Winey Tasting Notes: Target’s Wine Cubes

Go ahead and shake your head and say – wine in a box? Really?

Yes really. I have nothing against the container that my vino comes in, as long as the wine itself is good. And really, haven’t we all been told not to judge a book by its cover? Same thing with wine.

One fine day, as I was indulging in one of my frequent trips around Target, I got to the wine aisle. Yes, my Target sells wine. And beer. Yay me. (This was not always the case due to local liquor zoning laws, and I still celebrate the fact that they changed them.)  I really did need to pick up some coffee, and happily, the coffee and the wine are in the same aisle. I have yet to figure out the deep meaning behind this, but I’m sure there is one.

It dawned on me that the Wine Cube boxes were always right there as I entered the aisle and that it was high time that I tried them out. Summer was coming and I love the idea of a box for outdoor imbibing. The smaller cubes are just perfect for my sipping, since I am the only one at home right now who drinks wine on a regular basis. And they’re the perfect size for trying too. At $5, the price is also perfectly right.

Some background here: Wine Cube is made especially for Target by Trinchero Family Estates, which is parent to a ton of wines out on the market today. Target sells a whole range of different varietals, and so far I’ve tried three of them to review. The large boxes hold the equivalent of four bottles of wine, the one litres hold about 6 glasses and the small boxes (500 ml) hold three glasses. The box keeps them fresh longer and you will never ever have a cork taint problem!

I started with the Chardonnay, (NV, 13%, California). The nose was cinnamon cream and pear. It tasted like mellow golden apples and finished with the taste of a pear tart and some light oak. A wonderfully flavorful, solid Chardonnay. I will buy this one again. You’ll like it if you like your Chardonnay to taste like autumn with a creamy mouthfeel.

Next up was the Vintner’s Red (NV, 13.5%, California). This is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon – three of my favorites and all in a red blend, which I love. This wine had a nose of cherries. The flavors were all chocolate and cherry. It felt smooth and silky and supple. Another winner here. You’ll like this one if, like me, you are always in need of that chocolatey/mocha flavor in your reds. If you like a smooth red, without big tannins, buy yourself a box.

And them I moved on to the Pinot Grigio (NV, 13.5%, California). Aromas of lime hit me first followed by flavors of peach and citrus rind. It finished off with the taste of apricots. This is not a “bitey” Pinot Grigio – no sharp tartness and puckery citrus. You’ll like this wine if you like your Pinot Grigio cold and crisp and fruity – but not sweet.

After thoroughly enjoying my first foray into the Wine Cubes, I will plan on trying out some of the other varietals. There’s a Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet Sauvignon that I have my boxy little eyes on. And since I seem to be physically unable to go through a week without visiting Target, I figure I’ll be trying them pretty soon.

Let me know if you try them….and…….Cheers!