Good Wine Under $20
Celebrate Autumn with Cabernet Sauvignon | Mark As Read |
Today is the first day of autumn, when a person's thoughts turn to casseroles, soups, and red wine. Here in Los Angeles, the weather has been cool and foggy and very autumnal. Even though we're due for a last blast of summer temperatures over the weekend, my taste buds are ready for warming, comforting food and wine.If your taste buds are turning i...
Enjoying Wine: Lessons from France (Part 1) | Mark As Read |
Recently, I spent some time in France. While I have been to the country before (once as a teenager, and again with a teenager in tow), this was the first time I really got to enjoy its wine culture.And I loved it.What follows are some observations of how drinking French wine in situ has changed my thinking.The pleasures of a chilled Cabernet Franc....
Yes, I Bought It Because of the Name... | Mark As Read |
There are many reasons to buy wine. You like the producer. You like the grape. You like the label. You like the designation--like the time last year I splurged wildly and bought a wine simply because it was the "Plague Doctor's Cuvee."And yes, sometimes you buy it because of the name of the vineyard. Because with a name like "Jurassic Park" it has ...
Yes, I Bought It Because of the Label | Mark As Read |
Dachshunds. We have 'em. So does Jill, the owner of my local wine store domaineLA. So when I saw that she had a wine with a dachshund label in stock, I didn't care if it was red or white or good or bad--I had to have it. A This great photo of the label comes from the McDuff's Food and Wine Trail blog, where you can check out a review of the 2007 v...
I Will Survive: the Benefits of Bubbles | Mark As Read |
At the end of a long week, nothing says comfort and relaxation like a bottle of afffordable bubbles. Even though it's Thursday, plan ahead for tomorrow night and look for a sparkling wine that won't break the bank like the one below. It will remind you that you WILL survive, even though it doesn't always seem possible. (this great bottle shot is fr...
This Time, I'm Thinking IN the Box | Mark As Read |
Boxed wine has a terrible reputation in some circles. Critics charge that boxed wines lack distinction and have a manufactured taste.In other circles, however, boxed wines are preferable. And this doesn't just include folks who throw lots of big parties. Single drinkers who live alone and can have problems keeping a wine from oxidizing before they ...
Keeping It Light with a German Riesling | Mark As Read |
This week's posts are dedicated to making the hectic transition into fall. For those of us who are teachers, or have kids, this marks the beginning of the academic year with all the running around and organization that requires. So my mantra right now is: keep things simple, keep things light. I covered simple on Monday. Today I turn to something l...
Keeping It Simple with a Cabernet from Down Under | Mark As Read |
It's back to school time at GWU$20, so life is more than usually hectic as I settle into the new routines and rhythms of the semester. During transitional moments such as these, it's wise to remember to keep it simple and keep it light--otherwise the stress can get to you. So that's my theme for this week's blog posts.When it comes to wine, keeping...
Note to Self: Syrah Can Be Stunning | Mark As Read |
Because of my special niche in the world of wine reviews, there are times when I have to deliberately uncork a bottle of wine that is MORE than $20. It usually happens when I've sipped 15 terrible/insipid/manufactured iterations of grape X and can no longer remember what the hell it's supposed to taste like.This recently happened with Syrah. I love...
Another New White Grape: Torront | Mark As Read |
Last week I had a new grape to help get me out of my white wine rut, and I'm continuing with another new white grape this week. Torront?s is grown in Argentina, and has been planted for a very long time. It may have been Spanish colonists who brought the grape to the area, and the grape itself has been shown through DNA testing to be a cross of Mus...
No Time for Ros?? This Will Change Your Mind | Mark As Read |
I love ros?s. They are affordable, food-friendly wines as I've said on many occasions. At home at summer barbeques, and welcome on Thanksgiving tables, there are lots of times when a ros? is the right wine choice.So I'm always surprised when people tell me they don't do ros?. Huh? I know--just know--that they're thinking of some horribly sweet Whit...
Bored With White Wine? Give a New Grape a Try | Mark As Read |
It's easy to fall into a wine rut. I love Sauvignon Blanc, but there are times when I just want something different, something I don't drink every day. Same thing with Riesling. Love it to bits, but there are times when I'm not sure I can bring myself to open another bottle.If you're looking for something new--something that is dry, but not the sam...
Toasting Summer's End | Mark As Read |
Over the next few weeks, most of us will be saying goodbye to summer. Labor Day marks the official end for many, but some of us (me) are headed back into the classroom long before that. Many are getting their kids ready for school.Take an opportunity before summer's warmth fades and the hectic back to school rush starts with a glass of sparkling wi...
