Good Wines under $10.00 dollars

We all do it. We all have those bottles of wine that are around $30.00 sitting in our basements and wine racks, that we just never seem to open. It is just never the right occasion. We don't want to open a good bottle with pizza or Chinese food, or even if we make a homemade meal, because it just never seems appropriate. Well, what if you could open a good bottle, that was inexpensive enough, that there would be no guilt opening it up mid-week. Impossible?

Who says you can't have a good wine for under $10.00? Granted you generally get what you pay for, but the wines below are bursting with value at a very low price. These wines are perfect for the every day and make a good addition to a potluck or dinner party, due to their versatility. Each of these wines is meant to be drunk young and have been engineered to be best if drunk right now. So, grab a few of these bottles and enjoy.

Gala Rouge, 2004 Pinot Noir $9.99:

Gala Rouge is a fun Pinot from France. The grapes are harvested in late August/early September in the Languedoc Roussillon (near Bésiers and Carcassonne). The wine is fermented in stainless steel for several weeks and then divided with some of the wine fermenting in steel and some fermenting in oak. The two mixes are then blended together to create a balanced wine with full-bodied fruit and undertones of oak.

Color: Cherry color with garnet-red tints.

Nose: Hints of deep red berry fruits with woody and toasted bread
aromas.

Tasting: Touches of black cherry and blackberry with highlights of oak and
soft tannins. (1)

This versatile wine accompanies most foods with grace and style. Gala Rouge is great as an every day wine, comfortable next to a burger, plate of spaghetti, or your favorite take-out. This wine also makes a good gift or addition to a dinner party.

Gala Rouge is well known for its vintage label and can often be seen in movies, catalogues and advertisements, due to its decorative appeal. The label is inspired by vintage posters that were first seen in France in the 1900's.

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel $9.99:

If you had read the Spring Wines article in the May newsletter, you would know that I have some contempt for the White Zin. Red Zins, particularly an Old Vine Zinfandel is an entirely different proposition. An Old Vine Zin is made from grapes harvested from...old vines. The vines have a very low grape yield due to their age and the grapes are all hand-picked.

Gnarly Head takes its name from the vines themselves. As the vines age, they become unruly, twisting, knotting, and branch off in all directions, looking truly gnarly. Gnarly Head is a late harvest, hand-picked from a mix of 35 to 80+ year old vines, in Lodi California. The wine is made from a blend of 77% zinfandel and 23% Petite Sirah (another phenomenal grape). The grapes are gently pressed, immediately after being picked. The wine is then fermented for 7-9 days in French, American, and Hungarian Oak before being bottled and racked. The quick fermentation concentrates the bold fruit flavors.

Gnarly Head is full of rich flavors including dark berries, plum, pepper and chocolate. This is another wine that is great for the every day and also makes a good gift or potluck addition.

Secret de Campane

Vin de Pays de la Principauté d'Orange $6.99:

The Secret de Campane is made from a blend of Grenache (60%), Old Carignan (30%) and Cinsault (10%). The name of this wine is taken from the Campaniles that have overlooked Provence villages since the 12^th century. I apologize that I was unable to find information on the wines fermentation, nor was I able to find tasting notes.

This interesting blend has less balance than a typical French wine, but at $6.99 it is hard to beat. There is a heavy wine that can be tasted on its own or paired with food. On its own, more of the dark berries and fruit come to the forefront. When paired with food, the acidity and wood is more prominent. This wine paired well with grilled meats and mild cheeses.

To be honest, I picked up this wine for its sentimental value. The wine is harvested from the Principauté d'Orange, a location I visited this past August. This wine comes from a region rich with history and culture. d'Orange is the home of the famous Théàtre antique d'Orange, a Roman theater built early in 1st Century A.D. It is one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the world and hosts the summer opera festival Chorégies d'Orange.

Il Bastardo Sangiovese Rosso di Toscana $6.99:

This wine is a strong Italian red with bold dry flavors. The name may seem insulting, and maybe it is. A Bastardo is a mix of Barbera and Barberesco grapes. This wine in particular is a good bargain for the price. This wine is a dark-ruby red, with dark cherry aromas. There is plenty of fruit in this wine but also a strong woody presence and a bit of terror. Il Bustard is a bit rough around the edges, not quite balanced, with some lingering heat. That being said, it is a great match with the traditional Italian food. This wine compliments a hearty red sauce, meatballs and sausage, or a good pizza. The acidic tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil smooth out the wine and bring out the Chianti qualities

And now for some Dessert:



Evenus Zinfandel Port $9.99 (3) :

This is a wonderful port-style wine, using the Zinfandel (red) grape. This wine is made in Paso Robles California and while lacking in complexity, is an easily drinkable, very worthwhile wine. This Port boasts strong, full, raisiny Zinfandel flavors and aromas of blackberry/blueberry syrup. Try this wine on its own or with a complimentary dessert that has lots of spice, like a pumpkin ice cream, dark chocolate, or nut filled confection. The sweetness of this wine can also be paired with savory foods, such as curries, or cous cous dishes.

