great value wines

The 2015 vintage of Grand Passione is a delightful alternative to the much revered Amarone. As stated about previous vintages, this wine impresses with its elegantly embossed bottle and simple yet classic hand written look on the label. The name seems to fit the region itself which is steeped in history and romance. Thus is an impressive present for a loved one.

A delicious blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Corvina, this Rosso is produced in the Veneto region in the same appassimento-style as many Amarones. The Corvina grapes are sun dried before processing creating a raisin-like quality to the wine.  It is full bodied with a deep, nearly black color and rich and bold. There is a strong flavor of dark cherry, black currant, prune, raisin, and allspice with soft tannins and a long, smooth finish. This is a terrific bottle for under $15.00.  It works very well with stews and roasts, but give it a try with hard cheeses, crostini and liver pate.

Some may think it is stereotypical to pick a Rose for a blog entry for Mother’s Day.  I beg to differ. The Roses that I’m writing about may be a variation of a shade of pink, but that does not mean these wines are syrupy and one dimensional. Guys, if you are listening. Not all women like Pink Moscato or White Zinfandel anymore than all men like Budweiser or Jack Daniels. These Roses are dry (often like Moms’sense of humor) but refreshing and full of flavor.

Our May Double Up for a Buck event just began and we have two new Roses on the sale

With the Super bowl coming up in less than two weeks, I thought this would be a good time to start a new feature for the blog that pairs take out favorites with wines. In these particular blogs, a selection of favorite restaurants from various locations in the South towns will be mentioned along with some of their take out gems. I will then pair them with a wine that we carry.

The lure of French value wines continues with a red Bordeaux because …well, how can it not?  How can a bargain hunting wine drinker turn down a Fall deal like this, especially a French wine with Vermont in the title?

Continuing my blog on French bargain wines leads us to La Forge Estate Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Languedoc region.  Both these wines are labeled by type of grape rather than region possibly to attract more import drinkers.

You’re having a casual lawn party this weekend and several of your guests will be expecting a fairly dry, easy drinking white.  You could opt for the usual suspects – Pinot Grigio, un-oaked Chardonnay, dry Riesling or a Sauvignon Blanc but predictability and cost may be an issue. Therefore, go green (green as in Verdi, that is). 

For my third and final installment discussing Holiday wines and films, I have left my favorite Christmas film until last. It is the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol with the remarkable Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. I have watched nearly every version of this story ( the Mr. Magoo cartoon version that you Baby Boomers may remember) but nothing touches Alistair Sims version. He is the most convincing as a mean old miser, a vulnerable and fragile old man fearing for his life, and as the giddy, jubilant survivor on Christmas morning.

This year I may be taking a more traditional route for our Thanksgiving pairing.  But I should mention that this is no ordinary Riesling offered at this price point. The Lamoreaux Landing 2013 Dry Riesling is a glorious wine we should definitely be thankful for.

In Portugal there is a traditional folk music referred to as Fado, which is known for its mournful and melancholy sound (Fado means destiny or fate). The wine on the other hand could not be more different.

The 2013 Fado White blend from Portugal is all about brightness and sunshine.  Made from a blend of Siria, Arinto and Viognier, Fado is straw with a hint of gold color.  The aroma is fruity, floral with a hint of herb garden.  Flavors leading off with peach blend with citrus and tropical fruit; combine with ample minerality to create a somewhat complex but not over complicated wine.  

The first thing you might wonder about this wine is how good can a non-vintage chardonnay be when some of the least expensive and lousy tasting wines have vintages? Don't over think this one folks.  There are wines out there where using a vintage year has little to do with quality and more about false expectations, but not this gem. This wine delivers.