I've been knocking back quite a bit of cheap wine lately, not by design but by chance. Fortunately for me, the wines haven't been all that bad as a rule, and I haven't been chained to them. Besides, drinking cheap wine gives me a chance to use the title line for this series yet again.
I was talking with my friend Dominick the other day - he's a wine novice - and he asked me if there was a correlation between price and quality. I explained to him that the chances of running across a poorly made wine are probably greater on the bottom shelf than the top. But I also explained that the best wine in the world is the one you like best. Your personal palate is the one and only arbiter of whether or not a wine is "good." If it costs $5, great. If it costs $500, I hope you can afford to have it as often as you like.
Montpellier Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008
I bought this wine on the strength of a restaurant tasting recently. Denise actually selected it, but I signed off on it, too. Now I honestly can't recall what I liked about this wine. Maybe its earthy, herbal character attracted me. Possibly it was the cola notes. Now, however, I'm struck - almost as if slapped in the face - with a medicinal edge for which I have no fondness. The fruit didn't materialize the way I remembered at the tasting. As a parting shot, I'm left with a bitter taste on the finish.
Variety: Pinot Noir
Appellation: California
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol Level: 12.5% abv
Price: $7
Acquisition disclaimer: Purchased by the author
