box wines: the quest for excellence

I've been totally remiss in posting the results of our box wine tasting, that actually happened last winter. The news is, box wines are back, but they're re-branding themselves as "eco-friendly" - and honestly, these newer box wines taste nothing like their older, better known predecessor Franzia.

The packaging is frequently larger than the usual 750ml bottle, from 1L, which gives you about an extra glass of wine, all the way up to 3L, which is about 3-1/2 bottles of wine. TetraPaks are much like adult drink boxes in appearance, and are lightweight, and easy to recycle. Other methods favor wine that is shipped in bags, and boxed at the final stages, with boxes that use recycled cardboard, and even wood (like Wineberry). But how do they taste? We take one for the team, and embark upon the quest for excellence....

















Yellow and Blue, Argentinian Malbec (1L Tetrapak), $11.99
-> MY NOTES: Nose of bark and strawberry, taste was sweet, jammy, leather, perfect dinner party wine for a friend's house warming party.
* TOP PICK OF THE EVE!

From the Tank Estezargues (3L Bag in a Box), $29.99
-> MY NOTES: Nose of nail polish remover, medium tannins, sweet, we all liked the story behind the wine, but didn't love the wine, great wine for a hipster party in Williamsburg
















Moulin Roquille Bourdeaux (3L Bag in a Box), $38.99
-> MY NOTES: Nose of raspberry, perfume-y cheese, clove, eucalyptus (was the best smelling wine of the bunch), taste of eucalyptus, dry in the mouth, tannic, lavendar finish. Bring this to a work party full of designers
* TOP 3


















French Rabbit Pinot Noir (1L TetraPak), $8.99
-> MY NOTES: Nose of cultured yogurt, taste of black cherry, delicate, simple, coats the mouth, doesn't taste like a pinot, but was a great wine for a picnic
* TOP 3


Giacomo Sangiovese Toscana (3L Bag in a Box), $25.99
-> MY NOTES: Nose of nail polish remover, taste of green pepper, bitter, "meh", we decided you'd take this wine to a company party, if you didn't really like your co-workers, and knew you'd be leaving quickly


















Franzia, Cabernet Sauvignon (5L Bag in a Box), $14.99
-> MY NOTES: Nose of sangria, smarties, wine cooler, slightly tannic and jammy, no finish, and actually, not as offensive as we had feared. Also, Diana had never ever tried it, this, "The World's Most Popular Wine," so we decided it was time. Brings us back to our college days: get this for your niece for her graduation party, her and her friends won't taste the difference anyways, and it's not _that_ bad.