linuxdave — September 8, 2005, 12:58 pm
Crane Lake Merlot 2003
Well, you came to this site for cheap wine. Welcome to the “Wine less than $5″ category. Crane Lake wine, around these parts, is CHEAP. I’m talking $3.34 cheap. Think of it. You can get a whole case of the stuff for 40 bucks! But would you want to…?
My answer: sure, why not. It isn’t really that bad.
Tasting notes:
Very wet, with almost no structure. The second glass I had was chilled, which was much better in my opinion. Very light oak.
All-in-all, if you want to impress someone with a large quantity of wine on your premises, Crane Lake wine is the wine to do it with! Otherwise, I would try something like Marcus James or “2 buck-Chuck” that are in the same price range.
Price: $3.33
Wine enjoyed with: Sausage and cheese
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Well, I’m sitting here mid-NaNoWriMo with a class of Crane Lake’s 2003 Petit Shiraz. Almost no tannins, which normally would be a minus, but as a late night creativity beverage, I’m actually welcoming someething softer. Medium bodied. Nice. Got it for $3.00. I’d buy it again, even for $4.50.
Crane Lake cabernet~ Great Choice! I introduced my wine snob friend to this, not telling him that a magnum cost me only $8.00. He thought it was very tasty, “full-bodied” where his words. Definately reccomend this bottle of grapes.
Is Crane Lake sold in Florida, specifically in zip code 34239?
$2.99 Petit Syrah. Wondeful varietal character for the price, some sweet fruit, lacking a bit in structure but some tannins present. A bit flabby, better at a cooler temperature. Low alcohol for a petit syrah.
Tried the Crane Lake Merlot and “not that bad” is a bit of an overstatement. There is an acid bite and lack of depth to the wine. Although the nose is very fragrant, the color and clarity excellent, it lacks a warmth and depth. Good cooking wine as it complements red meat flavors very well.
I just happened to buy a bottle of Crane Lake Cabernet because it was on sale. I gave a glass to my parents (avid wine drinkers) and they enjoyed it. I found it at Meijers 3 for $10! And to think I almost passed it up because of the low price!
I am a bitchy wine snob of a man, and my mother in law abandoned a bottle of Crane Lake Sangiovese about 3 weeks ago when she made some stew with it…about 1/4th a bottle. I had no preconceptions or idea what it was, but it was open, so I poured it. It ROCKS! Maybe because I’m slightly drunk (2 glasses in)…but doooood….WTF?!?!
Is Crane Lake wine made by the Charles Shaw Vineard?
Kathe, I don’t think it is. Similar prices, though!
I love Crane Lake wines, get a bottle at the corner store for $4.99. The sangiovese is my favorite but Cabernet & Merlot also very good. The only exception I’ve found that super cheap wine can be very nice. Try it! Way better, less sweet than 2 buck chuck.
Have tried all Crane Lake wines (all that I know of) in substantial quantities. Pinot Grigio - very light; Prefer Sauvignon Blanc. Sangiovese - best of the reds.
I’ve been enjoying the Cabernet Sauvignon, until I opened a bottle last week, and after having 2 glasses I was sick as a dog!! I was nauseous for the next 4 days as well. I thought, maybe a flulke, so the following week, I thought I would try it again out of the same bottle. I felt sick after only a half of a glass…and today, I am still feeling nauseous. I checked the number on the bottom of the bottle, and it differed from 3 of the other bottles I bought. I wonder if I just got a bad bottle…has anyone ever experienced something like this??
Of all the inexpensive wines I’ve tried, Crane Lake is my favorite. I have bought a couple of cases of the cab to use as a cooking wine but I keep drinking it. For a simple red it is much better than the jug wines and not much more costly.
I have been told by a wine store owner that Crane Lake and Charles Shaw are the same wine; but since Trader Joes has the Charles Shaw francise, the Crane Lake brand is the same wine and sold in other stores.
