For the Holidays how about some new wines? Some are Under The Radar, some are from small producers and many are great values. Take a look. There is something here for everyone and don’t forget the gift of wine.

 RED WINES

Austria
Zweigelt is a grape that was created in Austria in 1922 by Fritz Zweigelt. Today it is the most widely planted red grape in Austria and is also found in Canada, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Poland, and many wine regions in Slovakia.

2010 Berger Zweigelt.
This wine comes in a 1 liter bottle with a bottle cap closure. One of Zweigelt’s attributes is its drinkability and early appeal. This is a lovely example. The wine has a deep color and a lovely floral strawberry tinged perfume with a touch of spice. It has lovely fruit and is soft and rounded and very fruity with strawberry and raspberry nuances and a kiss of spice. Very attractive in a Beaujolais-like style this is a very good value. Let’s hear it for “Bottle Cap Red” – Highly Recommended.    $12.98    Best Buy   A Thierry Thiese Selection Imported by Michael Skurnik Wines Syosset, NY 

California
New releases from Tablas Creek Vineyards and Toad Hollow Vineyards.

Tablas Creek Vineyards
Here are two great new red wine releases from Tablas Creek Vineyards who continue to produce an impressively consistent line of outstanding wines. (To read more about Tablas Creek Vineyards click here) These two releases would be great with Thanksgiving dinner! (To visit the Tablas Creek Vineyards website and learn more about the winery and their wine clubs that offer significant savings click here).

 

2011 Tablas Creek Vineyards Patelin de Tablas.
This is a lovely wine that was made from grapes sourced from 15 Paso Robles growers which comprise 96% of the blend and the other 4% from estate grapes. It is comprised of 52% Syrah, 29% Grenache, 18% Mouvèdre, and 1% Counoise. The color is dark and the wine has a gorgeous perfume of berries and plums with floral spice tinges. It has lovely supple fruit and is balanced with a myriad of black fruit flavors accented by a faint spiciness and a nice underlying crispness – Outstanding.     $20 

2010 Tablas Creek Vineyards Mouvèdre.
This is a stunning wine that will yield even greater rewards with additional bottle age. The total production was 700 cases.
The wine is dark in color with a lovely perfume of plums and a tinge of exotic fruit that are complemented by faint hints of spice, cedar, and smoke. There is a great purity in the fruit and underlying the fruit is a nice balanced crispness. The flavors show black berry and plum fruit with subtle floral nuances and a kiss of vanilla and spice and the wine is balanced with lots of flavor – Outstanding Plus    $40  

Toad Hollow Vineyards
Wines from this Sonoma winery most often represent good value. Here are notes on 2 new releases that fit the bill.

2009 Toad Hollow Vineyards Merlot Richard McDowell Vineyard Russian River Valley.
With a deep color this wine has a plummy perfume with floral notes. It is supple and rounded with plummy fruit and a floral spice note. Balanced with a lovely finish this a very nice Merlot – Highly Recommended.    $12.99 

2010 Toad Hollow Vineyards Pinot Noir Goldie’s Vineyard Russian River Valley.
This Pinot Noir has a nice color and a lovely floral perfume with spicy berry notes.  It is full and rounded with berry fruit and faintly floral nuances and has early appeal – Highly Recommended.     $16.99    

France
Here is a selection of mostly Under The Radar and value priced red wines from France.

Bergerac
This is an area in Southwest France just east of Bordeaux. Many of the wines made here are reminiscent of Bordeaux and can represent great value. Here is one.

 

2009 Château Calabre Bergerac Réserve.
This wine is a blend of 60% Merlot and 20% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It has a deep color with just a tinge of amber at the edge and a lovely perfume of plums with cedary nuances and a tinge of vanilla and spice. It is balanced, rounded, and supple with lots of cedar tinged berry and plum fruit. This is a really gorgeous wine for early consumption – Outstanding.    $10.99   Best Buy    Imported by Wine House Limited San Francisco, CA. 

Bordeaux
The top Classified Growth Bordeaux wines have escalated price to levels no one thought possible a few years ago. However, underneath the anointed few, there are Under The Radar wines that can offer a lot of pleasure for modest amounts of money. Here are three.

