Gran Verano Cabernet Sauvignon

As a publisher focused on reviewing inexpensive wines, we can’t ignore the “bag in a box” segment, also known as “boxed wine.”  We’ve actually reviewed a couple boxed wines before and we’ve found some decent ones out there.  Boxed wine doesn’t get much respect.  In many ways, that’s deserved.  There is some heinous stuff out there in boxes.  But more and more producers are putting quality wine into boxes and I think you’ll see that trend increase over the coming years.

I was intrigued when I came across this particular wine.  After all, we’re big fans of Chilean wine at Cheap Wine Ratings.  I was curious to find out what a bag in a box wine from Chile would have to offer.  Here’s what I found.

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X Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The general rule here is that most reviews are for wines that are $20 and under, but I have to admit that that’s not all I drink.  After all, how could I legitimately compare bargain wines to higher-priced ones if I never tasted those.  And every now and then I get samples sent to me for wines that are just over my general price limit.  This is one of those occasions and I’m not going to exclude it just based on price.  If it’s out of your personal price range, then don’t buy it.  But I know that a lot of readers here have a pretty broad price range, and they come here to get ideas for bargains or just to find tasty wines to try.  And I would actually spring a couple extra bucks for this wine.

We’ve reviewed a number of X Winery wines in the past, and admittedly I have yet to find one that I don’t love.  X Winery is based in Napa, California and they produce Amicus wines

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Santa Ema Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

When I’m not enjoying a bargain wine, in other words when I splurge, I have a preference for Italian wines, especially those from the Piedmont region.  If you know wines from this region, you know that many of them have exceptional depth, structure, complexity and balance.  Simply put, they’re beautiful wines.  Most of them don’t come cheap, so I’m not able to enjoy them every day.  But given my affinity for both Piedmont and Chilean wines, it caught my eye when I saw that this Chilean wine has roots from Piedmont.  The founder of Santa Ema, Pedro Pavone Voglino, immigrated from Piedmont to Chile in 1917.  He was the son of an Italian winemaker and planted his first vineyards in Chile in 1931.

While that might not tell you anything about the wine, there is more to enjoying wine than just looking, smelling and tasting.  Enjoying wine is an experience.  There’s a ritual involved, like the whole process of pulling the cork, pouring, swirling.  And there’s an emotional element.  We develop a fondness for certain types of wine, regions, winemakers, brands, etc.  For me, finding a wine with connections to both Piedmont and Chile sparked a fondness for both regions, and a curiosity.

I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.  This is a really nice wine.

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Main Street Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

not that any of them are exceptionally long.  I like to get right to the point.  So, let’s get there.

The 2006 Main Street Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, with grapes from Lake County (54%), Monterey County (24%) and Santa Barbara County (22%).  The wine did spend 12 months in a combination of French and American oak.

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World Turned Upside Down? Time to Catch Up

Thanksgiving Wine Under $20: My Picks for 2009Vinho Verde--Just BecauseToday on Serious Grape: Wine Survival Strategy for... ►  October(8)Gemischter Satz--It's Austrian for DeliciousThe Red Wines of Calabria: Fruity, Funky, and Fabu...Today on Serious Grape: Autumn Whites from Austria...Exploring Calabria in OctoberNew Grape of the Month: FalanghinaMighty Good Malbecs3 Years and 5182 Subscribers Later...This Week on Serious Grape: Decanting Demystified ►  September(15)Good Pinot Noir--Under $28Finding Your Chardonnay StyleA Bargain in Bubbles: Zonin ProseccoThere's a New Wine Store In Town: domaineLAA Ligurian Red That Dresses Up--or DownThis Week on Serious Grape: The Farmers' Market Wi...Wine Blogging Wednesday #61: Quivira VineyardsPigato: The Briny Grape from LiguriaPalate Press: the New Online Wine MagazineA Zaftig Sparkling WineTropical Fruit from California's Central Coast: Fi...My Italian Wine Journey Continues: LiguriaHappy Labor DayThis Week on Serious Eats: Doggone Good Wine Pairi...Alsace Sparkles ►  August(14)A True Blue Syrah from the Central CoastFinal Edition of the Wine Book Club: A Vineyard in...New Grape of the Month: BourboulencA Sweet Tip on Dessert WineThis Week on Serious Grape: "Grape School" ►  July(14) ►  June(11) ►  May(11) ►  April(19) ►  March(18) ►  February(22) ►  January(21) ►  2008(257) ►  December(17) ►  November(17) ►  October(21) ►  September(21) ►  August(19) ►  July(22) ►  June(25) ►  May(20) ►  April(20) ►  March(25) ►  February(22) ►  January(28) ►  2007(277) ►  December(23) ►  November(23) ►  October(23) ►  September(21) ►  August(22) ►  July(26) ►  June(23) ►  May(26) ►  April(22) ►  March(24) ►  February(17) ►  January(27) ►  2006(63) ►  December(27) ►  November(20) ►  October(16)

