Solid and savory, the Mercana Malbec from Winc. Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. The wine obviously has some oak influence but the amount is not specified. It is also vegan friendly. … [Read more...]
Wine Club Reviews
To join a wine club, or not to join a wine club, that is the question!
Wine clubs can be great for exploring new wines you wouldn't normally find at your local wine shop. They can also be a great place to get ripped off. In this section we feature wine club reviews of some our favorites that offer wine mostly under the $20 price point.
A current trend in these clubs (for example, Club W, NakedWines.com, 90 Plus Cellars and The Italian Wine Club) is to offer private label wine that can't be found anywhere else. This has several advantages for the club – higher margins, no price comparisons, no one competing for inventory, etc. This isn't all bad for the consumer either, assuming the wine is good, as those lower margins should get passed on to you. The key then is finding the good wine and that’s what we're here to help you do!
More traditional clubs (like the Plonk Wine Club and Global Wine Cellars) try to accomplish the same thing by sourcing wine from smaller, unknown wineries. While this can be a great, you also have to be careful you're not overpaying as small production means no economies of scale and more expensive wine. We've got wine club reviews of our favorite traditional clubs in this section as well.
One more note, and this isn't specific to wine clubs but also to any wine shipped through the mail -- heat is wine's worst enemy! Even wine exposed to 80 degree temps for short periods of time can be completely ruined. Although inconvenient, make sure that your chosen wine club is active in applying their heat holds during the summer months. Remember that it's not just the temperature in your area that is a concern, but all the areas your wine must travel through to get to you.
Even better than relying on a club's heat hold policy is the option to pause your shipments over the summer. You can also check our our article on How To Buy Wine Online for more hints as well as some strategies for actually taking delivery of your wine if your working all day and not available to sign for it.
Read on for wine club reviews of some of our favorites offering inexpensive, but good, wine!
Folly of the Beast Pinot Noir – A Whale of A Good Deal
Darn good Pinot from a high end winemaker thanks to Winc, the Folly of the Beast Pinot Noir. 100% Pinot Noir from the Central Coast of California. The wine was aged in 30% new French oak for 12 months and is vegan friendly. … [Read more...]
Finke's Sparkling White Wine Blend - Fresh and Fruity
Crisp, fresh and really tasty, the Finke's Sparkling White Wine Blend from Winc. A sparkling blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay from California, produced using the Charmat Method with the secondary fermentation that creates the bubbles happening in large tanks. The wine … [Read more...]
Cape Route Chenin Blanc – A Refreshing Exploration
The Cape Route Chenin Blanc from Winc is a delicious example of one of our favorite region/variety recommendations for extreme value, South African Chenin Blanc. Chenin Blanc from two vineyards (one in Stellenbosch and one in Robertson) in Western Cape, South Africa. The … [Read more...]
Winc Wine Club - Easy
Are you ready for a steady supply of easy-drinking and delicious wines matched to your individual profile? If so, then Winc Wine Club is for you. … [Read more...]
The Complete Guide to NakedWines.com
90 Plus Cellars Lot 148 Cabernet Sauvignon - A Jolly Good Time
The dark and deeply delicious 90 Plus Cellars Lot 148 Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California. The wine spends 10-12 months in oak casks. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 158 Beaujolais - The Good Stuff
We haven't always been big fans of Beaujolais, but the 90 Plus Cellars Lot 158 is definitely the good stuff! Gamay from the villages of La Chapelle de Guinchay and Romaneche-Thorins in the northern part of Beaujolais, France. (Most inexpensive Beaujolais, by contrast, … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 23 Old Vine Malbec - Magnificent Malbec
A fabulous representation of Malbec at a fantastic price! Malbec from the Lujan de Coyo region of Mendoza, Argentina. Fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 6 months in a combination of new and used French oak. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Lot 2 - Superb
Sauvignon Blanc lovers, this is your wine! Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, New Zealand. The wine is fermented in stainless steel. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 50 Prosecco - Darn Delicious
Prosecco perfection? Prosecco sparkling wine from Veneto, Italy. The wine is fermented in stainless steel. Secondary fermentation occurs using the Charmat method. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 49 Sparkling Rosé - Beautiful (Pink) Bubbles
Double Duty! This one makes a great pick for both Christmas and New Year's. Sparkling Rosé made from Pinot Noir in Alto Adige, Italy. The wine is made as a dry rosé prior to a secondary fermentation using the Charmat method, similar to Prosecco. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Classic Series Chianti Riserva and Cotes du Rhone - Everyday Values
Daily drinker alert! Two highly recommended wines under 12 bucks each. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Lot 75 - Stunning!
Pinot Noir done right at a price you won't believe. Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley, California. The wine spends 9 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 128 Gran Vino - A Grand Tour of Taste
The 90 Plus Cellars Lot 128 Gran Vino, the GT version of red blends. BULK BUY! 40% Tempranillo, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Graciano from Navarra, Spain. The wine is aged in new French oak for a year and another year in bottle before release. … [Read more...]
Undercard Cabernet Sauvignon - A Contender
Our latest Club W pick offers main event quality at an undercard price. Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Hills Lake County, North Coast, California. … [Read more...]
Funk Zone Syrah-Viognier - Gotta Have It
90% Syrah and 10% Viognier from Santa Barbara County, California. SRP of $22 and available for $17 exclusively at Club W. Sample submitted for review. From the bottle: "'Funk is fun, but it's also a state of mind' - George Clinton Funk Zone is a Syrah and Viognier blend … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 114 Toro Tempranillo - Lip-Puckeringly Good Stuff
A source price of $20 and available for as low as $14. Sample submitted for review. Tempranillo from Toro, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Aged in a combination of neutral oak barrels and concrete vats. From the bottle: "Story: The wines of Toro have been making a name for themselves … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 113 Big Red Blend - First-Rate!
A blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo and Malbec fermented in stainless steel and aged in a combination of concrete and oak for 9 months. Grapes were harvested primarily from from Lodi but also the Sierra Foothills in California. Sample … [Read more...]
Ironside Cellars Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Worthy of a 21 Gun Salute
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Malbec from Napa Valley, California. SRP of $30 and available for as low as $25 (Saturday Splurge). Sample submitted for review. From the bottle: "This Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit grown in select Napa … [Read more...]
Wine Club Review - The Italian Wine Club by Giordano
Giordano has now successfully brought that direct to consumer model to the U.S. -- where it is allowed (don't get me started on the inane shipping laws and ridiculous three-tier system in our country) -- again cutting out the middleman which in theory means lower prices for you. … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 30 Cotes du Rhone - Simply Delicious
70% Grenache and 30% Syrah from Rhone Valley, France. SRP of $12 (source price of $16) and available for as low as $10. Sample submitted for review. From the bottle: "Story: This Cotes du Rhone comes from vineyards in the south of France situated on rolling terrain where … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Monster Red Blend - Monstrously Good
45% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec from Columbia Valley, Washington. SRP of $27 (with a source price of $50) but available for as low as $19.99. 900 cases produced. Sample submitted for review. From the bottle: "Story: … [Read more...]
90 Plus Cellars Lot 111 Pinot Noir - A Lot To Love
Pinot Noir from Monterey, California. SRP of $15 and available for as low as $11. (Source price of $20.) 7,000 cases produced. Sample submitted for review. From the bottle: "Story: This beauty comes from terraced vineyards scattered about Monterey's hills and valleys where … [Read more...]