By Robyn James

WINE BEST BUYS

Seems as though every publication known to man has capitalized on the surging popularity of wine consumption by publishing his own “Best Buy” article.  I have seen consumers scouring retail wine sections clutching everything from Men’s Health Magazine to Consumer Reports.  USA Today and the Wall Street Journal make such articles a regular part of their format.

Unfortunately, most people are sorely disappointed and frustrated in their search. 

The laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages in America are set primarily by each individual state.  Wineries have to get label approval and follow each state’s rules and regulations for shipping and distribution.  It can turn into a real juggling act and if a winery is small in it’s production, chances are it will pick and choose which states to set up distribution, bypassing those with the more difficult regulations. 

Fortunately for us, North Carolina is a pretty user-friendly state for wine distribution.  Label approval is simple; inexpensive for the winery and alcohol taxes are low compared to most states.

Nonetheless, using a national publication as a shopping guide in Moore County can be an exercise in futility.  Here is a composite list of Best Buys in Wine that are readily available and have been reviewed in some of the more popular wine periodicals along with a few of my personal favorites.

Abbreviation Code: WS= Wine Spectator, WA= Robert Parker’s The

Wine Advocate, WE= The Wine Enthusiast, RJ= Robyn’s Personal Pick. 

The number following the code is that publication’s “score” of the wine on a scale of 1 to 100.

Sparkling Wine

Le Baron Brut Sparkling, France ($8.00)

Lovely, yeasty aromas of baked bread with a delicate character and tiny bubbles that belie the price.  RJ

White Wines

Domaine des Cassagnoles Cotes de Gascogne, France ($7.00)

"One of my all-time favorites, this wine possesses terrific fruit, medium body, an excellent, chewy, fleshy texture with outstanding purity and vibrancy.  It is fragrant and fruity and hits all the palate’s pleasure spots.”  WA 87

Valenti Bianchi Elsa Chenin Blanc, Argentina ($8.50)

“Mostly melons, with a touch of citrus honey in the moderately intense nose.  In the mouth, it is dry and medium-bodied, with good flavor depth and personality.” WA 86

Benziger Fume’ Blanc, California ($12.00)

“Marked by lovely melon, citrus and pineapple aromas, this very good California white sits brightly on the palate and finishes with a tangy, lemony edge.  A good match for food.”  WS 87

Guigal Cotes Du Rhone Rose’, France  ($11.00)

A manly Rose’, made from muscular red grapes: Syrah, Mouvedre’, and Grenache. The skins are skimmed off before the wine turns red, leaving a bone-dry, chillable wine with nuances of raspberries and strawberries.  Begs to be drunk on a hot, humid afternoon.  RJ

Stella Pinot Grigio, Italy ($6.99)

“A light-bodied, fruity, delicate, fresh wine with a surprising amount of fruit and personality. For a wine at this price level, a dazzling value.”  WA 86

St. Morillon Chardonnay, Chile ($7.00)

“An effusively fruity, uncomplicated, quaffing style of Chardonnay with plenty of fruit, good ripeness and a medium-bodied, low acid personality.”  WA 85

Domaine Bernier Chardonnay, France ($8.00)

A racy, citrusy Chardonnay with nuances of spice and lemon.  Austere and zingy, its finish is full and harmonious. A gin and tonic freshness to it. RJ

Trumpeter Chardonnay, Argentina ($10.00)

“Tropical-fruit scented, uncomplicated, fleshy, ripe, cleanly made, plump, juicy wine.”  WA 87

Anapamu Chardonnay, California ($11.00)

“Elegant, and lightly fruity, with hints of pear, apple, citrus and melon, turning simple on the finish where a dash of oak appears.”  WS 86

Red Wines

Etchart Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina ($6.99)

Black cherry and plum flavors are ripe and clean in this lively red.  The tannins are light but have enough grip for food.” WS 84

Les Amandiers Vaucluse, France ($8.00)

“This wine delivers plenty of punch for it’s lowly price.  A blend of 50% Grenache and equal parts of Syrah and Cinsault, this unfiltered offering exhibits a medium ruby color, and a spicy, peppery nose with scents of red cherries and roasted herbs in the background.  A stylish, terrific value.”  Men’s Health Magazine

Stonelake Pinot Noir, Chile ($14.00)

”This tasty wine behaves like a good Pinot should.  The color is medium ruby, and the nose offers textbook aromas of smoke, cherry, beet and root beer notes.  In the mouth, the wine is medium-bodied, soft and silk with good purity and an unmistakable Pinot character: accessible.”  WA 85

Pepperwood Grove Merlot, California ($8.50)

This red is light, bright and fruity, reminiscent of Beaujolais.  It’s silky in texture and nicely focused to show off the raspberry and strawberry flavors.  A real value in one of California’s hottest varieties.”  WS 85

Banrock Station Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia ($10.00)

“You won’t find a better deal than this youthful, firm-textured and appealing red blend with its nicely articulated berry and herb flavors that linger on the focused finish.  In fact, grab a case.”  WS 88

Seghesio Zinfandel, California ($14.00)

“This unfined and unfiltered Zin is an outstanding wine bargain given today’s inflated prices.  It possesses a medium dark ruby color, as well as plenty of briery, rich, berry fruit, spice, pepper, and earth.  With excellent concentration, purity, and a nicely textured vibrant mouthfeel, this is a delicious, full-flavored Zinfandel.  Have readers noticed the quality surge at Seghesio without a proportional increase in prices?”  WA 87

Robyn James has worked in the wine industry for 16 years, studying extensively in European and California vineyards.