Photo: Andrea Walker
Expert's Picks
Exploring for Wine Bargains
TASTE - February 4, 2010
By Jake Kosseff
Regardless of the state of the economy, everyone loves getting a great bottle of wine on the cheap. I'm no exception. And one of the things I rediscover over and over again is that finding the best wine values requires a sense of adventure; a willingness to try something new, and even go wrong once or twice, knowing it will only make the successes that much cheaper.
With that in mind, here's a list of some of my favorite bargain wines for 2010. In each case, I make a general recommendation (a grape and a place) and a specific recommendation. If you can't find the specific wine, ask your trusted local wine shop to find one from the same place made from the same grape, and let the adventure begin.
Sparkling Sensations
Brut or Cremant (traditional method sparkling wine) from the Jura in Eastern France
NV Clavelin Brut Comté Chardonnay Cremant de Jura (~$17)
Rich, dry and luscious. Better than a lot of the Champagne I taste at work.
Western Cape, South Africa, Methode Cap Classique Sparkling wines
2007 Graham Beck Brut Rosé Western Cape, South Africa (~$15)
Crisp and fruity, with racy lemon curd and raspberry notes. Lots of fun.
Unexpected Whites
Insolia (yes, that's a grape) from Sicily
2008 Cottanera Barbazalle Bianco Sicilia, IT (~$14)
Rich, dry and full of citrus and stonefruit. Really yummy, and a little unusual.
Torrontes from Argentina
2008 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes Cafayete, Argentina (~$12)
Crisp and dry, but with a wildly fruity, floral nose that is totally unique, and a little misleading.
Required Reds
Grenache (Garnacha) from Spain
2008 Quo Grenache Campo de Borja, Spain (~$11)
Raspberries, pepper, and a little wild herbal character makes for an exciting wine.
Malbec from Argentina
2007 Luigi Bosca Finca la Linda Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (~$10)
Full-bodied, rich, full of fruit. Great with burgers or grilled meat.
Jake Kosseff is a frequent contributor, Sommelier and Wine Director at Wild Ginger and The Triple Door in Seattle.
Expert's Picks is a regular series about a varietal, region, or producer.
Wine mark-ups and prices vary, and, as such, Wine Country Minute 00:60 cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listed prices. Please check around to find the best price and availability.
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