Box wine often gets a bad wrap.<\/p>\n
Mention \u201cbox wine\u201d to many people and they\u2019ll likely say words like \u201ccheap\u201d or \u201ctacky\u201d or \u201cbad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sure, there are definitely some so-called \u201cbad\u201d box wines out there.<\/p>\n
But there are also plenty of bad wines that come in bottles or cans.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s simply a matter of finding the \u201cright\u201d box wine.<\/p>\n
Trust me. Box wines have come a long way since the days of bland, generic wine in a box.<\/p>\n
Now, you can find many great, flavorful wines that just happen to be in a box.<\/p>\n
And best of all, box wines stay fresh much longer than a bottle of wine, which normally needs to be finished within a day or two before it looses its unique flavors. In contrast, most box wines last about 30 days or so (sometimes less) after you first take a glass of wine out of the box.<\/p>\n
One thing I would not do with box wine is save an unopened box for years the way you can with certain bottled wines, which often benefit from aging. In my experience, box wines don\u2019t get better over time. These are wines meant to be enjoyed now.<\/p>\n
And yes, best of all, many box wines cost far less than what you would spend on the same amount of wine that comes in a bottle. Most of the box wines recommended this week contain 3 liters of wine, which is the equivalent of 4 standard bottles of wine. And in each case, all of the wines cost less than $5 a bottle.<\/p>\n
So without further ado, here are my five favorite box wines, many of which you can find in many, local wine stores.<\/p>\n
WINES RECOMMENDED THIS WEEK<\/b><\/p>\n
2018 Bota Box Merlot California ($16.98 for 3 Liter Box at Table & Vine in West Springfield)<\/b><\/p>\n 2019 Bota Box Sauvignon Blanc ($16.98 for 3 Liter Box at Table & Vine)<\/b><\/p>\n Entremontes Red Wines ($18 Suggested Retail Price for 5 Liter Box)<\/b><\/p>\n Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon ($20 SRP for 3 Liter Box)<\/b><\/p>\n Domaine Bousquet Malbec ($20 SRP for 3 Liter Box)<\/b><\/p>\n WINE TASTING NOTES<\/b><\/p>\n 2018 Bota Box Merlot California<\/b><\/p>\n Location \u2013 California<\/i><\/p>\n Grape \u2013 Merlot<\/i><\/p>\n Tasting Notes \u2013 Like the other four, red box wines recommended this week, what I love most about the Bota Box Merlot is its dry, flinty, earthy flavors and aromas. There\u2019s also a hint of caramel, cherry and almonds coated in sea salt. The bottom line \u2013 this is one of the most beautiful, mass market box wines widely available throughout the country.<\/p>\n 2019 Bota Box Sauvignon Blanc<\/b><\/p>\n Location \u2013 Chile<\/i><\/p>\n Grape \u2013 Sauvignon Blanc<\/i><\/p>\n Tasting Notes \u2013 I wanted to single out this outstanding white wine because of its crisp, clean, dry finish. If this wine was served to most people in a glass, they would likely never even suspect it came from a box. More mild compared to Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, this refreshing white wine has hints of pear, melon, rose petals and a hint of fresh-picked concord grapes. A real gem at a great price.<\/p>\n Entremontes Red Wines<\/b><\/p>\n Location \u2013 Portugal<\/i><\/p>\n Grape \u2013 Blend of several red grapes<\/i><\/p>\n Tasting Notes \u2013 This next box wine is one of my wife\u2019s favorite box wines \u2013 and for good reason. This muscular, meaty, earthy red wine from Portugal abounds with flavor, including hints of roasted blackberries, cherries and a dash toasted chestnuts and almonds. Honestly, this wine is hands down one of the best values when it comes to full-bodied, flavorful red wines.<\/p>\n Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b><\/p>\n Location \u2013 Mendoza, Argentina<\/i><\/p>\n Grape \u2013 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/i><\/p>\n Tasting Notes \u2013 Made completely with organic grapes from Argentina\u2019s famed Mendoza region, Domaine Bousquet just might be one of the world\u2019s best affordable wine producers. No matter what wine they make, Domaine Bousquet seems to hit it out of the park. The same is true with this outstanding, understated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. Here, the fruit flavors (blackberries, plums) are muted, dry and last a full 30 seconds after each taste. Highly recommend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Domaine Bousquet Malbec<\/b><\/p>\n Location \u2013 Mendoza, Argentina<\/i><\/p>\n Grape \u2013 Malbec<\/i><\/p>\n Tasting Notes \u2013 Mention Malbec and most wine lovers instantly think of Argentina\u2019s Mendoza region. That\u2019s why it came as no surprise that this luscious, organic wine from Domaine Bousquet was another bullseye. Compared to the Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit flavors (plums, cherries, blackberries) are slightly more prominent but still extremely muted, understand and absolutely outrageously delicious, even a full month after first opening the box. Wow!<\/p>\n Cheers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Box wine often gets a bad wrap. Mention \u201cbox wine\u201d to many people and they\u2019ll likely say words like \u201ccheap\u201d or \u201ctacky\u201d or \u201cbad.\u201d Sure, there are definitely some so-called \u201cbad\u201d box wines out there. But there are also plenty of bad wines that come in bottles or cans. 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