Hardy's Chardonnay 3 Liter Box

Have you tried this wine? If so, please add your own comment.

Hardy's 2007 Chardonnay
Hardy's Stamp of Australia
South Eastern Australia
3 liter box, 2007
Alcohol 13.5%
About $19

From the box:

A fresh, lively wine featuring ripe peach and tropical fruit flavors with integrated oak.

Reviews in the News:

Dan Berger San Francisco Chronicle May 15, 2003. Tasted assortment.

Of the four I sampled, the best was the 2002 Hardy's Stamp Chardonnay. The wine is fresh and lively, with floral and citrusy aromas and flavors, dry but not austere, and with a bit less oak than I expected. It's an altogether pleasing if easy-drinking wine that would match well with seafood in light cream sauces.

Inside the box / Premium wine is no longer strictly a bottled affair

Wines & Vines, August 1, 2003

Boxed wine sure has changed since the days of crappy blush wines in a milk-crate-sized container. We just sampled the Hardys Stamp Australian Chardonnay at the Wine Brats' latest "Chefs Without Hats" event, and it not only looks respectable in its tidy box, it actually tastes good. When compared side-by-side with the company's bottled Chardonnay (Hardys sells it in 750ml bottles and in 3L casks), both wines showed crisp green apple flavors, nice balance and a refreshing lack of oakiness.

Hardys Stamp Australian Chardonnay

Laurie Daniel, August 6, 2003, the Mercury News

The best of the Hardy's Stamp wines is the 2001 shiraz ... The 2002 chardonnay is also reasonably well balanced. These are undemanding, easy-to-drink wines.

Welcome to the Mercury News on Bayarea.com

Kirby Pringle, News-Gazette, Champaigne IL, December 5, 2003

The Hardys Chardonnay had more tropical fruit flavors and a light oak toastiness. The Shiraz tasted of dark plum and cherry, with a cinnamon finish. Both rate good to very good.

News-Gazette.com: Food

Bill Daley, October 13, 2004, Chicago Tribune

2004 Hardy's Stamp of Australia Chardonnay Smells peachy, but this Aussie white needed more oomph. "Some spiciness and fruit, but not much character," one panelist said. Another noted the wine's acidity but thought it was still a bit sappy. Serve with onion dip and chips, grilled chicken kabobs with pineapple, burgers. (1 corkscrew)

Wine in a box gaining some respect

Carol Emert, January 6, 2005, San Francisco Chronicle

The 2004 Hardys Stamp of Australia South Eastern Chardonnay ($16) is marked by sweet, honey-poached pear flavors and a hint of honeysuckle. It's unusually sweet for a table wine -- it contains 4 percent residual sugar, compared to about 1 percent normally -- but is nonetheless pleasant and well- made.

A bevy of boxes have room inside for value, flavor

Colorado Springs Gazette, April 27, 2005, (third choice of five)

Hardy's Stamp of Australia Chardonnay ($14.99) -- light yellow color with a floral nose and tart, ripe apple flavor.

Judges: Boxed wines nothing to sniff at Gazette, The (Colorado Springs) - Find Articles

Frank Sutherland and Kate Sutherland, October 13, 2005, The Tennessean

2004 Hardys Stamp Chardonnay from Australia at $17.99. This wine had a green/gold color and offered aromas of apples, limes and flowers. In the mouth we found refreshing apples with just enough acidity to give the wine a mouthwatering juiciness. This wine finished as a close second in our tasting.

Boxed wines have stepped things up a notch or two

Jessie Price, 2006, Eating Well

Hardy’s, Chardonnay (Australia) 2005 $18 Straw-colored with a heady aroma of gardenia, melon and fig, this full-bodied and syrupy wine bursts from its box to fill the glass with heavy tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and mango. A rather hot finish.

Thinking Inside the Box - Eating Well

Holly Howell, May 22, 2007, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Hardy's Chardonnay 2006. I have yet to see Australia do something horribly wrong. This white wine is wrapped in tetra-pak inside a yellow box, but it is also wrapped inside a lovely cloak of oak, with a beautiful tropical fruit palate and the perfect acidity to balance. This wine beat out four other box Chardonnays that were blind tasted to dozens of folks. Grab a 3-liter box (equivalent of 4 bottles) for only $16.

Democrat & Chronicle: Holly Howell

News-Leader of Springfield, MO, August 26, 2007

Hardys 2006 South Eastern Australia Chardonnay (three-liter box/$18.99). Here is a perfect example of a modern Australian chardonnay, and an example of what can be accomplished with grapes from a fine growing area. The aroma stresses green apples, pears, melons and spice, with oak and vanilla in the background. The green apple and the melon are the most prominent flavors, with an entire collection of tropical fruits lying just offshore. This chardonnay deserves your attention, especially at the price.

News-Leader.com | Homes

Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Observer, July 23, 2008 (judged middle of a group)

Hardy's Chardonnay, $17.99 for 3 liters: This was one of the few that had a hint of color - the rest were almost clear. The aroma had some fruitiness and a little toasted oak, while the taste had notes of lemon and green apple.

NorthJersey.com: the box wine industry is aging well

Van Miller, Charlotte Magazine, October 1, 2008

2006 Hardy's Chardonnay, Southeast Australia. Big, luscious, fruity, mouthful, light vanilla, refreshing, easy-drinking party wine. Best of all whites.

Charlotte Magazine - CharlotteMagazine.com - Drinking Outside the Box

Reviews in Blogs:

Jerry Hall, September 7, 2006, Winewaves blog

Hardy's Stamp Australia 2005 - Tasting Notes: Color: Light straw. Peach, vanilla and whiffs of smoke introduce this light, slightly sweet, fruity and tart Chardonnay. Alcohol content: 13.0%. Excellent value ($14/3.0 Liter = $3.50/750ml equivalent).

winewaves: Premium 3 Liter Bag-in-Box Chardonnay - Hardy's Stamp Australia 2005 & Black Box Monterey 2005

Turning Leaf Pinot Grigio 3 Liter Box

This just appeared on the local grocery store shelf several months ago, and we've enjoyed it enough to buy again and serve at casual gatherings. Have you tried this wine? If so, please add your own comment.

