The wines of Southern Rhone’s Chateauneuf du Pape region are possibly the purest expression of fruit the wine world has to offer.  Mostly uninfluenced by oak, these wines are all about the soil in which they are grown and the vines that produce the grapes.

This wine, by world-renowned Domaine Pierre Usseglio, is defined by the finish, something oak barrels can’t produce.  A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault, it’s fantastically long with strong tannins that will likely integrate over the next few years to create a wine of spectacular balance and finesse.  This is a 2009 and, as such, is showing a little of its youth.  But after three hours of air, the wine started to blossom with the initially thin mid-palate filling out nicely and the nose blooming into a superb combination of strawberry and earth aromas. 2009 has been touted as a great year in Southern Rhone, and based on this wine I have no reason to doubt that statement.

The more wine I drink, the more I’m starting to believe that Rhone varietals, especially Grenache, are the best grapes in the world.  Spain, the U.S., Australia and of course France, excel at Rhone style wines and their versatility and value are, in my opinion, unmatched.  Rhone varietal wines can range from light to incredibly dense and work well with or without oak.  Most importantly, these wines are great with food.  My cellar is getting more and more of these wines every day.

Buy Here: 2009 Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape $41.95

Robert Parker 90-92 points

“The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault) is another top-notch effort. The wine is aged in tank (60%), foudre (30%) and 1- to 4-year-old small barrels (10%). Sweet raspberry, black currant, and cherry fruit intermixed with licorice, lavender and tobacco leaf jump from the glass of this perfumed 2009. With outstanding ripeness, a plush, evolved mouthfeel and sweet tannins, this beauty is already complex and delicious. It should age well for 7-8 years.

One of my favorite stops on my trips to the southern Rhone is at Domaine Pierre Usseglio where brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio have accomplished special things. A new state-of-the-art tasting room has been added, somewhat unusual in Chateauneuf du Pape where little has changed in the three decades I have been tasting there. However, the small, discrete Usseglio tasting room would never be compared with tasting rooms that exist in Bordeaux and California.”

International Wine Cellar 89 points

“Ruby-red. Subdued aromas of blackberry, cherry and licorice accented by white pepper. Sweet and round on entry, displaying dark fruit flavors given definition by firm acidity and complicated by slowly emerging suggestions of bitter cherry and candied anise. The firmly tannic finish features enticing floral lift and echoes the licorice note. Showing a serious side right now.”

I’m acquainted with a gentleman named Ric Elias, who was on flight 1549 that ditched in the Hudson River, saved only by the brilliant flying of Captain “Sully” Sullenberger.  He no longer saves his best wines, instead saying “I collect bad wines.  Because if the person is there and the wine is ready, I’m opening it”.  I experienced that mantra this week and I was lucky enough to be the person that was there.

Watch Ric’s video here.  It’s pretty powerful stuff.

I was in Kansas City on business and had the pleasure of sharing a glass of wine with a new friend, Fred, at his house.  He just did an extensive and very cool renovation of a 1970′s modern, part of which included a large wine cellar.  As I was admiring his collection, I noticed a bunch of old bottles, one of which Fred (my new hero) insisted we open.

That wine was a 1962 Chateau Latour.  I honestly didn’t think I would ever taste a first growth Bordeaux, let alone a 50 year old bottle.  I also have to admit that before we opened it, I believed the bottle would be over the hill.  How could a bottle of wine half a century old still be good?  The fill was mid shoulder and the capsule was oxidized, but there was absolutely no sign of seepage.  The instant that the “cork removal genius” Rich, opened the wine, I knew it was good.  How good?  Spectacularly so.

The wine is still dark, with only the bricking of a much younger wine.  The nose is fresh with tons of fruit left – absolutely shocking for a 49 year old bottle of wine.  The same goes for the palate.  After an hour in the decanter, it became even more deep with dark fruit, rich tannin and a shockingly full body.  This is why people collect Bordeaux.  I get it now.

We can all learn something about life and wine from Fred and Ric.  If the moment is right, open that special bottle.  And if it isn’t, let’s ask “why not”?

You pay a tax to drink Champagne.  Plain and simple.  The best sparkling wines come from Champagne but if you are looking for low prices they just can’t be found.  I literally can’t remember a Champagne for under $20 (half bottles don’t count).

So if you are looking for a special sparkling wine for Valentine’s Day with out the special price, look to other regions of France, Spain, Italy and ‘Merica.  This Cremant, a term the French developed for sparkling wine made outside of Champagne, is from the Languedoc region in Southeastern France, where the climate is such that they can produce vintage sparkling wine every year (this one is a 2007).  See, the climate in Champagne is not conducive to grape growing, so most years the Champagne houses produce non-vintage wines which are actually a mix of good and not-so-good vintages, with the goal of consistency.  Vintage wine, or wine labeled with a year, is only produced in the best years, maybe 2-4 per decade.  Well, in southern France, the climate is great for grape growing, so they can make vintage wines every year.

