More Value Wines - Another Shopping List For You!

As promised, here is the 3rd in a series - a compilation of wines that are truly enjoyable and that won't break the bank! These are finds purchased in Maryland, and they represent an international portfolio of crowd-pleasers, everyday wines and something besides your usual merlot/cab. The best is to just go ahead and try some, especially the ones that go well with barbecue - the grilling season has started. Let me know what you think!

Wine (prices per 750 ml bottle)	Description	Food Recommendation
SPARKLING
Nv Simmonnet-Febvre Cremant de Bourgogne, France, $18	Pleasant and fun salmon-colored sparkler. Fruit-forward, strawberry, raspberry, lemon. Less sparkly than Champagne.	Appetizers, salmon dishes, soups, salads, everything
2006 Voulet Antichi Giochi Piemontesi Fracchia Casorzo, Italy, $15	Sweet red frizzante dessert wine. Pleasant strawberry, raspberry and muscat-like flavors. Great with only 5% alcohol. An Italian specialty from Piedmont!	Fruit desserts, mango sorbet, just on its own
WHITES
2006 Ruffino Orvieto Classico, Umbria, Italy, $10	Fresh, straight-forward, good quaff with tons of lemon, lime and citrus peel. Simple, yet well-made. Better if not too cold.	Starters, fish dishes, esp. poached, salad, seafood, risotto
2002 naia Bodegas Aldial, Rueda, Spain, $10	Well-balanced and straight-forward, with melo and lime flavors embodied in mineral. Great value.	Starters, poached fish, seafood, salads
2006 Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling, Oregon, USA, $13	Lush and playful, off-dry. Lifts pretty fruit flavors through the long finish. Infused with Meyer lemon and tropical fruit.	Starters, poached white fish dishes, quiche, Asian dishes, everything
2001 Steinklotz Alsace Grand Cru Helfrich Gewurztraminer, France, $20	Voluptuous beauty with plush mouthfeel and a display of spices, litchi, honey, mineral. Brimming with flavor, but not too heavy. Absolutely beautiful and a bargain!	Spicy food, Asian food, ham, turkey, sausage, smoked food, shellfish, cheese
REDS
2004 Perlat unio, Montsant, Spain, $14	Garnacha, Carinena, Syrah. Lighthearted and easy to drink. Fruit-forward, smooth, medium body.	Starters, vegetables, grilled tuna, grilled salmon
2005 Red Rock Winery Merlot, California, $12	A great price for a well-made, easy-to-drink, yet serious enough Merlot, filled with fruit and just a pleasure to drink.	Appetizers, vegetables, barbecue, mushroom dishes, cheese
2004 Encostas de Estremoz Touriga Nacional, Alentejano, Portugal, $15	Solid and robust, with lots of mouthfeel. Pleasant black fruit, some herbal and wooden notes. Not too heavy.	Appetizers, pizza, mushrooms, grilled vegetables
2005 Kaiken Malbec The Best From Both Sides of the Andes, Mendoza, Argentina, $12	Lush, full and brooding. Red fruit and briar, with some herbal overtones. Lots of chocolate. Smooth, yet serious.	Grilled vegetables, mushrooms, steak, barbecue, lamb
2004 Casa de la Ermita Jumilla Crianza, Spain, $17	Big and bold, but mellowing already. Earthy spiciness, yummy plum and wild cherry with wood and game tones.	Hard cheeses, steak, everything grilled, barbecue
2005 Primus Veramonte Carmenere/Cab Sauv/Merlot, Casablanca Valley, Chile, $20	More expensive, but still great value. Another great vintage. Brimming with red fruit, cherry, vanilla, freshly crushed red berries. Solid, yet elegant, just really pleasant.	Roast chicken, burgers, barbecue, steak, sausage, mushrooms, stews, grilled vegetables, lamb
2005 Millbrandt Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, USA, $24	Very nicely balanced, complex, rich. An array of fruit, spices, pepper, oak and sandalwood flavors, in an elegant structure. Finishes with mocha and chocolate. Beautiful!	Grilled steak, lamb, stews, burgers, rich meats
2006 CatAmongstThePigeons Nine Lives Shiraz, Barossa, Australia, $15	Rich, fat, broad-shouldered, blasting out aromas of blackberries, blueberries, licorice and pepper. Smooth.	Steak, grilled meat, stews, burgers, rich meats