![]() At 15.6 percent abv, this wine was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” I think the winery has really hit on something here. The label is an easily recognizable image of a buffalo, which is a symbol of our nation’s heritage and the American pioneering spirit. Some of these barrels were 13-year-old, single-use barrels, used to make the highest quality bourbon. The bourbon barrels used for the final aging portion are from famed distilleries such as Heaven Hill and Four Roses. There is a sweet note of Bourbon on the mid-palate that nicely accents the rich Zin flavors without being pushy. True varietal character for a classic red Zinfandel - jammy blueberry, boysenberry, vanilla, pepper and spice. The top choice of most, this wine could be the poster child for the Bourbon category. Voted “Most Elegant.”ġ000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel ($18). The bourbon note is subtle on the finish, and leaves a warming sensation long after the last swallow. The color is beautiful garnet in the glass, with flavors of dark plum and berry and a definite Old World touch of dusty earth. They come from a bourbon producer by the name of Pappy Van Winkle. The barrels used for this wine are special ones. The blend is 50 percent Monastrell and 50 percent Syrah grapes. The wine is made in the Murcia region of Spain, and had the lightest color and one of the lowest alcohol levels at 14.5 percent alcohol by volume. ![]() In fact, I think more than a few tasters were surprised by the elegant complexity of the wines. The bourbon notes were well-integrated, without drowning the varietal character of the wine. Overall, the judges felt that the wines were well balanced, and not as overblown as their category suggests. After all was sipped and done, here are the condensed results from a cross-section of fine wine drinkers regarding the crazy new style of red wine that is aged in used Bourbon oak barrels. And although some tasters felt it was rigged, there was absolutely no proof that anyone had tampered with the ballots. Here's our guide to every boxed wine we could find at major grocery stores, ranked from best to worst.It has been a “bourbon cask” wine kind of week, and the votes have been trickling in. The price/bottle calculations are based on what we paid, but may vary when you make your purchase. We found the most wines at Fred Meyer and QFC, which both had a sale running when we bought the wines. Wines were purchased from Fred Meyer, QFC, New Seasons, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. ![]() Reds are mostly cabernet sauvignon with an occasional merlot, pinot noir or Italian/Spanish variety. Most of the whites are pinot grigio, with a handful of sauvignon blanc and chardonnay (not our favorite) mixed in, depending on what producers offered. For both reds and whites, we tried to buy the same variety. On a recent fateful evening with the upcoming winter holidays in mind, we sat down and blind-sampled 45 boxed wines - 19 white and 26 red wines - to bring you this ranked guide to the best and the worst wines available at major grocery stores across the city. In the past few years, boxed wine has grown into a compelling genre of its own, reaching beyond the familiar Franzia and Carlo Rossi to include European brands and even local Oregon and Washington wineries. Boxed wine has long been one of the most maligned wines in the industry, even though it's always been the more affordable and environmentally friendly option. If you're trying to drink wine on a budget and you're not drinking boxed wine, you're missing out.
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