Can Woodbridge Do it Twice?

Name: Woodbridge - Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Country/Region: California

Year/Price: NV, $13 (Magnum)

Critique Review: The wine has aromas of blackberries and cherries, and flavors of plums, red fruit, and cocoa. Coupled with supple tannins, hints of spice and mocha give this wine a complex character and good structure. Oak aging adds comforting vanilla accents to the smooth finish.

Reference Flavors: Black cherry, plum, raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, cedar, mocha, bay leaf, fig, blackberry

My Review:

On the eyes, this Woodbridge Merlot pours a similar medium red as the Cab Sauv, though perhaps a touch duller. Viscosity is light, and it moves quickly in the glass. On the nose, I get some muted dark fruit—maybe plum and blackberry—but there’s a flatness to it, and the aromatic profile fades pretty quickly.

On the palate, this Merlot feels thinner and less structured than the Cabernet. The flavor leans toward watered-down cherry with a vague cocoa note in the background, but it’s a bit washed out. The finish is soft, with very little tannin or grip—more of a short fade than a lingering impression. Nothing offensive, just kind of forgettable.

I picked this up as a $13 magnum, so expectations were set accordingly. Still, compared to the Woodbridge Cab, which punches above its price point, this Merlot feels like it lands right where the price says it should—drinkable, but not memorable.

I paired this with a simple weeknight dinner—grilled chicken and roasted veggies—and while it didn’t clash, it didn’t elevate the meal either. A background player at best. If you’re choosing between the two, the Cab Sauv still gets my vote every time.

First Orange Wine

Name: Bonny Doon - "Le Cigare Orange"

Variety: grenache, grenache blanc, orange muscat, grenache gris

Country/Region: California

Year/Price: 2023, $17 (got it on sale for $8.99)

Critique Review: Has honey and citrus zest in the nose and carrying over to flavor notes. There is some honey sweetness and some grass clipping. Bodied enough to go with tomato’s sauce pasta.

Reference Flavors: Orange, Citrus, Tangerine, Peach, Apricot, Apple

My Review:

This Bonny Doon orange wine pours a light tangerine-amber hue—almost like a faint sunset in a glass. On the nose, it leans heavily into citrus, with grapefruit taking center stage and just a touch of underripe peach.

The taste caught me off guard. For a wine that reportedly spent 14 days on the skins, it’s surprisingly light—almost watery. There’s a diluted, juice-box quality to it, reminiscent of watered-down Hi-C or maybe orange Gatorade left out on a summer day. Peach comes through faintly on the back end, but it’s all pretty soft and subdued.

I paired this with a Papa John's pepperoni and pineapple pizza, hoping the salty-spicy-sweet combo would bring something out of the wine. Instead, the wine just kind of floated alongside—barely noticeable against the bold flavors of the food. It’s not unpleasant, just unexpected. I thought I’d get some grip or texture from the skin contact, but this one goes down more like a citrusy white.

Overall, it’s quirky and easy-drinking, but definitely not what I’d expect from an orange wine. A fun bottle to try once, especially if you’re curious about offbeat styles, but it left me wanting more structure.

A Shiraz with Pizzazz

 

Name: Joseph Goddard - 2018 Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz

Country/Region: Australia

Year/Price: 2018 , $25 (I got this 92 pt wine for $9 at kroger)

Critic Review: Blended from two estate vineyards, St. Kitts and Milton Park, this shiraz offers its richness without any aggression or overt perfume. It’s just lush and delicious, a friendly embrace of firm tannins and purple-red fruit. The texture and flavor combine in a saturated meatiness, for Korean barbecue. *92 pt wine rating! (wine and spirits)*

Reference Flavors: Blackberry, Dark Plum, Ripe Cherry, Roasted Black Pepper, Earth, Mushroom, Spice, Tobacco, Oak, Vanilla

My Review: 
The Joseph Goddard 2018 Shiraz is a standout wine, with a deep ruby red color and aromas of ripe blackberry and dark plum. On the palate, it delivers wonderfully rich and mellow flavors, with a full body that’s perfectly balanced. The blackberry and dark plum notes are prominent, complemented by a slight ripe cherry flavor. A roasted black pepper note adds a savory depth, enhancing the fruitiness with a subtle spiciness. After seven years of aging, the tannins are mellowed, allowing for a smooth experience, while the wine maintains decent acidity. Earthy and mushroom flavors come through, adding complexity to the profile. The finish is as full as the nose, gently covering the back of the palate with a lasting impression.

