L'Expression de La Croix Lartique Bordeaux 2009 (about $17)

About the Wine:  2009 is a great vintage for Bordeaux, possibly the best ever.  Unfortunately, great vintages tend to lead to soaring prices.  This will either be a great wine at a good price or a ten dollar bottle that someone is trying to turn a ridiculous profit on.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark red with a violet rim.  A rich blend of cooking spice defines the nose, though hints of sour cherry a present.  The palate is a little tight and comes through with a jumble of red fruit, though dry cherry does stand out and notes of green pepper balance out the fruit.  Red fruit and spice linger in a dry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  I had with a hamburger and it was divine.

Overall Impression:  This drinks like a twenty-five dollar bottle and a few years of proper storage would probably make it drink like forty.  This one is a good value.

Chateau de Grandchamp Montagne Saint-Emilion 2009 (about $20)

About the Wine:  Saint Emilion is a subregion of Bordeaux, one of the classic French appellations.  Saint-Emilions can run into dozens or hundreds of dollars in cost, so this could be a very good deal.

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark red with a pink rim.  The legs run down like maple syrup.  Raspberry, dark cherry, cassis, and oak are all present on the nose.  Thick, creamy red fruit defines the palate with a dry finish.  The wine tastes good now but I expect that a few years in a cellar would do it some good.  The price range I deal with doesn't include a lot of age worthy wines but this one is a good candidate.

Drinking This Wine:  Too dry and tannic for a sipping wine, this one would do well with roast duck, steak and onions, or lamb.

Overall Impression:  Great wine, good price.  This one is good for the price.

Domaine Saint-Felix Saint Chinian 2009 (about $15)

About the Wine:  Saint Chinian is a relatively recent sub appellation in southern France.  This particular wine is an organic Rhone style blend.

About THIS Wine:  The crimson center fades to a pink rim.  The nose has prominent sour cherry that I would associate with Pinot Noir, but there are also strong notes of earth and spice making for a more robust smell.  Licorice and spice make a very bold and pleasant palate that ends in a syrupy cherry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  Very versatile.  This could work as a sipping wine or pair with roast duck, ham, or pot roast.

Overall Impression:  The wine is good and the price is reasonable.  A wine of this quality would be good for this price in any case and the fact that it is organic makes it a good value.

Veuve Aubert Aine Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2010 (about $13)

About the Wine:  Pinot Noir has been grown in the Burgundy region of France since forever, basically.  Bourgogne Rouge, or Red Burgundy is simply Pinot Noir from that region and the French government has long taken steps to prevent other red varietals, particularly Gamay, from being too closely associated with the region.  Red Burgundy is known for its full, earthy qualities.

About THIS Wine:  It is very light in the glass, even for a Pinot Noir.  I would describe the color as hot pink.  Velvety dark fruit makes up a pleasant nose.  The palate is mild with prominent flavors of strawberry ending is a raspberry finish.

Drinking This Wine:  This would make a pleasant sipping wine and it could go well with grilled chicken.

Overall Impression:  This is nothing like a traditional Burgundy Pinot Noir but it is very pleasant.  This wine is good for the price.

Purple Malbec 2009 (about $12)

About the Wine:  Malbec is essentially the national grape of Argentina but originated from France.  A crop blight destroyed most of the Malbec vines in the mother country and production there has never fully recovered.  It is still used as a blending grape in Bordeaux Rouge blends.  To see a pure French Malbec is very rare. 

About THIS Wine:  The center is dark purple and fades to a violet rim.  Dark fruit and cherry are prominent on the nose and deliver on the palate along with a fair dose of spice.  The finish is spicy and dry.

Drinking This Wine:  Steak wine all the way.  Have this with a juicy hunk of red meat.

Overall Impression:  I really like this wine.  At twelve dollars a bottle it is a good value.

by Ben Stiebel