Past Issues:
Bargain Wine, oct/nov 2006 --
Grab Bag Values!
In this regular feature,
we spotlight those wines that offer great
bang for the buck -- under $15 bucks, to
be exact. Here you'll find our everyday
wines, house pours, and occasionally a great
new find. Have a favorite Bargain Wine?
Tell us about it at editor@wineskinny.com!
This issue's Bargain Wine
is a grab bag, of sorts, with a little bit
of this and a little bit of that. And at
$15 or under each, there's something for
everyone!
($15). Complex floral,
wet straw and mineral aromas mingle with
melon, pear and peach notes that build to
a juicy finish. Very nice. Ready to drink
now. (World Wide Wine 04/06)
($11).
Lovely, with aromatic, fresh white peach,
floral and spice notes that linger brightly
on the clean finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next couple of years.
($12). Nice! Aromatic peach and floral notes
are vibrant on the palate, lingering through
the slightly spicy finish. Ready to drink
now.
($13). A complex, appealing
Sauvignon Blanc from Israel, with cream
and smoky oak accenting ripe stone and citrus
fruit. Ready to drink now.
($13). Loads of grapefruit is the star in
this Languedoc (southern France) white,
with fresh herbs and floral notes that add
interest. A few of the Dames thought it
was too much grapefruit and not enough style.
From a Clos du Val collaboration. Ready
to drink now. (Drinks with Les Dames 06/06)
($15).
Easy to like, with pretty medium-bodied
cherry cola and raspberry aromas and flavors.
With a mouthwatering finish that makes it
quite food friendly. Ready to drink now
and over the next couple of years.
($11). Tasty!
Delicate and smooth, with restrained red
berry, a hint of spice, and a polished finish.
Ready to drink now.
($15). Plummy,
with pretty floral and fresh herb notes,
picking up fig and vanilla through the moderate
finish. Nice interest and complexity at
this price point. A blend of Merlot (75%)
and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%). Ready to drink
now and over the next couple of years.
($15). A great example
of good wine at a good price, this Washington
St. Merlot offers velvety black plum and
berry flavors, staying bright through the
juicy finish and picking up toasty oak and
dried herb notes. Ready to drink now and
over the next couple of years.
($12). Clean and
fruity, with black cherry, cola and vanilla
flavors that pick up a touch of spice on
the moderate finish. A good burger wine,
at a good burger wine price! Ready to drink
now.
($13).
Lush and pretty, with smooth red plum and
cherry flavors that pick up warm baking
spices on the supple finish. Ready to drink
now and over the next three years.
($8). Easy quaff here, with juicy red berry,
light toasty oak and a smooth, moderate
finish. Ready to drink now.
($12). A great house red - perfect for everyday
drinking and quite versatile with food.
Offers juicy red berry fruit laced with
earth, anise, tobacco and toasty oak. A
blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre,
this is classic southern Rhone bargain red!
Ready to drink now.
($13).
Really delicious and one of the best deals
in this article! With ripe black cherry
and currant flavors accented with loads
of cracked black pepper, licorice and cedar.
Stays big and flavorful through the long
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next three or four years.
($15). Concentrated,
aromatic red berry fruit is accented with
black pepper, dried herbs and toasty oak,
with a smooth, juicy finish. Versatile with
food and ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine
08/06)
($13). Showed some
nice structure and focus at this price point,
with pretty red berry flavors, spice and
toasty oak. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 09/06)
($15). A heck
of a deal from this new winery, with nicely
balanced blackberry and cherry flavors laced
with warm spices, toasty oak, and just a
dash of dusty tannins. Generous finish.
Ready to drink now.
($14).
Just an unbelievable deal here - pretty
and aromatic, with smooth, rich red cherry
and berry flavors laced with mocha, smoke,
black pepper and toasty oak. Balanced, with
a long finish. Ready to drink now.
($10). A blend of
Torrontes and Chenin Blanc, this fun white
offers vibrant peach aromas that are repeated
on the flirtateously sweet palate, with
a kick of spice on the finish. Not overly
complex, but still likeable. Works with
Thai or Mexican food, but we liked it best
with a fruit dessert. Ready to drink now.
($13). Wow,
what a deal! With seductive, ripe tropical
fruits laced with butterscotch, toasted
whole spices and a smoky finish. Ready to
drink now and over the next couple of years.
This now-fabulously-named column used to
be called Easy To Find One Figure Wines,
for reasons that we cannot currently remember
but were surely enthusiastic about at the
time. Anyhoo, check out our Past
Issue Index for more great value-priced
wine selections!
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