What We’re Drinking Now!

After a budget-busting December, we’re keeping our New Year’s Resolutions to stick to our budget with these penny pinching picks that drink well above their class.

Nals Margreid Lagrein, Alto Adige, Italy 2010
$17.95 Vintages 291146
Lagrein is an interesting, dark, chewy red from Italy’s north. If you haven’t tried it yet, you may be surprised by the lack of tannin in this purple-black wine.  Lagrein is known for producing soft, plush wines of ripe dark fruit, chocolate, a bit of herbaciousness and a touch of bitterness.  This seems to be fairly typical with meaty/savoury notes, floral and ripe dark fruit.  A touch hot on the finish, this is a rich, ripe, flavourful wine  with easy drinkability and wide appeal. Pair with rabbit stew or beef tenderloin.

Mas des Bressades Cuvée Tradition Blanc, Costières de Nîmes, France 2011
$14.95 Vintages 701094
Deep gold with almost a hint of pink, this is a southern Rhône blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Viognier. Unctuous and soft with a nose of honey, peach, white flowers and rose and full bodied flavours of rose petal, creamed honey, candle wax, clementine orange, peach and hazelnut. Faintly bitter on the finish. We enjoyed this with rapini ravioli in caramelized onions and wilted swiss chard. It was good match.

Les Pensées de Pallus Cabernet Franc, Loire, France 2009
$21.95 Vintages 123893
A bit tight and closed at first, this needs some decanting to open up. Typical cab franc green notes here along with dried leaves, wet clay and red raspberry and cherry notes. Very firm with fine tannins, and good balance.  This needs a rare steak or beef stew to soften the edges, or leave in the cellar for a few more years to let it mellow out.

Vigne Nuove di Musella Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2009
$15.95 Vintages 205757
An easy drinking, juicy Valpolicella, filled with bright red berry fruit, a bit of sundried black olive and fresh bay leaf.  A great wine to enjoy with pizza, simple pastas or solo sipping. Currnelty in low quantites in Vintages, but at this price it’s worth picking up by the case here.

Rodriguez Sanzo “T Sanzo” Tempranillo Castilla Y León, Spain 2007
$14.95 Vintages 306571
Ripe and rich with dark berry fruit, sweet fig, dried savoury herbs like thyme and oregano, leather and earth. Easy drinking for solo sipping or very nice paired with cured sausage or ham, lamb chops or game meats.

Michele Chiarlo “Cipressi Court” Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Piedmont, Italy 2009
$16.95 Vintages 278176
A food friendly crowd pleaser this has a nose of red and balck cherry, dried herbs and dusty leather and earthy barnyard.  On the palate, it’s medium bodied, smooth and soft with ripe berry fruit mixing with earthy elements of leather, spice and herbacious notes. Elevated acidity make this a nice match for tomato-based dishes like chicken cacciatore with black olives.