Michel Olivier’s Blanc de Blancs Brut is bright, vibrant and delicious, and at $10 makes a strong argument for drinking sparkling wine at least once a week.  Apple and lemon flavors are complemented by a round, creamy mouthfeel with a little toasty oak- everything you would expect from a nice Champagne, for 1/3 of the price.

The best part: the label is French and looks really classy so, guys, your girlfriend or wife isn’t going to know the difference between this and a $50 bottle of Champagne.  Stop in at LA Wine Co and pick up a bottle for Valentine’s day or order a case online for any occasion (such as celebrating 5 o’clock).  This will keep for a number of years so don’t be shy.  The 1999 vintage is still drinking great!

Buy Here: 2007 Michel Olivier’s Blanc de Blancs Brut $9.95

And we’re back!  What an amazing run 2010 was.  I started Nickel and Dime wine in March of 2010 and 10 months later we have nearly 400 email subscribers, 726 Facebook fans and 150-200 daily visitors to the website.  Thanks to our loyal readers for your support and input.  I hope you are enjoying the deals!

After a nice Christmas and New Year’s break (with plenty of wine consumption),  I got to thinking about my priorities for 2011 and unlike many peoples’ resolutions, drinking less is not a high priority.

1. More Variety:  Like many people, I tend to stick to what I know and like when it comes to wine.  For me, that means a lot of California Cabernet and Chardonnay and Champagne – the kind from France, not to be confused with sparkling wine from other parts of the world. (Check out the tag cloud to the right to see what I write about most.)  But later in 2010 I started exploring more wines from Italy, Spain, Argentina and France and really enjoyed most of what I drank.  I firmly believe that popular wines are popular for a reason.  No one does Merlot better than the Right Bank of Bordeaux.  But I had some killer Merlot from Napa this year and enjoyed the riper, more forward style.  In 2011, look for more wines from Spain, Italy and Washington where I think particularly good values are to be had, along with the best deals from California.

2. Focus on Pairings: Food can make or break a wine, so this year I want to focus on pairing food with the right wine, not just wine that I happen to like.   The subtext of this resolution is to cook more fun food with wine parings in mind.  Look for both the pairings and more food features on the blog in 2011.

3. Interview Robert Parker: Okay, so this resolution might be difficult to achieve, but here is why I think RP would be interested in talking to Nickel and Dime Wine: Parker has always positioned himself as a consumer advocate who focuses on value, not the label, region or pedigree of a particular wine.  Sound familiar?  Plus, I think we could teach Parker a thing or two about how to reach fans on this newfangled machine we call the Internet.  His website looks like it was designed in ’92.  Maybe we could both learn something.

So, what are your New Year’s resolutions?  Is there anything you would like more or less of on the blog?  Let us know on the “comments” section below or on our Facebook page.

Schramsberg is arguably the premier sparkling wine producer in the United States, and with their Mirabelle label, they produce value priced non-vintage wine that is consistently great.  Robert Parker recently tweeted:

“excellent value in a high class rose sparkling wine?-check-out Schramsberg non-vintage Mirabelle Brut rose-about $25…damn tasty juice…”

I have to agree with Parker on all but one part of his tweet: the price.  LA Wine Co. has this wine for $18.95.  This is a perfect example of a rosé with a beautiful pink color and bright berry scents on the nose.  On the palate it’s broad and full with toasty vanilla from the Chardonnay and a focused minerality with raspberry flavors from the 48% Pinot Noir component.  Speaking of Pinot, some of the red grapes were fermented with the skin on contributing to the color and the slight tannin that differentiates this from a standard sparkling wine.

In addition to the raves from RP, Wine Spectator gave this rosé 93 points, further confirming its value.  Enjoy it for the holidays or enjoy it tomorrow.  You don’t need an excuse to drink sparkling wine!

Buy Here: Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rosé $18.95

Wine Spectator 93 points

“A rosé with serious intentions, it has a delicate pink hue and floral aromas of strawberry and spicy yeast rolls. The flavors show good focus, offering raspberry, Gala apple, ginger and fig flavors. Drink now through 2012.”

I was in Chicago last weekend and having recently enjoyed the 2000 vintage Piper-Heidsieck, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give the non vintage version a try.  As you will find out with our soon to be launched (massive) Facebook campaign, I don’t need a celebratory excuse to drink Champagne, but in this case I was celebrating meeting up with the family in the Second City.

Much like Chicago, this Champagne is clean, crisp and a little nutty.  Unlike Chicago, it’s best enjoyed on ice.  Totally unrelated to Chicago it has a really nice citric note and a creamy mouthfeel with a complexity rarely found in Champagne at this price point.  I loved Piper-Heidsieck’s vintage bottling, but at less than half the price I’m having trouble coming up with a reason not to just drink the NV version twice as often.  It’s really good.

