Budget Vino

A day at the park with 3 Blind Moose- Cabernet Sauvignon

Last Sunday started off in a cabin in Lake Tahoe, California. A bunch of us had made the trek from San Francisco on Friday afternoon, in the hopes of catching some great skiing on Saturday. We we're not at all disappointed. When Sunday morning came around, some of us were bumped and bruised (not me), and some of us felt compelled to get back to the city to spend time with their wife and daughter (not me either). As my ride was the one in a rush, I had no choice but to leave the cabin early.

During the course of the 3 hour drive back home, my friend's wife kept calling us with weather updates from a park near their house in San Francisco. The temperature was rising, and it was looking more and more like an ideal day to be outside. By the time we crossed the Bay Bridge, it was getting close to 70 degrees (pretty amazing for early March). We got to my friends house, made a b-line to the cellar, and contemplated what wine would go well with this warm day. There were a lot of options, but after about 10 minutes, we settled on 3 Blind Moose Cabernet Sauvignon. We threw a bottle in a bag, and headed off to meet up with his wife.

For some reason, the name of this wine rubs me the wrong way. I can't pinpoint why, it's just one of those things. There's no logic behind my aversion, I am just not a fan.  So, when I poured my first glass, it would be fair to say that my expectations were pretty low. I took my first sip, and was actually pleasantly surprised. The wine was not bad. It wasn't excellent, but it was far better than I could ever have imagined. It was relatively smooth, and the aftertaste wasn't too overpowering. It was definitely drinkable (we took down the bottle without any accompanying food), and I have to say that I did enjoy each glass.

I think if you are looking for a decent budget Cabernet, you might want to give this one a shot. Again, it's not as good as some of the others I've tried, but it's not bad.

Recommendation: Consider buying it

The Drew Review- 2005 Alexander and Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon

A fantastic review prepared by Budget Vino star contributor Drew Wolfe. Enjoy. Note that Drew insisted I include a picture of him, so if you're wondering who the guy is below, well, it's Drew.
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2005 Alexander and Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, CA

I first bought this wine on a whim several months back at Trader Joes, and though I normally don’t rely on TJ’s to provide the greatest finds in winedom, this is a rare exception. For $6 (up from $5 when I first bought it), you can enjoy a bottle of appellation-designate wine from Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, or just go all out and buy a case. For casual red wine drinkers, or for an everyday bottle of wine, A&F can’t be beat in terms of value. It’s an easy-going red, with a decent balance of flavors, decent structure, and an altogether tasty accompaniment to many dishes. Given my knowledge of the Alexander Valley, I really think that we won’t see this quality of wine at such a basement price for a long time coming. The reason for the incredible value is that 2005 was a year with a massive crop, and growers simply couldn’t find buyers for all their grapes. The result? Younger wineries like A&F, lacking their own vineyards, got premium winegrapes at a fraction of their normal cost. I’m sure that there’s a small percentage of grapes from Lodi or the Central Valley blended in here, but for $6, who’s counting? There is one downfall, however. I recently tried the 2006 that hit the shelves not too long ago, and its bland, flabby, and certainly too young. Maybe in a few months I’ll try it again with a better experience, but I’m not keeping my fingers crossed.

One other thing- Let this wine breathe a good 10 minutes after opening for best results.

Recommendation: If it’s the 2005, definitely buy it. If it’s the 2006, don’t buy it (at least not until I give it another try in a few months.)

Even a bad commute can't save this wine- Trellis 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

As commuting goes, this week has been terrible. The company I am consulting for is located only 38 miles from my home in San Francisco, but since Tuesday, my average evening commute has lasted over 2 hours. On Tuesday, the main freeway from Silicon Valley to San Francisco was closed due to a tanker truck accident. Wednesday they were still cleaning up, and Thursday night we were blasted by a huge rain storm. I took it all in stride the first 2 days, but Thursday night put me over the edge. The drive is normally long enough at 1 hour 20 minutes. Add on an extra 40 minutes, and I am not a happy camper.

