I found this wine on sale at the grocery store last night, and given my familiarity with the name "Estancia", I thought I should give it a try. At full cost, this wine does exceed the $10 barrier, but every website i've visited selling the wine lists it on sale for a price that fits it into this blogs demographic.
So there I was, on my way home, excited to drink a nice glass of red wine while packing for my pending trip to a buddy's destination wedding. I opened the bottle and let it breath for about 20 minutes before I poured the first glass. (Even for inexpensive wine I like to let the bottle "breathe" before diving in.) I took my first sip, then took a step back. It was too strong and overpowering. My mouth dried up in a matter of milliseconds, and the aftertaste did nothing to quell the heaviness. All in all, it was just too much. I tried having it with my dinner (spinach and blue cheese salad with chicken), but it did more to detract from the flavor of the meal than to enhance it.
Our friend Wilford Wong rates this wine pretty high. I definitely disagree with him. As an accompanyment to a night at home- drinking casually while watching TV, reading a book, or working away on some task, for me this wine just doesnt cut it.
You should never drink red wine with blue cheese....don't you know anything about pairing food with wine.
Posted by: Martha Camire | October 31, 2006 at 02:11 PM
I thought it tasted pretty bad before the salad was even started.
Posted by: Dorian Kendal | October 31, 2006 at 02:17 PM
I'm wondering how much Wilford Wong is required to shill for BevMo! He has a 92 rating on a $12.99 Chateau de la Meuliere 2005 Premieres Cotes du Bordeaux that I thought MAYBE rated an 86.
But BevMo had piles of boxes of this, and very little of the higher priced stuff. I guess he thinks people who buy $10-$20 wine don't know the difference.
Best of driking (drinking / hiking).
Posted by: Insiderman | November 04, 2007 at 09:37 PM