This is another one of those under-the-radar bargains that you can only find by tasting hundreds of wines a month like LA Wine Company does.  We’ve talked a lot about large labels that make perennial values but because of those labels’ popularity, they are rarely outright steals.  Well, the 2007 Muirwood Syrah is.

What is it with Monterey producing these proprietor grown deals (remember the San Simeon Chardonnay)?  Syrah really excels in cool climate appellations like Monterey, Santa Barbara County and Sonoma.  This particular Syrah has a forward ripe nose followed by a great cocoa on the palate and a touch of spiciness on the finish.  The grapes come predominately from a single vineyard and it shows a definite complexity that wines coming from many vineyards in numerous appellations just can’t.

It’s officially summer barbecue season and I guarantee a case of this wouldn’t go to waste.  The best part is, when your friends (and your friends’ friends) come over and drink all of your wine, you don’t have to feel bad because this is only $7.99 a bottle!

Update: Now that this has been open for a few hours it’s opened up really nicely and really moved up a notch.  It’s super chocolaty and delicious!

Buy it Here: 2007 Muirwood Syrah Monterey- $7.99

I don’t think I’ve ever had another Monterey County Bordeaux blend, but since the 2005 vintage, this has been one of my favorite daily drinkers.  On this cool (for California- it’s probably 60 degrees) evening this really hit the spot.

The 2007 Hahn Estates Meritage is a big, bold wine with a unique character.  It pours an almost opaque deep burgundy.  Dark fruit on the nose is followed by nice mouth-coating berry flavors and a round tannic bite at the end.

I read up on the Hahn Estate website and discovered what makes this wine so unique: it’s blend.  31% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, 12% Malbec, and 9% Cabernet Franc is quite heavy on the secondary Bordeaux varietals (aka. not Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon).  I’ve only had one other wine that was that heavy on Petit Verdot- an Aussie called Redhead Studios Yard Dog-  and I didn’t like it.  But in this wine the Petit Verdot is well integrated and adds a unique flavor that you usually don’t get in a $12 wine.

This wine is a great value every year, but with 2007 being such a banner year for California wines, I’m thinking about picking up some more before the ’08 is released (this was my last bottle).  For $11.99, how can you not?

2007 Hahn Estates Meritage- BudgetBottle.com $11.99

Tonight I made the mistake of not decanting my red (Faust Cabernet 2005- coming in a later post), so I had a glass of my wife’s Chardonnay while the red opens up.  What a great surprise!  The San Simeon Chardonnay is from Monterey, and comes entirely from the Riboli family estate vineyards in the Arroyo Seco appellation.  This is a Chardonnay worthy of medium term aging and shows much better than it’s price point.  I just got back from a trip to Santa Barbara county where they make a ton of great chards and this stands up to the best of them.

A bit of citrus and mineral on the nose is followed by a buttery mouthfeel and a nice touch of oak and smoke on the finish.  My wife also notes a floral quality in the wine which I totally agree with.

Bottom line: This Chardonnay stands up with others in the $20-30 range and, in my opinion, is only eclipsed by the best like Cakebread and Beringer Private Reserve.

As usual, LA Wine Company has the best price on this wine at $8.99.  Buy a case and you won’t be disappointed.   There aren’t many 2006 chards left and this one is top notch.

2006 San Simeon Chardonnay $8.99- LA Wine Company