8/2/2012 - oinos alopeke Does not like this wine:

Ick. Got this to use a mail-in rebate, so only paid $4.50 for it, but it wasn't very good. Stewed plums, a sour-bitter back end (and/or front end) that just wasn't very enjoyable. I finished it off but wouldn't buy it again at any price.

8/2/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

I hadn't tried Gnarly Head despite (and probably because of) its in-your-face wine shelf presence. But a mail-in rebate enticed me (so I got this bottle for a cool $5). This is just an awesome, tasty $5 bottle of wine. I will be buying more to max out the mail-in rebate and will definitely put the Gnarly Head Cab on my go-to list when it's on sale in the $8-9 range. (I also got the Authentic Red, but haven't tried it yet.)

7/17/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Not bad. Drank it well chilled.

7/16/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

I got this one at Groc. Outlet, so obviously it was something its importer/distributor was dumping cheap on US market. It's likely past its prime or the bottle I had was gone south. Though not undrinkable, mostly sulfur and bitterness predominate (with perhaps some other funk, but I'm not savvy enough to identify their sources.) Tannins were still nice and puckery after 11 years, but otherwise this one's over the hill.

6/22/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

A truly excellent low-priced Napa cab. (Note, this is a Napa-sourced cab, as the Irony shop is actually in Manteca.) I got this on sale for $10, and it was easily one of the best 10 bucks I ever spent on a wine. When I need a solid wine for a meal or party this one is now on my list. I concur with the tasting notes of Gogorson and Timbalimba. True, the heat does pack a whollop.

6/28/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

2011 seems like another good vintage on a fairly consistently good ~$10 Chilean Carmenere. Dark, full-bodied red, nice strong tannins balanced by a complex dry but smokey, chocolatey, dark berry taste. I will watch this for sales and buy as a regular weekend treat. (Past years of it have a consistent average of ~85-86 on cellartracker. I give it a high mark for QPV: if you want an interesting and pleasing rich red for under $10, it's a best value.)

6/26/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

This bottle, shared with my brother-in-law over the weekend, was better than the previous one I had. We both thought it was fine--as we quaffed it rather quickly at a family event....

6/19/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

I was excited because our Grocery Outlet got this in and it scored high. Unfortunately the bottle I had appeared to be beyond shelf-life: as it says on the back label, can drink now or cellar for 8 years. We're now going on 9 for this one, which must be why Groc. Out got the remainder. It was drinkable over the evening, but right from the beginning it was full of funk, a bit oxidized and chewy, with a quite sour palate and bitter finish. Again, I was able to "enjoy" the rest of the bottle throughout the evening, but I won't be buying more.

--a short p.s.: I just saw the same exact bottle and year still selling retail ($12) at Cost Plus, which is probably why this is selling quick at our Grocery Outlet. Perhaps I got a bad bottle, and perhaps worth another stab.--

6/13/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

At a graduation party last weekend I brought four malbecs for a taste test. Of the four, this one was ranked third or fourth by those who tried them all. (The others were Ruta 22, Graffigna, and Trivento.) It was notably drier than the first two liked. I noted also a slight bitterness. Still, it was liked and was perfectly drinkable.

6/13/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

At a graduation party last weekend I brought four malbecs for a taste test. Of the four, this one was liked about third best by those who tried them all. (The others were Ruta 22, Trivento, and Diseno old vine.) We had it with dinner--barbecued meats--and though it was notably drier than the two best liked, it went very well with dinner, I thought.

6/13/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

At a graduation party last weekend I brought four malbecs for a taste test. Of the four, this one was liked second best by those who tried them all. (The others were Trivento, Graffigna, and Diseno old vine.)

6/13/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

At a graduation party last weekend I brought four malbecs for a taste test. Of the four, this one was best liked by those who tried them all. (The others were Ruta 22, Graffigna, and Diseno old vine.)

6/7/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

The bottle I opened (bought at Walla Walla GO) was similar to the one described/reviewed here (http://grossoutwine.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/2003-louis-bernard-vacqueras-red-rhone-france-4-99/): super sludge on cork, pretty funky at the beginning. I took this camping and disappointedly set it aside when it was not a simple “crowd-pleaser” and moved on to something else. But I corked it and took it home, I tasted and drank from it over the next few days and it definitely became more approachable. I ended up drinking 7/8ths of it. But it’s still not something I’m dying to buy more of. Too bad, because the bottle is certainly attractive.

6/7/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Good qpv for $4-6: typical cab-merlot, on the new-world oaky side.

6/7/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

What's not to like? Great chilled on a hot day outside; less dry than a champagne, when you just need some light fizz but don't want to go all the way to a brut.

