Frequent readers of this page know that Calvert Woodley, at 4339 Connecticut Ave., NW, regularly offers some of the best prices in town on our perennial favorites, through its weekly “Most Popular Wine Sale” and its Wednesday “Wines of the Week.” When it runs its occasional “Best Buys Under $10” sale, it can be hard to choose what to try.
Even at sale prices, sub-$10 wines can be a gamble. Here’s a few good bets among the 21 reds and 16 whites featured in the “Best Buys Under $10” sale at CW this week:
Reds
2007 Bodega Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda Malbec Mendoza, $8.99 per bottle (regularly $9.99), from the Argentine maker of some higher-end, single vineyard malbecs we highlighted in April, is a good buy at $9. The Wine Spectator gave it a solid 87 points and described it as “Toasty with plum, vanilla and mocha notes followed by a medium-weight, slightly firm, smoky finish.“
A Calvert Woodley customer calling himself “Yarley12402051” on the company’s website called the wine an “Amazing bargain” and recounted, “My wife and I were introduced to this spectacular wine at one of the best restaurants in Lima, Peru, in March 2009, and were delighted to find it available in the US. I know of no other Malbec at even close to this price with such richness and depth. I don't do wine jargon so can't weigh in as to prunes, nicotine, underarm aroma and other delights, but I'd gladly drink this every day.”
THANKS, for sparing us the underarm aroma!
San Pedro Apostol Campellares Tempranillo 2007, $8.99 (regularly $9.99), made from the Spanish grape made famous by the Rioja region, was included in the February Wine Advocate "Red values under $25" feature (at $11) and awarded 88 points by Josh Raynolds of Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, who wrote in the July/August 2008 issue, “Bright red. Intensely perfumed bouquet offers red and dark berries, potpourri and baking spices. Sweet red berry flavors display good juicy intensity, with no obvious tannins. A smooth, sweet wine with solid appeal and good finishing clarity.”
Montebuena Tempranillo 2005, $8.99 (regularly $9.99), another Spanish red from the famed Rioja region, scored 88 points from International Wine Cellar and gets high marks from members of the Snooth.com social network. Ken, posting on the Wine Notes from Arizona blog likes it even at $14. “Earth, toast, souffle, cran/raspberry nose. Light intensity, pure,” he wrote in November (thus, the forthcoming "turkey" reference). “Pepper/earth/cranberry flavors are zesty and fresh. Completely acid-dominant structure. Tasty stuff, true to the territory. Long, lean citrus/cranberry finish. Talk about a turkey match... Cheap to boot.”
"Dark red. Spicy red berries and cherry on the nose, with hints of cracked pepper and dried rose,” wrote International Wine Cellar in July/August 2007. “Crisp and dry on the palate, with spicy redcurrant and cherry flavors, light tannins and a fresh, energetic finish. An excellent value, and surprisingly elegant for this price point."
Bodegas Piqueras Valcanto Monastrell 2006, $8.99 (regularly $9.99), earned 88 points from the Wine Advocate, and got a reasonably good review, “Not bad for $11,” from Lisa Dinsmore of the Daily Wine Dispatch. Monastrell is the Spanish name for the Mourvedre grape used in many French blends, particularly in the Rhone Valley. “A deep, ruby/purple colored wine with aromas of black fruit, smoke, leather and a tinge of vegetalness,” she wrote. “The palate is full-bodied with flavors of blackberry, black cherry, cedar and sweet spice with firm tannins and hints of vanilla on the dusty finish.”
A couple other good bets in Spanish reds from a consistently solid producer are the 2008 vintages of Casa Castillo de Jumilla Monastrell, from Jumilla, Spain, which earned 90 points in the 2007 vintage from the Wine Advocate, and Castillo de Jumilla Monastrell Tempranillo, which made February’s Wine Advocate’s "Red values under $25" feature for the 2007, both on sale for $8.69 (regularly $9.99).
Whites/Rosè
Another pair of 2008 wines from Castillo de Jumilla, also on sale for $8.69 (regularly $9.99), are probably worth a try. Like it's red sibling, Castillo Monastrell Rosè 2007 was awarded 87 points and included in the February Wine Advocate listing of “Rosè values $20 and under” (at $13), while Castillo de Jumilla Macabeo was called “a nice little wine that’s a perfect summer white” in the 2006 vintage by the wine-girl.net blog.
Chateau Martinon Entre-Deux-Mers 2007, on sale for $9.99 (regularly $12.99) the latest vintage of an inexpensive white blend from Bordeaux, France that has been well received in recent vintages. Recommended by wine columnist Edward Deitch of MSNBC.com and the Best of Wines blog, which called it “a go-to summer white,” in a July post last year. “Like white loafers. Reminds me of Jim Moore's l'Uvaggio di Giacomo Vermentino. All the bright acid, lush fruit. Almost oily in weight. Somewhat reminiscent of the Argentine Torrontes wines. Wonderfully good.” For more on the the Entre-Deux-Mer region, visit WineReviewsOnline.com.
Thorn-Clarke Chardonnay Milton Park 2007, on sale for $7.99 (regularly $9.99), was awarded 87 points and included in the February Wine Advocate listing of “White values $20 and under.” It’s a perennial favorite for lovers of Australian chardonnay, and a great value from one of the most consistent producers in the Barossa Valley of South Australia.
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