Wine: Six All-American Classics To Try This Weekend For Under $20
As Independence Day approaches, it's tough not to think of patios, grilling, and fireworks. This weekend will find half the city decamping to visit family and friends elsewhere and the other half of us running around buying meats, beers, wines, and chips for our mid-week July 4th celebration. In the spirit of the holiday, we've selected six American wines from California and Oregon that are each classic examples of both their grape and the appellations they showcase. And not only are they all priced at or below $20, but you can purchase each of them at competitive prices at the Austin Wine Merchant (512 W. 6th Street) and support a local business in the process. These selections are all quite different to one another, so read the descriptions below and see which ones appeal to your palate.
Whites:
Chardonnay: The Hess Collection Su'skol Vineyard Napa Valley 2005 ($17.50): Fans of oaky, creamy California chardonnay will find a classy and consistent example in this single vineyard Hess wine. It delivers huge tastes of tropical fruits and will be a crowd-pleaser at any summer party. A fantastic starter wine for those unsure of their preferences and tastes, and a solid pairing with hearty seafood like grilled shrimp or tuna steak.
Pinot Gris: Chehalem Oregon Pinot Gris 2005 ($19.99):
Oregon's cool climate brings out the mineral, acid, and green apple tastes that signify great Pinot Gris, and this vintage is an excellent one. Chehalem's wines are usually very expensive, but the relative obscurity of Pinot Gris means that you can nab this for just under $20. A perfect summer wine, it is easy to drink but very complex. Wine and Spirits says that it "...shows the heights [pinot] gris can reach in Oregon."
Viognier: Rosenblum Kathy's Cuvée California 2005 ($17.50): If you've never had Viognier, start here. A full-bodied white that will knock you over with a creamy body and tastes of orange rind, honeysuckle, and peaches or apricots, Viognier is a tough grape to grow...but the results can be stellar. Rosenblum's offering scored 90 points from wine guru Robert Parker of Wine Advocate who says it is "one of the world’s great values...(and) one heck of a wine." This wine will amaze your friends and will pair nicely with spicy foods like chicken fajitas.
Reds:
Zinfandel: Ridge Three Valleys Sonoma County 2004 ($19.99): Ridge is a classic producer of California Zin and Cabernet, and won the famous "Tasting Of Paris" in the 70's that signified California's ascendancy in the wine world. This is their default Zin blend, a mix of five different grapes (including Petit Sirah and Grenache) from all over Sonoma Country that combine in a bold but approachable red that's ready to drink young and tastes of red and black fruits, oak, and tannin. A great BBQ wine that will befriend any meat dish.
Petit Sirah: Rosenblum Heritage Clones San Francisco Bay 2005 ($17.50): Rosenblum does big, jammy New World reds awfully well, and this Petit Sirah hits the mark. It's a full-bodied, sweeter style of red, with oak, spice, chocolate, and alcohol. This will absolutely stand up to steaks, burgers, or sausage. Incidentally, Petit Sirah is not a Syrah, but rather a totally different grape that gets its name from the fact that it tastes reasonably similar to Syrah.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Hess Allomi Vineyard Napa Valley 2004 ($17.50): Most California Cabs are wildly overpriced, but this great value got a whopping 90 points from Wine Enthusiast recently, who called it "a complex young wine that approximates the best of Napa Valley. (5/07)" When we tasted this wine, we liked the mix of black fruits, oak, and light spiciness.
The Austin Wine Merchant operates from 10am-6:30pm M-Sa and holds regular wine tastings on Saturday afternoons.
