boxed wine – Trust The Devil You Know

Wine Review: 2016 Pinot Noir, Bota Box

I usually like Pinot Noir, and I wanted to like this one, I really did.

But I didn’t.

Hard to put a finger on exactly what it is. The box says something about tasting like cola. They call it cola, I call it unfortunate.

Something mid palate hits all the wrong notes.

But that’s just me. Xavier thought it was alright. He drank more of it than I did but we ended up throwing part of it away in favor of something better.

The blessing and the curse of boxed wine is that it comes in large quantities.

I’m generally a fan of Bota Box but won’t be buying this Pinot Noir again. On the other hand, the RedVolution and Nightkawk Black are both very good!

Wine Review: 2015 Red Elegance, Black Box

Hold on to your hat, friends. This one is good, really good.

Xavier and I didn’t mean to kill the whole the box in 3 days. Personally, I blame the box. I mean none of this would’ve happened if it weren’t there in the first place.

In looking back at my notes, I wrote exactly this: “tall glass of chocolate milk”.

Xavier said, “a glass of Johnny Walker because it’s Dyn-o-mite”. Interpret as you will.

Plum, blueberry, chocolate, vanilla.. Finish is smooth like silk.

One of the very best boxed wines we’ve tried thus far.

And check out how beautiful it is in the candlelight.

Wine Review: Red Blend, Vin Vault Premium Wines

I’m all about the boxes lately. I’ve found some excellent specimens and it’s so much more cost effective than bottled wine. What’s not to love?

I was a little concerned about the lack of vintage on this Vin Vault Red Blend although I did find some small print at the bottom that read boxed on 12/04/16.

Xavier said he thought this wine was bland. I kinda thought so too, at first, but then it started to grow on me.

I wouldn’t call it bland, it’s subtle. Their website describes it as being full-bodied and I would not agree with that. Vin Vault Red Blend is not a big, bold, in your face, kind of wine. Rather, it has an excellent flavor but it’s laid back and mild. I think this makes it pair well with a wider variety of food and Xavier says that that is the definition of bland.

Well, you know, tomato, to-maw-toe, whatever.

I say it’s subtle, maybe not super exciting, but it’s tasty and has a smooth finish. It’s also 13% alcohol and did not give me a headache. $18.99 for a three liter box, which is equivalent to four 750mL bottles Not bad… not bad at all.

Wine Review: 2015 Nighthawk Black, Bota Box

They’re not kidding about the black part.

Bota Box Nighthawk Black is thick and jammy and remains black even when help up to the light.

One issue with box wine is that it can’t really be decanted. Well, I guess it could be but with that would come an obligation to drink all of what was poured because boxed wine is a lot like a tube of toothpaste; once it’s out, there’s no putting it back in.

I find this wine benefits from having a few minutes to breathe but it’s well worth the wait as it opens up very nicely. Smooth, lots of oak, jammy to boot, dark chocolate and black as the night. Needless to say, I liked it, a lot. And, not for nothin’, but it goes pretty well with a Little (filter tip) Swisher Sweet.

Another thing I appreciate about Bota Box is their concern for not trashing the earth with their packaging. The boxes are made from unbleached recycled material and are themselves recyclable. Inside, the bag is BPA free and it, along with the spout, are also recyclable. (So, recycle them!)

Other pertinent details: 13.5% alcohol and no red wine headache 😀

Wine Review: RedVolution, Bota Box

In preparation for the rest of my life, I’ve gone back to school. Starting with this summer semester, I’ve begun course work online from Central New Mexico Community College. This means that, in addition to working full time, I now come home and spend three to four hours doing homework every night. While it also explains why I haven’t been writing very many wine reviews lately, it does not mean that I haven’t been enjoying my fair share of wine and keeping notes in my special wine journal for future blog posts.

One of my recent favorites is RedVolution from Bota Box.

Upon realizing that the wine budget was rivaling my car payment, I knew I had to find a more sustainable alternative.

Enter stage left: the box.

When you buy a bottle of wine, a good percentage of the price is actually the bottle itself, the label and the cork. In other words, you’re paying for packaging, not wine.

Box wine, on the other hand, does not come in a bottle that looks sophisticated sitting on the coffee table for one night, but the difference is that it sits on the kitchen counter for at least a week. This 3 liter box is equivalent in volume to four 750ml (regular size) bottles of wine and costs about $20. Say what you will but there is no $5 bottle of wine that is going to rival the yumminess of RedVolution so, you know, math wins.

RedVolution is one of those ideal red blends. They don’t say what’s in it but it’s very smooth and exhibits a subtle smoky quality. The box says cherries and cocoa and I would agree with that claim. I’ve never gotten a headache from RedVolution and even though it’s packs a wallop at 13.5% alcohol, it doesn’t hit me very hard. The perfect end to a 14+ hour day of dealing with stressful idiots and then trying to teach myself to be smart is a delicious and calming glass of RedVolution.