The Great Australian Riesling Roundup | Mark As Read |
Time for a roundup of Rieslings to put some zip into your summer. When July turns into August, I always start hankering for some boiled spicy shrimp or a garlic and lemon marinated chicken to break up the BBQ sauce, hot dogs, and steaks that many of us have been indulging in since Memorial Day. If this is how you are feeling, there's nothing better...
Join the Rhone Rangers: Sunday August 8 in LA | Mark As Read |
If you're around and about the city of Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, you have a chance to saddle up and ride with the Rhone Rangers at their Southern California tasting event. This is always one of my favorite tastings because it provides an opportunity to meet some of the friendliest, most talented folks in the wine biz and taste a wide range o...
Ode to Joy, Ode to Lulu: a Ros? That Lives Up to the Hype | Mark As Read |
Sometimes, I can be very ornery. When there's lots of hype, I think, "Nothing is THAT good." Memorable occasions when I've been proven wrong were Chariots of Fire (still one of the best movies ever made) and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (goes without saying). There's a ros? that's been getting a fair bit of hype lately, and when I saw a...
Pinot Noir--Both Red and Ros | Mark As Read |
I'm writing from the Sonoma Coast appellation as I often do this time of year, and it wouldn't be proper if I didn't include a post about the coast's favorite grape: Pinot Noir. Today, I'm highlighting the versatility of the grape by writing about a traditional red Pinot Noir, as well as a ros? made with the grape--and both are under $20. In additi...
Some New Buttons and Gizmos | Mark As Read |
A mini site update--Those of you who come to the website, as opposed to those who get this through a feed reader, will have noticed the site has a new look. It was time for a dusting off and a change, and I hope you like it. As part of the update, I've installed some new "reactions" and "share" buttons at the bottom of each post. They provide an op...
Putting Some Sparkle in the End of the Week | Mark As Read |
Sparkling wine is one of life's greatest pleasures. Regular readers know how fond I am of wine with bubbles in it, and I'm always on the lookout for new ways to bring some into the house without breaking the bank.So when Jill at domaineLA mentioned she had a new sparkling Riesling on the shelves, I decided to give it a try.The 2008 Reichsrat Von Bu...
Beating the Bordeaux Blues | Mark As Read |
So, how are your purchases of 2009 Bordeaux futures coming along? If, like me, you decided to sit out the hysteria this year (the prices are epic and the hysteria just as epic), you may be feeling a little blue. For me, its budgetary. I just don't eat enough of the kind of food that goes with a fantastic bottle of aged Bordeaux to warrant the splur...
Summer Ros? Report: Drinking Local | Mark As Read |
Sorry for the silence on Monday and Tuesday, but here's the excuse: first, I'm writing (though obviously not this blog...) and there really is a point at which I feel that my brain may run out of words if I spread too many of them around. (My friend and wine guru Jeff Stai from Twisted Oak Winery says this will not happen--at least not to me--but I...
Looking for Grapes In All the Wrong Places | Mark As Read |
People have different ways of locating good wine values. Some shop the sales, while others haunt the box stores. A few turn their backs on their favorites--Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, sparkling wine--and settle for something they're less fond of hoping it will suit their tastebuds.My number one budget strategy (other than finding yourself a goo...
Wine for Tomato Season: Grechetto | Mark As Read |
If the tomatoes aren't yet bursting on the vines where you are, it's only a matter of time. Tomatoes are an interesting wine pairing challenge. The acidity and sweet edge of fresh tomatoes can fight with some wines, and be overwhelmed by others.Enter Grechetto. Grechetto has been grown in Umbria for centuries (I was corrected on this point when I d...
Sizing Up Sauvignon Blanc | Mark As Read |
Summertime. And the living is hot. (image from DKC Service)Sauvignon Blanc always has the effect of a liquid air conditioner on me. One cool glass and I can feel my core temperature drop and imagine a fresh breeze on my skin.It would be an understatement to say that there is a lot of Sauvignon Blanc in the market. Let's face it: there's tons of the...
Mighty Fine Malbec | Mark As Read |
Malbec just tastes right this time of year. In the summer, I always try to keep a few bottles on hand for cookouts, and whenever I go shopping there always are new bottles I want to try.This wine, though, counts as a familiar favorite--one of those wine friends that we know we'll enjoy spending time with. The 2008 Clos de los Siete Clos de Los Siet...
Wanted: Good Value in Chardonnay | Mark As Read |
Good value, high quality, authentic-tasting Chardonnay may be America's most wanted wine. Sometimes, you might think it's as difficult to find as it would be to track down a known fugitive. Why is there so much terrible cheap Chardonnay? Every year there seems to be more of it. But finding a good bottle that is also affordable--that's the trick.In ...
