Another Wine Round Up: Great Entertaining Wines
It’s time for another round of wines from around the world and this week focuses on Chile, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Most of these wines are under $25 and the majority under $15. A good showcase of values and “off the beaten path” wines make these regions ones to try.
Wine Round Up
Chilean
- 2012 William Cole Albamar Sauvignon Blanc – grapefruit, citrus, flowers and orange blossom. This was the favorite white of the tasting.
- 2012 Como Sur Sauvignon Blanc – herbaceous with lots of grapefruit and green apple.
- 2012 William Cole Columbine Special Reserve – citrus, floral, grassy and a nice balance of minerality
- 2012 Garcia and Schwaderer Sauvignon Blanc — grapefruit and notes of honey.
Spain
- Campo Viejo Garnacha – very drinkable with notes of cherry, flowers, spice, vanilla and oak. A great easy drinking Tuesday night pizza wine.
French
- Joseph Drouhin 2011 Bourgogne Pinot Noir – red cherry, black cherry, earthiness, red raspberry, balanced fruit. A very nice pinot noir for a value price.
- Joseph Drouhin 2012 Bourgogne Chardonnay – a nice Old world style with notes of lemon, vanilla, honey with a nice balance and in the style that I prefer in a chardonnay. I really enjoyed this wine.
Portugal
- Herdade Do Esporao 2012 Monte Velho White – tropical, vanilla, peach and lemon peel. Had some depth and layers to the wine.
- Herdade Do Esporao 2012 Monte Velho Red – bramble, berry, bramble and cedar. Very drinkable but would benefit with food.
Italy
- 2012 San Pietro Lagrein – plum, cherries, spice, floral and oak
- 2011 Elena Walch Lagrein – blackberry, cherry, chocolate, floral with a nice balance. This was one of my favorite reds with that tasted much more expensive than $20. This was the crowd pleasing red for our group.
