Altes: Garnatxa Negra

Rating: 7.9  Value: +  Price: $9.95

This wine is spicy! In a blind taste test, we would have thought this was expensive. And just to prove how refined our senses are, we described the smell of this wine as ‘a mix between twizzlers and cherry Coke.’ We loved this wine and made quick work of the bottle, but it’s worth noting that it wasn’t very sweet or bold. Buy this bottle if you want to branch out from those thick fruity wines, and taste something more subtle and crisp.

• Hints of Cherry Coke
• So much spice it nearly felt carbonated
• Finished very crisp

 

El Chaparral: Garnacha

Rating: 8.5  Value: +  Price: $12.99

Was this bottle better than the last? Who’s to say. What we can tell you is that the #garnachaboyz are back. We’re going to the El Chaprral and we’re, GONNA GET MARRIED to this one! I DO think this is a great value, and that we’re not just funded by big garnacha to get you to buy more garnachas. Buy this wine if you believe that.

• A little bit sweet
• A little bit spicy
• A nice easy drinking wine

 

 

Edna Valley: Pinot Noir

Rating: 7.1 Value: = Price: $12.99

Dear Edna Valley – you took our breath away. Truly yours is a butt that won’t quit. Yesterday morning we put your picture up in our garage to inspire our grape smashing. but dearest Edna, I must leave you. Why, I cannot say. Where, you cannot know. How I will get there, I haven’t decided yet. But one thing I can tell you – any time I hear the wind blow it will whisper the name Edna. And so let us part with a wine that will echo through the ages. —Woodrow and Grapes of Smashed

• Sweet taste up front
• Finished very smooth
• Good light summer wine 

 

Irony: Cabernet Sauvignon

Rating: 6.0 Value: – Price: $11.99

It’s like Graaaayeeeeyaaaaayaaapes, in the smashing crate. It’s the Red Wiiiiiiyeeeyiiine that can’t wait to taste. It’s the Cab Saaaaaauuuuuuuve, that you just want to rate! And who woulda thought? It’s a 6 out of 10. Buy this wine if you like really ripe tasting notes, or if you’re Alanis Morissette.

• Over ripened fruit flavors 
• Heavy wine drunk
• “you oughta know” was better

Summary

It turns out we still like garnachas – also we watched Sideways so Paul Giamatti convinced us to toss a Pinot Noir in there as well (fuck Merlots). Head over to the catalog to see everything we tasted, spoiler alert, the mere 28 days did not stop us from making February our most productive month to date.