Sams Diving Again

VEO Chilean Cabarnet Sauvignon 2007

RATING: SERVE TO GUESTS

It’s summer again!  Well almost, but it does feel like summer.   Temp in the 80’s sunshine, baseball on the radio and the grill on every weekend and even some nights.  So it’s time to start opening a bottle here and there to go with the summer grill menu.  Liking reds and especially cabs beyond all other wines, I dive more deeply into Sam’s Club to see what I can find that will bring a smile to my face and a warm feeling deep inside my wallet.    Really liked this VEO Chilean wine.  I will admit, I am not prone to like Chile products so far but for under ten bucks, but this wine was great.

What Others Say: Wine-O-Rama 

We liked their Veo Grande (especially for $8.99 at Sam’s) but at times the herbal/green pepper interfered a tad. We figured that their ULTIMA reserve version (for $12.99) would be much better. Well, we decanted it for about 45 minutes with vigorous aeration as recommended on the label (it was rough straight out of the bottle.) Pretty purple hue but lots of herbs on the nose (I know some might love that, but we aren’t big fans.) Nice, smooth tannins with very bright red berry on the palate (not much herbal, though.) What zippy acidity – nice with the burgers and probably nicer with a juicy steak. On the other hand, it seemed quite thin and watery. Pretty good hooch,

What I Thought: Really enjoyed this wine.  Good full “(to me) surround the tongue” effect without being bitter.  Blueberries (yeah even my ruined taste buds got some blueberry tone) but really satisfying finish.  Long legs so the swirl was fun to play with.  I like to swirl my wine.  It drives my wife CRAZY.  She is so sure I’m going to spill.  Oops.  Anyway, well worth more than the 9 bucks.  Good cheap wine to serve to guests.

Cheers from the Wine Oaf.

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Clos Du Bois Shiraz 2005

RATED: Great Cheap Wine to Serve to Guests

The weather here is starting to turn.  We have daffodils popping up.  The shrubs are starting to bud out.  The ants are invading my garage.  (I hate ants.  This will be an understandably short post.)  I still have time to grill out though which means that lighter yet flavorful reds are on the menu.  What a better way to dig into barbecue chicken or a juicy peppery burger than to pair it up with a nice Shiraz!  I had to stay out by the gas grill this time because the march winds are so strong that the flame can go out.  Then I’m gassing the neighborhood as opposed to cooking the chicken.  To keep me company I opened up a bottle of the Clos Du Bois 2005 Shiraz.  Good wine quest, good call.  Keep this one around.

What Others Say:Finewinehouse.com

Wine Tasting Notes
Made in the inky, jammy style typical of fine Australian Shiraz wines, this lovely Shiraz offers rich aromas and flavors of wild raspberries and blackberries, with hints of licorice and layers of black pepper and spice on the back palate.   Finewinehouse.com

What I Thought:

Good peppery taste that is a great sipper but would be great with anything spicy right off the grill. Has a great full flavor.  Surrounds the tongue and leaves a real pleasant tang on the tonsils.  (If you still have tonsils try it for yourself.)   Definitley would recommend this one to serve to guests sitting on the deck chowing down on whatever comes right off the grill.

Now excuse me while I go chemical on the ants in my toolbox. Did I tell you how I hate ants?

Cheers from the Wine Oaf

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Trinchero Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $10.99

  RANKING: Serve Proudly to Guests

Another great little California Red Wine for around ten bucks!  Sunday evening, I’m on the verge of going 0-5 on my fantasy team!  (Who knew Schaub would get the flu?  You just can’t win without a QB!)  Unbelievable.  To punish myself for my poor judgement I cleaned the garage.  All this leads to is of course, other projects you remember you need to get going on…or finish.

Oh well, barbecue chicken breasts are on the grill and I am enjoying a great Cali Cab for around ten bucks.  You got to take the bad with the good…the good being this wine.

What Others Say: winemaker’s notes

Composition: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot

Once again, Trinchero’s Lake County and Central Coast vineyards yielded a powerful Cab that is deep, dense and ripe with black cherry, plum and a hint of earthiness. It delivers the warm fruit and broad mouth feel typical of Trinchero Cabernet Sauvignon.