The Zaftig Wine with the Petite Name: Petite Sirah | Mark As Read |
As I've said before, there is nothing "petite" about Petite Sirah. This is a grape that produces big, blowsy wines with intense fruit flavors and a lushness that stands up to almost anything you throw at it--grilled steaks, hamburgers, chili, stew, and summer's favorite BBQ.Finding a Petite Sirah for under $20 that doesn't tend towards the cough sy...
A Summery Sparkler from Ca'Momi | Mark As Read |
No matter how much wine you drink, nobody knows everything.Recently, I've been sampling some wine from Ca'Momi Wines. Located in the pricey Napa Valley, this is a winery that makes some extraordinarily affordable and delicious wines. Put it on your list of small producers to watch for and ask your favorite retailer to get some of their wine in stoc...
Because Traditional Can Be a Good Thing | Mark As Read |
As a historian I may be prejudiced, but in my opinion there's nothing wrong with traditional--especially not when it comes to wine. I like big New World fruit bombs, too, but find myself gravitating more and more these days to wines that may emphasize secondary flavor elements like minerals, herbs--even dirt!--over juicy fruit.The Languedoc region ...
Summer's Go-with-Everything White: The Stump Jump | Mark As Read |
Is there a summer white that goes with nearly everything? With the exception of steak and hamburgers (and maybe even with these, if it's your fancy), the answer is yes.The 2008 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump is summer's equivalent (in wine terms) of the little black dress. Made from a blend of Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne the wine ...
Has Your Spring Sprung? Time for Ros | Mark As Read |
My family on the east coast tells me its in the upper 80s. Here in LA, it's in the low 80s. Spring, apparently, sprung.Seasonably speaking, it's time to find the grill and get some ros? in the house. At this point in the year, chances are you can still find a lot of last year's ros? on the shelf. As long as the wine store has been storing them prop...
GWU$20 Named Best Wine Blog by Saveur | Mark As Read |
Yesterday, I received news that Good Wine Under $20 had been voted Best Wine Blog of 2010 by the readers of Sauveur Magazine and its online site.This was the first year Saveur ran the contest, and it is an honor to be chosen in this category. I'm a regular reader of Saveur, which makes this all the more sweet.Here's a list of all the winners. If yo...
Finding Value in Napa Valley Cabernet | Mark As Read |
"Napa Valley," "value," and "Cabernet Sauvignon" are not often found in the same blog post title, nor are they often found in the same sentence. Now, the same people who are bringing you good, affordable Pinot Noir are bringing you classy, wallet-friendly Cabernet Sauvignon, too.If you are looking for a great value in a Napa Valley Cab, look no fur...
Red Wines from the Southern Hemisphere | Mark As Read |
Last week was the vernal equinox, the point in the year when the days are as long as the nights. This year, celebrate spring by drinking wines from the southern hemisphere. Below the equator, they are celebrating fall and looking forward to the cooler temperatures of winter. Here, we've got other things to look forward to: warm sunshine, the first ...
A Great Gewurz for Spring | Mark As Read |
Now that it's spring, my mind has turned to cleaning, lightening up, and enjoying the outdoors. In the wine department, that means my mind has turned to Gew?rztraminer, a grape that always reminds me of this time of year.Finding a good, affordable of the grape can be challenging. Some are too sweet, and some have an almost plastic quality with the ...
A Case of Bubbles for Spring: J. Laurens Cr?mant de Limoux Brut | Mark As Read |
Upcoming spring brunches--check.Celebration of first flowers blooming--check.Toasting friends who just got engaged/married--check.Toasting friends who just had new baby--check.Mother's Day--check.Graduation--check.See how many celebrations you have coming up in the next few months?That's why you need to know about this wine. It costs under $15 a bo...
Looking for Affordable Pinot Noir? | Mark As Read |
The idea of affordable Pinot Noir is a guaranteed attention-grabber. Blame it on the movies, the delicacy of the grape, or its status as a fashionable tipple. No matter what you blame it on, there's one thing for sure: Pinot Noir is pricey.And, in my opinion, deservedly so. When Pinot Noir is well made, it is a joy to drink. It's juicy, fresh, and ...
A Dry Spanish Sparkler for Champagne Lovers | Mark As Read |
If you think all Cava is fruity, perfectly enjoyable, but not too interesting--think again. (image from the great LA Food blog, Food She Thought, where you can also read another review of this wine)I had a great bottle of Cava lately, and it made me realize I just don't know that much about the stuff other than it's from Spain, has bubbles, and is ...
