Shenandoah Vineyards Chenin Blanc / Viognier

Name: Shenandoah Vineyards
Color: White
Varietal: Blend (Chenin Blanc/Viognier)
Vintage: 2010
Country/State: California
Region: Amador County
Price: $15
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)

I was hoping for a little more from this wine since it was a blend of two of my favorite white varietals, Chenin Blanc and Viognier.  The wine was rich and full, but the flavors were lacking for me.  I picked up on some peach and pear, but that's about it.  It was OK, but I'd probably pass on it in the future.

Kitchen Sink White Blend

Name: Kitchen Sink
Color: White
Varietal: Blend (Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc/Gewurztraminer)
Vintage: NA
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $9
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)

This was a terrific little white blend for less than $10...Very fruity, with pears, melons, citrus, and honey really present in the mouth. The finish was pretty short, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this was a delicious, refreshing, lively wine. Especially excellent for the summer!

Conundrum White

Name: Conundrum
Color: White
Varietal: Blend (Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon/Viognier/Muscat)
Vintage: 2009
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $18
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)


We enjoyed this terrific white blend while spending a relaxing night away at the Innisbrook Resort, just up the road in Palm Harbor...Krista and I polished off the entire bottle before cutting through one of the golf courses to eat dinner at the Salamander Market Grille. The wine was delicious and featured tropical fruit, peaches, pears, honey, and vanilla. It was off-dry but still had great acidity to keep it in balance.

After reading more about Conundrum online, I learned that it's part of the Wagner Family of Wine, the same group responsible for the Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir that we like so much. Both the Meiomi and the Conundrum are amazing wines that would please many palates. Both are less than $20, making them excellent values, too.

Bogle Phantom

Name: Bogle Phantom
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Petite Sirah/Zinfandel/Mourvedre)
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $19
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

After our disappointing experience the night before with the Durigutti Bonarda, we redeemed ourselves with this nice red blend from Bogle, known as the Phantom. I had been meaning to try this wine for awhile, so when I stumbled across it as I was looking for a wine for my Father's Day dinner (steaks on the grill), I jumped all over it.

It was very good, but not exactly what I expected. I'm a big fan of Bogle's Petite Sirah, especially its combination of dark fruit and chocolate. The Phantom, however, seemed to be dominated by the Zinfandel, at least to my nose and palate. It was a nice, big bodied wine that went really well with the steaks and was also good on its own. I just wish I was able to taste more of the Petite Sirah, which is one of my favorite varietals.

Pierre Amadieu Gigondas Romane Machotte

Name: Pierre Amadieu Gigondas Romane Machotte
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Grenache, Syrah)
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: France
Region: Gigondas
Price: $22
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)


We took this wine with us last night to dinner at Cello's CharHouse in downtown Safety Harbor...The dinner and the wine were both terrific. The wine was very smooth and we quickly finished the bottle...It was highlighted by blackberries, plums, and vanilla, with a nice black pepper spice. I highly recommend both the wine and the restaurant.

(We've also enjoyed the red blend from the Vacqueyras region by this same producer, and would like to taste them both together to compare and contrast...either way, both wines were excellent!)

St. Francis Red

Name: St. Francis
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Merlot/Syrah/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon/Zinfandel)
Vintage: 2005
Country/State: California
Region: Sonoma
Price: $7
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


We had this wine before and really enjoyed it, so when it was on sale at Ed's Fine Wines for about $7, I bought another bottle...It was still very good...fresh and fruity and a little bit spicy. Very enjoyable, especially for the price.

Apothic Red

Name: Apothic Red
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot)
Vintage: 2009
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $10 (on sale)
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)

We've had the 2008 vintage of the Apothic Red blend before and really enjoyed it...This bottle was the 2009 vintage and it was excellent as well...Dark berries, mocha, and vanilla dominated the taste of this one. Nice wine.

