Editor’s Note: This weekly column is sponsored by Georgetown Square Wine and Beer (10400 Old Georgetown Road).
Recently, the Washington area has been consumed with all things sequester. We offer a much needed break — a Winequester.
We propose that wine consumers can buy great tasting quality wines this upcoming spring for less than $10. Inexpensive wines have a bad reputation for producing headaches or just tasting awful. We are here to prove that you don’t have to break the bank for a nice red table wine with your meal or a flavorful white wine on a spring picnic. Here are some our proposed Winequester wines.
Bodegas Borsao Tinto 2011 Aragon, Spain $9.99
This wine is a blend of 85% Granacha and 15% Tempranillo and could be the best value in the wine market today. Borsao received an incredible 90 points from Robert Parker, which is unheard of for a wine at this price. “Possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world,” he said. “This is an unbelievable wine. On taste alone, this beauty could easily sell for $30-50 a bottle.”
Backstory Chardonnay 2011 California $9.99
A blend of Chardonnay grapes from some of California’s premium regions, this wine is a great value. With ripe juicy flavors of apple, peach, pear, lemon, and balanced creamy overtones, it is a perfect refreshment for spring picnics.
Parados Malbec 2011 Mendoza, Argentina $9.99
Parados Malbec is an absolutely superb example of a good affordable Argentinean Malbec. The wine’s dense red color gives a full and rich fruit nose of wild berries and black currant. The mouth is lush and full, leading to a well balanced and long finish. A truly great Malbec.
L. Tramier & Fils Roncier Blanc Burgundy, France $9.99
Finding an inexpensive French Burgundy style wine is not an easy task, but we found one here in the Roncier Blanc. With floral aromas and bright fruit and citrus on the palate, Roncier blanc is always a consistent, delicious wine with true Burgundian character.
Dom D Eguren Protocolo Red 2012 Manchuela, Spain $6.99
This is one of the original great value wines. Protocolo is 100% Tempranillo and at $6.99, it is truly a steal. It has a dark ruby color with cherry, licorice, dark chocolate, and pepper. This gently tannin wine shows great structure at this low price. Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar awarded it 88 points.
The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BethesdaNow.com.
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