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

Price: $12
Maker: Eos Estate Winery (Sapphire Brands), Paso Robles, California
Varietal: Red Blend - 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Petite Sirah, 18% Sangiovese
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, artificial cork
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Lost Angel Mischief Red Wine 2006 was a real surprise. A red blend with a funky name costing a little over ten bucks didn’t create much in the way of anticipation. The first surprise was a slightly floral note in the nose, in addition to the expected berry and spice notes. The second surprise was the overall enjoyability of this wine. On the palate, this is a juicy and robust red. Raspberry and cherry predominate, but there is nice structure and complexity. The finish is dry and long-lasting, with a spicy, earthy finish.

Lost Angel Mischief is a product of Eos Estate Wines, a winery that produces significantly more costly wines. The Lost Angel series is the lowest cost line, but it clearly benefits from its pricier siblings. Eos Estate’s winemaker is Nathan Carlson, who notes, “Eos has taken a bold step to become the first large winery in Paso Robles to commit to using only solar power. This fits nicely with my personal commitment to sustainability issues in agriculture, which is an important reason why I am involved in the wine industry.”

In short, Lost Angel Mischief is a tasty red blend that offers more flavor and sophistication than one might expect at first glance. It’s a great choice if you don’t mind a fun, non-snobby label and prefer a fruitier but still interesting New World red.

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Price: $12
Maker: Alexander Valley Vineyards, Sonoma County, Healdsburg, California
Varietal: Sangiovese
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, screw cap
Alcohol: 13.5%
Our Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Alexander Valley dry Ros� of Sangiovese 2007 has enticing aroma of melon and flowers, and is a crystal-clear dark pink color. It’s flavor is an interesting mix of watermelon and berries, with a crisp acidity that’s so tingly on the tongue that one expects bubbles to form. We see very few Ros� wines here, and even fewer of this quality.

We paired this Ros� with outdoor-grilled salmon, and the wine held its own just fine. It’s a nice accompaniment to lighter fare. We’d also suggest this Ros� to a white wine drinker looking for a wine with a bit more punch to it but who doesn’t care for the heavier reds. The Sangiovese grape used for this wine is the same grape that goes into Chianti, but don’t worry - this Ros� is totally unlike a red Sangiovese.

The bottle uses a screw cap closure. The winery chose the metal cap based this wine’s status as a “lively wine intended for immediate consumption.” We guarantee that when you crack open a bottle of Alexander Valley dry Ros� of Sangiovese 2007, immediate consumption will be no problem at all.

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Price: $16
Maker: McPherson Winery, Lubbock, Texas
Variety: Sangiovese
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 13.1%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Lubbock, Texas may not be the Napa Valley, but McPherson Sangiovese 2005 is a very approachable red wine. It has a medium red color in the glass, and aromas of cherries and spice. This wine is fruity and approachable, with prominent cherry and strawberry notes. It’s well-structured, with nicely balanced tannins and some spice in the finish. This is a warm, mellow wine that is easy to drink. Although Sangiovese is the grape used as the primary component in Chianti, I found this wine to be fruitier than the typical Chianti and more to my personal liking.

In Texas, this wine is well regarded. The Dallas Morning News said, “Kim McPherson is as close to winemaker royalty as we get in this state. Don’t look for in-your-face fruit. Kim’s winemaking style is elegant, with careful attention to letting the fruit speak for itself.” The Austin Chronicle commented on an earlier vintage, “Kim McPherson was showing his 2002 McPherson Sangiovese. Kim is acknowledged as one of Texas’ best winemakers, and this is the best wine I have tasted from him to date. It is rich with dark fruit flavors and an unctuous mouthfeel. His wine beats any California version I’ve found at the price.”

McPherson Sangiovese 2005 is very easy to enjoy. We paired it with New York-style pizza with good results, but considering its Texas roots we think moderately spicy barbecue would be a good match as well.

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Price: $20
Maker: Flat Creek Estate
Variety: Sangiovese
Packaging: Bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Texas isn’t the first, or even second, state that comes to mind for fine U.S. wines, but Flat Creek Estate SuperTexan Sangiovese 2004 will certainly help the Lone Star state earn a place on the wine map. This Sangiovese has a lovely garnet color that transmits a bit more light than many reds. The wine has an inviting aroma, with strawberry, spice, and light floral notes. It’s on the light side of medium-bodied, and it’s well-structured. Cherry, strawberry, and licorice notes combine with oak and a moderately acidic finish to produce a complex and pleasing wine.

Sangiovese is the primary ingredient of Chianti, and “Super Texan” is a play on SuperTuscan wines that use the same grape. Flat Creek has done well with the Super Texan concept - the 2003 vintage won a double gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Flat Creek went halfway around the globe to find a winemaker, signing up Vicky-Louise Bartier:

Vicky, a 5th generation Australian, left her native Hunter Valley and Australia�s oldest wine region to study at the world renowned Roseworthy Agricultural in South Australia. She graduated in 1987 with a degree in both Enology and Viticulture. Vicky has honed her skills working extensively in Australia in senior winemaking roles for The Hardy Wine Company and Orlando Wyndham. Vicky is a winemaker with more than 600 awards in Australian, American and European competitions. She believes in making varietal fruit driven wines with a minimum of winemaking intervention.

Wine Tastings tried the 2003 vintage for WBW #12 (way back in Wine Blogging Wednesday history), and proclaimed it “excellent.” We paired Flat Creek Estate Super Texan with grilled T-Bones, and it held up well for a lighter red. We encountered this wine via another blogger, Hummer Guy, who scours the Texas back country looking for off-road challenges and, apparently, the occasional fine wine.

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