I have been drinking Charles Shaw $2 buck chuck for the past several years and have found it highly drinkable. I enjoy drinking a bottle while BBQing. BevMO has a similar wine for around $2.49, which tastes an awful lot like $2buckChuck. Try it and you will like it!
I discovered this wine last weekend on a lark looking for something else at Rite Aid. They had a variety of choices and I chose the Sangiovese. I have had a couple other value wines from Albertoni ($4) and Luna ($5) I get from a discount grocer. Typically they run about 50% retail. I think this Sangiovese fares well with the others. This is the only one I tried but liked it enough to go back for several more bottles for the shelf.
Cheers!
My wife brought the crane lake 2004 Merlot on the advice if a person she met at the store. WE don’t buy cheap wines, but we did on a lark. We were pleasantly suprised. We found the Merlot smooth and a great complament to dinner. A little light on the tannins but still tastey.
We tried the 2004 Merlot, the Chardonnay -also the Sangiovese at a BBQ We had last week….I am not a wine expert, but some of the guests where. They loved the light body of all of the wines. I better hurry over to Longs Drug store and get some before all my guests go (They are going to get some cases…) I prefer the Merlot and the Chardonnay - as they are not acidy.
I frequently enjoy the Crane Lake cabernet, as it is $3.33/bottle at my local grocer and highly drinkable for a cheap red wine. In fact, it is the only red wine under $6/bottle that I find drinkable. I actually find it comparable to a lot of wines that cost three times as much. It is a bit heavy, and lacks depth and the subtle flavors of a more sophisticated wine, but for a “daily drinker” it’s not so bad! The other Crane Lake I like is the Sauvignon Blanc. It is actually very good. I had it with some shrimp salad that had apples in it, and it was a great pairing.
You can’t beat these Crane Lake wines for the price. I could drink a lot of wine at this price.
I haven’t seen a Zinfandel by Crane Lake. I wonder if they make one. And, what is Sangiovese? A most remarkable taste. Wish I new what it was.
had a wine party …some frinds brought this wine Crane lake they said they lliked it ..
we were serving top dollar wines and iam not sure if we were drunk or not but this dam wine tasted great……better yet when we found it under 5 bucks a bottle..so we are a little embarrassed when we buy it ..but
just bought 3 bottles of Crane Lake Merlot. Will let you know.
John W. —
I believe the Sangiovese has Italian origins and the typical base used in Chianti - 70%, then blended with one or two others.
The Luna I spoke of is quite excellent. Tho I was paying five bucks, I saw the same bottle/vintage at a local deli for $22! Yippee for me. Hope it returns next year to my outlet. I am holding on to a couple bottles until. Look for it as it is much better than the Crane Lake. But for the price CL is still a good buy.
Please help…I hope!
I had crane lake merlot in San Fran. and have not been able to even locate a single store that sells it near this aea….after paying shipping from a website, well the cost just goes up.
I am a daily red wine (predominantly Cab Savs) drinker who seeks out good cheap bottles at my local farmer’s market (Dekalb GA Farmers Market - great plac!) and today they had bottles of Crane Lake on sale for $3.00 a bottle. I always buy 12 bottles at a time to get the 10% discount, so the bottle of cab was $2.70! I was expecting sour grapes… but what a surprise to find a light, uncomplicated, kinda merlot-ey cabernet for such a GREAT price! I love the French Bordeauxs that are cheapo (Like Mouton Cadet) but this little label might just find a permanent place on my rack. Kudos Crane Lake. where is your website???
You can buy this at Winco Stores for $1.98 per bottle. They do make a white zinfandel which we enjoy tremendously
Angela - I live in the East Bay and my local wine shop sells it - on Alcatraz and Telegraph in North Oakland (almost to Berkeley). Right now it is on sale for $3.99 a bottle. I am drinking it right now and impressed for its price. That’s why I googled it…
Bought two bottles of Chardonnay from “Rays” in Jacksonville, Oregon for 3.99 per. Four of us loved it.