I paired this with a Puerto Rican-style cube steak, seasoned beans, Mexican rice, and blackened corn, and it was a great match. The wine’s richness and balance complemented the spiced red meat and its sides exceptionally well. However, this wine should also be enjoyed on its own so that all of its complexity can be discovered. For just $9 at Kroger (though typically priced around $25 online), this is an incredible value and a must-try for Shiraz lovers.

Bota Box's Cab Sav,

 

Name: Bota Box - Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country/Region: California

Year/Price: NV, $5 (500ml)

Critic Review: Aromas of black cherry and blackberry with a touch of violet and black peppercorn. Medium in body, this wine is supple and juicy with rich flavors of red currant, black fruit compote and spice on the finish.

Reference Flavors: Black Currant, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Plum, Tobacco, Green Pepper, Cedar, Vanilla, Spice

My Review:
This Bota Box Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of blueberry pie and cherry. The taste follows suit with a heavy cherry presence, and a slight blueberry pie finish that comes in a bit late. The tannins are moderate, not overwhelming, but the wine feels overly sweet for my taste. The sweet cherry flavor dominates, masking the blueberry/blackberry notes until the finish. The wine's sweetness also threw off the pairing with my sandwich. If it were drier, the balance might have worked better, with the cherry flavor becoming less overpowering. As it stands, it’s a bit too sweet for my preference, but if you enjoy fruit-forward wines, this could be a good fit.

Wine & Cheese Pairing 2

Our Wine and Cheese Table:

Our three wines for the pairing:

Name: Meiomi – Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Country/Region: USA, California
Year/Price: 2022, $65 (Magnum) *got it on clearance for $20 at Kroger*
Taste/Smell (w/out cheese): On the nose, there are strong berry notes with a faint hint of dark cherry. The taste is semi-sweet on the front of the palate, with vibrant berry flavors that are impressively well balanced. Specific fruits like cherry, raspberry, and blackberry stand out almost as if they were artificially added—yet there is no medicinal or off-putting quality to these flavors. A subtle rubber-band note is also present.

Name: Le Paradou – Grenache

Variety: Grenache
Country/Region: France, Rhône Valley
Year/Price: 2021, $12
Taste/Smell (w/out cheese): The wine has a floral nose with hints of honeysuckle and noticeable acidity. On the palate, it is very acidic and completely dry. The acidity helps manage the heat from the 14% ABV. Although slightly thin in body, it has a lasting finish and pronounced minerality. The only detectable fruit is a faint blackberry note.

Name: Jean Marc Barthez – Bordeaux Rouge
Variety: Bordeaux Blend (likely Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon)
Country/Region: France, Bordeaux
Year/Price: 2020, $15 (got it on clearance sale for $9 at Kroger) 
Taste/Smell (w/out cheese): On the nose, there are notes of blackberry and stone fruit. On the palate, the wine has strong tannins, is dry, and evokes flavors of blackberry jam and blueberry pie. This is a well-balanced and well-blended wine—a great example of a classic French Bordeaux.

Our three cheeses for the pairing:

Name: Murray – Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Salty, tangy, sweet, and creamy.

Name: Artikaas – Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Strong smoke flavor, with a very smooth, dense, and creamy texture.

Name: Point Reyes – Tomarashi
Taste/Smell (w/out wine): Deliciously smooth and well-spiced, with a peppery flavor that follows the rich, Parmesan-like character.

Pairing Notes:

Meiomi Pinot Noir & Murray Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The fattiness of the cheese helps absorb any remaining tannins in the wine, allowing the fruitiness to fully emerge.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works really well.