Turning Leaf 2007 Reserve Pinot Grigio
Turning Leaf Vineyards
Modesto, California
3 liter box, 2007
About $19 - $20

From the box:

Ripe red apple flavors, highlighted by delicious hints of citrus blossom. It's a wine that's easy to appreciate by itself, for its quality, and easy to pair with good foods such as grilled teriyaki chicken spiced with ginger, or creamy seafood risottos.
. . .
Flavors of
Red Apple
Fresh Pineapple
Lemon Citrus

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena 2003 3 Liter Box

OK, since I recently posted about the Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena, I guess I should add it to my list of bag-in-box wines. (Reposting today with additional reviews):

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena 2003
From Chateau de Pena
France, Languedoc-Roussillon
3 liter box, vintage dated
Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan
Wine Spectator 87, Wine Advocate 86
About $18 - $25

The Wine Spectator: Ripe, dark fruit flavors dominate this medium- to full-bodied red, with lovely chocolate pudding notes and smoky elements on the finish. Drink now through 2007. 20,000 cases made. Score: 87. —Kim Marcus, August 31, 2005.

The Wine Advocate: Available in a 3-liter bag-in-a-box, the 2003 Cuvee de Pena reveals plum and blackberry aromas. Light to medium-bodied and silky-textured, this excellent value (3 liters for $20 comes out to $5 a bottle!) displays spicy dark fruits intermingled with hints of cedar in its expressive character. Drink it over the next year. Score: 86. —Pierre Rovani, June 2005.

Chateau de Pena Cuvee de Pena 2003 - Market Fine Wine and Spirits - Wine and Spirit Retailer

Reviews in the News

Craig LaBan, December 6, 2006, Philadelphia Inquirer (Rated "Worthy House Wine," top rating of four levels)

My personal favorite was the Cuvee de Peña, a rustic, grenache-based table wine from southern France that tasted just as it does in the bottle - with bright red berries, balanced tannins, and a lingering acidity.

Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/06/2006 | Wine in a box: A taste test

Reviews on the Web

Nicole Goskel, AOL

Chateau de pena Cuvee de Pena Vin de Pays - 2004 (France)
Verdict: Our favorite of the red wines (tie)
Tasting notes: Spicy, hint of blackberries, complex

Best Boxed Wines: Think Outside the Wine Box - AOL Food

Reviews in Blogs

Bille, March 14, 2007, Wine for Newbies blog

Cuvee de Peña comes from France’s Rhône region, and is a blend of various Rhône varietals. It has a very nice color, moderate to powerful aromas that are pleasant but not complex, and a nice balance of flavors, alcohol, tannins, etc. It has a longer finish, but still somewhat short. I would rate this wine at 82/100.

Wine Blogging Wednesday–Box Wines at Podcast: Wine for Newbies

Lyza, September 26, 2006, Lyza blog

the Cuvee de Pena box David and I scored a month or two ago at New Seasons--it's probably the best box wine I've ever had.

Lyza.: Wine: "You Look Like my Mommy After Her Box of Wine"

Wine: Best Box So Far? 2003 Cuvee de Pena (Vin de Pays Pyrenées Orientales) Tastes like this: old men in South France sitting around cafe table outside in a dusty village drinking this wine out of tumblers after having a long day hunting rabbits. This is a man's wine and I like it. Sultry animal darkness, bramble-patch murky jam slippery and easy. This could be the most respectable box wine I've ever had. 55% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 11% Carignan--that Carignan is in there, all right, smacking of game meats. Yeehah, so drink it with gamy meats. Or just drink it. Really. It's tasty!

Lyza.: Wine: Best Box So Far?

technorati tags: box, boxed, cask, wine, Chateau, Cuvee, de Pena

Castillo de Fuendejalon 3 Liter Box

This is what we were drinking a couple of weeks ago.

Castillo de Fuendejalon (Fuendeyalon)
Bodegas Aragonesas
Imported by the Marchetti Company, Scoperta Importing Co.
Spain, Campo de Borja region
3 liter box, NV
about $14 - $19

Rich and full-bodied red wine with a nice balance of fruit.

• Color: Rojo cereza picota, con ribetes de juventud, limpio y brillante.
• Aroma: Aromas de fruta roja madura, perfectamente integrado con un suave carácter balsámico y de especias.
• Boca: Equilibrado, sabroso, con taninos maduros en el paso de boca. Final potente, amplio, con nobles recuerdos aromáticos como en nariz.

Bodegas Aragonesas

From the box:

OAK AGED
From selected grape varieties traditional to the area.
HARVEST: Second week of September
WINE MAKING: Traditional method, maceration with its skins during six days at 24C. After a deposit-maturing period the wine is aged in American oad casks for three months.
75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo
Campo de Borja red tabel wine
Estate bottled - product of Spain
alcohol 12.5%

This is the same wine that is available in vintage dated bottles. I bought it at Surdyk's in Minneapolis for about $19, and brought it back to North Carolina. It's also available at Sam's in Chicago for about $14, and just recently was stocked at the Wine Store in Beaufort, NC.

We will definitely buy this again. The reviews and tasting notes I have found are for the vintage dated bottles, which are very popular sellers.

Dr Vino, September 9, 2005, Dr Vino's Wine Blog (2001 bottle)

But it’s not the outside that’s important since the inside holds a pleasantly oaked, medium bodied red with notes of dark fruits and violets. A blend of old vine greache and tempranillo, this wine’s packaging makes it ready to hit the road and bring to friends at the grill.

Dr Vino’s wine blog » Blog Archive » Value vino list fifteen

Technorati Tags: box, boxed, cask, wine, grenache, tempranillo, spain, spanish

Angel Juice Pinot Grigio 3 Liter Box

The first Italian Pinot Grigio on the list of bag-in-box wines. Have you tried this wine? If so, please leave a comment:

Angel Juice Pinot Grigio
Imported by Angel Juice Cellars, Ripon CA (Underdog Wine Merchants, the Wine Group)
Venezie region, Italy
3 liter box, vintage dated
About $19

With bright citrus notes, tropical fruit and honeysuckle, this Pinot Grigio exhibits the distinctive color, balance and freshness that is unique to this special Italian region.

Adam Richardson, Winemaker, Angel Juice Cellars


Reviews on the web:

October 9, 2006, the Beverage Tasting Institute

Angel Juice 2005 Pinot Grigio, Venezie IGT $18.99/3 Liter Cask.
Pale golden yellow color. Earthy lemon and wet balsa aromas follow through to a dry, tart medium body with lemon peel, melon, and balsa flavors. Finishes with a tangy, crisp, wet stone accented fade. A nice value.
WORLD WINE CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARD: Silver Medal
86 points (Highly Recommended)

Angel Juice 2005 Pinot Grigio, Venezie IGT $18.99/3 Liter Cask.

