For the first time in two years, I held an in-person wine tasting class! A long time coming, we were finally able to commune together around some good value wines while observing safety protocols. I chose some of my favorite moderately priced wines by well-known, reputable producers that do not disappoint and are easy on the budget. Most of these producers feature a full portfolio of wines that run the gamut from affordable "entry" wines to high-end, highly prized cuvées. Whatever your budget, you can be assured of a high quality product that will tantalize your palate.
Of those we sampled, the Joel Gott and the Penfolds appeared to be the overall winners at the remarkable price of about $12; they were certainly my favorites. In addition to these particular wines, I also highly recommend wines Portuguese and Spanish wines as available in the $8-12 range for the budget conscious.
For further information and recommendations on value wines, check out this article by Eric Asimov of the New York Times from earlier this year. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/dining/drinks/wine-school-cheap-under-10-dollars.html?searchResultPosition=49
Cheers!
Bonterra
Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Origin:
Mendocino,
California
Varietals:
100% Sauvignon Blanc (Organic)
Production/Tasting
Notes: Slow, cool fermentation followed by a few months
aging in stainless steel; aromas of grapefruit, kumquat, mango, passion fruit,
chermoya (banana/pineapple/kiwi). (90 points, James Suckling)
Food
Pairing: Grilled fish; shellfish; ahi tuna salad
Alcohol:13.2%
La Vieille Ferme Blanc 2019
Origin: Southern Rhône Valley, France
Varietals: Bourbolence; Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc,
Vermentino (Rolle)
Production/Tasting
Notes: Light crush followed by pressing in pneumatic press;
stainless steel fermentation; aromas of fresh, (white flesh) fruit; spring
flowers; lemon-citrus; bright acidity;
lively, crisp refreshing palate; long finish
Food Pairing: apéritif; cold
buffet
Alcohol:
13%
Herederos del Marqués de Riscal 2020
Origin:
Rueda DO (Denominacion de Origen)
Varietal:
100% Verdejo
Tasting
Notes: 100% Organic; stainless steel fermentation for 20
days at controlled temperatures between 13 and 16 degrees Celsius; sur lie 1-2 months; aromas of white flowers
and herbs (fennel, fresh grass, verbena); notes of citrus, peach, melon; rich,
full mouth feel; touch of bitterness on the
persistent finish.
Food
pairing: fish, shellfish, chicken; cold meats
Alcohol: 13%
Joel
Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Origin:
Santa Barbara, California
Varietals:
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Production/Tasting
Notes: Long, cool fermentation in stainless steel; aromas of honeydew melon, pineapple, white peach,
pear with citrus notes; ripe, tropical fruit flavors on the palate with crisp,
refreshing acidity; ruby red grapefruit on the long, clean finish.
Food
Pairing: Grilled fish; shellfish; ahi tuna salad
Alcohol:13.9%
La
Vieille Ferme 2018
Origin: Southern Rhone
Varietals:
Carignan,
Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
Production/Tasting
Notes: grapes lightly crushed and fermented in cement vats
of 150 and 300 hectolitres; aged in large oak barrels for 10 months; notes of
red fruit and Morello cherries, vanilla and red licorice soft tannins; long
finish. (87 points, Wine Spectator)
Food Pairings: roast chicken;
skirt steak
Alcohol:
14%
Bogle
Essential Red 2017
Origin: Clarksburg, California
Varietals:
Petite
Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Old Vine Zinfandel
Production/Tasting
Notes: Barrel aged
in American Oak for 12 months; notes of cedar, black plums; medium to full
bodied; velvety, plush on the palate; rich, red fruit.
