Luxist Article- Does Expensive Wine taste better than Cheap Wine?

Check out this article on Luxist.com which discusses whether expensive wine tastes better than cheap wine. And to back it up, here is the research paper on the same subject.

$4 Lucky Duck Shiraz Australia Walmart

This one has a strong, bold berry aroma with black cherries and a bit of black coffee. It's pretty tasty. After swirling it around briefly, I took a small swig. There are immediate flavors of sweet red peppers and tart plums. After a few sips I noticed a nectarine taste which complimented all the tartness and berry flavors quite nicely. This shiraz has a nice medium finish and leaves me with a lingering taste of olallieberries. This is a fairly bold, yet ever-so-slightly jammy wine. I would buy it again.

I give this wine a *4 out of 5 stars.

*I might have given this one a 5 stars, but there was an annoying plastic shrink-wrap over the top (is plastic the new foil?) which was a pain to remove. And the bottle did not mention the vintage (year) so there is no telling if 6 months from now, it will be the same.

$3 Crane Lake 2009 Pinot Grigio California Henry's Market

Boy, have I been on a serious Pinot Grigio kick lately, or what? It's such great cheap, summer wine though. Crane Lake has been pretty consistent with decent wines, so let's see if this one holds up.

It has a fun, beachy smell aroma to it at first and then I start to pick up the fruit. Light citrus and papaya come through as well as the usual pinot friend, pears. First sip is buttery. Yes, buttery... a bit unusual for a Pinot Grigio wouldn't you say? This is a lightly sweet wine full of fresh, summery fruits. A fruit salad if you will- minus the berries. It's pretty good, a nice light finish and a typical Pinot Grigio flavor. Anyone making the transition from Gewurstraminer and Reislings to a drier white would find this one a nice baby step up.

While white wine has been de-lish, I have to turn back down red road for a bit. I miss the complexity of red.

I give this wine a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

$2 Gato Negro 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Chile Albertsons

First off, I absolutely adore that this bottle has a screw top. It has already been proven that a cork adds nothing to a bottle of wine and I don't have to worry about the stopper being short enough to fit into the bottom rack of the fridge door. Okay, enough about closures and on to the opening. After a quick pour and swirl, I went in for a sniff and it was oh-so-fruity with lovely pears, sweet oranges and touch of lemonade. The first sip was very nicely packed with pears, melons and green apple. Not to complex, but very consistent. This one is very yummy, and a bit on the sweeter side of the spectrum. This would be a fantastic pairing with flip-flops and swimming pool.

I give this wine a 4 out of 5 stars.

$2 Crane Lake 2008 Sangiovese California Henry's Market

I love a good Sangiovese, so it takes a good one to impress me. Upon pouring I took note of the rich, red, burgundy color. The first sip is bold and fruity. Cherry, blackberry and black currant flavors with a long, expansive finish. This wine is rich, substantial and satisfying. There are undertones of a super dark chocolate (as in 80% cocoa, dark) it really opens up when swished around a bit. The second pour really mellowed out but it never lost it's bold fruit and generous finish. This one's a keeper folks!

I give this wine a 5 out of 5 stars

$3 Diablo Creek 2009 Pinot Grigio California Vons (Safeway)

Mmmm... smells yummy right off the bat. Light and crisp, a bit of citrus and some mango. The first sip is pretty decent, with some green apple and more citrus in the way of lemons and grapefruit. It has a consistently long finish, sip after sip and it seems like it's pretty close to being at it's peak. So buy a bottle, put a chill on it and enjoy it immediately. This is good one to bring to a summer barbecue to go along with the grilled chicken and chilled pasta salad. Yum!

I give this wine 4 out 5 stars.

$4 Glen Ellen 2009 Pinot Grigio California Stater Bros.

This particular bottle boasts "Proprieter's Reserve" and the name "Concannon Vineyard" which doesn't mean much to me unless the wine delivers. Okay, onto the tasting. To start off, the nose is very bland. The small amount of fruitiness I detect is somewhat over ripe. The first sip brings me absolutely nothing. The second sip I really swish around and have to dig for it, but there are a bit of unripe citrus and some pineapple notes. Overall, a really terrible wine. I would recommend if you already have a bottle of it, make some sangria with it or cook with it.

