Our team just rated this impressive new red wine best buy rated “Outstanding 93” points, particularly amazing for a wine that retails for only $29. Inspired by the magnificent red wine blends of Spain, this unique wine provides a deliciously luscious experience guaranteed to thrill with grilled meats or even burgers on a Tuesday night budget. Winemaker McPrice Meyers has already gained praise from the Wine Spectator naming him “Worth Watching” by editor James Laube. Anyone who is tired of the same Cabernet blends should take a walk on the “wild” side and sample this wine asap!

We love proprietor MCPRICE MEYERS’ Wine Philosophy: “If you work, and we mean work hard, and you need to drink good wine, and still make your mortgage payments, car payments, kid payments and pet payments, we’re here for you. Our goal is to make wine that works hard at helping hard working America relax for a minute, take a load off, and remove the nose from the grindstone for a while. We hope you enjoy.”

THE WINE INSIDERS “OUTSTANDING 93 POINTS” RATING: Barrel 27 releases another powerhouse wine, and it’s first big blend red, Bull by the Horns. A nod to the great wines of Rioja and Toro in Spain, Bull by the Horns is a Syrah blend with Tempranillo grapes and a tiny dollop of Petite Verdot thrown in for extra fat. Almost black in color with a neon red rim, the wine boasts an enormous nose of fresh roses, dark chocolate, black berry liqueur, sweet black tea, warm road tar, raspberry extract, blood orange juice, black pepper and a hint of vanilla.  And the scents continue to emerge and multiply as the wine opens up. Awesomely weighty on the palate, flavors of spiced dark chocolate, raspberry, rose water, red plum and Chinese tea predominate, surrounded in a haze of orange rind, sweet cherry, roasted vanilla and cracked pepper notes. Definitely a Bull sized wine, with a huge fruit, big, round tannins, a long, long finish and enough weight to crush an army of matadors. Enjoy now (after decanting ? hour) or anytime over the next 3 – 5 years. The only flaw in this wine is that so little was produced, less than 125 cases. 93 points

Currently this wine is available for $29 (click here)

THE WINE INSIDERS “OUTSTANDING 93″ Rating: “This truly hedonistic new creation is ‘divinely’ inspired and extremely tasty for a wine available for such a down-to-earth price tag. Bacchanal reminds us of everything we love about Napa Cabernet: big, bold, luscious fruit with complex herbaceous notes that delivers and experience that is sumptuous now but promises to reveal even more grandeur for anyone patient enough to cellar 2 – 3 years, peaking around 2012 in our estimate. 93 points!”

MARTIN ESTATE is located in Block B of the original Caymus Land Grant, in the heart of Napa Valley’s premium Cabernet Sauvignon region now known as the “Rutherford Appellation”. The property functioned as the H.H. Harris Winery until Prohibition. In 1909 Harris leased his fully equipped building to Georges de Latour. The 1909 vintage crushed at the Harris Winery yielded some 50,000 gallons of wine, which would be the first wine sold under the Beaulieu Vineyard trademark. The next year, Georges de Latour again leased the old winery, producing a total of 100,000 gallons. This was the last time that wine was made in the magnificent H.H. Harris Winery. In 1941, the imposing stone building was renamed “Puerta Dorada” and transformed into an elegant country chateau. But the upkeep of the estate was not easy. Financial problems caused the property to fall into disrepair, and well over 50,000 bats called the structure home. The property was purchased in 1996 by Greg Martin, a collector and wine aficionado who had achieve success selling antique armor and guns. In the mid-1990’s, the Estate Vineyard was planted, and the H.H. Harris Winery was resurrected as MARTIN ESTATE after ninety years of dormancy. We visited this unique property for the first time in 2007 for a private dinner and tasting with the Martin family. They are a gracious couple and the food & wine was superb. The interior décor is quite unusual as the walls are covered with antique suits of armor and weapons. Also, many animal ‘trophies’ are proudly displayed throughout the home.

This wine is currently available for $49 (click here)

THE WINE INSIDERS “OUTSTANDING 93″ RATING: Fulfills our expectations as the “boutique” Rombauer (same vineyard source) because this is a voluptuous, bold, full fruit Chardonnay in the “BIG” style white wine lovers adore. Rich tropical fruits are prominent with just enough oak to balance out this gorgeous creation perfect for sipping now or anytime over the next 3 years!

INTERVIEW WITH WINEMAKER DAVID TATE (August, 2008):

TWI: Since this Chardonnay is sourced from the Sangiacomo vineyard and that is the same site as the famed Rombauer Chardonnay how do you think the style of your chardonnay compares to Rombauer?

TATE: The Sangiacomo Vineyard site is perfect for making Chardonnay that has very focused fruit, more peach pear to tropical fruit, in fact to try to make anything different (more minerality Chablis style) would not work. Because of this, I like to try to let this purity of big fruit shine through. Therefore, the wine is just as big in size as the Rombauer Chardonnay (golden and viscous), but with less oak and butter – but more fruit.

TWI: Stylistically, what are you trying to achieve with this Chardonnay?

TATE: With a limited malolactic actic fermentation, and limited new oak (30%) I am allowing the Chardonnay from this vineyard to express itself. Since the malolactic was limited, the full viscosity in the mouth is a result of extended batonage and aging of the lees.

TWI: What are your favorite food pairings with this Chardonnay?

TATE: The classic pairing for this chardonnay would be a Creamy Fettuccini or Lobster Bisque, but a nice creamy Teleme cheese would do just as well. An edgier match would be an top end angus burger with blue cheese.

TWI: What is your favorite Chardonnay memory in life (so far)?

TATE: When I worked for Ridge Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains a decision was made to sample the Chardonnay by pressing small amounts of it, therefore getting a more homogeneous sample. We decided to keep the pressing lots over the days and make a small amount of non-oaked Chardonnay from it. The wine turned out to be spectacular, and still enjoyable to this day. A great surprise.

Currently this wine is available for $33 (click here)

THE WINE INSIDERS “OUTSTANDING 93″ RATING: “We’ve been fortunate to taste each Blue Rock vintage so far and this 2005 is the BEST YET because it combines rich, bold fruit to enjoy now plus extremely well balanced tannins to ensure noble aging for 5 – 7 years. Typical of Blue Rock Cabernet, this new release is proving to be very aromatic and offers multi-dimensional notes of black currant, creme de cassis, black cherry, and subtle wood. The attention to detail is obvious in the wines’ elegance and velvety texture. It features delicious dark fruit flavors (blackberry, plums), lavender, and well-integrated oak, great balance and refinement. Ready to enjoy upon release, yet with the depth and structure to age and improve for the next 7 years, peaking in 2014 in our opinion. 93 points”

Currently this wine is available for $49 (click here)

THE WINE INSIDERS “OUTSTANDING 93″ RATING: Intense perfumed notes of lavender oil and violets mingle with notes of spice and dark fruit. Lusciuos deep flavors of plum, dried black cherries and currant provide a base for soft, lilting spice seasonings. Softened by 18 months in bottle, this wine is drinking beautifully now and will continue to improve for five to seven years.

93 points TheWineInsiders.com

Currently this wine is available for $39 (Click Here)