I’ve accumulated quite a stock of wine over the past years, and, during lockdown, decided I wasn’t going to save my best bottles for wine-loving visitors, as I usually do, but would drink them myself, both as a treat and because nobody comes to visit during a pandemic. And wines don’t improve forever.
Assaying my supply, which must be forty cases or so, I found a number of whites that, in general, don’t age as well as reds. So I wound up drinking a lot of whites this spring and summer, and found, to my delight, that the Spanish and Argentinian whites I’d bought (Latinx wines?) had one of the highest quality/price ratios among all wines. (You’ll find such high ratios among Spanish sherries as well, and also among Riojas, though people are starting to discover the delights of a nicely aged Rioja.)
I won’t recommend specific brands, but will link to several varietals I’ve tried from my steady supplier, Vin Chicago (previously known as the Wine Discount Center). The three types of wines below are varietals, and they have in common a wonderful fruity aroma (one smelled just like grapefruit) and a fairly low price. You’d be hard pressed to pay a lot more more than $20 for a really good bottle of any of these.
I’ll give the varietals with a link to the Wikipedia page and then to a specimen or two from my own store:
Rueda (an example here, and recommendations here)
Torrontés (an example here). This is made largely in Argentina; some recommendations are here.
Albariño (two examples here, and some recommendations here).
Some of these wines have aging potential, though you’d best inquire before laying them down. One of the best wines I had this summer, for example, was a 2014 Albariño, which I thought had surely gone over the hill. It hadn’t: it had improved with aging.
Remember, there are great and not-so-great examples of each varietal. Either read about specific bottles or ask the people at the wine store before trying something you’ve never had.
“Another good fighting wine is ‘Melbourne Old-and-Yellow’, which is particularly heavy, and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.”
http://www.montypython.net/scripts/austwine.php
Not that it is relevant, but… the pandemic has found me drinking little wine but more beer and a bit of whiskey (and whisky). I do like a nice Bordeaux from time to time, though.
Me too! Having a bottle of Norfolk Cock
https://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/beer/country/united-kingdom/wagtail-norfolk-cock
You didn’t mention it was prefaced: Wagtail Norfolk Cock! My dogs already love it.
I’ve been on a pandemic whiskey/whisky kick too. I hope covid is defeated before my liver is.
I’ve been enjoying some west coast Rosés of Pinot Noir, but recently I had a riesling auslese that for the price could not have been any better. My tastes in whites strangely include cheap Alsatian pinot blancs or pinot gris, but skyrocket into Condrieu or Californian/Oregonian viognier. Never was a fan of chardonnay, generally.
My favorite South American wine has been a sirah/shiraz, though sometimes a blend. On par and less expensive than some of the highly rated Australians.
I’ve concluded that chardonnay has rather subtle flavor which most makers try to boost by adding a lot of oak. Sometimes it tastes like your gnawing on a stick. Un-oaked chardonnay, on the other hand, can be a rather nice, simple, treat.
Another underrated wine is Chenin Blanc, which is a bit less dry yet more complex than most Chardonnays of comparable price. Sauvignon Blancs, with an appealing herbaceous flavor, can also be good bargains.
Chenin Blanc: Chateau Moncontour Vouvray, which used to carry a printed band around the neck of every bottle saying, ‘Moncontour est ma prédilection–Honoré de Balzac, June 10, 1846’
While B. was mostly speaking of the chateau, his praise became a marketing godsend for Moncontour.
Still available today, and still delicious.
😋
As long as it’s warm & wet! 😉
Sadly, we are nearly devoid of good wine stores around this part of Idaho. Grocery stores carry some OK stuff if you look hard. I only know one small wine store in Boise.
Having said that, I’m living in the Sunnyslope wine district so there are locally made wines available within a few miles.
We buddied up with a new immigrant from California who is setting up a small winery growing a few acres of temprenillo and chardonnay. We went in with him and bought 500 pounds of syrah from a local grower. We bottled it this summer and it is already drinkable and really good. You do what you have to.
I AM NOT DRINKING ANY F**KING MERLOT!!!
Me neither. I don’t think I have a bottle in my whole stash.
That said, if someone wanted to give me a bottle of Chateau Petrus, I wouldn’t say no . . .
Sideways trashed merlot sales. We who appreciate the merlot grape benefitted. High quality merlots are more affordable than lousy pinots.
I no long drink much wine at all being diabetic but back in the days that I did, it was usually domestic California wines. One of my regulars was Inglenook Chenin Blanc. I do not think it is made now. A white wine and a bit on the dry side. I don’t like sweet wines. I recall drinking a white wine or two from Spain that was very good but could not tell you the name.
