Fournier Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - A True Loire Valley Bargain

For me, the best Sauvignon Blancs in the world come from the Loire Valley of France and in particular, from Sancerre. The combination of citrusy fruit and a distinct minerality derived from soil particular to the area is uplifting. No other white wine except for Chardonnay from Chablis and German Reislings have such distinct soil driven elements in their flavor profile. Chablis and Sancerre actually share a soil, as the same vein of Kimmeridigian limestone containing fossilized shellfish runs through both appellations. This entry level Sauvignon Blanc from Fournier Père & Fils has all the flavor elements you expect from Sancerre at a bargain basement price of $11.99. In fact, I've been told that this cuvée is basically young vines Sancerre. It features all the grapefruit and wet stones aromas you expect from true to type Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, zingy citrusy flavors and perfect balancing acidity. It's light, crisp and it's a great summer quaffer. if you want to see what Sancerre is like without spending the usual $19.99, seek this one out. You'll get the idea.

Old School Rioja - Ramirez de la Piscina Crianza '06

Yes I've touted Spanish bargains on these pages and their are many of them for 8 or 9 bucks. But when you want to step up a bit and experience more traditionally styled, more complex Spanish wine for not too much money, here's one to look for. Made by Ramirez de la Piscina this Crianza Rioja (for me) is what Spanish wine is all about. The first known reference to it goes all the way back to to 873 AD and later it was officially recognized by a Spanish king in the 12 century. Tempranillo is the main grape of Rioja and it can be blended with Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano and Mazuela in varying amounts. The Crianza designation means that the wine was aged for 2 years with at least six months in oak barrels. This traditional Rioja has a particular smokey element in the nose. Some call it tobacco or cigar box. But whatever you call it, it's beautiful. Add to that the cherryish and blackberry like fruit, a subtle note of leather, good medium body and a slightly tannic but long, spicy finish and it all adds up to a wonderful wine for not too much money. We enjoyed it with an Italian lamb stew with fresh kale from our garden. This beauty set me back $14.99. It's imported by Tempranillo (yes, same name as the grape). Cheers.

Crios Torrontes 2010 - An Argentinian Star

Here's a summer quaffer that is just beautiful. Torrontes is an indigenous Argentinian varietal which was probably brought to Argentina by Spanish colonists. It seems to thrive in cool and very dry conditions as evidenced by this version, whose grapes were grown in the northern province of Salta at an altitude of 5,000 ft. The Crios has a huge nose of flowers and citrus fruits. It's floral elements reminded me of Gewurztraminer and the citrus reminded me of Sauvignon Blanc. In the mouth, it offers outstanding concentration for a wine at this price point with grapefruit and peach flavors. It finishes very long with excellent balancing acidity. Despite it's size, this wine comes across as quite light on it's feet. Imported by Vine Connections, this delicious wine set me back a mere $11.99. Cheers.

Selbach Riesling 2007 - So Underrated

I am really starting to love and understand German Rieslings - some of the most underrated wines around. I know most of you shy away from sweet wines but you may want to give some of these beauties a try. First of all, most are just slightly sweet and that sweetness is offset by vibrant acidity that leaves them tasting almost dry. Secondly, for those of you who don't drink as much as I do, you can simply put the cork back in these wines and drink the rest up to a week later. Their staying power is amazing! They are low in alcohol, usually in the 8 - 11% range and they pair very well with sushi and and spicy Asian food of any variety. They also make great aperitifs. The $9.99 Selbach I enjoyed recently is a case in point. It's very aromatic with apple and apricot scents underpinned by a stoniness that is very common to German Riesling. In the mouth, it's generous, sweet mid-palate is offset by zingy acidity and minerals. It finishes long with a note of honey. This is a really impressive wine for the price. Imported by Michael Skurnick for the broker Terry Theise, this is a portfolio wine lovers should seek out. When you see Terry Theise's name on the back label of German wine, you can be sure it's a good one. Rudi Wiest is another broker of German wines whose portfolio is outstanding.

