WINE CHAT: 2007 Wine Bargains

Now, I was pretty methodical in coming up with my Wine Chat Best Wines of 2007 List.  I picked my favorite 11 wines of 2007, not factoring in price.  But as I was going through my articles and notes to make up that list, I also came across some great wine values.  These do not belong on the "best" list per se, but I'd be remiss not to share these wines that are great value for the dollar!  So, with no further ado, here are some of the great wine bargains I found in 2007:

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva ($9) A sparkling Cava wine from Spain, this was the best sparkling wine bargain I found.  It's fairly dry, well-balanced and has a pleasant finish.  After being told the price at a tasting, my reaction was "Get out!!!" (Seinfeld fans, fortunately there was a table separating us preventing me from giving him an Elaine-style push).

2005 Number One Berberana Tempranillo during our Spanish wine & tapas party earlier this fall, and it got a bit lost in the shuffle.  But when I realized upon having it again recently that it $8 per bottle, I realized what a great find this is!  This flavorful red has a deep berry flavor with hints of chocolate.  It went nicely with the chicken & cheese quesidillas we had the other night (no recipe--they were from Trader Joes!).

Four Vines Old Vine Cuvee ($12)  I love zin, so finding this high quality zin at an affordable price early in 2007 helped make for a good year!  I pick up a bottle from this Paso Robles based producer almost every time I'm at the wine shop.

2004 Andezon Cotes du Rhone ($12) Features a big bouquet evoking summer roses.  Black cherry on the taste, with a bit of woodiness and hints of violet.  The spicy sweet finish made it seem a bit like zin.  A very complex and good quality wine for the price.

2005 Sepp Gruner Veltliner ($10).  This has a big round mouthfeel, hints of lemon and a bit of fizz on the finish, making for a refreshing taste. 

2003 Pietra Santa Zinfandel fit the bill nicely last night.  This well-balanced zin has bold blackberry flavors and hints of spice, making it a nice match for the zesty salsa for the pork chops.  It hails from Cienaga Valley, an area 25 miles east of Monterey Bay, California.  It's not an area I'm familiar with, but apparently a good spot for growing zinfandel grapes.  And at $15, I'd say this bottle is a bargain

2005 Benziger Los Carneros Chardonnay ($13).  This bottle from the Sonoma County Carneros region is a good expression of California Chardonnay at a reasonable price.  I like a touch of oak and butter flavors in a chardonnay, though those elements can often be over the top in Californian chards.  This one struck a nice balance on that account.  It has a ripe fruity bouquet.  Along with gentle oak and butter flavors, I tasted a bit of lemon.    There was also a hint of mineral tones in the backround, with a nice clean finish. 

2005 Macon-Lugny Les Charmes Chardonnay The light citrus taste and mineral tones make it a good match for food too.  I paired it with the the tasty Creamy Goat Cheese and Asparagus pasta dish I made. Asparagus is notoriously difficult to match with wines, but this well-balanced wine worked well with the meal.

David Crowley, Gather Food Correspondent

David enjoys sharing good food and wine with family and friends.  David writes about his wine explorations and discoveries in his column, "Wine Chat", a twice-monthly feature of Gather Essentials:  Food.  By day, David is the President and Founder of Social Capital Inc.