Castaño 2005 Solanera

The Winery:  Bodegas Castaño
The Wine:  2005 Solanera
The Price:  $14.99 at Central Market

Bodegas Castaño is located in the Yecla region of Southern Spain.  This wine is a blend of 65% Monastrell (Monastrell is also known as Mourvèdre, a term many of you may be more familiar with), 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Tintorera.  The wine was aged in oak for 10 months before bottling.

The wine was stopped with a natural cork and decanted an hour before tasting.  It is a very dark red wine with aromas of cherry, vanilla, chocolate and spice.

The wine has flavors of cherry, vanilla and black pepper.  It's a pretty tannic wine, owing to the Mourvèdre/Monastrell grapes.  The pepper flavor adds a bit of a bite to the wine, so if you don't like the pepper flavor this probably isn't a wine for you.  Personally, I enjoy the pepper flavor and find this to be a a nice, interesting wine.

Eos Estate Winery 2007 Zinfandel

The Winery:  Eos Estate Winery
The Wine:  2007 Zinfandel
The Price:  $13.99 at Safeway (marked down from $18.49).

Eos Winery is located in Paso Robles, which is in California's central Coast.  The winery has a couple of cool, environmentally friendly things going for it.  First, it has converted to 100% solar power.  Second, for every bottle of wine that is purchased, they donate $1 to plant a tree.     

The bottle was stopped with a natural cork and decanted an hour before tasting.

The wine is dark purple in color and has aromas of raspberries, cherries and chocolate.

It has very crisp berry and cherry flavors with a chocolate undertone.  The wine is very smooth and velvety and quite delicious.  This is one wine that I highly recommend.  Between the great wine and the winery's commitment to the environment, this is a double winner.  Think of it as saving the planet one bottle at a time.

Columbia Crest 2007 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

The Winery:  Columbia Crest
The Wine:  2007 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
The Price:  $8.99 (marked down from $12.99 at Safeway)

I think this is the first time I've reviewed two wines from the same winery in back-to-back reviews.  It wasn't my intent to do so, but the latest issue of Wine Spectator listed this wine as a Best Value selection, so I had to give it a try.  They rated it an 89 

This wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remainder a combination of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.  The bottle was sealed with a natural cork, and the wine was decanted 30 minutes before tasting.


The wine is very dark red in color.  It has aromas of cherry, currant, blackberry and chocolate.  It is a fruity wine, with a velvety blackberry flavor underscored by a chocolate finish.  This is an exceptionally good wine at this price point.  It would stand up well against many wines at twice (or more) the cost.  This is a wine that is very much worth stocking up on. 

Columbia Crest 2007 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

The Winery:  Columbia Crest
The Wine:  2007 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon
The Price: $11.69 at Safeway (marked down from $16.49)

This wine is the second that I've reviewed from Columbia Crest's Horse Heaven Hills (H3) line.  In addition to the Cabernet Sauvignon, they make Chardonnay, which I have reviewed, and a Merlot, which I have not.  Columbia Crest has been growing grapes in Horse Heaven Hills for over 20 years.  Horse Heaven Hills was officially recognized as an AVA in 2005.  

This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.  The bottle was stopped with a natural cork, and decanted an hour prior to tasting.

The wine is a very deep purple in color.  It has aromas of blackberry and cherry.  The wine has a pronounced berry flavor with just a bit of a spicy bite.  It's a very velvety smooth wine.  I highly recommend giving this one a try.  It's well worth the price.    

The Other Guys 2008 Hey Mambo Sultry Red

The Winery:  The Other Guys
The Wine:  2008 Hey Mambo Sultry Red
The Price:  $10.99 at Safeway (marked down from $15.49).

I don't normally do this, but I purchased the wine for this review based on the label.  I know, I'm a sucker.  But I liked the simplicity of the label and the fun spirit that it embodies.

I like the attitude that the winery displays on both their website and their bottle.  They seem like a fun-loving and spirited group.  The kind of people I could see hanging out with.

The wine is a blend of Syrah, Barbera, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Malbec, and Alicante Bouchet grapes.  The bottle was stopped with a natural cork, and decanted 30 minutes before tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color.  It has aromas of cherry, blackberry and tobacco.  It has flavors of cherry and cranberry with a pepper finish.  It's a very good, very fun wine.  I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.