The Benefits of Short-Term Aging: the Case of Cabernet Sauvignon | Mark As Read |
I suppose there is a technical difference between cellaring and short-term aging. Cellaring wine, for me, means putting wine away for so long that you forget you have it and then are pleasantly surprised to discover you actually do NOT need to buy wine for Christmas 2015 because you actually bought wine for that occasion back in 2007!But even short...
Goldilocks on Pinot Grigio | Mark As Read |
Remember the children's story of Goldilocks and the three bears? She wanders into a cabin and finds three bowls of porridge. The first is too hot. The next is too cold. The third, however, is "just right."I often feel like Goldilocks when tasting Pinot Grigio. Some of them are too bitter. Some of them are too sweet. Some, too tart. Some of them are...
Food and Wine: the Search for Versatility | Mark As Read |
Pairing food and wine can be a perplexing, confusing business. People can be nutty on the subject and I have to admit I can be a bit obsessive about finding the perfect food to go with Pinot Gris and the ideal wine for spaghetti and meatballs.In a world of shrinking bank accounts and free time, I've started prizing versatility in wine. When I go to...
Can Woman Live By Wine Alone? | Mark As Read |
One of the impediments to blogging in the past few weeks was simply this: I had become a bit tired of wine. There were nights I felt like if I drank another "basic red" I was going to scream. I dipped into my tiny cellar, looking for wines that might inspire and turn this trend around, but had no luck. Everything I tasted seemed a bit blah and pred...
New Grape of the Month: Jacqu?re | Mark As Read |
For a grape I've never heard of before, Jacqu?re certainly has a lot of synonyms and variant spellings.What is Jacqu?re? It's a white grape grown in the Savoy region of France. (photo from Charles Neal Selections)Where is the Savoy, you ask? It's tucked up next to the Alps. And though the region makes good wine, most of it never leaves the area's f...
Sparkling Wine for Your Valentine | Mark As Read |
It's almost V-Day. Nothing says romance like some bubbly, and even if you are alone this Valentine's Day, don't you deserve to treat yourself to some sparkling wine? Sparkling wine is great for winding down at the end of a long day, it's not too bad with dark chocolate, and it is fantastic with fried comfort foods (potato chips, french fries, and f...
Warm Cabernets for Cold Winter Nights | Mark As Read |
It's snowing on the east coast, raining on the west coast, and wintery everywhere in between. Nothing suits this kind of weather better than Cabernet Sauvignon, and I've been tasting my way through a nice selection of Cabernets and Cabernet blends in pursuit of the perfect wines to complement soups, stews, and braises.If you're looking for a red wi...
Blog, Interrupted | Mark As Read |
Well, it was bound to happen. After blogging 4-7 days a week for nearly three years without a hiccup or a hitch, something called LIFE intervened in early December and it's been almost two months since my last post. ("Interrupted" by Sebastiano Pitruzzello aka gorillaradio)Since that time I've heard from some of you who asked if I was ok (I am--jus...
World Turned Upside Down? Time to Catch Up | Mark As Read |
Where did last month go? I don't know about you, but I'm totally upside down with work, work, family, and more work. (photo by Capture Queen)Hope you are all fully recovered from the festivities of the Thanksgiving season. Lots of you were anxious about wine right up to the day before the Big Dinner, and I hope that you enjoyed whatever you picked....
Thanksgiving Wine Under $20: My Picks for 2009 | Mark As Read |
It's that time of year again, when people take to their computers in search of Thanksgiving wine recommendations. (vintage Thanksgiving image from an 1894 cover of Harper's Bazaar)This is my fourth roundup of wines on GWU$20 that I think will pair beautifully with your turkey dinner--and they're all under $20. Whether you prefer sparkling, ros? , w...
Vinho Verde--Just Because | Mark As Read |
Just because it's Monday...Just because you got paid this weekend...Just because you feel like fish tacos for dinner...Just because you have some roasted cashews or almonds...Just because you're trying to stay out of your kid's candy stash...Vinho Verde.It's not profound. It's not prestigious. It's not something you see on every restaurant wine lis...
Today on Serious Grape: Wine Survival Strategy for the Holidays | Mark As Read |
As 12:01 AM today, it is officially that festive time of year known as "the holidays." It is a time of joy, of family celebrations, gift-giving, and--hysteria.Before you hit the panic button, go out now and get yourself a mixed case of wine so that you've got bottles on hand for emergencies that include: we have nothing in the house for dinner, two...
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