The medium plus body combined with juicy ripe fruit and flavor-enhancing acidity make this versatile wine an excellent complement to grilled steaks, salmon or even a meaty pizza.

What I Thought:Full flavored Cabernet without a weighty finish – fruity, earthy and warm – good color and body.  Definitely a good value for $10.99.  Great wine for sitting out on the deck and getting the aroma off of the grill and the nose of the swirling wine glass in compliment.  Good wine quest, great evening outdoors…. you’ve got to love Fall grilling.   Winter, please be slow.

Cheers from the wine oaf!

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RATING: Serve Proudly to Guests

I wrote a post recently about visiting the Adam Puchta Winery and sampling their Hunters Red.    I finally had the chance to open up a bottle and sample more than a mouthful.  True to our mission, we discovered a good cheap wine that you can serve to guests!  Yes, this wine quest was for a $12.99 bottle and not a great ten dollar wine, yet still well worth the extra three bucks.  Check out this cheap little red beauty and the other wines proudly created by Puchta and sons. 
What Others Say: From Adam Puchta Winery

“A velvety semi-dry red, medium bodied and non-oaked with a mild floral nose. A fun wine to pair with many Italian foods, peppery/spicy BBQ, hearty stews, venison and summer sausage. A choice red wine to cook with, especially when making those wonderful Italian tomato sauces (caution…more wine should go into the sauce than the cook!), great with pizza, too. Best served at room temperature.”

What I Thought: Really enjoyed this wine.  Set it out for alittle while to air, about 45 minutes while I tried to save my Fantasy Football team from week one disasters.  (I was luckier with the wine than I was with my trades.)  Great full round taste on the tongue with a mature fruit finish.  Good wine to put on the table like you would a good cheap chianti (like my current Trader Joe’s favorite).  Fill a glass full and swirl with pride.  The unique origin and local flavor also make great talk.  What’s good wine without good talk?

Interesting that the wine maker suggests cooking with this wine.  I wouldn’t.  If you know this blog, you know that we only choose to cook with wines that are not worth drinking yet not horrible enough to require a midnight trip to the local landfill. Sorry recipes, I’m not sharing my Hunters Red with you.

 Cheers from the wine oaf!

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 Dynamic Red Table Wine California 2006 $8.99

sold exclusively at Trader Joes

 RANKING: Serve to Guests

Well I fell for a label again.  The Mediterranean tower-home gave this wine an “old country” look that I couldn’t resist.  How in the world Trader Joes keeps finding well priced little gems like this I dont know.  This one is from Ceago Vineyards.  According to their website: http://www.dynamicvineyards.com/“Ceago is derived from a Pomo Indian word (spoken “Shee-ye-ho”) that meant “grass-seed valley”.  Like the Native Americans who were here before us, we believe that people must interact with the land in an essential, nurturing fashion, to assure long-term quality and prosperity.”

The mission of Ceago, “…to craft small lots of wine from estate grown organic and biodynamic grapes using the best of Old and New World winemaking techniques.”  turned out a great product in their California Lake County Red Table Wine.  It’s a good cheap wine.  This was a great wine quest that may turn into a case purchase!  Come to find out the tower on the label is where homeopathic teas are prepared for the grapes to enrich the soil.  That’s California.  Here in the Midwest, I wonder… which tea works on crabgrass?

What Others Say:According to the label this wine is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 20% Malbec.  There is a lot of information about Ceago and biodynamic grapes but no tasting notes or other review information that I could easily find. 

What I Thought: Great wine.  I would have been even more swayed had I read about the winery first.  I do find the organic and biodynamic wine movements interesting. (like shade grown coffee?)  This wine is aptly named.  It’ s a great table wine with an earthy feel on the tongue.  By that I mean there is a fruitiness that doesn’t allow you to get too serious.  There seems to be also a hint of cinnamon.  The malbec brings over its peppery finish as well.  Oh yeah… $8.99 a bottle.   I really enjoyed it. 

Learn more about biodynamic grapes from Ceago’s website.

Cheers from the wine oaf!  Happy Labor Day.

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