tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4062262141094772692011-11-27T20:32:41.261-05:00Reviews of Affordable Wines for the Wine Lover on a BudgetThe $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-35892733087545972042009-03-17T15:01:00.001-04:002009-03-17T15:03:24.927-04:00

A couple of months ago I decided to move to a hosted URL, and I realized that I never updated this site to reflect that. You can now get your wine reviews at my new site, The Good Wine Guru (http://www.thegoodwineguru.com). Hope to see you over there.

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-72765727051522625582008-11-11T15:58:00.004-05:002008-11-11T16:07:06.422-05:00

If you've read this blog before, you know what a big fan of the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc I was.  While poking around my local Whole Foods (or Whole Paycheck as many affectionately call it), my wife and I found a bottle of Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon.  We quickly snatched it up.Part of me was worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations, as I had quickly fallen in love with the Sauvignon Blanc,

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-43773930822753379732008-09-17T10:59:00.003-04:002008-09-17T11:08:00.192-04:00

I live in Virginia, and while there are pros and cons to that, one good thing is that here in Virginia, we're big on making wine.  While we do some varietals better than others, one that seems to thrive here is the Cabernet Franc.  For my wedding my wife and I were given a subscription to a Virginia wine of the month club.  This past month we recieved a pair of wines from Rockbridge Vineyard.  

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-42840652523827797152008-09-04T14:34:00.004-04:002008-09-04T14:52:02.615-04:00

Through the years I've encountered numerous wine drinkers.  While many are true lovers of wine, there exists a select group of those that don't enjoy wine simply for the enjoyment of it.  They enjoy wine so that they can tell others that they enjoy it.  They preach about their wine, they suffer for their wine, they criticize the wine selections of others.  They are wine snobs.Whereas most culture

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-1289722039018235542008-08-07T11:49:00.003-04:002008-08-07T11:56:09.941-04:00

I've been on a big kick with South American Sauvinon Blanc lately, and thanks to the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc, I have something to feed my addiction. This Chilean white wine is repeatedly finding it's way into my fridge and onto my table. With a great, crips citrus flavor, this wine goes great with seafood, chicken, pork, or just on the deck on a hot day. The light coloring is about the only thing

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-67724794766199667572008-06-25T09:38:00.004-04:002008-06-25T09:49:04.406-04:00

As the heat continues to increase, I find myself drinking more and more white wine, which is why I turned to the Anakena Sauvignon Blanc. This Chilean white was a welcome addition to my selection of wines, and I really can't recommend it enough. For the $8 I paid for this wine, it makes it perfect for drinking by itself on the porch or for pairing with a spicy meal to help cut the heat.With

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-16083826669166697192008-06-16T11:39:00.004-04:002008-06-16T11:49:44.980-04:00

This weekend I partook of numerous wines, but right now I want to talk about the Clos du Bois Riesling that I drank with some friends for dinner on Thursday night. First of all, while the name might be misleading (it's French for "enclosure in the wood"), this is actually a wine from California. I picked this wine up at my local store for $13, as my fiance' and I were having friends over for

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-32913085072317993842008-06-11T11:10:00.005-04:002008-06-11T11:18:16.432-04:00

Today I review what is quickly becoming one of my favored types of wine: rioja. This Spanish varietal does a great job of combining the tannins that I love from cabernet sauvignons and adds great vanilla and plum flavors. The Campo Viejo Rioja that I enjoyed was purchased for $9.99 at my local store, but can be found for not much more than $13 in other stores when I searched online. I paired this

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-56569435642209700882008-06-09T09:58:00.005-04:002008-06-09T14:56:03.484-04:00

This is easily one of my favorite wines for just sitting around and enjoying a glass of wine. The Yellow Tail Shiraz does an excellent job of being a middling wine. While the low tannins won't really appeal to the true wine lover, the same lack of tannins and the nice berry flavors are great for those that are just getting in to wine, and are wonderful for parties, relaxing, or when you and your

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-40908711433052883112008-06-06T11:02:00.007-04:002008-06-09T14:55:48.750-04:00

Having already tried and reviewed the Mirassou Pinot Noir, I thought it would be a good idea to try one of Mirassou's white wines. This, it turns out, was a mistake. I really wanted to like the Mirassou Chardonnay, I tried to like it, the nose was good, the initial taste was crisp and refreshing....and then I swallowed and got a rough finish. A rough finish on a dry red can be somewhat acceptable

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-52715585416742748462008-06-05T14:20:00.002-04:002008-06-09T14:55:28.451-04:00

Today I review what is, in my opinion, one of the more interesting vineyards to recently open. Vino Curioso. The highlight of this new vineyard is certainly their cabernet franc, which they refer to as Franc the Tank (a great refrence to Old School). The first thing I noticed about this wine was the peppery flavor. The spice from that first sip was surprising and yet quite enjoyable, especially

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-25964190452750922992008-06-04T13:59:00.002-04:002008-06-04T14:00:16.367-04:00

I've started another blog to compliment this one where I'll post wine related articles that I've written. You can find it at: http://winearticles.blogspot.com . Look forward to seeing you there.

