Central Otago, New Zealand ($12)
We first tried this wine at the winery in October, 2002. It was so good we carried a bottle back on the plane with us. The flavor of this un-oaked wine is spectacular. There is good acid and a nice, full body with some structure and depth. This was a brilliant wine served with salmon and rice. A truly remarkable discovery.
Cafayate, Salta, Argentina ($12)
This wine is very fruity, with melon and lemon flavors. It has a very pale color, and the finish is nice and crisp. The style of this wine reminds me a lot of New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, but it is a little different. The wine went especially well with fish and various cheeses.
Savoie, France ($11)
This is the only wine I've ever tried from Savoie, near the border with Switzerland. There is good acid and stone fruit at the front, and it has some minerally structure at the back. There is a fullness to this wine that doesn't overpower with heaviness from oak. it is well-balanced. It is made from Jacqueres, a white varietal.
Vin de Pays des Pyrénées Orientales, France ($7)
In July, we decided to follow the Tour de France by drinking French wines from the wine areas that the Tour passed through or nearby. This was a great discovery. It is a very fruity medium-bodied red wine, with ripe berry and red currant flavors, some acid, and only a little bit of oakiness. It is a blend of old vine Carignan, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.
Campo de Borja, Spain ($6)
I find it hard to believe that this wine is so affordable. This is a really excellent red for all sorts of Mediterranean cuisine - pizzas, pastas, and anything with a little acid or bite to it. This wine would be a good deal at twice the price. About 75% Grenache and 25% Tempranillo. While we don't have a "house red" exactly, this is one of the red wines we keep on hand.
Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia ($14)
In 2003, we tried quite a few different bottlings of Australian Shiraz, and it has become one of our favorite red wine options. This is one of our favorites. It was a nice wine, rich and dark in color, with a little bit of oomph. It has that fantastic texture that makes your mouth hum with happiness. A very high quality wine for the price.
Texas Hill Country, Texas ($16)
This is currently my favorite Texas red wine. It is crisp and smooth with some wonderful flavor and very restrained texture. It is very easy to drink and quite tasty. A relatively low alcohol content (12%) makes it very food-friendly. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), Merlot (11%), and Ruby Cabernet (22%).
California ($9)
This wine has a big berry taste and a brilliant nose. The alcohol comes out a little hot, and there are some spicy elements in the finish. This is what I think a value zinfandel should taste like. We enjoy this wine with a nice steak, hot off the grill. I actually like this a little better than some of Ravenswood's single county bottlings.