2007 Fat Bastard Shiraz
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Fat Bastard
FLAVOR: Red, Shiraz
ORIGIN: France
PURCHASED: Safeway, Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $11
NICKNAME: "Fat Bastard Shiraz"
Psydr Short & To-The-Point Wine Reviews
Below are reviews of fun little finds purchased locally. The typical cost per bottle is $10 or less, and the label probably has a little more pizazz than your traditional Barolo. But don't judge the bottle by the label. These reviews are personal and certainly non-professional evaluations of wines we've tried. Enjoy!
March 26, 2009
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Fat Bastard
FLAVOR: Red, Shiraz
ORIGIN: France
PURCHASED: Safeway, Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $11
NICKNAME: "Fat Bastard Shiraz"
February 22, 2009
2 Reviews:
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February 22, 2009 at 9:19 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a very nice Malbec. Light and airy. There is blackberry in the color, nose, and palate. Tons of wood involved here as well. The oak really comes through. And there is a hint of cinnamon here too which I feel really enhances this wine. After all, 75% of taste is smell. I don't really notice it in the palate, but it's clear as day in the nose. Unfortunately, I can't give this bottle a 4 STAR because there is that annoying little metallic tinge afterward. It's kind of a cool, alkaline flavor similar to licking a flag pole in late autumn. I've noticed it in a few wines from Argentina lately. I have no idea where it comes from. Maybe from the storage casks after the oak aging. I just don't know. -
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May 8, 2010 at 6:24 PM ,
Karl S Mann said...
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perhaps the metallic taste is a fact that you are buying a "value" wine at Trader's....try trading up
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February 7, 2009
2007 French Maid Cabernet Sauvignon
YEAR: 2007WINERY: French Maid
FLAVOR: Red, Cabernet Sauvignon
ORIGIN: France
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $10
NICKNAME: "French Maid Cabernet"
Labels: 2007, 4 STAR, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, French Maid, Red
2 Reviews:
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February 22, 2009 at 11:00 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is pretty good stuff. Of course it hits our upper price ceiling, but so what. I enjoyed this Cabernet. I feel like it's been a while since I've been semi-excited about a Cab.
Cherry and anis here, but not in a bad way. I'm usually not a fan of anis in the palate, but it might be doing this vino a little good.
The color is dark. Dark as a Cab should be.
Legs are strong. More reminiscent of a Merlot. Clinging to the sides of the glass, there is more of a thick, syrupy indication here than is actually present. I don't find this wine to be thick or overly sweet. And there is no bitterness in the aftertaste.
I've actually picked this bottle up before but failed to review it. It was good enough to purchase again, and I felt a review was due. -
At
February 26, 2011 at 8:28 AM ,
said...
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I just bought it at a gourmet/farmer's market in S Florida for 3.99.
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January 24, 2009
2007 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages Red
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Georges Duboeuf
FLAVOR: Red, Blend
ORIGIN: Beaujolais, France
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $8
NICKNAME: "Duboeuf Red"
Labels: 2 STAR, 2007, France, Georges Duboeuf, Mixed Varietal, Red
1 Reviews:
-
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January 24, 2009 at 6:13 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Thin. Sweet. Light body. But the nose is obnoxious. Terrible really. I can't quite describe it. Annis maybe. Some sort of awful cherry concoction.
I do like the thin, crispness of the vino, and the flavor isn't bad. I just can't stand the smell. I'm pretty sure I've never been so offended by a wine's nose. If you can get past that, then this is a passable wine.
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January 6, 2009
2007 Trader Joe's Zinfandel
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Trader Joe's
FLAVOR: Red, Zinfandel
ORIGIN: California, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $4
NICKNAME: "Trader Joe's Zin"
1 Reviews:
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January 6, 2009 at 7:13 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a decent wine... And I just realized it's the first Zin I've reviewed here. It compliments the Curry Chicken Artichoke Casserole I just devoured quite nicely. Very light bodied as one would expect in a Zin and very refreshing. This is an excellent purchase at $4. I highly suggest picking up a bottle or two at your local TJ's.
Being light in color and light in nose it's sure not to offend. I would suggest you could get away with serving this beverage to those who prefer a more substantial wine due to its thick legs. Yes, the legs are a tad heavy, but it doesn't lead one to being overwhelmed with sweetness as one would expect. The legs are misleading, but in a good way. Especially if you do prefer a good Syrah or Pinot.
As I mentioned, the aroma is light as well, but there is a hint of tannin and Earth leading to a dirty smell. Good though. Earthy is good...
