Cheap Wholepaycheck Wine - Three Wishes

Sometimes, the cheapest wine is also the lowest quality wine.  This was certainly the case with the Three Wishes Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that I purchased from Wholepaycheck, simply because a) it was $2.49 a bottle and b) the stack of cases and bottles was cash-register adjacent, making a "point of sale" decision easily convincing.

I opened the Cabernet first, and noticed a slight "medicinal" small.  I had a taste of the first glass, and decided "perhaps more appropriate for a 2nd, or 3rd bottle of the night".  I went onto a much more pleasant Italian wine (which I'll post later) and came back to the Cab 2 days later.   It had mellowed a little, but it still was not a good "first vintage" bottle.

The next week I opened the Merlot.  It had a turpentine-esque aroma, and was completely un-drinkable.   I poured it down the sink after 2 sips... hoping the 2nd sip would improve.   It didn't.

If you've visited JustJoeP previously, you know I am a HUGE fan of hidden gems, bottles under $10 that are good quality and drinkable.   The two bottles I purchased from WholeFoods for $5.98 (total) were not hidden gems.  They were not even iron pyrite.  I cannot recommend them.  The only "Three Wishes" they granted for me were "not wasting $10 a bottle", "not giving me a headache hangover", and "not finding a dead animal in the bottom of the Cab I drank".  As far as wishes go, that's pretty low expectations.