World Wine Reviews - Home

During these times of our economic uncertainties, we’ve been cutting back a bit on our monthly wine budget. Sad to say we’ve even cancelled a few of our favorite wine clubs until things pick back up. Anyway, we’ve been looking for those “bargain wines” that taste great and are under $12 a bottle.

During our weekend Costco run, we came across a few new California reds we’ve never tried. Now I admit, we’re hesitant to ever try something with a loud looking label but after reading the description, a few tasting notes and after seeing the price, we decided to bring home a bottle of Francis Ford Coppola’s 2006 Rosso.

It’s a red wine blend of 48% Zinfandel, 27% Syrah and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and it was good! A real everyday drinker just as the label suggests. It’s smooth and very easy to drink. What really excited us about it, besides the $7.39 price tag, was the vanilla and toasted oak flavors it cooks up in your mouth. Truly enjoyed it enough to go back for more!

Winemaker’s notes:
Francis Coppola grew up with wine on the family table because his grandfather and uncles made homemade wine in the basement of their New York apartment. Using grapes that had been shipped in by train car from California, the family was able to make wines in simple concrete vats. According to Uncle Mikey, these weren’t fancy wines, just pleasant, easydrinking wines. Our Rosso is made in the same spirit—a wine for everyday life.

You can get this Francis Coppola 2006 Rosso - Red Wine here or checkout your local Costco!

(5 votes, average: 8.6 out of 10)

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This 2004 Napa Valley Bordeaux-blend really hit the spot. We immediately knew we were drinking a quality red wine and not something that came out of the bargain bin over at Von’s. As part of our Rutherford Hill wine club, we occasionally get a bottle or two of Terlato wine. Thus far they’ve all been fantastic.

After letting this “Devil’s Peak” blend breathe for a half hour in the decanter, we poured our first glasses. Color was a beautiful velvet ruby. Nose was berries and currant and the taste…ahhh, very enjoyable! Full-bodied fruit and spice makes the complexity oh so nice!

An amazing blend of 59% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine is well worth the $40-$45 a bottle price. (Wine club members get 20% off)

Food pairing ideas:
We enjoyed this wine with grilled filet mignon and crab legs. (slightly smoked with cabernet wood chips) Paired wonderfully.

Order directly from Terlato online
You may also want to check out the Terlato Vineyards 2003 Syrah

(3 votes, average: 8 out of 10)

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Not a bad tasting wine for the price. A nice blend of a young red from South Australia.
39% Cabernet, 27% Petit Verdot, 24% Shiraz, 6% Merlot, and 4% Malbec

Pick up a few bottles at Cost Plus World Market WHEN they have it on sale.

(4 votes, average: 6.5 out of 10)

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Back to California! Ahh…a delightful blend of Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc from wonderful Sonoma, CA. Our friends up in the Napa Valley area took us to Homewood Winery during our last visit and we really enjoyed it. It’s a smaller winery away from all those larger tourist traps with down to earth people and friendly dogs sitting on the grass. Even as the winemaker was pouring the grapes into the press, he was happy to answer our questions and tell us about his wine making process. Nice people and great wines from Homewood Winery!

Order directly through Homewood or visit the winery if you’re up in the Sonoma / Napa Valley area.

(2 votes, average: 8.5 out of 10)

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The Alfa Crux from Argentina is now in our top two wines from that region and very worthy of writing about. Composed of 60% Tempranillo, 35% Malbec and 5% Merlot, this vino tinto is a wonderful full-bodied wine full of bold berry fruits, fig and spicy toast. Mocha and chocolate with a very strong finish.

Wine Spectator - 93 points

Where can you get this wine? I’ll update as soon as we find a recommended shop.

From the winemaker:
An interesting piece about thier label from O. Fournier:

“The names of the “Alfa Crux” and “B Crux” wines are based on the stars of the Southern Cross. This constellation is only visible in the Austral Hemisphere. The characterisation of the ostrich on the label symbolises the joining of the earth and the sky. The Argentinean Mocovi Indians captured this through paintings in the caves they inhabited and through different legends that were passed from generation to generation.”

“After selecting the barrels individually, Bodega y Viñedos O. Fournier will offer its best wine under the “Λ Crux” label. This wine will have spent approximately 18 months in new oak barrels and 12 months in bottles. The second wine, “β Crux”, will age in oak barrels, 50 per cent new and 50 per cent second year, for 12 months and in bottles for a minimum of six months.”

(2 votes, average: 8.5 out of 10)

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We were in the grocery store the other day and they had a big display announcing this new wine from Africa so we decided to grab a bottle and give it a try. The nose on this wine was very interesting. Almost smelled like cheese! Not expected nor have we ever smelled anything like that before. Wouldn’t say we loved it but the taste was good. Berry and even some wood flavor. Unique! May need to keep a few for a year or so to let develop more. Overall, a nice tasting wine from Western Cape, South Africa!

From the label: “Our Cabernet Pinotage with the dark fresh blackberries of smoth and creamy Cabernet are intensified by Pinotage’s intense red berry notes and complex structure.”

Look for the yellow and black Cheetah label.

(6 votes, average: 6.17 out of 10)

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Another wine, probably in our top 10 wines under $20 range…The Artesa Winery created Elements, a wonderful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a little of the Rhone varietals for the spice. According to Mr. Kenton, President of the winery, “elements was conceived to showcase the diversity of the winery’s vineyard resources and its world-class winemaking talent.”

Right he was, Elements really is a great wine. Aged two years in oak, it has that great characteristic we really enjoy and search out. Along with cherry, dark berry fruit, a little spice and at a great low price, Elements is a must try! We’ve found this wine at many of our local grocery stores for around $17-$19 and we’ll usually pick up a few when shopping for wine.

And if you ever get up to the Napa Valley, make sure you visit the Artesa Winery for some of the most beautiful views of the wine country and of course, to taste Artesa’s fantastic wines!

(4 votes, average: 8.75 out of 10)

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A VERY nice red wine blend of Malbec, Cabernet, Bonarda and Merlot from Mendoza Argentina. One of our top 5 picks from Argentina!

About this wine: (from our friends down in Argentina)
“This lush blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec and Bonarda excudes cocoa, cloves and dark plum on the nose with layers of fig and dark berries on the palate. Aged 12 months in French oak and another 10 months in the bottle, this wine can be enjoyed now through 2010.” 90 Points – Wine Spectator

You can order online through Vines of Mendoza wine store.

(1 votes, average: 9 out of 10)

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80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. A good, kinda “spicy” blend of grapes. Very nice flavor straight from the Curtis wine club. A must try.

(2 votes, average: 7.5 out of 10)

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Not our favorite but a good bottle of wine for an amazing price! ($4.99-$5.99) Vanilla oak flavor. Pick them up when you can. Went nicely with our Manacotti and garlic bread followed by a chocolate Easter egg.

(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 10)

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