Roger, March 2, 2007, Box Wines blog (Roger does not note the vintage of his box, but I'm assuming 2005)

Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10
... a mild, pleasant wine ... The nose is floral with some woody notes and a hint of clove. On the palate, the wine is light-bodied and delicate, with pear, melon and citrus leading into a slightly acidic finish. ... Overall, Angel Juice is a delicate, dry, and refreshing wine that can be enjoyed at any time but might be particularly fun at outdoor summer parties, both for general quaffing and to accompany lighter fare like salads and fruit.

Wines » Angel Juice Pinot Grigio

Sumi, May 15, 2007, comment on Box Wines

i found the wind to lack flavor, taste flabby, and was very disappointed. the color is a darker yellow with some gold in it, rather than what a pinot grigio should look like. not worth the price.

Wines » Angel Juice Pinot Grigio

At Our House: we just finished a box of 2005 Angel Juice Pinot Grigio. We consumed most of it at a Sunday evening gathering at home, and took the remainder to a midweek party. We agreed that it was very good (better than "pretty good," but not "exceptionally good"). Those at the party who tasted it (some with hesitation) found it surprisingly good. We will definitely buy this again.

Related Tags: box, boxed, cask, white, wine, Pinot, Grigio, Angel, Juice, review

Wine Block Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5 Liter Box

Another California Cab addition to our list of bag-in-box wines:

Wine Block Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine Block Winery (Kendall Jackson)
Santa Rosa, California
1.5 liter box, vintage dated
About $10

"dark and earthy cabernet is brightened by juniper, raspberry and chocolate flavors - hins of licorice and cherry cola are balanced nicely by well-integrated oak" -- Lise Skaanild, Winemaker. 75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% syrah, 5% cabernet franc. Alcohol, 13.7%.

Wine Block 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

Reviews in the Press

Steve Heimoff, December, 2005 Wine Enthusiast

86 points - Best Buy
"At the equivalent of five bucks a bottle, this is a super value in Cabernet. You'll find real richness in the ripe black currant, chocolate and sweet oak flavors, and in the smooth texture. It's also wonderfully dry and balanced."

Jon Bonne, April 7, 2006, MSNBC

Again, Wine Block showed well with both its 2002 California Cabernet sauvignon and its 2002 California merlot (both $10/1.5 litres). They’re competent varietal examples that will get plastic cups clicking. The Cab is built around plum, black cherry and cocoa flavors. It’s a bit too sweet, but well-defined and it finishes well.

For July 4, wine in a box could be a winner - Today: Wine - MSNBC.com

Elizabeth Downer, June 22, 2006, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wine Block is a product of Kendall-Jackson winery. They make 75,000 cases of each variety annually. The price is $11.99 for 1.5 liters. This means the bottom line is $6 per 750 milliliter bottle. ..... PLCB # 06930: 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon; black cherries and cocoa nose with good structure and nice finish.

Tastings: New box wines provide quality and convenience at low cost

Cindy Kibbe, Aug 18, 2006, New Hampshire Business Review

Wine Block Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Rosa, Calif., 1.5L, $9.99): With such an unassuming name, I was very skeptical of this wine, but was soon pleasantly surprised. Deep red with berry flavors, the Wine Block Cab had nice tannins and a good earthy character with a touch of spice. Some oakiness gave way to a long finish. The winemaker’s flavor profile revealed it was 96 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from central and north coast regions — and it shows. Was it the best Cab I’ve ever had? No, but it was the best boxed red I’ve ever had.

New Hampshire Business Review

Holly Howell, May 22, 2007, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Wine Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2003. This was the biggest surprise of all, and probably the biggest mindset to overcome. Carefully crafted by the same family that produces Kendall-Jackson wines, this rich red is produced from 100 percent California grapes using state-of-the-art barrel fermentation. It comes in a magenta red box that will really light up your kitchen counter. C'mon. Just try it at $9.99 per 1.5-liter box.

Democrat & Chronicle: Holly Howell

Norman Mark, September 2005, Desert Magazine

89 points. Recommended
"Smooth, easy, it's like meeting some else's dog that you find likable but not loveable. "

Alton Long (syn), July 2005, South Coast Insider, RI

Recommended

Neil Taflinger, May 2006, Indianapolis Star, IN

"There's nothing like a fine, boxed wine to complement a picnic lunch. The equivalent of two 750ml bottles of wine packed in one darling cube. Wine Block is part of the vast Kendall-Jackson empire, and this varietal, a fruitier cab according to Brian Brown, was rated a Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast magazine."

W.E. Moranville, March 2006, Des Moines Register

"In the past months, I've had the opportunity to taste quite a few boxed wines, and I've come up with a go-to list of respectable choices for serving a roomful of nice people. Heartier Reds: Wine Block Cabernet Sauvignon...best of the boxed wine options that I've come across."

Bob Johnson , January 2006, Victor Valley Daily Press, CA

Recommended
"You'll never confuse this wine with a Napa Valley or Alexander Valley Cab, but it delivers plenty of flavor - raspberry, cola, chocolate and terroir - for the price. $9.99 per 1.5-liter box (the equivalent of two bottles)."

Bob Hosmon , August 2005, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, FL Wine of the Week

"Impressive cabernet for the equivalent of $5 a bottle. Its cube shape makes it very compact for travel, and the bag-in-box format renders it immune to cork taint and quick spoilage. The wine is medium-to full-bodied, with an admirable smoothness. Black-currant and black cherry flavors. This wine competes well with its bottled counterparts in the $10 to $15 range."

John Breitlow , August 2005, Midwest Wine Connection

***1/2 corks
"Medium-bodied, and just an easy wine to drink. Works by itself or with food."

Susan Reigler, July 2005, Louisville Courier - Journal, KY, Recommended


Michael Dresser , July 2005, Baltimore Sun, MD, Recommended

"This uniquely packaged item from California just happens to be an impressive cabernet for the equivalent of $5 a bottle. Its cubed shape makes it very compact for travel, and the bag-in-a-box format renders it immune to cork taint and quick spoilage. The wine itself is medium-to full bodied, with admirable smoothness. Black-currant and black-cherry flavors."

July 05, Nick Tomassi, Kitsap Sun, WA, Recommended


Mary Ross Arlington , July 2005, Heights Daily Herald, IL, Highly Recommended

"The fun, functional package is only half the story; equivalent to two standard bottles, sealed in a neon-colored bag-in-a-box that keeps wine fresh for weeks after opening. But it's the well-made wine inside that separates Wine Block from other good-value gimmicks. The bright fruit and delicate spicy accents more than make up for lack of sophistication (how sophisticated do you need to be swinging in a hammock?) As the temperature rises, serve slightly chilled."

Leslie Sbrocco, June 2005, San Francisco Chronicle, CA, Great Value/Recommended

"smooth...top pick for parties and picnics."

