Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Bargain hunters take note: Spain's Campo de Borja, located between Rioja and Catalonia, is offering up some excellent value for money these days. This Garnacha from Santo Cristo (a co-op with history dating back to the mid-1950s) is a great example of what the region can provide those who are looking for bang for their bucks. It's made from old vine Grenache grown on a cool upland plateau, creating a red that's juicy, bold, and powerful in the mouth, but playful and energetic on the nose with deep red berry fruit and peppery spice aromas.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
The news of the death of Syrah has been greatly exaggerated. In fact, there's arguably never been a better time to for Syrah lovers, with many artisanal expressions of the grape available for reasonable prices. The fruit for this lively Syrah from Wrath is hand harvested at a 20-year-old vineyard a mere six miles from the winery. It's a bold red that still keeps its vibrancy, with seductive notes of black pepper, meat, ripe blackberries, cassis and leather.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Chile's adopted red grape, Carmenere, is now found in all shapes/sizes/price-points, from budget picks to top-end, expensive reds. Veramonte's Primus Carmenere falls somewhere nicely in-between, over-delivering on its cost in the way that many South American wines did when they first started to storm the market almost three decades ago. Substantial black plum flavors mingle with notes of pepper, herbs, and smoked meat to offer a red that may pleasantly surprise you with its sense of depth and concentration.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
California's Lodi is most famous for old vine Zinfandel, but the region does many things well (and it grows over 100 different wine grape varieties, red and white). Acquiesce's Clairette Blanche white shows off some of Lodi's vinous diversity. While certainly ripe and full of stone fruit flavors and aromas, it balances a sense of mouth-filling weight with refreshing acidity and pretty notes of white flowers.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Chile's Ledya Valley has a direct line to the cooling breezes of the Atlantic Ocean's Humboldt Current, allowing it slowly ripen the finicky Pinot Noir grape. The Kalfu Kuda Pinot Noir is a great introduction to the Ledya Valley style of Pinot: zesty and fresh, with ripe wild berry flavors, and earthy notes of pepper, tea, and bramble.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
The Dog Days of Summer aren't the sole purview of white wine lovers. Those who prefer reds but want something refreshing on a hot day should look to a chilled glass of the Lini 910 'Labrusca' Lambrusco. Prickly and refreshing, this drier style of Lambrusco hits the spot in the Summer heat, but doesn't sacrifice on the dark cherry and red berry flavors.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Provence's Chateau d'Esclans is justifiably famous for their roses, particularly the fact that they offer one of the world's most expensive pink wines. The skill that informs their most famous offerings goes into their entire lineup, including the relatively new Rock Angel. This blend is made primarily from Grenache and Rolle (more commonly known as Vermentino), giving it a juicy, vibrant mouthfeel. The verve is tempered by a bit of time in oak, which rounds out the wine nicely, delivering textbook d'Esclans elegance.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Those who have written off affordable California Chardonnay would do well to revisit Qupe's Y Block. There's little not to like in this Chardonnay, which deftly balances tropical fruit and cream flavors with vivacity and great palate energy. An open bottle isn't likely to make it long during a dinner party, given its crowd-pleasing sense of poise.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
If you enjoy your Pinot with a bit of heft and substance, or are just looking for an alternative red to enjoy with a steak, The Calling is a good option. This Russian River Valley Pinot Noir can be thought of as being brought to you by the letter C; not just for its namesake, but for the cola, cherry, cinnamon, clove, and cranberry aromas and flavors that it delivers.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
The celebrated McCay Cellars has been turning the modern idea of California Zinfandel (big, jammy, and hot) on its ear for a few years now. While certainly not a wine that one would mistake for Italian Primitivo, McCay's Trulux Lodi Zinfandel not only retains the ripe, plummy juiciness for which Lodi is well known, but manages to balance it with notes of pepper, dried herbs, and a sense of palate lift. That combination shows a side of Zinfandel to which many might not yet be familiar: elegance.
