This month's 11 selections take us all over the world, from Europe (Italy, France, Spain) to the United St ates (California, Oregon, Washington), with even a stop over in Australia. Prices range from $12.99 to $21.99 per bottle, with a total cost of $211.80.
Have a comment or question about any of the selections? Email me: Jake@VinoSOS
I will use a consistent legend throughout my selections:
Grape Variety, Producer/Winery "Fantasy Name", Place Name, Vintage
- Sancerre, (a.k.a. Sauvignon Blanc) Domaine Gerard Millet, France, 2005
$19.99
FACTOID: In Europe and the "old world", wine is more about the place from which it comes, than the grape variety. This is why the wine is named after the place (Sancerre) and not the grape (Sauvignon Blanc).
- Verdejo,Naia, Rueda D.O., Spain, 2005
$12.99
Verdejo is a grape from Rueda, Spain which offers the bright crisp refreshing notes that a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio would, but with more body (weight), like a Chardonnay . Having a dinner party with a mixed group of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio lovers, hedge your bets with Verdejo .
- Chardonnay , Sonoma-Cutrer, Russian River Ranches, California, 2005
$21.99
The Russian River Valley in Sonoma County makes some of the best Chardonnays coming out of California . They get the ripe fruit that sun-baked California offers, but with a touch of lip smacking acidity, because of the cooling influence of the river breezes and fog. Think green apples instead of red apples.
- Pinot Grigio, Kris, Venezie, I.G.T. Italy, 2005
$13.99
Ranked 2nd most popular Pinot Grigio. Almost half the price of Santa Margherita!
- Prosecco Brut, Bortolotti, Valdobbiadene, Italy, Non-Vintage
$13.99
Easy drinking, low alcohol, bubbly. Think cotton candy in a bottle without the sweetness. Does not have to be expensive to be great, unlike its other bubbly counterparts.
- Pinot Noir, A to Z, Oregon, 2004
$19.99
Oregon specializes in Pinot Noir. This one comes with a screw cap, but that is not an indication of quality, just progressive thinking. This Pinot tastes like a bowl of handpicked black cherries.
- Merlot, Francis Coppola, "Diamond Collection", California, 2004
$16.99
From the man that brought you Apocalypse Now comes a great merlot with loads of plums, and toasty oak treatment.
- Shiraz, Mitolo "Jester", McLaren Vale, Australia, 2004
$19.99
Australia has an easy going approach to wine, a la the "Jester". This mentality has translated into high sales for them. Their goal is to be the #1 exporter of wine by 2025. They are 15 years ahead of schedule. Shiraz will carry the day.
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Morellino di Scansano, Bruni "Marteto", Italy, 2004
$14.99
Just a bit outside of the Chianti region of Tuscany, these growers cannot call their wines Chianti. Same Sangiovese grape, similar soil and climate, but WAY better PRICE!
DOLLARS & SENSE: Not so famous wine regions offer great value, because they don't carry those "designer labels". Remember wine is an agricultural commodity, based on supply and demand. Ralph Lauren charges twice as much for the same T-shirt made in the same factory in a third-world country, once he slaps his logo on it.
- Abadia Retuerta, "Seleccion Especial, Sardon de Duero, Spain, 2001
$19.99
(75% Tempranillo, 20%Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot)
Loads of flavors come from this wine. The Spanish love to blend grapes and layer flavors. While some of the famous Bordeaux, France Chateaus' grape vines where sick with phyloxera, they purchased fruit from Spain to make their wines. That means some of those high priced French wines bought from auction houses, may contain Spanish wine.
- Zinfandel, Rosenblum Cellars "North Coast", California, 2005
$16.99
Zinfandel is America's Grape. The jury is still out on whether it is truly indigenous to the U.S. or not. With it high alcohol content, full body, and brawny nature, it sure packs a punch, just like us!
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Ex Libris, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2005
$19.99
Ex Libris is Latin for "from the library". The producer purchased fruit from vineyards across the Columbia Valley to make a nice blend, representative of what a Washington Cabernet Sauvignon should taste like.
- Pinot Noir, Oriel "Jasper", Russian River Valley, California
Oriel was founded by John Hunt who created Seattle Coffee Company and later sold all 85 stores to Starbucks. He turned his passion & business savvy to wine and created the first International Label. He selects the best winegrowing regions in the world and finds the best winemakers (Dan Goldfield) from each of these regions to make wine for him under his Oriel label. Expect to taste bright red fruits like raspberry, cherry and pomegranate with a long, lingering finish.
