Tag Archives: Sebastiani

Review: Three Nice Value Wines

08 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in California, France, South America

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Time again to catch up with some great value wines found over the past few weeks. For variety’s sake, here are great values in a red, white, and Rose’.

I sporadically mention where I personally purchase wine. After several requests, I’ll try to be more consistent. I buy 99 percent of my wine in Central Indiana or online but if this helps people find the good stuff in the Midwest, I’m happy to comply.

winelabel-slife-pn-2011Simple Life 2011 Pinot Noir – It’s always exciting to find a value Pinot to recommend for those who keep their wine purchases below the $15 price point. This simple Pinot is one of best I’ve tasted for under $13 bucks.

The wine is made by the iconic Sebastiani family under the Don Sebastiani & Sons flag and Simple Life Winery label. Sebastiani is one of the oldest names in Sonoma.

This is easy to drink Pinot. It’s a little fruity on the palate and smoky on the finish. I can dive into the fine nuance of an Oregon Pinot, at a much higher price point, with anyone but this is a simple little wine. But the beauty of this bottle is its simplicity. It’s well made Pinot at a super-low price – don’t over think it, just drink it!

Simple Life 2011 Pinot Noir, $12.99, Cork & Cracker, Indianapolis, Recommended.

bila-haut-blc_btleLes Vignes De Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon – For the past two years I’ve been digging into these inexpensive French white wines and loving them. I have found the Cotes du Rhone and Languedoc whites uncomplicated but delightful sippers.

The Michel Chapoutier wine has understated citrus, white fruit and awonderful mouth feel. The veteran Rhone winemaker blends Roussillon grenache blanc, grenache gris and macabeu (Spain’s Cava grape) to make this tasty sipper.

Les Vignes De Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon, $11, Grapevine Cottage, Zionsville, Recommended.

melipalMelipal 2011 Malbec Rose’ – Malbec Rose’ has never appealed to my palate. I purchased a glass in an Indianapolis restaurant at lunch recently and it was insipid, at best. But I recently won a case of wine as part of an online site promotion and inside was some Spanish and this one Argentinian Rose’.

To my delight the Melpal was quite tasty – hints of cherry and raspberry and a wonderful white-wine crispness. These Rose’ wines with a more of a mouth feel than a Provence make better food wines than the lighter French styles. I’d serve with light appetizers or a salad.

Melipal 2011 Malbec Rose’, $12-$14, Velvet Palate, Recommended.

 

Classic Zin, Good Rose, Killer Find!

20 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by in California, France, Italy, Napa/Sonoma

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There are good wines, great wines and wines which just bring you joy. These reviews offer a good mixture of all.

SEbastianiSebastiani Vineyards 2009 Zinfandel – This was really great, classic Sonoma County Zinfandel from Sebastiani – a family with roots in California dating back to the late 1800s.

The wine had wonderful balance, power, really dark fruit, pepper, and the dusty quality that really sets some wines apart as they age gracefully.

It’s what most wine geeks would call really “ripe fruit” but isn’t that what entices some wine buyers” I think so.

This wine is a great bargain that tops many at a higher price point. CellarTracker users gave it 89 points and I find that rating spot on.

I got this bottle in a blind “mystery’ half case sale through Invino wines online site.  What a pleasant surprise considering I got it for $10!

Sebastiani Vineyards 2009 Zinfandel, $14-$16, Highly Recommended.

cinsaultLes Jamelles 2011 Cinsault Rose’ – With summer approaching, I’m looking for great dry Rosé. My search led me to pick up this bottle last weekend after attending a large tasting of nearly 50 different wines. (No, I didn’t taste them all!)

Cinsault is a red wine grape and mostly used in blends. It’s also a popular component of many Rosé wines. It’s widely planted in Southern France’s Languedoc region. The 100-percent Cinsault was unusual and the price was cheap so I grabbed a bottle.

It’s a very light wine on the palate, making it perfect for hot summer weather. Frankly, I was looking for a bit more flavor. It also had a tiny bit of a ‘candied” mouth feel. I would by no means call it sweet though. I liked the flavors and just wish it was more pronounced.

But at this price, it’s a great dry Rosé for those exploring these delightful summer wines.

Les Jamelles 2011 Cinsault Rose’, $11.99, Cork & Cracker, Indianapolis; Recommended

RignanaInvino Online Wine Surprise! – I buy a lot of wine from online flash sites. These are sites which buy directly from wineries at a reduced rate. But the good sites, and there a plenty of sites, are sourcing interesting wines you may never find off a shelf.

That’s what happened when I scanned an Invino Wine sale Saturday morning. Invino was offereing Fattoria di Rignana Chianti Classico. I had visited Fattoria di Rignana on New Year’s Eve 2009.

Rignana-Chianti-Classico-2007-LabelIt was a cold gray day but I remember the Rignana was simply the best Chianti Classico I had ever tasted. I ordered three bottles off the site. It normally retails for $30 but I got it for $17,99 a bottle.

If you’d like an invitation to Invino, just drop me a note or leave a comment at the bottom of the blog. You need to include an email address. I’ve written about many of these flash internet sites. These web sales points are offering some of the best deals you’ll find in wine.