Top Wines for Under $20
A good bottle of wine doesn’t necessarily mean an expensive
bottle of wine. Read on for some interesting choices, all under $20…
REDS
1. Protocolo Tinto 2005
- $6.99 per bottle
Fresh cherry and blackberry aromas with lively red and dark berry flavors offers
a zesty, focused personality. One could spend five times as much and get less
flavor and precision. A great find from Spain.
2. Chateau Au Grand Paris
2005 - $12.99 per bottle
Bordeaux Superieur. Lovely, with restrained but abundant fruit, red berry tastes
and some complexity. Fine wine. Could age some.
3. Robin K
Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - $15.99 per bottle
Robin K Cabernet is an exciting new “Best Buy” value from Sonoma County
winemaking
veteran Bill Knuttel. After stints at Chalk Hill Winery, Saintsbury and
currently Dry Dreek
Vineyards, Bill has produced a luscious Cabernet, from hillside vineyards, with
aromas of black
cherry, cassis, espresso, oak spice and vanilla bean. Fresh lively and easy to
drink.
4. Venta La Ossa 2005
- $15.99 per bottle
Sexy, oak-spiced cherry and cassis aromas offer an array of Asian spices,
vanilla and mocha. Suave
dark fruit liquer flavors are velvety and seemingly tannin-free. Packed with
concentrated fruit. 100%
Tempranillo from La Mancha, Spain.
5. Arceno Prima Voce 2003
- $18.99 per bottle
57% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Sangiovese and 8% Syrah. Imagine a super
Tuscan at this price. Impressively concentrated, would go well with beef, pork
and red sauced pasta dishes.
6. Moulin D’Issan 2005
- $18.99 per bottle
This is the third wine from the Third Growth Margaux, Chateau D’Issan. Drinking
beautifully now, the mouth feel and concentrations are really good, with a
wonderfully dry Bordeaux finish. Take advantage of one of the best vintages
since 1961 in Bordeaux without taking out a second mortgage.
WHITES
7. Sella & Mosca
Vermentino La Cala 2006 - $11.99 per bottle
Bright and crisp, with a lemon-lime and almost salty character. Medium-bodied,
with lovely acidity and a grapefruit aftertaste. This great little wine comes
from Sardegna. If you like Pinot Grigio be sure to give this a try. Rated “Top
Italian White Wine Value” by the Wine Spectator.
8. Santa Barbera Winery
Chardonnay 2006 - $12.99 per bottle
The long, cool growing season of western Santa Barbara County is ideally suited
for growing Chardonnay. Barrel fermentation in French oak accents the complexity
and rich mouth-feel of the wine. Great quality at this price point.
9. JJ Vincent Bourgogne
Blanc 2006 - $19.99 per bottle
Considered one of the most innovative makers of white Burgundy, Jean-Jacques
Vincent has produced a Chardonnay that is fresh, generous and full-bodied. A
clean yellow color with green tinges and a bouquet that is fresh, fruity and
round precedes flavors of discrete, complex vanilla. A true value in white
Burgundy.
10. Bell Sauvignon Blanc
2005 - $15.99 per bottle
Fresh and crisp, with lovely citrus and grapefruit aromas and a subtle hint of
fresh cut grass. The bright acidity on the palate makes this wine lively and
provides a refreshing, long lasting, satisfying finish. Beautifully balanced,
this is not one of those over-worked heavy Sauvignon Blancs. From California’s
Lake County.
Information for this article was provided by Dick Wilson, Rumson Buy Rite, Rumson.
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