Bargain Wines

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Went to Cosco this weekend.. and oh boy do I hate to go there on a weekend. What a nightmare!! But, I had my lunch of samples while browsing the isles! ha. Anyways… I came across the wine section and noticed they were offering a few of my favorite wines at pretty decent prices.

The first was my yummy Beringer that was being sold for just $75… so of course I had to buy one!!! But… forget that one for now.

My awesome bargain wine finds were actually pretty good this time around… I have had some bad luck at Costco before with spoiled wine… not a happy camper with that one, especially since it more of a pain to even ATTEMPT to return the wine at all. But this time, total success!

The First purchase was a bottle of the Francis Coppola Claret Diamond Series, 2006. The Claret is a perfect red blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest being made up of Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc grapes. The Claret has a gorgeous color and flavor. It was priced below $15, so I picked up 2!

First sip was a slight turn off… I was not patient! I let it sit in the glass for about 20 min. and had another go… OMG it was LOVE! So I poured the bottle into the decanter and let it breath for a good 45 min. It softened and became a delicious juicy wine with hints of cherry and dark fruits without being overly sweet. A bit on the dry side (again I love drier wines) and with very little tannin action. Just a really nice sipping wine! Both bottles were the same so I was very pleased. Overall a very consistant and delicious wine.
This wine usually sells for about $19, but I have seen it at various places such as Costco and World Market both for under $15. My advice… stock up now and drink it over the summer!

My second wine which surprised me to see at Costco, was Artesa’s Pinot Noir Carneros Estate, 2006. Artesa is a fantastic winery up in Napa that truly has one of the most fantastic views of the valley up there, ever. I LOVE to go sit outside on the deck and taste their wines.. such a wonderful experience.
I really enjoy Artesa’s red wines… however that is also due to the fact that I am primarily a red wine drinker, yet I have heard nothing but rave reviews about their hearty chardonnay.. just fyi.

Artesa’s Pinot Noir Carneros ‘06 is a rich and very well rounded wine. I tasted fruity flavors as well as some mild sweeter spices, yet again without the sweetness that can be a turn off. A perfect wine to be served before, during, or even after dinner. Best compliments would be a nice lamb or meaty dish as it really has a strong yet smooth flavor. This also worked beautifully with dessert- a chocolate soufflé. This wine has a very nice finish overall and a in my opinion is a very prestigious wine to present. I have not seen this wine sold for less than $22.. so if you are at Cosco and see it there… STOCK UP!

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I had the distinct pleasure of tasting a truly extraordinary wine this weekend; Veramonte Primus. It was a decently priced delicious red at just $15 a bottle. Primus is a very smooth blend of Carmenère, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon made in the Veramonte Estate. It is also considered a Chilean wine as it encompasses the distinctive grape (Carmenere) whose home is Chile.

The wine really offers a hardy taste and texture, but is incredibly smooth and somewhat on the drier side. I do enjoy wines that are slightly drier however.  It showcases a mature, ripe fruity flavor with a heart body and is exceptionally smooth. Tannins are noticeable but balanced with the heartiness.

The proprietary red wine, the 2004 Primus, is a blend of 47% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 23% Carmenere. I noticed distinct flavors of cherry, blueberry and oak.

Worked well prior to meal as well as during. I terrific wine to stock up on for whatever occasion might be in the future.

Wine Enthusiasts gave it a 90 point rating. I would give it an 93. Overall still a nice red and relatively affordable at about $15 a bottle. You can purchase this wine online at places like- Wine.com, BevMo.com, or most other wine stores in your area.

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If you know me.. you know I LOVE Beringer wines. I am obsessed with the Beringer Reserve Cabernet, but I can’t always afford it (Its about $100 bucks a bottle)

I recently tried this beautiful Red Blend from Beringer, Knights Valley region. The 2004 Alluvium is comprised of 74% Merlot and about 23% Cabernet Sauvignon. The final percentage comes from Malbec and Cabernet Franc which were added for more complexity and layers of juicy fruit and floral nuances… or so they say.

While I did really enjoy this wine.. I noticed something slightly different than florally flavors. First impression gave me a strong peppery taste. Usually, I am not a fan of peppery wines unless I am eating a real heavy meaty dish.. but this one definitely mellowed after I let it sit for about 20 min.

It was a strong wine in flavor and worked well as a compliment to our dinner. The after taste was very mild even with slightly heavier tannins.

Wine Enthusiasts gave it a 93 point rating. I would give it an 88. Overall still a nice red and relatively affordable at about $18 a bottle. You can purchase this wine online at places like- Wine.com, BevMo.com, or most other wine stores in your area.

Coupons: 90 point wines under $20 at Wine.com. Shop Now!

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Locating great tasting discount wines can seem like a bargain hunt that even the most patient wine enthusiast might not venture upon. However, finding your favorite wines and even some terrific new ones at deep discounts is not as challenging as it might seem.

First off get to know obscure grapes and enjoy wine tasting with all the different red wines, white wines, and sparkling wines. I’d suggest, for starters, familiarize yourself with some of the more unusual wines like Soave and Beaujolais, and learn the names of unpopular grapes like Malbec and Gewurztraminer. A rule of thumb: The more difficult a grape is to pronounce, the cheaper the wine is likely to be. Instead of red Burgundy, I’d recommend ordering Moulin-a-Vent. Made from Gamay, not Pinot Noir, this wine is the biggest of the Beaujolais crus, and can be, in many instances, richer and fuller-bodied than many Burgundies. In Italy, alternatives to overpriced Barolos and Barbarescos abound, including other Piedmontese reds like Dolcetto and Barbera. Both were once considered lowly, second-rate grapes but, thanks to some of today’s top producers, are now accorded the same care and attention as more “noble” varietals. The wines they turn out are lush and concentrated - and unlike Barolo and Barbaresco, are (mostly) ready to drink right after release.

I would also suggest learning about vintages. A wine from a good vintage isn’t necessarily going to be much more expensive than a wine from a bad one (unless the vintage is really, really bad - but I’ll get to that later). In fact, Bordeaux has famously jacked up the prices of its premier wines regardless of whether the vintage is good or bad. However, wines like Bordeaux, Chianti and Burgundy tend to be high in acidity and/or tannins and can be particularly disappointing in future years. The faults are magnified in a bad year, since these wines rarely have enough fruit to cloak the tannins or cover the acidity.

So once you have mastered a bit of the lingo and several of the grape varieties the choices grow tremendously and the prices drop drastically. So go enjoy tasting and learning; and you will be surprised at some of fantastic bargains out there for some very delicious wines.