This weeks column is going to answer one simple question, probably the one I get most often: Whats a really cheap wine that doesnt suck? Ill be quite literal on the really cheap part, imagining you only have a ten and a five in your pocket but are still gonna need a couple loonies for laundry when you get home. Fair enough? Heres a few of the best-bang-for-your-buck wines in the market today:
Long Flat 2008 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc | South Australia | $9.99 | BC Liquor Stores
A warm vintage, even for South Australia, had farmers picking fruit quite early for this one, ensuring the concentrated fruit had some solid acidity to give this blend some liveliness. The Semillon offers a slight oiliness with apricot and lemon, balanced with crisp grapefruit and lime bringing up the back end by the Sauvignon Blanc. The flavours are well-integrated with one another, a benefit from the touch of bottle age. Enjoy with salmon, poultry and salads.
Dunavar 2010 Pinot Gris | Matraaljai, Hungary | $9.99 | BC Liquor Stores
A constant winner from Hungary, feel free to ignore the god-awful packaging and liberally pour this juicy, citrusy Gris, loaded with peaches, pears, lemon and sage. Very fresh and lean with good acidity to cut the creamy pastas and risottos.
Farnese 2009 Sangiovese Daunia | Abruzzo, Italy | $8.99 | BC Liquor Stores
The whole Farnese line, whites and reds, offer consistent value and are always a safe bet for weekday dinners. This Sangiovese has a little more richness and depth than the ones out of Tuscany, with softer tannins surrounding cherries, blackberries dried plums and a bit of an earthy component. This ones begging for pizza.
Castaño 2009 Lujuria | Yecla, Valencia & Murcia, Spain | $10 | BC Liquor Stores
My favourite of the bunch. A complex, multi-layered, completely insane value made up of Monastrell and Merlot. A virtual shopping list of many of my favourite red wine flavours: dusty cocoa, espresso, blackberry, currants, forest-floor notes plus a generous dash of clove and cinnamon. Medium weight, but some nice tannins give it a solid backbone, making it bold enough for steak, but still approachable enough for poultry or vegetarian fare.
Castaño 2009 La Casona Old Vines Monastrell | Yecla, Spain | $9.48 | BC Liquor
Lip-smackingly juicy and delicious. Crazy value here; some of the low-yielding vines are over 60 years old, producing Monastrell grapes that are loaded with black licorice, blackberries, currants and mocha flavours. Barbecued ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and other Southern fare would be worthy adversaries.
Veuve du Vernay Brut Rosé | Various Appellations, France | $14.99 | BC Liquor
Okay, this one wont leave you any change for laundry, but what a way to celebrate avoiding your chores! A bone-dry sparkler from France made from Tempranillo grapes, which are way more synonymous with Spanish wine. Bright berry fruit charges through, raspberries, cranberries, cherries and currants, with an ultra-peppery finish. Bust this one out the moment your friends pop over, even if youre simply opening a bag of chips or pretzels
Want More? Pop over to my website at KurtisKolt.com for more wine bargains. around town.
