Today we are going to talk about our second entry in our Wines under Nine series, the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc hailing from Marlborough New Zealand.
The Sauvignon Blanc’s are a light crispy and refreshing varietal that are easy to drink and perfect for a hot summer day.
The Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorite examples of this varietal regardless of the price. When you consider its price tag of only $8.99 it’s an absolute steal.
Here are some the characteristics to look for you drink it:
- The nose is clean with strong citrus characteristics
- Your first taste will definitely present those citrusy flavors that you smelled but there will an almost “grassy” flavor as well.
- The finish is crisp and clean without the tannic aftertaste of something like a big red wine.
- This wine doesn’t need a ton of time to breathe to get the best possible flavors. It’s going to be pretty much good to go as soon as you open the bottle.
- As with any white wine, I prefer to drink them chilled.
- This wine pairs best with fish but we have also paired with poultry to good effect.
- Like the Peachy Canyon before it, this wine is remarkably consistent. We have also been drinking this one for years and have always enjoyed it.
I typically purchase this bottle from Trader Joes but it is also available in local super markets here in southern California. If you can’t find this particular bottle, I highly recommend experimenting with other Sauvignon Blanc’s from the Marlborough New Zealand area. They all have a similar citrusy flavor which I think that you will enjoy.
We have tried several bottles from the region and even though we think the Nobilo is the best bang for your buck, they have all been pretty good.
If you do pick up a bottle, let us know what you think!
Thanks for reading.
Wines Under Nine – Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Zin
Today we are going to be talking about wine.
I want to start by saying that I love wine, probably as much as I love food. The problem with drinking wine is that it can become a very pricey proposition. Don’t get me wrong, I indulge from time to time and when you taste a really high end wine you understand exactly why the bottle costs what it costs. Frankly, it’s no different than going to to a high end steak house and getting a perfectly aged steak and really enjoying it.
But most people cannot go to a high end steak house every day or even every week. The same goes with high end wines. Most of us aren’t consistently drinking $50-$100 dollar bottles of wine. Heck, most of us aren’t even spending $20-$30 dollars on wines we would consider “Daily Drinkers”.
So my friends and I came up with the wines under nine challenge. The premise is simple, find a good drinkable wine for under nine dollars. At this price point, many of the wines are just not going to be good at all. These are the diamonds in the rough, the wines that give the most bang for the buck.
Don’t expect these wines to be on par with with good high end wines (Notice I didn’t say expensive wines because expensive is not always good). What you can expect are very tasty wines that won’t break bank. They are great as daily drinkers or as bottles that you can get for a party or event.
Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Zinfandel
For those of you that have not had a Zinfandel but have had other red wine varietals think of this Grape as happy medium. It’s not light and delicate like a Pinot Noir but it’s also not as bold or tannic as Cabernet Sauvignon or Petite Sirah. This makes it a very versatile wine because it’s bold enough to be eaten with almost any meal yet it’s mellow enough to have without food.
The Peachy Canyon Incredible Red is a fine example of a good Zin. Here are some of the taste characteristics you can expect when you drink it:
- The nose is very jammy with a strong berry characteristic
- When you you have your first taste, the berry and jammy characteristics are very much present. Think a mix between raspberry and blackberry.
- It is full bodied with medium amount of tannins
- I recommend you let the wine breath for a while, it will be much smoother drinking about 15-20 minutes.
- Lastly, the biggest selling point for me about this particular bottle of wine is that it has remarkable consistency. My friends and I have been drinking the Incredible Red for years and it’s always been good. That is why I didn’t include the vintage year in my review.
If you are looking to purchase a bottle, we typically get it from Trader Joes for 8.99. Our local markets in Southern California typically sell it for the same price.
I strongly recommend you pick up a bottle, try it for yourself and let us know what you think!
Thanks for reading