Splendid Summer Wines- All Under $20 Part I

Splendid Summer Wines-All Under $20 Part I Hot weather calls for refreshing wine that's easy to drink and easy on the wallet. Our guide to the best whites, rosés, reds and sparklers under $20 a bottle By LETTIE TEAGUE Updated June 13, 2016 4:09 p.m. ET SOMETIMES EVEN serious oenophiles need a glass or two of nonseriouswine. This is particularly true in the summertime, when quaffable and refreshing become more desirable qualities than complex or refined. Bottles should be priced accordingly; an easy-drinking wine should be easy to buy. I spent the past few weeks tasting a range of seasonally appropriate, delicious value bottles and found 20 reds, whites, rosés and sparklers from all over the world for under $20 a bottle-often well under, in fact. Read Complete Article

Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Marlborough, New Zealand  You don't have to pay a lot to get a well-made New Zealand Sauvignon, and this bottling from the reliable Babich brand is proof that solid sub-$15 values can readily be found. A zingy white with notes of citrus and tropical fruit. Lettie Teague Wall Street Journal, June 2016

Colome Torrontes 2015 Salta, Argentina  If Malbec is Argentina's perfect winter red, then Torrontés is surely its ideal summer white, in particular those from the northwestern Salta region. This exuberantly aromatic wine is marked by notes of tropical fruit and spice and a long dry finish. Think Gewürztraminer but with more fruit than spice. Lettie Teague Wall Street Journal, June 2016

Domaine Zafeirakis Limniona Rose 2015 Thessalia, Greece  This lively rosé was my first encounter with the Limniona grape of Greece, and it was certainly a memorable one. Proprietor Christos Zafeirakis, who helped revive the nearly extinct varietal, has produced a deeply colored wine marked by notes of intense red fruit and a truly vibrant acidity.. Lettie Teague Wall Street Journal, June 2016

Benanti Etna Bianco 2014

Antonio Giuseppe and Salvino Benanti

Benanti Family At the end of the 1800's, Giuseppe Benanti, grandfather of Dr. Giuseppe Benanti, began the production of wines on one of his father's old farms on the slopes of Mount Etna, at Viagrande (Catania). In 1988, Giuseppe Benanti revived the family's old passion, with an extensive and selective study of theEtnean soils highly devoted to viticulture. He also investigated particular clones of indigenous vines and new oenological techniques to reproduce ancient fragrances using the most modern practices of vinification, in a perfect union of history and reality. From this five year study, wines of unique taste were produced recreating old flavors and keeping them intact over time. Our wines have a strong personality and carry the culture and passion for wine of the Benanti family, always driven by respect for the places, terroir and old "palmenti". This passion, after revealing the marvels of the Etnean territory, has guided them to Pantelleria and then Pachino.

Benanti Etna Bianco 2014   Dark straw-yellow. Stone fruits, herbs and wildflowers on the enticing nose. Then rich, dense and deep on the palate, with bright, juicy flavors of stone fruits, lemon and sweet botanical herb. The long, saline finish offers intriguing hints of rosemary, minerals and cardamom. 91 Points Vinous

Domaine Du Clos Du Fief La Roche Beaujolais Village 2014

MIchel Tete

Michel et Sylvain Tete Domaine du Clos du Fief is run by our friend Michel Tête, with his son Sylvain working alongside. This is a rare 4th generation Cru estate in Juliénas and Julie, based at the far Northwest sector of Beaujolais. The history of these great villages dates back more than 2,000 years and trace their names to Julius Caesar. Vines were grown on the high altitude hillsides of Juliénas and Jullié (a granite rich Beaujolais-Villages Cru that mimics its more famous neighbor) in the Gallo-Roman period. Michel took over this history-rich land after studying in Beaune, where he learned many techniques that he now uses on his own wines to great acclaim. Michel harkens his wines back to the classics: low yields, meticulously farmed vineyards, and classic winemaking resulting in serious and mouthwatering examples of terroir driven reds.

Domaine Du Clos Du Fief La Roche Beaujolais Village 2014   From the vineyard of Les Côtes de la Roche, with 40-50 year old vines, just west of Juliénas in the hamlet of Jullié, situated 350 meters in altitude on steep slopes of crushed granite. There are many terroir parallels between Jullié and Juliénas. This is a character-rich, expressive Gamay from just outside of Beaujolais' band of "cru" villages.  Certainly one of the finest values for serious quality anywhere; floral, aromatic and full of intensely layered red fruits.

