What can be said that hasn’t been said already? By their own admission they label themselves “The American Classic”, but classic in what way? Is it a wine, or a quick route to a cheap buzz? I’m guessing the later. This one is definitely manufactured instead of lovingly crafted in a small boutique winery. In large letters they suggest serving this “wine” very cold. If your freezer can’t do the trick, might I suggest a couple of minutes in liquid nitrogen? The highly stylized bird on the front is faintly reminiscent of some better foreign Vodkas. And the handy screw top cap is a plus.

Well, it’s got a nice clear pale straw color (thanks I’m sure to the judicious use of caramel coloring in the manufacturing process). It has a definite off taste and smell in part thanks to the alcohol boost. There’s some surprising sweetness there and a bit of citrus (again thanks to chemistry more than anything else). The extra alcohol will give the back of your throat a workout as it goes down and this will also throw off anything that looks like a balance or finish. If you’ve got to get drunk on something quickly, consider some chilled cheap Vodka. And I’ll be getting even with my editor for putting me up to this. My poor taste buds!

And two more notes:
a) This wine turns you tongue black, in case you didn't know....
b) This is a wine from the people of E&J Gallo winery, surprised? I was.

Grade: I won’t dignify this with a grade. Price: less than $3.

Thunderbird
White Wine (Sort of)
Modesto, California
Alcohol: 17.5% by Volume