Category High End Values

High End Values: 2010 Caymus Is Here and It’s Good!

February 19, 2013 High End Values  No comments

Caymus was one of the first Napa Valley wineries to release their 2010 vintage.  Why?  Because their wines are so popular they release almost a full year before everyone else.  Popularity certainly doesn't always equal quality, so just as I have with the 2007, 2008 and 2009 vintages, I tried the 2010 soon after its release.  I've since tasted quite a few 2010s and this one keeps rising to the top.

2010 was the first of two difficult growing seasons in California, with low yields, cool temperatures and a late season rainstorm.  Despite the difficult season, Caymus managed to do what they're known for - putting out a remarkably consistent and remarkably good wine.

Style is a preference, so if you aren't into the rich, sweet and extracted style Caymus is known for, you won't like this

Read More

High-End Values: Clio is Back ($37.95)

February 14, 2013 High End Values  One comment

Our last Spanish wine sold out within minutes of the post going live, so here is another, albeit a couple of notches up.  If I could buy just one under $50 Spanish wine each year, this would be it.  It has this exotic element to it that I haven't found in any other wine, and an energy and concentration that's really spectacular.

What makes this so exotic and concentrated?  It's made from 70% Monastrell or Mourvedre and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, a unique blend I haven't seen anywhere else.  Furthermore, the Monastrell vines are an incredible 70 years old and yield a minuscule 1,500 pounds per acre.  As a point of reference, the typical yield in Napa is 6,000-12,000 pounds per acre.  Less grapes per vine equals more concentration and flavor.  It's that simple.

El Nido Clio

Read More

High End Values: Top 3 Champagne Deals

February 8, 2013 High End Values  One comment

Valentine's Day is coming up, but I don't need a holiday, a birthday, a Friday or any other special kind of day to drink Champagne.  Any old day works for me.  So, since today does end in "y", here is a round-up of the best Champagne deals available now.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut ($24.95) - Go to your local wine shop and ask for their best Champagne under $30.  They will walk you to the domestic sparkling wine aisle where you can politely tell them "this isn't Champagne".  Any Champagne under $30 is pretty much unheard of, so this Wine Spectator 93 point rated sparkler, #84 on the wine of the year list, takes the #1 spot on the list at $25.  Buy Here 
Duval-Leroy Brut ($26.95) - I did a full write-up on this Champagne here, but for those

Read More

New Look, New Format, New Wines Coming to Nickel and Dime Wine

January 31, 2013 90+ Bargains, High End Values, News and Opinion, Under $12 Deals  3 comments

In March of 2010 I launched Nickel and Dime Wine with the goal of bringing wine deals and (hopefully) entertaining commentary to our readers.  Three years later, the purpose is the same, but we're changing the look and the format through which we deliver the deals.  Going forward, posts will follow four themes which reflect the way our readers shop (and drink):

1. Under $12 Deals

2. 90+ Point Bargains

3. High-End Values

4. News and Commentary

I will also feature some photography from my wine country travels on the "slider" at the top of the homepage for your viewing pleasure.

Well, that's it.  Any feedback on the new look, post themes or photography (be gentle) is welcome in the comments section of this (or any) post.

Read More

An American Classic: ’10 Ridge Lytton Springs RP93+

December 3, 2012 90+ Bargains, High End Values  No comments

I am, admittedly, not a huge Zinfandel fan.  I find most overripe, pruney and a little thin.  That said, Ridge makes two of my favorite wines - not favorite Zinfandels, but favorite overall wines - the Lytton Springs and Geyserville.  I've had every vintage since '06 and they are all great.  Some greater than others, but all truly great.  Ridge is doing awesome things with the most American of grapes, which has been growing in this country since the mid 1800's.

