I’ve been at it again – kissing frogs in the state store. A metaphor, of course, for buying a variety of wine in the hope of discovering new ones to love. Even when I do find a prince, I will continue to search for more. This is wine, after all!
Shopping the state store system is a challenge we Pennsylvanians routinely face. It’s not easy to be an oenophile in the Keystone state (see a previous post for tips). This antiquated state monopoly on wine retail limits our choices. Plus, there’s no one foolproof approach to consistently buying good wine. Recommendations and ratings help, for sure, but ultimately everyone has their own tastes.
Me? I’m a bargain hunter. I’m the kind of shopper who checks out the clearance racks first. For wine, I try to keep my purchases under $20 per bottle, with an occasional splurge. You may have a different budgetary limit.
Does price matter? Yes and no. A high price may indicate the wine is complex. That’s more likely true when the price point is driven by hand-picking of the grapes or use of highly advanced (and costly) winemaking technology. Price, though, can also result from a deserved or not-so-deserved reputation.
So far, I’ve opened three of the six bottles I recently purchased for a total of $75. Five of the six bottles have screw caps instead of corks. That’s another selling point for me.
Here is my rationale for these purchases and tasting notes. Next time, I’ll report on the three other bottles.
- 2013 Castelvero, Piedmontese DOC, Italy, Barbera – Barbera is already my go-to grape for pasta or pizza. This Barbera was not stunning but decent, good value for the price, with that sour cherry, high acidity and low tannin that pair so beautifully with tomato dishes. I enjoyed it with my rigatoni and sausage in tomato sauce.
- Cono Sur, Valle Central, Chile, Certified Organic Chardonnay (no vintage on the label) – As noted in a previous post, I am making a concerted effort to support certified organic wine. The Chilean Central Valley is a well-respected winegrowing region, but this wine was a disappointment. Slightly (but perhaps not intentionally) effervescent, it had little detectable aroma. On the palate, I got green apple and maybe a hint of lemon zest. Not a prince.
- 2014 Los Vascos (Lafite), Colchagua, Chile, Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé – This region of Chile is known for full-bodied reds, and Lafite is a premium Bordeaux producer. Plus, rosé is light and pleasant for summer. This wine is indeed light. Again, some effervescence at first that eventually dissipated. Beautiful bright pink color! I got red cherry and blackberry on the nose and a hint of grapefruit on the palate. Nice acidity! Paired well with roasted chicken. Perhaps I’ve found myself another prince!
Have any of your wine frogs turned into princes lately? Drop me a note!