Las Brisas Rueda

Name: Las Brisas
Color: White
Varietal: Blend (Verdejo/Viura/Sauvignon Blanc)
Vintage: 2009
Country/State: Spain
Region: Rueda
Price: $12
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

This was our second wine from Rueda in the past month and we really enjoyed it, much like the last one (Naia). This wine is another terrific summer wine option. It's very crisp, fresh, and refreshing with good acidity and balance. It features delicious peach and apricot flavors and was very to easy to drink...We polished off this bottle very quickly.

Graham Beck Chardonnay/Viognier

Name: Graham Beck
Color: White
Varietal: Blend (Chardonnay/Viognier)
Vintage: 2010
Country/State: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Price: $10
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

This was a nice white blend, mostly Chardonnay but with a nice touch of Viognier, that we enjoyed with dinner (chicken, with a white wine sauce, made with this same wine)...This wine had a nice nose and taste dominated by peaches and pears, with some lime. It was big and rich, but still crisp and fresh. It went well with the dinner and was also very good on its own. Another South African winner!

Prima Voce Super Tuscan

Name: Prima Voce
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Syrah)
Vintage: 2005
Country/State: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Price: $15
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)


We had this mini-Super Tuscan blend last night and it was OK. It definitely needed some air, so I poured it in the decanter for an hour or so. After that, most of the heat blew off, but it still was missing something to me. I picked up on some cherry and vanilla flavors with some earthiness, but it was really too oaky for my taste. The tannins were nice, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to find this one again.

Fattoria di Bibbiani Poggio Vignoso Chianti

Name: Fattoria di Bibbiani Poggio Vignoso Chianti
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Sangiovese/Canaiolo/Malvasia)
Vintage: 2005
Country/State: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Price: $12
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


We drank this excellent Chianti last night with spaghetti, meatballs, and tomato sauce...Both the meal and the wine were delicious. This Chianti went really nicely with the pasta. It was juicy with cherry, raspberry, and strawberry flavors. The nose on the wine was fantastic, featuring big aromas of red fruits. The wine was dry and had a very long finish.

It's been awhile since we've had a Chianti, and this one from Fattoria di Bibbiani did not disappoint.

Pierre Amadieu "La Grangeliere" Vacqueyras

Name: Pierre Amadieu "La Grangeliere"
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Grenache/Syrah)
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: France
Region: Southern Rhone (Vacqueyras)
Price: $19
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)


I chose this wine from Vacqueyras to drink with our Christmas Eve festivities...Krista made bacon-wrapped filets cooked in a red wine mushroom sauce with mashed potatoes and a nice fresh salad. The wine and the dinner were great. We had the 2005 vintage of this same wine about a year and a half ago and really enjoyed it, too. Much like that one, this 2007 was a little hot right out of the gate. Luckily I planned ahead and poured it in the decanter at around 3:30 and left it there while we went to church. By the time we got home and had a first glass at 6:00, it had mellowed out nicely and was really open and delicious.

The aromas and taste were primarily red fruits - strawberries and raspberries, with a bit of peppery spice. It was smooth and well-balanced, with a long finish...I have the Gigondas from Pierre Amadieu, as well, and can't wait to try it soon to see how it compares to the Vacqueyras.

Merry Christmas!!

Bodega Elena de Mendoza

Name: Bodega Elena de Mendoza
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Malbec/Syrah/Bonarda)
Vintage: 2009
Country/State: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Price: $8
Stars: 4 (out of 5)



This red blend from Argentina is an outstanding value...For about $8, it was smooth, balanced, and very tasty. It was somewhat basic, with berry flavors and a bit of earthiness. The Malbec (62% of the blend) dominated, but the Syrah added a bit of spice and backbone. I would gladly drink this wine again.