This article was written by Jessica R. Manganello, Esq. Jessica is an attorney and "wine-nut" with Exemplar Law Partners, LLC at their headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Exemplar is the first large firm to abandon the billable hour and instead offers fixed prices and customized legal services in the areas of business/corporate law, international law, entertainment and business development. Exemplar also offers a discount to Wild WE members.

All of the wines that are reviewed in this article can be found at Downtown Wine & Spirits in Davis Square, Boston. The store has an incredible selection of wines and beers from all over the world, great service, and reasonable prices. If you stop by the store, direct your questions to Alan the store manager. He is always helpful.

Labels: wines

When you walk into the local wine Shoppe and you are faced with one hundred bottles or more to choose from, how do you choose? How do you know you are getting a quality wine or a table wine, sweet or dry, varietals or blend? Maybe you can’t judge a book by its cover, but you may be able to judge a wine. The contents of wine labels are heavily regulated by the governments of each wine producing country and the indications on the label provide quit a bit of useful information.

So how do you read a quality wine label? Each wine producing country regulates its own labels, but there are a general 15 indicators that are considered in this regulation for a quality wine label. These indicators are either mandatory, permissible, or neither.

1. The word "wine":
   
   The word "wine" is not required to be on the labels of EC country wines because their controlled appellation systems already fill this function. Wines produced in the United States or any other non-EC country are required to have the word "wine" on the label. This is also true for any wine entering the EC from an outside country.
   


2. Country of Origin:
   
   The country of origin is mandatory for the labels of wine produced anywhere in the world. Wines that are destined solely for the home market (very limited) are excepted.
   


3. Denomination of Origin:
   
   The denomination of origin is generally based on a geographical region (e.g. Rioja in Spain) or on a vine variety (e.g. Barbera d'Alba in Italy). This indicator is mandatory in the majority of wine producing countries, but permissible in Israel, Romania, Australia, and Chile.
   
   


4. Quantity in Bottle:
   
   The quantity is mandatory in every country except Austria, where it is permissible. Quantity is generally measured in centiliters.
   


5. Alcohol Content:
   
   This indicator is mandatory in all countries except Cyprus, where it is permissible. This requirement is largely indicative of an increased responsible attitude towards alcohol on the part of governments and regulators. Alcohol content, mainly ethyl alcohol, is measured as a percentage of the total volume (12%), but may also be indicated in degrees (12º). The percentage must be exact to 0.5%.
   


6. Name and Address of the "Responsible" bottler/brand owner or lot number:
   The name and address of the "responsible" party is mandatory in al l countries except Romania and Argentina. This indicator has to do with allocation of liability. If a company is bottling wine under contract with another company (for instance the vineyard), then the liability rests with the company for whom the bottling is being conducted. If a company chooses to place their "own label" on the wine, then the liability falls on the company whose name and address appears on the label. Similarly the lot number or marking allows for a system where consumer initiated complaints trace the contents of an individual bottle back to the exact batch of grapes.
   


7. Quality Status:
   
   This indicator is required by countries that have a controlled appellation system. There are four recognized levels of quality: 1. table wine; 2. table wine from a designated region; 3. Quality wine from a designated region; and 4. Top quality wine from a designated region. As Examples:
   France:
   
   
   
   1. Vin de Table;
   
   
   2. Vin de pays;
   
   
   3. Appellation d'origine vin délimité de qualité supérieure (VDQS)
   
   
   4. Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC)
   
   
   
   Italy:
   
   
   
   1. Vino da tavola (VDT)
   
   
   2. Indicazione geografica tipica (IGT)
   
   
   3. Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC)
   
   
   4. Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG)
   
   
   
   



Of course each country uses its own language and acronyms. If you are looking at wines other than French or Italian you can find the labeling requirements online or in a good wine encyclopedia.




8. Sulphite/additives declaration:
   
   A declaration of sulphites and other additives is mandatory for wine produced and imported into the US and Australia. This requirement is largely permissive in other wine-producing countries. Sulphite is sulphur dioxide and is used as a preservative in wine. The growing trend is to use as little of this preservative as possible. While most countries do not require this disclosure on the label, all additives are vigorously regulated in the wine making process. The US has been proactive in requiring this disclosure and is considering requiring that use of pesticides be disclosed on labels.



9. Grape varieties:
   
   Indicating the grape varietal is largely a permissible indicator, but if mentioned, it is strictly regulated. The percentage of varieties in a bottle is strictly regulated. In EC countries there may only be two varieties listed on a bottle. If one variety of grape is listed, the wine must contain a minimum of 85% of that variety. If two varieties are named on the label, they must equal 100% of the wine, with the larger percentage variety listed first. In countries outside the EC, a wine must be between 75 and 100% of the named variety.



