Canyon's Edge: Sagebrush Red
Posted By Susan Gee Sunday, 20 September 2009 17:36
I love drinking red wine. White wine is fine with food, but red wine you can enjoy with a meal or by itself (preferably in a dark and seedy bar listening to live jazz). However, I have found that many people avoid reds. Why? Good question! First of all- no refrigeration; you can drink this anywhere! Second- red wine is good for you! (OK, in moderation, but you don’t EVER hear that white wine, tequila or beer is good for you). Cheers!- Susan
Sagebrush Red- Red Table Wine
Aroma: C+ Granted, I’m fighting a cold today but here’s what I came up with. First the cork. It isn’t very dark and stained (not many tannins in this wine) and smells faintly like blackberries and vanilla. As far as the wine, the aroma isn’t very strong and it’s lacking “oohmph.” Smells like it tastes, a bit acetic, but if you ASK me to dig deep there is the hint of cherries and chocolate. Or maybe I’m just hungry for dessert.
Taste: C At first sip, sans food, this one is acetic (vinegary) and a bit harsh. Not pleasant at first, but then it finishes OK with the hint of cherries. With food, same deal. Some wines improve when you pair it with food. Not this one. I suggest this wine is used for cooking and/or drinking when it's between this wine and Boone's Farm. I guess that is assuming you like dry wines- not ones that are reminiscent of grape juice. As an aside, according to the website here is the break-down on the grape varietals: 60% Merlot; 15% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Syrah; 10% Cabernet Franc.
Packaging: B- The label is pleasant but a bit boring. It shows a nice landscape, however this label isn’t different from the winery’s Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Come on Canyon’s Edge- invest in a graphic designer! I, like most consumers, am drawn to unique packaging... Another note- this bottle has a cork, not a twist off. This isn’t really a good or bad thing, because sometimes you just don't have a wine opener with you. One of my favorite "more expensive" wines is a twist-off.
Value: A I paid $8.99+ tax for this bottle at Kahns.
Drunkenness: A 13.8% by Vol. Well, hard to judge this one. I guess if you drink some while cooking, use it in your food and drink it while you eat- you might get a good buzz! And as I write this- I am enjoying the wine more and more. Ahh the wine buzz.
Overall: C The label says “As you pour a glass you can recognize the legacy of the wine.” Pack of lies! No legacy tasted. Wines for under $10.00 are great for the wallet, but not often great for the mouth. It takes a bit of tasting (and is that a chore?) but you CAN find a gem for under 10 bucks. This one is not memorable enough to purchase again... though all is not lost with this winery, I might give their Cab a whirl.