I love California sparkling wine but Champagne (meaning sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France) has a certain dryness and complexity that I haven’t tasted in the domestic version.  If you’re just getting into Champagne or you’re a long time fan, this is a perfect expression of the style that anyone can enjoy.

Of note, it comes in a clever aluminum “Cool Box” (pictured right) which is meant to keep the bubbly cool after it’s removed from the fridge.  This would make a great gift, a perfect start to any day ending in “y”, or an outstanding first bottle on a Friday evening.  I’ll take a mimosa hold the orange juice.

Buy Here: NV Piper Heidsieck Brut $27.95

Wine Spectator 91 points

“A fresh, medium-bodied style, this shows finesse, with notes of apple, peach, ruby grapefruit, vanilla and toast. The refined texture and vibrant structure keep this focused and lingering, with fine length. Drink now through 2012. 50,000 cases imported.”

It was our 4th wedding anniversary so I needed some classy Champagne to celebrate.  You can never go wrong with Veuve Clicquot and its iconic yellow label (that curiously looks more orange to me).  We went with the half bottle because we were also opening a 15 year old bottle of Cabernet.  I love half bottles of Champagne because it’s the perfect amount for two people to share before dinner!

Veuve Clicquot might be the most popular higher-end Champagne in the United States, and for good reason.  It’s a perfect expression of what Champagne should be- dry, nutty and with lots of tiny tongue tingling (say that 3 times fast) bubbles.

You can easily pay $100 at restaurants, $60 at the grocery store and $50 at wine superstores for Veuve Yellow Label.  LA Wine Co. has it for $36.95 for full bottles, $21.95 for half and $89.95 for magnums, which is unheard of pricing.  Get it while you can because this pricing probably won’t last.

Buy Here: Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label $36.95, 375ml $21.95, 1.5L $89.95

Wine Spectator 90 points

“A nice crisp structure focuses the graphite, honey and citrus flavors. This is rich, but remains smooth and elegant, with a lingering aftertaste of honey and pastry. Drink now.” (WS)

Congratulations to Morgan G. from Chicago, IL, who has been selected as the winner of our 250 subscriber promotion!  Yesterday, when we reached 250 subscribers, we picked a random Nickel and Dime Wine fan using Random.org‘s random number generator.  Random.org picked lucky number 13 and, as our 13th subscriber, Morgan wins a $50 gift card to LA Wine Company!

Interestingly, Random.org uses atmospheric conditions to generate their “randomness”, which they claim to be much more statistically correct than typical random number generator algorithms.  It’s used for many drawings and contests with much higher profiles than ours, so it’s good enough for me!

So what will Morgan choose?  Does anyone have a suggestion for her?  If so, let her know in the “comments” section below.  Here are a few different ways I could spend $50:

1 bottle of Cliff Lede Stag’s Leap 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

10 half bottles of Qupe Cellars 2007 Syrah

1 bottle of each of the three Gloria Ferrer offerings plus a bottle of the above

2 bottles of Chateau Caronne Ste. 2005 Gemme Bordeaux

Keep watching for more promotions and giveaways from Nickel and Dime Wine and LA Wine Company.  And thanks for subscribing!

I’ve been in love with this wine since I first had it last year at the winery in Carneros.  The winery itself is straight out of Champagne France and the wine follows suit.  This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as it’s made by Taittinger, one of the biggest Champagne houses in France.  If you can make it to Napa, spend the morning here- the surroundings are spectacular and the sparkling wine makes a perfect start to a day of wine tasting.

The Chardonnay used in this wine contributes a richness and the Pinot Noir a complexity that suggests it will age very well.  It’s dry, smooth and full and really shows off the uniqueness of the Carneros appellation.  The finish has a nice tartness and a distinct taste of orange peel.  Really nice.

Sparkling wine tends to be consumed in the U.S. only for celebration, as we are today.  But I’m committed to drinking it more often.  Call it a celebration of the everyday.  So who’s with me?

L.A. Wine Co. once again has the lowest price in the country according to Google Shopping.  Here’s the plan: Buy 6 bottles and drink one a year for the next 6 years and see how it ages.  I think April 24th, 2016 will be the best!

Wine Spectator 91 points

“Festive and vibrant, but rich and complex, with bright aromas of fresh cherry and lemon that lead to luscious flavors of raspberry, yeasty pear and crisp mineral. Drink now. 33,000 cases made.”

Domaine Carneros Brut by Taittinger 2006- $19.95

A couple of weeks ago I posted a review of the 2001 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee.  At the time, the lowest price in the country was $21.99 .  Well, LA Wine Company just listed it on their website for $18.95.  At that price, this aged sparkling wine is amazing and is worth buying by the case (or at least the half case).  Again, it was rated 93 points from Wine Spectator and the same from Wine Enthusiast.  It was also number 55 on Wine Enthusiast’s top 100 of 2008.

2001 Gloria Ferrer Brut Royal Cuvee- LA Wine Company $18.95