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Tim Lemke

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

Salton Intenso Cabernet Franc – Complex and Intenso

I’m always excited to try wines from different regions. While I’ve had plenty of South American wines from Chile and Argentina, I’ve never had an opportunity to try a wine from Brazil until now. While Brazilian wine is new to me, it’s not a new thing. Salton, the winery that produced this wine, has been […]

DeCopas Malbec – Fresh and Fruity

This wine from DeCopas is one that I don’t have a lot of back story for. It’s an Argentine malbec from Mendoza — like many inexpensive malbecs you find in the US. I can also tell you that the DeCopas brand is part of the Trivento portfolio, which is owned by Concha y Toro, the mega-producer from Chile. […]

Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc

A few weeks ago I reviewed the Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva Chardonnay. In that review, I commented that the wine came from the Leyda Valley – which is known more for sauvignon blanc than chardonnay.  Well… wouldn’t you know it, Santa Rita also produces a sauvignon blanc from this regaion. Cool is the […]

Leese Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon

Leese-Fitch is one of the brands produced by “The Other Guys” wine company in California.  While I don’t think of them as a big wine producer, I see their wines everywhere I shop so they must be producing a pretty good volume of wine.  Some of the other wines they produce include Plungerhead, Pennywise and […]

Château La France, Cuvée Gallus — Earthy & Rich

Last year I started highlighting some good, yet affordable wines from Bordeaux.  Here’s another wine in that category. This one comes from Château La France, a pretty large estate in the Bordeaux region at 90 hectares (222 acres) with 75 of those planted. The wine is classified as Bordeaux Supérieur and is made of 60% merlot, 35% […]

Avalon CAB – Fragrant and Tasty

I recently received a bottle of this wine as a media sample and I was intrigued by the story they had to tell along with the wine.  They were reaching out to share news about a change they made to the bottle closure. As consumers, we often don’t give a lot of thought to the […]

Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva, Chardonnay – Delightful!

I find it interesting to look at the history of some Chilean wine producers.  Some have a long history, but it often appears to be a rather sleepy one.  Such is the case for Santa Rita, with a history dating back to 1880, but things really started happening there 100 years later. Perhaps it’s just the […]

Vinas Viejas de Paniza Garnacha – Rich and Delicious

I love garnacha.  It’s an easy, affordable, everyday wine that’s often more interesting than other wines in the price range.  This one from Bodegas Paniza is a great example of why I think of garnacha in this way. The vineyards where the grapes for this wine were grown are in Cariñena, the origin of carignan.  But […]

Villa Wolf Pinot Gris – What a Pinot Gris Should Be

Pinot gris is one of those wine varieties that some people love and some people hate.  Or perhaps it’s one of those varieties that’s easy to make poorly, lending itself to frequent dislike.  But when it’s made right it can be beautifully delicious. While many US wine consumers may not think of Germany when they […]

Louis Guntrum Nierstein Rehbach, Riesling Spatlese – Fantastic!

Last fall I reviewed a dry riesling from Louis Guntrum that I absolutely loved.  It turns out they also make at least one absolutely stellar sweet riesling. The Louis Guntrum vineyards are located in Rheinhessen, Germany.  More specifically, the vineyards are in Nierstein right along the banks of the Rhine.  An excellent climate for riesling.  And while […]