The Liquor Control Board of Pennsylvania announced Wednesday, February 19, 2014 that Tableleaf, their in-house brand of wine, will be discontinued. The remaining stock will be sold at discounts of $2 to $3 per bottle. Vinestone, another in-house brand was discontinued last year. The L.C.B. developed seven other in-house brands but the fate of those labels has yet to be determined.
Tag Proprietary Blend Dry Red
McWilliam’s Jack”s Blend 2011
Snarky Puppy Performs at SummerSounds
McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Jack’s Blend South Eastern Australia 2011 is a Red Wine Blend that has a solid character and the good taste that are usually only found in a more expensive wine. Jack’s Blend exhibits a light oak aroma with a medium body and a long smooth finish full of mild tannins. This offering would pair well with grilled meat or even pizza. I had the pleasure of drinking this red while sitting with friends under a starry night sky in St Clair Park , Greensburg Pa as the band Snarky Puppy performed at SummerSounds. When you need to grab a bottle or two of red wine for a gathering of friends this wine will give you good quality at a great price. Jack’s Blend can be found at P.L.C.B. stores for only $5.99 or online for under $10.
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Bodegas Arrayan Premium Red Blend 2005
This proprietary red blend provides a complexity that can’t be matched by comparable mono-varietals because it has a powerful blend of 55% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot coupled with 14 months of aging in new French oak behind it. After starting with an aroma of sweet fruit, it is no surprise that the palate is one of lush black fruit which remains very persistent on your tongue and is then matched by the even longer finish. This cuvee would be an excellent addition to a steak dinner or a nice complement to an evening spent entertaining around your homes outdoor space while you maximize the culinary potential of your grill. Wine Advocate gave this wine a 93 point rating and it can be found in select P.L.C.B. stores at a discounted price of $24.99 with the product code 032370. P.L.C.B. lists the quoted price at $45.00 but I managed to find it listed on Amazon wine for $39.99 making the $24.99 price a very good deal for a wine of this caliper. The Arrayán family of wines are produced by La Casa de Las Cuatro Rayas in the Méntrida region of Spain.
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- Bodegas Balbás Ardal Crianza 2005 (canadianwineguy.com)
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Campo Maccione Morellino di Scansano 2008
Campo Maccione Morellino di Scansano 2008
This is a hidden gem that comes from the southwestern Tuscan town of Scansano. Morellino is the name for Sangiovese in Scansano but no matter what you call this red blend the one thing you will be calling it is delicious. Rocca delle Macìe produces this solid but modestly priced red blend that is softer and rounder than the wines from Chianti because the Zingarelli family vineyards are located further south in a more moderate climate that is warmer and drier. Best described as fruity and finely balanced this medium bodied offering has a nice finish that can be paired with a diverse menu. Pasta, pizza, roasted or grilled meats and aged cheeses are just some of the pairings that this food friendly wine can be served with to showcase its best qualities. When you start with a price that is easy on the wallet then add a taste profile that is easy on the palate what you will certainly end up with is a sure winner like Campo Maccione Morellino di Scansano 2008
Related articlesRich, hearty, red wines under the Tuscan sun (miamiherald.com)
- Tuscan Wine Discoveries (Part 2) (manilastandardtoday.com)
- Tasting Tuscany: Today’s Challenge for Chianti (acevola.blogspot.com)
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Hot to Trot Red Blend
Hot to Trot Red Blend Photo Courtesy: 14 Hands Vineyard
The 14 Hands Vineyard in Paterson, Washington produces one of the best blended red wines made in the United States. This red was once only available to restaurants in selected markets but now can be found in wide distribution due to overwhelming demand. Hot to Trot is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvgion, Mourverde and Petite Verdot grapes harvested from vineyards in several of Washington’s AVA regions including Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope and the Yakima Valley. It is made using techniques that are usually reserved for more expensive wines, these include cold soaking, performing a daily pump-over to extract color and flavor followed by aging in both French and American oak barrels. This extra care produces a medium body red wine with flavors of very lightly oaked red berries and dark fruit with a hint of vanilla giving way to refined supple tannins followed by a pleasant lingering spice and mocha finish. Reds from WashingtonState can be pricey but this blend always delivers a well crafted wine at a great price and its ability to pair flawlessly with a range of food makes it very difficult to beat. 14 Hands Hot to Trot Red Blend can be found at P.L.C.B. stores for $12.99 with the product code 5213. I suggest using the in store product locator on the website www.finewineandgoodspirits.com to check for availability of this wine because of demand.