I’m back home now in Los Altos, Ca and wondering where I can buy it locally.
We rent cottages on Cedar Creek Lake and place Crane Lake wines in the rentals for our guests to enjoy. We have not had any complaints but received many compliments on the wine.
I stumbled across Crane Lake’s White Zinfindel in a small wine shop in North Carolina. Now that I’m back home in Delaware, I’m wondering where I can find more of this wine locally… it was light, crisp and surprisingly drinkable for such a sweet price!
A wine-loving friend of mine poured me a glass of the Crane Lake Shiraz, and asked me my opinion, with out telling me what I was drinking. I’m a lover of big, full-bodied reds, and I was pleasantly suprised. I’ve bought case-lots of the Shiraz and the Pettie Shira, and I’ve not been disappointed. It’s a great inexpensive wine, that with decanting, drinks like a much more expensive wine. And given the amount of wine that gets consumed around my house, finding a drinkable red at these prices…$3.99 locally…I’m a very happy man!
Received the ‘04 Crane Lake Merlot as a host’s gift. Had no idea of the price. I enjoyed it among friends a few weeks later with tuna steaks. I thought it was a delightful bottle, with great nose and soft taste that wasn’t overly cloying. It went very well with the tuna, white pototoes w/dill and steamed veggies. I highly recommend it.
I love Charles Shaw Merlot, but would like to try Crane Lake Merlot, where in VA can I find it?
My husband travels all over the world and visits wineries when he has time off. We tried Crane Lake as our table wine ..and we REALLY liked it. We are red wine drinkers and have a little wine cellar with some wonderful wines, but this wine is GR8!!!
Meijer in Michigan 3/$10.00 I bought 4 cases.
I have a question: Why is Crane Lake so cheap? I have heard many “urban legends: divorce, new name pending….too many grapes…??
An answer for Carnu, to the “why is Crane Lake so cheap?” query.
The answer is: Fred Franzia and his Bronco Wine Co. Like his Charles Shaw label, Crane Lake is mass-produced from California grapes shipped to his plant in Ceres (near Modesro). For pictures and information, see the 15. November Wine Spectator (pp. 168-75). As with most wines from Bronco, the price is simply a result of the collision of Fred’s business savvy/model and grape glut.
That said, Meijer in northern Indiana currently has Crane Lake priced at 3/$8. At $32 a case, it’s tough to complain about…am currently swilling my way through a case of the Shiraz. Good juice. That (the 05) and the 04 Merlot are both very reasonable table wines.
…and if anyone knows of a font of Crane Lake Sangiovese around South Bend, please do be so kind as to share.
My husband and I are wine collectors and travel to sonoma and napa often. Since most of our friends aren’t familiar with wine we decided not to use our $300.00 case for thanksgiving and bought a $30.00 case of Crane Creek. They loved it! They all assumed we spent a fortune on it! Haha suckers! It does the trick in a pinch.
Can I buy Crane Lake wine direct?
The look of the bottle is cleverly done to suggest a higher price. This wine should work well as an affordable sharing or gift wine for the next few years, until our secret is known. I’m sure there will be some pleasant competition too, as other companies see the sense in the combination of an upscale look, with a good tasting product.
I discovered Crane Lake about two years ago. I definitely qualify as a “wine snob,” although I don’t overlook good wines at great prices, and Crane Lake is definitely one. I have gone back many, many times for bottles of their Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc. Both are great table wines, and are honest expressions of each grape. My experiences with their Chardonnay and Petite Sirah were also very good. My only complaint is that, because they are wines that are bought in bulk and then bottled, there’s a lot of bottle variation - from one bottle to the next, even in the same vintage, it really is a different wine. But, they are consistent 85 - 86 point wines in my opinion, and of the dozens of bottles I’ve had, only one single bottle dissappointed me, and even that one was pleasent to drink.
In response to Jeremy: Crane Lake Sangiovese is abundant at Sahara Mart, here in Bloomington (IN).
