The first one is actually a rose. And I think it's the first rose I've mentioned on this blog. So, it must be good, and you should pay attention. This is the 2009 Domaine du Vieux Chene,Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Cuvee Friande. It's a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. I found it for $13 at a wine shop in the west loop. It was nice and dry, for a rose, and it was perfect for the still-warm summer night when we drank it. It's got some good raspberry notes and it's very smooth drinking. If you will give a rose a chance, I suggest this one.
Next up is the Chateau Roc de Levraut Bordeaux blend. It's a blend of 50% Cabernet, 40% Merlot and 10% Cab Franc. I found it for $11.99 at our local wine shop. A very nice blend. I thought I'd like it looking at the varietals, and I was right. Smooth, fruit forward but with a little bit of tannin and a little bit of oak, enough to make it nice and chewy. We had it with a deep dish pizza, and it was rather perfect.
This one is the Este 6 Grapes Wine (47% Monastrell, 23% Tempranillo, 12% Syrah, 6% Garnacha, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Merlot). It's a southeastern Spanish meritage. It was deep red, looking way more expensive in the glass than its $10.99 price would have suggested. And the flavor was certainly there as well. Dark cherry, some great spice, a little smoky. I've never had a Monastrell before, but I'm certainly going to keep my eye out now.
This was another find from our local little wine shop. They've got a great selection of cheap, good wines. The 2008 friends red, a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Sangiovese from Sonoma, was only $9.99. I'm a sucker for Sangiovese in any form, so I had to try it. And besides, it has an emoticon on the label. It has 14.5% alcohol, but it didn't taste like it at all. Another pizza night wine, this had some great spice, without being overpowering, and some great fruit that slipped down your throat easily. Our wine shop says it's their best selling cheap wine, and I can see why.
For the last one, I just had to show off a little not-so-cheap wine we had. Admittedly, for the price, not a incredible, amazing, astounding wine. But for a I-just-started-grad-school-so-let's-celebrate night, this was a lot of fun to drink. The 2008 Brochelle Vineyards Petite Sirah, bottle number 150 out of 180 produced. Brochelle is much more well known for their Zinfandels, but a wine shop here, Lush, had some Petite they were offering as the last available in the country. I dearly love Petite Sirah, and had to try it for our celebration. Rich, smooth, flavorful, jammy. I was a fan. Again, not perfect, but quite good. And quite fun to feel exclusive and VIP while drinking it.
And there you have it, the last month in wine for us (well, the good ones, at least). Keep an eye out for these gems on a wine shelf near you and break one open with some good friends.
Enjoy!