2009 Château Couronneau Bordeaux Supérieur.
This is a lovely Bordeaux from the highly acclaimed 2009 vintage at a bargain price. It has a dark color and a deep perfume of cassis and plum with hints of cedar. Showing a myriad of fruit flavors the wine is lush, rounded, and supple with a nice cedary complexity – Highly Recommended.   $15.99   Shipped by Jeanne-Marie de Champs Beaune, FR.  Imported by Wine House Limited San Francisco, CA. 

2009 Château Pipeau Grand Cru Saint Emilion.
This is a Grand Cru wine from a great year at a modest price. This is a real deal in Bordeaux. The wine has a dark color and lovely perfume of cassis, plum, and cedar. It is lush and round with loads of supple plummy fruit and lovely balance. Spicy cedar nuances accent the fruit and the wine has depth and richness. This is a wine to drink now or keep for many years – Outstanding.   $31.99   Imported by Young’s Market Company Tustin, CA.

2010 Neipperg Collection Bordeaux.
This is a negociant wine made from purchased grapes and is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has a deep color and a lovely floral perfume that is faintly cedary. It is rounded and supple with cedary tinged black berry fruit and shows real Bordeaux character. This is a bargain priced Bordeaux for early consumption –Recommended Plus.     $10.99    Imported by Kirkcrest Imports Danville, CA. 

Burgundy
Like the top Classified Growth Bordeaux, top rated Red Burgundies have escalated in price to dizzy heights. However, underneath this halo are some really lovely wines from lesser known negociants and producers and lesser known areas. Below are notes on three.

2010 Sylvain Langoureau Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune.
With a very nice color this wine has a lovely floral berry perfume. It is light, elegant and finesseful with berry and cherry fruit accented by a tinge of citrus and finishes with a nice crispness – Highly Recommended.       $19.99         Selected by Jeanne-Marie de Champs Beaune, FR.  Imported by Wine House Limited San Francisco, CA.  

2010 DomaineYves Girardin Château de la Charriére Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune.
This is a gorgeous wine with great finesse and elegance. It has a deep color and a lovely perfume of cherry fruit with a faint floral spice undertone. There is an abundance of very pure cherry fruit flavors that are complemented by floral spice nuances and the wine has a lovely finish. This is a Burgundy for immediate enjoyment – Outstanding.    $16.99    Best Buy     Imported by Margate Wine & Spirit Co. Northfield, NJ.                        

2010 Domaine Yves Girardin Château de la Charriére Beaune Les Vignes Franches 1er Cru.
Wow. This is simply a delicious Burgundy that exudes charm and elegance. It has a very deep color and a great complex berry perfume of ollallieberries and plums with a floral note and a kiss of spice. The flavors are deep rich and are wrapped in a soft, lush, and supple envelope that is silky with a nice underlying crispness. Faint exotic fruit nuances add to the complexity and the finish is long and lingering. This Burgundy is delicious now, but it should keep for many years – Outstanding Plus.    $24.99    Best Buy  Imported by Margate Wine & Spirit Co. Northfield, NJ.  

Loire Valley
The great white wines of the Loire Valley are widely known. But, there are also many lovely reds that are lesser known. Here are notes on some of those.

2009 Domaine de Corbilliéres Touraine Les Demoiselles.
Dark in color this wine is made from Cabernet Franc and has a deep perfume of plums and blackberries. It is rounded and very pure with lots of blackberry fruit and is well structured with balanced tannins – Highly Recommended.    $14.99     Imported by Robert Kacher Selections Washington, DC. 

2010 Franck Millet Sancerre Pinot Noir.
This Pinot Noir has a nice color and a lovely floral perfume. It is very pure and crisp with floral tinged berry fruit showing a tinge of green olive. This is an elegant wine that is very appealing – Highly Recommended.    $16.99    Imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA.  

2010 Franck Millet Menetou-Salon.
This is another Pinot Noir that is similar to the Sancerre Pinot Noir. It has a nice color with just a tinge of amber and shows a nice floral berry perfume. It is rounded and supple with lovely fruit that shows just a tinge of spice and smoke. Again, this is a wine with elegance and finesse – Highly Recommended.    $15.99    Imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA.  

Domaine Catherine and Pierre Breton
Catherine and Pierre Breton are descendants of families that they say have been in the area since “the mists of time.” They started their domaine in 1982 and farm just under 30 acres of land mostly in the area of Bourgueil with some in Chinon. By  coincidence, the Cabernet Franc grape grown in the Loire Valley is known as Breton. The Bretons make wines for easy consumption that represent the character of the appellations and also wines that are made from individual parcels. These latter wines are capable of decades of aging. These are Under The Radar wines of great purity and flavor. Here are notes on the terrific current releases which are Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA. These are wines to buy.

