What is Dirt Cheap Wine?
Since 2007, DCW has been providing you with reviews of wines that are $5 or less per bottle and easily found at your local grocery, drugstore or wine store.
Reviews- Simple, straightforward and written while tasting.
Now onto the wine!
Chelsie's Tastings Home PageThis wine has a straightforward nose of coffee and maple. The first sip tastes of bold fruits and has an underlying peppery flavor. A quick, dry finish wraps it up nicely. After a few more sips, the flavors didn't change much... still peppery (and I mean green bell peppers... not ground black pepper) but I think it would make a good table wine with a big dish of spaghetti.
I give this wine a 3 1/2 out 5 stars.
When I smelled this wine I was expecting nothing since the Cabernet/Shiraz of this same brand had no nose whatsoever... but I was pleasantly surprised. It smelled of berries and raisins and I could smell the dryness too. It was the very picture of a shiraz with bright peppery overtones and softer berry undertones. The label promised me vanilla but what I picked up on was a bit of coffee. It had a nice long, dry finish. I would definitely pick up a bottle of this wine again.
I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Chelsie's Tastings Home Page
Interestingly this wine has very little "nose" to offer. The first sniff got me nowhere and the second one picked up next to nothing as well. Not impressed by the lack of aromatics, I chug on in hopes of a turnaround. As I taste the wine, I am immediately greeted by a sweetness and raisins and figs. I deduct the blend must be about 80% cab. But it is good nonetheless. I go on to taste more but it's pretty much the same flavor over and over again. There is an interesting tanginess towards the end and a quick finish. I think this is a very drinkable red despite it's lack of aromatics.
I give this consistent wine a 4 out 5 stars.
Chelsie's Tastings Home Page
This wine is definitely an acquired taste. As soon as the cork popped, the aroma of wet cats and latex was overwhelming. There was some berry flavors hiding in there somewhere, but the intense astringency was more than I could bear. However, after choking down an entire glass... there were some redeeming qualities. The berry flavor became very strong as well as an orange-citrus flavor and extreme tanginess. I still don't think I would buy it again or recommend it.
I give this interestingly tangy wine 2 out of 5 stars
Chelsie's Tastings Home Page
Sideshow wines are perfect party wines when you want to bring a bottle to go with the conversation, not start it. This particular red blend was pretty good. The first taste was quite dark, with a lot of deep chocolate flavors but as I continued, the flavors got a little lighter and a hint of grassiness came through. Normally Sideshow wines are around $9, but I got it on sale...so it still counts as a bargain!
I give this blend a 4 out of 5 stars.
I opened this bottle at 8pm last night, right after dinner. I poured a glass, but didn't get to it for nearly an hour. The immediate flavors were very raspberry-ish with bold tones of grass and green peppers. This wine is strongly astringent and has a long finish and a slight bitterness to it. It is a strong, bold wine. The Shiraz definitely overpowered the Merlot in this blend, but I could see this Shiraz being too bitter and peppery alone so the grapiness of the Merlot helped to even things out. Overall, a decent wine.
I give it a 3 stars out of 5.
I would buy this wine again and I think it would go better with a rich tomato or chile sauce or a nice roasted lamb.
When I smelled this wine I was expecting nothing since the Cabernet/Shiraz of this same brand had no nose whatsoever... but I was pleasantly surprised. It smelled of berries and raisins and I could smell the dryness too. It was the very picture of a shiraz with bright peppery overtones and softer berry undertones. The label promised me vanilla but what I picked up on was a bit of coffee. It had a nice long, dry finish. I would definitely pick up a bottle of this wine again. 
Interestingly this wine has very little "nose" to offer. The first sniff got me nowhere and the second one picked up next to nothing as well. Not impressed by the lack of aromatics, I chug on in hopes of a turnaround. As I taste the wine, I am immediately greeted by a sweetness and raisins and figs. I deduct the blend must be about 80% cab. But it is good nonetheless. I go on to taste more but it's pretty much the same flavor over and over again. There is an interesting tanginess towards the end and a quick finish. I think this is a very drinkable red despite it's lack of aromatics. 
This wine is definitely an acquired taste. As soon as the cork popped, the aroma of wet cats and latex was overwhelming. There was some berry flavors hiding in there somewhere, but the intense astringency was more than I could bear. However, after choking down an entire glass... there were some redeeming qualities. The berry flavor became very strong as well as an orange-citrus flavor and extreme tanginess. I still don't think I would buy it again or recommend it.
Sideshow wines are perfect party wines when you want to bring a bottle to go with the conversation, not start it. This particular red blend was pretty good. The first taste was quite dark, with a lot of deep chocolate flavors but as I continued, the flavors got a little lighter and a hint of grassiness came through. Normally Sideshow wines are around $9, but I got it on sale...so it still counts as a bargain! 
I opened this bottle at 8pm last night, right after dinner. I poured a glass, but didn't get to it for nearly an hour. The immediate flavors were very raspberry-ish with bold tones of grass and green peppers. This wine is strongly astringent and has a long finish and a slight bitterness to it. It is a strong, bold wine. The Shiraz definitely overpowered the Merlot in this blend, but I could see this Shiraz being too bitter and peppery alone so the grapiness of the Merlot helped to even things out. Overall, a decent wine.