November Sunset Magazine Wine Awards

In the November issue of Sunset they had an article called the 2010 Sunset Western Wine Awards.  They mad a big deal out of starting with 250 bottles, 9 judges, and 8 hours.  They then listed the top 40 wines.

What’s interesting to me, on my fixed income of $0 since I retired, are the pricing tiers.  They listed steal of the year (under $15), Good Value ($15 to $30), special occasion ($30 to $50, and Deep Pocket (over $50).  I don’t know about you, but under $15 is not a steal, and $15 to $30 good value? This is where the media looses touch with the average folks.  There’s a reason that two-buck Chuck is the largest selling wine in the world, and it certainly isn’t quality.  For most people a Saturday night wine for dining with friends around the kitchen table is still under $15.  And the experts don’t seem to understand that fact of life.

They interviewed Eugenio Jardim, Sommelier of the Year, and asked what do you drink on a Tuesday night.  For a white wine he choose Uvaggio Vermentino from Lodi California (about $14).  Sounds good except when I did a search in wine finder it wasn’t available in Southern California.  That’s about 300 miles from Lodi so it should have been available.  His red wine choice was Handley Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (about $30).  It was a numerous Gold Medal winner in CA, but I couldn’t find it in a southern CA store.  The main fact is that Eugenio and the editors at Sunset thought that a midweek wine should cost $30.

 

 

Some of the wine descriptors are a little outrageous.  I enjoyed what they wrote about good value wine Rulo 2007 Syrah.  It had a punch of lush fruit-mulberry and plum-over dark intriguing notes of leather, tobacco, meat, and herbs.  What else could it taste like?

If you want good recommendations for wine, look for the county fair tasting results, and other broad, recognized tastings like the SF Chronicle Wine Competition and the California State Fair.  All of the results from these competitions are online.

Rant over!

Columbia-Crest Two Vines-Vineyard 10 Red Wine 2007

 

I really like Columbia Crest wines.  I think they’re well made and even the inexpensive ones have good layers of flavors.  And this red wine is a nice blend of Rhone varieties including Syrah, Sangiovese, & Grenache. 

I denoted some cherry and raspberry layers, with low tannins.  So if you like a softer wine, this is a good purchase.  It can pair with most any food, except a delicate fish.  It’s also a great choice to drink before or after dinner.  It doesn’t need food to bring out it’s flavors.

The really good news is the pricing.  It’s usually under $7, and sometimes on sale it under $5.  It’s a wine you can enjoy everyday.  I hope you’ll try it and enjoy it.

Gascon Malbec 2007-86 pts

 

Malbecs are the newest hot varietal in the US, but it is the national grape Argentina.  It originally is thought to come from Hungary, it is widely planted in the Bordeaux region of France and used as a blending grape.  It was brought to Argentina in the mid 1800s, and it has flourished in the warmer climate.

Gascon was established in 1884 by the Gascon family.  In 1933 it was purchased by an investment group and has continued to make fine wines.

This wine is 100% Malbec.  It was harvested by hand in the cool early morning hours.  It was fermented at a controlled 82 degrees to maintain fresh flavors.  It was aged in American & French oak barrels for7 months.

The wine has a deep dark color, with clean clear flavors of plum & cherry.  There’s a touch of coffee, with medium tannins.  I would suggest additional bottle aging of 1-2 years.  When you open the bottle, decant it to allow it to breath for at least 45 minutes.

I would rate this as a good example of Argentinean Malbec and a good match for grilled meats and hearty dishes.  It retails for about $10, and is widely available.