Coteaux du Languedoc, Grange Phillippe, 2003
There are so many great French bargains these days it’s hard to keep up. Such wines are a major embarrassment to the American wine industry. How can they sell wines at this price that taste so good with the Euro is so much stronger than the dollar.
Here is a big, deep fruity wine with real flavor and complexity for $11 a bottle. Give me a break, why can’t we do this in the USA? A blend of 70% syrah, 20% grenache and 10% mourvedre, if anybody made a wine of such quality in the USA it would cost $40 a bottle.
Chianti Classico, Casa Emma 2003
When was the last time you had an excellent Chianti Classico that cost under $30? How about under $20 - maybe never? Well this Casa Emma is that most rare of Tuscan breeds these days and for under $20 offers classic Classico style. No simple fruit bomb overlayed with oak, this wine show real terroir, sangiovese character and a complex, structured style. With a wonderful lean, bittersweet sangiovese character, those of you who remember the glories of Tuscany before the invasion of the enologists will love this classic - and it’s a bargain besides!
Savigny les Beaune, Aux Fourches, Maison Champy. 2002
A bargain from Burgundy sounds like an oxymoron, but here is one that is sure to please. No, it’s not great Burgundy, but it’s damn good Burgundy. With a nice richness, plenty of pinot noir character this is the real thing and a very good value.
Bourgueil, Trinch!, Catherine & Pierre Breton, 2004
A candidate for great house wine of the year, I dare you to find a domestic wine that tastes this good for under $13. Almost explosively fruity and clean with an acidity that dares your saliva glands to keep up this wine is food friendly perfection. A great combination of juicy ripe fruit and balance. Yes, you can be deeply fruity without being overweight. Buy cases.
Gamay Noir, Willakenzie Estate, Oregon. 2004
While certainly chunkier and showing more wood than a Beaujolais this is still a very nice wine. More in the cheeseburger with raw onion mode than the omelette with truffle mode when it comes to food. Drink while young and fruity and don’t think too much about it.
St. Amour, Domaine des Pierres, Georges Trichard, 2005
A very fine Cru Beaujolais with a graceful, silky texture and a fruit brilliance that shows how much complexity can be packed into a refined and delicate package. Just a delicious wine to drink.
Cour Cheverny, Le Petit Chambord, Domaine Francois Cazin, 2002
Pungently mineral and firm and almost demanding food, this is a really lovely wine. Lean and mean, but with just enough fruit, every sip demand yet another. Not surprisingly, this is a Louis/Dressner selection, who else would bring in such an obscure Loire appellation. We can be glad they did as this wine is a steal at around $12. Buy, buy, buy! Made from 100% Romorantin, a rare varietal to say the least.
Saint Estephe, Château Haut Baradieu, 2003
A refined, classically styled Bordeaux for drinking now and over the next several years. As befitting a St. Estephe, this is a real cabernet in style with plenty of herbs and spice that overlay the lovely, but appropriately lean fruit. If you’re wondering what a Haut Medoc Bordeaux is supposed to taste like but don’t want to break the bank this is a very nice wine. Think lamb chops.
Dolcetto Langhe, Il Masante, Aldo Conterno, 2004
Real dolcetto here: bright, zesty and sassy, but offering a good dose of earthy complexity. A really fine effort that shows why dolcetto that tastes like concord jam aren’t what good dolcetto is about. Very, very nice wine.
Coteaux du Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet, Saint Peyre, 2005
Here is a zesty, refreshing delight that will match your best seafood and provide the perfect clean, acid driven foil for deep fried fish. Absolutly mouthwatering and fresh. IT COST’S $8.75!!! Anybody buying industrial California/Australian white wine these days is a fool.
Sangiovese Toscano IGT,Poggio ai Chiari, 2001
Another oaky Tuscan, how exciting. Certainly worth drinking if put in front of you, but why you would buy a bottle is beyond me.
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie, Domaine de l'Ecu, Expression de Granite, Domaine Guy Boussard, 2001
Current winner of the longest name wine award this year, you’ll think the name is short when you taste this wonderful wine. Still a baby, it will develop and expand for many years. A lighting bolt of a wine that in all its leanness still explodes on the palate. Concentrated mineral essence with a delicate balance. A beauty that costs all of 16 bucks. Amazing.
Barolo, Villero, Giuseppe e Figlio Mascarello, 1999
A really fine wine, exotic an balanced and absolute classic Barolo nebbiolo in style. True to type this Villero is forward, round and rich (by Barolo standards). Just starting to drink now, a few more years will be well rewarded. A great wine to recommend to someone who want to know what nebbiolo is really all about. I’m going to grab every bottle I can find.
Nora da Neve, Rias Baixas, Bianco, 2004
Yet another oaky white. Yawn. What a waste of fine albariño. Take a pass.
Pian del Ciampolo, Sangioveto e Canaiolo, Montevertine, Radda in Chianti, 2002
With a balance and refinement only found in fine Burgundy, this wine is an extraordinary value at well under $20. The light color may confuse some, but the expansive delicate aromas explode on the palate with an intense delicacy that is hard to find these days. A fine wine that reminds one about what made Tuscany great to begin with. Buy as much as you can afford. It’s great to drink now and will age for many years.