A couple days ago I was thinking about the price limit I use on this site. As a general rule of thumb I have focused on wines priced at $20 or less since I launched the site. There have been some exceptions over the years, but that’s been the target price. However it’s been over […]
Red Wines
Serie Riberas Gran Reserva – Malbec
Most malbec we come across in the US comes from Argentina, but that’s not the only country in South America growing this variety. This one comes from Chile. This wine is produced by Concha Y Toro, the largest wine producer in Chile, under their Serie Riberas Gran Reserva brand. It’s from the Colchagua Valley region, […]
Parducci “Small Lot” Cabernet Sauvignon – Big Flavor
I’ve reviewed a couple wines from the Parducci “Small Lot” series lately, including their pinot noir and chardonnay. Both of those wines impressed me as incredible values. So I wasn’t terribly surprised when I tried their cabernet sauvignon and again it delivers a lot of bang for the buck. This wine comes from Mendocino County […]
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec – Really Nice
I’ve reviewed a number of Trivento wines in the past. Like many wine producers they have a few different tiers in their portfolio, offering really affordable wines in the lower tier that may not be all that interesting but also having more premium tiers that display a bit more character and quality in the wine. […]
Parducci Small Lot Pinot Noir – Great Value
A lot of wine snobs like to say it’s impossible to find good pinot noir for under $20. While it’s not as easy as some other varietals, it can be done and this wine from Parducci is a great example. Not only is this a good pinot noir for under $20, it’s a good pinot noir […]
Emiliana Natura, Carmenere – Amazing!
I usually approach carmenere cautiously. Due to the nature of the grape, if producers harvest underripe grapes it results in a strong green pepper aroma and flavor. A little bit of that can be OK, maybe even interesting. But too much of it is just not enjoyable. When carmenere is done right, however, it can […]
Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet Sauvignon – Devilish Release
Casillero del Diablo is no stranger to Cheap Wine Ratings. Chile has been a great source or good, affordable wines for years. And Casillero Del Diablo is a big Chilean brand that’s been churning out bargain bottles for years. I’ve honestly had a love/hate relationship with Casillero del Diablo. Sometimes I find their wines to […]
Cosentino, Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel
Zinfandel is wine with an attitude. It’s a wine that evokes a passionate fan base for those who love it for being bold and brash. And it’s a wine that has its detractors too, also due to it being a bold and brash style of wine. Cigar Zin, from Cosentino Winery, is one of those […]
Bila-Haut, Cotes Du Roussillon Villages 2015
I always like to find consistent, reliably-good and affordable wines. That can be a hard thing. Sometimes you find a bargain wine you love and then the next year it’s not so good. Or you find that hidden gem, but so does everyone else and the price begins to creep up. This wine, Bila-Haut by Michel […]
Frontera, After Midnight Red Wine
Chile is a great region for bargain-priced wines and hence I find myself reviewing a lot of wines from Chile. Some of them are great and some of them are meh! But what do you expect when you’re tasting the cheap stuff. And at $5.99 per bottle, this one is about as cheap as it […]