Big Rustic Reds; Still Relevant in June Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture

Yeah I know it's hot and I've mentioned how much I love rosés - but big rustic reds are always welcome. Let's face it, once it hits 90 degrees and you've got the AC on, who cares if the vino is cold or not. This wine will work just fine with any kind of grilled meat. Aglianico is probably the most important grape of southern Italy, especially in Campania where it makes the very long lived Taurasi. But entry level aglianicos are also tasty, including the bottle featured here. The producer Bisceglia is an estate located on the slopes of the extinct volcano, Vulture,  just south of Campania in the Basilicata. This bottling, called "Terra di Vulcano", is the '07 and it cost me $11.99. Rustic is an apt description here and it sometimes turns people off but wines like this give you all the wild splendor of a special place. The Bisceglia aglianico has big brooding aromas of dark plummy fruit, tar and the stoniness that is typical of wines grown in volcanic soil. You also get a touch of alcoholic heat that isn't so prominent that it will turn you off. In the mouth it's very big with dark fruit flavors and a bit of chocolate. It's also got structure and is a bit tannic (the astringency some refer to as "dry") but not overly so. That rusticity is part of the charm. It finishes long with a touch of minerality. Serve it with boldly flavored foods or grilled steaks. Imported by one of the best - Leonardo Locasio. Cheers!

Olivares Rose 2010

As we barrel headlong toward Memorial Day weekend wondering what food to put on the grill which day, I can suggest a wine that will fill all your needs all weekend long - especially if it's hot. Yes people it's time to put away your old anti-rose bias and try some of these amazingly tasty, refreshing wines. Roses come in a broad array of styles, from spicy, herbal styles to strikingly fruity and bold. No they are not sweet. They are dry and quite captivating. I tend to gravitate toward the bold, fruity style which kind of goes against my old world bias but hey...everybody gets to drink what they want. They are kind of like reds you drink cold and they will go with whatever you put on the grill - from the burgers to the shrimp to the chicken. They'll even go with your more upscale sushi grade tuna. This beautiful $9.99 Spanish rose from Olivares is a blend of monastrell and syrah. It greets you with big aromas of strawberries, raspberries and a floral note or two and big mouth-filling red berry flavors. It finishes very smooth and long with just the right amount of balancing acidity. It's imported by the wonderful Rare Wine Co. When I have a summer party and I want to serve one wine, I serve something like this. Cheers and have a great weekend!

Chapoutier Bila-Haut Cotes de Roussillon Villages

Here's a delicious 2009 southern French red from top producer Chapoutier. They make some of the Rhone Valley's greatest wines, from high end Hermitage and Cote Rotie to everyday wines like today's entry. The Roussillon region is located at the extreme southern end of France on the border with Spain. The stony soil is all limestone and schist and the terraced vineyards sit on hillsides in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This wine is a blend of syrah, grenache and carignan, three very typical varietals from the region. The syrah gives this wine it's earthy/herbal aromas, the grenache gives it it's peppery/red berry aromas and the carignan contributes structure and minerality. All in all, this is a very smooth and easy drinking red with a lot of complexity....and it cost a mere $13.99.  It went great with a venison backstrap with carmelized onions and rosemary that Janet made us. The backstrap is a filet mignon-like cut from the outside of the spine. It is very tender. I know that sounds crazy exotic but if you can befriend a local hunter, you can get a deer for your freezer almost every year. Cheers!!

A Spanish Dynamic Duo

Here's 2 great values from my go to country, Spain. The white, called Ermita de Nieve, is a 100% verdejo cuvee. Verdejo is a grape that has been grown in Spain for centuries but has only been used to make the aromatic, crisp light whites we see a lot of now for the past few decades. This wine is from Rueda, a Demoninacion de Origen located in Spain's northwest. Rueda whites must contain at least 50% of this varietal. Verdejo's aromas and flavors at times remind me of sauvignon blanc and the Erimta de Nieve certainly fits in that regard. It features sauvignon blanc-like grass and grapefruit on the nose and bright, crisp citrus and melon flavors in the mouth. It finishes quite smooth and is perfect for summer sipping on the deck. It'll set you back a very affordable $9.99. The red here is a $7.99 bargain called Luzon Verde. It is a 100% Monastrell cuvee made entirely from organically grown grapes in the Jumilla DO. Monastrell is an indigenous Spanish varietal that is also widely planted in southern France, where it is called Mouverdre. The Luzon Verde has a big spicy nose of blackberry and dark cherries and has sweet, medium-bodied dark berry flavors in the mouth. It finishes long and smooth with a touch of tannic firmness. This is an absolutely great value. Both of these wines are from the '09 vintage but I find that I really don't have to pay too much attention to vintage when it comes to Spanish wines. They really do not have very many bad vintages. Enjoy.

