‘W.U.'s VP Wines Under $10’ Articles
Shocking and Not So Shocking ‘Value for Price’ Buys Under Ten Bucks.
Retail Price: $19.00
Average BevMo price: $12-$15
BevMo 5 cent sale: 2 for $12.99
I love Shannon Ridge Wines. And the only reason I happened to chance upon their existence is due to a tasting with a Shannon Ridge rep present. We just couldn’t believe the value you got for the price, as I call them “VP Wines”. I have been pretty disenchanted with BevMo lately, but I do thank them for carrying two lines I love that are hard to find elsewhere: Shannon Vineyards and the Concha y Toro Trio Line.
Here is one of the Shannon Wines on the 5 cent deal that has not been jacked up in price for the sale. It is a supreme bargain. That is, if you like new world style Chardonnay. And I do. But like I always say “Tasting is Personal”, so what I love you may hate. The W.U’s stats:
| Alcohol: |
14.3% |
| Total Acidity: |
0.62 g/mL |
| pH: |
3.64 |
| Residual Sugar: |
0.50% |
| Composition/Blend: |
90% Chardonnay |
| Appellation: |
Lake County |
| Barrels: |
American oak |
| Time in Barrels: |
6 months |
| Cases Produced: |
8,000 |
DM : Drinkmaker Mike Wood. His notes: The grapes used to produce our 2008 Shannon Ridge Lake County Chardonnay were picked from several different blocks to help create an elegant multi-layered wine with great complexity. The wine was barrel fermented in American oak to help create the creamy vanilla flavors and rich mouth feel.
CRAFT SYSTEM:
Color: Light gold.
Richness: Medium to Full Body.
Aroma: Green Apple, Oak and Vanilla.
Flavor: Oak, Creme Brule, Tropical Fruit, Hints of Fresh Tart Fall Fruit.
Texture: Lush yet crisp, round, lengthy finish.
ABILITIES
STRENGTH: Tons of muscle. A big creamy California style wine with enough of an acidic backbone.
DEXTERITY: Decently balanced fruit and acidity. Maybe a -1 for a little too much butter in the balance. But a flexible wine for many occasions and food. I stocked up on a half-case as a weeknight wine.
CONSTITUTION: Quaffable and something you want to keep drinking again and again. A lot of bang for the buck. But wait too long and it may go over the top and malolactic flavor the heck out of itself.
CHARISMA: A very viscous and beautifully aromatic wine in my opinion. +1 for a strong personality and smelling expensive. It definitely lets you know its in the room, it’s in your glass, and it’s a California girl.
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EXPERIENCE POINTS: Low. This is a fresh new 2008 wine. No cellaring needed. Open and go. Yum.
ARMOR CLASS: Low. Its structure won’t last long in the fridge, due to it’s rich and dry nature.
HIT POINTS: You have 1 day.
SAVING THROW: It’s a screw top, so you can get a nice tight seal to ward off oxidation as long as you can.
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CAMPAIGN SETTING: Pair with Modern Family and Cougartown, (ABC Wednesdays, 8pm.)
Rating: 1d20
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Tags: Chardonnay, Shannon Ridge, W.U.'s VP Wines Under $10
Posted in .Home, W.U.'s Reviews: Judging the Juice, W.U.'s VP Wines Under $10 | 1 Comment »
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$7-10
You can often find this for under 9$. Dangerous. Big, smooth, solid. Juicy fruit of currants and dark berries. Defined hints of oak on the nose, soft yet strong flavor and solid texture. Weekly, weekly, weekly. Did I mention weekly? Worthy.
Specs:
- Appellation: Rapel Valley
- Aging: 60% small American oak, 8 months
Action to be taken:
-After work
-Dinner on Wed.
-Case for a party
Lifesaving Locations:
- Trader Joes
- Bevmo
- Pavillions
- Wine.com
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Rating:
Posted in .Home, W.U.'s Reviews: Judging the Juice, W.U.'s VP Wines Under $10 | No Comments »
The fine people at Concha Y Toro Xplorador were kind enough to send some samples of the Xplorador line of wines and was glad to get it! I am a large and in charge fan of Concha in general and didn’t know about this line. The prices are beyond incredible and was hoping to find a gem in there somewhere. Luckily I did.
2008 Concha Y Toro Xplorador Sauvignon Blanc: $5.99-$7.99
Pale, straw yellow with mineral notes and hint of wet stone. Definitely not a green Sauvignon Blanc. Lots of grapefruit, yellow citrus, under ripe pineapple. Crisp, light refreshing, slightly mouth watering. A summer wine all the way. 13.5% alcohol.
Rating:
2008 Concha Y Toro Xplorador Malbec: $5.99-$7.99
A deep, dark, dry full bodied wine with aromas of fruity plum, figs, hay, cherries and red peppers. Filled with lively sharp fruit. But it’s still a very tight wine. I would be curious if it would blossom if put down for a year. For the price, probably be worth a test. 13.5% alcohol.
Rating:
2008 Concha Y Toro Xplorador Carmenere: $5.99-$7.99
The Carmenere grape is a great alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and emits the qualities of both types of wine. Carmenere was originally a French grape but disease almost wiped it out in the 1800’s. It was brought to Chile in the 1850’s and has been there ever since.
This 13.5% medium full bodied Carmenere is a dark, purple-ruby powerhouse. Aromatic with notes of sweet spices, creamy wood, staining black fruit, espresso powder, aromatic herbs, and maybe the slightest, far reaching hint of fresh pink rose petals. Flavors of smooth fruit, round tannins and a hint of dry black figs and mocha. Aerating only enhances. An easy drinking wine without heaviness but still has substantial body. Serve just below room temperature.
Rating:
I have to say out of the three, this is the standout and super excellent buy for the price. If you blind tasted this, I’d be very shocked if you guessed how much it actually cost.
There is always smart labeling on Concha Y Toro wines in general. Simple notes, well designed, clear percentages if a blend. Speaking of percentages, at 13.5%, their wines are always reasonable for food.
Bottom line: if you see the Xplorador Carmenere, don’t grab a bottle. Grab a case.
Tags: 2008, Carmenere, Chile, Concha y Toro, France, grapes, Malbec, Red Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, W.U.'s VP Wines Under $10, white wine, Xplorador
Posted in .Home, W.U.'s Reviews: Judging the Juice, W.U.'s VP Wines Under $10 | 2 Comments »
I had this at a Howe’s tasting in North Hollywood. As for the Alamos: worth it. Sweet spice and light tobacco/floral notes. A good solid Malbec. An underrated varietal, that is getting better attention. This is a darn good showing for $9.99.
I don’t know if I would hunt it down or anything, but worth a grab if your peepers drift to it.
Look for it between 8-12$
Rating:
Posted in .Home, W.U.'s Reviews: Judging the Juice, W.U.'s VP Wines Under $10 | 1 Comment »
