Franco Serra Barbera d'Alba, 2018

Over the past decade or so, Franco Serra has always offered one of the lowest priced Barberas on the market. And, at least for my taste, it is one of the best in that price range.

Beautiful bright ruby red color, characteristic of Barbera from the Piedmont area of Italy. Lovely bright red berry aromas and flavors. Montmorency cherries, raspberries, spices and minerals. More tannic and less sweet than other Barberas I have had in this price range, and I like that. But it is smooth and easy to drink with the characteristic Barbera acidity to give it freshness and lift.

Available at D&W in Kalamazoo for about $12 a bottle.
 

Rosa dell Olmo Langhe Nebbiolo, 2021

Nebbiolo is the grape of Barolo and Barbaresco. And even lesser produce, as found in Langhe Nebbiolo, is highly regarded and rarely sold for less than $20 a bottle. Tbis Rosa dell Olmo, though, is available for $8 at Trader Joe's and competes quite favorably with bottles selling for twice that much.

Medium light ruby/garnet. A typical Nebbiolo color for wines that have not been aged in small new oak barrels. This wine, I believe, was actually matured in stainless steel. Ideally, I open Nebbiolo wines an hour or two before serving them. I neglected doing that with this bottle, and it was a bit closed and tannic at first but opened up within 15 or 20 minutes. Subtle aromas typical of Nebbiolo. Intense flavors of rose, red raspberry, cherry and spice. Medium full bodied with good acidic structure. Tannins are remarkably supple for a wine this young. The wine will undoubtedly become more complex with aging, but it is drinking beautifully right now.
 

Vignobles Lacheteau Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, 2022

I haven't had Muscadet for some time, and I have no good excuse for neglecting it. It is an excellent wine to accompany fresh fish or seafood. This little gem that is available for $6.99 at Trader Joe's put me back in the mood. 

Medium light yellow. The wine has probably seen little oak, but it has been aged on its lies (spent yeast cells), adding body and complexity. The crisp citrus acidity that is to be expected from young Muscadet but also some pleasant scents and flavors reminiscent of cool ocean breezes. Savory and dry. Medium bodied and easy to drink with or without food. I will go back for more.

Carpe Diem Andrerson Valley Chardonnay, 2019

As this wine ages, the cool climate acidity seems to be taking over from the rich California fruit. It is not Chablis; nor is it Dijon Clone Oregon Chardonnay but it has more in common with those appellations than with riper, fuller bodied wines from elsewhere in California.

Medium gold. Pretty floral scents and flavors backed up by green apples, lemon curd and minerals. Okay for sipping but works best with food. A good match for grilled salmon or pork medallions. I like it.
 

Tuatea Marlborough (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc, 2023

Donna's first response when tasting this wine was: "passion fruit!" Mine was: "grapefruit!" And yes, it has both as well as the vibrant qualities of a good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Medium straw. Passion fruit, grapefruit and lemon grass. But also has a rich tropical fruit feeling on the mid-palate. Zesty and fresh with no hard edges. Clean, medium long finish.

This is one of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs on the market, and it's only $5.99 at Trader Joe's--a fantastic bargain.

 

Epicuro Puglia IGT Aglianico, 2022

 

At $5.99 from Trader Joe's, this Aglianico from Puglia is definitely one of the best wine buys on the market.

Bright rid, translucent. Aromas come through as soon as the cork is popped. Red raspberrie, cherries, spice. Some licorice and black pepper on the palate. On the sweet side but pleasantly so. Concentrated ripe fruit flavors on the smooth finish.

Domaine la Fourmone Cuvee Fauquet Gigondas, 2005

A 24-year-old Gigondas is a bit iffy, and James Livingstone-Learmouth.(drinkrhone.com) who rated this wine ***(*), listed 2018-2220 as an outside drinking window for this 2005. Even so, I was willing to bid $15, and tonight I am glad I did.

Deep ruby, minimal bricking. No sign of advanced age in bouquet or flavors.Plums, black and red raspberries, garrigue. Improves nicely over the course of the meal.Tannins are firm but ripe and well balanced by acidity. Peppery spice on the persistent finish.  Great accompaniment to roast lamb. 

70% Grenache with equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre from vineyards in Petit Montmirail.Matured traditionally in concrete vats and large barrels.