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- Hot to Trot wine featured at Prosser WA winery (seattletimes.com)
- Snoqualmie wine tasting room in Prosser to upgrade for 14 Hands brand (oregonlive.com)
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Lamoreaux Landing Winery Photos
Lamoreaux Landing Tasting Room Building
Vineyards at Lamoreaux
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Back UP The Truck!
I hope that I have given you some motivation to get out and about this summer so you can make some fantastic new memories. Keeping with my theory that you do not have to spend a lot of money to get good wine, I would like to make some suggestions that will make for a well stocked cooler.
Let’s start with some reds!
1. Albeno Munari Tempranillo Calaveras County 2007 WE/88 $13.99
2. A to Z Wineworks Rosé Oregon 2011 $11.99
And now three highly rated proprietary Red Blends!
3. Bodegas Dios Ares Crianza 2008 WA/90 $12.99
4. Bodegas y Vined Luna Beberide Fincala Questa 2007 WA/90 $11.99
5. Boutari Elios Mediterranean Red Peloponnese 2009 WS/87 $12.99
Now it’s time to give these tasty white wines their time in the sun!
1. Alomos Torrontes 2007 WS/87 $10.99
2. Boutari Moschofilero Matinia 2010 WS/88 $12.99
3. Breemerton Verdelho WA/89 $12.99
4. Adegas Gran Vinum Nessa Albarino Rias Baixas 2008 WA/88 $12.99
These are just an example of the rated wines that are available at a reasonable price. I think you will enjoy any of these selections and know that you will find many others in your journeys.
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Gold Rush
Barrels of 2007 Zinfandel wine fermenting in a wine cave in Amador County, California. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Perry Creek Zinman Zinfandel El Dorado 2007 is grown and produced in the El Dorado AVA within the Sierra Foothills region of California. Best described as a luscious cherry and raspberry beginning with a peppery finish. This wine is very easy to drink and is very versatile with a wide range of food from pizza and burgers to grilled steak. Wine Enthusiast rated at 88 points makes this one you should consider for a summer gathering that includes grilling and friends. PA L.C.B. product code 20908.
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- #Sunday Supper: Wines For The Foods That Move You! (enofylzwineblog.com)
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- The Dos and Don’ts of Grilling (williams-sonoma.com)
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Red Red Wine!
I would like to tell you about a wine that I have always kept in my wine rack, while others have come and gone this one has never disappointed. The wine is Cantina Zaccanini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. This wine is a Proprietary Blend Dry Red that has an alcohol content of 12.5% to 13% depending on the vintage. The first thing you will notice is the beautiful dark ruby-red color with a touch of violet. The nose is one of ripe red berries and the taste is that of dark fruit and well-balanced tannins that gives way to a dry oak finish. This wine is made from Montepulicano d’Abruzzo grapes that are pressed and fermented with their skins on in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. It is then aged in oak barrels for 6 months then left to bottle refine for an additional 3 months. Bottles are released for sale 2 years after harvest and can be cellared to bottle refine for 3 or more years. This selection is a good match for dishes with a hearty Italian red sauce and entrée’s of roasted meats. You don’t have to remember that long name just look for the bottle with the little grape-vine clipping tied to it and you will have found one of my favorite reds. Item number 4560 and $14.99 at PA LCB stores.
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- Italian Red Wine Under $20 for All Seasons (charlesscicolone.wordpress.com)
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- Unforgettable Bottles of Wine for $20: Budget Wine Tips from Eric Asimov – The New York Times (thekitchn.com)
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