Cheap Wine – Red

(the cheap REDS we’re diggin’ on lately)

Barefoot Merlot

The Barefoot Merlot is a non-vintage wine sourced from vineyards in various parts of California. Barefoot is one of the value priced brands from E & J Gallo (the largest family owned winery in the US). This is not one of those wines that has a great back story. This is mass-produced, well-priced wine, in…

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Angels & Cowboys Rosé 2015

The Angels & Cowboys 2015 Rosé is a deliciously dry rosé of Grenache, Merlot, Verdot (the petit kind) and Grenache Blanc sourced from three distinct AVAs in Sonoma County, California – Carneros, Alexander Valley, and Dry Creek Valley. This rosé is one of my faves for a few reasons. Reason #1 – she has a familiar…

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Diseño Old Vine Malbec 2014

The Diseño Old Vine Malbec 2014 is a collaboration by 2 Wineries (both unnamed) in the Uco Valley and the Lujan de Cuyo Valley (both high-altitude growing areas) in the Mendoza region of Argentina. Diseño is one of Constellation Brands family of wines, they include Kim Crawford, Mark West, Mouton Cadet, Rex Goliath, Robert Mondavi, Ravenswood and many others….

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Brancott Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013

The Brancott Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 is sourced mainly from 2 Estate vineyards, the Fairhall and Kaituna vineyards (here is a wine where Estate on the label actually means something), along with grapes from the Awatere Estates, all located in the Marlborough growing region on the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand. This…

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Angeline Vineyards Pinot Noir 2015

The Angeline Vineyards Pinot Noir 2015 is sourced from multiple AVA’s in California, but mainly from the Central Coast and the Northern Coast. The Angeline line of wines is the everyday value brand for family owned (since 1990) Martin Ray Wines and Courtney  Benham Wines (he is the owner). The 2015 vintage showed the effects of…

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Robert Mondavi Heritage Red Blend 2013

The Robert Mondavi Heritage Red Bland 2013 is a blend of 64% Syrah, 31% Merlot, 3% Zinfandel, 1% Thompson Seedless, and 1% Petite Sirah sourced from 82% Monterey County, 13% Paso Robles, 3% Valley South, and 2% Santa Barbara County, all of these inside the larger Central Coast AVA in California. Most table grapes (the ones you…

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Firefly Ridge The Red Flash 2014

The Firefly Ridge The Red Flash 2014 is a blend of Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Zinfandel sourced from vineyards in more than one California grape growing AVA. Firefly Ridge is a label produced by The Wine Group whose wines include, Benzinger, Concannon, Cupcake, Fisheye, Franzia, and MD 20/20, along with several others. This brand isn’t listed…

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Cono Sur Reserva Especial Pinot Noir 2014

The Cono Sur Reserva Especial Pinot Noir 2014 is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from 2 estate vineyards in the San Antonio Valley region of Chile. San Antonio Valley is the newest growing region in Chile, the vineyards are located on the coast near the Pacific Ocean. The ocean winds provide a cool climate, rainfall is sparse…

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Los Andicos Malbec 2015

The Los Andicos Malbec 2015 is a $6.99 ALDI import exclusive sourced from vineyards in the Mendoza Province of Argentina. Mendoza produces most of the wine coming out of Argentina, it includes some of the highest altitude vineyards in the world. Because of the lofty altitudes, the vines receive hours of intense sunlight and the higher elevations keep most…

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VINTJS Mendocino County Carignane 2013

The VINTJS Mendocino County Carignane 2013 is a Trader Joe’s exclusive (I found it for $4.99, but it seems to have sold for $8.99 a few months ago). Carignane (sometimes spelled with an “e” sometimes without) is a grape widely planted in Spain and in the Languedoc region of France. It was only a few years ago that…

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Beau Jardin Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

The Beau Jardin Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is a $8.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, or maybe not. The back label shows that Chateau St. Jean (Sonoma) vinted and bottled this Cabernet. While vinted and bottled only indicates that Chateau St. Jean produced less than 10% of this wine and bottled it at their facility, it does not rule…

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Meiomi Pinot Noir 2014

The Meiomi Pinot Noir 2014 is composed of 100% Pinot Noir grapes from 48% Monterey County, 27% Sonoma County and 25% Santa Barbara County. Meiomi (translates to “coast” in the language of the local native people) is a brand started by Joe Wagner, part of the Wagner Family who are well-known for Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon….

