| Shane's Wine Opinion's |
| Ten Wines &/Or Wineries You Should Know About |
You know, very often people ask me to recommend a wine. “What’s something
good for under $20.00?” or “What Cab do you recommend with steak?” etc...
Because I drink a lot of wine and have experimented with different ones quite
frequently, I feel qualified to answer these queries. Over the past couple of
years I have noticed that many wines change drastically from one vintage to
the next. This is sometimes reflected in the scores they receive in wine
magazines. One year they are very good, the next year, not so good. It is true
that in some places in the world, Europe in particular, the vintage year means
everything. But every once in a while you find a star that performs
consistently every single year. Here are a few of those that I recommend
because of their solid consistency from year to year.
Sparkling Wine – Piper Heidsieck NV Brut: Non-vintage Champagnes
are supposed to taste the same from one year to the next. For the most part,
they do. Each Champagne house has a particular style they are going for in
the NV Champagne’s. Veuve Cliquot has that dry dusty bread dough taste
year after year. I like a lot of different Champagne’s for different reasons, but
when in doubt, I think the Piper Heidsieck NV Brut is a sure thing. It is heavy
so it pairs with many types of food and it just flat out tastes good. My opinion
of course. I think it is a great every occasion Champagne and never hesitate
to serve it to guests of any sort. I have bought this Champagne many, many
times and I never get tired of it.
How much: Around $38.00
Where to find: Just about anywhere, even Tom Thumb. Sometimes if you are
lucky, Costco or Sam’s will carry it and of course it will be cheapest there.
Sauvignon Blanc – Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc – Stellenbosch,
South Africa: Hands down, no contest, easily my favorite Sauvignon Blanc
wine ever and I’ve had quite a lot from all over the world. It retails for around
$20.00 which is kind of steep for a Sauvignon Blanc wine, but it is oh so worth
it. Wine Spectator has not given it a score below 90 the last three or four
vintages since I first learned about the wine and I have to agree with them
whole-heartedly. For those of you that like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
wines, it has a little of that in the taste profile and for those of you that like the
French Pouilly Fume’ Sauvignon Blanc’s it shows a little like those as well. All
the familiar characteristics are there, the strong acidity, that grassiness inherit
with Sauvignon Blanc’s and a good-sized mouth feel. It is a great and versatile
food wine and I have yet to have a dinner guest that didn’t rave about the wine
both with the food and on it’s own.
How much: Around $20.00
Where to find: Somewhat tricky to find, I have had good luck at these
locations; Qwik Way, Pogo’s & Whole Foods.
Chardonnay – Louis Jadot Macon-Villages – Burgundy, France:
Are you tired of those over-oaked California Chardonnay wines that just don’t
pair well with food. Here’s a great substitute. Yes there is oak in it, but it is
very, very subtle. It is a great food wine, but I even enjoy it without food at
all. Nice acidity as well as good fruit flavors and even though it comes from a
wine region where the vintage year makes or breaks the wine, it has been very
consistent going back to the 2002 vintage when I first started drinking it.
Maybe that is because it is a blend of grapes that are grown in several places
rather than just one single vineyard. Probably the best thing about this wine is
its very affordable price and availability.
How much: Usually $12.00
Where to find: Tom Thumb, just about anywhere really.
Riesling – Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica – Columbia Valley, WA: I
make no bones about it, Riesling is not one of my favorite styles of wine so for
me to include one in this list is saying a lot. Eroica first caught my attention
with the Wine Spectator rating of the 2002 vintage. In fact, it even made their
Top 100 list, I believe two years in a row. So with my curiosity peaked, I gave
the wine a try. I guess they hit the nail on the head because I definitely would
agree with the critics. I have tried a couple different vintages of it and they
always impress me. Talk about a great food wine, this Riesling goes where
most wines fear to tread. Spicy food, Asian cuisine, Sushi, salads, you name it,
this wine likes it all.
How much: About $20.00
Where to find: Most wine stores will have it and again, Costco & Sam’s
frequently has it.
Pinot Noir – La Crema Pinot Noir – Sonoma, CA: Pinot Noir is
expensive. That is why any time I see one for less than twenty dollars I
become skeptical. I haven’t followed the wine critic scores for La Crema very
closely, but I can tell you from the past three vintages that I have tried, they
are fantastic. Great red fruit flavors that are rich, but not overwhelming. Good
balance, with tannins, acidity and fruit, which is the key to good Pinot Noir
wines. Can you say bring on the Salmon or seared tuna? Love this little gem.
