The Dreaming Tree North Coast 2009 Crush Red Wine

The Dreaming Tree North Coast 2009 Crush Red Wine (13.5% Alc. by Vol.)
Served Room Temp.

DtS Rating: 5/10 - Smack dab in the middle!

If it wasn't for my mother, I wouldn't have had this wine as apparently its made by Dave Matthews. I hate that guy and his shitty music. But damn, this is good wine. It claims to taste like raspberry jam with a smokey finish and thats 100% true. smokey finish is winespeak for a slight bite/aftertaste. Although this is very drinkable, very middle of the road, could go well with anything - Steak, Chicken, Fish, Cheese, whatever. I give this wine a 9.0/10 - would recommend to anyone.
-IVVA

Gato Negro 2011 Argentina Malbec

GatoNegro 2011 Argentina Malbec
(12.5% alc. by vol.)

DtS Rating: 5.5/10 - Not that sweet

A customer asked for this and being that halloween is approaching, we ordered some. A Malbec is an interesting wine. This Argentinian kind is slightly sweet but almost "spicy" dark cherry with a hint of vanilla in its lingering faint after taste.   I would say its comparable to a Cabernet Sauvignon with a "spice" to it. At least GatoNegro does. I was going to give this wine an 8.4 but it receives a -.5 deduction because it was a twist off. At $6.99 for 750mL this wine still gets a 7.9/10 for effort - its currently my recommendation for a cheap Malbec (although its got nothing like Bodega, Falling Star, or Naked Grape - those reviews coming soon!)
-IVVA

Tisdale California Merlot

Tisdale California Merlot (12.0% alc. by vol.)

DtS Rating: 5.5-6.0/10 (Pseudo-sweet)

Ok so I'm sitting here rocking out to the Mars Volta, and i crack open this Merlot and I'm blown away. I once got a bottle of Tisdale Cabernet and enjoyed it so much we  killed it. Most Merlot i give a 4.5 DtS rating. But this is semi sweet with a  great finish. Berries and cherries through and through. The best part - the price  ($4.99 for 750mL).This wine gets a 9.3/10 - I'd recommend it to anyone.
-IVVA

Bully Hill Ives

Bully Hill Ives (11% Alc. by Vol)
Served Chilled

DtS Rating: 7.0/10 - Moderately Sweet

"A sweet red wine? I thought you didn't like those?!"

Yeah yeah yeah, well it was the last bottle in stock and Bully Hill is jacking up the case minimum so I wasn't sure if I was going to get a chance to buy it again. First impressions were not good. A) twist cap - wtf is this shit? B) Took a whiff, smells AWFUL. It smelled so bad I almost wanted to make someone else try it for fear it might have turned to vinegar. But I sucked it up and took a sip and was impressed. Whereas I had high hopes for the Sebeka, I did not for this wine and it turned out to be the opposite. Very fruity, very berry. Finishes with a gentle bite. I like it. Bully Hill recommends this wine for a base for Sangria or "delicious over crushed ice," let me just say, I tried it and its like a fruity slushy. At the standard BH price ($7.99 for 750mL) the versatility of this wine gives it extra points, clocking in at a 8.5/10 - If I ever see it again, I will recommend it to you sweet red lovers.
-IVVA

Sebeka South Africa 2008 Shiraz Pinotage Cape Blend

Sebeka South Africa 2008 Shiraz Pinotage Cape Blend (13.5% Alc. by Vol.)

DtS Rating: 3.5/10 - Definitely Dry 

I bought this wine because I had no idea what a Shiraz Pinotage is, but I like Shiraz and I like Pinot Noir and I assumed its some sort of middle ground. I cracked it open and gave it a whiff. I said "Holy shit, whats the alcohol content in this?" and for wine, its kind of high. How does Sebeka describe their wine? Blackberries, dark cherry, and spice of Shiraz with the red berries of Pinotage. So how does it taste? The first thing I said was it was very drinkable. Its not that its bland, its just more like such a combination of flavors, it comes out kinda flat. Weird right? It has some bite to it, but this is just the alcohol content. I'm not sure what to compare it to, maybe a Cabernet? The flavor is inconsistent. Sometimes you get that spicy cherry flavor while other times its very berry-ish and other times it just tastes like a mismash of nothing discernible. I don't know what to make of this wine. It was a bit expensive ($11.99 for 750mL) and it didn't really impress me. So this wine gets a 7.7/10 - might buy for certain occasions, but probably wont.
-IVVA

Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Barefoot Pinot Grigio (12.5% Alc. by Vol.)
Served Chilled

DtS Rating: 4.5/10 - Moderately Dry

I'm not generally a huge fan of white wine. Its either  too dry (Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc) or its too sweet (Riesling/Moscato). But then I found Pinot Grigio. I was in love. Barefoot is relatively cheap ($6.99 for 750mL) not because its shitty but because they sell so much damn wine. This wine is crisp in flavor with white grapes and a hint of apple.  It would probably go well with cheese and crackers or anything similar. Barefoot's Pinot Grigio won best wine under $10 at some Dallas 2007 tasting and they make sure to tell you on every bottle. But when you drink it, you'll know why. That is why Barefoot's Pinot Grigio gets an 8.8/10 rating - would recommend to those hunting for a moderate white wine or anyone who enjoys white wine.
-IVVA

Bully Hill Riesling (Bass)

Bully Hill Bass Riesling (10.5% Alc. by Vol.)
Serve Chilled


DtS Rating: 5/10 - Right in the Middle

I usually refer to Riesling as the "light beer" of wine. But this Riesling is crisp and full of flavor. I find it to be a bit drier than Relax Riesling, but still delicious. There is an apparent flavor of apple in the wine for sure. For some reason, BH Riesling is more expensive than the vast majority of their wines (750mL @ $10.49) but this is the same price as a 750mL of Relax and I prefer this Riesling to any other Riesling I've had. Which is why I'm giving this wine a very solid 9.0/10 rating - would buy again, would recommend to anyone who enjoys wine.
-IVVA

Beringer California 2010 Red Moscato

Beringer California 2010 Red Moscato (9.5% Alc. by Vol)
Served Chilled.