Roger Morris , June 2005, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Recommended

"I did try the Wine Block cabernet over a period of several days and found it had, and maintained, very good dark raspberry flavors with hints of brambles and good acidity--much more to my preference than those fruit-forward bombs that clog the throat."

Reviews Online

Roger, Box Wine Guy, March 29, 2006, Box Wines blog

Our Rating: 9 out of 10
. . .

One’s next impression (after pouring a glass) is that this is amazingly good wine. Its fruity, spicy aroma practically bursts from the glass. The wine is full-bodied and fruit-forward, with blackberry and cherry flavors mixed with light tannins, spice, and oak for pleasing complexity.
. . .

Wine Block is a product of Kendall Jackson with its own website. They call their products “blockbuster wines”, and in the case of the cab, they aren’t exaggerating.

Wines » Wine Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

November 2006 everywine.co.uk, Recommended

"From the Jackson Wine Estates comes this dark and earthy Cabernet Sauvignon that is brightened by juniper, raspberry and chocolate flavours with hints of licorice and cherry cola are balanced nicely by well-integrated oak."

Frederic Koeppel . August 2005, Koeppel on Wine, Very Good

"The producers of Wine Block boast that the wines will keep without harm for up to six weeks after the spigot is opened. So we opened this cabernet, tasted it, went to Italy for two weeks, came home, messed about for another week or so and finally got around to trying it again. And guess what? It was fine. It's deep, dark and spicy,with fresh, vivid black currant and black cherry flavors and just enough oak and tannin to lend firmness to the fruit and a bit of structure. Again, this holds the equivalent of two regular bottles of wine."

Stores and Newsletters

Dan Berger , June 2005, Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences, Recommended
"a cute, 4 5/8-inch cube box holding 1.5 liters; good varietal character and nice fruit."

Related Tags: box, boxed, cask, wine, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Wine Block

Corbett Canyon Merlot 3 Liter Box

The first California Merlot on the list of bag-in-box wines:

Corbett Canyon Merlot
Corbett Canyon Vineyards (The Wine Group)
California
3 liter box, vintage dated
Also available in bottle
About $10 - $15

Our Merlot is medium bodied with deep blackberry aromas and a soft, satisfying finish. Enjoy its smooth flavors with grilled pork chops, braised lamb and roast chicken.

Corbett Canyon Vineyards: Merlot

Reviews in the press:

Carol Emert, December 4, 2003, San Francisco Chronicle

The 2001 Corbett Canyon California Merlot ($10) is exceptionally good for the price. It displays a cherry-and-cigar nose along with tasty cherry, plum and cranberry on the palate. The long finish combines bright plum with caramel.

Box wine is getting better all the time

Mike Dunne, December 10, 2003, Sacramento Bee

Corbett Canyon 2001 California Premium Wine Cask Merlot ($10): Yep, $10. That works out to $2.50 a bottle. At that price, you can't expect a blockbuster merlot, but you do get a very drinkable take on the varietal -- bright, young and juicy, with fair-enough suggestions of merlot's frequent plumlike fruit and mint. I found it just as plummy, herbal and spicy on Nov. 22 as it was when I first tasted it from the same box on Oct. 1. I also compared the same wine in a bottle Nov. 22 and found no significant difference.

Dunne on wine: Winemakers think inside the box

Carol Emert, January 6, 2005, San Francisco Chronicle

The 2002 Corbett Canyon California Merlot ($10) is fruity and complex with a nose of cherry, green olive and hickory smoke with complementing flavors of dried cranberry, dried cherry, pomegranate and smoked meat. There is plenty going on in this wine -- particularly impressive at the equivalent of $2.50 a bottle.

A bevy of boxes have room inside for value, flavor

Chris Sherman, July 27, 2005, St Petersburg Times

Merlot, Corbett Canyon, California, 2003: Strong blackberry jam nose with berries and cherries on the palate but flat, thin and too acidic. $9.49

Taste: Uncorked: Think inside the box

technorati tags: box, boxed, cask, wine, Corbett Canyon, Merlot, review

Delicato Shiraz 3 Liter Box

This is one of the most talked about premium domestic boxed wines, famous for it's Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator ratings, and California State Fair honors in three consecutive years. Lots of reviews and tasting notes, in part because it's also available and very popular in bottles.

Delicato Shiraz
Delicato Family Vineyards
California, Lodi
3 liter box, vintage dated (also available in bottle)
about $18.00

. . . complex aromas of spice, blackberry, and red cherry. On the palate, this wine has a soft, supple mouthfeel with flavors of blueberries, spice, and oak nuances that lead into a lingering finish.

Delicato Family Vineyards


Reviews in the press


Jerry Shriver, October 24, 2006, USA Today (2005 vintage, bottle)

The plain-Jane label couldn't be more boring, but then we don't choose our wines based on pretty graphics, do we? DO we? No, it's the juice that counts, and this is perfectly good juice, loaded with soft, sweet blueberry and plum flavors that end with a peppery bite. Whatever you pair it with should be spicy, so I'm thinking pepper steak, stir fry or perhaps a jazzed-up casserole.

USATODAY.com - Cheers: Archives

Tara Q Thomas, July 5, 2006, Denver Post (2005 vintage, box)

Wine of the Week
. . .
I laughed as I pulled out Delicato's Bota Box Shiraz, the jammy, refreshingly juicy red we were enjoying.

DenverPost.com - Wine of the week, 7/5

S.H., December 31, 2006, Wine Enthusiast Magazine (2005 vintage, bottle)

Rating 84. A Best Buy. Sure, it’s sharp and rustic, but it explodes in fresh cherry, blackberry jam and chocolate flavors, with a white pepper edge, and is smooth and mostly dry. At this price, let it wash down lasagna, cheeseburgers and gravy-smothered fried chicken.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Wine Ratings & Reviews: Review Details

Frank Sutherland and Kate Sutherland, December 19, 2006, Gannett News Service (2004 vintage, bottle)

Wine of the week . . . Aroma: Scents of dried cherries, plums and raspberries mixed with notes of black tea, minerals and leather. Palate: A mouthful with a silky texture and a long finish. Verdict: Relatively complex wine that won first place in our tasting, the Delicato, at this price, is a great buy for a party.

Take5online.com: Delicato California shiraz

W. Blake Gray, December 8, 2006, San Francisco Chronicle (2004 vintage, box)

Another good bag-in-box value . . . a strong black pepper flavor in addition to blackberries and earth. There's even a hint in the aroma of hot dogs, that classic food of barbecues, ball games and formal dinner parties (at least the good ones).