How much: Around $18.00
Where to find: Grocery stores, just about anywhere.
Zinfandel – Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel – Sonoma, CA:
When you think of big Zinfandel wineries, some big names come to mind
quickly; Ravenswood, Rosenblum, Ridge and well...Seghesio. If Seghesio
doesn’t come to mind, you better become familiar with them. The three R’s all
make some very good Zins (Ravenswood, Rosenblum & Ridge), but they make
many different ones and not all of them are good year in and year out.
However, Seghesio Zins are always solid and consistent. The Sonoma County
Zin is their cheapest offering, but when it comes to wine accolades, it is on par
with their best Zins. I believe it too has made the Wine Spectator’s Top 100
list twice in recent years. Maybe it is because of this that the price has been
creeping up to the $20.00 mark. No backyard BBQ would be complete without
this trusty Zin by your side. Full-bodied, large and in charge spicy fruit, don’t
expect this Zinfandel wine to take a back seat to any other condiment on the
table.
How much: Between $15.00 and $20.00
Where to find: The Wine Market & More frequently runs it on sale because it
is a big winner for them. Goody Goodys and World Market caries it too.
Australian Wine – Two Hands Angel Share – McLaren Vale,
Australia: At just a shade under $30.00, this wine is either very affordable or
expensive depending on your wine budget. Unfortunately for me, it seems
affordable compared to other wines I buy for my cellar. Two Hands is kind of
an Australian Cult Winery and many of their wines retail for over $100.00.
Apparently, they do not view Angel Share as one of their best, but the wine
critics would highly disagree. Both Robert Parker & Wine Spectator shower
praises on this little Aussie Shiraz. The 2004 vintage received a 95 pt score
from Parker. Aside from all of the accolades, this wine is solid and upon
unscrewing the cap, yes, you heard right, it has a screw cap enclosure, you will
no doubt fall in love with all of the black pepper spice and berries this gem has
to offer. If you are someone that has just bought a wine cellar and looking to
add an affordable age-worthy wine to your collection, the Angel’s Share Shiraz
will last well over decade under proper storage conditions.
How much: About $30.00
Where to find: Pogo’s, Mr. G’s & some Qwik Way’s.
Latin Lovely – Concha y Toro – Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon
– Maipo Valley, Chile: I have been drinking this dandy since the 1996
vintage and I am always blown away by its masculinity and power. Where so
many Cabs from Chile fall flat on their face with those awful bell pepper
overtones, the Don Melchor overcomes the weedy nature of Chilean wines and
provides us with complex layers of mint, loam, dark chocolate & cassis. The
2001 vintage was wine number three on the latest Wine Spectator’s Top 100.
It is interesting enough to drink on its own, but by no means should you shy
away from serving it with red meat and hearty dishes. Even chocolate has its
rewards with the Melchor. The best news is that it is roughly half the price of
the winery’s flagship wine, “Almaviva”. However, it is still pricey.
How much: Between $34.00 & $55.00
Where to find: A lot of wine stores have it, but they all charge in the $50’s.
Costco & Sam’s usually carries it and the savings are substantial.
Special Occasion Wine – Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon –
Rutherford-Napa, California: At $75.00 a pop, you would have to classify
this Cabernet Sauvignon wine as a luxury item. Scary thing is, this is their
cheapest wine. Our wine club had the privilege of tasting this blockbuster star
of the silver screen a couple of times last year and it was always a winner. If
you go back to the 1999 vintage all the way up to the 2003 vintage, not once
has this Cabernet scored less than a 92’. California Cult wines come and go
from year to year, but Caymus is as steady as a rock. I think what I appreciate
most about their Cabs is that although they have the goods to age for at least a
decade, they are very approachable when they are young. Just be sure to
decant it for an hour or two first. Always soft and luxurious on the palate, the
experience is ethereal and I will go ahead and apologize ahead of time if you
have never tried it before and are about to because one sip and you will be
hooked for life. It is a great wine for a special occasion, but really and truly,
the special occasion is when you poor yourself a glass of this Cab.
How much: Usually around $75.00
Where to find: The good news is that it is relatively easy to get a hold of.
Goody Goody’s, Sigel’s, Wine Market & More, Mr. G’s and many more.
American Winery – Sebastiani – Sonoma, CA: Big volume wineries
are supposed to suck! I mean that in the absolute most wine snobbish way!
