Chris Coad
Chris Coad
So i'm compiling early research for Boatloads of Cheap Crap XIV, and I spot something on Astor's website that makes me chuckle: Gallo 'Hearty Burgundy,' five bucks.
"Man," I think, "that may have been the first wine I ever tasted, there was always a jug of it in my parents' fridge, right next to the jug of 'Rhine Wine.'" So I order it up, it arrives, and I find myself actually liking it. "Coad," I says to meself, "your palate has finally jumped the shark."
So in order to save any last remaining shred of dignity I might have, I pack a bottle off and pour it blind for a couple of the internet's most renowned WIWPs last night, and, amazingly enough, they dug it too. Not knowing what it was, Sharon Bowman compared it favorably to a nice syrah-laden Cte-du-Rhne, and the irrepressible Bradley Kane said "Whatever it is, it's good--juicy, rich, balanced." I point out that you could get twenty-four bottles of this for the same money as you'd spend on the one bottle of Monte Bello we're also drinking.
So here's a sneak preview from the next Boatloads:
Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley 'Hearty Burgundy' California NV ($5). I saw this on sale at Astor and had to have it. I think Gallo's original 'Hearty Burgundy' and 'Rhine Wine' were the first red and white wines I ever tasted, in their omnipresent jugs in my parents' refrigerator. I also remember someone pointing out that the old-vine grapes that used to go into the old HB were now mostly being channeled into expensive boutique zinfandel bottlings. Hm, smells like cherry pie and blackberry, lightly cedar-spicy and fruit-punchy ripe. Tastes firm, compact and juicy. I have no idea of the varietal composition, but the feeling is kind of like a field blend like Marietta Cellars 'Lot XX' wines, sort of zinny/petite sirahish, except this has a little blackcurrant-candy thing that makes me think of cabernet sauvignon. But the plummy-spicy redfruit is dark and juicy, there's middling structure and a slightly matte texture with some quietly roughish tannins, all in a rather compact, correct frame. Simple, ripe, juicy California wine. Okay, I bought this as kind of a joke, but it's actually surprisingly pleasant, if utterly clean and shiny. Really, for five bucks it's an absolute steal. FAKE CORK! [Buy again? Absolutely.]
Get it while you can, Disorderlies! You heard it here first!
"Man," I think, "that may have been the first wine I ever tasted, there was always a jug of it in my parents' fridge, right next to the jug of 'Rhine Wine.'" So I order it up, it arrives, and I find myself actually liking it. "Coad," I says to meself, "your palate has finally jumped the shark."
So in order to save any last remaining shred of dignity I might have, I pack a bottle off and pour it blind for a couple of the internet's most renowned WIWPs last night, and, amazingly enough, they dug it too. Not knowing what it was, Sharon Bowman compared it favorably to a nice syrah-laden Cte-du-Rhne, and the irrepressible Bradley Kane said "Whatever it is, it's good--juicy, rich, balanced." I point out that you could get twenty-four bottles of this for the same money as you'd spend on the one bottle of Monte Bello we're also drinking.
So here's a sneak preview from the next Boatloads:
Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley 'Hearty Burgundy' California NV ($5). I saw this on sale at Astor and had to have it. I think Gallo's original 'Hearty Burgundy' and 'Rhine Wine' were the first red and white wines I ever tasted, in their omnipresent jugs in my parents' refrigerator. I also remember someone pointing out that the old-vine grapes that used to go into the old HB were now mostly being channeled into expensive boutique zinfandel bottlings. Hm, smells like cherry pie and blackberry, lightly cedar-spicy and fruit-punchy ripe. Tastes firm, compact and juicy. I have no idea of the varietal composition, but the feeling is kind of like a field blend like Marietta Cellars 'Lot XX' wines, sort of zinny/petite sirahish, except this has a little blackcurrant-candy thing that makes me think of cabernet sauvignon. But the plummy-spicy redfruit is dark and juicy, there's middling structure and a slightly matte texture with some quietly roughish tannins, all in a rather compact, correct frame. Simple, ripe, juicy California wine. Okay, I bought this as kind of a joke, but it's actually surprisingly pleasant, if utterly clean and shiny. Really, for five bucks it's an absolute steal. FAKE CORK! [Buy again? Absolutely.]
Get it while you can, Disorderlies! You heard it here first!