Food
Pairing: cheeseburger; pizza; tomato-based dishes
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Penfolds
Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2018
Origin : Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, Clare Valley, Padthaway; South Australia
Varietal:
70%
Shiraz; 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Production/Tasting Notes: Ten months aging in seasoned oak hogheads; aromatics of red licorice, fennel root and black rose; hints of dried sage, thyme, toasted oak; plum, dark cherry and blackberry on the palate; undertones of vanilla bean, spice, dried rosemary, sage; fine grained tannins provide structure and balance to fruit and length to finish Food Pairings: grilled meat with roasted vegetable
Alcohol: 14.5%
Notes on Wine Producers
Bonterra
Organic Vineyards
Vegetarian, GMO free, low sulfite, made with organic
grapes. Awarded Winery of the Year in 2016 by Wine Enthusiast. Received
the 2020 California Green Medal in the Environment category, recognized as the
California winery that “best demonstrates Environmental Stewardship through
maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices.” Awarded the international 2020 Drinks Business
Green Award for Best Organic Initiative, for the Tastes Like Saving the Planet
advertising campaign.
La Vieille Ferme
La
Vieille Ferme, a label of the Famille Perrin, proprietors of Chateau de
Beaucastel, a renowned Chateauneuf du Pape estate, has been producing wines for
over 40 years. The red is mostly sourced from the Ventoux regions in the
Southern Rhône; the altitude of the Luberon brings freshness and finesse to the
whites and rosés.
Marques
de Riscal
Founded in 1858 by Guillermo Hurtado de Amezaga and
first bottled wines in 1862. First
non-French wine to obtain the Diploma of Honor from the Bordeaux Exhibition in
1895. started production of the first white wines from Rueda in
1972. In 1974 he introduced the French variety Sauvignon Blanc in the
area. In 1980 it was one of the driving wineries of the DO Rueda. The DO
Rueda is one of the few European wine regions specialized in the production of
white wine and the protection and development of its native variety, Verdejo. Vinos de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal has the largest vineyard
owned by the Rueda Denomination of Origin (330 hectares);
in addition, it's one of the first wine producers in the area, as well as one
of the largest in Castilla y Lion.
Joel Gott Wines
Launched in 1996 with
Zinfandel sourced from grapes sourced from Amador County, California. With the
success of the Zinfandel, more varietals were added to the portfolio; now
leasing vineyards in California, Oregon and Washington, and storing barrels in Napa.
In 1999, launched a series of gourmet burger stands in the Bay Area named
Gott's Roadside. Gott Wines are
now partnered with Trinchero Family Estates which markets and distributes the
wines.
Bogle Vineyards
Bogle family has been farming in the Clarksburg (California) region for six generations; their involvement in the wine business spans back 50 years. Warren Vernon Bogle, in the 4th generation, purchased the first acreage after serving in WWII. It wasn't until 1968 that Warren and his son Chris planted the first 20 acres of wine grapes on the Home Ranch. For 10 years, the family grew grapes for other wineries, then releasing the wine under their own label in 1978. The original winery, constructed in 1979, still stands today. In 1989, Warren's son Chris and his wife Patty undertook the winery project in earnest. Chris farmed, while Patty did the books at night, with offices in the family home. Chris proudly grew the wine grape farming operation, reaching his goal of 1,000 acres before he passed away in 1997. Upon his death, Patty dove in, taking over all winery management and leading a core team of staff, many of whom are still at the winery today. Her three children, Warren, Jody and Ryan work in the day-to-day operations of the winery. Awarded 2018 Green Medal Leader Award, which recognizes the vineyard that best demonstrates environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically viable sustainability practices. Starting with the 2017 vintage, all 91 growers were required to implement the California Rules for Sustainability standards. This resulted in 96% of all grapes crushed at Bogle in 2018 being Certified Green.
Penfolds
Established in 1844 by Christopher and Mary Penfold. Mary assumed total responsibility in 1870 after Christopher's death. By 1907, Penfolds had beome South Australia's largest winery. Penfolds Grange, one of the most foremost and revered wines in the world first, was first produced in 1960 by Chief Winemaker Max Schubert. In 1988, Grange was given a heritage listing in South Australia. Penfolds has garnered 29 Winery of the Year awards from Wine & Spirits Magazine, more than any other winery in the world. Koonunga Hill is the "gateway" or entry level label of the Penfolds collection of wines.
