South Carolina Wine Joe First Aniversary

One year has passed since I began my humble wine blog. In that time, I have learned much, drunk some wine and had a lot of fun. When I began, I had no idea if anyone would read my blog but there have been almost 19,000 pageviews, mostly from North America with a few from Australia and western Europe. I have reviewed over 100 wines from Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Total Wines and More and below I am listing some special wines that my wife, friends and I have found.

Most Viewed Posts
33 Tentatre 2012 Trader Joe's Wine #1
Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay 2012
Kirkland Signature Cotes Du Rhone, Villages 2012
Overlake 2012 Red Blend
Sphere 2012 Lodi Zinfandel

My Highest Rated Wines
Norton Malbec Reserva 2010 92 pts.
Chateau Hanteillan Haut-Medoc 2010 92 pts.
Kirkland Signature Series Oakville Merlot 2012 92 pts.
Vina Eguia Rioja Reserva 2007 93 pts.

I was extremely lucky to find the 2007 vintage Vina Eguia. Costco was selling the 2009 vintage and I found a couple of cases of 2007 mixed into the stack.

My Highest Rated Trader Joe's Wine
Trader Joe's Reserve Paso Robles Syrah 91 pts.

Best Value Costco
Kirkland Signature Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2012 $6.99
Tranco Monastrell-Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $6.99
Kirkland Signature Prosecco $7.49

Best Value Whole Foods
Pallas Tempranillo 2013 $6.99

Best Value Trader Joe's
33 Tentatre Rosso $5.99
Earthstone Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County $4.99

Wines that I have purchased most in past year
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot
Joel Gott California Cabernet
Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay

I have not rated white wines by a numerical score. The styles of these wines are so diverse that I just cannot assign a number. For example, I cannot judge the superiority of one unoaked chardonnay against a creamy, buttery oaked Chardonnay. I can only describe the wine and say what I like or dislike. In the days ahead, I may attempt to assign a score or I may continue on as I have done.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope it has been useful and look forward to commenting on more wines in the next year.

South Carolina Wine Joe

Comments

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018

I was aware of the reputation of Ken Wright Cellars for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir but had never tried one of their wines. The winery is most known for single vineyard Pinot Noirs but their entry level wine is a blend from several vineyards. When I have looked for wine from Ken Wright, I have either found the single vineyard wines costing more than $60 or I have found the entry level Willamette Valley blend priced significantly higher than the $22 price on the winery website. One well known wine shop in downtown Greenville actually sells it for $34. I guess that the wine must be really good to command higher than retail prices. Two things have recently happened. Costco has a Ken Wright premium Pinot Noir for around $40 and Whole Foods Market has the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir on sale for $22 rather than their usual price of $27. I chose the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and I am sure glad that I did. Ken Wright Willame...

Furman University OlliLife March 2021

Today, March 18, 2021, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University will interact with its members by Zoom in a live version of the OlliLife newsletter. For the past few years, we have posted a short wine blog in the newsletter and during the past year we have participated in the live zoom versions. Today, Wine Jane and I will discuss some world regions with excellent values in wine. Todays presentation will also be available for viewing next week on the Olli @Furman YouTube channel. The three recommended wines mentioned on todays "OlliLife Live" are: Parcelica Grande 2018 Yecla Spain 70% Monastrell, 15% Granacha, 15% Merlot $11.99 Total Wine Phebus Torrontes 2020 Mendozza Argentina $10.99 Total Wine Famiglia Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva 2015 Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy Red Blend $13.99 Costco

Dragon Vine, a novel by Steven Laine

It has been a year since I have posted to the South Carolina Wine Blog. However, I was provided with an advance copy of the latest novel by Steven Laine entitled Dragon Vine for my review. Mr. Laine writes novels with a wine focused theme and I reviewed Mr. Laine's previous novel Root Cause in 2019, which I greatly enjoyed. The synopsis of Dragon Vine is as follows: When his father dies in a wildfire, Carmine Cooper takes over the family winery in the middle of harvest, putting his dreams of becoming an architect on hold. He soon finds himself fighting with a vengeful neighbor, blackmailed by a local gang, harassed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities, and the target of an ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives) investigation. Carmine’s only hope to solve his problems and finish his first solo vintage successfully rests in identifying an unknown grape variety his father grew and made into wine for a quarter century wit...

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