6/6/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

On first day, basic acidic effect, nothing great but nothing terrible. Second day (drinking now), nose is more vinegary, but taste is okay to a bit bitter. I'll pick a different Trader Joe's Bordeaux over this one (Haut-Sorillon?), but if you have it, drink the first day.

6/6/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Spicy, tasty, great qpv at $10. I drank whole bottle without noticing--luckily I have another!

6/6/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

On second day after opening bottle, had with grilled portabello mushroom sandwich and fresh bleu cheese for "dessert." Deep grape color, warm caramely tannins, crystals left in the glass. Perfect with bleu cheese. Short finish.

5/28/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

I'm a red not white wine drinker, and chardonnay is my least liked variety, but this Grocery Outlet late model (2004) French was a hit as far as chardonnays go. It had a pleasing palate of citrus and melon with a dry finish. I'll buy more to enjoy this summer cold with outdoor dinners.

5/27/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Of the six new Grocery Outlet wines I brought on an extended-family camping trip over Mem. Day weekend, this one was the most satisfactory to my taste. A typical and tasty merlot, perhaps with a point or two thrown in for being 9 years old and still palatable. (Can't remember much more specific about it, as it was three days and several beers and wine bottles ago.)

5/26/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

I brought it on an extended family camping trip, knowing that my brother-in-law, serious wine drinker, loves S. American wines and Malbecs. I wasn't thrilled about this bottle, but he liked it and drank it. Something in the S. Americans that I've had recently has turned me off a bit--something a bit stinky in the nose. Maybe I've spent too much time getting aclimatized to current mid-range French wines, I don't know. I have one more bottle, I'll give it a try with him when we meet up again for a wedding in two weeks.

5/23/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Our local Groc Outlet also just stocked this gem! ($8 here.) Got it home, thrilled, and popped it, so I could go get more if it was good. It was. Nice earthy + fruity nose. Dominant flavor on palate and finish is green peppery. Totally smooth and balanced finish. A delightful find, which I am going to buy as much as I can afford.

5/22/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Drank over three days, trying to decide whether I liked it enough to get more at Grocery Outlet. It stayed steady over those days, perhaps peaking on day two. Have one more bottle already, and I'm still undecided.... Deep rich purple color. Nose of fresh strawberries. Pleasant and interesting on the palate, but perhaps what keeps me on the fence is just the slightest little hint of volatiles(?) or something not quite pleasing in the finish. I'm hoping my Grocery Outlet gets some of the '07 in, like others in the area, which has reviewed a bit better than the '06.

5/20/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Like the 2008, this one had nothing much going for it, for my taste. Not much fruit or anything on the palate, some bitter on finish. Even at $5 at Groc Outlet I'm passing on getting more. (Was hoping for a better showing here.)

5/18/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

I'm in close agreement with previous notes on this one (a Bordeaux I picked up at Trader Joes). Winedominus put it well: "Simple, enjoyable but not memorable. Initially, it was light, mild-fruit with a slightly bitter, earthy finish." I also let the second half sit corked overnight to see how it changed with time. It aged fine and was a bit more fruity the second day, with the bitter finish perhaps slightly more balanced. I might buy again, but at $8 I'd probably sample other Trader Joe's French offerings first.

5/16/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Great drinkable WA cab for under $10

5/13/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Drank this for Mother's Day and used in mimosas. A good Prosecco.

5/12/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

After a bad experience of "nose of cat pee" with the Panilonco Malbec-Merlot, I decided to pop this one in my cellar too, just to see if it had the same problem. It did, though not to such a noxious extent, and without the comparison to the Malbec-Merlot to taint it, it MIGHT have been drinkable. But I was done with having the scent of cat pee in my wine glass, so this one is heading the way of its brother: down the sink, and onto my DO NOT BUY list.

[Update: OK, I corked it and let it sit for two days and gave it another chance. It was fine, funk was gone. Smoky caramel on palate was the prominent feature. I finished it and was happy.]

5/12/2012 - oinos alopeke Does not like this wine:

If you like a strong nose of cat urine and fish, then this one's for you. If not--we did NOT--then don't buy this wine, unless you just want to pour wine down your sink, which is where this one went.

I gave it a day to let this nasty funk burn off--it did not (ok, it did a little), and I could not get the smell of cat pee out of my nose for the next two days. Sort of ruined the weekend for me.

5/12/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

I like this Sicilian. This bottle we opened during a family party after several other wines earlier in the night. What stood out in comparison to the cabs we had earlier was its sweeter, fruitier quality.

5/11/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

In an evening when several bottles were opened, sampled, compared, this one did not stand out. It was a fine serviceable cab, mostly dry, not really much complexity to it that anyone noted. We didn't give it time to breath or anything, but it was mostly drank by all without noting anything good or bad. Just fine--not great.