2004 Merlot has been real good, we just bought out 2nd case. We bought a case of the Sangiovese on the recommendation of a friend, haven’t tried it yet.
$3 a bottle in Rite Aid in Northern Nevada.
Sauvingnon Blanc has more body than I like.
Cab S. was not as good IMHO
P.
I tried the 04 Merlot at a party the other night and loved it! I was so impressed I came to do a net search for it and found this board. I am thrilled to hear the price is so inexpensive. I plan on buying some.
I’ve been drinking Crane Lake for a few years now. It’s definitely not a $20 wine, but beats anything I can find for $10 and under.
The 2002 Merlot was WONDERFUL. The 2003 wouldn’t ruin your cooking too much, and the 2004 is Good. I have three bottles of the 2002 left, and have opened one tonight to have with some Prime Rib… and it is everything I remember it to be. Oh how I wish I could buy a few more cases.
Rich
it’s decent stuff. HiTime Wine Cellars carries it for $3 I think. www.hitimewine.net
Where can I find Cranes Lake in central Florida?
I just picked up a mixed case at food for less off of I-5 at exit 469 in Stockton, CA @ $1.98 a bottle.
I have had several nice and expensive wines, I have had some expensive and not so nice wines, and also cheap and awful too. However, Crane Lake is nice on the taste buds and the wallet. I think it is not top of the line of course, but does someone even expect that with a wine at this wonderful price? I enjoy, all the reds—I am not much of a white wine fan, often too sweet for me, but I do enjoy a good dry white.
I highly recommend Crane Lake! It is a staple in our house for the consistent evening wine and for cooking. I have even brought it to friend’s houses. In my opinion it compares quite well with many wines in the up to $10 range.
I like it better than Charles Shaw and I have both regularly.
¡salud!
Bought 10 cases of this (merlot & Cabernet) 2 years ago for a party we were having. No complaints. Now even buy it periodically to save a few bucks during the week. About $3.99 in North Jersey. Good deal.
We love the marlot, I did a wine tasting and It won hands down.. How funny, I love it ! This proves it, you dont have to speend alot of money for a great wine….
I’m confused. My bottle of 04 Crane Lake Petite Sirah says “vinted and bottled by crane lake cellar, napa, ca.” Says nothing about Modesto. So is it or is it not owned by Franzia-Bronco?
Great wine, I normally dont buy California wine,but a friend “WHO IS REAL CHEAP WITH HER MONEY and loves merlot” bought it and I had a taste. It is very good wine, especially for the price.
Keep promoting, and DONT change your price ! CHEERS……
Picked up Crane Lake Merlot (in Fort Collins , CO)because I was low an cash and having a dinner party….the guests wrote down the name so they could look for it in Seattle. I had to confess how inexpensive it was. It’s a very smooth wine!
I love Crane Lake. Here is how I buy wine…and I have quite a bit of it.
If I’m buying wine to drink now, I’ll usually go with the cheaper wines because they are ready to drink….NOW!!! The bottles over 20 bucks usually require a couple of years or so before they are ready to drink. Crane Lake rocks for last minute guests. Nobody complains and usually ask. for the name of it.
Having gone through numerous bottles of Crane Lake in all the varietals offered, I can easily say the best value of all is the Petite Sirah. It’s fruit forward and rather big, especially at 3.33 per. Easily the peer of several wines ten times the price.
Now that’s not to say the others are not good values. For cryin out loud man, 3 for 10 bucks is a screamin deal for any of these wines.
And EVERY RITE-AID carries these great value wines.
Stack em high, watch em fly…
My favorite wine is Crane Lake and I love the Merlot, being the Merlot fan that I am. My boyfriend is a wine snob, and likes the 30. Merlots, but I am hooked on Crane Lake.
I get my stash of Merlot at Rite Aid here in Bellevue WA. The Merlot is very velvety, lush, and has a dry down of berry.
Cheers!
