ForestVille Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Vineyard: ForestVille
Location: Sonoma, CA
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol Content: 12.5%

Purchased: 12/31/08 - Save-Mart, Tahoe City, CA
Cost: $3.50
Rating: 4.0

This wine gets a 4.0 on every scale: taste, smell, and aftertaste. They market it at 2 for 7 dollars to get rid of it. Don't fall for it. Even at high altitude, with good company and after another bottle, I would recommend finding something better.

With that, I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year's. Let 2009 be the year of the grape. Good grapes. Grapes that make wine that tastes good and is affordable!

3 blind moose Merlot 2006

Vineyard: 3 blind moose
Location: Woodbridge, CA
Type: Merlot
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol Content: 13.5

Purchased: 12/31/08 - Save-Mart, Tahoe City, CA
Cost: $5.99 (I know, I know, I'll explain...)
Rating: 6.00

I bought it cause there was a moose on the label. Hey, I like moose. Meese? But I have to say - I don't think its worth the extra dollar. It tastes fine - just about what a $5 wine would taste like.

Does have a cool label and a cool cork though. My picture of the label was a little shiny of the moose on the right, but luckily the moose on the cork is the same moose as the one on the right. Good luck, huh? And yeah - taking a picture of a wine bottle label is harder than you think. It is.

Rockbrook Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Vineyard: Rockbrook
Location: Sonoma, CA
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol Content: 12.5%

Purchased: 12/15/08 - BevMo, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $2.99
Rating: 5.25/10

This wine isn't too bad if you don't pay too much attention to it. The overall flavor is pretty good. If you do pay attention, however, the taste is a little more tart and acidic than it should be.

Given the fact that it only costs $2.99, however, I'm willing to forgive and forget. Additionally, it doesn't appear to be marketed as 'The Cheap Wine', which means it's less likely that someone will call you out on bringing a cheap wine to dinner. I say go for it.

Redwood Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Vineyard: Redwood Creek
Location: Modesto, CA
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol Content: 13.0%

Purchased: 12/15/08 - BevMo, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $4.99
Rating: 5.0/10

This is another one of those wines that just doesnt have much taste. It's neither good nor bad, but whatever it is, there just isn't much of it.

I'm going to use this perch to let the world know that putting apples in your chili is a good idea. However, pairing said chili with this wine isn't a good idea - unless you are one of those people who put no spices in your chili. In fact, if your chili has no flavor, then maybe this wine is the perfect pairing for it.

Diablo Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Vineyard: Diablo Creek
Location: San Luis Obispo & Ripon, CA
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol Content: 13.0%

Purchased: 12/26/08 - Vons, Pasadena, CA
Cost: $4.99
Rating: 3.75

After taking the first sip of this wine, I asked myself, "Is my lip bleeding?" Not a good start in my opinion. Maybe a good purchase for those of you who are iron-deficient.

I was hoping to find a whole new selection at the Vons while visiting Southern California for the holidays, but instead I found that Vons is owned by Safeway and have a similar if not identical wine selection. Oh well. Guess I'll have to go farther and wider in order to find new markets of cheap wine.

Purple Moon Merlot 2006

Vineyard: Purple Moon
Location: Manteca, CA
Type: Merlot
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol Content: 13.5%

Purchased: 12/17/08 - Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA
Cost: $3.99
Rating: 5.75/10

Purple Moon, Purple Moon. It's a pretty boring wine, but in a good way. Seems like a wine that you can't really go wrong with. No one will dislike it, although I doubt anyone will go crazy for it either.

Purple moon, according to the back label, is referring to the color of the moon when they used to harvest the grapes. I don't think I've ever seen the moon purple, but maybe I haven't been drinking enough of last year's batch. The name definitely isn't referring to the color of the wine, which is a very rich red. I was thinking that the wine was going to be purple.

El Toqui Carmenere 2005

Vineyard: El Toqui
Location: Rapel Valley, Chile
Type: Carmenere
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol Content: 13.5%

Purchased: 12/17/08 - Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA
Cost: $4.99
Rating: 5.25/10

Sometimes I think that I should have a taste rating that is different than an overall rating. A 2005, Chilean Carmenere is a whole lot cooler than a 2007 Merlot from Napa. While I gave it a 5.25 for taste, there is something to be said for the different taste that it offers. Even though its not the top scorer, I'd still put it up there as one of my favorites.

The taste is still on the better side of a 5. There isn't much nose, but it's pretty fruity tasting. If you leave it in your mouth for a little bit, it gets spicy and there is a spicy aftertaste as well. All of this is pretty good, but there is a bit of a metallic taste hidden in there that really keeps it from getting a higher number.

Check them out online: Casas Del Toqui.