So, after over 2 hours of commuting on Thursday night, my mind was clearly focused on one thing- getting a glass of wine in my hands as fast as possible.   Luckily, I had bought a couple budget bottles last weekend, and I was yet to give either a try. I grabbed the first bottle I saw- the Trellis 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. With great optimism, I opened the bottle and poured myself a hefty glass. In fact, I could hardly call it “a glass.” Using international serving guidelines, it would probably classify as 3 glasses.

The first sip was not good at all. It was rough, too sharp, and lacked any pleasant aftertaste. I contemplated dumping the glass, but then changed my mind- determined to get through this big glass. The wine improved marginally as I kept drinking, but I think it was more a case of me just accepting that I was drinking bad wine, rather than the wine actually getting better.

Knowing that tonight I’ll be going out for dinner and drinks, last night I vacuum sealed the Trellis and put it in my fridge. Who knows, after a big meal and a bunch of beverages, I might just numb my taste buds enough to make this wine a winner!!

Recommendation: Don’t buy it

Another winner from Cellar No. 8- Cabernet Sauvignon

I haven't had a decent Cabernet Sauvignon in months. For awhile, I thought that it was just me and my changing tastes...and then I tried the Cellar No. 8 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Over Thanksgiving, I went to Palm Desert (a few miles from Palm Springs, CA) to celebrate with some of my closest friends and their family. My family lives everywhere but San Francisco, so Thanksgiving used to be a non-event for me. That was until my buddy Ivan invited me to spend the holiday with his now wife and family. It started an amazing tradition that I look forward too every November.

This year, Alison (Ivan's wife) asked me to pick up some wine at the local Vons. I scoured the aisles for at least 10 minutes until I spotted a Cellar No. 8 label. (If you read this site regularly, you'll know that Cellar No. 8 Merlot is one of my all time budget favorites.) I picked up the bottle and quickly realized that this was not the Merlot, but rather it was the company's Cabernet Sauvignon offering. Remembering how much I love the Merlot, I decided to give this wine a chance. It was a brilliant choice.

This wine exceeded any expectations I could have had. It was so good. Everyone loved it- so much so that Alison asked us to return to the store the next day to buy a case. The wine was smooth, went beautifully with every dish that was served, and left no heavy aftertaste.

If you've taken my previous advice and tried the Cellar No. 8 Merlot, I encourage you to give this one a shot. If you haven't, this is a great intro to the world of budget wines.

Recommendation: Definitely buy it (a top choice)

Dancing Bull Cab- Not as good as the Zin, but decent nonetheless

If you're a regular Budget Vino reader, you know that I really like the Dancing Bull Zinfandel. In fact, it's one of my top choices. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to try the company's Cabernet Sauvignon offering. Lets just say, it's good, but it's not great.

Here's some context around my Dancing Bull Cab experience.

I was at a 4th of July barbecue at my friends Ivan and Alison's place. Their little daughter was playing away in her kiddie pool, and the grill was going strong. As we indulged in pretty much every type of meat you can imagine, there was a general craving for some wine. Thinking that a Cabernet Sauvignon would pair perfectly with the grilled meat, we agreed that the Dancing Bull Cab was our best option. The wine did compliment the food, but it left a bit to be desired. It lacked character and left us all a little unimpressed. It's not that it was bad, it just wasn't anything any of us would buy again.

If you're in a bind, this isn't a bad option. If you have a lot of choice, you might want to avoid this one.

Recommendation: Consider buying it

It's reliable, it's Ravenswood Cabernet '04

I've reviewed a lot of wines at Budget Vino, and have generally shied away from the large winery offerings. Today I make an exception.

The Ravenswood 2004 Vintners Cabernet is one of the large production wines that I appreciate and consistently enjoy (unlike Robert Mondavi's Private Selection Cabernet). The wine is pretty smooth, has a nice aftertaste to it, and it isn't overly fruity. It's a good sipping wine- versatile enough that you can have a glass while watching TV (my favorite), or when having some people over for some casual hang-out time. It's also available pretty much everywhere, so you can easily pick it up when you're stressed for time and need to grab a bottle of red.

I think what I like best about the Ravenswood Cabernet is that it's a reliable wine. I liken it to grabbing dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. It's not the best food, but as my step-mother often says, you know what you're getting for your money, and it tastes pretty good.