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December 30, 2008
1 Reviews:
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December 31, 2008 at 1:14 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Okay, this isn't my favorite Pinot. The hue shifts towards the purple side a bit too far for a Pinot, which to me indicated it was going to be a bit sweet. It is. The nose is also sweet. Quite fruity. The first thing that comes to mind is cherry. Tons of it. The cherry flavor is very, very strong. Surprisingly so, and terribly overwhelming. Too sweet. Hob Nob needs to figure out how to tone this down a bit. Dial down on the fruit in this case I say.
On the plus side, there's no bitter aftertaste. No tannins what-so-ever that I can identify. Not too thick either. The legs are just right. It's really too bad this concoction is so sweet. This could be a good wine. The roots are there. If Hob Nob would just cut back the vines a bit...
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November 6, 2008
1 Reviews:
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November 8, 2008 at 12:10 AM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a sweet Tempranillo for sure. Sweet from beginning to end. Probably could've used a bit more time in the casks. Not a bad vino, just a bit of not-quite-ready. I'm not saying it's grape juice or anything. I just think the vintage is a bit immature...
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October 25, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 25, 2008 at 5:51 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
A plumy and bitter Malbec. Honestly, this is what I traditionally expect from a Malbec. It's just that I've had the pleasure of consuming some really delicious, non-standard Malbecs as of late. And in comparison this one is a bit of a disappointment. But maybe it shouldn't be. If you tend to enjoy Malbecs, then this bottle may be for you. It IS quite earthy. I'm just not digging it.
I type this review in the cafe where the bottle was purchased. A nice place. Very poche, uncrowded, and relaxing. I might as well as give them a little free advertising here. It's called Geneve Cafe & Wine Bar. Stop in for a coffee or sandwich... or bottle of wine.
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October 24, 2008
2007 Working Girl Wines Go Girl Red
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Working Girl Wines
FLAVOR: Red, 85% Merlot, 15% Lemberger
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $10
NICKNAME: "Working Girl Awful"
Labels: 0 STAR, 2007, Lemberger, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Red, USA, Working Girl Wines
2 Reviews:
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October 24, 2008 at 1:27 AM ,
psydr said...
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0 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is cran-raspberry juice with a wine label slapped on it. Nothing more. Seriously, I'm appalled someone actually decided to bottle this stuff and SELL it (as wine). It is no wonder I found it on sale for $9.99 marked down from $15.99. I can't imagine anyone was willing to pay such a hefty fee for such swill. At least not more than once. The first round of buyers were suckered, plain and simple. I'm curious as to what percentage of these sales ended up poured down the drain. Surely none have finished a bottle. Not without gagging.
Perhaps this IS a breakfast wine. It might be a decent replacement for orange juice on occation... Well, not really. It's just terrible. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is the worst wine I've reviewed to date.
Barf! -
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June 30, 2009 at 9:57 AM ,
said...
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Is it me? Or does it seem like all these Zero Star wines look like the winery paid more attention to designing an attractive label than they did making a drinkable wine?
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October 18, 2008
1 Reviews:
-
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October 27, 2008 at 9:23 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Not a bad Cabernet. Dark purple in color which is consistant for a cab. It has that standard Cabernet bite. Just a tinge of bitter and tannins. Then there is a slight sweetness to the palate. This is unexpected for a Cabernet, yet I feel it balances the beverage quite nicely. The aftertaste has a slight flavor of metal. If I had to pick a metal, I'd choose tin to describe it. While there IS an earthy tone to the wine, I feel the metalic portion slightly overwhelms. Therefore, only 3 STARS.
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September 8, 2008
2007 The Wolftrap Syrah
YEAR: 2007WINERY: The Wolftrap
FLAVOR: Red, 60% Syrah, 39% Mourvedre, 1% Viognier
ORIGIN: Western Cape, South Africa
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $11
NICKNAME: "Mixed Wolf"
Labels: 2007, 4 STAR, Mixed Varietal, Mourvedre, Red, South Africa, Syrah, The Wolftrap, Viognier
1 Reviews:
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September 9, 2008 at 9:35 AM ,
psydr said...
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This is a very nice wine. There's a slightly woody/oak palate with a bouquet of cherry and other red berries. Smooth going down, and a nice color. Not too shabby. It even complimented the stir fry I wokked up for dinner this evening. In general this is a good purchase. And even though it's a tad over our proverbial $10 ceiling, I would recommend it to any of you wishing to try a wine from South Africa.
This is our first South African wine review. They're off to a good start!