How do these guys crank 50,000 bottles of Sonoma County Cabernet
Sauvignon and make it so darn consistent and delicious? Whatever their
secret is, they would be smart to keep up their winning formula. It’s not just
their Cab that scores big honors, their Merlot, Chardonnay and even their
Pinot Noir are really great values for the money. All of them large production
volumes to boot. Honestly its sick how they are able to produce these mass
quantities of excellent wines, year in and year out. The only varietal I’ve had
from them that failed to impress me was their Zinfandel and I don’t believe that
is a grape they hang their hat on anyway. Most of their wines are very
reasonable and fall between the $10.00 to $20.00 range. When in doubt, their
wines are a sure thing!
How much: From $10.00 to $80.00, but that is for their flagship wine only.
Where to find: Everywhere, even your local grocery store, provided you live in
an area that is not totally dry.
European Winery – Castello Banfi – Tuscany, Italy: To me its one
thing for a winery to consistently make one type of wine good every year, but it
is a whole different ball of cork for their entire portfolio to be solid year in and
out. To me Castello Banfi falls into the latter category. They don’t only stay
in Tuscany, they produces wines from all over Italy. The San Angelo Pinot
Grigio from the Alto Adige is always excellent. Great with seafood and salads.
Up in Piedmonte, they make a little red wine that is similar to France’s
Beaujolais called L’Ardi Dolcetta D’Alba. I personally like it better than
Beaujolais and it is a great summertime red wine. Of course, Tuscany, which is
this winery’s backyard is still their forte’. Take the basic Chianti Classico
Riserva. It is always a solid performer and a great introduction to the wines of
Tuscany for under $20.00. The real stars of this winery’s portfolio however,
are there Brunello di Montalcino’s. The basic one is always outstanding and
their more expensive single vineyard Brunello’s are just incredible. Top to
bottom, Castelllo Banfi delivers the goods like no other, especially in Italy.
How much: From under $10.00 all the way up to $135.00 for the big guns.
Where to find: Sam’s has been carrying their Chianti, Pinot Grigio & their
Brunello for the past few years. Goody Goody’s seems to have most of the
Castello Banfi portfolio. Other stores carry some of their wines like The Wine
Market & More, Mr G’s and Qwik Way.
good for under $20.00?” or “What Cab do you recommend with steak?” etc...
Because I drink a lot of wine and have experimented with different ones quite
frequently, I feel qualified to answer these queries. Over the past couple of
years I have noticed that many wines change drastically from one vintage to
the next. This is sometimes reflected in the scores they receive in wine
magazines. One year they are very good, the next year, not so good. It is true
that in some places in the world, Europe in particular, the vintage year means
everything. But every once in a while you find a star that performs
consistently every single year. Here are a few of those that I recommend
because of their solid consistency from year to year.
Sparkling Wine – Piper Heidsieck NV Brut: Non-vintage Champagnes
are supposed to taste the same from one year to the next. For the most part,
they do. Each Champagne house has a particular style they are going for in
the NV Champagne’s. Veuve Cliquot has that dry dusty bread dough taste
year after year. I like a lot of different Champagne’s for different reasons, but
when in doubt, I think the Piper Heidsieck NV Brut is a sure thing. It is heavy
so it pairs with many types of food and it just flat out tastes good. My opinion
of course. I think it is a great every occasion Champagne and never hesitate
to serve it to guests of any sort. I have bought this Champagne many, many
times and I never get tired of it.
How much: Around $38.00
Where to find: Just about anywhere, even Tom Thumb. Sometimes if you are
lucky, Costco or Sam’s will carry it and of course it will be cheapest there.
Sauvignon Blanc – Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc – Stellenbosch,
South Africa: Hands down, no contest, easily my favorite Sauvignon Blanc
wine ever and I’ve had quite a lot from all over the world. It retails for around
$20.00 which is kind of steep for a Sauvignon Blanc wine, but it is oh so worth
it. Wine Spectator has not given it a score below 90 the last three or four
vintages since I first learned about the wine and I have to agree with them
whole-heartedly. For those of you that like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
wines, it has a little of that in the taste profile and for those of you that like the
French Pouilly Fume’ Sauvignon Blanc’s it shows a little like those as well. All
the familiar characteristics are there, the strong acidity, that grassiness inherit
with Sauvignon Blanc’s and a good-sized mouth feel. It is a great and versatile
food wine and I have yet to have a dinner guest that didn’t rave about the wine
both with the food and on it’s own.
