Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
Although from Alto Adige, this fragrant white is clearly made in a German manner. This greenish-hued pinot blanc offers green apple on the nose and ripe pear in the mouth. A friend sampling it with me said “nice acidity” upon sipping it and she was right, lots of acidity, long finish and a super food-friendly wine.
Around $19.
If you read my blog, or follow me on social media platforms, you know that I enjoy trying wines from many regions, varietals and styles so I try not to judge wines by their price points. Having said that, I thought I’d highlight some affordable wines I’ve particularly liked this year (in no particular order).
Top 10 Wines Under $20 for 2010:
Have you tried any of these wines? Please leave a comment with your thoughts about them. Haven’t tried them yet? Please do and let me know how you enjoyed them!
Cheers,
Veronique
'07 Carmes de Rieussec Sauternes
Although the second wine of Château Rieussec, this dessert (fortified) wine is not a second rate Sauternes in any way. The color is a rich golden hue. The nose is honey and ripe citrus. On the palate, this Sauternes is unctuous, thick, sweet and bold with juicy peach.
Know most of us think of sparkling wine when celebrating, but this affordable Sauternes should also come to mind. Served this wine with foie gras and confit onion and carrot and it was a fantastic pairing.
Around $25 for 375ml bottle.
2008 Kaiken Corte
Decided to uncork this wine at Christmas dinner (turkey, spiced meatball stew, dark meat stuffing) even though it wasn’t the best option and my fellow diners unanimously said that they’d drink this wine any day with food it shouldn’t be paired with. It was great!
The 2008 Kaiken Corte is a dark purplish ruby in the glass. It’s jammy fruit, black licorice and dark chocolate on the nose. In the glass, this wine is velvety yet bold with layers of ripe dark berries, spicy notes and a lonnnnnng finish. Kept thinking of BBQ ribs as I sipped on this Argentinean wine. 80% Malbec , 12% Bonarda, 8% Petit Verdot.
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
At around $12 a bottle, a case won’t break the bank but will have your guests praising this neat wine at your next BBQ.
2009 Kellerei Cantina Terlano Gewurztraminer
This wine might be pale yellow and innocent-looking in the glass, but appearances betray the intense floral nose and the bold palate. Paired this Italian wine with spicy Vietnamese food and thought it was a great match.
You’ll get tons of value out of this wine compared to much more expensive Alto Adige Gewürztraminers.
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
Around $20.
2008 Montes Alpha Syrah
If you’re into a smoky, spicy, leathery, big, full-bodied wine, this 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier winner is for you.
I was given this bottle to sample and really enjoyed it. I look forward to stocking up on it as it’s an affordable, crowd-pleasing wine.
Wine Spectator rated this Chilean wine 90 points.
Around $20.
Enjoyed this cab at a holiday party last week where my friend decided to uncork all the wines they’d received from friends in the last couple years. The first few bottles were what you’d expect from such an arrangement, but then, I saw him uncorking the 2006 Duckhorn Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and made sure to stay close by to get a couple pours.
Big mouthful or ripe dark berries and cherries with chocolate nuances and a bit of spice. Tannic finish that yearns for roasted meat. Complex yet refined wine – yum.
Around $65.
This post is my contribution to “Pinot Moment” as created by Evening Land Vineyards. The purpose of this December 9th, 2010 social media event (#pinotmoment) is to get a flock of Pinot Noir fans to share their “Pinot Moment”, or the wine that got them hooked on this finicky, yet pretty darn perfect grape.
2005 Tantara Pinot Noir
For me, this wine is the 2005 Tantara Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir. I’m a veteran of the travel industry, professionally, and as such, my business often takes me to Las Vegas. Those trips west from the east coast are brutal: 3-hour time change, long tradeshow hours and late nights of entertaining clients. In the fall of 2006, my team and I attended a conference at Mandalay Bay. To me, a perk of being in that nutty town is the ever expanding list of top notch restaurants. One of my favorites place to entertain is Alain Ducasse’s Mix atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. Completely black lounge and perfectly contrasting white restaurant on the 64th floor of the golden tower offers the most incredible view of the Strip while catering to foodies.
On that particular November evening, we were completely drained of all energy from the long 2-day tradeshow and were looking forward to a nice meal and a good glass or three. I was handed the wine list and decided on a predictable Pinot Noir that I’d enjoyed a few times. The sommelier asked if I’d be open to trying a new wine that he found particularly interesting that I might not find back in New Jersey. He was so adamant about this selection that I agreed to sample it. When he poured me a sip, the color of the wine was deep purple and somehow mesmerizing. My first sniff caused me to close my eyes and the first taste was pure velvet perfection. I wondered if I was simply tired, hungry and thirsty or if this wine was this fabulous, so had my team sample it. My PR person actually said “Oh my god” and said it might be the best Pinot she’d had. Needless to say, the sommelier got a fat tip from me and I got a great Pinot tip from him.
The sommelier was right, for a while, I wasn’t able to find Tantara in New Jersey. A clever friend of mine got a California wine store to ship me a bottle for my birthday (not kosher in NJ) and I was later able to find it at one local store.
This, was my “Pinot Moment” and started my love for the grape. Can’t wait to read everyone’s stories about my favorite varietal.
Cheers,
Veronique
2007 Anthony Road Sweet Dream
Using Vignoles grapes (French-American hybrid), Anthony Road Wine Company is able to create a dessert wine that’s balanced with a nice level of acidity to cut through the honey and ripe peach flavors and long finish. 8.6% residual sugar.
Around $15.99 (375ml).
2006 Hendry Zinfandel
Dinner guests brought this bottle over a few months ago and I uncorked it last night and must say to my friends: you’re welcomed over anytime!
Wow, bright fruit, chocolate and spicy notes on the nose. This is not a crazy burning mouthful of high alcohol blackberry jam. This wine is beautifully structure with the right amount of tannins to make it a new favorite foodie wine.
Around $30.
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