Thoughts...

One upside and downside of running a wine blog, where the primary goal is sharing affordable wine is, I feel the need to give my personal stamp of approval before listing them! I'm only human though and my liver needs a break... Expect my next post this weekend. Cheers!

$10 Affordable Spanish Tempranillo, Put on your Oh face

Two of my favorite wine growing regions right now, both in price and quality, are Argentina & Spain. I had this little beauty for the second time last night and wow was I impressed! I'm a big fan of full body, fruit forward, dense wines and this didn't disappoint. The tannins were very mild, perfect if your tannin averse like my Dad or brother. At only $9.50 a bottle this is one outstanding value. (I must point out I am a completely unbiased reviewer here, I have no relationships with vineyards or distributors from which these wines come.) Pair this with some bloody meat or stinky cheeses!

The Wine Advocate, who's name I seem to utter a lot recently, gave this wine a 90; just on price alone, I have to give it a 91-92 (too bad price isn't a part of the ranking equation). Here's what he had to say:

"The 2004 Senorio de Valdehermoso Joven is an unoaked cuvee of 100% Tempranillo. According to the proprietor, 2004 was one of the best vintages in many years and this effort certainly supports that claim. Purple in color, it exhibits aromas of smoke, plum, and spice. The fruit is sweet and layered, supported by well integrated tannin into a lengthy finish. It is a sensational value"

Drink up and let me know what you think?

Cheers!

Affordable Washington State Wine, $10

I've started to take this blog in a new direction recently, less education and more quality wine reviews. While the domain is Wine4Dummies, I still include myself in this "dummy" group. I like to think the search for wine knowledge is a journey not a destination; so don't get frustrated if wine appreciation isn't coming easy to you. Simply open a bottle and experiment, you'll be surprised at what you'll discover.

Another affordable wine I'd like to share with you comes from Washington State of all places. When I first heard of this growing region a few years ago it was hard for me to grasp that a colder, rainier region of the country can crank out quality wine, particularly amazing reds. A few inexpensive bottles later and I was very impressed, you will be too.

House Wine (don't you love the label?) comes from the Magnificent Wine Company located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla Washington. The wine aside, I've always enjoyed saying that city, I remember it from a Bugs Bunny cartoon when I was a kid. Walla Walla Washington. But I digress...

Wine Spectator named the 2005 vintage a Best Value Wine with a rating of 88, and if you bargain shop you can pick up a bottle for $10 (less with a case discount) "silky, round and generous with its spicy, earthy plum and blackberry flavors, lingering nicely as the finish persists." House Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. If I may add a little tasting note as well, I noticed some vegetal hints while drinking this, a little "green" but this was a nice nuance for me instead of a detriment. Frankly I'd expect a little "green-ness" in this wine because of the climate.

Pick up a bottle and let me know what you think? I personally plan to pick up a case to stash for the long winter ahead.

Cheers!

2005 Castano Monastrell $6

Another affordable wine for you, tasty but a little underwhelming compared to the Colonias Bonarda (featured in a previous post). The price point is unbeatable and this slides down the gullet with much ease. At $6 a bottle this is better than just about everything in the same price range. Pick up a case for a party or the long winter ahead. I don't know about you, but I have a tinge of guilt every time I open a bottle, it's an investment in time and money. You can feel like a robberbaron with the Castano as you open bottle after bottle for friends, guilt free!

The Wine Advocate gave this a 90, a number he likes to use a lot. Based on his other ratings of 90 I give this closer to an 88. Maybe the vineyard through a couple extra cases his way to influence his decision...

"The 2005 Monastrell is an insane value produced from three vineyard sites ranging in age from 40-60 years. Opaque purple-colored, it gives up fragrant aromas of blue fruits, plums, and prunes. Ripe, layered, and full-flavored, this hedonistic effort can be enjoyed now but will surely evolve for 2-3 years. Match it with beef and lamb."

One interesting note before I close, notice the review mentions three different vineyards? Many inexpensive wines are made with grapes from multiple vineyards. There's nothing wrong with the practice, but sometimes you can lose some complexity as the grapes from one vineyard may vary from the other. One of the best wine's I've ever tasted came from a multiple vineyard bottle, so don't judge a book by it's cover. There's a huge market in buying and selling grape juice for wine. Check out this website, it's fascinating: http://winebusiness.com/grapesBulkWine/?ref=hn

Cheers