Box Wines
A wine blog with news and reviews of affordable wines

Price: $15
Maker: Cline Cellars, Sonoma, California
Varietal: Mourvédre
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 14.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Cline Ancient Vines Mourvédre 2005 appealed for several reasons - one doesn’t encounter too many Mourvédre (or Monastrell) selections in the wine shop, and anything that claims to be from “ancient vines” always has extra appeal for me. The first sip was a bit disappointing - the wine didn’t seem to have the flavor intensity that I’d expect from an old vine, relatively high alcohol red. Fortunately, some extra breathing time brought the Cline Mourvedre around nicely. It has a nice, if undistinguished, fruity aroma. The flavor offers rounded plum and chocolate-covered cherry notes, with a slightly peppery finish. The extra air turned the wine into a big, bold red that would compare with a good Zinfandel.

Cline’s website talks about this wine,

The 2005 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre draws from some of our oldest, most historic and shyest-bearing vineyard blocks. Consistently, this vineyard produces fruit of stunning concentration as the result of sensitive farming practices, the singular Oakley terroir, and a unique cooling band of air that flows in from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. By naturally restricting yields to 2 to 3 tons per acre, our old vines achieve sublime expression of the dark, dusty berry fruit quality that is so characteristic of our Ancient Vines Mourvèdre.

We enjoyed this wine, and would also suggest it as a nice hostess gift - its flavor is bound to delight, and the “ancient vines” label adds some extra romance.

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Price: $8
Maker: d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, Australia
Varietal: Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvedre blend
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Our Rating: 9 out of 10

d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Red 2005 was another find on my Trader Joe’s expedition, and the second winner in a row. This is a big, bold, spicy red wine that Shiraz and Zinfandel lovers will enjoy. The nose is a powerful mix of spice and licorice. On the palate, this wine starts with juicy currant and plum, and finishes with chewy tannins and long-lasting pepper. It’s well-balanced and moderately complex. I admit to favoring bold reds, and this one hit my sweet spot.

The Stump Jump Red is a blend of Grenache (46%), Shiraz (34%), and Mourvedre (20%), all from South Australia. It won a “blue-gold” medal in the 2007 Sydney International Wine Competition, meaning it finished in the top 10% of wines tasted. Gourmet Traveller Wine named it a “Best Buy Under $15.” In the blogosphere, Dr. Debs at WineWaves said, “Enjoy small batch wine at a big batch price… always a winner.” The Rake found it drinkable and ultra-smooth. Mouthwatering recommends the wine to accompany their Chicken and Chorizo Cassoulet recipe. The Screwcap thought, “This is a round and earthy Australian wine with a nice long finish. Shows sweet characteristics of shiraz/grenache tempered nicely by the gamier mouvedre. Good stuff.” Tastes of Life liked Stump Jump’s fruity character and proclaimed it a “nice wine for the price.” Scriven Stuff declared it, “My newest favorite wine under $15.” It’s not that common to see such a high percentage of accolades; usually, a wine will be called “undrinkable plonk” by at least one or two bloggers. Give The Stump Jump Red a try and see if you agree.

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Price: $8
Maker: Bodegos y Vinedos de Murcia, Jumilla, Spain
Varietal: Monastrell, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Mad Dogs & Englishmen Shiraz Cabernet Monastrell 2003 is a nice wine for a great price. The nose is more fragrant than most, featuring raspberry and vanilla notes. The flavor leans toward the dry side; it’s not overly fruity, but offers a mix of cherry, raspberry, silky tannins, and peppery spice. The finish lingers a bit, favoring the tannins. Overall, this wine presents itself better than one that can be found for under $10.

It’s odd that the maker (or importer) lists Monastrell, the main ingredient at 50%, last on the label. One can only presume that they assumed that American buyers might shun the unfamiliar Monastrell varietal. Instead, they lead with Shiraz, a wine variety known to be fun and accessible and widely promoted by Yellow Tail and many others. Perhaps that’s good marketing, but it undersells the unique quality of this wine. It’s a bit more sophisticated than the typical inexpensive Shiraz from Australia or California. Leading with the Monastrell might have enabled them to command a slightly higher price point.

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