Turn up the game, grab a burger and bust open Wines for Men

Darryl Beeson, May 2006, TravelLady Magazine (2004 vintage, bottle)

Rating 88 . . . Blackberry and charred oak are in the nose. The sip leads with blackberry, followed by toasted oak.

Syrah or Shiraz- Enjoy!

W.E, August 1, 2006, Wine Enthusiast magazine (2004 vintage, bottle)

Rating 84. A Best Buy. Like the Merlot, this is varietally correct, in this case balancing blackberry and white pepper flavors. Supple tannins make it go down smooth and easy, without a second thought.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Wine Ratings & Reviews: Review Details

W.E., September 1, 2005, Wine Enthusiast magazine (2004 vintage, bottle)

Rating 85. A Best Buy. Soft and medium-bodied in the mouth, this Calfornia Shiraz has tarry, earthy notes on the nose that join plum fruit on the palate. A good, simple, easy drinker.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Wine Ratings & Reviews: Review Details

S.H., March 1, 2005, Wine Enthusiast magazine (2003 vintage, box)

Rating 85. A Best Buy. What a great value this boxed wine is. It’s dry and balanced, with rich tannins and blackberry, cherry, cocoa and spice flavors. Perfect for a large occasion when you don’t want to spend a lot of money.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Wine Ratings & Reviews: Review Details

Carol Emert, January 6, 2005, San Francisco Chronicle (2003 vintage, box)

. . . a pleasant, earthy wine that tastes of pomegranate and currant, with a good tannic structure and vanilla overtones. This wine has the complexity to be a good match with meat or mushrooms.

A bevy of boxes have room inside for value, flavor

Anne Schamberg, August 7, 2005, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2003 vintage, box)

Just what you want from Shiraz - lots of intense flavor, but little rough tannin.

JS Online:

John W. Schultz, November 24. 2004, Wine Squire (2003 vintage, bottle)

Delicious, Spicy berry character with the much desired brambly character you might get from a tart wild blackberry add in some nice spicy leathery. The finish is lush with firm rustic tannins. This gets my pick as the best California Shiraz for under $10.

Article - A Toast to the Tasty Turkey!

S.H. December 15, 2004, Wine Enthusiast magazine (2003 vintage, bottle)

Rating 84. A Best Buy. Fresh and jammy, with youthful acidity, and very dry. Full-bodied and clean. Try with pizza, burgers and BBQ chicken.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Wine Ratings & Reviews: Review Details

Bon Appetit magazine, November 2004 (2003 vintage, bottle)

This vibrant, bargain-priced Shiraz packs bright fruit flavors.

Delicato Vineyards

Mike Dunne, December 10, 2003, Sacramento Bee (2002 vintage, box)

The wine is dry, light, fresh and shot through with the varietal's typical blueberry fruitiness. It's smooth and so adaptable it will fit right in on the buffet table.

Dunne on wine: Winemakers think inside the box

Mike Dunne, Fine Living (2001 vintage, bottle)

The 2000 version of this wine cleaned up on the competition circuit. The 2001 looks cut from the same cloth, boasting the kind of fresh berry fruitiness and caressing finish that boosted the 2000 to so many awards.

Favorite Things : Grilling out? Here are some wine suggestions : Fine Living

Carol Emert, December 4, 2003, San Francisco Chronicle (2002 vintage, box)

full on the palate and busy, with wide-ranging aromas of toast, cherry, mushroom and black olive. Flavorwise, it's a winning combination of cherry and raspberry, cinnamon and a hint of bittersweet chocolate. It's a well-made wine with an extended finish.

Box wine is getting better all the time

Chris Sherman, July 27, 2005, St Petersburg Times (2002 vintage, box)

Rich, sweet nose of spice and cedar and a taste of raspberries and cherry glaze.

Taste: Uncorked: Think inside the box

S.H., November 15, 2003, Wine Enthusiast magazine (2002 vintage, bottle)

Rating 90. A Best Buy. The grapes for this impressive Aussie-style Shiraz, from Lodi and Clarksburg, are ripe; the palate boasts has rich flavors of cherries, black raspberries, blueberries and plums. Feels succulent, with a smooth texture and a long, sweetish finish, but it’s perfectly dry. At this price, you can’t go wrong.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Wine Ratings & Reviews: Review Details

Rod Phillips, September 10, 2003, Ottawa Citizen (2002 vintage, bottle)

A well-priced California Shiraz in a classic New World style: Full-bodied and juicy with gobs of dark fruit, gamy and smoky notes and hints of spice. It's lightly tannic for drinking now with all kinds of red meat dishes that have light to moderate seasoning.

Worlds of Wine: So many vintages to choose from

Robert Parker, July 2003, The Wine Advocate (2002 vintage, bottle)

85 POINTS . . . one of the biggest surprises of my tastings...

Delicato Vineyards

October 2003, Wine & Spirits magazine (2002 vintage, bottle)

Exceptional Value . . . About as jammy as an $8 wine can dare to get, this simple, irresistible shiraz has a lush core of deep blueberry fruit that doesn't draw away from its sunny disposition.

Delicato Vineyards

Bernard Ledermann, July/August 2002, Buffalo Spree (2001 vintage, bottle)

This is a light and eminently drinkable Shiraz. Shows soft tannins and abounds in blackberry flavors and peppery spice.

Buffalo Spree Magazine

W.E., December 1, 2002, Wine Enthusiast magazine (2001 vintage, bottle)

Rating 85. A Best Buy. On the nose, jammy black fruit, particularly black grapes, shines out from under oak and nut accents. Medium-full on the palate, with chewy plum and blackberry fruit, and an undercurrent of herb that continues on through the finish. A perennial good-value wine.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Wine Ratings & Reviews: Review Details

Rick VanSickle, March 17 2002, Calgary Sun (2000 vintage, bottle)

Blackcurrants, cherries and plums ... it’s hard to beat this shiraz for the price. A very nice, spicy wine that will even improve in the bottle.

California dreamin’

W.E., October 1, 2001, Wine Enthusiast magazine (2000 vintage, bottle)

Rating 87. A Best Buy . . . full on the palate and busy, with wide-ranging aromas of toast, cherry, mushroom and black olive. Flavorwise, it's a winning combination of cherry and raspberry, cinnamon and a hint of bittersweet chocolate. It's a well-made wine with an extended finish.

Box wine is getting better all the time

Anthony Dias Blue, Essential Wine Guide, Epicurious.com (2000 vintage, bottle)

Ripe, sweet blackberry fruit leading to a long, clean finish.

Essential Wine Guide at Epicurious.com

Rick VanSickle, March 17 2002, Calgary Sun (2000 vintage, bottle)

Blackcurrants, cherries and plums ... it’s hard to beat this shiraz for the price. A very nice, spicy wine that will even improve in the bottle.

