OC Wine and Lifestyle

August 7, 2009

Domaine de la Presidente Grands Classiques Cotes du Rhone 2007

Quite a lovely treat!

Quite a lovely treat!

I’ve purchased this wine twice now, just to be absolutely sure that I liked it the second time as much as I did the first time.   It’s an interesting blend of a few varietals, including Grenache (primary) and Syrah.  On the nose, you’ll enjoy a spicy, cherry scent.  The palate bursts with an earthy and peppery flavor mixed with red berry and fruit that carries through to a very pleasant finish.  The is the best French wine I’ve had in a while (since I haven’t purchased any Chateauneuf du Pape for quite some time).   I would definitely recommend this one, especially at the fantastic price of $7.99 at Total Wine in Tustin.

For information on homes near Total Wine in Tustin or other parts of Orange County, please visit my website at www.KathySchager.com.

August 5, 2009

Shannon Ridge Zinfandel 2007

Lovely little zinfandel

Lovely little zinfandel

I had the pleasure of picking up this delightful wine at Trader Joe’s for $5.99 in early August, 2009.  It’s always hard to know what to expect at that kind of price point, but the Shannon Ridge was a pleasure.  With toasty vanilla and berry aromas followed by a spicy, peppery red berry flavor, I was impressed already.  It finishes strong and flavorful.  What a surprisingly delicious treat! 

This wine is primarily Zinfandel with small amounts of Cab and Petite Sirah blended in.  Wonderful – I’ll be buying more of this.  To find homes near the Woodbury Trader Joe’s in Irvine, please visit me on the web at www.KathySchager.com.

July 29, 2009

Berberana Dragon Tempranillo 2006

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Tempranillo,wine — kschager @ 9:47 AM
Not bad for $5.99!

Not bad for $5.99!

This Spanish wine was recommended to me by a gentleman I met at the last tasting I attended.  I told him I loved Tempranillo wines, and he put this one in my hands and told me to try it.   You can’t expect too much from a $5.99 bottle of wine, but this one delivered a little better than I expected.  While it wasn’t the most robust wine I’ve ever enjoyed, it had nice fruit flavors enhanced by vanilla and hints of oak.  It had a nice, spicy finish to it, and ultimately, I enjoyed it.   Don’t be afraid to try this one.  It’s a sleeper right now in the States, as its true popularity seems to be with the Dutch at this point.  Maybe I have something in common with my tiny bit of Dutch ancestry!

You can find this one at Total Wine in Tustin for $5.99.  www.totalwine.com.  To find properties located near Total Wine in Tustin, visit me on the web at www.kathyschager.com.

July 2, 2009

Trentatre Rosso 2007

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Blends,wine — kschager @ 5:00 PM

Trentatre

A decent, inexpensive red from Trader Joe’s!  While I can’t say it’s one of my favorites, it certainly didn’t disappoint me.  It has aromas of plum and slight dark chocolate.  The flavor is primarily dark berries and a bit of a smokey yet fruity finish.   When I first opened it, I noticed that it resembled cough syrup on the finish.  But let it breathe a while and it will be okay.  This wine is a blend of 33.3% Cabernet, 33.3% Merlot, and 33.4% Montepulciano.  The three wines blended gives this wine its Italian name: Trentatre, meaning 33.

June 30, 2009

DeLoach 2006 Cabernet

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Cabernet,wine — kschager @ 7:37 PM
Decent wine for the price
Decent wine for the price

Ordered the DeLoach Cab with dinner and thought it was a reasonable wine for the price.  It had a very fruity nose with cassis, dark berries and herbs, followed by a palate of plum, blackberry and cedar.  The finish was nice, with a bit of spice along with the lingering berry notes.  This was a sweeter cab than I generally drink, but it was decent nonetheless.  Certainly not bad for the price. 

You can find this wine for under $10 here: http://jerichowine.com/item.asp?PID=1189

June 18, 2009

Aspaldi Crianza 2005 Rioja

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Crianza,wine — kschager @ 10:01 PM
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Aspaldi 2005Lovely Spanish wine.  I’m a big fan of 2005 European wines, particularly French and Spanish.  This one, for the price, was a nice little treat.  On the nose, strong cherry and pepper with a hint of smokey wood.  The flavor also has a tasty amount of berry and cherry flavors along with spice.  It finishes off long and strong.  It’s a young wine and the flavors and finish will certainly let you know it, but this wine is a keeper.  Best to let it age a while longer before opening.  Enjoy from Total Wine in Tustin for only $9.99!

June 17, 2009

Eguren Tempranillo 2007

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Tempranillo,wine — kschager @ 10:14 PM
Tags: , ,
Not my favorite...

Not my favorite...

From Tierra de Castillo (Noblejas, Toledo), this wine is just so-so.  As much as I love Tempranillo wines, this particular vintage did nothing for me.  The nose is spicy, but also smells overwhelmingly of alcohol.  It’s a very young wine, but nonetheless, it’s not very graceful in its youth.  The flavor is not interesting, and the finish has a slight bitterness that I found relatively unpleasant.  While it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever tried, it won’t find its way into my shopping cart again any time soon.

June 15, 2009

Marques de Riscal Tempranillo 2006

Great daily drinker!
Great daily drinker!

Surprises are a good thing, but only if they are pleasant.  Nasty surprises are a drag, but pleasant surprises are always welcome.    The Riscal Tempranillo was the most pleasant surprise I’ve had so far today.  A true Spanish Tempranillo, it has an earthy nose with hints of spice and berries, and flavors of cassis and tobacco.  A deep, full-bodied wine, it finishes smoothly.  I’m a big fan of a tasty Tempranillo, and this wine is a great example of what I love.  You can find this  tasty treat at TOTAL WINE in Tustin for $7.99 (http://www.totalwine.com/StoreList.aspx?state=CA&store=1103).

June 11, 2009

Courtney Benham Cabernet 2006

Filed under: $5.00-$9.99,Cabernet,wine — kschager @ 9:01 PM
Tags: , ,

For a $10 Napa Cab, this one is pretty tasty.  I’ve tried other Courtney Benham varietals without much luck.  But the Cab isn’t bad!  Starting with Cherry, Blackcurrant, Oak and Licorice on the nose, it mellows into a robust, smooth flavor with nice tannins, pepper and berry.  Top it off with a smooth finish and this is an inexpensive wine you can enjoy!  This wine can be found at Total Wine at the Tustin Marketplace.

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