Category Archives: Red Blend

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Sterling Vintner’s Collection 2009 Meritage. Central Coast, CA. 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot. $12.99. 13.5% ABV.

Posted on December 9, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Delicious! Oak, vanilla, and cinnamon. A first impression of brown sugar and jam gave way to a dry, beautiful wine. This is a wonderful, versatile everyday (i.e. inexpensive) blend that’s good enough for a dinner party. Delicious and classy, made … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Blend | Leave a comment

WINE TASTING. Two strong recommendations, lots of education.

Posted on December 6, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

On November 19, we attended a wine tasting hosted by Cuvée, Ocala’s wine bar and bistro (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). The wines were presented by Tom Tiley, wine consultant with Coastal Wine & Spirits. Tom’s background includes 15 years as a Level … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, France, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Restaurants, Sauvignon Blanc, Tastings, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: Project Paso 2010 Red Blend, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Paso Robles. 22% Grenache, 17% Petite Sirah, 16% Syrah, 15% Merlot, 9% Zinfandel, 8% Tempranillo, 7% Malbec, 4% Barbera, 2% Touriga Nacional. 13.8% ABV. $14, available for less than $10.

Posted on November 30, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Y’know how red blends with Cabernet Sauvignon are dominated by the Cab most of the time? That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just the way it is. I mean, if Robin Williams comes to your party, guess who’s going … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, California, Grenache/Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Syrah/Shiraz, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

WONDERFUL: An evening of wine tasting: Bell Wine Cellars, with Anthony Bell presenting. At Wine & Cheese Gallery, Gainesville, FL.

Posted on November 15, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

On November 15, we experienced a wonderful wine tasting featuring six wines from Bell Wine Cellars in Yountville, Napa Valley, presented by the winemaker himself. Anthony Bell presented a fun and informative evening, offering us a “sense of place” indeed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Oregon, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Syrah/Shiraz, Tastings | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: 14 Hands 2009 “Hot to Trot” red blend (“red varieties including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petit Verdot”), Washington state. Alcohol 13.5% ABV. $11; available for as little as $7.99.

Posted on November 7, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

In honor of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup series of races at Churchill Downs, we are reviewing one more horsey wine and celebrating the centuries-old great global tradition of horse racing. Back in the day, people expressed the measurement of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Red Blend, Washington | 7 Comments

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Wild Horse 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot), Paso Robles. 13.9% ABV, $18.99, available for as little as $14.99.

Posted on November 7, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

We were in Louisville until yesterday for Breeder’s Cup weekend, so we thought it would be cool to review some horse-themed wines. Here is our first lap around the track: Wild Horse 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles. This wild horse … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Red Blend | Leave a comment

WINE TASTING! 24 wines sampled, 8 recommendations.

Posted on September 27, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Prices are the retail price at the tasting venue, our local ABC store, unless otherwise noted. This time, I focused mostly on trying unusual varietals, as well as a slight emphasis on Pinot Noir, a varietal I’ve found to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Italy, Malbec, Merlot, Moscato/Muscat, Petit Verdot, Red Blend, Spain, Tastings, Tempranillo, Viognier | 1 Comment

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: J. Lohr Estates, 2008 Los Osos Merlot, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, CA. $11.99, available for as little as $10.95. (81% Merlot, 9% Petite Sirah, 7% Malbec, 2% Syrah.)

Posted on September 12, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

This is by far the best Merlot we’ve ever tasted at this price, and it’s right up there at the top of the list of all the Merlots I’ve tasted to date. This dark ruby-colored wine has a rich aroma … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Syrah/Shiraz | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: 2008 [Banfi] Centine, Toscana (Tuscany), Italy. Red blend of Sangiovese (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Merlot (20%). $10.99; available for as little as $8.69. 13.5% ABV.

Posted on September 11, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

The color: a clear, deep garnet. The aroma was fragrant throughout, and it kept changing subtly as it opened up. It had a backdrop of dark berries, of course, laced with cherry as well as whiffs of licorice, cinnamon, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Red Blend, Sangiovese | Leave a comment

WINE TASTING! 40 wines sampled, 8 recommendations.

Posted on September 10, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

2007 Ramon Bilbao Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain. 14%. Aged in new French and American oak, 15 months. www.BodegasRamonBilbao.es. $16.99. 2008 Sterling Napa (silver label) Chardonnay. An old-California-style, big and chewy, oaky, velvety, buttery Chardonnary. Not as big as the 1980 Napa … Continue reading →

Posted in American Appellation, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, France, Merlot, Red Blend, South Australia, Spain, Tastings, Tempranillo, White Blend | Leave a comment