Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA '16 6.8%abv

American, Colorado
IPA
$10ish/6 pack

Poundability: 2/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

Amber/hazy color with bitter aromas of spruce/woodsiness.  Mild alcohol taste for 6.8% with an aggressive bitterness on first taste.

I found it overly bitter, even by Sierra's IPA standards.  They always do a good job, and this is no exception, but overall not for me.  Standard winter spices, relatively smooth, but hops over power.  Definitely a good winter style for someone who likes really big hoppy beers. Bitterness brings down poundability but for a $10/6 pk you can't complain.  Sierra continues to be a great "craft" brewer after all these years that hasn't jacked up the prices despite the competition. Always a good seller.  Would recommend.  Just wish hops were downplayed some.

Mateo Tempranillo La Mateo '14 Rioja

Spain
Rioja
$11ish

Poundability: 1.5/5
Value: 2/5
Overall: 2/5

Deep very dark purple color with a nose of crushed cherries, medium+ bodied.  100% Tempranillo.

Spicy flavors mixed with crushed fruit/cherries.  Dark lush fruit.  Slight oak influence?  Tastes "hotter" then 13.5% abv suggests.

Very strong acidity, good food wine.  Short finish and not overly complex.  Quaffin' status.  Definitely has that unpleasant harsh alcoholic finish that most inexpensive wines have.  

Not the most pleasant wine, but with a $11 price tag you can't ask for the world.  Drinks hot with a strong acidity, typical of the style.  Food helped round out some of the harshness but was still noticeable.  By no means a bad wine but for $4-8 more you can get a substantially better similar bottle.  All in all wouldn't repeat, you can do better for a few more duckets.

Ch. Bon Ami Bordeaux '15

French
Bordeaux
$12ish

Poundability: 3.5/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Dark purple color, medium bodied with an earthy nose.

Leather, slight oak influence, great expression of terroir.  Dark crushed cherries with a nice dirty/earthiness but in good way despite suspect description.

Strong tannic grip.  Mild+ acidity, moderate complexity but for this price point not a complaint at all.  Mid-long finish with a slightly grainy mouth feel.  Slightly harsh alcoholic burn at finish brings down the poundability, as it tends to do.

A great entry level Bordeaux wine.  Easy to drink on its own or with food.  One of the many things I love about Bordeaux wines (one of my personal favorites) is the amount of quality wine you can get for under $15.  Even after sitting (vacuum pumped the air out) for a day the Bon Ami was still drinking great after 24 hours being open.  Only complaint is the slightly harsh burn you get immediately after swollowing but for $12 a bottle hardly a deal breaker.  Highly recommend.

Allegrini Amarone Valpolicella '11

Italian
Valpolicella
$40ish

Poundability: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Deep dark purple color with a fruity nose of plum and ripe fruits.

Juicy, ripe, fleshy red fruit flavor.  Slightly jammy with a light spice finish.  I got a little veggie-ness as well, but not in that gross shitty Pinotage way (not saying all Pinotage is shitty, just as a reference point).  Little raisiny but not in a porty way.  Classic Valpolicella.

Great tannins & highly acidic - awesome food wine.  Very complex with a long finish that goes well over 60 seconds.  Leathery mouth feel.  Ever so slight unpleasant alcoholic finish, but a reach as a complaint.  

Definitely a wine that wouldn't piss me off at dropping $40+ on.  It needs well over an hour to open up, but once it does it kicks ass and takes names.  A great food wine, Valpolicella is one of my go to's when cooking pasta, especially throwing some into the sauce.  Would recommend if you can afford to spend the ducket's and treat yourself to one of the truly great Italian producers (haven't had an Allegrini wine I didn't like).

Rutherford Hill Merlot '13

American, Napa Valley, Cali.
Merlot (with Cab. Sauv. & Syrah)
$26ish

Poundability: 2.5/5
Value: 2.5-3/5
Overall: 3/5

Dark ruby color with a nose of strong plum and cassis.  Medium/light bodied.

Heavy plum flavors with a slightly spicy finish.

Mild/heavy tannins with strong acidity.  Good food wine but could be sipped on its own.  Great complexity with a nice long finish.  Cat like tongue texture, for reals.  A textbook representation of well made California Merlot, no juice bomb here.

Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a well made Cali Merlot, despite its decline in popularity over the years.  The strong tannic grip brings down it's poundability, but it is a great wine nonetheless.  The problem comes with the price tag, at $26/btl you need to be a damn good bottle of wine, and I really wish it were a few dollars cheaper. Although I feel that way about most Cali wine. All in all would repeat.

Side note, I killed two flies during the tasting so there's that.

Legado del Moncayo Garnacha '14

Spain
Garnache
$9ish

Poundability: 2.5/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 2.5/5

Over ripe fruit on the nose with a slight alcoholic burn, medium body.  Good color.

Bright juicy fruit flavors.  Classic Spanish table wine.  Jamy grape/cherries with a slight black licorice hint.

Heavy alcoholic finish leads to unpleasant finish and a low poundability.  Relatively no tannin's.  Mild/light acidity.  Not overly complex with a short finish.  Lots of residual sugar in glass.

Used to be Spanish red's were one of my go to's for quality inexpensive wine.  I'm starting to worry they will suffer a similar fate as Argentinian Malbec's did a few years ago.  It seemed all the quality Malbec's started disappearing and many started tasting very grape juicy, and not in a good way.  That's what this wine reminds me of.  Hopefully this vintage is a fluke and they will go back to former glory.  Overall not a bad wine for under $10, just not the steal it once was.  Will certainly evaluate in the future though.

Sam Adams Oktoberfest

American, Massachusetts

Oktoberfest

$10ish/6 pack

Poundability: 4/5

Value: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Standard bearer for American Oktoberfest's.  Easy drinking with a nice slightly creamy mouthfeel and nice maltyness.  Bright crisp palate.  Not overly complex, but good quality American style.  Many US Oktober's can be overly thin with not much going on but Sam Adams constantly puts out a quality version.  Not a huge Sam fan overall but the Boston Lager is always good when the craft selection is limited and their Oktoberfest is no different.  One of the better US versions.  Would always recommend.  

Slightly hazy color with moderate foam and fast rising bubbles.  Caramel and slight chocolate nose.  Medium finish.

Badai Cetamura Chianti Coltibuono 2015

Italy
Chianti
$15ish

Poundability:  1/5

Value: 2.5/5

Overall: 2/5

Dark berry, lightly floral flavor. Harsh acidity and alcoholic finish leads to an unpleasant finish.

Final Thoughts

One of those wines that tastes like a $10 bottle. Overall, would give it a solid "meh".

Tessellae Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2015

French
Carignan
$15ish

Poundablity: 2.5/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 2.5/5

Needs reevaluation.

Castillo de Monseran Garnacha 2014

Spain
Grenache
$10ish

Poundability: 3/5
Value: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Fruit forward classic entry level style.  Grape juicy (cherry/berries), but not in a bad way.  Slight spicy finish with a hint of green bell peppers/veggie-ness.  Dark ripe fruits.  Slight bitterness.

Not overly complex/tannic.  Harsh alcoholic finish reminding you of price tag.  Low acidity.  Fruitiness makes it an easy drinker but the harsh alcoholic finish lowers the poundability.

At $10 a bottle an overachiever.  Would revisit when balling on a budget but not blowing anyone's socks off.  But yet again, any wine you can get for under $10 that's easy drinking and approachable should be appreciated.  Would revisit and recommend.  

Borsao Berola 2015

Spain
Grenache
$15ish

Poundability: 2.5/5
Value: 3.5/5
Overall:  2.5/5

Could be the lingering illness, but I don't get the hype behind this one. 91 points by Parker, but personally find it a stretch. Great poundable/quaffer wine at $12, but would be disappointed at $15+.

Grew on me after multiple glass... but what doesn't. As my tasting partner said, "It's one you can drink, you don't have to sip." Church.

Ermitage Pic Saint Loup Cotes Du Rhone 2013

French
Cotes Du Rhone
$20

Poundability: 2.5/5
Value:  3/5
Overall:  3/5

Peppery, spicy. Mild to high poundability. Great tannic grip. Long, complex finish.

Final thoughts:
Always a killer under $20 bottle. In a word, blaze!