So here we are with the 2019 Joseph Castan Côtes du Rhône—13.5% ABV, 91 points from Wine Enthusiast, and lions embossed on the label like it’s the royal wine of Narnia. I mean, if your […]
Let me begin with the back label, which tried really hard to romance me with words like “harmonious” and “reflections.” I half-expected it to break into interpretive dance or whisper Italian poetry in my ear. […]
1/2
Ah, the 2020 Aristotle Petit Sirah from Monterey County—because nothing screams “deep philosophical contemplation” like slapping a quote from a dead Greek guy on a bottle of wine. “Excellence is never an accident,” said Aristotle…probably […]
First off, props to the back label. It gave me all the info I actually care about—grape blend, region, vintage, and not a single mention of “hints of crushed violets in springtime dew” or a sappy story […]
So I cracked open this 2018 Marichalar Rioja from Spain, lured in by the royal-sounding back label that proudly claims “Dad bought the vineyard from the Earl!”—which, okay, sounds impressive until you realize “Earl” might […]
Let’s talk about the back label first. Or rather, let’s not—because unless you have a jeweler’s loupe or the eyes of a teenage elf, you’re not reading it. I held it up to the light, tilted […]
So I pulled this dusty little number off the shelf—2017 Agramont Reserva from Murchante, Spain—gave it a suspicious side-eye and thought, “Hmm, 2017… is this still wine or the beginnings of balsamic?” But curiosity (and […]
+ 1/2
So I grabbed this 2020 Valdepalacios Rioja from Spain because it had a label callout boasting a 92-point score. Naturally, I was intrigued—because nothing says “trust me” like a number slapped on a bottle […]
Let’s start with the label. Impuls—I think? Hard to tell, because whoever designed the font clearly handed the job to a medieval scribe halfway through a wine tasting flight. I squinted at it like I […]
So there I was, loitering in front of the wall of wine like a confused raccoon, and I spot this 2019 Losada Mencía. Never heard of it. Didn’t even know “Mencía” was […]
So, I decided to get fancy for the day after Easter and go full French with the wine pairing—because nothing says “celebrating resurrection” like eating a rabbit your neighbor cooked and drinking something with “Côtes […]
So, I cracked open the 2021 Fonte Regia Chianti Reserva thinking, “Ah, yes, a nice mellow Chianti—perfect for a random Tuesday evening and some leftover fridge roulette. Plus its a Reserva (not sure what that […]
So there I was, pulling a bottle from my mini wine rack (which is basically my adult version of a treasure chest) thinking I had selected a big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon—because that’s what one does […]
Ah, the 2021 Diora Pinot Noir from Monterey. Sounds elegant, right? Diora—it just rolls off the tongue like it belongs in a candle commercial or whispered during a spa treatment. . I spotted it for […]
Let’s talk about the 2022 Callie Collection Pinot Noir from Sonoma, shall we? First impression: gorgeous label. Love those poppies—totally giving me springtime-in-a-bottle vibes. I had high hopes. I mean, poppies! Sonoma! Pinot! California dreams! […]
Ah yes, the 2020 McBride Sisters Red Blend from California’s Central Coast. I picked this one up for the low, low price of $3.99 (with a 20% discount, thank you Grocery Outlet sale), and honestly, […]
1/2
So let’s talk about the 2023 Sebastiani Red Blend from Santa Ynez Valley. Sebastiani, you say? Oh yes, a big name. A wine with pedigree. A wine with a […]
So, I picked up this bottle of 2022 Sonoma Revere Cabernet Sauvignon, thinking, “Hey, maybe this will be one of those underrated gems.” I turn it around, ready for the […]
Oh Sonoma, you fiesty girl!
Let’s start with the name. Vanderpump. Or as my eyes kept reading it after the second glass: Vanderpimp. Seriously, the font on this label looks like it was designed by a […]
Viva La France!
Ah, Côtes du Rhône—the underrated workhorse of the wine world. I was first introduced to these delightful bottles by a Scandinavian seaman (yes, really), and I’ve never looked back. Fast forward to today, […]
1/2 (Extra half glass for the label)
Ah, Pinot Noir. The delicate, smooth, easy-drinking red… except when it’s not. Enter Clos du Napa 2020 Pinot Noir, a wine that took one look at traditional Pinot […]
(2 Glasses for the price AND for being drinkable)
I had high hopes for this one. A Malbec Reserva from Mendoza? Sounds fancy. $7.99 instead of the usual $20? Sounds like a steal. But […]
(One glass for the $6.99 price, one glass because I admire its determination)
When I saw 2017 on the label, my first thought was, “Oh no, I’ve made a terrible mistake.” Seven years is a […]
1/2 (Extra glass for not tasting like a raisin graveyard)
Uh oh, another 2017 on the label…I had immediate concerns. Eight years old? That’s practically ancient in grocery store wine years. And $9.99? A bit steep […]
+ 1/4 (Because 3 just wasn’t enough!)
Okay, I’ll admit it — the words “Old Vine” scare me a little. Like, how old are we talking? Jurassic grapes? Fossilized vines? Do they complain about “kids these […]
Ah, Livermore Valley — the Napa of people who don’t want to spend Napa money. I snagged this 2021 Post House Road Cabernet Sauvignon for a cool $6.99, and let me tell you, that price […]
1/2 (Because I’m feeling generous, and also a little tipsy)
Let’s start with the obvious: It’s red. $7.99?? From $29?? This is the kind of price drop that makes you check the label twice, like, “Wait… […]
+ 1/2 (Because giving a wine five glasses feels a little desperate)
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner. The 2022 Amayan Malbec from Mendoza is a smooth operator. Not too dry, not too sweet — […]
1/2
Ah, the thrill of picking a wine based purely on its price tag and a vague promise of quality. Enter this 2021 Proprietary Red Blend, which I snagged for a cool $6.99 from $15—a […]
(Would I fight someone for the last bottle? Probably not. But I’d think about it.)
Ah, Italian wine. The stuff of romantic dinners, scenic vineyard daydreams, and, apparently, my Tuesday night ham feast.
Ah yes, the […]