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.