As frequent visitors will note, I usually buy $10 and under bottles of wine.  This one was $15.99 after QFC club card discount.  I felt I owe something to Sokol Blosser for putting up with us.  Some time ago I was part of a Clown Wine Tour – that is to say – two limos full of people dressed as clowns “tasting” wine.  They knew two limos were coming.  They didn’t know two limos of clowns were coming.

On the whole, the were good sports about the invasion and I believe everyone had fun, though we didn’t buy much wine on that tour.

Good news – this bottle here deserves a good review on it’s own merits.  It’s what I like in a red wine.  Strong meaty flavor.  Some heft, like it would hold it’s own in a bar fight with a salami and olive plate.  A single sip fills your mouth with tasty stuff.  This is wine, not red-colored tap water.  Yep, this is how I like it.

http://meditrinawine.com/

Thank gawd that wines as unpleasant as the last one we opened are pretty rare.  God, Thank you! This one here is quite nice.  Mountain Estate, perhaps that’s what gives it the slight flavor of rich blueberry juice.  A taste from my childhood, the juice on your fingers after picking every little berry off the bushes you can possibly reach.

I like the flavor of this wine.  Just slightly sweet, dense and powerful like high mountain berries. A velvety smooth mouthfeel.

The bottle also comes with a practical screw-top cap.  That’s bad news for the cork forests of southern Europe, but good news for lazy wine drinkers.

$10 @ the QFC with their “frequent boozer” discount.

Well, I usually find most wines are perfectly good in most ways, or certainly “good enough”.  Not this time.  I’m afraid a more accurate description of this wine’s varietal would be “half-empty juice box found in the minivan”.  I guess there is a reason why this bottle is on extra-special make-it-go-away sale at the QFC.

Even though it’s attractively priced, don’t buy this unless you’re fond of half-fermented corn syrup.  This is a great wine buy if you’re looking to give up drinking.

Cool label.

Solid mouthfeel, slightly dry.  Urbane, yet with a good view of the coast.

Nice berry aftertaste!

$8.99 from Sheridan’s Market

Sageland Vineyards 2007 “Freddie’s Blend”

$9.99 at QFC after your QFC Valu-Ape Discount Card discount.  What can I say?  Labels on bottles are very important.  When I see this label with it’s name and mellow sage colors I can’t help but feel a visceral connection to the many hours I’ve spent puttering around Eastern Oregon gloriously goofing off, and the wonderful smell of sage.

Of course, then I open the bottle and it doesn’t smell at all of sage, just of red wine.  It’s decent red wine, maybe just a hint of sweet smokiness, but nothing like the sweet scent of the sagelands after a thunderstorm wafting over the der Thing while rolling towards Sisters.  Figure out how to put that in a bottle and you’ll never want for money again.

Folkes, we have another winner.  Ok, it’s true.  It’s very hard to dislike a wine that came home as a prize from one of your first dates with your wife unit, but this wine’s also got what I like.  Bought straight from the vintners after a lovely afternoon where we crashed an event that we didn’t know was semi-private.  Got to walk amongst the vines, discuss global warming, view the casks and have lunch in the beautiful Oregon sunshine.  Ah, bliss.

And it tastes good too.  I like a wine that’s strong enough to defend itself, yet slides down the throat like it’s on a rollercoaster to yumminess.  If you’re into that sort of thing, it’s got a touch of fruitiness, maybe like dark cherries, or maybe I think that because I happen to like this dark slightly munchy character.  But don’t take my word for it, try some yourselfs!

Chateau Reynella “Basket Pressed” 2003 Shiraz.

Good stuff, binky.  I don’t know what this goes for at the QFC as we’re in La  Casa Lúce up here in Seattle.  This is a fine red for slurping down out in the cul-de-smack meeting your friend’s neighbors at the yearly potluck.

It will taste good in your mouth, you can almost taste those baskets as it slips down your throat you’ll say, “dang, this is yum!”  Raise a toast to the neighbor who survived a crash of his glider.

Enjoy.

Remember – it’s pronounced “mer-LOT” and don’t let anyone tell you different.

QFC, $7.99 after the $4 QFC card discount.

This has that good solid meaty flavor I like in wine, but it’s not earthy or old-leathery like some. I’d say it’s got maybe just a slight sour note.

I give it a thumbs-up. Pour away, José.

Dinner tonight – rice, beans & Red Diamond.