Wine Appraiser

Tonight, we are tasting two Merlots from different price points.

The movie Sideways came out in 2004, and is now over 20 years old. When the movie was released, Merlot was the number #1 wine in the US, at about 15% of the total market. Greater than Cabernet Sauvignon at around 12%. By December of 2006, Merlot's market share was down to 12%, and by 2014 it was down further to 9%.

California Merlot production also saw a huge reduction, going from 305,000 tons in 2000 to 220,000 tons in 2019.

Merlot production in California’s (Napa/Sonoma) regions dropped 55-60% between 2000 and 2019, and new plantings of Merlot in California as a whole declined 35% from 2004 and 2023.

But is Merlot set to rebound? It is still the top wine choice for Millennials in a 2016 survey. Merlot is still the most planted grape in Bordeaux. East Coast wine production is taking off, and Merlot is the number 1 grape in many of these areas.

Tonight, we are tasting:

1. 2023 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Merlot. I purchased the wine from Trader Joe’s for $14.99. It comes from Napa Valley. It has 14.8% alcohol. The Reverse Wine Snob says aromas of dark fruit, lots of cedar, and other notes of barrel aging, such as a little spice. It gives it a recommended buy.
2. 2021 Markham Napa Valley Vineyards Merlot. I purchased the wine from Wall to Wall Wine for $29.00. It has 14.5% alcohol. The Wine Enthusiast, which scored it a 90, says, Juicy palate of cherries and plums drizzled through with chocolate and violet candy accented by fresh herbs.

As usual, we blind-tasted the wines. Many times we find wines of various price ranges have only minor differences. That was not the case tonight. These wines are very different, especially in flavor. While I found the Trader Joe's wine to have a pleasant aroma, I found the taste simple and lacking substance. It had notes of fruit, spice, and herbs; but was overall a light taste and had a quick finish. Also, for having such light flavors, the tannins were pronounced. Denise scored this wine a 2, and I put it at a 3.

The Markum was vastly different. It had a wonderful warm aroma full of berries, vanilla, and spice. The flavor was packed with berries, vanilla, spice, and chocolate. Smooth tannins and had a nice finish. Denise really liked this one but stayed at a 3. I really enjoyed it and gave it a strong 4.

Scoring: 1-won't drink; 2-won't buy again; 3-nice drinkable wine; 4-buy again; 5-won't share

Next week, we are going to learn about and taste our first Pet-Nat.

Tonight, we are tasting two Sauvignon Blancs.

My favorite Sauvignon Blancs are from Sancerre, part of the Loire Valley in France. Bright but with a lot of minerality.

Some people prefer the bright acidic Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand.

We purchased two wines, a New Zealand wine from Trader Joe’s for $10, and a Napa Valley wine Costco for $28.

Tonight, we are tasting:

1. 2024 Kono Sauvignon Blanc. I purchased the wine from Trader Joe’s for $10. It comes from Marlborough, New Zealand and received a 90 rating from the Wine Enthusiast. It has 13% alcohol. They say passionfruit, lime and grassy. Dry and zippy. The winery says aromas of citrus, grapefruit, passionfruit, and lemongrass. Taste of ripe lemon and lime, green apple, pineapple. Fresh and bright acidity. Pairs with seafood, scallops, mussels, oysters, white fish, salad, and vegetable dishes. Goat cheese. https://www.konowines.co.nz/
2. 2023 Beaulieu Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. This comes from the Rutherford region of Napa Valley. I purchased the wine from Costco for $28. The winery says aromas of meyer lemon, white peach, orange blossom, and bright pineapple, along subtle oak notes of brioche toast and marzipan. Flavors of ripe citrus fruits. Round and luscious, and very well balanced. Crisp and lively. Pairs with charcuterie platter, mixed salads, mixed salads, and lighter fish or chicken dishes.Wine Enthusiast rated this wine a 92. The wine spends 5 months in new French oak to add structure. https://www.bvwines.com/

We both enjoyed the Kono. I scored a 4 and Denise a 3. The Beaulieu was not our favorite. I scored it a 3 and Denise a 2. I would definitely recommend the Kono. This wine was bright, but well balanced and packed with flavor.