 

2009 Catherine and Pierre Breton Bougueil Les Perrieres.
With a deep color this wine has a gorgeous floral perfume with plum and berry fruit. It is rounded and has depth and intensity with good backbone. There is lots of fruit and the wine is balanced with a lovely finish. This should be a keeper – Outstanding.    $40  

2010 Catherine and Pierre Breton Bougueil Trinch.
This is a red wine that is brisk and fresh with real attitude. Dark in color it has a great perfume of blackberry fruit. The wine is intensely fruity and rounded but with a core of underlying crispness. Tasted over the course of a week it softened considerably. No matter, it is terrific right out of the shoot for its great purity of fruit – Outstanding.  Best Buy    $23  

2010 Catherine and Pierre Breton Bougueil La Dilettante.
Made from grapes grown on 30 year old vines this wine has a very nice color and  a lovely floral perfume with hints of strawberry and spice. It is rounded and supple, but retains a nice zestiness. This is a very fruity wine that has wonderful flavor and depth and a lot of early charm – Outstanding.   $28   Best Buy  

 2010 Catherine and Pierre Breton Bougueil Les Galichets.
Made from grapes grown on 50 year old vines this wine is dark in color and  has a deep perfume showing blackberries and boysenberries with a faint exotic nuance. It has a gorgeous myriad of black fruits with a faint hint of spice and a nice underlying crispness. This a wine with very pure fruit that is really tasty – Outstanding.      $28     Best Buy   

2010 Catherine and Pierre Breton Bougueil Franc de Pied.
The vines here are 12 years old. This wine has a deep color and a lovely floral perfume with hints of blackberry. It has lovely blackberry fruit and is very pure and crisp with lots of flavor. Balanced and delicious this is a gorgeous wine that should evolve beautifully over time – Outstanding.   $32  

Rhone Valley
There are some real values in the simple and Under The Radar appellations of the Rhone Valley. Here are notes on two very nice ones.

2010 Domaine Bondinaud Côtes du Rhone La Boissiére.
This wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Mouvédre, and 5% Cinsault. It has a deep color and a lovely floral perfume with hints of raspberry and spice. The wine has gorgeous fruit and is rounded and supple with faint cedar tinges. Balanced and flavorful this is a lovely Côtes du Rhone – Highly Recommended.    $16.49      Imported by Robert Kacher Selections Washington, DC.   

2009 Château d’Or et de Les Gueles Cingle Les Cimels Costeries de Nimes.
This wine is blended from Syrah, Carignan, and Grenache. It is dark in color with a deep perfume of berry fruit with floral and herbal nuances. It is a wine that will benefit from some bottle age as just now it is a bit restrained. After tasting over several days the wine began to open and shows more fruit that is rounded and tinged with hints of spice and herbs. It has balanced tannins and has depth and richness – Highly Recommended.      $14.99    Imported by Robert Kacher Selections Washington, DC.  

Germany
A while ago I first wrote about Spätburgunder and explained the wine and its history. I also offered the opinion that the wine should be better known and more widely available here as time passed. I strongly urge you to read that article entitled “Spätburgunder – What Is It?”  by clicking here.  So now that you know all about Spätburgunder, this is a value priced Spätburgunder that deserves your serious attention.

2010 August Kesseler Spätburgunder Quälitatswein Dry Pfalz.
With a deep color this wine has a gorgeous floral perfume with berry fruit. It is very pure and elegant with lots of berry and cherry fruit. The wine has great balance and is supple and rounded with a lovely finish. Try serving this Pinot Noir at a very cool temperature. You will find it irresistibly delicious – Outstanding.     $15.49    Best Buy    Imported by Kobrand Corporation, Inc. Birmingham, AL. 

Hungary
How about a wine that is a real tongue twister. Well, here’s one! This would make a really interesting party wine! But, in fact, it is a red wine made by the Pfneiszl winery from the Kekfrankos grape grown in the Sopron area of Hungary. The Kekfrankos grape is also grown in this country in Washington and New York where it is known as Lemberger and in other parts of the world where it is known as Blaufrankisch. Blaufrankisch is believed to be the original name dating back over a thousand years. At any rate, this wine is tasty and attractive.

