Good wines come in a variety of prices and styles making wine available to everyone. Besides our own top quality home grown wines the world offers additional variety.Some of these wines have exceptional ratings for a modest price and others are just down right enjoyable to drink.
2008 Ercavio (433748)
Spain
La Mancha, the largest plain on the Iberian Peninsula, is a dry, arid grape-growing region of Spain. The climate is continental with hot summers reaching above 40 degrees and winters that can have prolonged frost. It's interesting that the white grape Airn planted here is the grape that covers more acreage than any other varietal in the world; this is only because the vines are sparsely planted. Most of the wine from these grapes is distilled to make Brandy. The other most planted grape in this region is the red grape Tempranillo. While most of this region is located between 500-600 meters above sea level, the wine I will introduce you to is grown at 750 meters. That means the grapes in the 2008 Ercavio had warm summer days but cool nights allowing for grapes to mature slower, increasing their flavour. This Spanish table or country wine is made from Tempranillo grapes. It is purple in colour with aromas of cherry and plum with hints of vanilla and toasted wood. The months in French and American oak integrate the flavours and aid in a long pleasing finish. This Spanish red is $16.99 a bottle and would easily pair with any red meat dish or poultry.
2006 Juan Gil (195859)
Spain
The French call this grape Mourvdre and it can be found in the Rhone Valley at Chateauneuf-du-Pape. In Australia, we see it called Mataro but in Spain it is known as Monastrell. This is a grape that I though I did not care for but the 2006 Juan Gil (195859) changed my mind. In the past, I found these wines just too earthy. However, this wine has some of those elements but it is pleasing in the context of the fruit. The colour is dark cherry and the nose delivers small amounts of many aromas including red and black berry fruits, smoke and vanilla. The thing I noticed on my first taste was tobacco, something I haven't detected before in wine even though it's often used as a descriptive. This full-bodied wine is one of those that offers so many aromas and flavours each working in balance with the other and none taking the lead. Juan Gil is made from 45-year old vines from the Jumilla region of Spain which sits close to the Mediterranean Sea. Each of the past five vintages has received at least a 90 point rating and is included in Wine Spectator's Top 100 List. This is a beautiful red wine with great balance and certainly big enough to pair well with wild game, braised beef, grilled steak or prime rib. This wine is $24.99 a bottle for a well-made, consistently good product.
Casillero del Diablo
2008 Chardonnay (270355)
Chile
It wasn't my intention to write about Spanish or wines from Spanish speaking countries but it has turning out that way.These are just some wines that I have tasted recently and this third one is a Chardonnay from Chile.The Casillero del Diablo line of Concha y Toro has some history with a funny story.The winery owner brought vines from the Bordeaux region and the better wines from these he stored in the deepest part of his cellar. The suppositious locals were pilfering these better wines; so to end this he established the rumour that the devil lived in his cellars.It worked and today we have Casillero del Diablo.The 2008 Chardonnay (270355) from the central valley is straw coloured with fruit and toasty aromas. Ripe pear, a little pineapple and touches of vanilla drift from the glass. In your mouth there is a creamy texture with mouth watering citrus fruit flavours in this medium - bodied wine. This white wine would be very nice with seafood, creamy pasta dishes or a mild cheese. This white wine would be very nice with seafood, creamy pasta dishes or a mild cheese -- affordable at $13.25 a bottle.
Al Spoklie
