Category Archives: Great Values

Wine Review: Lungarotti Rubesco Rosso di Torgiano 2000

A Super Umbrian
lungarotti rubesco wine bottleN: Deep black fruit and earth. Some hints of spice and berry fruit.

P: Ripe black and red berry fruits. Well structured, with good flavor through the midpalate and an unusually long and balanced finish. Somewhat green and earthy, in an attractive way, with a touch of mild tobacco. Though it is big and ripe with fruit, it is simultaneously soft in the mouth: tannins and acidity firmly hold the fruit in place, and hardly an afterthought until the fruit finally fades away. I stole this out of a discount bin for around ten bucks — it is still a bargain for double the price. Continue reading →

Wine Review: Luis Felipe Edwards Carmenere 2003

$7.99

Luis Felipe Edwards CarmenereN: Open. Earthy. Very earthy. We’re talking dirt, wet leaves, maybe a hint of tobacco and vegetation.

P: Ripe fruit and earth. Black pepper, black fruits, touches of tobacco. Reminds me of a dirty merlot. Distinctive, non-commercial flavor. Tannins are mild to medium, acidity is appropriate: enough for food, not too much to be overbearing. Alcohol is mild to medium and adds structure.

This is a kickass wine for the price, though not everyone will love the earthy character that melds with the black berry fruit. Try it, you’ll like it.

Enjoy with beef-based and wild mushroom dishes, or a plate of cheese.

a-8 t-8 b-8 fc-7 v-10

Find Luis Felipe Edwards Carmenere on Wine-Searcher.com

Wrongo Dongo

Wrongo Dongo wine bottleReal deal price: 8.99

N: Wide-open, superripe berry fruit. Blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries.

P: Upfront ripe berry fruit. Chunks of blackberry, black cherry, and vanilla oak, with a line of chocolate licorice. Smooth texture. Drying acidity in the midpalate and sweet ripe tannins in the finish, which is attractive and longer than expected. Matched nicely with turkey tacos, should do well with other Mexican dishes, mild Indian cuisine, and simple fare such as burgers and barbecue chicken.

In some areas of the country, you may find this at 5.99 or 6.99, in which case it is an absolute steal.

A-8 T-8 B-8 FC-8 V-10

Find a merchant who sells this wine

Buy Wrongo Dongo from Wine.com
icon

Post-Primitivo

Last night after enjoying two glasses of Cantele Primitivo 2002, I (synthetically) corked it back up and put it in the fridge. Tonight I enjoyed two more glasses, and pleased to report that the wine was just as good, possibly better, than last night. Not bad for a seven-dollar wine!