Thanks very much for those grape recommendations, Jerry. I don’t know anything about them, and I will make it my duty to find out.
One of my daughters lives in Italy, is a writer on wine, and is currently doing a degree in viticulture at Florence University (now entirely online). I will ask for her expert opinion!
I’ve just polished off a nice bottle of Chianti (sans fava beans and a census-taker’s liver, alas).
While I enjoy both, I’m more of a whiskey man than a wine man. I’ve discovered a few gems in my decision to use the pandemic for trying out new whiskeys. Here are some new favorites of mine:
Balvenie Carribean Cask — The rum casks give this a nice spice and sweetness. I was already a big fan of their 17-year Double Wood and they have several other offerings I’ve yet to try
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban — The port casks make this a smooth, deep whiskey. I was already a big fan of their Nectar D’or (which is absolutely phenomenal and a regular for me), but not so high on their other offerings I’ve tried, though they’re all fine whiskeys
Hibiki 17 year — A rich, oaky, smokey whiskey, with a gorgeous bottle worthy of display on its own. Tastes great and looks great on your shelf
Angel’s Envy — on the cheaper side, with a pleasant sweetness to it
Elijah Craig 1789 Barrel Proof — Coming in at 127 proof, this is a beast. It’s not the easiest drink, but, considering its high alcoholic content, it’s flavor is surprisingly not overpowered by its proof
I’m going to start trying more Japanese whiskeys in the next couple of months, so I’ll report back on those!
I almost think you’re more of a whisky man than a whiskey man.
Heh, I’m really into both. I love bourbon just as much as I love scotch (not a fan of rye). I’ve just been drinking bourbon for so long that I didn’t have many new ones to try, though Angel’s Envy and Elijah Craig are both bourbons. I just stick to the American spelling because it gets far too confusing when you start trying to spell it properly by country, especially from memory!
I highly recommend the book “Judgement of Paris” by George M. Taber. It’s about the California vs French wine competition in 1976 in France. A real coincidence as I just finished it and see this post.
Our Costco has quite a good wine section and tonight I will probably open a good Argentinian Malbec.
I’m not a wine connoisseur, I like beer.
When I do pick up a bottle I have a rule of thumb which I call the $20 price point. I’m of the opinion that there is a large difference between a $8-10 bottle of wine and a $20 bottle. However, there is no discernable difference between a $20 bottle and a $50 bottle, or even a $100 bottle.
Particularly after the first glass.
Frankly, I’ve had as much luck in the $17ish range as I’ve had with $25ish range. And I rather enjoy waking up with a fin in my pocket.
I’m no wine expert but I like the following Portuguese port which we got as a gift, as well as most ice wines especially the ones with lychee notes:
https://winehouseportugal.com/ferreira/627-ferreira-dona-antonia-20-years-old-port-wine-since-1751-ferreira-name-has-always-been-synonymous-with-high-quality-portuguese-wi-5601007001318.html
This less expensive port is great in gingery chicken soup too!
https://www.lcbo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/lcbo/port-14008011/ferreira-dona-antonia-tawny-reserve-port-157586#.X7Hz7hNKhN0
Surely after your trip you must appreciate Chilean wines? They’re up with (my native) Australian/NZ wines as my favorites. I’m more a vodka man myself but I like a good red once in awhile.
Cheers!
D.A., NYC
https://whyevolutionistrue.com/2020/06/10/photos-of-readers-93/
My favourite Albariño: Terras Gaudas
I don’t really like verdejo (Rueda), even though Valladolid is where I was born and where my family Lives. But the red wine of the area (Ribera de Duero) is in my unauthorized opinion, better than Rioja; there are so many of them, last bottle I’ve opened, La Planta, excellent.
Anyone coming to Madrid in the -let’s hope- not too far future, I’d love to ‘tomar unos vinos’ with you!
We have continued to enjoy wine during the pandemic but the new indulgence I’ve begun is fine rum, served neat and sipped slowly. Here’re a couple of favorite discoveries:
Zafra 21
Appleton Estate 21.
I am in love with Italian red wines from the Veneto / Verona region. I especially admire versions of Valpolicella that have been vinted using the ‘ripasso’ technique, which holds back a portion of the harvest until the majority of the grapes–exclusively local / regional varieties, particularly Corvina and Rondinella– are in late stages of fermentation. Then the balance is added in to recharge fermentation. The result is a wine that is smooth in the mouth yet deep in finish.
Excellent values, too: most pass the $20 test with a few bucks to spare.
My favorites:
Palazzo Della Torre
Alanera
Bussola (more than $20)
A wine lover! Did you know Narasimhan, over in Eckhart?