On a recent trip to the grocery store I stocked up on several Cabs under $10 just to see if I could find one that could be a cheap “go to” wine for pizza night or just to cap off a crazy day. This wine was decent and could be a nice choice for those who like a fruitier cab.

Cherries and berries were evident in the smell. There was also a little earthiness. The taste had the fruit and some spice to it. There were just enough tannins to give the wine some dryness and bite – even though I would have preferred a little more.

Recommend: Sure – if you like a lighter Cab

Price: Around $8 on sale

I ended up back at Tutto Vino this week for a drink with a co-worker.  Again, I asked Carl to pick me a bold red wine for this week’s selection.  He and Raj (the owner) both agreed on this wonderful red wine.  Raj also told me the great story behind this wine.  It is from a female-owned vineyard in the Abruzzo region of Italy.  Her husband was a wine maker known for producing great wines and he encouraged her to start making her own wines.  A couple years later her husband died and many thought it was the end of the vineyard but she continued the business and has since received a lot of recognition for the quality of her wine. 

This red has a great cherry aroma with some earthiness in the background.  The cherry stays in the taste complimented with some spice and tobacco. The tannins allowed this wine to be bold and dry but have a nice finish.  I enjoyed this wine with a nice, lightly smoked blue cheese, principe (an Italian, sheep’s milk cheese) and smoked gouda.  Of course the blue cheese paired the best, but the others were very good. I actually liked this wine a little more than the Barolo I had here a couple of weeks ago.  This was had a little more kick to the taste.

Recommend:  Definitely

Price:  $37

Well, the first part of the name is right – WRONGO.  If Dongo means watered-down, fruity vinegar then the name is very accurate. 

I had my neighbor over for some wine and to catch up so I figured I’d try my wine of the week with her.  The smell was promising – it smelled like berries.  When we tasted it, it went all bad.  There was NO evidence of tannins; it was very flat.  My neighbor recommended letting it sit for a while so we cracked a bottle I knew was drinkable. When we went back, I could smell more vanilla in the berries so I was hopeful.  However, it wasn’t any better. 

This wine from the Jumilla region of Spain was the first wine this year that I could not finish.  My boyfriend thought it was drinkable so he didn’t let it go to waste; I just couldn’t do it.

Recommend: Not at all – unless you like what I described above.

Price:  Does it matter?

I was an over-achiever this week in my tasting.  A friend of mine learned about my “resolution” and invited me over to try one of her favorite wines.  All I have to say is “WOW” – this one is fantastic!!

This is a Cabernet Franc & Merlot blend.  It is bold.  It is spicy.  It has a great foundation of dark fruits.  Overall, I LOVED it!  The website says it has ”a touch coarse and rustic from midpalate on, ending with gritty tannins”.  I definitely agree.  When I mentioned in my earlier posts that I like a red wine that kicks me in the back of the throat – this is what I’m talking about.  My friend served this wine with sharp white cheddar and brie cheeses – delicious!! 

Recommend:  ABSOLUTELY if you like big, bold reds.

Price:  $40 – 45 (and worth EVERY penny).

A friend of mine asked me for a recommendation for a Chianti and I just happened to have this one in my wine fridge.  At $8 I did not have high expectations but was pleasantly surprised.

The smell was ripe with berries and a little vanilla.  The website said I should smell iris – but since I am not really sure what an iris smells like, I did not notice that at all.  The flavor was not as fruity as I expected from the aroma – which I liked.  There was definitely hints of vanilla and maybe a little caramel in the finish.  The great thing was, there was also a little bit of spice in this wine and it was just a tad dry.  Some Chiantis are so fruity that I can’t get past the first glass.  This Chianti was a nice balance of fruit, spice, and dryness to make it a nice choice for anyone who just wants a nice wine to go with pizza or pasta. 

Recommend:  Definitely

Price: $8