South Carolina Wine Joe

Bogle Vineyards has always been known for friendly priced wines that deliver quality beyond expectation.  Recently, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel as their #1 best buy for 2018. I have not been buying much Zinfandel lately.  It seemed that every Zinfandel I tried, including my old standby Kirkland Sonoma Old Vine Zin, was too sweet for my taste.  I was beginning to think that I needed to up my allowable price point and then I found the Bogle Old Vine Zin at Costco.  This wine changes everything. Bogle Old Vine Zin was aged for 12 months in 2 year old American oak barrels.  The wine has 14.5% alcohol. The wine is a medium dark color with some cherry tones.  The flavors that I detected were blackberry. black pepper, tobacco and some hints of vanilla.  There are medium tannins and the finish is long.  I really like this wine and I can see why it would be considered a best buy.  This wine is selling for just under...

I made a great find at Costco last week.  Zolo Unoaked Chardonnay 2017 was selling for only $7.99.  I checked Total Wine's website and they are selling it for $15.99.  How can there be so much difference?  Zolo is 100% sustainably farmed, estate grown Chardonnay from the mountains of Mendoza Argentina. Typically, I drink Chardonnay which is aged in neutral oak barrels.  I do not like buttery, oaky Chardonnay, but a little oak is acceptable.  My experience with unoaked Chardonnay is mixed with some being too tart and lemon tasting.  Zolo Unoaked Chardonnay is one that I really liked.  This is a very fruit forward Chardonnay with flavors of citrus, pear, melon, apples and peaches.  If you love Chardonnay, you cannot pass this one up, especially for $7.99. SC Wine Joe does not assign numerical ratings to white wines.  James Suckling rated the wine at 93 points.

Every year, Costco brings out the Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages.  This is one of my favorites, selling for only $6.99.  I have also observed other customers buying it by the case. Since I have written about four previous vintages of this wine and the wine has been consistent over the years, there is little new to add.  I only wish to alert readers of this blog that the 2017 vintage Cotes du Rhone is now at Costco.  A blog about a previous vintage can be found at  https://scwinejoe.blogspot.com/2016/09/kirkland-cotes-du-rhone-villages-2015.html. SC Wine Joe rating = 89 points

Two years ago, I wrote about the Amalgama Red Blend 2013, which I liked and rated at 88 points.  Not everyone agreed with me.  One reader commented that it was the worst wine he had ever tasted and another blogger rated it much lower than I rated it.  Nevertheless, I bought several bottles of the wine and enjoyed every one.  Now, Costco has a large supply of the Amalgama Red Table Wine 2015 priced at $8.99.  Since I am noticing a high number of pageviews on my blog about the 2013 Amalgama, there must be some interest in this wine.  Amalgama Red is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah.  There is a pleasant aroma of dark fruit in the glass.  However, the flavor is somewhat tart and the finish is harsh and spicy.  I just do not enjoy this 2015 Amalgama as much as I described two years ago.  I do not expect to buy more this time. SC Wine Joe rating = 87 points

Costco has a tremendous price on Franciscan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Total Wine sells this wine for $21.97, but Costco is selling it for $14.99.  If you appreciate good, moderately priced Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is time to head to Costco.  I hope your local Costco has it in stock! The 2015 vintage was a great year for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  There was less than normal rainfall which stressed the grapes, improved the quality and reduced the quantity of grapes harvested.  Wine Enthusiast rated the 2015 vintage year at 95 points, which is superb. Franciscan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of grapes grown in the Rutherford, Oakville and Oak Knoll AVA's.  The wine is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec.  After fermentation and blending, the wine was aged 20 months in French Oak and has an alcohol content of 13.5%. This is a rich, full bodied wine with flavors of blackberry, dark cher...

Acrobat Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir have long been favorites at our house, but we had never tried Acrobat Rose' of Pinot Noir.  This Rose' is widely available but I just passed it by.  Now, I am preparing a presentation on the "Wines of Oregon" and that is an excuse for trying every Oregon wine in the store.  This is one wine I wish I had tried sooner. King Estates created the Acrobat series of wines to pair with casual meals.  The wines have been highly rated and reasonably priced, so it is not surprising that they have been best sellers.  However, earlier this year, King Estates made a business decision to sell the brand to the Foley Family of Wines.  The Foley Family of wines consists of 23 brands, including well known labels such as Sabastiani, Guenoc, Chalk Hill Estate, Chalone Vineyard and Oregon winery Four Graces.  I cannot predict how this will ultimately change Acrobat Wines, but this 2017 Acrobat Rose' was produced by King Estates and I have...

Several months ago, I reviewed Canoe Ridge Explorer Red Blend which I really liked.  I actually saved a bottle which we will open soon and see if it is even better with a few months additional in the bottle.  Last week, I found the Canoe Ridge Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 from Horse Heaven Hills Washington at my local wine shop.  I had to give it a try! The 2015 Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Syrah from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in the Columbia Valley.  The wine was aged 9 months in 100% American Oak and has an alcohol content of 14.3%. This wine pours a deep red/purple color.  We tasted dark cherry, plum, blackberry, cola, smoke, licorice and a hint of herbal flavors.  The oak is in balance with the dark fruit flavors.  The finish is long. There is wide disagreement on ratings for this wine.  Wine Enthusiast rated it at only 86 points while Wine and Spirits rated it as 92 points and a best buy.  I...