January 19 - A few Spanish bargains and more

The January 19^th release features a number of options priced in the under $20 range from that bastion of bargains, Spain. Also featured, but at a far higher average price point is the Okanagan. Regardless of whether or not my wallet was beaten to within an inch of its life over Christmas and New Years (it was ) only three wines make my ‘must buy’ category.  While there might be other options available, these three really stand out to provide a combination of value and quality.  

The release scores 62 on the VRSS. Below in order are the wines that interest me.

Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2009 – $19.95 Ripe, hints of black cherry, chocolate, vanilla, coffee. From Columbia Crest’s  renowned Horse Heaven Hills (H3)  vineyards. I really enjoy this merlot.

Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2010 – $19.95 My top pick from the Spanish entries, this Grenache comes from a terrific producer. Do you like raspberry? Wait for it, you’ll get it.

Les Hauts de Castellas 2010 Vacqueyras – $19.95- I expect we’re getting near the end of the entries from the Southern Rhone’s brilliant 2010 vintage so buy some while you can.

Luzon Seleccion 12 Meses  Crianza 2008 – From the South of Spain  so loaded with fruit (and like the wine below, an  unusual  Crianza for us). Among all the Spanish 90 pointers, this one is a real 90 point wine, not a Jay ‘Captain 90’ Miller 90 point wine.  

Solar de Sael  Crianza Mencia 2007 from Bierzo. Made from Mencia grapes so don’t expect your normal Spanish Crianza. Unlike most Spanish Crianzas we see this is not tempranillo.  Crianza refers not to the region or the grape but rather to the amount of time the wine spends in wood prior to bottling – one year.

Heartland Shiraz 2009 - $19.95 – Usually not so mouth filling and unctuous as their Director’s Cut, this one should be pretty good nonetheless.

Domaine Tournon Shay’s Flat  Shiraz 2010 –$29.95  From Michel Chapoutier’s multinational wine oligarchy, this Aussie option scores and fits into the Parker style very well.  95 points? I doubt it, but it’ll be good and there are many others that are far more expensive and not nearly as good!

MollyDooker the Maitre D’2010 – $29.95 - Massive Cabernet fruit from Southern OZ. Very close to jammy!  

Edge Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $26.95 – A Cali cab without pretense but still with the ‘more than it’s worth’ price tag. Enjoyable but $21 or $22 is an accurate reflection of the contents of the bottle.

Wakefield Shiraz 2010 - $17.95 – Wakefield produces perennial quality bargains regardless of the grape. The Wakefield Shiraz from the Clare Valley may pack in some nori notes as well as everything in the review. If you’re a fan of older style Bin 61, you might enjoy this at 7 or 8 dollars less.

Marceau Chateauneuf du Pape 2009 - $34.95 – If this was the Marcel Marceau CNdP, could I say a word about it? Has anyone had this producer before? Not me, so I am intrigued enough to mention it and perhaps buy one.