Posted on 02/23/2020 5:22:35 PM PST by Coleus
From left, Zonte’s Footstep Love Symbol Grenache 2017, Weingut Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Terrassen 2018, Da Capo Grignolino d’Asti Renard 2017, Le Marie Blanc de Lissart 2017 and Loimer Lois Grüner Veltliner 2018. (Tom McCorkle/for The Washington Post)
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we have an Australian grenache that successfully combines love-themed branding with good-quality wine. An exotic Italian white would also be a good choice for a romantic dinner, or you could revisit an Italian vacation with a trattoria-style red. We also have two outstanding grüner veltliners from Austria to complete the lineup.
Piedmont, Italy, $19
Grignolino is the type of cheap wine you find in a roadside trattoria during your Italian vacation that makes you wonder, “Why can’t we get this at home?” Grignolino may not be considered a serious wine, but the folks at Da Capo take it seriously and bring us this delightful bottling that just might transport you back to that Italian sojourn, at least in memory. Bright red fruit flavors and a laser beam of stony minerality give this wine energy and clarity of flavor. Like a tuning fork on a perfect high C. Unfortunately, by the time the wine reaches our retail shelves, it’s not an inexpensive quaff any more. And proposed tariffs would make it more dear. Alcohol by volume: 13.5 percent.
Imported and distributed by Simon N Cellars: Available in the District at A. Litteri, Cork & Fork. Available in Virginia at the Italian Store (Lyon Village) in Arlington, Tastings of Charlottesville in Charlottesville, Tinto (Chesapeake, Virginia Beach), Unwined (Alexandria, Belleview), the Wine Outlet (Great Falls, McLean).
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Most assuredly so.
If you like inexpensive Riesling, get a bottle of Piesporter Michelsberg Spatlese. It can be found at most wine stores for 8-12 dollars a bottle.
The Michelsberg vineyards are vastly underappreciated, when compared to Goldtropfchen or Urziger Wurzgarten. Unless you're a sommelier, you won't notice the difference...I sure haven't, and I've been drinking Mosel wine for over 40 years.
I was stationed at Hahn AB and Spangdahlem AB during my Army tour in Germany. Once I was allowed to move off base, I got an apartment in Traben-Trarbach, smack dab in the middle of Mosel Country.
I get my reds from Lost Oak Winery in Burleson, TX, about 15 minutes south of Fort Worth. They have a Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve that is a bit pricy, at $35 a bottle, but it's heavenly...and too good for the in-laws...lol.
Everyone’s tastes are different. I used to enjoy a bottle of beerenauslese from the Mosel. I can’t do it anymore, way too sweet for my taste buds. My tastes have turned to red wine as well, though I never turn down a glass of Mosel Spatlese, a staple of my wine consumption.
My go-to favorite the last few years is a not-too-sweet American Red I can get for 7.99 anywhere locally.
Soft Red Wine | Oliver | Best Sweet Red Wines
https://www.oliverwinery.com/wine/soft-sweet-wines/soft-red-sweet-wine
Flatliner’s prime selection or liver cook wines
Root 1.
Nice Chilean cab, $10.
There are lots of good, cheap wines out there that are quite drinkable. I was a guest at an 80th birthday party held at a country club and the wine, (in my case, a burgundy) was noticeably different than what I am accustomed to. It was a few years ago but, as I recall the wine was much more “complex”, with many well pronounced layers of varying flavors. Forgive my attempt to describe its character, I’m not a wine snob. I googled the brand and found that the wine in question was selling for just under $100 a bottle. While I have not bought one in the years proceeding I think I would splurge on something like it to celebrate a special occasion.
The same for Scotch Whisky. I prefer blends and the $150 or so that I spent at duty-free for a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue was quite worth it, especially as it is still a little over half full after 20 years.
Takes me back to ‘79-’80 when I was stationed in Italy - used to get 5-liter jugs for under 2 bucks....
The vino locale ranged anywhere from Welches grape juice to kerosene and most of the stuff in the middle was very drinkable.
No Ripple either.
The Federalist cabernet or honest red wines are fantastic for around $15-$17 per bottle. There is no Italian wine worth $20.
If the wife can’t buy it at Sam’s Club for less than $10...it ain’t coming home with us (her).
It’s less than that here in Houston for the Winking Owl. I think it’s $2.99 (plus tax). Either way, you cannot beat it for the price!
Being a child of 1970, a “Gen X’er”, my mom was a bit loose with serving wine to us children. I was given a bottle of Yago San Gria when I was 7 or 8. I drank the entire bottle, and promised myself to never do such a thing again. I’ve yet to drink that kool-aid again, but I have made the mistake with Rum, Vodak, Tequila, Whiskey, Bourbon, and other assorted spirits.
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