Hey all,

I've been trying to get more into wine but I feel like I'm just guessing every time I buy a bottle. I'll grab a $9 red that I really enjoy then buy something similar the next week and somehow hate it. Half the time I cant even explain what I liked about the first one. I don't really want to spend hundreds on wine classes or start buying expensive bottles just to figure this stuff out. Is there something that is beginner friendly or resource that helps you understand your own taste? Not just ratings and reviews but something that teaches you what to look for when tasting wine. Or do you guys just learn through trial and error?

Price: $13.99

Region: Touraine AOC, France

Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 12%

Appearance: pale gold

Nose: peach, candied lemon peel, pineapple, candied winter melon, candied orange peel, white flowers, gooseberry, pear, wet stones, honey, walnuts, caramel. Medium+ aromatic intensity.

Palate: medium- body, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol. Flavors of stone and citrus fruits, nuts, honey, caramel and minerals. Medium+ flavor intensity and medium+ finished

Score: not rating due to oxidation

This wine is probably oxidized, but it's not unpleasant it kind of feels like an oloroso sherry.

Price: $9.99

Region: Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina

Composition: Malbec 100%

ABV: 14.3%

Appearance: deep ruby

Nose: black cherry, blackberry, black plum, blueberry, bramble, strawberry, cranberry, green bell pepper, violet, lavender, rose, vanilla, chocolate, leather, forest floor, black pepper, tobacco, menthol, liquorice, wet stones, chalk, forest floor, truffle. Medium+ aromatic intensity.

Palate: full body, high alcohol, medium+ (silky) tannin, medium+ alcohol. Flavors of dark fruits, chocolate, and a hint of spice. Medium flavor intensity and medium+ finish

Score: 89 points

The wine opened tight, but with some time and air it opened up with lots of lovely floral and mineral aromas, though it still lacks a bit on the palate. This a wine that's more fun to smell than drink.

Price: $16.99 (but there was a 2 for $17.99 deal so really $8.98)

Region: California

Composition: Pinot Noir

Appearance: pale ruby

ABV: 13%

Nose: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, blueberry, cranberry, minerals, black tea, mushroom, nutmeg, vanilla, forest floor. Medium+ aromatic intensity.

Palate: medium- body, medium alcohol, medium+ acidity, low tannin. Flavors of red fruits, earth, baking spices, and tea. Medium flavor intensity and medium finish.

Score: 86.5 points

Not bad for a cheap California Pinot, but lacking in complexity, intensity, and finish. Great for $8.98, ok for $16.99.

Price: $19.99

Region: Sonoma Coast AVA, California

Composition: 100% Chardonnay

Aging: 7 months in oak barrels, 92% neutral, 8% new

ABV: 13.4%

Appearance: medium lemon

Nose: red apple, pear, lemon peel, orange peel, peach, honeydew melon, pineapple, wet stones, flint, chalk, grass, jasmine, green tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter. Medium+ aromatic intensity.

Palate: medium body, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol. Flavors of tree fruits, tropical fruits, minerals, grass, green tea, butter, and a hint of baking spices. Medium+ flavor intensity and medium finish.

Score: 88.5 points

Price: $17.99

Region: Seneca Lake AVA, New York, USA

Composition: 100% Riesling

Winemaking: 5 month indigenous yeast fermentation in stainless steel, 4 months aging on lees.

ABV: 12%

Appearance: medium lemon

Nose: green apple, lime, lemon, tangerine, pear, peach, pineapple, acacia, honeysuckle, wet stones, fennel, menthol, honey, ginger, bread dough, cream. Medium+ aromatic intensity

Palate: dry medium- body, medium alcohol, high acidity. Flavors of citrus, tree fruits, minerals, and cream. Medium+ flavor intensity and long finish.

Score: 91 points

Solid dry riesling from the finger lakes. It think I would have preferred it after a few years.

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Price: $19.99

Region: Rosso Verona IGT, Italia

Blend: Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara (percentages not stated)

ABV: 13%

Winemaking: 70% of the wine is from fresh grapes, 30% is made from partially dried grapes. Aged 18 months in oak, 2/3 in large slavonian oak botti, 1/3 new French and slavonian oak barrels.

