Your favorite red wine under $12/bottle
Sep 11, 2015, 12:36 pm
#392
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Oct 9, 2015, 7:22 pm
#395
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Trader Joe's Onx Moon N.V. red blemd - selling for $6.99 a bottle.
I just had the opportunity to try this red blend which is currently being highlighted in the most recent flyer from Trader Joe's:
The label doesn't tell much about the wine, other than that it's mostly Zinfandel, with some Syrah and Merlot in the blend as well, and it's made by a winery in Manteca. Suffice it to say that it's the nicest $7 red wine I've tasted in a long time. Very much a good, but soft Zinfandel, probably blended from Paso Robles and Lodi grapes. This wine is far more concentrated than most red wines at this price, but has no tannins whatsoever, so it's a near term drinker and not an ager. Nice fruit with cherry and blackberry notes, good depth, and no sign of any off tastes at tall - something I find rare at this price point. Very pleasant stuff, nicely packaged as well, and certainly would be fair value at $12-17 retail, and $25-30 on a Restaurant wine list.
I just had the opportunity to try this red blend which is currently being highlighted in the most recent flyer from Trader Joe's:
The label doesn't tell much about the wine, other than that it's mostly Zinfandel, with some Syrah and Merlot in the blend as well, and it's made by a winery in Manteca. Suffice it to say that it's the nicest $7 red wine I've tasted in a long time. Very much a good, but soft Zinfandel, probably blended from Paso Robles and Lodi grapes. This wine is far more concentrated than most red wines at this price, but has no tannins whatsoever, so it's a near term drinker and not an ager. Nice fruit with cherry and blackberry notes, good depth, and no sign of any off tastes at tall - something I find rare at this price point. Very pleasant stuff, nicely packaged as well, and certainly would be fair value at $12-17 retail, and $25-30 on a Restaurant wine list.
Oct 9, 2015, 8:36 pm
#396
Join Date: Oct 2002
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For just a few dollars more, I've recently had some outstanding 2009 Medoc at about $15/bottle.
Here's a magnum the wife and I killed alongside a plate of shish kabobs:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1209795
90 minutes in a decanter and it was good to go.
Here's another we had the other night with grilled ribeyes:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1180488
Again, a little time in a decanter.
Here's a magnum the wife and I killed alongside a plate of shish kabobs:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1209795
90 minutes in a decanter and it was good to go.
Here's another we had the other night with grilled ribeyes:
http://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1180488
Again, a little time in a decanter.
Last edited by work2fly; Oct 9, 2015 at 8:42 pm
Oct 10, 2015, 5:15 am
#397
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No tannins in a red wine.......?
Trader Joe's Onx Moon N.V. red blemd - selling for $6.99 a bottle.
I just had the opportunity to try this red blend which is currently being highlighted in the most recent flyer from Trader Joe's:
The label doesn't tell much about the wine, other than that it's mostly Zinfandel, with some Syrah and Merlot in the blend as well, and it's made by a winery in Manteca. Suffice it to say that it's the nicest $7 red wine I've tasted in a long time. Very much a good, but soft Zinfandel, probably blended from Paso Robles and Lodi grapes. This wine is far more concentrated than most red wines at this price, but has no tannins whatsoever, so it's a near term drinker and not an ager. Nice fruit with cherry and blackberry notes, good depth, and no sign of any off tastes at tall - something I find rare at this price point. Very pleasant stuff, nicely packaged as well, and certainly would be fair value at $12-17 retail, and $25-30 on a Restaurant wine list.
I just had the opportunity to try this red blend which is currently being highlighted in the most recent flyer from Trader Joe's:
The label doesn't tell much about the wine, other than that it's mostly Zinfandel, with some Syrah and Merlot in the blend as well, and it's made by a winery in Manteca. Suffice it to say that it's the nicest $7 red wine I've tasted in a long time. Very much a good, but soft Zinfandel, probably blended from Paso Robles and Lodi grapes. This wine is far more concentrated than most red wines at this price, but has no tannins whatsoever, so it's a near term drinker and not an ager. Nice fruit with cherry and blackberry notes, good depth, and no sign of any off tastes at tall - something I find rare at this price point. Very pleasant stuff, nicely packaged as well, and certainly would be fair value at $12-17 retail, and $25-30 on a Restaurant wine list.
Oct 10, 2015, 7:25 pm
#398
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None that were noticeable: It's clearly meant for near term drinking.
You'd probably be surprised at how many folks want to buy a wine, and drink it that very same night, and not get any astringency from tannin in the wine. And at this price point, most tannins that I come across are of the unpleasant variety. This had none of those.
You'd probably be surprised at how many folks want to buy a wine, and drink it that very same night, and not get any astringency from tannin in the wine. And at this price point, most tannins that I come across are of the unpleasant variety. This had none of those.
Oct 10, 2015, 9:51 pm
#399
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decant?
Can all red wines be improved by spending a hour or two in a decanter? I've never used one but would like to hear from the experts. Is my $10 Columbia Crest Merlot going to taste better if it is decanted? 
Oct 11, 2015, 6:32 am
#400
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Not all.... but young/inexpensive wines have nothing to lose and quite a bit to gain by decanting. Suggest you experiment and do what works best for you.... in my book, Decanting is a good bet to make as you don't have to purchase an expensive decanter.... any jar/jug that is clean and has no odors will do the trick.
Oct 11, 2015, 9:52 am
#401
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On a similar note, do those aerator thingies do any good? Any better than holding your hand over the glass and shaking well? Or should one just move on and drink the stuff?
Oct 11, 2015, 1:45 pm
#402
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I always use a decanter if I want to soften the tannins of a wine. Especially generally tannic wines like cabs, bordeaux and Rhones. Also, decanting is useful if it's an older wine with sediment
As for the aerator, you go straight from 'tight' to 'open' in an instant so if it's a cheap, young wine, sure, but with something more special, I prefer to taste the slow evolution that only decanting can provide.
As for the aerator, you go straight from 'tight' to 'open' in an instant so if it's a cheap, young wine, sure, but with something more special, I prefer to taste the slow evolution that only decanting can provide.