Cheap Wine Reviews

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…?

Crane Lake Wine

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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161 responses to “Crane Lake Merlot 2003”

  1. DAVE SOUZA RANCH Avatar
    DAVE SOUZA RANCH

    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..

  2. ronald jozik Avatar
    ronald jozik

    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!

  3. ronald jozik Avatar
    ronald jozik

    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!!

  4. David Howell Avatar
    David Howell

    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!

  5. Neal Myers Avatar
    Neal Myers

    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!

  6. John Lagerwey Avatar
    John Lagerwey

    Are Crane Lakes and Charles Shaw made by the same company?

  7. Aly Avatar
    Aly

    Good—I thought I was crazy for liking this wine so much! Glad I’m not alone!

  8. D.B. Cooper Avatar
    D.B. Cooper

    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.

  9. Real McCoy Avatar
    Real McCoy

    “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…

  10. Bruno Hess Avatar
    Bruno Hess

    Tried Crane Lake Sauvignon Blanc and for $4.00 a bottle I can highly recommend it. Surprisingly smooth white wine. Excellent find.

  11. Antithesis of a wine snob Avatar
    Antithesis of a wine snob

    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.

  12. FOB Avatar
    FOB

    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)

  13. Val Avatar
    Val

    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.

  14. Randolph Avatar
    Randolph

    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.

  15. Aric R Avatar
    Aric R

    I’ve been a Crane Lake fan for a couple years now. Their Chard is good, Cab is very good and I agree with the above – the Sangiovese is great! When you see the champagne however, just pour it down the drain – completely undrinkable.

    WinCo has the wine regularly for $1.98 – sparkling at $3.98.

  16. Ron Avatar
    Ron

    Anyone know where we can find Crane Lake in the Vero Beach to West Palm Beach area in Florida? Thanks!

  17. Dan L. Avatar
    Dan L.

    I found Crane Lake a few years ago, and it’s become my “vin du jour”. It’s assuredly drinkable, and it certainly has a solid alcohol content. I prefer the shiraz, and the pinot grigio and chardonnay are fine as summer heat beaters. (I prefer the PG.) I am nowhere near a “common sewer” or even wanna-be wine snob, but I do not like the sangiovese one bit. I’ve tried 3-4 bottles and find it’s thin and does nothing for my palate. No character at all.

    Not all the Crane Lake varieties are carried in all stores. In my area, I have found two stores in the same chain of supermarkets that carry an overlapping variety of + / – 9 different wines. I pay $3.99/bottle. Darn good price for a wine that’s really not that bad. Overall, I think it’d still sell at $5.99. My usual day-to-day before CL was Yellow Tail. I still buy it, and will continue to do so, mostly as a “nothing special” drink for swillin’ with my friends. 🙂 But I have to admit that YT is a better brew than CL.

  18. Dan L. Avatar
    Dan L.

    Ummmmmmmmm… Got distracted by company while writing my prior message. (People!!!! ) Didn’t maintain my train of thought………

    For Crane Lake whites I also like the sauvignon blanc. As for reds, the shiraz and malbec are what I buy most, but I also enjoy their merlot. These, and the pinot grigio, are what I buy regularly.

    As I mentioned earlier, they are certainly worth the $3.99/bottle that I pay. And I’m not holding my nose while drinking either! The line is a good one, better by far than “Two Buck Chuck!”

  19. Tina E. Avatar
    Tina E.

    I drank this wine at a wedding a couple weeks back and was pleasantly surprised by it’s “drinkability”. It is a great social wine, not too fancy nor expensive. I was given a case of the left overs (yeah!) so I haven’t actually went looking for it yet. I know it isn’t sold at Bevmo so once I’m done with the case, let the hunt begin. Overall great no frills wine to drink if you aren’t looking for complexity.

  20. Dwine Avatar
    Dwine

    There is no doubt that Crane Lake Chard and Charles Shaw two buck chuck come from the same place…Bronoco Winery….try it out ….Trader Joe’s has the exclusive on 2 buck chuck but crane can be sold everywhere for another buck….both well worth the price….