California dreamin’

Josh Wesson, November 11, 2006, The Splendid Table (transcribed from audio) (unknown vintage, box)

Delicato makes an insanely good Shiraz from California . . .

The Splendid Table



Reviews in blogs:


Box Wine Guy, December 10, 2004, Box Wines blog (2004 vintage, box)

Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10 . . . A powerful scent of spicy cherries practically bursts from the wine as you pour it. The flavor is a bit more subtle, tasting of blackberry and cherry. Overall, the flavor is balanced and quite smooth. The finish lingers with a fruity spiciness. The start and finish of this wine are so wonderful that they overshadow its pleasant flavor.

Wines » Delicato Shiraz 2004

Todd S. Wilder, June 22, 2004, Wilder on Wine (2003 vintage, bottle)

The color is a deep garnet with purple overtones (or are they undertones… I can never remember).

The first sniff of the bouquet is spicy, with berry fruit that smells just a little baked (which can happen with warm-climate grapes). Simple, spicy. With time in the glass that blows off for the most part, leaving spicy black cherry and jammy blackberry.

On the palate, it’s a rich and heavy red that’s lifted and balanced by almost enough acidity and more than enough pepper. The fruit flavors taste ripe and sweet enough to work wonderfully with anything off the grill (but don’t think the wine is sweet – it’s a dry/no residual sugar red). While the finish may not break any distance records, it lasts way longer than that of most $5 wines.

2003 Delicato Family Vineyards Shiraz

Daniel Rogov, June 10, 2004, Rogov's Ramblings (2003 vintage, bottle)

Dark cherry-red, medium-bodied, with an appealing berry-cherry personality and just enough hints of spices and oak to keep you interested. Drink now or in the next year or so. Score 85.

Strat's Place - Daniel Rogov - Tasting Notes

Steve, April 1, 2006, Steve's Ten Dollar Wine Challenge blog (transcribed from audio) (2003 vintage, bottle)

Delicato 2003 Shiraz In tasting this wine there's not much in the nose. It's got sort of a tart cherry smell; with a sort of black odor not unlike the burnt water logged sewer like aroma you get when walking through the charred remains of a house that had caought fire and had its flames doused with a fire hose. Hints of burned matress and the melted plastic housings of home electronics devices with dark cherry, smoked trout, and ozone. The smell of this wine says "brace yourself." The flavor is slightly sour and cherry like, with a rather nice spice finish reminiscent of black pepper. However, once the pepper taste dissipates, there is a lingering, blood-like aftertaste of rust; the taste I'd expect if the wine had come in a steel can. I've noticed the same flavor in canned green beans and stewed tomatoes before, and I have to say, I'm not very fond of it. This wine is just awful. The flavors are just really off. It's so awful, that I dumped 3/4 of the bottle down the drain; and i'm not one to dump bottles of wine down the drain.

Steve's Ten Dollar Wine Challenge: Challenge 1: Syrah, Shiraz, Shazam!


S. Duda, Wine X magazine (2002 vintage, bottle)

A great effort was made to find a new, super-cheap favorite red. The reigning champ? 2001 Yellowtail Shiraz (six bucks!!!). The contenders? Well, the 2002 Yellowtail vintage and the 2002 Delicato California shiraz. . . The Delicato ($5.99) has gotten tons of press touting its big plum and blueberry flavors. It is, indeed, a yummy wine.

Wine X Magazine

Mike McQueen, February 27, 2006, Life on the vine blog (2001 vintage, bottle)

I like the 2001 vintage, if you can get it. If not, grab the first bottle you see on the shelf. It sells for under $6 most places, and it is without a doubt the best buy for the money of any red -- or white -- wine. It downed a glass or two with a pepperoni pizza.

Life on the vine

Randy Buckner, November 24, 2001, Robin Garr's Wine Lover's Page blog (2000 vintage, bottle)

A very fruity, jammy wine striving for over achievement. Look for mint, smoked meat and vanilla notes. Very approachable now. 85/88.

Wine Lovers' Page/Bucko Rates New Releases

Added on 2/27/07:
J, February 27, 2007, Ashley's Bog Secret blog (unknown vintage, box)

. . . it was great! It reminded me of the kind of wine that people in Italy Spain and France to drink very day. It is not expensive. It is good and it goes beautifully with food.

Ashley's Big Secret Blog: Boxed In

Added on 3/22/07:
Sonadora, March 14, 2007, Wannabe Wino blog

On the nose, I get an overwhelming sweet, dark fruit scent. So blackberries, but more in their candied forms. And sugar plums, rather than fresh plums. My first impression is that this is going to be a sweet wine. As it sits in my glass I get an underlying chocolate aroma. In the mouth, there is dark fruit and a little bit of spice. It's not as sweet as I expected it to be, which is a relief. I can't seem to distinguish which dark fruits are coming through. It's smooth and easy to drink and I have to keep in mind that averaging it out, it costs less than $5 a bottle. The wine is not complex, but I wouldn't really expect that at the price point.

Wannabe Wino: Box Wine

Added on 4/16/07:
vaaccess, January 7, 2007, Wine.woot! Forum

Fifth and far down the list is the Delicato 2005 Shiraz. Holy cow is that stuff sweet. I'd rate it a 72.

Woot Wine: The Community: Woot Wine Requests?

Reviews in stores & newsletters:

P.C., The Wine Source (Baltimore MD), August 23, 2006, Unfiltered (2005 vintage, box)

. . . this is very good wine. And, let me tell you, I hate having to admit that. I truly wish this wine sucked so I could let my bias against the stuff on the outside of the box win. Instead, I’m forced to admit that if you’re looking for Syrah from California, then you could do much, much worse than this wine.

winemail issue 17, August 23.p65

Randal Caparoso, Novus Vinum online wine guide (unkown vintage, bottle)

This could very well be the best wine sold for under $8 in the world as we know it. It positively exudes the best qualities of the grape—sweet, violet perfumes, touches of ginger and cracked peppercorn, and black and blue berries in the nose. Once you’re hooked, it proceeds to slap you across the palate—full, yet amazingly soft and sensuous flavors suggesting the ripest black cherries, plums steeped in pepper, and even an exotic touch of pomegranate.