Next week, we are jumping into Merlot.

Tonight we have two Chenin Blanc-Viognier white blends. We have talked about both of these varieties before.

Both of these wines are about 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% is Viognier. This is a typical blend because Chenin Blanc is bright and acidic and Viognier is fuller-bodied with a hint of sweetness (eventhough it is a dry wine).

Chenin Blanc is a very versatile grape that can be made into late harvest sweet dessert wines, dry white wines, sparkling wines, and oaked or unoaked wines.

While versatility could be a good thing, it may actually be a bad thing because people don’t always know what the wine is going to be like when they get a Chenin Blanc.

We have also talked about Viognier before. Viognier in France comes mostly from the Rhone Valley. Outside of France it can be found in North and South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

It has some similarities to Chardonnay because it can make a full-bodied white wine. It requires a long growing season to develop, and is known for having lower yields. Viognier has flavors of tangerine, mango, honeysuckle, rose, and peach. Serve slightly chilled from 45 to 55 degrees. Pair with white meats or fish, especially if they are nut encrusted.

Tonight, we are tasting:

1. 2024 Mbali Chenin Blanc-Viognier. I purchased this at Trader Joe’s for $5.99. It is made up of 79% Chenin Blanc and 21% Viognier. The Reverse Wine Snob says it has bright fruit guava, melon, lychee, and honeyed tangerine. Mbali is the Zulu word for flower. The Cheap Wine Finder says this is a wine to buy multiple bottles of. I like his line “keep it cheap”. The wine is unoaked and has 13.5% alcohol.
2. 2024 Pine Ridge Vineyards Chenin Blanc-Viognier. I purchased this at Trader Joe’s for $13.99. It is made up of 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Viognier. It’s vegan friendly, gluten free, no pesticides, lower alcohol, and has less than 1 gram of sugar per glass. They use a lighter bottle which is better for the environment. Pairs with light salads, seafood, and foods with a bit of spiciness. Great pair with appetizers. Aromas of Kiwi, melon, key lime zest, white flowers, honeysuckle, and jasmine. Flavors of Lychee, orange blossom, peach, citrus, crisp acidity. Clean and bright with no oak and no malolactic fermentation. Fruit comes from Clarksburg, CA. Was voted the #27 Best Buy by the Wine Spectator.

We loved the Pine Ridge and scored it a 4. The Mbali was also good and we both gave it a 3.

Next week, we are having a Mystery Show. Can we tell what we are drinking. Most importantly, we will go through the reasoning for our guess.

It is Austria’s most planted wine grape. Named after Dr. Zweigelt who developed the variety in 1922 from a cross of Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent. The wine is known for being bright, tart, and fruity.

Zweigelt can also make great rose’ sparkling wines. In Austria sparkling wine is known as Sekt.

People say the wine compares to a Pinot Noir.

Tonight, we are tasting:

1. 2020 Johann Schwarz “The Butcher” Zweigelt. I purchased the wine from Gateway Market in Des Moines for $21.99. It is 100% Zweigelt and has 12.5% alcohol. It comes from Burgenland region of Austria and received an 85 rating from the WineEnthusiast. Aromas of cherry, dark berries, herbs, and spices. Balanced palate with firm tannins and flavors of cherry and oak.

We both unfortunately did not like this wine and rated it a 2. We did not get the tart and acid that is described and found it to be flat and flabby. We promise to give the variety another try later.

Next week, we are having a tasting that I am super excited for. We have two Chenin Blanc-Viognier blends. Both are inexpensive, but one was listed as #27 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines.

Tonight, we are tasting three wines. Two will be around $10, and a third wine will be over $20. Can we taste the difference?

