One of the cheapest bottles of wine from Walmart [1] ranks as one of the best in the world . . . but how does it really taste? The $7 Chilean red wine, La Moneda Reserva's Malbec [2], has a "deep purple color with violet tints, rounded and velvety tannins, complex plum, fig, and strawberry flavors and excellent length," according to Decanter Magazine [3], the publication that gave the wine its award-winning title. POPSUGAR editors — who pride themselves in their extensive wine drinking — tried the wine firsthand and have a wide variety of opinions about this particular blend. "This tastes like Welch's Grape Juice," one said, while another said, "very smooth; unexpectedly very good." The resounding theme in our taste test was that the wine is a little too mild for our tastes — it's almost too smooth and lacks a full-bodied taste. That's not to say it's a bad wine by any means. In fact, it's a great bottle for beginners who are getting their feet wet in the red-wine world.
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Victor Verdugo
As polarized as our opinions may be, the bottle clearly went quickly — a sign that it's drinkable for sure. Here's a snapshot of comments that proves it really depends on who you're talking to about the taste of the wine.
- "Tastes like water with food coloring. Way too difficult to drink."
- "Very drinkable!"
- "Smooth, smells great, not too sweet. Would buy."
- "$7 and super smooth?! Great beginner's wine."
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Victor Verdugo
The ultimate verdict? Yeah, we'd buy a bottle — or two or three — of this for $7. Your friends don't have to know how much that award-winning wine you brought to the holiday party really cost.