Lagar de Costa Albariño 2012, Rías Baixas, Spain
Dave McIntyre, writing in the Washington Post, recommended a number of “bargain” Spanish wines this week ranging from $9 to $24.
Of this selection he said: “On the fruitier side of Albariño, it has the crystalline, bright and focused flavors of apricot and slate. Pair with seafood salads or grilled shellfish. Lagar de Costa also makes an Albariño called Doelas de Lagar de Costa ($18) that is quite good and in wider distribution.”
Price: $23
Mundo de Yuntero 2012 Tempranillo y Syrah, Manzanares, Spain
At the lower end of the budget at just $9, McIntyre picked this Tempranillo/Syrah blend which he said would pair well with grilled foods.
He said: “The Jesús del Perdón cooperative is producing delicious bargains, including this blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15 percent Syrah. Juicy and gulpable, it retains the leafy, earthy notes of Tempranillo and a core of acidity that keeps it grounded. Stock up for your weeknight burgers on the grill.”
Price: $9
La Crema Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2012, Oregon, US
From the heart of Oregon comes this week’s recommendation from Sandra Silfven, writing in the Detroit News. She said this Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley was a “beautiful Pinot” that was “dry, earthy, herbal and so tightly wound”.
She said: “The blast of cherry, plum, vanilla and herbs is Oregon refined and polished to a sparkling gem. This is a powerful, beautiful wine. Acidity makes it lean and mean. Fruit speaks to the highly rated 2012 vintage. It was sourced from 10 vineyards and seven clones from throughout the Willamette Valley and its sub-AVAs, and aged nine months in 100% French oak, 25%. Get ahead of local distribution and join the La Crema Wine Club or buy it when it becomes available online at La Crema. It’s a whole new taste and style profile for this artisan winemaker.”
Price: $30
2011 Caprili Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
A “perfect food for wine”, this 100% Sangiovese Grosso from Tuscany was Irene Vibila’s pick of the week, writing in the LA Times this week.
She said: “What a beauty. Caprili’s 2011 Rosso di Montalcino, 100% Sangiovese Grosso, is the perfect food wine, bright and chiseled, with flavors of black cherries, sweet spices and chocolate. Tannins are tight, and there’s a lovely slight bitterness at the finish that keeps you coming back to the glass.
“It’s wonderful with tagliatelle or fettuccine with meat ragù, grilled portobello mushrooms, grilled meats or roasted birds.”
Price: $20 to $24
Renieri, Toscana IGT, Regina di Renieri 2009, Tuscany, Italy
Rebecca Murphy, writing in the Dallas News, also recommended a Tuscan wine – a “spicy” Syrah with “savory cedar aromas.”
She said: “Syrah from Tuscany? Indeed, syrah thrives in sangiovese country, bringing color, fullness and complementary tannins in a blend. It takes a star turn in wines like this one from Renieri. Its spicy, savory cedar aromas alert the taste buds to get ready for a mouthful of wonderful. The rich flavors of blackberry and black cherry fruit show an Italian flair, mingling with licorice, tobacco and wood spice and tempered by decisive acidity and dusty tannins. Enjoy it with a steak grilled with rosemary.”
Price: $35
2012 Domaine de Tariquet Chenin-Chardonnay, Cotes de Gascogne, France
Michael Dresser, writing in The Baltimore Sun, picked this French Chenin-Chardonnay as one of his wines of the week – which he said was perfect wine for “outdoor quaffing”.
He said: “This artful blend of 75% Chenin Blanc and 25% Chardonnay combines the fruit of the former and body of the latter in a fresh, dry white wine. It offers refreshing, lively flavors of lime, pear, apple and minerals. An excellent choice as we move into spring and outdoors quaffing. From Robert Kacher Selections.”
Serve with bouillabaisse or spicy Asian cuisine.
Price: $13
2013 La Ferla Inzolia, Sicily, Italy
Another recommendation from Dresser was for this Sicilian white made from the lesser-known Inzolia grape.
He said: This is a wonderfully fresh wine, just recently bottled. Inzolia, a white wine grape grown in Sicily, is hardly a household name, but this wine puts 90% of Pinot Grigios to shame. It’s a fully dry wine, but it has so much lively fruit there’s no severity.
“There are refreshing hints of lime, lemon, pear, mint and pine. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable wine at a very appealing price, perfect for outdoor sipping between now and Labor Day.”
Serve with fish, shellfish or Thai cuisine
Price: $9
