bored with factory-made wines that while not offensive just have no excitement to them.  So many wines on the market today are manipulated in an attempt to “standardize” the flavor.  And it’s not just the cheap ones.  A lot of this is done in order to […]

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Meritage

I can’t help but wonder how meaningful the “Meritage” name is to wine consumers.  I mean, I don’t hear many people saying, “I’d like a glass of Meritage.”  I suspect a lot of consumers don’t even know what it is.  In essence, Meritage is a name for Bordeaux-style wine that’s made somewhere other than Bordeaux. […]