This is another of the wines I ordered online with the Groupon. It’s a deep red color, almost purple. It has a nice aroma of blackberry and spice. The flavor isn’t up to par though. Some off flavors and tannins hit you almost immediately, simultaneously with the fruit really. There’s a little fruit at first but it’s an unbalanced wine, with harsh, tannic flavors dominating all the way through the finish. Not recommended.

This is the third red wine I’ve tasted from this label and I’ve liked them all. This is the first one I’ve found time to review though. It has a nice deep color and a potent aroma of wood, spice and fruit. The flavor is dry, fruity and tannic. A bit more tannic than I generally like but the overall experience is pleasant. I’ve tried the Merlot and the Syrah as well, I recommend all the Cupcake reds.

Smells like moldy old fruit and tastes about the same. Has some off flavors, maybe tastes a little old in general. Next.

I wasn’t crazy about the Bella Sera Merlot but I had already purchased the Rosso (red table wine) so here goes nothing. It has a thin red color and an aroma of berries and grilled meat. The flavor is sweet and fruit forward with a little kick of tartness at the end. It is a little thin, lacking complexity, but it’s generally likable. It’s a serviceable Italian table wine and for the low price it’s an ok value.

I haven’t been loving the Bella Sera wines so far but I think this is the last of the ones I bought. This one smells like berries and seared beef. Consistent with my other Bella Sera experiences, it’s not very tasty. At first it seems like it doesn’t taste like much, a little fruity. Not thin but not a lot going on. Then as it sits on the palate and especially on the finish, you get some tacky, sour flavors. Even at six bucks it isn’t a great value.

Another Avia, this one is deep purple in color and has a woodsy aroma that is faintly sweet. The flavor is unbalanced, first not tasting like much then turning into a small blast of tannins, salami and oak. Not much complexity, short finish and the fruit flavors are dull and a bit sour. It’s not as bad as the Avia Merlot but it’s not enjoyable even at the price.

Another of the many goofy-named Australian wines in the bargain bin, I decided to review only the red version at the store. The wine is 6 years old and nearly brick red in color so it’s probably near the end of its shelf life and that accounts for the low price. It smells and tastes of currant but it’s also thin and tangy, not at all characteristic of a Cab. There are many better options in cheap Australian reds.

Type: Red
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: Chile
Year: 2001
Producer: Top Wine Chile S.A.
Price: $8.33

This wine comes in a burlap sack which I initially thought was a silly gimmick (but got me to buy it anyway), however, as I poured my first glass I saw the utility. Any drips running down the neck of the bottle never make it to the table. It smells rotten, like a compost heap. I’m almost afraid to taste it. Luckily it tastes normal, not fantastic, but normal. The flavor is just basic, some fruit then some mild tannins on the short finish. It is nicely rounded and not a bad wine by any means. I’d rather pay $6 or $7 for a wine like this but hey, it comes in a burlap sack.

Yet another in the stampede of cheap Australian wines that has invaded the country. This one is a deep purple with a nice aroma of leather and brown sugar. The fruit is a little tart and that’s pretty much all there is to the flavor. It’s just a basic fruit-forward Cab. It’s not that bad though, the good thing about the Australian invasion is that they know their way around cheap wine. I’ve rarely if ever had an Australian wine that was truly awful.

Rich aroma of blueberries and black licorice, smells really meaty. Big flavor as well that has some fruit but is mostly dominated by a hearty dose of tannins. This is a big, bold Cab that would go well with a filet mignon drenched in butter. My cholesterol is too high for such an indulgence, but that’s the meal for which this wine was created.