Recommendation: Definitely buy it (it's reliable)

This weekend, give the Fat Cat a try

My recommendation for this weekend is a wine that continues to surprise me- Fat Cat's 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.

The first time I bought this wine, I did so because it was the cheapest option at a local convenience store. I figured it would taste mediocre at best. I was wrong. It was actually quite tasty, and has become a reliable option when I'm in a bind and quickly need to pick up a bottle of red wine. It is a thin Cabernet that drinks almost like a Pinot. It goes well with meaty foods, but also goes down nicely on its own.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Thanksgiving Wine Recommendation- Big Yellow Cabernet

Thanksgiving is arguably my favorite day of the year. I make myself sick eating far too much, and I love every minute of it! This year, I've been asked to bring 2 bottles of wine to the Thanksgiving festivities. While I'm not yet sure what bottle #2 will be, I have already decided on the first- Big Yellow Cabernet Sauvignon.

Why Big Yellow?

This wine isn't heavy like many Cabs tend to be. Instead, it is a little on the thin side, which should match it perfectly to the wide array of food i'll be stuffing myself with tomorrow. It doesn't make a bold statement, which is great when you're serving wine to a diverse group of people.

I definitely recommend you give this wine a try this Thanksgiving- or this weekend if you don't celebrate the holiday.

It is available at Trader Joes for $8.99, and also online through multiple wine merchants.

Come back on Friday, when i'll be reviewing my choice for the 2nd bottle.

Prosperity Red Cabernet- Cool label, mediocre wine

I admit it- I can definitely be suckered into buying a product simply because it has really compelling branding. I fell victim to this last Thursday when I went to Trader Joe's. I saw a bottle of Prosperity Red Cabernet Sauvignon, and was immediately taken in by the cool label.

Let's just say that the best part of this wine is its label. The wine itself is mediocre. I found the wine to be overly sweet, and it has an aftertaste that leaves something to be desired. It was definitely drinkable- as evidenced by the fact that I finished the bottle in only 2 sittings, but I never found myself truly enjoying the Prosperity Red experience.

Would I buy this bottle again? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Maybe for someone who enjoys very fruity wines or cool labels. However, I think there are far better options out there.

Recommendation: Consider buying it.

Airplane awful- La Palma Cabernet Sauvignon

Almost 2 months ago, I wrote a review of a wine served on an airplane (see my September 7th posting). I loved that wine- so much so that I wrote the airline (Jet Blue) to tell them how much I appreciated their selection. This past Friday, I had a completely different airline wine experience.

Let me paint the picture for you.

On Thursday morning I, along with my boss, flew to Atlanta for some Friday meetings. Now if you've ever gone from the West to the East, you know that it is an all-day affair. The 5 hour flight alone doesn't kill your day, it's the 3 hour time change that really hits you hard. We went to our meetings on Friday, then went back to the Atlanta airport to catch our flight to the West coast. Due to a serious storm and a late flight crew, our flight was delayed by almost 2 hours. The sheer amount of travel over the two days, a nasty airport meal at Chili's, along with the annoying delay, left me a little on the angry/grouchy side. So, when the flight finally left and the beverage cart came around, my first thoughts were of red wine.

When the flight attendant (I used to call them stewardesses until I got chewed out for that by a Southwest employee) offered me Fish Eye Shiraz, I should have read the warning signs and changed my mind. Not sure if you've read my review of Fish Eye Shiraz, but I'm not a big fan of that wine. Instead of ordering a beer or a whiskey, I fell victim to my own stubbornness and opted for the other wine option- La Rosa's La Palma Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. This wine was TERRIBLE. Just AWFUL. I took one sip and almost spit it out. Worried that my anger/grouchiness were influencing my ability to rate this wine, I asked my boss to try it. He had the exact same reaction. I can't even explain what it was about this wine that was so bad. If I tried, I'd be here all day writing. Everything about it was just so damn bad.

I guess my conclusion from this experience is that while Jet Blue seems to have their stuff together when it comes to wine selection, the other airlines are definitely lagging. Don't fall into the trap I fell into. When on a plane, do yourself a favor and order a beer.

Recommendation: Don't buy it