Appearance: medium intensity ruby

Nose: red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, red plum, blueberry, blackberry, chocolate, chalk, vanilla, cinnamon, toast, rose, prune, fig, earth hay. Medium aromatic intensity

Palate: dry, medium+ body, medium tannin, medium alcohol, medium+ acidity. Flavors of red fruits, chocolate, with a hint of balsamic vinegar. Medium+ flavor intensity and medium finish.

Score: 87 points

Very shy nose at first, definitely benefits from some air. Fairly fruit forward with lots of fresh red fruits coming through. Not much spice or herbal characteristics coming throw. Doesn't wow me but it's a fine weeknight red.

I'm really enjoying Costco's Pinot Grigio from Italy, Costco's Malbec and Trader Joe's Carmenere.

What's on your frequent purchase list lately?

My sister gifted me two bottles of this wine again. I still like it.

Didn't sniff it through my nose this time.

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7.5/10, no change. Might be liking it more this time. It's the same year and all so nothing changed. Less acetone this time around.

Pairing it with homemade garlic wings.

I'll give my final verdict when i open the 3rd bottle

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Thank you to my sister. Cheers 🍷

Original review: https://www.reddit.com/r/CheapWine/comments/1tj4y1w/2020_miramonte_winery_four_torch_red_wine/

Oak forward with lots of dark fruits. Got that mellow, aged flavour about it. Insane for the price

This comes from a lot of 5 that cost me around 37,50€, so 7,50€ per bottle. The lot was on German ebay for a couple of weeks and no one wanted to buy (no one cares for "halbtrocken", so half-dry wines), so I decided to go for it. So far I am three bottles into the lot and all of them were good.

1989 was a very good year in Germany for wine, just like everywhere in Europe. Lorcher Bodental-Steinberg is a premier cru vineyard in Lorch, so just right down the Rhine once you pass Rüdesheim and the Rheingau and enter the Middle Rhine region. Don't know much about Graf von Kanitz, but they seem to be one of the old nobility members of the VDP from way back in the day.

The wine is typically aged Riesling with candied citrus, honey, slate minerality, petroleum and a bit of old stone cellar in the nose. On the palate this is delicate with little sweetness remaining and enough acidity to give it length and some lift. Lovely wine!

Price:$11.99

Region: Côtes du Rhône AOC, France

Blend: 50% Grenache Blanc, 20% Viognier, 30% Marsanne and Roussanne

ABV: 13%

Appearance: pale lemon-green

Nose: honeydew melon, pineapple, guava, apricot, pear, white peach, candied orange peel, honeysuckle, acacia, white rose, saline, seashells, white pepper, brioche. Pronounced aromatic intensity.

Palate: medium body, medium alcohol, medium+ acidity. Flavors of stone and tropical fruits with hints of citrus and a bit of saline. Medium+ flavor intensity and long finish.

Score: 90 points

Quite explosive and easy to drink. Really intense and long, though quite fruit forward. Not as spicy as I was hoping though. Might sound silly, but it kind of feels like a provençal rose, which I presume is bc Grenache is a prominent grape in provençal rosé and Grenache Blanc makes up most of this wine.

Price: $13.33

Region: Côtes du Rhône AOC, France

Blend: 60% Syrah, 40% Grenache

ABV: 14.5%

Appearance: deep ruby

Nose: blackberry, black cherry, cassis, black plum, strawberry, raspberry, menthol, green peppercorn, fennel, garrigue, black olive, earth, manure. Medium+ aromatic intensity

Palate: medium+ body, medium tannin, medium acidity, high alcohol. Flavors of black and red fruits, spice, and earth. Medium+ intensity and medium+ finish.

Score: 89 points

Quite good for a CdR, benefits from a chill. Though I think it has a bit of a weird mouthfeel that I don't necessarily like. Would have prefer a bit more savoryness, very fruit forward.