2010 Pfneiszl Kekfrankos Sopron.
Deep in color this wine has a very nice floral perfume with a touch of herbs and spice. It has very nice berry fruit and subtle flavors with floral nuances and hints of spices and herbs. Balanced and tasty this is a lovely wine – Highly Recommended.     $14.98     Imported by Blue Danube Wine Company Los Altos Hills, CA.  

Italy
Here are a couple of really nice value priced Italian wines.

2009 Sono Montenidoli Il Garrulo Chianti Colli Senesi.
This is an elegant, beautifully balanced Chianti with early appeal. It has a very nice color and a lovely perfume with floral cedar tinges and a faint spice. The fruit is rounded and the wine is supple and very tasty with cedar nuances and a nice crisp finish – Highly Recommended.     $16.29      Imported by Wine House Limited San Francisco, CA. 

2010 Enri Pierozzoli Barco Reale di Carmignano.
This is a lovely wine that is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has an intriguing perfume that shows berry and plum fruit with a faint floral undertone and hints of cedar with a very faint smokiness. The wine is balanced and supple with lovely plum and berry fruit accented by a tinge of cedar. It is elegant and has depth with a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended Plus.     $13.99     Best Buy    Imported by Wine House Limited San Francisco, CA. 

Spain
Spain makes some of the best red wines in the world and also produces some of the best value priced wines in the world. The style ranges from the more traditional style to a more fruit forward style. Here are two very nice examples of the latter style.

2010 Borasao Bodegas Garnacha Tres Picos.
This wine is made from low yielding vineyards. It has a dark color and a deep perfume of plum, spice, and vanilla. It is quite rich and full with plummy fruit tinged with vanilla and and some underlying tannin – Recommended Plus.      $13.99     Imported by Henry Wine Group Benecia, CA  

2010 Valdehermoso Ribuera Del Duero.
Dark in color this wine has a lovely blackberry perfume with tinges of cedar and spice. It is lovely and very fruity with accents of spice and vanilla. A very forward wine this wine is very enjoyable now and represents really good value – Highly Recommended.    $10.89    Imported by C & P Wines New York, NY  

WHITE WINES

California

Gundlach Bundschu
Gundlach Bundschu is the oldest family owned winery in California with a history going back over 150 years. Now in its 6^th generation of family ownership the property is located at the intersection of the Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Carneros appellations. Gundlach Bundschu makes a range of wines. This Gewürtztraminer is really gorgeous and the Gundlach Bundschu wines deserve a further look. (To view their website and learn more about the winery, its wines, and history, click here).

 

2011 Gundlach Bundschu Gewürtztraminer Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast.
Pale yellow in color this Gewürtztraminer has a gorgeous floral spice perfume with finat hints of citrus. It has great style and elegance with lots of flavor and is beautifully balanced. Floral, spice, and citrus flavors are intertwined with a very faint hint of sweet white peach and the finish has a nice crispness – Outstanding.     $15.49    Best Buy   

 

2010 Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay Reserve Carneros Napa Valley.
The grapes for this wine were sourced from 2 vineyards in Carneros. Here the weather is relatively cool and allows the grapes to maintain a good acidity. This is a lovely example of Napa Chardonnay. Light yellow in color the wine has a deep perfume of vanilla, spice, and citrus with very faint hints of pineapple and coconut. Creamy and full this Chardonnay has an abundance of sweet fruit yet maintains an elegance and a lovely underlying crispness. Flavorful with hints of vanilla, spice, and faint exotic nuances this is a wine to be enjoyed now for its fruit – Outstanding.     $40  

France

Burgundy
In many of the southernmost parts of Burgundy there has be a steady improvement in the wines in the last decade. Now more than ever there are some really terrific wines that are great values and compare favorably with some of the more famous names from Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. And in the area of Beaune and its surrounding areas there are many small producers making very fine wines that are also very good values. In addition, there are many Under The Radar wines from Chablis that are also great values. Here is a shopping list.

Chablis
Chablis is noted for its mineral driven wines that are characterized by a underlying crispness when young and soften and develop complexity with age. They are therefore ideally suited for drinking either young or old. I like Chablis young with shellfish and sashimi. I like older ones with richer dishes such as lightly sauced fish. There are many small producers in Chablis and great values are often found. These are great examples that are also great values.

