Root:1 Cabernet Sauvingnon

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, but at $10.99, what did I really have to lose?  I shouldn't have worried as the Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon was everything that I could have hoped for.

The hints of vanilla were great, but didn't overpower the fruit flavors of cherry and plum.  The tannins were just right, and it was very easy to drink and enjoy.  In short - it was great.  If you've tried the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc, I can't think of any reason not to go out and try the Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon.  I give the Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon 4.75 stars out of 5.

Rockbridge Cabernet Franc

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.  One a white that was far too sweet for our tastes, and the other a Cabernet Franc.  

The Rockbridge Cabernet Franc has a nice earthiness to it that I find quite enjoyable.  A very dry Cabernet Franc, this red wine went great with a very sauce-heavy pasta and red sauce meal I prepared.  The one thing I did notice was that after my meal was finished and I was just drinking the wine, it was a bit too dry to be enjoyed by itself.

This is a great wine to eat with a hearty red sauce or juicy steak, but if you're looking for a wine to drink by itself, I think you can find a better Cabernet Franc for that purpose.  I give the Rockbridge Cabernet Franc 2.5 stars out of 5 since it'll go great with a meal, but leaves something to be desired by itself.

Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc

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 light about this full-flavored, yet clean tasting Sauvignon Blanc.

My local store carries this for a lowly $7, a steal for anybody in the market for an inexpensive white wine that they can pair with anything. A bit of research shows that it does sell for upwards of $15, but I wouldn't recommend paying that much for it, not because it isn't worth it, but because you can find it for less. And isn't that always the point? I give the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc 4.75 stars out of 5.

Find this wine online at WineZap.com

Anakena Sauvignon Blanc

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 great citrus flavors and a light, crisp finish, this is the perfect sauvignon blanc for anybody looking to either get into the varietal, or for somebody looking for an everyday sauvignon blanc to enjoy with any kind of meal or by itself. Whether you're a fan of white wines or not, you really should give this wine a try, especially for the price. I give this wine 4.75 stars out of 5.

Find a bottle of Anakena Sauvignon Blanc at WineZap.com

Clos du Bois Riesling

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 dinner and our taste in wine differs greatly from theirs.

The Clos du Bois Riesling had plenty of citrus flavors, but leaned more towards the sweet side of the Riesling varietal (which was part of the reason I had purchased it for our guests). While it wasn't sickly sweet like some German Rieslings can be, it certainly wasn't crisp and dry. I paired this dinner with grilled chicken covered in BBQ sauce, and while it wasn't bad, I think I might have enjoyed it more had I paired it with something spicy, like Asian cuisine. All in all it wasn't a bad wine, but unless you're more into the sweeter Rieslings, I'd say you might want to avoid this wine unless you plan to pair it with something spicy. I give this wine 2.5 stars out of 5.

Find the Clos du Bois Riesling online at WineZap.com

Campo Viejo Rioja

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 wine with a pasta dish featuring a spicy red sauce with sausage and onions in it that was a great compliment to the taste of the wine.

As I said, I've really been getting into rioja's lately, and while this is certainly not the best I've had to date, it is certainly a great buy for the price, and one that I'm sure to purchase again when I'm in the mood for a rioja and would rather spend $10 intead of $20. While this isn't the best example of the rioja, it's still a great wine for those interested in trying this particular varietal. I give the Campo Viejo Rioja 3 stars out of 5 for it's great vanilla flavors and smooth plumb finish.

Find Campa Viejo Rioja online at WineZap.com

Yellow Tail Shiraz

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 friends are having a movie night.

Ranging in price from about $9 to $13, there really are few bottles of shiraz that will satisfy your desire for a medium-bodied red wine for this price point. While the Yellow Tail shiraz certainly won't change your world view, if you're in the market for a middle of the road shiraz that you can keep on hand without breaking the bank, this is a good one to go with. I give the Yellow Tail shiraz 2.75 stars out of 5 - it's not great, but you won't regret buying it.

Find Yellow Tail Shiraz at WineZap.com

Vino Curioso 2006 Franc the Tank

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 when coupled with the low tannins and smooth finish, something that Virginia cabernet francs are not known for. The smooth finish and low tannins allowed me to actually enjoy the pepperiness, which went well with some chips and salsa.

The wine aside, Vino Curioso is doing an excellent job of producing a series of wines that are both high quality and that are being marketed in a way to draw in a younger crowd that is either unfamiliar with wine as a whole, or at the very least with good wine. Having seen Vino Curioso at a wine festival, the majority of the patrons at their booth were between the ages of 22 and 30, a crowd that is yet to be tapped by the majority of vineyards. Vino Curioso is well on their way to establishing themselves as a quality vineyard with a wide base. I give the Vino Curioso Franc the Tank 4 stars out of 5, a definite buy for the cabernet franc lover.

2006 Target Wine Cube Sauvignon Blanc

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 serving, but a cover that both insulates the wine and hides the "box" appearance beneath a stylish black covering with openings for the spout and the type of wine listed on the box.

The Sauvignon Blanc offered by Target is a good selection for anybody looking to either move away from the sweeter whites with something safe, or throw a party. In fact, the first thing that came to mind when I saw the Wine Cube setup was how convenient it would be for a party. While the wine itself is nothing to write home about, neither is it something I would be ashamed to offer at a huge outdoor picnic or informal cocktail party. It's easy and convenient and the subtle citrus flavors should be enjoyable to most white wine drinkers.

I'm not saying that this wine is anything even approaching amazing, but for around $15 for 3 liters of wine (that's roughly 3 bottles), you really can't go wrong with this wine when looking to entertain a number of people or just to have a basic "house" white on hand for your own enjoyment when you don't want to open up the good stuff. I give this wine 3.5 stars out of 5 for presentation alone.

Mirassou Pinot Noir

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, rich flavors from the wine made for a truly enjoyable meal. Finding a pinot noir for under $10 ($8.99 at my local store) is a great find in itself, but finding one that can compliment a fine meal and be enjoyed well after the meal has been finished is an amazing find.

If you're in the market for a pinot noir that's smooth with no after taste and will compliment a good steak dinner, you can't go wrong with the Mirassou pinot noir from California. For the price, there really isn't any beating it. I give Mirassou Pinot Noir 4 stars out of 5. A definite must buy.

Bell'agio Chianti

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 of Italian style meatballs over rice with a brown gravy - nothing fancy, but nice and hearty and warming on a day when I was, admittedly, feeling a bit under the weather. The nice tannins and dryness were exactly what I was craving, and while there was nothing complex or pretentious about this wine, it was the perfect compliment to the simple meal that I was enjoying.

If you're looking for a chianti that will redefine the varietal for you, this wine isn't it, but if you're looking for a nice house chianti that you can enjoy at home with a nice simple meal and that will add a bit of ambiance to your meal, this is absolutely the wine you want to go for. I give this bottle of wine 3.5 stars out of 5 because it's a good, solid chianti, but it won't blow your mind.

If you're looking for a bottle of Bell'agio Chianti, look here to see what you can find.