Vina Borgia

Name: Vina Borgia
Color: Red
Varietal: Grenache
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Spain
Region: Campo de Borja
Price: $6
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


We enjoyed this insanely low priced 100% Grenache from the Bodegas Borsao last night with dinner (pasta) and finished the bottle after the kids were bed, while we watched the Amazing Race! Bodegas Borsao is the same producer in Spain that makes the Borsao red blend we enjoyed last May.

Just like the wine we had last year, this wine was a deliciously great value, with big, dark fruits dominating the nose and taste. It was smoky, too, but the blackberry and black cherry flavors really shined through. The finish was fairly long and I picked up on a little bit of spice on the back end. Spanish reds continue to be among our favorites.

Mirassou Pinot Noir

Name: Mirassou
Color: Red
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: California
Region: Various
Price: $8
Stars: 3.5 (out of 5)



We've had this bargain Pinot Noir from California before and liked it for what it is -- a nice mid-week easy drinking wine that bursts with cherry and strawberry flavors. It's not going to blow you away with its complexity, but it is very enjoyable, almost like drinking cherry pie.

We had this wine last night with some pasta, but it was best on its own. It's very smooth, juicy, and tasty.

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.

Chateau St. Michelle Pinot Gris

Name: Chateau St. Michelle
Color: White
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vintage: 2008
Country/State: Washington
Region: Columbia Valley
Price: $10
Stars: 4 (out of 5)

We had this Pinot Gris from Chateau Ste Michelle with crab and scallops. Both were outstanding...The wine was fruity with crisp acidity and bright, juicy flavors. I picked up on primarily pear, apple, and melon flavors and aromas. It had a nice, medium body with a long, smooth finish.

Indaba Chardonnay

Name: Indaba
Color: White
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2009
Country/State: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Price: $8 (on sale)
Stars: 4 (out of 5)


We had this chardonnay from South Africa tonight with crab and cheese on English muffins and grilled asparagus. The meal and the wine were similar - light, easy, and delicious.

The wine was light to medium bodied, with aromas of pineapples, pears, and honey. The taste was filled with apples, honey, citrus, and a little bit of cream. The finish was fairly long and completely enjoyable. For the price (normally around $10), the Indaba Chardonnay is a fantastic value. We continue to have great luck with wines from South Africa.

Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Excelsior
Color: Red
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2006
Country/State: South Africa
Region: Various
Price: $9
Stars: 4 (out of 5)



We had this delicious little South African cab last night with homemade steak sandwiches and pasta. The dinner and the wine were terrific. The aroma is strong...It's full of juicy blackberries and black cherries. The flavor is similar, but also has a hint of dark chocolate on the mid-palate. The finish isn't incredibly long, but is still very satisfying. This wine drank very well on its own, as well. We continue to have good success with wines from South Africa, which we've really focused on lately thanks to the World Cup.

The Excelsior Cabernet is an excellent bang for your buck type wine that will please most anyone.