I first discovered Four Vines back in 2008 at the Cincinnati International Wine Festival. Well, I discovered them in the same sense that Columbus discovered America. They were already around and doing quite well, I just happened to become aware of them then. And once I discovered Four Vines I became a big fan! Their zinfandel […]
Californian Wine
Ravenswood Besieged – Dark and Mysterious
It’s only September and I’m already seeing Christmas junk on display in stores. Have they forgotten about Halloween? It’s one of my favorite holidays, although I haven’t taken the time to celebrate it much in the past few years. Plus a lot folks say that I’m too old for Halloween. I think Halloween should be […]
Pennywise Pinot Noir – Worth Every Penny!
A lot of wine snobs would suggest that good + cheap pinot noir is something that just doesn’t exist. But I disagree. And I would suggest that those who hold this belief are just assholes. But you know who’s not an asshole? The folks at The Other Guys wines. They create wines that I’ve found […]
Hey Mambo Dry Rosé – Crisp and Refreshing
If you’re a regular reader here you probably already know that I’m a fan of dry rosé wines (among a number of other wine styles). OK, I’m a fan of pretty much all kinds of wine. But I think rosé is often overlooked, yet it can be a fun, enjoyable wine with character. And this […]
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – Not Cheap, But Amazing!
Although my primary focus on this website is inexpensive wines (it’s in the name of the site after all), I sometimes have an opportunity to taste wines that don’t fit in the “cheap” categorization. And every now and then I think all wine lover’s should taste the “good stuff.” After all, these are the wines that […]
Apothic Red – Popular for a Reason
I’ve written about previous vintages of Apothic Red and it’s a consistently popular wine among everyday wine drinkers. I’ve had a few folks ask me about the recent vintage lately, so I thought I’d revisit this one with the 2012 vintage. This wine is a fruit bomb. The aromatics are filled with strawberry, raspberry, plum and […]
Handcraft, Artist Collection, Cabernet Sauvignon – Like Cherries & Chocolate
A few weeks ago I wrote about the Handcraft Inspiration Red, a tasty little red blend. So I thought I’d check out another wine from the Handcraft family, their cabernet sauvignon. I come across a lot of people who love cabernet sauvignon and for many it is their “go to” red wine. Like many wines, it […]
Wolfgang Puck Master Lot Reserve Red Blend
I’ll admit it. When I first saw this wine, I didn’t have high expectations. After all, Wolfgang Puck isn’t known for wine, he’s a restauranteur — and a master at leveraging his personal brand to sell stuff. And while I’m sure he’s a talented chef (after all he had to have some credibility to build […]
Handcraft Inspiration Red Wine – Intensely Aromatic
I’ve been saying for the last few years that red blends are where it’s at when it comes to getting rich, flavorful wines at bargain prices. And the number of California red blends on the market has been exploding recently. This is a relatively new one from Handcraft Wines. Although you don’t see it mentioned […]
R8 Wine Co. Chardonnay – Simply Good
For a guy who is not that into chardonnay, I’ve found myself writing about a lot of chardonnay lately. It’s not that I have anything against it, it’s just that exciting to me as a wine varietal. But I’ve had some good chardonnay, some great chardonnay and some bad chardonnay over the years. This one […]