Just finished the Cabernet 2003. Had it with roasted chicken. On the nose, it’s not as nuanced and balanced as a more expensive wine. (But neither are the $10 wines from Robert Mondavi, Beringer, Yellow Tail, etc.)
But, to drink it, it’s fine - very tasty. Nice color too.
Easy to find in Detroit area - Meijer was 3/$10 - on sale. $5.49 at Kroger. I just paid $3.99 at V.G.’s Food, 18 and Ryan in /Sterling Heights.
For anyone having trouble finding this awesome wine…BIG LOTS carries all the varietals for $3 a pop. Long live CRIZZANE LIZZAKE!!!
-so, i guess we are all crane lake freaks? kind of nice that not everyone knows the secret–also that it is owned by halliburton.
50/50 at my house. I didn’t find the wine to be that bad, but my husband hated it. He said it smelled and tasted like vinegar. Although I admit the tart finish is a down side - the overall fruity flavor and hint of oak far outweighs it in my opinion. 3/$10.00 at my local liquor store - I will keep it around for when my ignorant brother and his girlfriend come over. They are wanabe wine snobs now that they have gone to their first wine tasting!
We got Crane Lake 2004 Merlot from a guest and we thought it was good for the money. Would love to buy in MA. Any store reccomendation?
THanks
Just snagged six bottles each of merlot/cabsauv/shiraz @3fo8$ from a Meijer in Detroit, pleasantly surprised, good juice and great value compared to the wine prices here in Canada. My boozy red nosed wine loving brother Pierre was shocked at the quality for the price. Thumbs up for Crane Lake and cheers to the overall quality of California grapes!
Crane Lake Sangiovese is the best of all. $3.99 in the Memphis area.
Where can you purchase Crane Lake in Texas?
I’m working my way joyfully through our 4th case of Crane Cab, this last one being 2004, which I find to have a bit less body than the 2003s. Hopefully they are still around. For $30/case, it can’t be beat and if fools my supposed wine snob friends every time.
Cheers!
i really like crane lake white zin. it’s good. almost like beringers. i am having a hard time finding it in local stores . i life in suffolk county long island,ny. anyone know where i can find It?
I was just introduced to Crane Lakes at a little store in Auburn CA. called Ikeda’s. What an amazing wine! Typically I do not purchase cheaper bottles of wine but I thought I would give this a try ~ best move I have ever made. I just went back and purchased 6 cases - I have enjoyed all their wines and will be back. Cheers
Susan - where in Texas are you located? In Houston, you can buy Crane Lake at Fiesta grocery stores. It’s 3 for $10. They have all the varietals. You can also get it by the bottle or glass at Ziggy’s Healthy Grill.
I found Crane Lake Merlot very tasty. I am a wine lover. Though I have a ten cent pocket book. I have tasted wines from bottles ranging from $30 - $150 a bottle, and I have found Crane Lake Merlot to be light on the tannins, but I like that from time to time, The Cabernet was heavier and well rounded. I have tried a few varieties of Crane Lake and they are worth the price. @ 2.49 a bottle, where can you go wrong???? Wonderful Wine for the typical everyday consumer.
John. Napa Valley of California.
I’ve been drinking Crane Lake merlot/sauvignon 2004 for 6 month now and love them! I just purchased 3 cases of each from Meijer for $24 a case. For under 3 dollars YOU CAN’T BEAT IT!
We bought two cases at Wal-Mart for $1.97 a bottle. This is great wine at almost any price, but for less than $2.00 a bottle !!!
Interesting enough, the wine also sells in Hong Kong, China, where it sells for about $18 a case. could it be that it is imported from China ??????
How does this wine age? Any reports on the 2005’s?
Bernard,
This is not a wine that I put on the shelf for a later day. When I said that it a great wine, I meant, of course, that it is cheap and thus “great” for casual drinking. We had several bottles at a pasta feed with good friends and did not hear a single complaint and lots of positive comments by surprised drinkers.
How does it age? Buy some and try to keep it on the shelf for a couple years. Is that worth the space? Not in my “cellar”.
