The specs are not great. In fact, they are terrible.
In fact, compared side by side with this years' (or even 2013's) Moto G and it becomes clear that the first LG smart flip phone to be officially launched in the UK and Europe is going to be a very niche product which will have a few fans, but is not going to sell by the bucket load.
I don't even need to go in depth - it's pretty obvious that this will not be a great phone...
The internal storage is only 4GB. Yes, there is a microSD card slot so that you can easily expand the storage, but 4GB is barely enough to run Android and a handful of core applications!
One of the reasons why I dislike Android phone so much is that there is an ever-growing need for more internal storage.
Apps like App2SD are great, but there are such a limited number of core applications that can be moved to SD, it means that the app itself becomes a resource hog.
My Moto G and my wife's Moto E both suffer terribly from a lack of internal storage. My 8GB Moto G is a pain to update, as I am constantly reminded that there "Is insufficient storage space on the device" whenever I try to update most of the apps.
I find myself doing more tinkering and cache-clearing than I should, just to update something as unnecessary as Google Play Books (which I'll never use).
I've stripped out every unnecessary app I can, without compromising the use of the phone as best I can, but unless you're packing at least 16GB in an Android phone, you may as well forget it.
So, that's my first problem - The memory isn't enough for basic day-to-day use.
This is a flip phone with an alphanumeric keypad, but that doesn't mean that it should be limited to calls, texts and syncing contacts. It does need real world specs to be used in 2015.
Next up, the cameras.
This really is a throwback to 2007: the rear (main) camera is only 3 megapixel, with no indication of any autofocus capability. There is no mention of a flash, either.
As for the front facing camera, this is even worse - it's VGA.
VGA sensors in a time of the selfie? This must be an April Fool's Day joke. Ok, the selfie generation probably won't be after on of these phones, but VGA? A closer read of LG's official blurb will give you an idea of the target demographic - This phone is designed for the elderly/older generation, with its "large physical 3×4 numeric keypad for easy and accurate typing and hotkeys that provide instant access to frequently used features such as phone dialer, address book, text messages or camera. Larger-than-normal icons take full advantage of the 3×3 home screen layout on the crisp 3.2-inch HVGA display. The Wine Smart includes LG’s Safety Care feature which can be set to automatically transmit emergency alerts and real-time location to pre-selected contacts whenever the user needs immediate assistance."
I don't even have to mention the tiny 3.2 inch screen, which is taken up with those extra large icons, LG did a good enough job of stating this themselves - I just thought that I'd mention it again, in case you were still in disbelief.
So, I'm initially attracted to a smart clamshell phone that isn't made by some dodgy company, and it will officially launch in the UK.
I love clamshell phones, and I'd consider ditching Windows Phone for a decent Android folder, but this is turning out to be a real let down.
The way in which LG have hijacked basic "senior phone" design elements and crammed - literally - Android into it is absurd.
The biggest kick in the teeth is this: "Our goal with LG Wine Smart was to create a smartphone that fans of flip phones could embrace,” said Chris Yie, vice president and head of marketing communications for LG Mobile Communications Company. “Consumers shouldn’t have to miss out on the smartphone revolution because they prefer a particular phone design over another. With LG Wine Smart, they won’t have to."
What about those customers who want a decent flip phone that runs Android Mr Yie?
Don't even get me started on the lack of an external display...
