Best Values in Wine come from Spain

The more and more experience and knowledge I acquire on the subject of wine, the more and more I am finding that the truly great values are all coming from "New World" places. Specifically there are incredible values to be found in Spain; case in point...Carro Tinto 2008. A lovely little blend from Ole Imports, Carro is a beautifully satisfying blend of Monestrell, Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot hailing from Murcia, a region in Zone 8 in southeastern Spain in the town of Yecla. No research needed to find that info with this wine though, or with any of the Ole wines, as the bottle includes plenty of information right on the back of the bottle: Varietals, Description, Location, Soil, and Climate. This a very fun aspect of Ole wines for any who wants to know something about the wine they are drinking. I am sure however, that many whom taste this wine won't really care about the info though; their concerns will be focused on finding themselves a refill. Soft yet expressive with lovely dark berry flavors and a similar nose; this wine would easily sell in the $15 dollar range if it came from California, $20 dollar range if Australian, and maybe even more if French. I like this wine a lot and I highly recommend it to anybody who is making dinner for friends or simply wants a well made wine that doesn't bust the budget. Expect to find a bottle for under $10 dollars at your local liquor store. It is also made in 1.5L bottles for even more value. Enjoy!

Great Austrailian Value

I have found over the past year that different places around the world produce incredibly different tastes in wine. Lately I have been amazed at the value found in places like Spain and Argentina. But I have also been quite impressed by the differences in the Syrah varietal depending on where its grown in the world. From an almost light and minerally tasting version found in southern France to an extremely jammy and almost thick version in Austrailia with a mix of the two showing up all over California and Washington, the Syrah grape produces some truly fantastic wines. The latest of which I have tried comes from the brand Gemtree Vineyards. The Buttery family has been farming grapes in a bio dynamic and sustainable way for years now in an effort to promote and support marshlands in southern Australia and has simultaneously been producing truly incredible wines. I have found that not only in wine but in almost any industry that chooses to go green that the product ends up being sub par when compared with the original. Well this is not the case with Gemtree. I could rave endlessly about Taddy Road or Uncut or Bloodstone and so on but not to disappoint in any way I would like to start at the beginning; the bottom of the chain.

Gemtree's Tadpole Shiraz is a wonderful example of what Australian Shiraz can become. Essentially a benchmark for the grape, this wine is a lovely way to learn about Australian reds, bio dynamic vineyards, and great wine overall. Try a bottle for under 12 dollars and get excited like I am just simply in the know that this is only the beginning. It only gets better from here. 

Best Value Cabernet

McManis Cabernet is, hands down, one of the best value brand Cabernet Sauvignons on the market today. For under 10 dollars you will receive a wine that is not only, the expected: fruit forward, full bodied, well balanced Cabernet that has been on the market for many year now, but also a complex and expressive bottle that you rarely find for under 15 dollars. Raspberries, Oak, and an extremely pleasant nuttiness coat the palate and show off as if this wine wants its consumers to know how special it is. I am not sure what it is about this unique winery from Ripon, CA, but for a non-Napa Cab, this wine is truly a great value. I am rarely a fan of central coast wines or the cabs so often touted from places like Paso Robles but this is one wine that I really do enjoy and strongly recommend for all.