I give this wine 1 star out of 5

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$4 Sutter Home Pinot Grigio 2008 California Stater Brothers

I guess this warm weather has driven me to white wine for the time being. On tonight's tasting menu is a Sutter Home Pinot Grigio from Napa Valley. The nose is light and refreshing with pears and lemons and I couldn't wait to taste it. The first sip is a bit harsh and somewhat tart and lacking in fruit. The finish is short and compact. There is not much fruitiness and it's rather bland. About half way through the glass, I began to pick up flavors of sweet melon and the finish improved slightly. But overall I'm not impressed and I don't think I will be buying another bottle of this anytime soon.

I give this one a 2 out of 5 stars

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$2 Oak Leaf Vineyards Merlot California Walmart

The year isn't even listed on the bottle which makes me wonder about the quality right off the bat. Once poured it had a light red color and virtually no legs. The nose was more promising. It promised me some ripe cherries, peaches and blueberries in fact. I went in for a taste and wow, it was very unexpected. Big, ripe fruits with a bold, medium finish. Upon a few more sips, the boldness mellowed out but the fruitiness was maintained. The fruit flavors are somewhat over-ripe for a Merlot but not bad at all for a two dollar bottle of wine! I found it was even better after being chilled for 5 minutes.

I give this wine a 4 out of 5 stars

$2 Douglass Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2008 California Stater Bros.

For the price of Strawberry Hill, you can get a fine bottle of Douglass Hill, an actual real wine! However, unless you're 2-buck chuck, can you really have a decent bottle for that price? Let's find out.

The nose on the Sauvignon Blanc is somewhat non-existent. Very light notes of pears and grapes but it pretty much falls flat. But the nose does not always tell all, so I held out hope.

The first sip was pretty nice, very fruity with pears and citrus. Upon the second and third sip some melon and tropical fruits came through. Overall this wine is not bad. I think it would be fantastic with some shrimp ceviche or some chips and salsa. While it was a nice, gentle, well-rounded wine it did not pack a bright, flavorful punch that I like in a good Sauvignon Blanc.

I give this wine a 4 out of 5 stars.

$3 Crane Lake Pinot Noir 2009 California Henry's Market

Oh my, does this one smell good! Super-berry aromas with plenty of cherry notes, yum. Smells like something I might taste at a fancy-schmancy winery. But did it deliver? Why yes, it did. This Pinot Noir is very nice, I am impressed. It is full of cherries, strawberries and plums with a lingering finish of dark chocolate and coffee. For a mere $3 a bottle, this one is right on the money. Drink this now, its at it's peak! Henry's better watch out, I'm going to be stocking up on this bad boy.

I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

$4 Forestville Merlot 2008 California Stater Bros.

I was very excited to try this wine, as the 2005-2007 vintages were pretty darn good. But unfortunately, the 2008 fell flat. It had a promising start... the nose on this dark burgundy wine is rich and hearty. Very earthy aromas with a bit of ripe plum. Upon tasting I get a quick bite of fruit which quicky mellowed into a watery, tinny earthiness. And just like that, it was gone. No lingering finish, just a wham, bam, thank you ma'am. It sadly is lacking all that Merlot has to offer. I tried it through my wine aerator which made a very slight improvement. I tried it with some of my favorite aged cheddar which always perks up an unfortunate bottle, but alas, I'm afraid there is not much help for it.

I give this wine a 2 out of 5 stars.

As requested- I'm baa-aack!

I have not even checked on my blog in so long, I forgot it was here! I logged in on a whim to find several requests for more frequent posts... and I'm happy to oblige! I'm glad to know people are getting some use out of my reviews =) The more feedback I get, the more I want to post... so keep those comments coming! For now, I will share my thoughts on a few recent tastings. Check back often, I've got lots of drinking to do!