Whine of the Month : July 2010

It's Summer and I'm feeling generous, so here's a freebie! It's my belief that when new members join they don't take the time to go back through the archived wine lists. This is a HUGE mistake. Most of the wines that we've loved in the past are still available and for the most part, vintages don't matter.

These tend to be some of my favorite bottles and I try the new releases periodically to make sure that they're as good as I remember. With this in mind, here are a few favs from yesteryear that might motivate you to dig a little deeper at this site and really get your money's worth.

The following are a selection of Summer Whites that will keep you cool and happy until the leaves begin to fall.

2000 Walnut Crest Chardonnay Rapel Valley, Chile $4.00 @Cost Plus World Market

One of the white wine finds of the year! Tropical flavors, great balance, very lightly oaked. Find it. Buy it.

2000 Basa Sauvignon Blanc Rueda, Spain $7.00 @Pasadena Wine Merchants

A fabulous buy in a nice citrusy style. Not too grassy. Widely available.

1999 E&M Berger Gruner Veltliner Austria $9.00 @The Wine House W.LA

Man, this is what white wine is about. Clean, fresh, and thoroughly yummy. The bigger bottle is cool too.

1999 Banrock Station Chardonnay "Unwooded" Australia $6.00 @Cost Plus World Market

I really like this one a lot. Just pure Chardonnay fruit. All tropical flavors.Very luscious and refreshing.

2000 Colombelle Plaimont Vin de Pays Cotes de Gascogne, France $7.00 @Malibu Village Wine

Oh, Buddy!! Call around, find it, go online if you have to. An incredible sauvignon blanc in a grapefruity unoaked style. My new favorite wine. Really.

2001 Contadino Pinot Grigio Venezie, Italy $3.00 @Trader Joe's

Real Italian Pinot Grigio with a great acidic bite. Stupid price.

2002 Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet Coteaux du Languedoc, France $8.00 @Vendome Liquors

Picpoul de Pinet is the name of the grape and the wine is estate bottled and thoroughly delicious. As refreshing as a dip in the creek. I reviewed this wine once before, from a previous vintage, but a lot of you missed it. What's the matter? Too exotique??

2003 Firestone Reisling "Central Coast" Los Olivos, Ca. $7.00 @Trader Joe's

Great structure in an off-dry style. Beautiful flowery nose with honeyed apricot flavors. We loved it!

2003 Dom. Des Cassagnoles Vin de Pays Cotes des Gasgogne, France $6.00 @Chronicle Wine Cellars, Pasadena

A blend of Colombard, Ugni Blanc, and 20% Gros Manseng, it reminds me of our old favorite "Colombelle Plaimont". I think that we're going to see a wave of similar wines from this area soon. Good thing, because they're absolutely delicious!

NV Aveleda Vinho Verde Portugal $6.00 @Beverages and More

Wow! I love this one. I first found it at a wine shop in Northern Wisconsin (go figure), and again here in L.A. Like all Vinho Verde (literally "green wine") it's meant to be drunk very young and fresh, so most is non-vintage dated. Very crisp and delicious with an almost Chablis-like acidity. Look for this one.

2003 Snoqualme Riesling "Winemaker's Select" Oregon $7.00 @Whole Foods Market

Wow! WOw!! WOW!!! Stunning balance, Spatlese sweetness, and a finish that goes on forever! Absolutely one of the greatest bargains of all time. It wasn't until after it was purchased that I discovered it was on this year's Wine Spectator Top 100 list. They got it right this time.

So there you go. Most of these are really easy to find, so no excuses, okay?

Harry "Your Low-Rent Dionysus" Orlove