  21. Lisa Lee Avatar
    Lisa Lee

    I found Crane Lake at a local store in Cazenovia, NY, Great price and great flavors.

  22. holly Avatar
    holly

    my in-laws brought several varieties of Crane Lake to the cabin a couple of summers ago and everyone(wine snobs and others)were asking where the wine came from. Rite Aid—3 bottles for $9! We have since continued to purchase it and our new favorite is Zinfandel.

  23. John Greenwell Avatar
    John Greenwell

    I am 54 years of age. Believe me I have tried a lot of cheap wines. But price does NOT always denote value or taste. My favorite coup was about 3 years ago alocal wine shop wasgoing out of business. They had a bunch of wines priced at $6 and under. I bought about 10 different varieties. I had to dump out 3 or 4. The rest but one were just ok and some of those were marked down Italians. But one shone above the rest. You guessed it..a Crane Lake. I had never heard of it.
    Been buying it ever since. But shhhhh…dont tell anybody.

  24. bob porter Avatar
    bob porter

    What a find.
    We were on vacation in Charleston, S.C. and went into the foodstore near our hotel in the French Quarter. Found the wine at $3.59/bottle when you buy a case. Worse case, it is used for cooking.
    Bought Cab ’07 and Petit ’05.
    Very drinkable and wife likes the Petit best.
    Now, wish we had bought more.
    Just as good as many $8-12 wines.
    Bwtter yet you support a North America firm and carbon footprint is less since shipping is less than from Europe or Australia.

  25. David Evans Avatar
    David Evans

    member of small wine club, we all buy a bottle of a cetain wine and do a blind taste test, our local liquor store gives us a discount and usually sets out 8 or 10 bottles of whatever wine we are having that month for members to choose from, i picked out the crane lake and almost put it back out of guilt when found out it was only $3.99. but thought what the heck, usually we buy $15 to $25 wines to taste, great surprise when the crane lake won that night out of 12 more expensive wines, now many members buy it regularly just to drink or to give as inexpensive gifts. i keep a bottles of each of their different wines now for a great inexpensive wine to sip on. thanks crane lake, keep up the good work and keep the price down

  26. Christopher Avatar
    Christopher

    great wine…happened by it a couple of weeks ago. Where the hell do I go to buy a couple of cases ? crgreen @ yahoo.com

  27. Les Avatar
    Les

    I have recently started buyin Crane Lakes at Henry’s Farmers Market in California and have been really pleased for the price. I got a case for $27 and the Sauvignon Blanc is actually very tasty. I am not a fan at all of the Petite Syrah, but every other variety is good and you really can’t beat the price.

  28. Richard shilale Avatar
    Richard shilale

    Crane Lake’s wines are a excellent value for the price. The Cabernet Sauvignon has a good noise, color,and a little fruit. There is little structure to the wine , but a nice soft finish that lingeres on the palate. A wonderful everyday wine that delights,and dosen’t brake the bank. Look for it at your local wine shop, you will not be dissapiointed.I just hope they keep producing it.

  29. Jeffrey Palaferri Avatar
    Jeffrey Palaferri

    Today; last day at Henry’s market for $2; I also got 10% off that for buying 6. Almost free.

  30. lew Avatar
    lew

    We found their pinot noir last spring after a wine expert told me about it. Was sceptic at first so I only bought one bottle. Went back and bought 4 cases at $3.99 per bottle. then the liquor store in Utah discontinued it. Tried there zinfandel, They were very similar. bought 4 more cases. In comparing wines under $10.00, I say it’s as good as any or better. I come from a long line of Greek wine makers I like making my own. but at $3.99, you can’t beat it.

  31. Marquis Avatar
    Marquis

    Bought one of each variety at Henry’s in SoCal. I love finding good cheap wine and there has never been a better time to find bargains. Still lots of bad wine for cheap, so you need to try to find out. Didn’t care much for any of the whites, the Petite Sirah and Cab are OK for the price, but the Sangiovese is a winner. Bought several bottles and will get some more. If you like Chianti, you’ll like this.

