Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
This Pinot Noir from Marlborough, New Zealand’s most acclaimed winemaking region, is a dark garnet color in the glass and offers a slightly spicy, stone fruits and ripe cherries nose. In the mouth, I get tons of juicy, ripe dark raspberries and currents.
I served this affordable and approachable wine at my 4th of July party and it paired well with many of the dishes I was serving from blue cheese-topped sirloin burgers to sharp cheddar macaroni and cheese.
From around $14.
Friends asked what they could bring to one of my dinner parties and I simply said “wine to go with beef”. To my good fortune, they brought this little gem.
In the glass, the wine is a bright garnet hue. In the mouth, it’s rich with ripe berries, musky with nutty notes. Brought on some bouquet garni elements on the medium, dry finish.
Wine Advocate: 90 Points.
Around $21.
When this wine was poured into my glass I had to let out a “wow” to the beautiful dark ruby hue. On the nose, this affordable Italian wine is both sweet and spicy with bushels of wild strawberries. In the mouth – wow again. This Barbera is big, bold, woodsy with caramel notes and lush berries. Was great alone, but fabulous with Arancini starter and my tomato-based seafood soup. Can’t believe this wine’s only $17 retail.
Around $17.
Wine Spectator: 89 Points.
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
Enjoyed this wine at a steakhouse, yes, a steakhouse, but paired with seared diver scallops over creamed corn. It’s a lovely, affordable Viognier that would complement spicy foods, rich white/cheesy sauces and grilled fish very well.
For those not familiar with Viognier, it’s rich and bold with tropical fruit flavors and floral aromas. In the case of the 2007 Bonterra Vineyards Viognier, it’s fruit forward with a long, dry and almost spicy finish with vanilla notes. Fans of Rieslings or Gewurztraminers would enjoy this varietal.
Varietal blend: 81% Viognier, 10% Marsanne, 5% Muscat, 4% Rousanne.
Around $16.
Wine in a Box
Since I recently started a new job search, I’ve made lists of things I’d cut back on. Wine and good food just cannot be skipped no matter what, so I thought I’d get my social media wine friends to help me compile a list of 10 affordable wines that they’ve recently discovered or are enjoying these days.
Please leave me a comment by 2/20/10 with a nice value wine you’ve enjoyed that you feel should make my top 10 list.
Cheers!
I went to a MeetUp wine tasting event on Friday night and was fortunate enough to sample over 31 wines. The selection of wines was varied, ranging from an affordable Donny Boon Syrah to a mid-priced 2003 Chalk Hill to a couple extremely nice Super Tuscans.
I know it’s not ‘right’, but I skipped most whites in favor of the reds and found one of the affordable finds very pleasant and food-friendly. I’m talking about the 2004 Cantina Zaccagnini Riserva. This wine wasn’t overwhelming but had enough depth to satisfy me in a way only Italian wines can.
After so many wines, I didn’t fully trust my palate, so I bought a couple of bottles for an Italian dinner party I hosted last night. The wine was a crowd pleaser and even features a tiny vine twig attached to the bottle (touch classier than a wicker covered bottle). My friends who enjoy lighter reds didn’t find this wine too robust for them, and folks, like me, who like a mouthful of fruit appreciated it also. The wine is a vibrantly purple in the glass and every sip brings about a big mouthful of peppery blackberries that ends in a dry finish. Pairing this wine with my meat lasagna was a great move and finishing my last swallow with dark, decadent Valhrona chocolate brownies was also fitting.
The 2004 Cantina Zaccagnini Riserva is typically in the $14-$15 price range, but I was able to find it on sale for $11.99 at Wine Library. Smart buy, solid and affordable wine.
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