Top 10 wines in the US press

Petit Clos by Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand

Dave McIntyre keeps the sun shining this week recommending a number of summer wines priced under $20 writing in the Washington Post.

He said: “Henri Bourgeois is a major producer of Sancerre in the Loire Valley, the spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the winery’s effort to bring a French sensibility to New Zealand, which captured the world’s attention with its racy style of Sauvignon Blanc in the 1990s. One could try to parse the Old World-New World comparison, but why not just enjoy a well-made wine that reflects the character of the grape and the place where it’s grown?”

Price: $17

Verona Merlot & Corvina 2012, Veneto, Italy

“This might be the best $10 red wine I’ve tasted all year” declared McIntyre of this Merlot Corvina blend.

He said: “It’s a blend of the familiar Merlot with Corvina, the Italian grape variety best known for Valpolicella and Amarone. Nothing complex or profound here, just well-made, savory juice ideal for the casual meals we have five or six nights a week.”

Price: $10

2013 Botalcura Syrah-Malbec, Maule Valley, Chile

Michael Dresser, writing in The Baltimore Sun, described this Chilean red’s style as “kind of like the Rhone Valley meets the Mendoza region of Argentina.”

He said: “I often find Chilean red wines to be a bit high on tannin and light on fruit, but this outstanding blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Malbec is an exception. It offers bright, Syrah-dominated fruit right up front, the kind of flavor that jolts the palate awake. It offers a complex flavor mix including black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and black pepper. The Malbec gives it structure, the Syrah gives it charm.”

Price: $16

Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT 2013

Ecco Domani’s 2013 Pinot Grigio “hits all the buttons” with flavours of gala apples and white flower blossoms, according to Sandra Silfven of Detroit News.

She said: “Last year in Northeast Italy, depending on the district, the weather ranged from cool and rainy to hot and dry, and rainy at harvest. The result is high acidity — which adds to the charm of this wine, along with the interesting addition of 13% Chardonnay that may have been added for balance. Whatever the reason, this wine is pure delight — the crispness, the body. It’s like stirring lemon zest into Gala apples with a hint of white flower blossoms, minerality and herbs. It’s a delightful dry white, ever so compatible with seafood and all the usual white-wine pairings.”

Price: $12

2012 Panilonco Carmenere Reserva, Colchagua Valley, Chile

2008 vintage pictured

This 2012 Carmenere was recommended by Gil Lempert-Schwarz writing in the Las Vegas Review Journal – a wine whose aromas he described as “simply emanating pure crushed sun-ripened cassis fruit freshly picked from the bush with Ribena notes, black currant liqueur and touches of boysenberry jam.”

He added: “On the palate: This medium-bodied and juicy wine is full of creme de cassis, boysenberry juice and flighty phenolic compounds that materialize in good amounts of dry black fruit extract, black grape crush and healthy doses of old English licorice notes. The midpalate is juicy and supple with firm tannins that are never obtrusive and remain harmonious with the fruit and underlying acidity. The finish is lingering and pleasant with just a good anise kick at the end.”

Price: $4.49

2012 Varner Foxglove Chardonnay, Central Coast, California, US

If you are a fan of unoaked Chardonnay Irene Virbila of the LA Times might just have the wine for you.

She said: ” Lean and crisp, with bright citrus notes and a fine balance, the 2012 Varner Foxglove Chardonnay is a natural with food. It’s also an outstanding value for the price.

“Enjoy it with grilled oysters, that shrimp you just threw on the barbie or some grilled salmon. It’s a good match for chilled summer soups and composed salads too.”

Price: $12 to $15

Garofoli, Rosso Piceno DOC, Fárnio 2012

This “lively and luscious” Italian red with flavours of blackberry and plums is the perfect pairing for pizza or burgers, according to Rebecca Murphy of Dallas News.

She said: “It doesn’t require reverence or contemplation: Just pop the cork and enjoy the perfect blend of unoaked Montepulciano and Sangiovese. Lively and luscious flavors of blackberries and plums with savory and dusty mineral notes are encased in a medium body. It finishes smooth as silk and goes down easy.”

Price: $10.99

Bandit California Pinot Grigio

Encased in a carton Bandit’s Californian Pinot Grigio was the pick of the week for Colette Bancroft writing in the Tampa Bay Times this week. It is overseen by winemaker Joel Gott, “one of California’s more innovative talents”, according to Bancroft.

She said: “This lively white is packaged in eye-catching lime green. In the glass, it offers a nose of lemon and Bartlett pear with a nice, subtle minerality underlying the fruit. On the tongue, well-balanced pear, honey and lemon predominate through midpalate, easing into a medium-long clean and dry finish with a snap of ginger to close the deal. This delightfully refreshing, fruit-forward and surprisingly lush table wine is a winner, and we look forward to trying other Bandit wines, especially the highly touted Merlot.

“Drink it on its own or toss it (it’s unbreakable) into your picnic basket or beach bag along with cold fried chicken and watermelon and go!”

Price: $4/500ml, $8/litre

Liberty School Merlot 2011, Central Coast, California, US

This first release “classic” Californian Merlot from Liberty School was recommended by Dennis Sodomka writing in the Augusta Chronicle this week – a wine he said was “worth waiting for.”

He said: “The wine opens with pleasant aromas of strawberry and black cherry. On the palate it is fruit-forward, with flavors of plums, raspberries and cherries. Balanced acidity gives it good structure. This is a classic Merlot, with finely integrated tannins and a silky-smooth finish with a touch of minerality.”

Price: $15 to $17

Duckhorn Vineyards, 2012 Napa Valley Chardonnay

Finally Peg Melnik, writing for the Press Democrat, picked Duckhorn’s 2012 Napa Chardonnay as he wine of the week.

She said: “A striking Chardonnay with a lush texture. Notes of apple, pear, toast and a hint of butterscotch. Lingering finish. Exceptional for the price.”

Price: $35