La Finca Argentina 2013 ($4) - Malbec

The La Finca is a 2013 oak aged Malbec from the Argentina Andes. $4 so the price is right to say the least. The back of the bottle states on the palate one will find soft and succulent rich fruits. OK - let's get right into this! My wife laughed as she saw me pucker up on the first sip of the wine. I'm not sure I've used the word pungent before to describe a wine but not sure what else to call it. Maybe a rotten lemon taste? I suppose that wouldn't sell a lot of wine on the back the label. Expecting to find some rich black fruit, maybe some vanilla and spice as the label says - but I'm sorry, I'm not getting any of it. The tannins do linger a bit - but unfortunately with this wine, any lingering is not a good thing. Spend another $4 and make it an even $8 and you can find some decent mainstream Malbecs elsewhere that while maybe uncomplicated, are sure to please. At least please much more than the La Finca. Maybe this one needed more time in the barrel. Maybe more time in the bottle. I honesty don't know and won't find out. VERDICT: First and last bottle.

VINTJS Dry Creek Valley 2012 ($8) - Zinfandel

This VINTJS ("vintages") 2012 Zinfandel comes from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County which lies northwest of Healdsburg - the area is home to popular Zin producers such as Rafanelli, Ridge Lytton Springs, and Quivira. For some reason I just don't find myself stocking the house with much Zinfandel, but when I drink a good one, I usually enjoy it. And past VINTJS labels have brought very pleasant results - so combine the pretty purple label, $8 price point, and a prolific Sonoma AVA for Zin - I was sold. This one made the Fearless Flyer a couple months back as well. The first sip (OK gulp) I got a bit of a tart taste and wasn't really getting the fruit at all. I let it sit in the glass for about 15 minutes before going back to it and the fruit started to peek its head out a bit more, but I wouldn't call the fruit pronounced by any means. Getting some cherry, blackberry, and pepper. At 13.9% alcohol I wasn't expecting anything overly jammy - but thought I'd get a bit more fruit than I did. Lively acidity and mellow tannins. I actually let it sit in the bottle another day and actually preferred it on day #2 - but just not enjoying this wine like I hoped I would. VERDICT: (sadly) my first and last bottle.

Cocobon 2011 ($7) - Red Blend

The Cocobon Red Blend is one I've seen come across various blogs for years now. It has a huge loyal following and is right up there as a TJ cult favorite with the likes of the Rabbit Ridge and Chariot Gypsy. As I've mentioned before, I'm a sucker for a blend - and the more varietals the better. They like to call this one a propriety blend, but with a little snooping around looks like we're dealing with Zin and Cab Franc (2 varietals that are approachable young) as the main players with Merlot, Petite Verdot and Petite Syrah rounding things out - however the Zin dominates with over 60%. From California and enters the ring at a modest 12.5% alcohol. Fruity on the nose and down it goes. Cherry and vanilla are the two things by far that stand out to me, with a hit of cocoa as well. Finish had light to medium tannins with a little stony at the end. Alcohol and acidity low and very easy drinking. With 6 parts Zin I thought it might be too jammy but it isn't. Tasty, smooth, medium bodied with a few different things going on, although not overly complex. A very nice glass to enjoy with the neighbors on a Friday night where nobody has to think too hard about what they're drinking. VERDICT: Get it and enjoy!

Rich is Back!!! Let's Drink Some Wine.......

I am back Ladies and Gentleman (codeword for the 3 or 4 people who followed this blog a couple years ago). I apologize for being away so long but sometimes a hectic life gets in the way and that is simply not a good excuse. I will bring back to life the art of trying to find some good value wines at Trader Joes and pass along my thoughts. Why am I doing this? A couple of reasons. First of all, I really never thought anybody read the original blog to be honest. I logged on this morning to find that it had almost 8,000 views. Really - 8,000!!! Not to mention views from Russia, Germany and Malaysia - who would have guessed! But more importantly, even though there are many days I feel like opening a bottle, I am too lazy to do so. In 2014 I have a goal to remember to take care of myself as well as the others in my life, and one of my favorite ways to do so is to enjoy a glass of vino. My goal is to come up with one new wine and post per week (starting tonight) and by the end of 2014 have a Top Ten list of my favorite wines of the year. Enjoy the ride. Feel free to drop me a line anytime and let me know what you think of the blog.

Tres Pinos - 2009 Cuvee ($5)

OK, in keeing with the summer theme another under $5 selection. This one a 2009 vintage from San Luis Obispo County. Sink blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Zin and Syrah. Plenty of cherry fruit at first accompanied by a little spice. Pretty smooth going down from there. Definitely on the jammy side with the Zin making its presence. Not too high on the acidity, nor the alcohol at only 13.5%. Fairly mellow tannins and I really like the finish with a bit of vanilla/chocolate finishing on the back of my tongue. I've read some others who got a bit of a tobacco taste but I really didn't get any of that. Nothing too complex here. Very drinkable and the 4 different varietals really come out in this wine to give it some character. And for $4.99 you can do a lot worse. I'm not going to say I'll be picking up another bottle as there is still a lot of summer ahead of me with many more wines to be consumed. But I won't hesitate to pick up a bottle of the 2010 next year. VERDICT: Get it!

NOTHING MORE THAN $5 THIS SUMMER!!!

Well, my wife and I have decided to put in a pool this summer. Everyone we've spoken to says the same thing - expect to spend way more than you planned. That being said, I can't go crazy on wine this summer. But that won't stop me from posting! I was at my TJs store today and saw a bunch of wines that looked interesting. And since I'll be in save mode, I said to myself - let's make it a value summer all around. No TJs selections more than $5. And hey, who doesn't like a good bargain that tastes good! Let the bargain hunting begin.

Velvet Moon - 2009 Cabernet ($5)

A Trader Joes Wine Label (Trader Moon) out of California. Have no ryhme or reason why I picked this one up. Velvet Moon is one of the many "Moon" varietals sold at Trader Joes, so I said why not go with a Cab and give it a try. Plenty of dark berry fruit on the palate with some vanilla as well. And that's about it folks. Easy drinking fruit forward is what you get here, end of story. Very little spice if any; no tannins to speak of; little acidity; and at 13.5% alcohol, very little heat. Not sure what else to say. This is a very drinkable wine that goes down way too easy. And while I'd prefer it over a 2 Buck Chuck - there simply isn't a whole lot to peak my interest. It would probably make a for a good Sangria. There are simply to many other wines I'd like to try in the near future. VERDICT: My first and last bottle!