Price:  $9.99

Bare-knuckle boxing is recognized as the first form of boxing, and it involved two competitors fighting one another without the use of boxing gloves or any other padding on their hands.  During this era in boxing, John Lawrence Sullivan, who was nicknamed the “Boston Strong Boy”, was considered by most historians and boxing experts as the first ever US Heavyweight Champion of “gloved” boxing and also as the last heavyweight champion of “bare-knuckle” boxing.

Seeing this John Sullivan inspired label enticed me to go ahead and purchase it to taste what this “Heavyweight Red” was made of.  After only a few seconds into the first round with this supposed heavyweight, that is comprised of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah and 10%, I quickly found out that this heavyweight had nothing more than a “glass chin”, in boxing speak.

Light, fruity, weak and hollow on its follow through makes this red blend a more formidable match in the Lightweight Division.  Unfortunately, in the 750ml and under $10 category this “Heavyweight Red” just doesn’t compete!

I award the “Heavyweight Red” 1 Star out of 4.  There’s a lot more blood, sweat and tears that need to go inside this bottle in order for it to live up to the legendary heavyweight status of its label .  

WineLife365 Rating: 1-Star 

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From: New Zealand
Price: $10.79

So far in 2009, it hasn’t been too difficult to find a great tasting inexpensive Riesling from just about any place in the world.  With this in mind, I realized that I haven’t had the opportunity to taste a Riesling from New Zealand.  In a land where Sauvignon Blanc reigns supreme, there’s not a whole lot of room for the great Riesling grape to shine.  I recently came across the 2005 Babich Riesling and decided to give it a go for several reasons. The first reason being, the peeps at Babich usually deliver the goods when it comes to New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc.  And the second reason being, if they’re Sauvignon Blanc is consistently good, then they’re Riesling has got to be pretty darn good too…right? 

So would my assumptions be correct about the 2005 Babich Riesling?

Unfortunately, it was one big disappointment.  This Riesling did have a “born on date” of 2005, so maybe it was supposed to be laid to rest a year or so ago – because it sure was funkified on my taste scale!  It felt as if I was drinking a partly dissolved Alka-Seltzer tablet.  It had a rather peculiar tart grapefruit and lemon flavor that finished chalky-dry.   It actually left me thirsty for water so that I could wash it all down.  To sum it all up, “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz” – it just had one strange effervescent taste to it.

I award the 2005 Babich Riesling 1 Star out of 4.  I’m really hoping that I was just late to the party on this one and should have tried it sooner.  But, if this is what the Babich winemakers intended, then they should get out while they still can and stick to making outstanding Sauvignon Blanc.

WineLife365 Rating: 1-Star

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From: Alsace, France

Price: $12.99

Gentil is Hugel estate’s entry-level, least expensive, Alsatian white wine.  It is a blend of several white grapes that include: Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Sylvaner. 

The 2005 Hugel Gentil is an easy drinking, oak-free white wine that showcases some nice crisp citrus flavors.  Gentil is by no means a blockbuster Alsatian white wine, but it is a nearly flawless picnic wine or the kind of white wine that you don’t mind just sipping on a hot summer day.  However, this Alsatian white wine does have the ability to transform itself into a more serious food-friendly wine.  It matches up well with foods like sushi, various seafood, spicy Asian dishes, salads, and white sauced pastas.

This wine is a huge crowd-pleaser.  It’s also, in my opinion, consistently good year after year.  It won’t blow your mind, but it’s certainly better than average, and at $13 bucks a pop it’s priced nearly to perfection.   

 WineLife365 Rating: 3-Star

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From: California

Price: $5.99

Like a lot of wine writers, I’m always looking for value wines that fly under the radar of most consumers.  My hope is that by discovering and giving them some love and praise in a forum like this one, it will create demand for their finely produced efforts.  However, on the flip side, you never know what you’ll taste along the way to finding that proverbial needle in the haystack. 

I was hoping that the 2005 Mont Pellier Cabernet Sauvignon at $5.99 a bottle would be that needle in the haystack.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t – not by a long wine country mile.

My Momma once told me that if you don’t have something nice to say about someone or something, then you shouldn’t say anything at all.  Thanks Mom for that piece of advice.  Now would you be kind enough to hand me that bucket?

I give the 2005 Mont Pellier Cabernet Sauvignon 1 Star.

WineLife365 Rating: 1-Star

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From: California

Price: $8.99

I love trying new wines, and the fact that this wine was an American-made Shiraz priced under $10, it really sparked my curiosity.

I was expecting and hoping for a great inexpensive American-style Shiraz that possessed some or all of that great Australian big ripe fruit and spice flavor to which I have become accustomed.  Unfortunately, the 2005 Ironstone Vineyards Shiraz fell short of meeting my expectations.  This Shiraz is rather watery and had little to no spice to it.  A pepperoni and sausage pizza couldn’t even breathe some excitement into this American Shiraz.  It was just ok to me.

I give the 2005 Ironstone Vineyards Shiraz 2 Stars.  At $8.99 a bottle, you’ve got several better choices “Down Under”.

WineLife365 Rating: 2-Star

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