The 95 point, 2009 vintage of this wine was closed down when I drank it in September.  After a day of air, it showed beautifully, but today, the 2010 is the wine to drink.  It has a beautiful perfumed nose of lavender and cherry with a broad mouthfeel and a very long finish.  This isn't technically a Zinfandel, with 23% Petite

Read More

Santa Barbara County Isn’t Just For Pinot

November 19, 2012 High End Values  No comments

Long time readers of this blog know I am a fan of cool climate, Central Coast Chardonnay.  Monterey and Santa Barbara counties are hot spots for this style of wine and big time value.  Take the wine I drank last night, Dierberg's Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay, which was awarded 93 points from the Wine Advocate's Antonio Galloni.  Slap a Carneros label on this wine and it would be well over $30.  But at $22.95, this is both an awesome wine and an awesome value.

This wine pours a light straw color with a bright nose of tropical fruit accented with a nice smokiness.  Aging in larger than normal oak barrels imparts the smokiness, but allows the wine to keep a nice balance and finesse.  Furthermore, only 10% of this wine goes through malolactic fermentation, so it retains a nice crisp acid

Read More

A Serious 92 Point Barbaresco Under $30

October 12, 2012 Cellar Worthy, High End Values  No comments

We recently tried a restaurant called Davanti Enoteca in Chicago's Little Italy, so naturally we brought an Italian wine to enjoy with dinner.  I'll get to the wine shortly, but it's worth mentioning that the food and the service were both fantastic.  From the white anchovy salad, to the Mascarpone polenta with beef short rib ragu served on a wooden cutting board, to the braised rabbit cannelloni, the food was rustic but sophisticated and tasted outrageously good.  The style was similar to a meal I ate at Mario Batali's Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, but the food at Davanti was much better (and much less expensive).

On to the wine.  Such a delicious meal demanded an equally delicious wine and luckily we made a good choice.  The 2008 Giorgio Pelissero Barbaresco Nubiola is a Nebbiolo

Read More

Robert Craig Affinity – High End Napa Cab Under $40

September 28, 2012 Cellar Worthy, High End Values, Special Occasions  No comments

Robert Craig's Affinity bottling really got on the map after Robert Parker awarded it 96 points in the 2007 vintage. I bought 4 bottles without tasting it. I've only had one and I'm very happy with the purchase. It's an exceptional wine.

That wine is long since sold out but, having drunk both pretty recently, I actually think the 2009 is drinking better today. Time will tell which ends up as the better wine, but today the 2009 is a massive Cabernet with a ripe nose of dark fruit with a background of oak. But where this wine really stands out from other Napa cabs in the price range is the velvet texture and exceedingly long, highly nuanced finish. A true Bordeaux-like elegance exists with Affinity, which makes since because it's grown just south of the Stags Leap District in a cooler

Read More

Another Brilliant Wine from Eric Solomon (90-93 points)

September 14, 2012 Cellar Worthy, High End Values  No comments

Eric Solomon is an importer of mostly French and Spanish wines, who focuses on value above everything else.  Robert Parker says "Over the last twenty years, Eric Solomon has consistently been one of America’s finest small importers of handcrafted, artisanal wines."  20 years ago, I was nine, so I can't speak to his track record then, but every Eric Solomon wine I've ever had has been somewhere between good and great.

This one is great.   It comes from the Costieres de Nimes region in Languedoc Roussillon, France which somewhat confusingly was recently made part of the Rhone appellation rather than Languedoc.  Makes sense right?

If you tasted the 2009 Costieres de Nimes Lou Coucardie, which Robert Parker awarded 90-93 points from a barrel sample, you would get why Rhone decided to

Read More

Deal Alert: A 92 pt Champagne for $26.95

July 3, 2012 High End Values  No comments

You can't buy bad Champagne at this price let alone a highly rated example that I've personally enjoyed on several occasions and certified as a 5 Star, A+++, 90+ point Nickel and Dime Wine value!  The NV Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne has received a good bit of press since its 92 point Wine Spectator rating so you may have heard about this one before.   But I'm quite confident you haven't seen it at this price because LA Wine Co. has it for the lowest in the country according to Wine Searcher.  As a point of reference on how good this deal is, Wine Spectator gave the famous Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, a wine I enjoy, 90 points.  It sells for $40-50.  Furthermore, the Wine Advocate who is notoriously hard on Champagne gave this 88+ and the Veuve 87.  Any way you slice it, this is better.

Read More