Dreams of Velvety Reds

July 8, 2002, Professional Friends of Wine online wine guide (2001 vintage, bottle)

Dark color; Dense, complex, sweet, young, grapey, tutti-frutti, black fruit, blackberry, raisin, gamey, oak, tar, dill and mint (onion?, bleach?) aromas; clean, ripe, juicy, black currant, blackberry, mincemeat, mineral and slightly musty flavors; smooth, light, thin body (diluted?); good balance, slightly sweet, slightly tart; flavorful, drying, slightly hard, slightly tannic finish. 13.5% alcohol. Although this wine has a slightly tannic finish, it has good flavors and is fairly easy to drink. It is neither exciting, nor offensive, which are much better stats than most wines in the price range. ($5) BEST BUY

Barbecue RedsTasting Notes | Professional Friends of Wine

Speakeasy Jazz, Winston-Salem (unknown vintage, unkown package)

Dense purple hue that coats the glass with its intensity and richness. The aroma unfolds with blueberries and plums and finishes with nuances of oak. This is a full-bodied wine with amazing depth and complexity revealed in layers from blueberry to blackberry and leather to earth. The tannins are soft and rounded and dissolve into a lingering plum and spice finish.

Speakeasy Jazz | Winston-Salem, NC

technorati tags: box, boxed, wine, Delicato, Shiraz, Syrah

Dtour Chardonnay 3 Liter Box

This is the French Chard in a tube, brought to us by chef Daniel Boulud, sommelier Daniel Johnnes, and vigneron Dominique Lafon. Robert Parker likes it (read down for his review).

Dtour 2004 Chardonnay
Imported by Dtour
Macon-Villages, France
3 liter box
About $35 - $45

Reviews in the press:

Mike Steinberger, August 1, 2006, Slate

Very assertive aromas, with a big whiff of honeysuckle, and some pineapple and verbena thrown in. Crisp and clean in the mouth, with more honeysuckle and a pronounced grapefruit note. Gently spicy across the palate. Nice.

Can good wine come in a box? - By Mike Steinberger - Slate Magazine

Lawrence Osborne, August 21, 2006, Men's Vogue

. . . a basic, very apple-flavored table wine.

the art and craft of box wine: Cellar: mensvogue.com

Bruce Sanderson, October 27, 2005, Wine Spectator

The wine shows good regional character, exhibiting fresh, crisp-apple and mineral flavors on a medium-bodied frame.

Dtour Wine

Josh Wesson, November 11, 2006, The Splendid Table (NPR radio)

My absolute favorite of the tappable boxes ... I've tapped this and given it to my wine friends; it blows their minds every time.

Jessie Price, 2006, Eating Well

We tried to stick with wines available nationwide but this one was so good we had to break the rules; it’s only in New Jersey, New York and Maryland stores to date, but distribution will be expanded across the U.S. in the next year. This light, crisp wine has green apple, mild vanilla and light yeasty flavors.

Thinking Inside the Box - Eating Well

Reviews in blogs and forums:

Robert Parker, November 22, 2005, Mark Squire's Wine Bulletin Board

Last night I tasted the upscale dtour 2004 Macon-Villages in a "tube"...actually a high tech bag-in-the-box representing 3 liters of wine(about 4 bottles) that has been assembled and marketed by Dominque Lafon,Daniel Boulud,and Daniel Johnnes(about $37)....and what a refreshing non-oaked vibrant and tasty 100% chardonnay and very authentic Macon. All three men are at the tops of their respective professions(wine-maker,chef,and sommelier) so I wasn't surprised by how good this light to medium-bodied relatively modest alcohol(13%) wine has turned out......and I tasted it from a tube that had been opened for two weeks....so the technology for preserving the wine's freshness and personality works very well....I predict this is going to be a huge success for all of us in need of a non-wooded vivacious dry white to drink casually.....bravo to them....it is imported by Daniel Johnnes...212-625-2505...and I assume very respectable availability....

Mark Squires' BB on eRobertParker.com: Incroyable...DTOUR....

Zita Keeley, January 2006, All I Do Is Wine

This Chardonnay is first rate without tremendous oakiness that so many Chardonnays have.

news & trips

Mitchell Pressman, December 2, 2005, Pressman's Wine Journal

impeccably fresh, classic little Macon-Villages that'll stay fresh for up to six weeks after opening.

Pressman's Wine Journal: 2 December 2005 - Catching up again

Tom & Amy, December 13, 2005, Simple Machines Forum

Tom(B) Amy(D) Notes: French wine in a box! Heh. Its has a very very light color, but a very sweet nose. It has some oak to it but very interestingly its Quite Sweet tasting as well. I think its ok. Amy doesn't!

Fine wines to end the year -- 13 December 2005

Andrew Dornenburg & Karen Page, December 1, 2005, Andrew & Karen's Web Log

We tasted two versions of the 2004 wine -- one that had just been opened, and another we were told had been opened two weeks prior. Both were medium-bodied made from Chardonnay grapes and had a deliciously fresh, crisp flavor, with no sign at all of oxidation.

Blog of Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page - December 2005 (Food, Wine, Restaurants)

Ali Rose, January 4, 2006, redteeth forum

A light, inexpensive white that does well with mild tasting foods, but is outdone by sharp cheeses and meat.

redteeth review for DTOUR, Macon-Villages, 2004

Kelly Son, February 9, 2006, redteeth blog

Typical inexpensive white wine. Slight aftertaste at first, but non distracting to the foods you eat with it. Light, great "tube" for a night in. Actually, good for just about any occasion - just don't call it boxed.

redteeth review for DTOUR, Macon-Villages, 2004

Pitu, March 3, 2006, Brooklynian.com

it does not suck ... it's pretty good

Brooklynian.com | Forums for the County of Kings | Brooklyn, NY :: View topic - Fermented Grapes vs. my wallet

Wine11256917, May 26, 2006, garyswine.com

Nice surprise . . . Terrific wine to have on hand and sip throughout the summer on the deck. (4 out of 5 stars)

GarysWine.com: 2004 Dtour Macon Villages Chardonnay (in double magnum)

pinot10005627, June 5, 2006, garyswine.com

Not very good tasting (1 out of 5 stars)

GarysWine.com: 2004 Dtour Macon Villages Chardonnay (in double magnum)

technorati tags: box, boxed, wine, Dtour, Chardonnay, review

FishEye Shiraz 3 Liter Box

FishEye Winery is a recent entry into the currently trendy field of "critter wines." This is one of two FishEye wines offered bag-in-box packaging.

FishEye Shiraz
From FishEye Winery, The Wine Group
California
3 liter box, vintage dated (also available in bottle)
About $17 - $20

This hearty red delivers lifted berry aromas with black cherry, cola and spice. Generous ripe berry fruit leads to a lush, soft, balanced finish. Pairs fantastically well with grilled veggies, barbecued meats and hearty cheeses.

