Boxed wines aren’t what they used to be… in a good way. The quality of the juice found in some “bag-in-a-box” wines is much better than it once was. And some boxed wines can be a great option for the wine lover on a budget.
When it comes to boxed wines there are a couple rules. Keep it cool and don’t let it sit around. Heat and age are enemies to boxed wines, which was proven in a study published by UC Davis last year.
This one from Bota Box is a red blend, with a hip, Gen X / Gen Y / Millennial name “RedVolution!” And I believe they forgot to put that exclamation point on the label, because it gives the name much more impact.
Let’s see, what’s in this wine… hmmmm, red wine. OK, that’s good enough for me. But if you want more details, this is a zinfandel-led blend (something that’s becoming more and more popular with US consumers). The blend includes zinfandel, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and petite sirah.
The nose is booming with big, jammy aromatics such as black cherry, plum and blackberry. There’s also a leathery aroma to it. It’s equally jammy on the palate, which offers concentrated plum and cherry flavors with a healthy dose of residual sugar. In other words, it’s a touch on the sweet side. It tastes good, although it’s a little clumsy and aggressive. The acidity is nice and there are light tannins. It finishes with lingering cherry flavors. The strong fruit flavors and residual sugar in this wine make it a good choice for barbecue or burgers. I enjoyed it with enchiladas drenched with a chocolaty molé sauce.
This isn’t a top shelf wine, but for those with a limited wine budget this definitely falls into the “it’ll do” category.
Wine: Bota Box RedVolution
Variety: Red blend
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 84
Price: $20.00 (3L, equivalent to four bottles)
Find Bota Box RedVolution with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
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