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September 7, 2008
2007 Gato Negro Merlot
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Gato Negro
FLAVOR: Red, Merlot
ORIGIN: Central Valley, Chile
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Black Cat Merlot"
1 Reviews:
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September 7, 2008 at 9:33 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Honestly, this is more of a 1 STAR wine in my opinion. It's mostly flavorless and a little too chewy for my liking. The smoothness kinda makes up for the uber legs. But in general, I just can't describe this vino as "good." Don't get me wrong. It's not terrible either.
So, why do I give the bottle a 2 STAR rating? Because my father has always enjoyed this wine. And, if he likes it, it can't be awful.
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August 28, 2008
2007 Yellow Tail Shiraz
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Yellow Tail
FLAVOR: Red, Shiraz
ORIGIN: South East Australia
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $9
NICKNAME: "Hoppin' Shiraz"
1 Reviews:
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August 28, 2008 at 9:27 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
With it's strong berry influence and it's near complete lack of tannins or bitter aftertaste, I think Yellow Tail is bound to have another hit on their hands. Bravo Yellow Tail! This is a very good Shiraz.
Of note: One thing missing is a wee bit of earthy palate. The bottle would benefit from a little more substance. As is, the flavor suggests a lack of aging in oak barrels... keeping me from awarding the beverage with the coveted 5 STAR rating. I'll bet this bottle could use a little more time in the racks. Perhaps a year or more. Too bad I rarely have such patience. Good thing for YOU!
Using the new site search option here on Psydr Wine Reviews, I was quickly able to find my previous review of the 2006 vintage. I also gave it a 4 STAR rating. Nothing better than a consistent winery.
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July 26, 2008
2007 The Little Penguin Cabernet Sauvignon
YEAR: 2007WINERY: The Little Penguin
FLAVOR: Red, Cabernet Sauvignon
ORIGIN: South Eastern Australia
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $8
NICKNAME: "Little Penguin Cabernet"
Labels: 1 STAR, 2007, Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red, The Little Penguin
1 Reviews:
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July 26, 2008 at 12:48 PM ,
psydr said...
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1 OUT OF 5 STARS
This stuff is sickeningly sweet. It's so thick and syrup-like I required multiple attempts at swallowing to get it down. Seriously, this wine could use some more time in the bin before consumption. Perhaps a couple years or more could improve the taste... maybe.
I considered pouring the substance over my pancakes this morning just to see if grapes could formulate a decent syrup. The legs were so strong and clingy there was a moment I believed to see it climbing UP the glass. This is certainly a beverage for the strong willed. I can't imagine consuming this stuff on a regular basis without going into a diabetic coma.
It would be ill-intentioned of me to recommend this beverage to anyone. So, therefore, avoid purchasing this product unless you absolutely have no other choice or are capable of consuming sryup in a similar fashion as in the famous scene in Super Troopers. Maybe this would be a good party trick.
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January 29, 2008
2007 Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Pepperwood Grove
FLAVOR: Red, Pinot Noir
ORIGIN: South Eastern Australia
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Pepperwood Pinot"
Labels: 2007, 3 STAR, Australia, Pepperwood Grove, Pinot Noir, Red
1 Reviews:
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January 29, 2008 at 9:55 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is my fault. I sampled the Pepperwood Pinot in the same evening as the Syrah. Historically, I prefer the Pinot over Syrah, but not in this case. Honestly, this Australian wine is no equal to its Californian brethren. I must deduct at least one Star... and fight myself not to deduct another. It's not a bad wine. I just wouldn't buy it over its Syrah counterpart... or over other Pinots I've sampled as of late.
I found this review hard to type. At first, I could not decide how to explain how I preferred one winery's Syrah over its Pinot. I am sure this happens from time to time. It just hasn't happened to me before.
Anyway, kudos to Pepperwood for their Syrah. Their Pinot Noir is... eh... average.
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January 9, 2008
2007 Alice White Shiraz
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Alice White
FLAVOR: Red, Shiraz
ORIGIN: South Eastern Austalia
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Alice Red"
1 Reviews:
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January 10, 2008 at 7:17 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
I must admit. This wine was a bit of a surprise. I had very low expectations pouring the first glass, but it turned out to be more than a palatable wine. In fact, if you're shooting for a decent $7 bottle of drinking wine or casual table wine, this one has nothing to be embarrassed about. Kudos to Alice White.
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1 Reviews:
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Very pungent cherry with a dull aftertaste. Not bad, but not as good as previous Fat Bastard offerings in my opinion. Very, very dark purple in color. More like a Cabernet than a Shiraz. Good flavor though. Not too strong. No bitter end. Honestly, I'm surprised by the difference a year can make. While I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this bottle again, I don't highly recommend it either... and I remember really enjoying the previous Fat Bastard Shiraz. Oh, well. What can one do?
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