"Stellar Wines for 15 bucks and under"

   Wine drinkers today are living in a vino paradise. Great wines at great prices are coming from all across the globe. Even our own country is producing world award winning wines and finding gems in all price ranges is getting easier and easier. Every week we at Westside Liquor taste many different imported and domestic wines. Whether it's a new vintage of a wine or a new producer, I'm continually blown away by the superb quality and complexity of many of these bottles. California has been blessed with some excellent recent vintages and the wine making couldn't be better. Check out some of the less heralded wine areas like Monterey, Santa Barbara and Paso Robles. These regions are not as famous as say Napa Valley but are churning out some unbelievable wines. Monterey has a great climate for Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. The wines have great finesse because of the maritime climate, fog and a cool breeze. Nice ripe fruit with mouthwatering acidity. If it's Chardonnay you love Santa Barbara County has some great values at prices you can swallow. For killer Syrah check out Paso Robles. This area in Central Coast is proving to be a hot bed for Rhone varietals and shouldn't be passed up. Argentina is still giving us superb values with the Malbec grape and southern France is on a roll with screaming values all across the board. Here are some wines that truly over deliver and will pair well with many different foods.

·        Fog Head Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Monterey - For the money this is one of the best values in SBS I've had in the last year. Great flavor, mouth feel, fruit and acidity. Aromatics of lemon and citrus fill the air. Flavors of green apple, grapefruit and more mouthwatering citrus coat the palate with a near perfect weight on the mid palate. Pair with seared scallops, shrimp or Talapia.

·        Fess Parker Chardonnay 2008, Santa Barbara County - I love mind blowing wines for under 20 dollars and this is one of them. This vintage is drinking lovely right now and really shows what this county can do with this grape. Brilliant pale yellow with intense aromas of pineapple, melon and honey. Succulent flavors of pear, apple, lemon and a touch of toasty oak complete the finish. A real bargain at the price! 93 pts WE. Pair with crab, Brie cheese or roast chicken.

·        Hob Nob Pinot Noir 2008, France - Looking for a great value Pinot Noir for under 15 dollars, look no more. This southern French gem has great fruit and is nicely balanced. Ruby red color with aromas of cherry, raspberry and earth. Big bold flavors of black cherry and spice fill the mouth with a nice medium finish. Great value! Pair with grilled pork loin, plank salmon or stuffed mushrooms.

·        Liberty School Cuvee 2007, Paso Robles - Here is a fantastic red blend coming from Central Coast. The blend is Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier. Open this one up at your next wine tasting and compare to a Cotes du Rhone from France.  Tons of red fruits with pepper and smoky notes. Full bodied in the mouth with flavors of plums, strawberry, spice and a little more pepper. Pair with pepper steak, BBQ ribs or burgers off the grill.

·        Piattelli Premium Malbec 2007, Lujan De Cuyo, Mendoza Argentina -  This winery keeps putting out fabulous  Malbec at  excellent price points. The wine has a red color with purplish tints hinting to its youth. Intense aromas of raspberry and strawberry fill the air. Flavors of cherry and more raspberry coat the mouth with a touch of vanilla from the oak. The wine has the structure and finish like one double it's price. Buy a case. Pair with grilled ribeye, tri tip or a nice piece of Manchego or Parmesan. 

Hope you find a great food and wine pairing!

Sommelier

Jeff Anderson