  32. kat Avatar
    kat

    i am as my friends seem to think a bit of a wine snob. i can usually skip over the cheaper wines being under $10. but i bought their chard on a whim and was quite impressed. had an oaky fresh taste with a hint of lemon. might try it again sometime in another varietal.

  33. CP Avatar
    CP

    One of the best wine shops in the LA/OC area, Winex in Orange, CA, carries excellent wines most of which are $8 to $10 and up (and worth the price), and offer excellent value for price. The only $3 wine they offered in the last half year was CRANE LAKE. Crane is Bronco wines effort to supply small specialty shops with a good bargain wine. I bought the 2005 Crane Lake Petit Sirah and was astonished how well-balanced and chunky it was for the money – easily could compete with same variety wines $13 to $20. Winex is pretty picky and I think it is only carrying the 2007 Cab at the moment, I’m eager to try it if I can just stop buying the exceptional 2007s from Southern France (also often great deals but seldom less than $10).

  34. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    I have bought the Crane Lake Sangiovese in the past and found it to be very refreshing and had great flavor. When my local liquor retailer suggested I try the Sauvignon Blanc, I bought two bottles. I had two glasses with a spinach salad, and within a few hours, I had the same experience that Pam (from 2006) had: Nauseous, sick, and headaches all the next day. I believe that her bottle and mine were just two contaminated in a batch of many good ones. I never drank the second bottle, and threw out the remainder of the first the next day. My friend tried a glass of the second bottle about a week later and liked the taste and had no ill effects from it. I gave her the bottle to take home. So, I don’t think I’ll be buying the Sauvignon Blanc again anytime soon, but I will continue to buy the Merlot and Sangiovese.

  35. Molly Avatar
    Molly

    Try the Riesling!

  36. surfermsc123@yahoo.com Avatar
    surfermsc123@yahoo.com

    I just paid $7.99 for 2008 Crane Lake Merlot. I usually don’t purchase any wine under $20.00 however the label said it was grown in NAPA Valley and they were out of the good stuff so I figured why not?

    I cannot believe how good this wine is for the price. It matched perfectly with dinner. A great tasting flavorful wine, medium to full bodied with a slightly lingering soft finish. Very nice!

  37. Dave Heiserman Avatar
    Dave Heiserman

    Hey, the Chardonnay isn’t bad either.

  38. Luna M. Avatar
    Luna M.

    Found the 2009 Merlot and 2008 Shiraz on sale at my local Meijer for 3/$12 ($4.49 regular price). Looks like the price has gone up. Meijer has always been a bit more expensive all around (for my taste) anyhow. Had the Shiraz last night and I was so surprised at how smooth and palatable the taste was for the price. Amazing! A better buy when on sale (and not) than my go-to daily/house Black Box Cab wine. Located the Crane Lake bottles on the very bottom shelf at the store and they were all out of Cab and pretty low on all the other varietals. Looks like it’s a popular brand for those in the know like the previous reviewers here. Was intent on finding the Sangiovese, but it looks like they don’t carry it (damn). I am TOTALLY sold on Crane Lake now! The label looks simple and classy too. I can totally see bringing this as a host(ess) gift as previous reviewers mentioned. Especially if on a budget. Possibly along with a Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay for contrast.

  39. Luna M. Avatar
    Luna M.

    Got to taste the Merlot, Cab and Chardonnay finally. Did NOT like the Cab so much. BF seconded that motion. Not that it wasn’t drinkable, it just had a taste we weren’t too crazy about. Reminded me of Grenache/Malbec blended wine I did not like years back. No love lost though. We ‘cut’ it with some Cherry 7-Up and down it went. 🙂 The Merlot was pretty good and I drank the whole bottle of Chardonnay myself, if that gives you any indication. Would buy those two again.

