Famille Perrin Ventoux, 2021

The slopes of Mont Ventoux provide a perfect environment for growing wine grapes. The elevation lowers temperatures in the sunny Southern Rhone while acidity in the soil assures fresh, bright fruit flavors. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ventoux was my favorite source for high quality every day wines, but this wine from the makers of Chateau Beaucastel is one of a very few Ventoux estates still offering this kind of value..

Bright, medium deep ruby red. Beautiful red berry smells and flavors. Medium bodied with supple tannins. I love the spicy, peppery finish. I buy this from Plum Market (online or in Ann Arbor), for $6.89; it's worth at least twice that much.
 

Point Ormond Victoria Shiraz, 2020

Previous vintages of this Point Ormond Shiraz have had a Heathcote appellation, and I suspect a good portion of the produce for this 2020 comes from that highly regarded cool climate area of Victoria, Australia.

Deep ruby red, but the dark color seems to me to come from skin contact rather than new oak barrels.Not muich oak in the smells or flavors, either. Fresh scents of blackberries, boysenberries, bay leaves and eucaplyptus. Good acidity and supple tannins; very easy to drink right now, but I suspect it will get even better over the next year or two. Subtle after taste of currants and black peppercorn. Reminds me a bit of a good Crozes-Hermitage.

Available for $14.99 online from Plum Market in Ann Arbor--a real bargain for Shiraz of this quality/.

 

Elyse Hudson Vineyard Le Corbeau Red, 2008

This is, if you will, a Napa (Carneros) Chateauneuf du Pape. Crafted from 90% Grenache and 10%  Syrah,  the back label states that the goal is to echo "the great wines of Chateauneuf du Pape." As a long-time fan of the Southern Rhone appellation, I can say that this wine, while very good, is no Chateauneuf du Pape.

Dusty, brickish color. To be expected from a 16-year-old wine that is 90% Grenache. Enticing scents of strawberries and cherries and rather explosive flavors that include orange zest and vanilla. Friendly on the palate as you would expect from a Grenache-heavy wine. Compared to Chateauneuf, what it lacks, in my view, are those savory mineral and herb driven flavors that dominate a well aged Chateauneuf du Pape. 

I bought this wine for $15 at WineBid. This and other vintages of the same wine are still available for that reserve price in this week's auction.
 

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.