DtS Rating: 8.5/10 - Very Sweet

Out of all the types of Moscato ( Regular/White , Pink, and Red), I like Red Moscato the best. Red is supposed to be the sweetest but I think Pink is. Red is more fruity, almost like a weak Sangria, instead of being too sweet. In this wine, there is no bite or aftertaste and its taste is comparable to a sweet Cranberry flavor, with a touch of Apple as well. This would be an excellent wine to have with dessert or a fruit salad, the fruity sweetness of the Red Moscato complimenting the fruit or a delicious dessert. I am not a huge fan of sweet wines, as I have said before, but I do like a good Red Moscato. For the price ($5.99 - 750mL), this is a very good wine and Beringer is a reasonably priced, yet good quality brand. That's why I'm giving this wine a 8.3/10 rating - would drink after a meal and recommend to people who may not enjoy sweet wine, but are searching for one that they will like.

Helpful Information: If you want to make your own Sangria, a lot of people choose Red Moscato or Sweet Red as their base.
-IVVA

Sutter Home California White Merlot 2010

Sutter Home 2010 California White Merlot  (11.5% Alc. by Vol.)
Served Chilled.

(Once again, ignore the date in the image)

DtS Rating: 7.5/10 - Moderately Sweet

I bought this wine because I don't think I've ever had a White Merlot. And I enjoy Merlot (first wine I could ever say I liked) But as soon as I smelled it, then tasted it, I thought to myself - Church Wine. I'm pretty sure during my days as a practicing Christian, this is what they served in my church. Regardless, this is an interesting wine, Blush in color, sweet on first taste with a very slight, but definitive, aftertaste. It's exactly what it says it is. Its a blush equivalent of a Merlot. OK, think Merlot (I give Merlot a DtS rating of 4.5/10 - Slightly dry), add a sweetness of white grapes to it. For the price ($5.49 - 750mL), it's an alright wine. I'm not a huge fan of sweet wines but I'll give this Sutter Home White Merlot a 7.2/10 - might buy again in better brand to see what else is out there.
-IVVA

Trinity Oaks 2006 California Pinot Noir

Trinity Oaks 2006 California Pinot Noir (13.5% Alc. by Vol.)

(This picture is a 2007, I am drinking a 2006)

DtS (dry to sweet) Rating: 3.5/10 - Pretty Dry

This is the first Pinot Noir I have had in quite a long time. I am kind of surprised, its not what I expected. Not in a bad sort of way, it's just different. This wine is a little on the dry side, with a nice bite to it. The label boasts a black cherry flavor, which is definitely apparent. It also claims hints of tobacco and mint. I'm not sure what tobacco tastes like, maybe just implies its a bit on the dry side (what's drier than smoke?) and the mint gives it the pleasant bite I talked about earlier. I could taste this wine finishing very well with something like a chicken parm or any pasta with red sauce. It's a little drier than your standard Merlot, but not quite as dry as some Cabernat I've had. It's also been aged 6 years and somehow survived without turning to vinegar. I must say I really enjoyed this wine. It's a nice break from the sweet crap I've been forcing down my throat in the sake of research lately. And for the price ($6.99 - 750mL), it's a steal. Plus its got a cool label! (The bottle I have is much more colorful than my picture.) A great way to kick off my first review, I'm giving this wine an 8.4/10 - would drink on certain occasions and would recommend to those with drier tastes in wine.
-IVVA

So It Begins...

Greetings and Welcome to In Vino Veritas Advice!

This is my first EVER blog. So bare with me as I get acclimated to everything. Please check out my profile for further information on who I am, what I do, and why I am here.

In Vino Veritas = Latin: "In Wine [there is the] Truth"

Mission Statement:
My goal of IVVA is to provide advice on wine & liquor, in the simplest and easy to understand terms possible. I do not claim to be a professional. I just work at a liquor store, which gives me the opportunity and also a sort of "duty" to have a better understanding of alcohol. I will do my best to not only provide you with my opinion, but also "facts" about that which I review. I am always open to suggestions, comments, criticism, and different & opposing viewpoints.

Everything I review will have a 1-10 rating (10 being the best). Wine will also receive a "Dry to Sweet" rating of 1-10 (1 being Very Dry, 10 being Very Sweet)

I will concentrate on wine reviews. Liquor I will only do if I have the opportunity to try something new/expensive/earth shattering. I will not review beer. Please don't ask me to, I like beer and all but most unique beer is local. I will often review Bully Hill Vineyard's Wine, which is a local winery and I am not sure of its availability beyond New York state. I do this because I strongly believe in supporting my local economy. I also encourage you to buy liquor & wine from your local small businesses as well, and avoid Corporate monsters like Premier. If you are going to buy, help out your local small business as that keeps your spent cash in your local economy.

Alot of my first few posts will be copypasta from my Facebook. If you know who I am, please don't expose my identity or where I work or any other personal information. Who I am is not really relevant, and what is relevant is in my profile.

All questions, comments, requests, criticism, and things of the like can be directed to my IVVA email:
InVinoVeritasAdvice@gmail.com

And remember, always drink responsibly and do NOT drink and drive! I cannot stress this enough!