The Naked Grape is a new wine brand from the Grape Valley Wine Company in California, which appears to be owned by wine-giant E. & J. Gallo. The winemaker of this pinot noir, 30 year old Hillary Stevens, is also one of the two winemakers behind another new E. & J. Gallo brand, Bear Flag […]
Laurier is one of 50-some brands owned by Bronco Wine Company, best known for producing extremely inexpensive wine brands. But coming in at $20 a bottle, this is one of their pricier brands. The juice in this bottle comes from Los Carneros, a cool and windy region that spans the southern edge of both Sonoma […]
The latest edition of Mutineer Magazine, issue #14, is out and in it you’ll find my Wine Steals column, which this month features pinot noir for under twenty bucks. This is one of the wines I mention in the article. The name of this producer, Au Bon Climat, looks so simple and yet I feel […]
If you’re a motorcycle buff, you might buy this wine just because it features an illustration of a rider on a Vincent Black Lightning on the label. And if you’re a cheap wine buff you might just buy this wine because it’s a bargain. This is yet another wine from Panther Rock Wine Company, a […]
Almost one year ago, to the day, we reviewed the 2008 Forest Glen Pinot Noir and we were pretty much floored by quality of it at such a cheap price. This is a bargain-brand wine that is mass produced by mega-wine-producer Bronco Wine Company. It’s not a wine that at a glance you expect to […]
If there’s one thing you can’t accuse Masked Rider wines of doing, it’s marketing with the same old clichés that so many others use. This is one name and label that’s easy to remember, because it’s unique in the wine world. No regal designed labels, no family names, no critters — unless you consider the […]
Would you expect to find a Napa Valley pinot noir for under $20? It’s not unheard of but still not that common. Which is why I was excited to taste this one from Main Street Winery. Main Street Winery is one of several brands in the Trinchero Family Estates family. And although the Main St. […]
The sauvignon blanc we’re reviewing tonight is from California and is “certified green,” which at first struck me as just marketing spin but is actually a classification certified by a third party, called Protected Harvest. There is a lot of buzz around the wine industry about using sustainable practices, but for most producers that can […]
Pomelo is produced by Mason Cellars, a family owned and operated winery in Oakville, California. The winery is run by Randy Mason, a winemaker with over 30 years of winemaking experience in Napa Valley, and his wife, Megan. Although Mason Cellars is located in Napa Valley, the appellation for this wine is just listed as […]
Although the Oberon name may be new to you, the name behind it shouldn’t be — if you know anything about wine. Rob Mondavi, Jr., grandson of the legendary Robert Mondavi, created Oberon to produce Napa Valley wines that can be enjoyed as everyday wines. And while Rob Mondavi, Jr. is behind Oberon, Tony Coltrin, […]