Tonight, we are tasting:

1. 2022 Epicuro Aglianico from Puglia, Italy. Purchased from Trader Joe’s for $5.99. Blackberry and cherry with light spicy notes. Smooth and velvety. 13% alcohol. Single varietal wine, fermented in stainless steel tanks followed by maturation on the lees for several months before bottling. Does have some residual sugar.
2. 2023 Tribunal Red Wine from the North Coast of California. Purchased at Trader Joe’s for $12.00. Bold and full-bodied. Jammy fruit forward wine with lots of spice. People say it can be a little hot, but pairs well with burgers, pizza, and tacos.
3. 2017 Skylark las aves from the North Coast of California. This was purchased from Wine Styles for around $25. Mendocino County California. A Spanish inspired blend of 33% Carignane, 27% Syrah, 26% Grenache, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon. Received a 92 rating from Wilfred Wong. Aromas of red cherry and raspberry, floral violet, and forest floor.

Denise liked the $12 wine, the Tribunal. I preferred the $25 Skylark. However, if you like fruity, jammy, oaky red wines, and are looking for a bargain. You might want to try the Tribunal. I can really indorse the Skylark. I found this to be very smooth with good acidity and very well balanced.

Next week, we are having our first Austrian wine, a Zweigelt.

1. Tonight, we are tasting a Champagne and celebrating the past year. We are drinking a LeMesnil Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru Brut Champagne. It is 100% chardonnay and comes from the Grand Cru vineyards of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. It is a dry wine with flavors of citrus (lemon & orange), white flowers, peach, almond blossom, brioche, pie crust, biscuit, chalky minerality, and a creamy finish. It is aged on the lees for years and the grapes are grown in chalky soils. It costs around $50.

Best show moment – top three count down.

1. 12/17/25 Dennis the wine grape going into the wine press.
2. 10/1/25 Ned and Mertal started the show.
3. 5/7/2025 Mothers Day we did 70’s slang.

Next week we will have the first show of the new year.

Budget show with 2 wines from around $10 and one at around $20.

Tonight, we are recapping some of our favorite wines of the past year.

The winner for the best buy would be from our 6/26/2025 show on Italian wines. A 2022 Madia Torre Zambra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. We purchased this wine from Costco for $7.99. We both loved the wine and scored it a 4.

We also loved the Stone Hill Dry Rose which we tasted on our 5/28/2025 show about Rose'. We purchased this wine from the Winery in Missouri and paid $13.00. Again, we both loved the wine and rated it a 4.

My favorite overall wine came from the 7/23/2025 show. It is a 2020 Infinito Monastrell that was purchased at Costco for $14.99. I loved the wine and scored it a 4, Denise was less enthusiastic and rated it a 3.

We also had some Honorable Mentions.

Oregon Pinot Noir

California Petite Sirah

Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel

Tonight we are tasting two Cabernet Sauvignons from Chile. They are.

1. 2019 Santa Ema Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva from the Maipo Valley, Chile. It received a 90 rating from the Wine Spectator. Aromas of cherries and prunes with notes of menthol, tobacco, and toast. Ripe tannins and tremendous structure. Perfect for grilled meats. 13.5% alcohol. I purchased this wine from Costco for $7.99.
2. 2019 Vivendo Cabernet Saquvignon. It is also from the Cachapoal Valley, Chile, but comes from high altitude vineyards. (1600 meters) 14.0% alcohol and comes from the Calyptra Winery. Notes of black cherries, fresh plums, blueberries, along with a floral hint. Smooth tannins and juicy acidity. Tank-aged for 12 months and then bottle-aged for a least 12 months. I purchased this wine from Winestyles for around $20.00.

We both liked this wines. Denise rated both wines a 4 and I gave them both a 3 rating. Very different wines, but both are good. The Santa Ema (#1) is a darker and very fruit forward wine. The Vivendo (#2) is dark fruit, but lacks the spiciness and oak of #1. However, the Vivendo is probably a more complex and earthy Cabernet.

Next week, its New Years so we will be tasting some Champagne and talking about the past year. Things we are thankful for, list of things we have learned about wine this year, and what's in store for 2026.

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red-wine blend Amarone della Valpolicella.

This wine is a dried-grape wine. It’s a red wine blend. I’m not going into the varieties because I’ve never heard of them.

Amarone has to be aged for at least two years, four for wines labeled riserva.

Until the 1950’s this wine was not really exported, but is now popular in Scandinavia, Germany, and the United States.

