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Since this was month 1, the summary is a little sparse. However, that will all change come October.
So here it is- the September Budget Wino Wine summary.
In October, you can expect:
The Stump Jump is an interesting one. Coming from the McLaren Vale in South Australia, this wine is a blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Grenache.
I stumbled upon the Stump Jump a few years ago at a local wine store
called The Jug Shop. It was prominently displayed by the register, and
being the sucker for branding that I am, the bottle immediately caught
my attention. It was only $8.99, and given how taken aback I was by the
uniqueness of its name, I quickly added the Stump Jump to my order.
I drank a few glasses of the Stump Jump while watching a movie that night. It tasted really good. It was heavy, but the heaviness didnt bother me. I liked the Stump Jump enough that I bought it again quite a few months later. This time, I drank it with dinner. Neither me nor my friends liked the wine. I was totally surprised.
I decided to give the Stump Jump one more try. This time I drank it without food (as I had done the first time I tried the wine) and it tasted great. This is how I came to my conclusion about the Stump Jump. I think it tastes great when you're sitting around and you want to enjoy a heavy and rich glass of wine. If you're looking for a wine to complement your meal, this is not a bottle I would buy. It's just too much.
Final Recommendation: One glass is not enough (if on its own). Keep it corked if you're going to be eating while drinking.
When I'm feeling a little lazy, i'll trudge on up to the local convenience store and grab a cheap wine off the shelf. I always shudder a bit at the prices, as I know that if I could get just get the motivation to drive to the supermarket or Bev Mo, I could pay 1/3 the price for the same bottle. But alas, I am often lazy, and the other night was no exception.
So I went to the convenience store, and saw that they had a "special" on Banrock Station wine. Banrock Station comes from Austrailia- home of the Shiraz. As with most Shiraz's, this one also has that initial punch. However, its not as bad as others i've tried (see posting on Fish Eye Shiraz.) I drank a glass and a half, and then could drink no more. It started off heavy, and seemed to stay that way. Yet, as I corked the bottle for the night, I found myself satisfied. I wasn't overjoyed, but considering the "special" price of $5.99, I was content.
Then it went all wrong...
A day passed and my thirst for another glass of wine returned. I got home from work and poured myself a tall glass of Banrock Station. It was TERRIBLE!! The wine tasted awful. It had turned in a flash. I know it wasn't the cork, as I had used a special cork that prevents air from entering the bottle- not the original cork that came with the bottle. In a moment of great sadness, I was forced to pour the bottle down the drain.
So what did I learn from this experience?
Banrock Station Shiraz turns quickly- drink it fast or you're out of luck.
Final Recommendations: One glass only (day 1 only)
So last night I did something I vowed years ago I would never do again. I drank a bottle of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon. Why did I vow years ago that I would steer clear of Mondavi? -because I think it tastes like crap. Its harsh. It cant decide if it's fruity or smokey, and it ends up just giving you the ugly face with every sip. Trust me, my ugly face is not a pleasant site.
Now, after someone from Constellation Wineries (big company that owns Mondavi) reads this post, I should probably expect a horse head on my front porch. However, it has to be said that Mondavi wines are just so damn overrated. Why do people keep drinking them? Has the Mondavi branding been that effective? Is Constellation paying off so called "wine reviewers" to inflate their ratings? Are people so averse to trying new wines that they will only go with a name they recognize? I definitely don't have the answers, but I would love to see people rise up and abandon this cheap junk. There are so many better cheap wines out there. Hopefully I can steer you towards a few...
Final Recommendation: Definitely keep it corked. In fact, avoid it like the plague!!!
I love this wine. To me, it is a shining example of how an inexpensive wine can rival even the most high-end offerings. I use this wine as my staple gift when attending dinner/house parties, and i've never received anything but accolades for how good it tastes. If you've never tried it, I recommend immediately turning off your computer, getting in your car, going to the store, buying a bottle, and pouring yourself a nice full glass of this awesome wine!
Recommendation: Definitely buy it
Last night I dedicated to two things- unpacking my luggage from my recent trip, and vegging out in front of my TV. I achieved both goals with flying colors. Of course, I had a bottle of wine at my side the entire time.
Instead of driving somewhere to select my bottle, I decided to go to the local store. They definitely overprice their wine, but its damn convenient (hence why its called a convenience store.) Last nights selection was a bit of a departure for myself. I went with a Shiraz. I'm usually a Cab/Pinot guy, but I thought i should try something new. The bottle I selected was a 2003 Fish Eye Shiraz.
So here's my thoughts as they happened...
Sip 1- I thought someone had punched me in the face. It was this intense and harsh fruity beating. I took a step back and geve myself a moment to recover. It took a few minutes
Sip 2- My pallete adjusted pretty quickly, and the second sip actually tasted okay
Skip to Sip 15...
Sip 15- I took my time getting to this sip. I usually drink pretty fast, but given my unpacking activities, I was moving quite slowly. By this time I was actually enjoying the wine. I'm sure the oxygen had opened it up quite a bit, and my pallete was on board.
By the time I finished my evening, I had almost forgot how tough it was to get going. Do I recommend this wine? Maybe..but only if you don't mind an initial kick to the mouth, and you are patient enough to let it sit for a bit. For a cheap wine, I don't think these things should be required.
Final Recommendation: Keep it corked if you're impatient, One glass only if you have time on your hands.
Where is the last place you could imagine enjoying a glass of wine? For me, an airplane is the top of the list. Usually, the wine the airlines serve is totally awful. It doesn't pair well with anything, it tastes like crap, and it leaves your mouth dryer than the sahara after a sand storm. For this reason, I rarely ever order wine on a plane.
Last night was the exception. I was heading back to San Francisco from a buddy's wedding in Bermuda. I was flying JetBlue, felt like a drink, and wine just sounded damn good. So, going against all good sense and logic, I ordered the red wine. I was, and am still in shock. It was so good. I mean- really good.
JetBlue is currently serving a french wine called "Just Merlot." It wasn't too heavy as many merlots are, and it didnt dry out my mouth. It just kept getting better and better as I kept sipping away. For the first time ever, I finished a wine served by an airline and was totally and utterly satisfied!
The wine sells for $10.50 at BestCellars.com. Unfortunately they have very limited shipping options and I'm having trouble finding where else to buy this wine. I guess for now i'll just have to keep flying JetBlue!!