I googled this wine because I was wondering if anyone else had gotten ill from Crane Lake wine. I was sick to my stomach after two glasses for 24 hours straight ( not to mention the pounding headache). I noticed one other person was also sick from the wine. I wasn’t crazy about the wine but maybe thats because there was something wrong with it! Still have several bottles which I am afraid to drink. Oh Well.
$1.98 at WinCo in California. Tastes like nothing.
CRANE LAKE: Oh, Chard! I got so sick on it, for 2 days, I too don’t want to try the reds I bought. My guess on the cause, a high level of sulfites. Cheap & Dirty, cloudy wine needs lots of clarifying sulfites. A bit in the cooking’ll be fine, I bet
I love all Crane Lake Reds. Especially the Cab. Many 7 8 and 10 dollar wines do not match Crane Lake. Not so familiar with the whites but the Chardonnay was excellent. Hard to find in Boston but better than 2 buck chuck which i also drink
$1.98 at Winco supermarket SF bay area. Tried the petit sirah and found it to be OK and drinkable. 83 pts on my rating.
We love the Merlot! Own Moosehead Lodge in Northern Michigan and are in the process of making it our house wine. Have had visitors from all over the country. Wine snobs and slobs agree…..it was great… Good enough to impress our guests.
Am looking for Crane Lake Merlot in Rockland County, New York…Friend bought all 21 bottles which were left in store about 100 miles away.
I drink the White Zinfandel for $3.99 per bottle. It is quite bold, but otherwise very good. I no longer buy Sutter Home.
I recd 2 bottles of Crane Lake as part of a thank you gift. Both bottles were great. I have been looking for a retail store to purchase more in Nebraska or even Western Iowa. So far my search has been futile. Any ideas where I can purchase Crane in my area?
I sorta stumbled on these by accident. 3 for $10 @ Meijer. Caught my eye that they are not magnums and have real corks. So, we gave em’ a whirl. We like wine, nothing like a good Turning Leaf or Smoking Loon. These are very good wines, I’m wondering when they’ll up the prices. Snatch em’ up. Nice mellow Cab, not very dry. Excellent Merlot and the White Zin is good not too sweet. Gonna try the Chardonnay. I have a Chefs degree and have had some of the best wines to cook with, this is a good wine to cook with and to use as a dinner wine. One for the food, one for the Chef. LOL
Neither an expert nor a wine snob… but for the money Crane Lake’s Merlot 2005 is great. Having tried many inexpensive wines this rates up there… If not at the top… Bought two bottles of Merlot and I bet tomorrow I’ll buy two more…
Enjoy!
I bought this wine for the first time yesterday. I was taking it over to a friends to have with dinner. I thought it was a great deal at only 4.99. But to my surprise when I went to pay it came up only 3.25. It was such a great deal for such an easy drinking wine that i stopped today to buy the last two bottles they had.
Hi , I was wondering , how would you rate California House Reserve Cabernet Dry Red Wine ?
As well as Peller Estates Proprietor’s Reserve Selection - Cabernet Merlot (Dry medium bodies , fruity richness)
thanks
I bought Crane Lake as a joke for a friend who is a bird watcher. She also claims to actually LIKE yellow tail - so i figured at $3.99 i had nothing to lose. To my surprise - the wine was “not bad”. I’m not saying I am buying cases of this - but if someone needs a wine for a GROUP of people this is DEFINITELY ACCPETABLE - way better than gnarly head or yellowtail - & it even has a cute label with the bird! It is NOT a full bodied “chewy” CAB - but more a lighter bodied RED - that is NOT unpleasant. In an earlier post someone recommended to slight chill it - which may not be a bad idea.
Does anybody know if this wine is sold anywhere close to Minneapolis/St Paul?
van c
I love the Crane Lake merlot. The only issue I have is that the next day my sinuses have lots of pressure. I did some digging and found that if too much yeast is used in the process, the sinuses will react. I still purchase Kendall Jackson from time to time for comparison and a change but suffer through the sinus reaction due to cost.