Domaine Jean-Claude Bessin
This is the first time I have tasted wines from this small domaine. The wines are lovely. This is domaine to watch. Selected by K&L Wine Merchants and Imported by Latitude Wines, Inc. Danville, CA.

 

2010 Domaine Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis 1er cru La Fôret.
Light yellow in color this Chablis is very pure and balanced with a gorgeous floral perfume showing hints of citrus and mineral. It has great fruit and is structured with flavors that hint of citrus and peach with a faint underlying minerality and a kiss of vanilla – Outstanding.     $26.99    Best Buy  

2010 Domaine Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Fourchaume 1er Cru La Pièce au Comte.
This wine is made from the domaine’s oldest vines that are over 60 years old. This is a great Chablis that is also a great value. Light yellow in color it has a gorgeous floral perfume with a touch of citrus and faintly smoky mineral nuances.  The fruit is rich and complex and the wine retains a lovely balance and elegance. The flavors are beautifully integrated with hints of citrus and peach with a tinge of pineapple and are accent by floral mineral nuances. With a long crisp finish, this is a terrific Chablis  –  Outstanding Plus.    $32.99    Best Buy  

Monthélie
Monthélie is in the Côte de Beaune of Burgundy. Less than 15% of the wine produced here is white. This is a lovely example.

2009 Domaine Jacques Bavard Monthélie Blanc.
Light yellow in color this wine has a lovely perfume with hints of pineapple and citrus. It is very elegant and silky, but with a nice crispness underneath. The wine has lovely very pure fruit with tinges of pineapple and citrus and a faint minerality. With a nice crisp finish this wine has a lot of charm and early appeal.  Highly Recommended Plus.    $24.99    Selected by K&L Wine and Imported by Latitude Wines, Inc. Danville, CA.  

 

Pouilly-Fuissé
Pouilly-Fuissé is an area in Mâconnais subregion of southern Burgundy. It was established in 1936 and today covers some 2000 acres. There are no vineyard classifications in Pouilly-Fuissé because the growers never applied for them. The wines are made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. In the last decade or so there has been a steady improvement in the wines of southern Burgundy. Pouilly-Fuissé is now considered by many to be producing the finest white wines in the area, yet they continue to remain Under The Radar. As such they represent some of the greatest values in White Burgundy today.

Domaine Saumaize-Michelin
I first became acquainted with the wines of this small family owned domaine with the 2005 vintage. I was extremely impressed and bought a lot of the wines which have aged beautifully and are delicious today. There was a lapse in importing the wines for a few vintages, but now the 2010s have arrived. They are stunning wines. These are wines to buy and this is a domaine to follow. Great wines at great prices, what else is there?  Imported by Atherton Wine Imports Atherton, CA.

2010 Domaine Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuissé Vignes Blanche.
Light yellow gold in color this wine has a lovely floral perfume with hints of citrus and spice. It has lovely fruit and is very elegant and pure with faint citrus and mineral complexities with a kiss of vanilla – Outstanding.    $28    Best Buy  

2010 Domaine Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuissé Les Rochevats.
This wine is light yellow gold in color. It has a lovely perfume with floral citrus notes and a tinge of spice with a faint tropical nuance. The wine is balanced with great finesse and flavor and has lovely fruit showing citrus and peach with a faint underlying buttery quality and a very nice finish – Outstanding.    $30    Best Buy   

2010 Domaine Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuissé Clos Sur La Roche.
Light yellow gold in color this wine has a great floral perfume with hints of citrus and peach and a faint underlying kiss of vanilla and spice. The wine has lots of fruit and is balanced and flavorful with depth and richness. It has good underlying acidity and a long crisp finish – Outstanding.    $32    Best Buy  

2010 Domaine Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuissé Le Haut des Crays.
Light yellow gold in color this wine has a stunning floral perfume with tropical nuances and hints of spice and vanilla. It has great fruit, flavor, and balance and is rounded and lush with a good underlying backbone. The flavors are lush and complex with tropical nuances and citrus, mineral, spice, and vanilla accents. This is a terrific wine – Outstanding Plus.    $32.50    Best Buy  

2010 Domaine Saumaize-Michelin Pouilly-Fuissé Les Courtelongs.
The grapes for this wine come from old vines. The color is light yellow gold and the perfume is striking with tropical, citrus and peach flavors accented by a faint touch of spice and vanilla. This is a wine that is very pure and elegant yet with great fruit and extract. Flavors of citrus, peach, apricot with hints of vanilla and spice are accented by faint minerality. Balanced with lots of depth and a firm underlying crispness the finish is long and lingering – Outstanding Plus.     $32.50    Best Buy   

Saint-Aubin
Saint-Aubin is located in the Côte de Beaune of Burgundy. It is located in a side valley to the west of Chassagne-Montrachet. Some 75% of the areas production is white wine. The wines have been getting increased attention in recent years as great value priced White Burgundies. There are 20 Premier Cru vineyards in Saint-Aubin. Below is a note on a lovely example.

