Yellowtail Killer

If you've been to virtually any wine store you've no doubt come across the brand name Yellowtail. It's hard to miss with it's bright yellow, orange and purple labels and the displays are as high as an elephant's eye. Over the last few years Yellowtail has become very popular, mostly due to marketing and price, but to some degree the taste. You won't be bowled over with complexity and nuance in the wine, but you will find something drinkable or an inexpensive bottle surely to be recognized (for good or bad) at your next party. I don't want to knock the wine because I'm a firm believer if YOU like it, it's a good wine. I did want to offer up an alternative a friend calls the "Yellowtail Killer" however. This wine competes on price but blew me away on taste, for the $$. If you can still find it, Colonia las Liebres Bonarda 2005 from Argentina is an amazing value at $5.00-$8.00. The wine is inky dark, fruit forward with light tannins, overall a very good bottle. The 2006 version isn't quite as good, but for $5.00 it's still better and sometimes cheaper than Yellowtail. Both the 2005 and 2006 vintages come from a lesser known grape the Bonarda grape, if I had to compare probably closest to Malbec. Long review made short, pick up a case or two and leave the mass produced Yellowtail on it's obnoxious Yellow display. Looking to buy online? I'm a big fan of Wine-Searcher.com which pulls prices from numerous wine websites so you can find the best deals.