I enjoy red wines, but am not an expert on wine. With that being said, I do know that if you get cheap wine you can be left sorely disapointed no matter how “refined” your tastes are. I bought a 2003 Merlot by Crane Lake for $3.99 the other day figuring if it was bad…just close your eyes, it might help! I actually found it to be a nice flavored wine. Not much depth, but for a glass of red after work, or as been mentioned a group in a pinch, you cant go wrong. Are there better bottles? Absolutely. Better for less than $10? I would put this one up against any of them.
Drink a lot of Crane Lake reds purchased at Meijer. For $2 to $3 they are extremely drinkable. I will bring them as gifts along with a “good” wine and let my hosts do the comparison themselves. I think you need to get above $15 a bottle before you can find stuff that drinks reliably better than Crane Lake.
I’m not a huge wine drinker, but like it from time to time. My wife is a wine snob, along with her friends. I purchased a bottle of Crane Lake Shiraz 2006 for $4.99 at the local grocery store. Now again I’m not a huge wine drinker and just got it so I could bring something to the party and told nobody not even my wife what I paid. They loved it, as did I. I went back the next day and purchased a case of it. Probably the most wine this store has sold in 3 months. I loved the smooth, slightly blackberry, slight hint of pepper at the start and smooth after taste that doesn’t stick around. if your looking for a good, cheap bottle look no further.
The Crane Lake Petit Sirah has become our favorite everyday dinner wine. Haven’t had a bad bottle yet, and we’ve been through at least 3 cases.
We get Crane Lake in San Diego for $2 per bottle. Really curious on who makes it. Tastes so good for the money; would hate to find out one day that it’s actually “soilent green” or something like that. For that price I’ll drink transmission fluid and like it.
I’m afraid have to join brooke and jane
in saying I got sick off this wine.
I picked p a bottle of the merlot and petite sirah
I only had a few glasses of each before it hit me.
Pounding headach,nauseous stomach, diarrhea.
never again.
who wholesales crane lake in new orleans. i am a retailer and would like to buy some thanks
Received three bottles of Crane lake from my cousin in Scottsdale AZ. Cab, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Not a big fan of chardonnay, but the Cab, and Merlot were great. Knowing my cousin is s wine drinker, figured he spent some bucks on the wine. Surprise, when I went to the website. Three bucks a bottle? Will be ordering by the case. This is a real nice wine. Forget the price. If it tastes good to you, than it is a good wine. No snobbery here.
Found this wine at Costco wholesale club. $3.99 a bottle. I drink merlots mostly and of course I had to try this. I thought it was great. I keep several bottle on hand. Though I switched over to the cabernet for Crane Lake because I thought it had a little more body that is more characteristic of some heavier merlots. All in all, I am just a social wine drinker not an expert. Like the rest of the club, its more of a thrill to find a good cheap wine than it is to tell someone you spent a fortune!
The wine distributor recommended the sangiovese so I got Sangiovese 2005. I used my wine opener that I have had and used for ages. The kind that goes on either side of the cork and you pull, so you don’t get pieces of cork. The neck of the bottle exploded and glass went everywhere. Needless to say it was undrinkable, but if they use cheap bottles I shudder about the rest of the product.
I drink 2 bottles of Crane Lake every night I decide to drink. The stuff is amazing. When my local grocery store is out of the “discount wine” (which it really shouldnt be disctount wine cause its delicious) I end up buying more expensive wine. And it’s always way worse than Crane Lake stuff. Just for the record I only drink the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. I think the Petit Sirah is too bitter, but maybe thats how all Petit Sirah’s taste. I am not really a wine expert.
WE HAVE MANY PARTIES AND WE BUY CRANE LAKE BY THE CASE’S. THE CABERNET SAUVIGNON IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. IM ALSO WONDERING IF THERE IS A RED ZIN. DO NOT LET CRANE LAKE KNOW OF THERE GOOD WINE, THE PRICE MAY GO UP..