How much: Around $20.00
Where to find: Somewhat tricky to find, I have had good luck at these
locations; Qwik Way, Pogo’s & Whole Foods.
Chardonnay – Louis Jadot Macon-Villages – Burgundy, France:
Are you tired of those over-oaked California Chardonnay wines that just don’t
pair well with food. Here’s a great substitute. Yes there is oak in it, but it is
very, very subtle. It is a great food wine, but I even enjoy it without food at
all. Nice acidity as well as good fruit flavors and even though it comes from a
wine region where the vintage year makes or breaks the wine, it has been very
consistent going back to the 2002 vintage when I first started drinking it.
Maybe that is because it is a blend of grapes that are grown in several places
rather than just one single vineyard. Probably the best thing about this wine is
its very affordable price and availability.
How much: Usually $12.00
Where to find: Tom Thumb, just about anywhere really.
Riesling – Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica – Columbia Valley, WA: I
make no bones about it, Riesling is not one of my favorite styles of wine so for
me to include one in this list is saying a lot. Eroica first caught my attention
with the Wine Spectator rating of the 2002 vintage. In fact, it even made their
Top 100 list, I believe two years in a row. So with my curiosity peaked, I gave
the wine a try. I guess they hit the nail on the head because I definitely would
agree with the critics. I have tried a couple different vintages of it and they
always impress me. Talk about a great food wine, this Riesling goes where
most wines fear to tread. Spicy food, Asian cuisine, Sushi, salads, you name it,
this wine likes it all.
How much: About $20.00
Where to find: Most wine stores will have it and again, Costco & Sam’s
frequently has it.
Pinot Noir – La Crema Pinot Noir – Sonoma, CA: Pinot Noir is
expensive. That is why any time I see one for less than twenty dollars I
become skeptical. I haven’t followed the wine critic scores for La Crema very
closely, but I can tell you from the past three vintages that I have tried, they
are fantastic. Great red fruit flavors that are rich, but not overwhelming. Good
balance, with tannins, acidity and fruit, which is the key to good Pinot Noir
wines. Can you say bring on the Salmon or seared tuna? Love this little gem.
How much: Around $18.00
Where to find: Grocery stores, just about anywhere.
Zinfandel – Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel – Sonoma, CA:
When you think of big Zinfandel wineries, some big names come to mind
quickly; Ravenswood, Rosenblum, Ridge and well...Seghesio. If Seghesio
doesn’t come to mind, you better become familiar with them. The three R’s all
make some very good Zins (Ravenswood, Rosenblum & Ridge), but they make
many different ones and not all of them are good year in and year out.
However, Seghesio Zins are always solid and consistent. The Sonoma County
Zin is their cheapest offering, but when it comes to wine accolades, it is on par
with their best Zins. I believe it too has made the Wine Spectator’s Top 100
list twice in recent years. Maybe it is because of this that the price has been
creeping up to the $20.00 mark. No backyard BBQ would be complete without
this trusty Zin by your side. Full-bodied, large and in charge spicy fruit, don’t
expect this Zinfandel wine to take a back seat to any other condiment on the
table.
How much: Between $15.00 and $20.00
Where to find: The Wine Market & More frequently runs it on sale because it
is a big winner for them. Goody Goodys and World Market caries it too.
Australian Wine – Two Hands Angel Share – McLaren Vale,
Australia: At just a shade under $30.00, this wine is either very affordable or
expensive depending on your wine budget. Unfortunately for me, it seems
affordable compared to other wines I buy for my cellar. Two Hands is kind of
an Australian Cult Winery and many of their wines retail for over $100.00.
Apparently, they do not view Angel Share as one of their best, but the wine
critics would highly disagree. Both Robert Parker & Wine Spectator shower
praises on this little Aussie Shiraz. The 2004 vintage received a 95 pt score
from Parker. Aside from all of the accolades, this wine is solid and upon
unscrewing the cap, yes, you heard right, it has a screw cap enclosure, you will
no doubt fall in love with all of the black pepper spice and berries this gem has
to offer. If you are someone that has just bought a wine cellar and looking to
add an affordable age-worthy wine to your collection, the Angel’s Share Shiraz
will last well over decade under proper storage conditions.
How much: About $30.00
Where to find: Pogo’s, Mr. G’s & some Qwik Way’s.
