Archive for November, 2008

Value Red from Chile: Terra Andina 2007 Carmenère

Sunday, November 30th, 2008 Posted in Carmenère, Cheap and Red, Chile | No Comments »

Ah ¡Carmenère! While it may be one of the "six noble grapes of Bordeaux" it is really THE signature grape of Chile. It is also usually a great value. If you are looking for a great, yet cheap red ...

Value Red from Chile: Tabalí 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Cheap and Red, Chile | No Comments »

Next up in our parade of value red wines from Chile is this Tabalí Reserva 2005 Cabernet. The label says it comes from the Lumari Valley. It also claims this is Chile's northernmost wine producing area. Since Chile is in ...

Value Red from Chile: Cameron Hughes Lot 95, Wine of Chile 2007 Meritage

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cheap and Red, Chile, Merlot | No Comments »

The hardships I endure for you, dear reader. All so that you can pick your cheap wines with confidence. As you know, Chilean wines are special to me. Mostly because they are such great values. Chile produces some of the world's ...

Cameron Hughes Lot 70, Lodi Petite Sirah

Friday, November 21st, 2008 Posted in California, Cheap and Red, Lodi, Petite Sirah | 1 Comment »

(Apologies for the horrible photo, I'm just not very good with a camera! Not to worry though all Cameron Hughes Wines look the same and I have another one queued up to review soon... I'll get a better shot... promise!) Not ...

“Any man who packs a big bore Sharps carbine could come in mighty handy, if we’re attacked by buffalo… or elephants.”

Friday, November 21st, 2008 Posted in California, Cheap and Red, Petite Sirah | No Comments »

"...or a bottle of Petite Sirah!" The immortal words of Rooster Cogburn, a man with True Grit. This bottle went down after being holed with a corkscrew, no need for the big bore gun. A tasty 2004 Petite Sirah, hailing from ...

Chatter Creek 2006 Grenache

Thursday, November 20th, 2008 Posted in Cheap and Red, Grenache, Washington State | No Comments »

I have a soft spot in my heart for Chatter Creek wines. Many years ago Mrs. Barbarian & I enjoyed a great bottle of wine at our favorite restaurant, and I made it a point to write down the name. ...

Carver Sutro 2004 Petite Sirah

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 Posted in California, Napa, On Somebody Else's Tab, Petite Sirah | No Comments »

Forgive me reader, for I have spent. I classify this under my "on somebody else's tab" category as it is an expensive wine... but I'll admit, I spent my own hard earned money to acquire it. To be honest it ...

Two Wines, One Winery.

Saturday, November 15th, 2008 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Cheap and Red, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Washington State | 3 Comments »

 Last week it was two wines from Chile, this week it is two from Washington state... sort of the American equivalent of Chile I guess. Both have dry desert areas, glacier-clad volcanoes that occasionally erupt. Both sport fjords filled with ...

Shootout at the Chilean Corral!

Sunday, November 9th, 2008 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Cheap and Red, Chile, Merlot, Syrah | No Comments »

Time to try something different here at The Wine Barbarian: Mortal Combat! I ventured into The Cellar today to pick a wine for dinner. While that sounds pretentious let me dash your illusions as my "cellar" is just an unfinished room ...

Calina Carménère Reserva

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 Posted in Carmenère, Cheap and Red, Chile | No Comments »

  Mrs. Barbarian and I enjoyed this wonderful Calina Reserva 2006 Carmenere with dinner the other night. The Mrs had purchased some pork chops, which I honestly loathe. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hater of swine flesh... quite the ...