5/11/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

On a family visit weekend during which we opened and drank at least a dozen wines, this one stood out as a crowd-pleaser. A nice meritage blend with just enough but not too much oakiness. We wished we'd had another on hand.

5/11/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Very nice Cotes de Rhone: bought several and is a go-to wine now.

5/12/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Same as before: great wine for price. Opens up with air to a much more interesting wine than when fresh opened. Great stuff.

5/6/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Call me crazy, but found this Trader Joe's cote de duras a perfectly good drinkable, typical Bordeaux region French red. Acidic, no bad aftertaste. Drank bottle on its own in evening. If you're looking for new world style oaken pyrotechnics, neither this nor other French wines are for you; if you appreciate French wines then this one is fine, middle of the road. (Sure, I can't speak for consistency in this vintage, as I only had one bottle. But the one I had was fine.)

4/21/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

This is one my go-to weekday value reds. Doesn't disappoint. Plenty of flavors to enjoy for an $6-8 mass-produced California merlot.

5/2/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Bought for and drank at a dinner party. Deep purple blend of four grapes (syrah, cab, merlot, cab frank); oak heavy, giving it plenty of complex flavors (typical of Walla Walla makers, though the grapes in this come from Columbia Valley.) Was a hit.

5/1/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

This Bordeaux showed up again at our Grocery Outlet, along with a couple others (Chateau Lafont and another one) so I decided to give them another try since my early notes were mildly favorable. Lafont (not listed on cellartracker) had a hint of kool-aid that did not go away. This one, Larkan, is definitely a daily drinking Bordeaux. Nice nose, acidic, nothing offensive on palate or finish. I had it with teriyaki BBQ-grilled pork chops. Will buy at least a couple more at $6.

4/30/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Very nice; grenache/syrah; light around the edges, smooth, dry/acidic, good balance. Attractive label to boot. I brought one to a dinner and picked up several more later as they were a great deal.

4/23/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Good everyday wine for the dirt-cheap price. Remember not liking this last summer, but maybe it was '07. I liked this '08 as much as BV Coastal Merlot and Red Diamond's reds so I picked up a couple more for weeknight fare.

4/20/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Sweet, smoky caramel on palate (luckily not burnt caramel); pleasant and interesting new offering from Red Diamond.

4/14/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Drank bottle relatively quickly while engaged in other tasks; not much fruit, a bit bitter on the finish, but it was pleasant enough. Didn't write down notes soon enough so don't quite recall the details.

4/14/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

A fine sweet riesling. Sweet but not only, with some complexities to make it interesting. Drank it well chilled. Refreshing.

4/21/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Sour from the get go. Since it is NV not sure how old it was. Moved onto better fare and did not finish.

4/14/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Light clear red. Still fruit in the nose. Dry, light fruit palate. At six years old, still very pleasant. A great deal at $7 (groc outlet) since this retails in the $20s.

4/11/2012 - oinos alopeke Likes this wine:

Just fine for weeknight fare. Tasty and nothing offensive.

4/10/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

I could happily drink this wine everyday.

4/13/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Bought 3 bottles for $8/per at grocery outlet. Fresh strawberry nose; very deep purple; at first musty, but whole bottle was very fruity, jammy goodness. Actually better without aeration. Very very mellow. Enjoyed with sausages and mustard, then chocolate around the first outdoor campfire of the season. Lots of sediment to chew on in this now 9-year old bottle. Just giddy to be able to give a 90 to a bottle I paid $8 for (and still retailing around the internet for $45-50). Thanks Grocery outlet.

4/9/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

Bought this at Christmas for a dessert wine but never opened. Opened tonight to give it a shot and clear it out on a weeknight. Suspect it is exactly what it is supposed to be: super sweet grape juice (only 9.5% alcohol). It was hot here today so I immediately put ice cubes in it and thought about it as a refreshing grape soda. All it lacked was the wonderful bubbly of Italian Ambrusco (which I like much better). Not my cup of tea, but I could see it being pleasant over ice on a hot summer afternoon, maybe even with a dash of club soda, with snacks -- before an evening of real drinking began. (Though the sweetness might risk turning off the palate from the real drinking. So the order should be, Red Moscato on ice and spritzed, with snacks, then some lawn sports like tossing a frisbee or football, then the good stuff after that. Or just go with another choice.)

4/9/2012 - oinos alopeke wrote:

I have to respectfully disagree with the other dismal ratings of the 2010 offering from BV Coastal Estates. For their mid price-range line, I find the Merlot to be better all round, but I opened and drank this one (aerated) to unwind after a four hour drive home, and it was, by comparison, much better than the '08 Snoqualmie Merlot I'd sipped on the night before. Also it's the 2010: I'll bet this one will be a bit better at year end or into 2013. For the mid-shelf under $10 CA reds, BV is more or less consistently a good risk.