Latin Lovely – Concha y Toro – Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon
– Maipo Valley, Chile: I have been drinking this dandy since the 1996
vintage and I am always blown away by its masculinity and power. Where so
many Cabs from Chile fall flat on their face with those awful bell pepper
overtones, the Don Melchor overcomes the weedy nature of Chilean wines and
provides us with complex layers of mint, loam, dark chocolate & cassis. The
2001 vintage was wine number three on the latest Wine Spectator’s Top 100.
It is interesting enough to drink on its own, but by no means should you shy
away from serving it with red meat and hearty dishes. Even chocolate has its
rewards with the Melchor. The best news is that it is roughly half the price of
the winery’s flagship wine, “Almaviva”. However, it is still pricey.
How much: Between $34.00 & $55.00
Where to find: A lot of wine stores have it, but they all charge in the $50’s.
Costco & Sam’s usually carries it and the savings are substantial.
Special Occasion Wine – Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon –
Rutherford-Napa, California: At $75.00 a pop, you would have to classify
this Cabernet Sauvignon wine as a luxury item. Scary thing is, this is their
cheapest wine. Our wine club had the privilege of tasting this blockbuster star
of the silver screen a couple of times last year and it was always a winner. If
you go back to the 1999 vintage all the way up to the 2003 vintage, not once
has this Cabernet scored less than a 92’. California Cult wines come and go
from year to year, but Caymus is as steady as a rock. I think what I appreciate
most about their Cabs is that although they have the goods to age for at least a
decade, they are very approachable when they are young. Just be sure to
decant it for an hour or two first. Always soft and luxurious on the palate, the
experience is ethereal and I will go ahead and apologize ahead of time if you
have never tried it before and are about to because one sip and you will be
hooked for life. It is a great wine for a special occasion, but really and truly,
the special occasion is when you poor yourself a glass of this Cab.
How much: Usually around $75.00
Where to find: The good news is that it is relatively easy to get a hold of.
Goody Goody’s, Sigel’s, Wine Market & More, Mr. G’s and many more.
American Winery – Sebastiani – Sonoma, CA: Big volume wineries
are supposed to suck! I mean that in the absolute most wine snobbish way!
How do these guys crank 50,000 bottles of Sonoma County Cabernet
Sauvignon and make it so darn consistent and delicious? Whatever their
secret is, they would be smart to keep up their winning formula. It’s not just
their Cab that scores big honors, their Merlot, Chardonnay and even their
Pinot Noir are really great values for the money. All of them large production
volumes to boot. Honestly its sick how they are able to produce these mass
quantities of excellent wines, year in and year out. The only varietal I’ve had
from them that failed to impress me was their Zinfandel and I don’t believe that
is a grape they hang their hat on anyway. Most of their wines are very
reasonable and fall between the $10.00 to $20.00 range. When in doubt, their
wines are a sure thing!
How much: From $10.00 to $80.00, but that is for their flagship wine only.
Where to find: Everywhere, even your local grocery store, provided you live in
an area that is not totally dry.
European Winery – Castello Banfi – Tuscany, Italy: To me its one
thing for a winery to consistently make one type of wine good every year, but it
is a whole different ball of cork for their entire portfolio to be solid year in and
out. To me Castello Banfi falls into the latter category. They don’t only stay
in Tuscany, they produces wines from all over Italy. The San Angelo Pinot
Grigio from the Alto Adige is always excellent. Great with seafood and salads.
Up in Piedmonte, they make a little red wine that is similar to France’s
Beaujolais called L’Ardi Dolcetta D’Alba. I personally like it better than
Beaujolais and it is a great summertime red wine. Of course, Tuscany, which is
this winery’s backyard is still their forte’. Take the basic Chianti Classico
Riserva. It is always a solid performer and a great introduction to the wines of
Tuscany for under $20.00. The real stars of this winery’s portfolio however,
are there Brunello di Montalcino’s. The basic one is always outstanding and
their more expensive single vineyard Brunello’s are just incredible. Top to
bottom, Castelllo Banfi delivers the goods like no other, especially in Italy.
How much: From under $10.00 all the way up to $135.00 for the big guns.
Where to find: Sam’s has been carrying their Chianti, Pinot Grigio & their
Brunello for the past few years. Goody Goody’s seems to have most of the
Castello Banfi portfolio. Other stores carry some of their wines like The Wine
Market & More, Mr G’s and Qwik Way.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |