Decant Stop Tasting Wine Blog

Basically, I’m adding this one because (a) I drank it, and (b) I have to make a post to put it in the “don’t even try it” category.  I bought it at TJ’s for $5 so I wasn’t expecting much, but it didn’t even live up to those expectations.  Like you might think it should be $2 better than the 3 buck Chilean Chuck, but you’d be wrong.  This wine is dysfunctional at best.  Awkward every step of the way and I can’t imagine anyone finding a reason to drink it.  If it were $1 a bottle I’d say OK, it is the cheapest thing out there for the “kids” to get drunk on, but at $5 you can get a LOT of other wines that are better… even 2 1/2 bottles of 2 buck Chuck. 

Rating:  70

Price:  $5 (TJ’s)

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Eesh, we were in much debate about this wine, mostly because of personal preference.  I didn’t care for it much, but the girls liked it well enough.  I’m actually a pretty big fan of Pinot Grigios from Italy, and have even had some inexpensive ones from Trader Joe’s that I liked quite well.  But this one was just too narrow and way too much butter!  As soon as I saw it I knew it was going to be fairly week – for my preference, as it was very pale straw in color.  The aroma, which was the best part of this wine, smelled of weeds (like a grassy field with a big mix of weeds, many with flowers, etc.), citrus rind bell pepper, thyme, olive, hint of butter.  Now, with that nose I was intrigued and though, OK, so it might be better than the color suggests, but… it tasted immediately of green olive, butter, the white part of a lemon peel (I actually confirmed this on the spot by taking a little bite of that and it fit exactly), and the rest white grape juice.  The warmer the wine got, the more the butter came out too, to the point of me making a face and going “yuck!”, so definitely drink this chilled and keep it that way.  Mouth-feel was interesting, in that with the buttery aspect it coated your tongue a lot, but at the same time, was pretty acidic.  This would probably be pretty good paired with Fettuccini Alfredo with mushrooms and lemon herb chicken.  It also gave me the impression that it was very high in alcohol.  After I swallowed (yep, not much of a spitter if I don’t have to) I could feel the alcohol evaporating up my throat.  It was more like the feel of drinking Sake.  What’s left in your mouth in the finish is butter with alcohol vapor.  It sounds worse than it is in reality, but that’s the only way I can describe it.  I would pass on this at any price, but especially at $14… you can get better at Trader Joe’s for around $6.

Rating:  85  (This is a compromise with the girls)

Price:  $14  (All Star Wine & Spirits)

Coming from the Medoc region (left bank Bordeaux) the wine is a blend of 50% merlot and 50% cabernet sauvignon.  Color: dense red in color. Color shows this wine is still very young.  Purchased at Whole Foods for 19.00  This has an elegant nose. Primarily black currents and cassis, with some hints of mint, beeswax and new oak.  As for the palate, plenty of ripe black fruits much in the same vein as the nose, soft, smooth tannins give this wine good structure. There was an unexpected distinct copper aspect and slight hints of tarnished silver. I suspect I’m experiencing a little of their bottling process.  After 40 minutes of decanting the metallic taste subsided but a whole new aspect arose. I can only describe it as a faint neoprene wetsuit. Odd.  A weak finish.  Even with the wetsuit aspect the wine was not completely unpleasant. I found it cannot hold up on its own.  As usual I let the wine dictate the meal for the evening. That is a good thing since this wine is not completely enjoyable on its own. This wine can only accompany a meal. Unfortunately it cannot support an entire meal but only an appetizer. Carpaccio with caperberries, a dash English mustard and a little shaved Parmesan. This wine needs to have a complex aspect to accompany it so I have to give it my seal of disapproval. It was too much work to make something that I could enjoy as its culinary foil.    Bottom line: Drink it fast and move on.

Rating: 60

Price: $19

Now, don’t beat me up already, having read the title of this post.  Before I even start, let me just say that I bought this wine to make a syrup for home made ice cream.  That said, I thought it would be fun to pour a little in a glass and review it just for fun. 

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This wine, I think, has potential, but is just not ready.  Either that or it just isn’t very good.    If want to try this one, maybe keep it for a couple of years before opening it.

Color is dark purple, a little hazy at first, but clears after a while. 

Aroma is very alcoholic, too much so, and of cut grass and oak.

Tastes of grapefruit, alcohol, and tannin is like raw grape skins and stems… that sounds worse than it is, as it was relatively full bodied, but not really balanced.

Aftertaste was the lingering flavor of the grape skins and stems, maybe even seeds. 

It very well could have been a “dirty” harvest process, or maybe it just needed more time.  Not sure which.

I gave it a 65 (not really recommended), but Rika gave it the 40 that our evaluation chart ended up with.  I guess I’m adding potential to my score.

Price:  $5.99 (TJ’s)

Rating:  50 (split the difference)

This wine is from Chile, in the Maule Valley.  This on its own would usually merit a try, however, this wine is very weak.  It isn’t unpleasant or bad tasting, just very unspectacular with not a lot of anything (nose, taste, tongue).  Color isn’t bad.  TJ’s has it for $5 or $6.

Rating:  72 

This wine is from Chile, in the Maule Valley.  This on its own would usually merit a try, however, this wine is very weak.  It isn’t unpleasant or bad tasting, just very unspectacular with not a lot of anything (nose, taste, tongue).  Looks OK, and has a tiny spice lingering on the tongue for about 10 – 15 seconds.  TJ’s has it for $5 or $6.

Rating:  70