10. The term "estate":
    
    Using the term "estate" on the label is mandatory in the US and South Africa, but is permissible everywhere else. This indicator tells the consumer that all of the grapes used to make the wine were grown only on the mentioned estate. This can be a bit misleading however, due to internal regulatory differences. For instance in South Africa, "estate" means that grapes came from that estate, but could also have come from a nearby estate with the same soil and micro-climate.
    


11. Vintage:
    
    This is another factor that is largely permissible, but if used, the US requires that 95% of the wine come from that vintage and other countries require that 85% of the wine come from that vintage.
    
    



12. Sweet/Dry description:
    
    This indicator is also largely permissible, only mandatory in Hungary, Austria, Israel, and Bulgaria. The description can be in the form of words or symbols (white wine generally uses symbols). For sparkling wines in the EC the sweet/dry descriptions are mandatory, such as Brut, Demi-Sec, etc.
    
    



13. Test of Quality:
    
    The test of quality can be conducted either by tasting the wine both before bottling and after aging or by laboratory analysis. This indicator has a 50/50 split between mandatory and permissible requirements, but is becoming more important and more common.
    
    


14. Official seal:
    
    The official seal is placed under the capsule and over the cork and shows that the regional controlling authorities have authenticated the wine's origin and quality.
    



15. 
    Single-vineyard specification:
    
    This is a completely permissible indicator, but plays an important role, as it signifies extra quality. This is a particularly important indicator in France's quality system.
    
    
    

This article was written by Jessica R. Manganello, Esq. Jessica is an attorney and "wine-nut" with Exemplar Law Partners, LLC at their headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Exemplar is the first large firm to abandon the billable hour and instead offers fixed prices and customized legal services in the areas of business/corporate law, international law, entertainment and business development. Exemplar also offers a discount to Wild WE members.

Labels: wines

Rosé:

In the past this wine has been confused with white zinfandel and other blush wines, causing most people to steer clear, but in recent years this misunderstood wine has picked up in popularity. While there are sweet Rosés, the majority are semi-sweet or dry (often very dry).

The Rosé can be made from any red grape variety and is most often made using Grenache, Syrah, or Pinot Noir. Rosés are fermented in the same way that red wines are, except that the skins are removed early before the wine has absorbed the full red color and tannins. The result is a wine with the refreshing qualities of a white and some of the classic characteristics of a red.

This wine is great at a barbeque or dinner party with a group because of its versatility. Most famous as the perfect compliment to a steaming bowl of bouillabaisse, this wine pairs well with shellfish and lean fish fillets, but is equally suited to grilled lamb and beef. The Rosé is at its best when served with Mediterranean dishes. Try a Rosé with poultry, duck, or seafood in a garlic and/or tomato based sauce. Experiment with spice rubs including saffron, fragrant paprika, or course ground peppercorns. A semi-sweet Rosé is a nice compliment to spicier foods. Try the semi-sweet with curries, Jamaican jerk rubbed poultry, or whatever your favorite hot and spicy dish may be.

Why not try something a little more exotic...

Yuzu:

The Kiuchi Yuzu Wine is produced in Japan, using the Yuzu fruit. The Yuzu (Japanese citrus) is a hybrid of sour orange and citron, grown only in China, Tibet and Japan. Historically, this fruit was valued as an herbal remedy, but today is admired for its unique flavor and versatility.

Yuzu wine has flavors of lime, lemon, and grapefruit, with overtones of mandarin and orange. The wine has a tantalizing mix of sweetness and lemony sharpness. Serve a nicely chilled bottle on a hot day and you are guaranteed refreshment.

As you can imagine, the citrus flavors of this wine pair up perfectly with fish. So throw a tuna or salmon steak on the grill, or maybe some orange glazed shrimp skewers! Additionally, the acidity of Yuzu compliments more fatty fare, such as foie gras or paté. This wine may also accompany dessert. It pairs nicely with meringues, pineapple sorbet, or any other dessert that is a bit tart.

Pomegranate:

Keep an eye out for the pomegranate wines from Armenia. These wines served slightly chilled provide all the tasty flavor of the pomegranate fruit without all the messy work. The wine drinks quite well on its own and is a natural pair with many springtime foods. This wine is a perfect match for lamb (in almost any form), pork roasts, and any dish with middle-eastern flare, like kabobs and ghoreshts (Persian stews). Also try this wine alongside salads with dried berries and nuts or with a soft chevre.

Don't be afraid to try something other than the traditional grape.

Impress yourself and others with a little something unusual. Check out the selection at your favorite wine store and don't be afraid to ask the resident expert for some advice. Just make sure that whichever wine you choose, includes the fruit during fermentation as opposed to adding fruit juice for flavor at the end (no wine-coolers).

Tune in next month for tips on judging wine quality by the label.

Labels: wines