Fish Eye Wines

Reviews in the press:

Jon Bonne, June 23, 2006, MSNBC

Fish Eye Shiraz ... offers pretty peppery aromas as you go, unusual for inexpensive fruit-juicy shiraz. ... Boldly peppery, with dry-leaf notes and a bright, easygoing disposition. Nicely aromatic, with a juicy berry finish. Vintage not marked on the mini bottles, but an $18 3-liter box was from the 2004 harvest.

MSNBC

Craig LaBan, December 6, 2006, Philadelphia Inquirer

Party Worthy - Fish Eye shiraz (California; $19.99) ( 3 points out of 4)

Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/06/2006 | Wine in a box: A taste test

Reviews in blogs:

Sheldon, June 11, 2006, Cork'd

3 out of 5 stars
. . .
Fish Eye Shiraz has, for lack of a better word, a lot of 'POP!' to it. Light in colour, rich with berries, and spice (pepper) this wine arrives with a wonderfully sharp entrance, and smooth easy finish.

Cork'd

Added 3/2/2007:
Roger, February 13, 2007, Box Wines blog (2003, 3 liter box)

Our Rating: 8 out of 10 . . . The wine has a nice aroma with leather, berry, and spice notes. The flavor is plummy with additional cherry and oak notes leading into a slightly peppery finish. We found this wine to be a bit better if it’s given a chance to breathe.

Wines » Fish Eye Shiraz 2003

Related Tags: box, boxed, wine, review, FishEye, shiraz

Tefft Cellars Cabernet-Merlot 4 Liter Box

Tefft Cellars is a small family-owned winery in Washington's Yakima Valley. Tefft offers specialty wines and vintages in limited quantities, including two boxed wines which have sold beyond Joel Tefft's expectations; this Cab-Merlot blend has become the biggest seller in his line-up.

Tefft Cellars Cabernet-Merlot
Tefft Cellars
Yakima Valley, Washington
4 liter box, NV
About $20 - $34

This is a classic Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine shows rich flavors of berries and plums, making it an enjoyable wine, with or without food. The 4-liter box is just right for parties, reunions, boating, RVing or single glass servings.

Tefft Cellars Winery - A complete Yakima Valley Wine Country Experience

Reviews in the press:

Roger Downey, February 16, 2005, Seattle Weekly

A robust Bordeaux-style red (60 percent cabernet sauvignon, 40 percent merlot), it has enough tannin and oak to give the wine some weight on the palate without sacrificing a fine, lingering fruity finish that makes it agreeable to drink on its own, and first-rate with food.

Box Score (Seattle Weekly)

October 2003, Food & Wine magazine

106 BEST WINE FROM A BOX It took some cajoling to get F&W editors to a tasting of boxed wines. The surprisingly delicious winner: a blend of Cabernet and Merlot from Washington State's Tefft Cellars. Juicy and ripe, at $30 for 4 liters (the equivalent of five bottles) it's a great deal.

125 Reasons We Love Wine | Food & Wine

Reviews in blogs & forums:


MagnumGourmet, October 28, 2004, cellartracker.com

Best boxed wine ever.

N.V. Tefft Cellars Cabernet-Merlot (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley) - CellarTracker!

technorati tags: box, boxed, wine, Cabernet, Merlot, Tefft, Cellars

Le Faux Frog Pinot Noir 3 Liter Box

This French Pinot Noir is imported by Todd Williams of Toad Hollow Vineyards and boxed under the a whimsical and eye-catching critter label.

Le Faux Frog 2004 Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc
From Toad Hollow Vineyards
Limoux, France
3 liter box
About $25.00

Todd Williams (aka "the Toadster") is quite a character. There's an interesting interview with him in Evansville, Indiana's What's Cooking. Catch it in the reprint on the Toad Hollow site. He's Robin Williams brother (half) and had a cameo in Mrs. Doubtfire.

I found this Pinot Noir available at MGM Liquor Warehouse in Minneapolis, and I am looking forward to opening the box I have set aside for Christmas dinner.

P.S. We loved it! Le Faux Frog Pinot Noir is the new favorite of the Fly by Night crew. My husband loves it, and wants me to find more. We give it four out of five stars. Lovely color, good legs, very fragrant and tasty. A significant amount of sediment. I recommend decanting, as we did each night we drank it; or at least, don't jostle the box around.

technorati tags: box, boxed, wine, pinot, noir, Toad Hollow

Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon 5 Liter Box

One of the original big three, Almaden Cab is a 5 liter box that many actually find "slurpable."

Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon
From Almaden Vineyards, Centerra Wine Company, Constellation Brands
California
5 liter box (also available in bottle)
About $12.00 - $19.00

Almaden’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a rewardingly rich dark-red wine with robust character. Ideal with richer foods.

Almaden Vineyards - Our Wines - Cabernet Sauvignon

Reviews in the press:

Carol Emert, December 4, 2003, San Francisco Chronicle

The traditional, 5-liter box wines ranged from surprisingly good to shockingly bad. I was most impressed with Almaden's Cabernet Sauvignon ($10), which tasted and smelled like Cab, although it was very, very light.

Box wine is getting better all the time

Frank Sutherland and Kate Sutherland, December 14, 2005, The Tennessean

Non-vintage Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon
$18.99 (5 liter box)
Musky grape juice. Reminiscent of flat cherry cola.
Some acids and structure on the palate.
Fruit and acids battle too much. Not well balanced.

Jessie Price, 2006, Eating Well

We were pleasantly surprised by the Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon in the 5-liter box, though it didn’t make our Top 12 ranking.

Thinking Inside the Box - Eating Well

Cindy Kibbe, Aug 18, 2006, New Hampshire Business Review

Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon (California, 5L, $13.99): Use this wine in a marinade. ‘Nuf said.

New Hampshire Business Review

Tim Protzman, November 9, 2006, the Manchester Hippo

Better than I expected

HippoPress -- The Hippo -- Guide to Manchester and Nashua NH

Reviews in Blogs:

Box Wine Guy, November 23, 2005, Box Wines blog

Our Rating: 7 out of 10
. . .
With the price comes middling quality. The Almaden boxed Cab is probably the best of the 5 liter group, at least from a red standpoint. It has a pleasant, if faint, fruity/floral aroma. Its color is deep garnet. The flavor is of berries, with fairly strong tannins. The overall impression is a bit thin and light. A couple of times I detected a very slight, fishy off-note. The finish offers a lingering hint of pepper.

Wines » Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon - Box

Reviews in Stores:

Beverages & More

The Almaden Cabernet drinks nicely and has no edges or hard spots

BevMo - Almaden Cabernet Box

technorati tags: box, boxed, wine, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Almaden, review