City Cellars covered a lot of ground over the last few weeks, from getting you prepped for the to in B.C. and tackling the complicated world of wines. This week, lets have a little less conversation, a little more action. Looking for a slew of new wine recommendations offering plenty of bang for your buck? Heres a handful for your weekend, all under $20.
| Rioja, Spain | $12.99 | BC Liquor Stores
There was much collective jaw dropping during a seminar at last weeks wine festival after those in attendance tasted this wine and were then told the price. Tasting more like something around the $30 mark and made predominantly from Tempranillo and Garnacha, theres a whack of that Spanish leather-and-tobacco thing going on, rounded off with dark chocolate, espresso, dark fruit and spice. The mildly grippy tannins frame it all quite nicely, making it perfect for grilled meats or rustic stews. Dare I say this is the best value red on liquor store shelves today?
2009 Cabernet Franc | Oliver, BC | $19.99 | BC Liquor Stores/Winery Direct
Winemaker Howard Soon is as local as they come. A Chinese-Canadian who grew up in the hippie-centric Kitsilano of the 1960s, hes been making Okanagan wine for more than 30 years, eventually leading Sandhill to be named Canadian Winery of The Year by Wine Access magazine. The guys an authority of local terroir, allowing this wine to harness all of the best elements of its Oliver vineyard, resulting in bright red fruit, a touch of forest floor, a whisper of sage and allowing a little oak to lend gingerbread and black pepper components. Cabernet Franc does quite well in our region, especially with this guy at the helm. Crack it open when youre having lamb, stinky cheese, or an argument with those misguided folks who think Cab Franc is always green or stemmy.
2010 Grüner Veltliner | Kamptal, Austria | $19.99 | BC Liquor Stores
Seafood tonight? Grüners always a good go-to grape and Gobelsburgs certainly no slouch at cranking out some of the best. Serve it nice and chilled to enjoy a tidal wave of lime, lemon, juicy peach and a few bits of gravel in there as well. Theres a lovely freshness and purity of fruit with a teensy bit of an oiliness in the texture to keep the fairly high acid in check. Crazily quaffable, I wouldnt open it too far in advance of dinner there might not be enough left for your meal. Hella-delicious!
Vina Chocalan 2010 Rosé (Syrah / Petit Verdot) | Maipo, Chile | $12.99 | BC Liquor Stores
Rosé that tastes like the grapes its made from! The Syrah breaks outta the gates with strawberry, blueberry, cherry and a few twists of the peppermill just in time for the Petit Verdot to rush in with concentrated blackberry and black plum while clutching a handful of violets. Though a dry style, theres just enough residual sugar for it to wash down Thai food or curries perfectly.
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