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

I definitely drink more red wine than white.  But, I like to keep a bottle of white open either to start the evening or to drink with fish or chicken.  The great thing about white wines is you can readily find great values, under $10.

Chateau Ste. Michelle, in Columbia Valley,  is the second largest winery in Washington with production in the hundreds of thousands of cases.  It’s fun to find great wine deals from small production wineries, but some smaller wineries lack consistency- great wine one year but when you try the next year, something is missing.  I’ve found that a lot of the big guys are big for a reason.  Beringer and Robert Mondavi in Napa and Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest in Washington come to mind as huge wineries that consistently produce great wines and great values.

The 2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay is bright and aromatic on the nose with a nice floral scent and a hint of vanilla.  This is a buttery but smooth Chardonnay that has lightly integrated oak without being over the top like some Chardonnay.  Washington, along with Santa Barbara County and Monterey, make some of my favorite Chardonnay because of their cooler climates.  If you are shopping for Chardonnay, check out those areas first.

LA Wine Company has the lowest price in the country at $7.99.

Wine Spectator- 90 Points

Bright and jazzy, with pretty pineapple, grapefruit, elderflower and spice flavors that lingers on the finish without excess weight. This just floats on for a while. Drink now through 2012.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay 2008- LA Wine Co. $7.99,

We hosted brunch for some great friends yesterday, and since I’ve been on such a sparkling wine kick lately, I figured this was the perfect chance to review Gloria Ferrer’s other non-vintage offering- the Blanc de Noirs.  Made from 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay, this wine pours with a hint of pink, though it isn’t as pink as a typical Rose sparkling wine.

The Pinot flavors shine through, with a slightly mineral nose, along with the typical clean citrus scents of Gloria Ferrer sparkling wines.  It has a fresh taste- a bit lighter than the Brut offering- but with nice round flavors infused by the Pinot Noir grapes.  Gloria Ferrer uses 5-7% cold soaked Pinot juice in this bottling and, besides adding the pinkish color, this comes through in a slightly bitter (in a good way) finish.

This is the perfect brunch wine because it’s light without being watery or weak and the tiny, plentiful bubbles wake up the taste buds (along with the rest of the senses) to get the day started off right.

I hate to sound like a broken record here, but LA Wine Company once again within a few pennies of the lowest price in the country at $12.95 for the full bottle and $6.99 for the 375ml.

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines- 87 points

“90% Pinot Noir; 10% Chardonnay. Over the last half decade, this lightly pink wine has been our choice among its price point peers and it has done well again this time out. It strikes us a bit lighter in style and depth while retaining its attractive blend of creamy and quietly fruity elements, and its foamy yet insistent mousse is well-fit to its fairly straightforward, cherry-infused flavors. It can serve well as either a stand-alone aperitif or as a companion to light finger foods.” (CG)

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs 375ml- LA Wine Company $6.99

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs 750 ml- LA Wine Company $12.95

If you are looking for a “Super Tuscan” at a super price, try the 2007 Banfi Centine. It is widely available in the $9-11 range and right now, Argonaut Wines has it for $7.99.  At that price, it doesn’t have to be great, but it is!  I have had this particular Banfi for several years but this was my first try of the 2007. My experience is that you have to spend thirty to fifty bucks for a good super Tuscan (with the exception of the 2006 Monte Antico Rosso reviewed a couple of weeks ago). There just aren’t many full bodied Super Tuscan offerings for $10-20. At that price they tend to be thin and weak.

The 2006 Monte Antico Super Tuscan made a big splash on the Wine Spectator top 100 list and can still be found for about the same price as the Banfi. The Banfi and the Monte Antico are very similar, although the slightly higher alcohol in the Banfi is evident, especially right after opening. Consider letting it breath awhile. For a daily drinker or with pizza or pasta, the 2007 Banfi Centine is a good bet at a good price.  Rotate between this and the Monte Antico and you will be good to go.

Wine Spectator 87 Points

A fruity young red, with crushed berry and mineral character on a soft, silky medium-to-full body, with plump fruit and a clean finish. Always good value. Drink now.

October 31, 2008.

2007 Castello Banfi Centine- Argonaut Wines $7.99

Every great night begins with some great bubbly and last night was no exception.  After last weekend’s 2001 Gloria Ferrer ‘Royal Cuvee’, I decided to go for its less expensive label mate, the NV Brut.  For those new to sparkling wine, most top notch producers make vintage wine for aging and non vintage wine to be consumed within a year or two of release.  I have now tasted both versions from Gloria Ferrer and I can officially say this Gloria lady makes great, sophisticated sparkling wines that are possibly unmatched values.  Why would you ever buy grocery store Corbel when you can buy this for under $13?

The wine itself starts with nice citrus and apple on the nose but less toasty oak than the more expensive version.  This too is very dry with a light but not thin texture.  You certainly don’t get any of that Welch’s sweetness that comes through on many comparably priced California sparklers.  The finish is very nice- clean and tart. Textbook. (more…)

I haven’t been a big fan of the 2006′s from Napa.  In fact,  so far, the BV Tapestry has been the only one that I really liked, especially compared to prior (and future) years.  But this is a serious exception and Internet Wines have taken exception to its normally serious price.

Sterling’s SVR Reserve is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  I decanted for a couple of hours and was rewarded with a big oaky, complex nose.  This is a full bodied wine with tons of dark fruit, that I’m confident will only improve with age.  The SVR (does that stand for Stevie Ray Vaughn?) is a mouthcoating wine that reminds me of some of the high end valley wines like Groth and George de Latour.  Buy a few.  Try one now and hold onto a few bottles for at least 3 more years and it should develop nicely.

After my first bottle, I bought four more of this wine locally for $28 and still feel like I got a great deal (after shipping it’s about a wash anyway).  I recently drank an ’06 Chateau Montelena at a restaurant (and had ample opportunity to taste it as our table of six went through six bottles), and this blows it away. (more…)