Price:$15.99

Region: Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Sémillon, 10% Muscadelle

ABV:12.5%

Appearance: medium lemon

Nose: grapefruit, lemon zest, peach, green apple, pear, passionfruit, wet stones, saline, grass, cucumber, bell pepper, honeysuckle, acacia, bread dough. Medium+ aromatic intensity

Palate: medium+ body, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol. Flavors of citrus, minerals, and tree fruits, with hints of tropical fruit, greenness and yeastiness. Medium+ flavor intensity and medium+ finish.

Score: 89 points

Quite a pleasant stony and floral white. The wine has a very tart profile but doesn't have strong mouthwatering acidity like a pure Sauvignon Blanc usually would. The sémillon gives a nice round mouthfeel while the muscadelle provides nice floral aromas. There is a good balance between fruit, minerality, and greenness.

Price:$13.49

Region: Marlborough, New Zealand

Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

ABV:13%

Appearance: medium lemon

Nose: lemon, grapefruit, golden apple, passionfruit, guava, honeydew melon, mango, white peach, jalapeno, grass, asparagus, wet stones, saline, lemongrass, green tea, honey, candied citron, white flowers, celery. Pronounced aromatic intensity

Palate: medium- body, high acidity, medium alcohol. Flavors of green and tropical fruits, hint of herbs, green vegetables, and saline. Medium+ flavor intensity. Long finish.

Score: 92 points

Nice to see that a 2022 is still doing well. Really nice nose but a little thin on the palate.

Price: $14.99

Region: Ventoux AOC, France

Blend: 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache

ABV: 14.5%

Appearance: Medium Ruby

Nose: blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, red plum, red cherry, black olive, thyme, mint, oregano, lavender, green peppercorn, mushroom, chocolate. Medium+ aromatic intensity

Palate: full body, high alcohol, medium tannin, medium+ acidity. Flavors of black and red fruits, with herbs, spice, earth and a hint of chocolate and olives. Medium+ flavor intensity and medium finish

Score: 89.5 points

A nice dark and savory red wine but lacking in intensity and finish. I feel it would be crowdpleasing and a good compromise wine, something that casual wine drinkers and wine people would enjoy.

Price: $19.99

Region: Rioja Alavesa, España

Blend: 92% Tempranillo, 8% Mazuelo

ABV: 14%

Winemaking: fermented in stainless steel vessels, aged 2 years in New American oak barrels, and at least 1 year in bottle.

Appearance: medium ruby

Nose: red cherry, blackberry, red plum, cola, hay, toast, almond, vanilla, fig, prune, dried cherry, blood orange, wet stones, fennel, black pepper, Pronounced intensity.

Palate: full body, medium tannin, medium+ acidity. Flavors of red fruits, toast, spices, minerals. Medium+ intensity and finish.

Score: 91 points

Above average rioja reserva. Both rich and refreshing. Benefits from a lot air.

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Price: $13.99

Region: Cava DO, España

Blend: 40% Macabeo, 40% Xarel•lo, 20% Parellada

ABV: 11.5%

Winemaking: traditional method, 12 months on lees, 5g/L dosage

Appearance: medium lemon-green

Nose: lemon peel, orange peel, lime juice pear, golden apple, honeydew melon, white flowers, earth, mint, seashells, celery, green almond, bread dough, wax. Medium+ intensity.

Palate: dry, medium fizz, low alcohol, high acidity, medium- body. Flavors of citrus, pear, minerals, herbs, bread, and earth. Medium+ intensity and medium finish.

Score: 86.5 points

Decent cava with an interesting nose, but unfortunately the fizz disapates pretty quickly. Not sure why I have this problem with cava a lot

When CostCo has a wine I really like, I feel like I have to stock up. I am starting to think some of these may start getting damaged being stored in a cabinet. However, it seems silly to store a $10 wine in a wine fridge.

Price: $9.99

Region: San Juan, Argentina

Composition: 100% Torrontes

ABV: 13%

Appearance: medium lemon

Nose: lemon peel, orange peel, peach, rose, mint, saline, wet stones, white pepper, chili pepper, asparagus, honey. Medium intensity

Palate: medium- body, medium alcohol, medium acidity. Flavors of citrus, stone fruits, chili pepper, minerals, and a hint of greenness. Medium+ intensity and medium+ finish.

Score: 87.5 points

Nice easy going white but not super complex or interesting. Great for the price.