Comparing the picks: A survey of recent selections from popular wine experts, spotlighting bargains and best values among other choices at their websites.
Banfi, Tuscany (Italy) “Colle Pino” 2005:
Michael Franz — From a producer as adept at making a “stellar” $100-a-bottle Brunello as a “pizza wine” that’s sure to please. “A fabulous buy.” $9
Château Au Grand Paris (Bordeaux Supérieur):
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher — The best buy among a selection of Bordeaux from the “acclaimed vintage of 2005” that’s just hitting the shelves. “Perennial favorite.” Around $10
2005 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, La Valentina:
Edward Deitch — A “big, dark, fruity” wine that may not have the charm of some Italian cousins but a perfect match for winter meals. “… delicious and interesting.” $13
2006 Meridian Sauvignon Blanc, Central Coast:
Jerry Shriver — A “steely, zesty, almost tart” wine from a producer that’s one of the market’s most reliable. $10
2006 Hayman & Hill Reserve Selection Russian River Valley Chardonnay:
Lynne Char Bennett — With “fresh apple, plus smoky mineral and herbal hints that extend to the palate,” it also offers some interesting aromas. “… good value.” $15
Tip: Print out this list and bring it to your local wine shop — even if a specific favorite isn’t available, ask the salesperson to recommend something similar. Or try browsing the latest wine reports from this custom collection of hundreds of news websites — filtered for bargains, continuously updated, and quick and easy to scan:
- Reds (from Beaujolais to Zinfandel)
- Whites (from Chablis to Sauvignon Blanc)
- Organic (red, white, in between)
To hit closer to home, try WNR’s Smarter Wine Search tool and see what wine finds local columnists and wine experts may be writing about in your area. Once there, just type in your city and state (within quotation marks, as in, "Napa, California"), to get results ranked by relevance.
Or scroll down to the bottom of this page and dig into top wine lists from a variety of sources. You’ll also find links to everything from a food-pairing database to websites for comparative wine ratings.
The Web is about community. So take a moment to comment about your experience with a particular wine — to help steer others to or away from it. And of course, have a great weekend!