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Vin du Sud Collection Domaine de Courtal Fitou 2013

The Vin du Sud Collection Domaine de Courtal Fitou 2013 is part of a 4-pack of 375ml (half bottles) featuring 3 Red wines and 1 White wine from different growing areas inside the Languedoc  region of southwest France. The Languedoc is the region where the everyday wines or the more affordable wines are produced. Fitou AOP…

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Reginato Sparkling Malbec Rose’

The Reginato Sparkling Malbec Rose’ is a non-vintage  Sparkling wine (100% Malbec) sourced from estate vineyards in the San Carlos district of the Mendoza Province of Argentina. The Reginato family grows and harvest  the grapes, ferment the base wine and complete the 2nd fermentation all at their own estate. This Bubbly is made with the Charmat Method,…

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Vins du Sud Collection Domaine L’Oustalnau Corbieres 2013

This is something a little different. It is a 4 bottle sampler pack of wine from the Languedoc. The bottles are 375ml, which equals a half bottle or 2 full glasses. There is one White wine, a Muscat from the Minervois AOC and 3 Red blends, one from Fitou AOC, another simply from the Languedoc…

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Liquid Geography Mencia Rosado 2015

The Liquid Geography Mencia Rosado 2015 is a dry Rose’ wine sourced from 53 year old vines in the Bierzo DO (north of the eastern boundary of Portugal) of Castilla y Leon of northwest Spain. The vineyards practice organic farming methods. Mencia is a Red grape that is indigenous to the area and Bierzo has a wine…

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Valreas Cotes du Rhone Villages Cuvee Prestige 2014

The Valreas Cotes du Rhone Villages Cuvee Prestige 2014 is a $6.49 Trader Joe’s import exclusive, produced by a Co-Op Winery from grapes grown around the village of Valreas. Valreas is known as “the enclave of the Pope“, because in 1317 the Pope stopped by during his travels and enjoyed the local wine. A Co-Op is…

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Fort Cellars North Coast Merlot 2012

The Fort Cellars North Coast Merlot 2012 is a $4.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, produced by DNA Vineyards who also make Babble and Benefactor wines for TJ’s. The North Coast AVA consists of Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Mendocino County, Lake County, Marin County and Solano County, this AVA runs for 100 miles up the Pacific Coast and…

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Into Zin Zinfandel 2012

The Into Zin Zinfandel 2012 is a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah (remember for a wine to be labeled as a single varietal, that grape must count for at least 75% of the blend) grown in Oak Ridge Winery estate vineyards in Lodi, California. Oak Ridge Winery is the oldest operating winery in Lodi…

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Curator Red 2012

The Curator Red 2012 is an unique blend, 61% Shiraz/Syrah, 20% Cinsault, 6% Mourvedre, 6% Grenache, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Tinto Barroca (when grown in Portugal this is one of the grapes used for Port) and 1% Carignan sourced from multiple vineyards owned by 4 contract growers in the Swartland growing region on the west coast…

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BioKult Rosé Secco 2015

The Biokult Rosé Secco 2015 is a sparkling, certified organic 100% rosé of Pinot Noir from Österreich (Austria) that’s a fun yet beautiful cotton candy pink in your glass and smells like fresh strawberry cupcakes. A crisp, effervescent sip reveals a sexy full body and fills your mouth with tart red fruit that has been…

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Postulate The Second Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

The Postulate The Second Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is a $7.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive box wine sourced from vineyards in California. The box holds 1 1/2 liters of wine (a regular wine bottle hold 750 ml), so this box is the equivalent of 2 bottles of wine or 4 bucks a bottle. The first thing you need…

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Yalumba The Y Series Shiraz 2014

The Yalumba The Y series Shiraz 2014 is sourced from vineyards located in South Australia. Yalumba is the oldest family owned winery in Australia, its founder, Samuel Smith, planted the first vines in 1849. The Y Series of wines features affordable, classic wines that use grapes from the best regions of South Australia. There are…

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Cherry Blossom Pinot Noir 2013

The Cherry Blossom Pinot Noir 2013 is a $3.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive sourced from grapes grown in California. Cherry Blossom Pinot is one of Bronco Wines (2 Buck Chuck) many labels, which isn’t a bad thing since they tend to produce very drinkable wines at very low prices. This Pinot is the 2013 vintage which is…

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Sea Pearl Pinot Noir 2013

The Sea Pearl Pinot Noir 2013 is sourced from vineyards in the Marlborough growing area of New Zealand’s South Island. Marlborough is located at the northeast tip of South Island and has the Pacific Ocean to it’s north and east and mountain ranges to the west and south. It has a very sunny, but cool climate,…

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