Price: $33 to $50
Carmen Gran Reserva Carmenère 2011, D.O. Colchagua Valley, Apalta, Chile
Rebecca Murphy, writing in The Dallas News, highlighted a number of wines priced under $15 and which won a gold medal in the recent Dallas Morning News and TEXSOM Wine Competition which saw more than 2,700 wines compete.
Of this Chilean gold medal winner she said: “The Carmenère grape made its way from France to Chile, where it became a star. Judges’ notes describe this as chewy, big and muscular but super approachable, with a mélange of red and black berry, smoke and spice flavors. It’s meaty, dense and rich with lots of structure.”
Price: $14.99 to $15.99
Colomé Torrontés 2013, Valle Calchaqui, Salta, Argentina
Another of Murphy’s picks was this Argentine white which also won a gold medal in the Dallas Morning News and TEXSOM Wine Competition.
She said: “Argentina has a monopoly on Torrontés grapes, which make lovely, aromatic white wines. The judges said this wine has soft, luscious, concentrated fresh and floral flavors with a sensuous mouthfeel and a long finish.”
Price: $13.99
Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, California
Cabernet Sauvignon is still one of the most popular wines in the United States, according to Dennis Sodomka writing in The Augusta Chronicle. This week he recommended this Californian Cab which he said was perfect for everyday drinking with “deep, intense flavours wrapped in velvety tannins.”
He said: “The Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon is a great choice for everyday drinking. It has deep, intense flavors wrapped in velvety tannins. It is full-bodied, but it doesn’t overpower food pairings.
“The deep, dark ruby color in the glass gives the first hint about the intensity. Complex blackberry aromas with touches of spice and vanilla lead to dark berry flavors, including blackberry and plum. Supple tannins give the wine plenty of backbone, but the mouthfeel is smooth and elegant.
“The wine starts with grapes from top vineyards in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties from California’s North Coast appellation. North Coast wines have created a lot of buzz in recent years as wine drinkers have begun to notice the great wines coming out of the region. The Pacific Ocean influence helps create a long growing season, allowing the grapes to develop depth and intensity.”
Price: $16 to $18
Barbera-d’Alba 2011, Superiore, Borgogno, Italy
2007 vintage pictured
This “mid-priced marvel” Italian Barbera was another of Zacharkiw’s recommendations which he said had a “refreshing authenticity unhampered by oak.”
He said: “So refreshing to taste a red wine that’s, well, so refreshing. Barbera without artifice, so none of that annoying oak flavour that so often dulls Barbera. Just pretty red fruit with enough tannin to give it some great length.
“One of the most versatile wines I have tasted recently. Serve at 16 C. Drink now-2016. Food-pairing idea: Apéritif, spaghetti with tomato (sun-dried) sauce.”
Price: $21
2011 Coppola Votre Santé Chardonnay, California
Colette Bancroft, writing in The Tampa Bay Times, recommended this Chardonnay from the vineyards of director turned winemaker Francis Ford Coppola, which she said had “whispers of tangerine and pineapple.”
She said: “This Chardonnay meets right in the middle of the oaked versus unoaked camps — half the grapes are fermented in French oak barrels, half in stainless steel.
“The result announces itself on the nose with lots of spiced baked pear, a flavor that follows through on the palate. Indeed, with its notes of vanilla, clove and Meyer lemon and its buttery mouthfeel, this Chardonnay is a little like a pear tart in golden liquid form. On the lingering finish, there are whispers of tangerine and pineapple.”
She added: “Votre Santé Chardonnay would co-star beautifully with dishes ranging from pad Thai to Easter ham.”
Price: $15
2011 Monchhof Riesling, Mosel, Germany
Finally Gil Lempert-Schwarz, writing in The Las Vegas Review Journal, recommended this Mosel Riesling with “hints of lemon peel and zest”
He said: “In the glass: Monchhof Riesling is a faint light golden yellow with a clean, clear star-bright appearance, showing a translucent core going out into a glass-clear rim definition with just hints of greenish tinge and medium viscosity.
“On the nose: There are nicely concentrated notes of lemon peel and zest, serious freshness, Braeburn apples, white stone fruit, grapefruit segments, kaffir lime and hints of white flowers with warm minerality emanating from the bowl of the glass.
“On the palate: The wine is expansive with lovely delineated white fruit spritz, crushed pear skins, more lemon drops and rind, clean bright citrus character and hints of green melon, Rainier cherries and chalky minerals. The midpalate is soft and balanced and the feeling of harmony between acidity and fruit is constant through the bright rounded finish with a little tangy zest of lime at the end. Great mouth-feel, though.”
Price: $10
