| Shane's Wine Opinions |
| Economy Proof Wines for 2009 |
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The economy is affecting all of us and one thing is now for certain, we are more
careful about how we spend our money. Whether its on clothes, eating out or
even how much we drive our cars around town now. Luxury goods have really
taken the brunt of our spending habits and unfortunately, that includes wine.
People are spending less and less on a bottle of wine and are really being forced
to find good quality at a cheap price. That is something that is not always easy
to do.
Well thanks to my inquisitive and experimental nature and of course in no small
part, my incredible wine habit, I have tried quite a few inexpensive wines that
have kept me coming back to them time and time again. It is too hard for me to
drink the same varietal over and over, but when I do try something different, I
want something I know will deliver me pleasure. I will share a few of these
inexpensive treasures with you now.
Mark West 2007 Pinot Noir – I’ve seen it as cheap as $9.00 and as high as
$12.00. Let’s be honest, I would not want to make a living trying to sell
fantastic Pinot Noir wines for under $20.00. It is just too hard to make and even
harder to find. I usually jump for joy when I find one under $30.00 that is
exceptional. That being said, this Mark West Pinot Noir is really quite a find.
While it is highly unlikely that you’ll mistake it for a bottle of SeaSmoke, it will
please you with its silky texture, feminine aromas and firm acidity. All of which
add up to being a good food wine as well.
Altos De Luzon 2005 Jumilla – This is a Spanish red blend that hovers around
the $10 or $11 range. I swear to you, if I had tasted this blind I would have
guessed that it cost around three times as much. Big, lush and full of flavors
like roasted coffee, mocha and rich red fruits. This would also be a good food
wine, but I enjoy it as well without any food whatsoever. Excellent for the
money!
Honig 2007 Sauvignon Blanc – Probably not a surprise to the people that drink
wine with me, but vintage after vintage, Honig just keeps delivering excellent
wines. They keep this wine down to around $15.00 which you certainly have to
respect, because most Napa wineries having this much success with a varietal
would have jacked the price up well over $20.00. I think what I love most about
this Sauvignon Blanc though is for everything it is not. It is not over-the-top on
green flavors or big acidic bite. It is very crisp, but elegant and supple. Most
Sauvignon Blanc wines are a sure thing with food and this is no exception,
however, with that being said, this is yet another wine I love to drink by itself.
On another note, if $30 to $35 for a Napa Cab is not out of your budget, you
should try Honig’s Cabernet’s. These too are also quite the bargain in the
quality to price ratio.
Bodegas Norton 2007 Malbec – Actually, there are a number of good
Argentinean Malbec wines for the money, but I chose this one because they
have become very consistent from year to year and I often find this wine for
under $10.00. It is a mouthful of blueberries and has a nice acidic backbone for
food pairing. If you can afford the extra $7 to $10 the Reserve is really quite
good with more complex oak aromas in its arsenal.
Bogle 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel – What the heck happened to great Zinfandel
wines at affordable prices? Didn’t this varietal lead that category from year to
year? Geez it is hard to find something really good now for under $20.00. Look
at how much Seghesio costs now, which is still one of the best every year. Now
the Bogle Zin is not earth shattering, but more often than not, they do tend to
get this varietal right. Nothing too far fetched, just good core Zinfandel fruit for
around $11.00.
Chateau St. Jean 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon & 2007/8 Chardonnay & Fume
Blanc – I know, I am hanging three wines on one winery, but I really have got to
give them some props for all the great wines they have been turning out. Unlike
the countless sea of wineries that have sold out to the larger conglomerates,
they just seem to keep cranking out fantastic wines at a very affordable price.
The Cab is solid for around $10.00 and the Chardonnay and Fume Blanc
(Sauvignon Blanc) will leave you refreshed and happy. This winery doesn’t
produce many stinkers!
careful about how we spend our money. Whether its on clothes, eating out or
even how much we drive our cars around town now. Luxury goods have really
taken the brunt of our spending habits and unfortunately, that includes wine.
People are spending less and less on a bottle of wine and are really being forced
to find good quality at a cheap price. That is something that is not always easy
to do.
Well thanks to my inquisitive and experimental nature and of course in no small
part, my incredible wine habit, I have tried quite a few inexpensive wines that
have kept me coming back to them time and time again. It is too hard for me to
drink the same varietal over and over, but when I do try something different, I
want something I know will deliver me pleasure. I will share a few of these
inexpensive treasures with you now.
Mark West 2007 Pinot Noir – I’ve seen it as cheap as $9.00 and as high as
$12.00. Let’s be honest, I would not want to make a living trying to sell
fantastic Pinot Noir wines for under $20.00. It is just too hard to make and even
harder to find. I usually jump for joy when I find one under $30.00 that is
exceptional. That being said, this Mark West Pinot Noir is really quite a find.
While it is highly unlikely that you’ll mistake it for a bottle of SeaSmoke, it will
please you with its silky texture, feminine aromas and firm acidity. All of which
add up to being a good food wine as well.
Altos De Luzon 2005 Jumilla – This is a Spanish red blend that hovers around
the $10 or $11 range. I swear to you, if I had tasted this blind I would have
guessed that it cost around three times as much. Big, lush and full of flavors
like roasted coffee, mocha and rich red fruits. This would also be a good food
wine, but I enjoy it as well without any food whatsoever. Excellent for the
money!
Honig 2007 Sauvignon Blanc – Probably not a surprise to the people that drink
wine with me, but vintage after vintage, Honig just keeps delivering excellent
wines. They keep this wine down to around $15.00 which you certainly have to
respect, because most Napa wineries having this much success with a varietal
would have jacked the price up well over $20.00. I think what I love most about
this Sauvignon Blanc though is for everything it is not. It is not over-the-top on
green flavors or big acidic bite. It is very crisp, but elegant and supple. Most
Sauvignon Blanc wines are a sure thing with food and this is no exception,
however, with that being said, this is yet another wine I love to drink by itself.
On another note, if $30 to $35 for a Napa Cab is not out of your budget, you
should try Honig’s Cabernet’s. These too are also quite the bargain in the
quality to price ratio.
Bodegas Norton 2007 Malbec – Actually, there are a number of good
Argentinean Malbec wines for the money, but I chose this one because they
have become very consistent from year to year and I often find this wine for
under $10.00. It is a mouthful of blueberries and has a nice acidic backbone for
food pairing. If you can afford the extra $7 to $10 the Reserve is really quite
good with more complex oak aromas in its arsenal.
Bogle 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel – What the heck happened to great Zinfandel
wines at affordable prices? Didn’t this varietal lead that category from year to
year? Geez it is hard to find something really good now for under $20.00. Look
at how much Seghesio costs now, which is still one of the best every year. Now
the Bogle Zin is not earth shattering, but more often than not, they do tend to
get this varietal right. Nothing too far fetched, just good core Zinfandel fruit for
around $11.00.
Chateau St. Jean 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon & 2007/8 Chardonnay & Fume
Blanc – I know, I am hanging three wines on one winery, but I really have got to
give them some props for all the great wines they have been turning out. Unlike
the countless sea of wineries that have sold out to the larger conglomerates,
they just seem to keep cranking out fantastic wines at a very affordable price.
The Cab is solid for around $10.00 and the Chardonnay and Fume Blanc
(Sauvignon Blanc) will leave you refreshed and happy. This winery doesn’t
produce many stinkers!