Mason Cellars "Pomelo" Sauvignon Blanc '09

Sauvignon blanc seems to be on a roll these days. Now don't get me wrong, chardonnay is still king, but it seems that a lot of folks that are looking for alternatives are gravitating to sauvignon blanc for it's clean, crisp textures and vibrancy of fruit. Yes the best sauvignon blancs in the world (for me) still come from the Loire Valley of France and in particular from Sancerre, but there are great values to be had elsewhere. Mason is one of California's finest sauvignon blanc producers. Their delicious mid-level bottling can be had for a mere $14.99 or so and they have introduced a $9.99 bottling called "Pomelo" A pomelo is an asian fruit with a very thick skin that tastes like a sweeter version of grapefruit. Mason's delicious "Pomelo" has plenty of grapefruit, lemon and a very mild touch of that sauvignon blanc grassiness on the nose. It also features great texture and plenty of bright citrus flavors in the mouth as well as good balancing acidity. Sauvignon blanc is an early ripening varietal that thrives in cooler climates, so California producers have to be especially careful with regards to hang time and harvest time. Mason is one producer that always seems to get it right. Cheers!
 

NYCNomNom’s Top 3: Affordable Italian

Happy Mother's Day to all. As promised, below you will find NYCNomNom's first guest post here at excellenteveryday wines. Enjoy.



There is no shortage of Italian restaurant choices in the New York Metropolitan area. As a lover of all things pasta, there also has been no shortage of Italian food in my diet.  I have had the opportunity to try many of the finest Italian restaurants in Manhattan, but there are still a number of fantastic, affordable choices.  You just need to know where to look.

Here are my top 3:

1) Antonio’s in Monroe Township

I was surprised when this Italian restaurant in a strip mall in New Jersey impressed me so much.  The food was sensational with great attention to detail and ingredients.  These dishes are obviously made with love.  Our favorite dish was the crab stuffed shrimp over a bed of the most tasty spinach we have ever had.



2)  Becco

Becco is an Italian Restaurant on Restaurant Row in NYC that I have been back to at least half a dozen times.  The food is always a hit, and they do an endless pasta special, featuring the 3 homemade pastas they have that night for $17.95 at lunch and $22.95 for dinner (and both include salad or antipasto).  They also have a full page list of $25 bottles of wine.  The pasta alone is worth going for, but they also make osso bucco so good that it is what I compare all other osso buccos to. (It's not cheap at $30, but it's worth every penny and could probably feed 2 people.)



3) Culinary Walking Tour of Greenwich Village

When I think of getting the most bang for my buck when it comes to eating Italian food, I have to go back to the culinary walking tour I took of Greenwich Village.  Not only was it incredibly informative and fun, but we got to stop at over 6 dining establishments and sample their specialities. After the tour, you even get coupons to go back and try things again.  This also happened to be the place we first tried Joe's Pizza on Carmine Street, which is sensational.



And sometimes you just need to splurge.  If you are looking for fine dining Italian in New York City that would be a highly memorable meal, I recommend La Masseria in the Broadway district (they also have a location in East Greenwich, RI).  It's not so expensive that you need to only order the apps, and the quality is so high that it's worth it.

We were most impressed by the prawns, which were honestly the size of a grown man's hand.



For more details on these dining experiences, you can find my full reviews here:

• Antonio’s
• Becco
• Walking Tour
• La Masseria

Happy Nomming!

Guest Blogging with NYC Nom Nom

I am excited to announce a reciprocal blogging relationship with a great food blog, NYC Nom Nom. I will be doing a monthly wine post for them and NYC Nom Nom principle Sara will be doing a monthly post for excellenteverydaywines. She will be touting some of her favorite affordable places to eat in and around the New York metropolitan area including NJ and Philly. It is, after all, only natural to put the food and the wine together because let's face it, the wine is meant to go with the food. That is why I try to recommend wines that will complement your meal rather than overpower it or get buried by it. Sara's first post for me will be up tomorrow so please check back in. Yum.

Tratturi Primitvo '09

Experts used to think that the Italian varietal primitivo was the genetic ancestor of our American zinfandel. Although DNA testing has since proven that false (they are both related to a Croatian varietal named crljenak kaštelanski - don't ask me how to pronounce that), the taste similarities between the 2 grapes remains. Primitivo is grown primarily in Puglia and this one is from Salento, the southeastern most tip of Puglia. Being from a hot climate, primitivos can be quite large-scaled and alcoholic. This wonderful $7.99 bargain from Tratturi however, manages to avoid that monolithic profile. It shows bright cherry fruit and a touch of pepper (ala zinfandel) on the nose and is quite balanced and medium-bodied with good fruit and a finishing note of minerals. This delicious wine paired nicely with some venison burgers and is another winner from star importer Polaner Selections. Drink it up!!