Meiomi Pinot Noir & Artikaas Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The savory, smoky character of the gouda enhances the spice notes in the Pinot Noir.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works great.

Meiomi Pinot Noir & Point Reyes Tomarashi
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The flavors meld beautifully in this pairing. The peppery spice of the cheese pleasantly overpowers the wine’s finish.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works great.

Le Paradou Grenache & Murray Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The rich creaminess of the cheese balances the wine’s acidity and brings out a touch of sweetness.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): It works well to mellow the acidity of the wine.

Le Paradou Grenache & Artikaas Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The richness of the cheese cuts through the acidity and reveals more flavor in the wine.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing makes the wine noticeably more enjoyable.

Le Paradou Grenache & Point Reyes Tomarashi
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: This pairing draws out the spicy pepper flavors in the cheese.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works the most wonderfully of the 3 cheeses.

Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge & Murray Honey Goat Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The wine slightly overpowers the cheese, though the tanginess of the goat cheese still comes through.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing is okay, but the Bordeaux is slightly too strong for the cheese.

Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge & Artikaas Smoked Gouda
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The creaminess of the cheese helps to mellow the tannins in this strong, dry red. The blend also stands up well to the cheese’s smokiness.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This pairing works well.

Jean Marc Barthez Bordeaux Rouge & Point Reyes Tomarashi
Taste/Smell of Wine with Cheese: The Parmesan-like cheese blends nicely, and the pepper integrates well with the wine’s cedar notes.
How the Pairing Works (or Doesn't): This is a lovely pairing. The flavors complement one another, highlighting their respective richness, creaminess, and savory qualities.

RedVolution - a Devolution

 

Name: Bota Box - RedVolution Blend

Variety: Red Blend (primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot)

Country/Region: California

Year/Price: NV, $5 (500ml)

Critic Review: Rich aromas of black cherry, cocoa and a hint of spice. Extending into lush flavors of dark fruit, cherry and toasty oak, this smooth, full-bodied wine culminates into a juicy, well-balanced finish.

Reference Flavors: Blackberry, Cherry, Plum, Raspberry, Black Currant, Spice, Oak, Vanilla, Tobacco, Pepper.

My Review:
The Bota Box RedVolution opens with aromas of blackberry jam and cherry. On the palate, it’s dominated by cherry, with a slightly medicinal edge, though not off-putting. The tannins are low but still noticeable, giving the wine a decent structure. It’s fairly balanced, though the sweetness stands out, making it feel a bit too sweet for my taste. The body is solid—not too thin—and the finish is decent, with the cherry lingering but no new flavors developing.

I paired this with a London broil topped with Havarti cheese and a caramelized mushroom, onion, and tomato reduction on a pretzel bun. While the wine pairs ok with the sandwich, the sandwich overpowers the wine, and the wine's sweetness doesn't quite match the savory richness of the dish. If the wine were less sweet, it might have been a better match.

Black Box Pinot Noir any better...?

Name: Black Box - Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Country/Region: California
Year/Price: NV, $5 (500ml)

Critique Review:
It has solid legs, and the scent is quite tart and refreshing. The scent preludes the taste, which is quite sharp, yet brilliantly flavored, reminding me of tangy berries. Overall, it is a very refreshing Pinot Noir. lighter than some, almost like a red wine with a dash of Pinot Grigio flavor thrown in.

Reference Flavors: Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cranberry, Rose Petal, Earth, Mushroom, Oak, Vanilla, Spice.

My Review:
This Pinot Noir presents a very light red color with a slight translucency that hints at its delicate nature. The nose is fresh with strong cherry notes, paired with a lingering hint of rose petals. The taste opens with a burst of cherry that lingers on the back of the palate, but it doesn’t evolve much after that. The wine’s sweetness is noticeable but seems to mask some of the potential depth. It feels similar to the Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of simplicity, with the cherry-forward flavor leaning towards something a little more medicinal than natural. It’s not a great wine overall, it lacks in complexity and does not make up in its simplicity. If you’re looking for a sweeter cherry forward cooking wine or sangria mixer, this could be a fine choice—but don’t expect a standout experience with the wine on its own.