By law the grapes must be dried at least until the first of December. The drying process results in a metabolization of the acids and a polymerization of tannins in the skins. (The wine becomes smoother) In normal language, the wine goes from bitter and tart to creamy.

In recent years, the trend has been toward wines with less oak, less residual sugar, and less alcohol.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

1. 2021 Tutela Amarone della Valpolicella. I purchased this wine from Costco for $30.99. The wine comes from the DOCG region which is from Veneto region of Italy, near the town of Verona. The grapes used are dried for 120 days on their clusters before a long fermentation process. the wine has 15% alcohol and a deep dark ruby red color. It has aromas of chocolate, herbs, tobacco, and currants. Full-bodied wines with pronounced tannins and a long finish. Drink now through 2038. Scored a 91 from the wine enthusiast.

We both loved this wine. Denise scored it a 4 and I gave it a 5.

Next week, its Christmas and we will do some recapping of the past year and talk about our favorite wines.

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red wine grape Blatina, and doing a quick overview of Bosnian wine.

Blatina is a red wine grape variety mostly grown in Herzegovina region of Bosnia-Herzegovina. It was traditionally used as a blending grape with Alicante Bouschet, Merlot, and Trnjak. With the main grape being Trnjak. It produces a dark red wine and is made both in stainless steel and oak barrels. It often has spicy and coffee notes, and developes more chocolatey flavors with age.

It does not self-pollinate, so it has to be planted with other varieties to produce fruit.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

1. 2020 Vinogradi Nuic Blatina Barrique. I purchased this wine from a local wine store Gateway Market for $32.00. It is made from the Blatina grape variety and comes from the Nuic Winery in the Mostar Wine Region. It is aged for 12 months in barrique and 3 months in stainless steel. The wine has 15% alcohol and a deep dark ruby red color. It has aromas of chocolate, herbs, tobacco, and currants. Full-bodied wines with pronounced tannins and a long finish. 

Next week, we are having a new wine for us, Amarone della Valpolicella.

Tonight, we are tasting and learning about the red wine grape Petite Sirah.

In the past, I thought Petite Sirah must be just a small grape variety of Syrah. I was wrong. Well then, what is it?

The grape is also known as Durif, that is a cross between Syrah and Peloursin. The grape has thick skins which give the wine a dark color. Today California has about 12,000 acres planted to Petite Sirah, making it the 6th most planted red variety. California is the main location where the grape is grown. You will also find some in Australia, but very little remains in Europe.

Petite Sirah is known for having lots of fruit flavor, full-bodied, high tannins, and high alcohol. Acid is normally medium. Cooler climates will give you similar characteristics as Syrah such as pepper, cured meat, and violets.

I read the grape was many times misidentified before DNA testing showed what it really was.

Pairs with tomato-based dishes. Also pairs well with sharp cheddars, pecorino, or Parmigiano Reggiano.

Tonight, we are enjoying:

1. 2021 Criss Cross Wines Petite Sirah. I purchased this wine from a local wine store Gateway Market for $15.99. Aged in French and American Oak. 99.5% Petite Sirah, 0.5% other varietals. Comes from Clarksburg, California. 4.4 g/L residual sugar and has a 3.89 pH. Aromas of Black plum, cassis, chicory, spice. Flavors of black strawberry, raspberry, cinnamon, blood orange zest, mineral, bittersweet chocolate, and silky tannins. It received a 92 rating and a “best buy rating” from the Wine Enthusiast.  
2. 2021 Foppiano Estate Grown Petite Sirah. The wine comes from the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. I purchased the wine at Gateway Market for $24.99. It received a 91 rating from the Wine Enthusiast. They say Juicy blackberries and black cherries are lightly accented by mint and chocolate. It is a full-bodied dark-colored wine. Tannins merge with fruit to produce a well-balanced wine.  

We really enjoyed both of these wines. If you like a dark, fruit-forward, earthy, spicy wine – you should give these wines a try. Both wines received very good scores from the Wine Enthusiast, and we both agreed and gave both wines a 4-rating. 

Next week, we are having a Bosnian wine.