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In Pursuit of Simplicity: Sauvignon Blanc

►  November(4)World Turned Upside Down? Time to Catch UpThanksgiving Wine Under $20: My Picks for 2009Vinho Verde--Just BecauseToday on Serious Grape: Wine Survival Strategy for... ►  October(8)Gemischter Satz--It's Austrian for DeliciousThe Red Wines of Calabria: Fruity, Funky, and Fabu...Today on Serious Grape: Autumn Whites from Austria...Exploring Calabria in OctoberNew Grape of the Month: FalanghinaMighty Good Malbecs3 Years and 5182 Subscribers Later...This Week on Serious Grape: Decanting Demystified ►  September(15)Good Pinot Noir--Under $28Finding Your Chardonnay StyleA Bargain in Bubbles: Zonin ProseccoThere's a New Wine Store In Town: domaineLAA Ligurian Red That Dresses Up--or DownThis Week on Serious Grape: The Farmers' Market Wi...Wine Blogging Wednesday #61: Quivira VineyardsPigato: The Briny Grape from LiguriaPalate Press: the New Online Wine MagazineA Zaftig Sparkling WineTropical Fruit from California's Central Coast: Fi...My Italian Wine Journey Continues: LiguriaHappy Labor DayThis Week on Serious Eats: Doggone Good Wine Pairi...Alsace Sparkles ►  August(14)A True Blue Syrah from the Central CoastFinal Edition of the Wine Book Club: A Vineyard in...New Grape of the Month: BourboulencA Sweet Tip on Dessert WineThis Week on Serious Grape: "Grape School" ►  July(14) ►  June(11) ►  May(11) ►  April(19) ►  March(18) ►  February(22) ►  January(21) ►  2008(257) ►  December(17) ►  November(17) ►  October(21) ►  September(21) ►  August(19) ►  July(22) ►  June(25) ►  May(20) ►  April(20) ►  March(25) ►  February(22) ►  January(28) ►  2007(277) ►  December(23) ►  November(23) ►  October(23) ►  September(21) ►  August(22) ►  July(26) ►  June(23) ►  May(26) ►  April(22) ►  March(24) ►  February(17) ►  January(27) ►  2006(63) ►  December(27) ►  November(20) ►  October(16)

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Another Simple Solution--and It Involves Pinot Noir

I've found another simple solution to the "what's for dinner?" crisis many of us face at the end of a busy day.

I was intrigued by Mark Bittman's recent recipe in the New York Times for "risotto-style" chicken pasta. What I most liked about it was that it involved one pan, one cutting board, one knife, and a lot of things we always have in the house (chicken in the freezer, mushrooms in the fridge, pasta and chicken broth in the cupboard). Who has time to wash dishes this time of year? And it seemed as though it would be finished--from prep to plate--in around 30 minutes. What's not to like?

As I threw this recipe together, I scanned the wine racks looking for a good bottle of wine to go with it. Rather than recommend a hard-to-find wine, I drew out the 2007 Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. Regular readers know this is my favorite appellation for US Pinot Noir. Sometimes the wine can be a bit pricey, however. I'm delighted to report that this wine is both affordable ($18!) and easy to find in most markets for $12-$24. This excellent QPR Pinot Noir delivers characteristic Sonoma Coast aromas of cherry, chalk, and a lick of smoke. These lead into a juicy, well-integrated palate of berries, cherries, and chalky minerality and that nice smokiness turns spicy in the aftertaste. This is another excellent food wine, that's versatile and affordable enough to feature on your holiday table, as well as satisfying your everyday wine needs.

(And yes, the risotto-style pasta was excellent--and a perfect partner for this wine, with the earthy mushrooms.)

Full Disclosure: I received this wine as a sample.

Posted byDr. Debsat5:30 AM 

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