2010 Maison Champy Saint-Aubin Les Murgers des Dents de Chien 1er Cru.
Light yellow in color this wine has a nice perfume with floral, citrus, and mineral nuances. It is bright and crisp with mineral and citrus nuances accented by a very faint floral peach undertone. Racy, yet with nice underlying fruit this can be consumed now or aged for a few years to round out a bit – Highly Recommended Plus.    $36.99    Imported by Latitude Wines Danville, CA.  

Savigny-Les-Beaune

Savigny-Les-Beaune is located in the Côte de Beaune area of Burgundy. Only 15% of the areas white wine is white wine. This is a gorgeous example.

 

2010 Domaine Yves Girardin Château de la Charrière Savigny-Les-Beaune Blanc Les Vermots Dessus.
This is a gorgeous wine with great style, finesse, and flavor. It is light yellow in color with a gorgeous floral perfume showing faint hints of citrus and spice. The wine is very elegant with very well integrated flavors showing subtle floral hints with citrus, peach, and spice in the background. The finish is lovely with a nice crispness – Outstanding.    $23.99    Best Buy   Imported by Margate Wine & Spirit Co. Northfield, NJ.  

Loire Valley

The great white wines of the Loire Valley are some of my favorite white wines. The Loire Valley is a large area and there are many appellations and producers. As a result, there is always something new to try. Here are some suggestions.

 

 2010 Franck Millet Sancerre Insolite.
This is a reserve cuvee and it is gorgeous and a great buy. Light yellow in color the wine has a great perfume of melon with citrus and peach tinges and a faint mineral nuance. It has great finesse, flavor and balance and shows lovely melon tinged fruit accented by hints of citrus followed by a long crisp finish – Outstanding Plus    $24.99     Best Buy    Imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA.  

 

 2011 Domaine Jérôme Gueneau Sancerre Les Clos Chartier.
This is a lovely fresh, crisp Sancerre with great early appeal. It is light yellow in color and has a deep floral perfume with hints of mint, citrus, and melon. It has very pure fruit with nuances of citrus and melon and a tinge of herbs. It is very bright and well defined with a nice crisp finish – Outstanding.     $19.99     Best Buy     Imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA.   

2011 Château La Fuye Haut-Poitou Sauvignon.
Haut-Poitou is a region just south of Chinon. This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc and a real deal. The wine is light yellow in color and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of fresh herbs and melon. It is crisp and very fresh with herbal, citrus, and melon flavors.  Supple with a nice underlying crispness this is a lovely and distinctive wine for a modest price Highly Recommended.      $9.99     Best Buy    Imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA.       **

ROSÉ WINES

France

Just in case you missed the 2011 rosé articles here are a couple of new late arriving rosés just in time for the Holidays (to read the lastest article on rosés click here)

2011 Domaine Franck Millet Sancerre Rosé.
Pale reddish orange in color with a faint golden hue this rosé has a very nice perfume with and citrus mineral tinge and hints of raspberry. It is very crisp with hints of citrus and raspberry and a faint mineral nuance. Underneath is a floral note that adds a touch of roundness – Highly Recommended.    $16.99    Imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA.  

 

2011 Couly-Dutheil René Couly Rosé.
This is a consistently terrific rosé and a great bargain. This 2011 is light reddish pink in color with a golden edge. It has a gorgeous perfume of floral cherry fruit with a very faint kiss of fresh herbs and spice. The wine has lovely cherry tinged fruit with a kiss of fresh herbs and spice and is very elegant and well balanced with a crisp finish. This is a tasty and very delicious rosé – Outstanding.       $11.99      Best Buy      Imported by  Frank-Lin International      Fairfield, CA  

So that’s it. A wine shopping list for the holidays. Enjoy!