Angels & Cowboys Rose 2015

Angels & Cowboys Rosé was made using the traditional Provençal method. To preserve nature's generosity along with old-world tradition, the grapes were harvested at 21° brix. This retained the youthfulness of the fruit, creating a wine style both vibrant and complex. The grapes were lightly crushed and left to macerate on their skin. Once the juice achieved its perfect pale pink hue and began to show fragrant phenols from the skin-contact, the juice was pressed off the mast then closely monitored while it underwent a long cool fermentation. Upon completion of fermentation, the Rosé aged on its yeast lees for a little over 2 months, creating great depth and mouthfeel. Angels & Cowboys Rosé is a blend of Grenache Rouge, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Grenache Blanc Sourced from Carneros, Alexander Valley & Dry Creek Valley

Angels & Cowboys Rose 2015 Winemakers Notes: The color is a light blush of pale gray and pink. Aromas are minerally and ethereal with hints of grapefruit and spicy floral notes. In taste, the wine is lively and racy with flavors of citrus blossoms and minerals. On the palate, the Rosé displays vibrant acidity, with a full and silky mid palate, deliciously great length and just enough texture to enjoy with or without food accompaniment. This dry Rosé is one of those rare wines that work well with vegetable dishes and spicy ethnic foods. Enjoy it with roast chicken, salmon, seared tuna, summer salads and any sushi from vegetables to strong fish, crab cakes, shrimp cocktails and ceviche. "A perfumey, floral nose of rich ruby red grapefruit and fresh cut grass is apparent. It's light-medium bodied on the palate with lively ripe citrus notes of lime zest and a subtle creamy texture. The finish is crisp and clean with a refreshing kick of minerality." 92 Points 2016 ULTIMATE WINE CHALLENGE Excellent, Highly Recommended

LAPHROAIG 'LORE'

'The richest of the rich'  ...  John Campbell Since 1815, each Laphroaig Distillery Manager has been the custodian of the craft to make  the richest single malt in the world. Over the years, each has passed on their skills and traditions to the next generation to continue this legacy. To honor this passing of knowledge, our Distillery Manager John Campbell has created Laphroaig Lore, the richest ever Laphroaig. Lore, meaning the passing of a skill or tradition through word of mouth, is the story of how we make Laphroaig, encapsulating the craft passed down from generation to generation over two centuries. 'Lore' is a marriage of classical Laphroaig styles and many ages of Laphroaig; some as old as vintage 1993. The marriage draws from the peaty power of Laphroaig with the smoothness of double matured stock finished in European oak hogsheads. To create Lore we used both American oak and European oak. The former smaller barrels give the strong rich peaty flavors and a longer maturation for the large European Hogsheads until all the deep complexities are slowly released from the wood. Stored in our  old dunnagewarehouse beside the Atlantic the briny sea air replaces the 'Angels share' in the barrels over the 'long sleep'.  Let us share with you the crafts behind this stunningly complex expression.

LAPHROAIG 'LORE'   COLOR: Deep mahogany. NOSE: Rich and smoky with seaside minerals with a hint of ash and bitter chocolate drops. Vanilla follows with oily unroasted chestnuts and a hint of fudge with a malty sweetness. A drop of water adds a creamy clotted cream note with fruit appearing in the form of unripe citrus in a flan glaze. PALATE: Richly peaty with a spicy chili bite. FINISH: Short dry finish and a long sweet aftertaste.

A taste of Sonoma, Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red 2013 - Newton 'Red Label' Chardonnay 2014

Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red 2013   A blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Malbec, this wine gallops on the palate with rich, concentrated notes of brambly, peppery blackberry pie. Melted fudge prances and makes a heavenly "pardner" with red fruits and savory spices. Food friendly.   91 Points The Tasting Panel Magazine, May 2016

Newton "Red Label" Chardonnay 2014  Newton "Red Label," has ripe fruit characteristics of apple, pear and apricot, balanced with some oak. Good acidity and a nice mouthfeel. Costas Gotham Wines

Argiano Non Confunditur Rosso 2013

Cantina Argiano

At Argiano there is a word that we use more than every other to describe the philosophy that unites us: respect. Respect for nature, which has given us a treasure of inestimable value, towhich we dedicate every care and attention: this is why we apply the most effective and modern working methods, while remembering that every technique has to have the least possible impact on health and on the surrounding environment. Respect for tradition, five centuries of history which have made Argiano great, a wealth of wisdom and experience that we proudly boast today and which we want to protect and hand down to those who succeed us. It is only by respecting nature and tradition in our everyday work that our wine can fully interpret this wonderful land.

Argiano Non Confunditur Rosso 2013   Argiano's 2013 Non Confunditur is Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Sangiovese. The wine opens to a dark ruby color and a rich, velvety appearance. This is a very attractive blended red from Tuscany because it doesn't show the cloying heaviness or dense extraction you get with many of the other protagonists in the super Tuscan category. In fact, No Confunditur is approachable and fresh with a good level of crisp acidity that would pair next to lasagna or pici pasta with wild boar sauce.    91 Points eRobertParker #223