ENTHUSIAST OF ALL

Here we go again- my favorite “table wine” bottles of 2009. These wines are cheap, widely available, and high quality for everyday drinking with dinner or for entertaining. In honor of the worsening economy, I decided to feature five value wines this year instead of three. Enjoy!

Monte Antico Toscana Red Wine 2006, 88 Points, $9, 80,000 cases made

Lively dark plum, violet flowers and raspberry fruit on the nose. Rustic dried red fruits on the palate backed by cherry creamsicle and subtle herbs through the medium finish, very floral throughout. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Bodegas Borsao Campo de Borja 2008, 88 Points, $8, 15,000 cases imported

Lots of mineral and red fruit on the nose. Very ripe but textured black cherry, raspberry and boysenberry throughout the body, with notes of minerally spice and smoke underneath. Fruit lingers long with a floral hint and the slightest hint of graphite behind it, well-intertwined tannins for such a young wine.

Bodegas Ateca Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines Calatayud 2007, 87 Points, $8, 6500 cases imported

Slightly jammy nose of raspberry with undertones of cherry and mineral. Fleshy body of lively raspberry, red licorice and cherry fruit, layers of mineral and vanilla bean linger underneath with impressive spiciness through the finish, red licorice lingers longest.

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine Washington 2007, 87 Points, $8, 30,000 cases made

Racy and vivid fruit throughout, with wild berry and strawberry notes carrying into soft mocha, mineral and white pepper notes through the medium length, the variety of grapes here really show through impressive layering. Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Barbera.

The Little Penguin Merlot South Australia 2008, 86 Points, $7, 75,000 cases made

Medium-bodied and bursting with aromas of dried red berries and cherries. Easy drinking, smooth and not overripe, with hints of herbs behind the red fruit through the medium length.

This entry was posted on December 4, 2009 at 4:03 am and is filed under Vino. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.