Fess Parker Frontier Red Lot No. 91

Name: Fess Parker Frontier Red Lot No. 91
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Syrah/Grenache/Petite Sirah/Mourvedre/Cinsault/Carignane)
Vintage: NV
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $11
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


We had the Frontier Red Lot No. 91 last night with pizza. It was very good, very smooth, and had some complexity for such a low priced wine. The flavors were dominated by dark red and black fruits, and it had a little spice from the Syrah and Grenache. It also showed some smoke and herbs that made the wine interesting.

I will definitely buy this wine again. It is a great value and is a delicious blend.

Columbia Crest Two Vines Red

Name: Columbia Crest Two Vines Red
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Syrah/Cab Franc/Sangiovese)
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: Washington
Region: Various
Price: $6
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)

We had this red blend from Columbia Crest on Wednesday night with pizza. It featured juicy red fruits and blackberries on the nose and in the mouth. It's a very easy drinking, medium bodied, smooth weekday wine. Nothing too complex, but for $6, it's a great value.

Palazzo Della Torre Allegrini

Name: Palazzo Della Torre Allegrini
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Corina Veronese/Rondinella/Sangiovese)
Vintage: 2006
Country/State: Italy
Region: Veneto
Price: $17
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)

The Palazzo Della Torre Allegrini is a wine that I've been meaning to try for awhile now. Last night we finally got around to it, and I'm glad we did...It was excellent. This is a dark and smoky wine with great dark fruit flavors that aren't in your face or showy, just delicious. It's a blend of three grapes - 70% Corina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, and 5% Sangiovese. About 30% of the grapes are held back and allowed to dry, or "raisin", on racks for a few months before they are added to final blend, Amarone style. This adds richness and complexity to the wine. Whatever it is, it works. Krista and I were both big fans of this wine.

We drank some last night with spaghetti and finished the bottle later that night. It was great with and without food.

Coppola Presents Rosso

Name: Coppola Presents Rosso
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Zinfandel/Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon)
Vintage: 2007
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $8
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)


We've had this red blend from Francis Ford Coppola before and really enjoyed it. We tried it again last night with pizza and it was still very good, especially for the price. It's a medium-bodied, juicy, smooth, easy drinking, fruit forward everyday style of wine that features cherries and strawberries.

It may be that my tastes are changing (hopefully evolving), but I wasn't as impressed with this wine as I have been in the past. It's a dry wine, but the up front freshness of the fruits made it taste a bit sweeter than I like. I wish the Syrah elements were more pronounced, but as it is, this wine is still a great value that pairs well with pizza, BBQ, or similar meals.

Apothic Red

Name: Apothic Red
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot)
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $9 (on sale)
Stars: 4.5 (out of 5)

The Apothic Red is a big, juicy full-bodied red blend that I drank last night on my own, and then finished tonight with Krista. This one was mostly dark berries, raspberries, chocolate and a touch of vanilla. It had a bit more sweetness than most of the wines we drink, but it wasn't enough to turn us off. It was velvety and smooth with nice firm tannins...I was really pleased with this one and would definitely buy it again.

Pine Ridge Blend

Name: Pine Ridge
Color: White
Varietal: Blend (Chenin Blanc/Viognier)
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $16
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

This was a very good wine that we enjoyed tonight with dinner (chicken and vegetables). It was our first wine made primarily from Chenin Blanc and we really liked it. It had a touch of sweetness and featured citrus, pear, and grapefruit flavors. It was a medium bodied wine and it had a fairly decent finish.

Domaine de la Curniere Vacqueyras

Name: Domaine de la Curniere Vacqueyras
Color: Red
Varietal: Blend (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre)
Vintage: 2006
Country/State: France
Region: Vacqueyras
Price: $17
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

I love red blends from the Vacqueyras region in the southern Rhone Valley!! The Domaine de la Curniere is a Grenache dominated blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. It's a little light in the aroma, but it's big and filling in the mouth. It has great acidity and big dark fruit flavors. It has a nice long finish and the spiciness that I expect to find in a southern Rhone red. Nothing complex, but very good.