Red Wine & Chocolate On the Cheap

Feb 25 2011

If you’re in my age group, or maybe even if you’re not, odds are you know the feeling of buying wine on a budget. I’ve tasted great wine, and I’ve tasted not-so-great wine and one thing is constant: Price has nothing to do with the taste of a wine. However, whether the wine you want is twenty dollars or eighty dollars, sometimes it’s just more than you can afford, or want, to spend.

I was having just such a moment the other night, driving home from work and realizing “hey, it’s red wine and chocolate weekend!”  Nearly immediately after that I remembered we had just paid bills and I had almost no spendable cash till next payday. What to do, what to do…Then in a flash of glowing red neon, there it was: Walgreens.  I pulled in, & here’s what I found:

Red Diamond Winery is out of Paterson Washington and, until recently, totally unknown by me. Now, it’s almost a regular buy. When I think of Merlot, I want something fruity, smooth and drinkable all by it’s lonesome and that’s exactly what I get out of this little gem. While not a pure merlot, the added cab and cab-franc balances nicely on the palate. Cherry-vanilla on the nose with a velvety cocoa berry finish makes this wine perfect when paired with a 1.99 Whitman’s Sampler…or with nothing at all.  Plus, at a price point that usually sits below 10 bucks it’s easy to buy a bottle, even when you’re watching the wallet.  Bottom line, even if you include a wine line item in your budget, make sure you include this local treat in your next trip to the local drugstore.

~Cheers!

Snobby Specs

Vines: Somewhere in WA

Varietal(s): Merlot

Vintage: 2008

Price: $10

Mr. Groundhog Brings Thoughts of Spring…and Spring Wine!

Feb 8 2011

I’m a creature of habit…

Meaning when I decide to relax on the couch after a day of work and a fairly evil Business Law mid-term, my wine of choice would usually be 2 things: red and blended.  Tonight, however, I deviated from the traditional winter  wine and in celebration of Mr. Groundhog not seeing his shadow, I decided to enjoy something light…something that says “spring”.  Now yes, I know, it’s 27 degrees outside right now and I’m under a blanket even as I type, but my palate is warm, sitting outside in the sun, enjoying a glass of 2008 Fidelitas Semillon.

I like my whites chilled a little colder than most people, well, who am I kidding a lot colder than most people and unfortunately this means that quite a few wines can’t stand up to the task of keeping their flavor being so cold. This wine however, does just fine. Fresh grass, and pear on the nose, and a beautiful almost liquid gold color leads into an almost effervescent splash of fruit and a little bit of lemon squeezed ever so carefully onto some earthy soil. The wine is a slight bit too acidic for my taste, but not enough to ruin my spring getaway in my head. Sweet wine lovers should stay away, and if you really want to turn up the fun, try this wine with some fresh cheeses and salty meats. You’ll have your friends saying “fideli-toss me another bottle of that!”     *eye-roll*

All in all, a nice choice for a warm, fresh day getting ready for the first yard sale of the year.

~Cheers!






Snobby Specs:

Vines: Stillwater Creek, Columbia Valley, WA

Varietal(s): Semillon

Vintage: 2008

Price: $18

“Spirit” of the Desert Wind

Feb 3 2011

A long while back I was lucky enough to experience the Ruah from Desert Wind Winery in Prosser, Washington. Now, I know what you’re thinking:

“what the heck is a Ruah?”

Well, don’t worry, it’s not some new grape, and it’s not some city in India…Ruah is actually the Hebrew word for “spirit” or “breath“…but I ramble.  As I was saying, I had the pleasure of opening a bottle of this wonderful blend awhile back and I remember it being a great choice, so I was definitely ready to try it again when the lady told me she was picking up a bottle tonight.

The Ruah is almost equal amounts of Merlot (45%) and Cabernet (40%) with a kick of Cab Franc to finish it off.  The experience begins with an aroma of rich chocolate and dark cherry.  The flavor is deep, starting with a bright raspberry and turning to an almost peppery finish. Pairing well with most anything off the grill, the wine has earthy aspects, but only in the slightest. With a gorgeous color that’s as deep as it’s flavor profile, and a price point of under 20 bones, the 2008 Ruah from Desert Wind is sure to delight the palates, as well as the wallets, of Bordeaux-blend lovers everywhere.

~Cheers!

Snobby Specs:

AVA: Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, WA

Varietal(s): Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

Vintage: 2008

Price: $20 or less