Price: $10.00 Maker: Ironstone Varietal: Zinfandel Region: California

84

The Ironstone Zinfandel is a little sweet with flavors of black cherry and strawberry with a strong black pepper finish. The body is light with a short finish.

Price: $10.00 Maker: Ironstone Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Region: California

84

The nose of the Ironstone Cabernet is an unusual blend of cherry, oak and stone aromas that lead into a medium bodied wine with strong tannins. The flavors follow the nose with mineral and oak leading the way with dark fruit undertones.

Price: $7.99 Maker: Columbia Crest Varietal: Red Blends Region: Washington

83

The Two Vines Red Wine has nice dark ruby color with an aroma of fresh cherries and plums yet a bit aggressive over the tongue with a little attitude makes one ask for more. -JD

Price: $8.99 Maker: Turning Leaf Varietal: Pinot Grigio Region: Germany

82

We enjoyed our first taste of the Turning Leaf Pinot Grigio; it was filled with nice crisp flavors of lemon, pear with a refreshing finish. But after the wine was open for a short period of time the wine develops a strange floral undertone that is hard to overcome.

Price: $6.99 Maker: Sutter Home Varietal: Chardonnay Region: California

82

The fragrance of this wine is like a summer fruit basket with aromas of pineapple, lemon and apples. It is surprisingly dry with a light tropical fruit flavor with pineapple taking the lead. The wine has a good acidity; however it leaves you with a very short finish.

Price: $9.99 Maker: Fish Eye Varietal: Chardonnay Region: California

82

The Fish Eye Chardonnay starts of with pleasant aromas of pears and peaches but, the body of the wine is very light with subtle flavors of vanilla, butter and citrus. The wine is priced nicely but forgettable in our opinion.

Price: $6.99 Maker: Black Swan Varietal: Chardonnay Region: Australia

81

We would pass on this wine but the price point might attract a few consumers. The wine has an overpowering lemon taste with a touch of peach.

Price: $7.99 Maker: Tuscan Moon Varietal: Chianti Region: California

81

This is another low cost wine that is widely available at Trader Joe's. It is 100% Sangiovese grapes from California. The aroma is light and the body follows the nose with dark fruit flavors that end quickly on the finish.

Price: $10.00 Maker: Ironstone Varietal: Shiraz / Syrah Region: California

81

The wine is a deep purple color and opens with an aroma of dark fruit with a hint of caramel. Unfortunately, the body of the wine is off balance with hard tannins and a finish that reminds us of chewing on a lead pencil. If you enjoy wines with strong mineral flavors this wine is for you but for most consumers this wine is not recommended.

Price: $8.99 Maker: Kirkland Signature Varietal: Chardonnay Region: California

80

The Kirkland Signature Chardonnay is part of Costco's push into its own branded low cost wine. The wine starts with flavors of vanilla and citrus but the flavors quickly fade into a light bodied wine with an unpleasant tart finish. Overall the wine is plain and with little flavor.