I’m starting a little series here on the blog wherein I’ll be reviewing the Macy’s Wine Cellar subscription box. This should be interesting!
Macy’s Wine Cellar: Quick Overview/ How I Found Out About It
I happened to stumble upon this wine subscription at the beginning of the month when I was doing some research online in an effort to figure how I could get wine delivered, what with quarantine and all.
I’ve checked out other wine subscription services in the past, but none have impressed me so far— they were either too expensive, or the wine just sucked. And to be honest, I don’t consider taking a trip to the liquor store a chore at all. I love picking out fun new wines and liquors to try with my boyfriend at home!
But with everything that’s going on in the world right now, there was just no way I was going to risk catching coronavirus all for a few bottles of wine— hence the Googling I alluded to earlier.
Now, I don’t want to sound like an ad or an “influencer” (don’t you just cringe at that word?), but I will say this wine box was an exceptionally-priced deal. We got 8 bottles for a $40 subtotal, and shipping was free.
Lobo e Falcao 2018: My Thoughts/ Tasting Notes
In the spirit of being completely honest, this is not the first bottle I tried from my box… I will be posting a review shortly of that first bottle, but it will be based mostly on my memory, since I drank it in its entirety and took very few written notes. I’m sorry, and I will try to do better next time.
As for this wine, however, I was pleasantly surprised.
When I first opened up the bottle, I sniffed the cork right away (that’s what you’re supposed to do, right?) and was instantly taken back to the 3rd grade when we all had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches— many of which made with oatnut bread. Now, I know that sounds strange, but I’m not a wine expert. All I can tell you is that my little nose recalled equal parts Skippy and Welch’s grape jelly slathered across 2 slices of whole grain.
After inhaling over the cork for a few seconds too long, I decided to pour myself and the boyfriend a glass and see what my nose could pick up from there. And to my surprise, it smelled quite strong, like the kind of wine that leaves your entire esophagus burning after just one sip.
So, you can imagine my surprise after taking a sip only to discover that this wine is not only incredibly smooth, but even tinged with subtle, sweet notes. I initially thought I was tasting hints of chocolate, until I read the label and saw instead references to mocha and vanilla. Still, not knowing much about wine or tasting notes, I’m pretty impressed with my guesswork.
And I have to say, this wine would pair wonderfully with some dark chocolate… or Oreos (hey, we’re on lockdown, this is no time to be picky).
Overall, I think I’d give this wine a 3 out of 5 rating. It’s not my favorite, but it’s pleasant enough.
I do think it’s strange that the label gives absolutely no indication as to what type of red wine I’m drinking, but who knows— maybe Portugal just doesn’t roll like that. Who’s to say? (Feel free to comment if you’re a Portuguese winemaker.)
Lastly, I wanted to mention that it does seem as though this wine is not exclusive to the Macy’s Wine Cellar, so feel free to pick up a bottle (or order one elsewhere) if I’ve convinced you to give it a try. Don’t forget to leave me a comment and let me know what you think of it!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you check out my latest video, where I review The Waxed Bat, another Macy’s Wine Cellar red!