Crane Lake cabernet is not the full bodied expensive cabernet one may prefer but for $4 or less it has to be the best value in cab in the world!! I have drunk many $10 cabernets that were complete acidic garbage with no pleasant aftertaste whatsoever! Crane Lake is a VERY drinkable wine for the money! If you could buy Jordan cab for $15 you would have the value scale I refer to! Once you have tried Crane Lake you will buy more again, sooner rather than later! Crazy Loon another very good value!
Crane lake the best value in cab hands down! For $4 or less it’s like buying Jordan for $15 on a value scale and I love Jordan cab! Many $10 cabs i’ve had were absolute acidic junk! Crane Lake HAS to be the best value in cab worldwide! it’s light but smooth and not bitter or acidic. Leaves a pleasant finish on your tongue. You will buy this wine again, sooner rather than later, after you have had your first bottle. Guaranteed!!
Crane Lake does have a red Zinfandel. Regrettably, their Zin is the worst of it’s reds in my estimation. It is the ONLY Crane Lake red I’d caution to avoid. The rest are wonderful!
Previously I commented on Crane Lake’s Merlot. I have been trying all of what I find of Crane Lake. Not happy with the Pinot Grigio! Everything else is great!
A week ago picked up a few and finally got to Sangiovese 2005. WOW!
When I first had the Merlot several months back I said I was going to buy a few more the next day. Well after Sangiovese I’ll be buying four more tomorrow.
Enjoy!
Are Crane Lakes and Charles Shaw made by the same company?
Good—I thought I was crazy for liking this wine so much! Glad I’m not alone!
I discovered Crane Lake in min 2006. I began by using it in my cooking, but have really grown to enjoy this under-priced gem of a wine. Granted, one will not find the complexity that is in most other fine wines, however fine wines are NEVER sold at $3.45 per selection. And actually the fact that it can be a little hard to find in some areas and that it is somewhat unknown to many, helps hide the fact that it is a “bottom rung” wine, when entertaining.
I keep a mixed case on hand at all times. If nothing else, it is a great looking filler for my wine rack.
A really great wine.
“Are Crane Lakes and Charles Shaw made by the same company?”
Yes they are…
Fred Franzia’s Bronco Wine Co. Charles Shaw label, and Crane Lake is mass-produced from California grapes shipped to his plant in Ceres (near Modesro).
It has been posted in the comments here before. Scroll back to sometime November 2006 I think…
Tried Crane Lake Sauvignon Blanc and for $4.00 a bottle I can highly recommend it. Surprisingly smooth white wine. Excellent find.
On the recommendation of a friend whose “house wine” is Crane Lake Sangiovese, I tried some ($4/bottle at a local Italian deli in Albany, California). It is now my house wine. I love it. (And puleeze, no comparisons with 2-buck Chuck! It’s in a different class altogether.)
Couple of things: the wine recently passed from the 2005 vintage to 2006. I haven’t really noticed that much difference, but I’m wondering if other people here have.
Also, the last time I went to the deli, they suggested I also try the Crane Lake Malbec, which I did, and was pleasantly impressed by.
The Merlot isn’t very good, from my experience.
We poured Crane Lake Syrah 2005 and Crane Lake Pinot Grigio at my daughter’s wedding. The crowd loved it, at least that’s what they said anyway. Great wine for a party. I still have a few cases, which should last a few days! The wine is a great value and good conversation because people can’t believe the price. They all wanted to know where to get some. (I’m holding on to my stash)
My wife and I love Crane Lake, we would go to local wine testings and I am agree - it would take
$15 and up to get better wine,.. yes -not enough depth and tanins, bur easy drinkable, soft , good on your palate.. and myself -i like less alcohol content.
Merlot sells for $3.99 per bottle in Connecticut. We probably have more wine snobs per capita than most areas and the display at my store is always half empty on the weekends.