  40. Luna M. Avatar
    Luna M.

    Am on a Crane Lake wine tasting extravaganza here! In the last couple of days I tried the Pinot Grigio and tonight the Riesling, chilled. Both are pretty good, with the Riesling being a bit sweeter, of course. I drank the whole bottle of Pinot by myself and it looks like that’s the plan for the Riesling too. At these prices I surely can! haha It looks like the only two I need to try now are the White Zinfandel and the Sangiovese. I did see the White Zin at Meijer, but will need to search on for the Sangiovese.

  41. Luna M. Avatar
    Luna M.

    Bought the Zinfandel this week. It’s decent too. Not my ultimate favorite, but a good one to throw into the mix if buying a variety of bottles. The Cab still remains my least favorite. Was happy to see my local Meijer has all Crane Lake on sale for 3/$7 till the end of the month.

  42. Agnes Avatar
    Agnes

    I found Crane Lake years ago at Bev Max in CT and have tried them all except the Zin and the Brut, I recently tried the Sangiovese and love it! I am hungarian and my family love wine so I brought the Crane Lake to a Thanksgiving get-together and everyone loved it and couldn’t believe the price of $3.99! I drink wine most evenings with dinner so for this price its the best choice by far and everyone I have told about it can’t believe how good it is. The funniest part is giving it to a wine snob and then watching their look when you tell them the price!!!!!! PRICELESS

  43. Coco h. Avatar
    Coco h.

    Wow.. I’ve got to say my husband and I go through about a case of wine a week;trying to keep the price at. $20 a bottle. Recently discovered crane lake (at $5 a bottle) and will definitely be buying now weekly . My husband is a big wine snob. (auctions at sherry lehmans etc). So when I first bought a bottle I decanted it and told him it was a small producer didn’t remember the name). He was impressed and quickly went rooting arou d in the recycling bin, boy was he pleasantly surprised when I revealed the label!

  44. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    Crane lake is a sweet buy. I bought it for 3.99 and wow I was surprised. I’m kind of a wine snob bc I usually drink 15 dollar bottles. But now I am a crane lake guy!!!! This taste the same as the more expensive wines.

  45. Lee Avatar
    Lee

    Loved Crane Lake and then for some reason thought my tastes had evolved beyond it. Until recently. Now I crave it. I mean CRAVE! I’d buy it at $45 a bottle. It’s my favorite and for a while I was embarrassed to admit it because of the price. But it is a very good glass of wine. Not bland, like some other less expensive wines. It’s a great product!

  46. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    I’ve never been a wine drinker. Beer was much cheaper (even good beer) than even the cheapest drinkable wine. For me a wine would have to be something I could substitute for the beer. $8-10 for a six pack of a decent beer meant that I would have to find a $4-$5 bottle of wine I could drink, which I never could find until a friend brought me a few bottles of CL when I moved into an apartment a few years back. The moscato and petit sirah.

    I now keep at least 2 bottles of each of the CL varietals in the house. we went through a lot of wine at the party I recently had when I moved into my new house. Most of my family had the same attitude toward wine that I did, that a decent wine was way too expensive, so when I was serving up the CL, they were drinking, I even sent a few bottles home with folks who, like me, are not “wine people” thanks to Crane Lake

  47. Bill Avatar
    Bill

    Bought a bottle of clean chardonnay to have with roasted game hen. It was a fantastic accompanyment for the price

  48. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    I live in the heart of (award winning) wine country and regularly spend $15-30/750 ml. The 2011 Crane Lake Shiraz is some of the top ten reds I have ever tasted.

    For only $5 I’m impressed !

  49. JustmeJ Avatar
    JustmeJ

    I am not much of a wine drinker so I just buy something cheap-ish when I am in the mood for it. I have tried several low price wines and this is one that I will definitely be buying again. I currently have a bottle of 2011 Merlot and loving it.

  50. Phil from Philly Avatar
    Phil from Philly

    Bought Crane Lake Moscato and Sauvignon blanc, what swill!

    First time in my long life I poured an entire bottle of wine down the drain much less two within minutes of each other.

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