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-57517512342090647882008-06-04T10:10:00.006-04:002008-06-09T14:54:59.815-04:00

Moving to Australia, today I review the Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz from South East Australia. I've become a big fan of wines from Australia, and especially this region, and the Rosemount Diamond Label is no exception. A wine that I've enjoyed in numerous restaraunts (for much more than you can find it at retail for), I was more than happy to purchase this shiraz for $12 (though I've seen it

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-91553683817027488462008-06-02T13:28:00.007-04:002008-06-09T14:54:39.845-04:00

This is the second boxed wine that I've reviewed on this blog, and I have to say, I'm much more impressed with this one that I was with the Fisheye Shiraz. Target has taken the idea of the boxed wine and completely reimagined it. Not only have they redesigned the box, they've created a series of accessories including a stand that raises the cube high enough to easily place a glass beneath it for

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-65594033859503053622008-05-30T15:06:00.004-04:002008-06-09T14:53:41.825-04:00

I'm a big fan of pinot noir. A really big fan of pinot noir. Because of this, I'm always happy to find a pinot noir that fits into my budget, which is exactly what I did with the Mirassou pinot noir. I drank this particular wine over Memorial Day weekend with a NY Strip that I personally seasoned and grilled to perfection. It was great.The combination of the flavors from the meat and the smooth,

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-31626802557268707412008-05-30T10:01:00.003-04:002008-06-09T14:52:34.110-04:00

I'll be the first to admit that I picked this wine up on a whim because I was in the mood for a chianti and the bottle caught my eye. Fortunately, it turned out to be really good for the price. Coming in at around $8.99, this Italian Chianti reminded me of exactly what it is I like out of a chianti - a simple wine that I can enjoy by itself or with a nice meal. I enjoyed this chianti with a meal

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-9373425357025667952008-05-28T09:49:00.002-04:002008-06-09T14:51:38.566-04:00

I had been hesitant to try a red zinfandel based on the name association with white zinfandel, a wine I have a long distaste for (nothing personal, just not something I can get into). While shopping at my local market, a table had been set up for tasting some wines, and the Ravenswood Zinfandel was among them. Never one to turn down free samples, I tasted the wine. To say I was surprised would be

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-48892893433926124682007-11-29T09:48:00.003-05:002008-06-09T14:50:45.340-04:00

Every once in a while a wine comes along that manages to combine my love of quality red wine, humorous names, and great value. The Evil Cabernet Sauvignon from Southern Australia is arguably one of the better wines that I’ve had in a long time, possibly made even better by the fact that it was given to me as a gift. Before opening the bottle featuring a screwcap, I was immediately amused by the

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-3086232663587449242007-10-01T09:46:00.002-04:002008-06-09T14:50:26.158-04:00

This weekend I tried a California Shiraz that I found…interesting. The 2004 Fisheye Shiraz that I purchased wasn’t actually a bottle, but a box of wine. While boxes of wine have certainly carried a stigma for many years, thanks in no small part to Franzia, more and more vineyards are starting to offer their wines in a 3L box that allows for more wine to be purchased without the need to store

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-69133338342704090162007-09-07T09:41:00.002-04:002008-06-09T14:50:03.160-04:00

This week I’m doing two wines, a red and a white, and still coming in under my $20 budget. Voga Italia has introduced a pair of wines that are both affordable and enjoyable…a great match if there ever was one.Voga Italia Pinot GrigioI start with the pinot grigio (mostly because I drank it first). Made in northern Italy, I found this wine at my local grocery store, and have seen it at most of your

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-76420312145774524712007-08-25T09:39:00.002-04:002008-06-09T14:49:24.755-04:00

In honor of the launch of this blog, I’ve decided to do two wines this week. Since I’ve already talked about a white wine, I’ll go to the other end and mention a quality red wine. The 2004 Barboursville Cabernet Sauvignon is a top quality cabernet that will entice both those just getting into the drier reds, and those that have established a long relationship with them.Barboursville is a Virginia

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-39796804123071856972007-08-24T09:35:00.002-04:002008-06-09T14:48:54.343-04:00

For my first wine I begin with the 2006 Santa Rita Reserva Sauvignon Blanc. A pleasant white wine from Chile (that’s in South America), this Sauvignon Blanc has a nice mix of citrus flavors, most notably grapefruit.I purchased this wine at a local wine & beer store for $15.99, a good $4 under my budget of $20. To go with this wine, I had a salad for dinner which included baby spinach, romaine

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406226214109477269.post-52936518693063308922007-08-23T09:34:00.000-04:002008-05-30T09:35:43.373-04:00

After years of bartending and watching people struggle trying to find a quality bottle of wine that was within their budget, I have set out to find good, quality wine that’s available at many of your local stores, but that won’t set you back three months rent. Each week I will set out with a $20 budget to find wine to compliment a meal that I will prepare. It may go well, it may go poorly, but I

The $20 Sommelierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17562088667768394788noreply@blogger.com0