Bota Box - Malbec

Clearly Bota Box and I have a love hate relationship. I have heard good things about Bota Box, and the past two boxes have been awful. This has proved the downfall to box wine, if the wine does not taste good you are stuck with a whole lot of wine to drink.

I don't even know how to begin to describe this wine...the more I drink the more I feel like I get used to the taste. It smells like a glass that sat in a dirty dishwasher for days. Granted, my dishwasher is iffy at times, so I did try a new glass, I cleaned a glass, tried the wine a different day....it is hands down the wine that smells awful.

If the smell wasn't bad enough, the taste is not much better. As I remind myself not to inhale while drinking, I want to say it tastes like what I would expect a smokey grape to taste like. It's a little rough on the palate...my tongue would definitely appreciate if I just stopped drinking this all together.

This is the type of wine you take to a party someone else is hosting and leave behind while you drink the better stuff....I do not suggest wasting your money on this one.

On a scale of 1 – 5

Oaky – 0
Dry – 1
Sweet - 2
Consistent across boxes? No
Never purchasing this one again.

Franzia...I think it's a staple.

Ahh Franzia...The only thing that makes my husband more embarrassed to purchase than Bud Light Lime. As far as I am concerned, White Zinfandels are all the same, bottled or boxed. I like to have a box of White Zin around the house, throw a couple of ice cubes in it (a little something I picked up from my mother in law) and you're good to go! It's a light wine that you can have a glass of and wind down or you can have a few glasses...

What else is there to say, Franzia is Franzia, love it or hate it.

On a scale of 1 – 5

Oaky – 0
Dry – 0
Sweet - 4
Consistent across boxes? Yes

It’s all about reds

After working my way through the whites, from sweet to dry, I decided to give reds another try. My previous experience with reds were that they were dry, tart, oaky and overall unpleasant. My sister introduced me to the wine aerator, which definitely made a difference. I still have not bought one, the same scenario keeps coming to mind. I’ll be standing in the kitchen after a glass or two, holding the bottle/box of wine in one hand with the aerator in the other while I try to pour the one into the glass. My husband would not appreciate stained countertops or floors…and the dogs definitely do not need wine. Therefore, no aerator for me, but I do suggest it if you are more coordinated than myself.

Slowly I am trying more reds, when we go out, I’ll try a merlot, a cabernet, etc. My favorite red is still the Shiraz. Black Box has a really great Shiraz (2009) for $20.00 ($22.00 at the liquor store). I would recommend it for anyone that likes reds and anyone that is just venturing into reds. It’s not oaky, which I personally despise, it’s light and not to dry. Overall I have had really good experience with Black Box, one box of Riesling was a bit off compared to the others I have had, but all the other boxes have been consistent.

On a scale of 1 – 5

Oaky – 0
Dry – 2
Sweet - 3
Consistent across boxes? Yes

Wine, I like it boxed

What's not to love about boxed wine? It’s all the fun of drinking wine, but you get more at half the price! And because it stays better longer, and you don't feel obligated to drink an entire bottle at once.... unless you want to!


Here I'll be reviewing the boxed wines as I make my way through the box. Instead of trying to decipher between the numbered ratings on bottles of wine at the grocery store and determine whether or not the undertones of peach and pear will go well with dinner, I'll provide a much simpler rating.

Time to enjoy some boxed wine!