Cellar Notes on WYPR

Looking for high quality wine at bargain prices? Hugh has found a wine operation that does just that.

Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60

Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite

VALUE = exceptional quality for the money

90+ Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Lot #130 ’23 *** $ SUPER VALUE

(Rich, full bodied, creamy Russian River chard, lots of citrus and stone fruit notes)

90+ Cotes de Provence Rosé, Lot #132 ’23 ** $ VALUE

(Elegant, pale rosé, very fresh aroma and flavors, juicy with mineral finish)

WINE OF THE WEEK

90+ Haut Médoc Lot #202 *** $ SUPER VALUE

(Bordeaux blend, with classic violets, plum, lead pencil and cedar notes throughout)

Red wines in summer come in all sorts of varieties. From light to full-bodied, there’s something available for every occasion. Al samples a few.

The Rhone is renowned for its red wines, but its whites have a place at the table. Hugh looks at this influential style that has spread beyond France.

A lot of people are looking for ways to enjoy wines without alcohol these days. Al has found a few that really measure up.

It’s summer but you still have a yearning for red wine. Well that’s no problem, as Hugh points out: just stick these delicious reds in the fridge and enjoy them while they’re cool.

Our neighbors to the south have made great strides in quality. Hugh has comments about some of Virginia’s most tempting wines.

One of the best white wines in the world, Chenin Blanc is something of a chameleon. Al surveys the range of styles.

Price key:

$=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60

Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite

VALUE = exceptional quality for the money

Remhoogte Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch ’25 ** $

(Bone dry with good underlying fruit, would be good with shellfish)

Matanzas Creek Chenin Blanc, California ’23 **1/2 $ VALUE

(Dry, with very good fruit, grapefruit notes with mineral sidelights, food friendly)

WINE OF THE WEEK

Domaine Pichot Vouvray ’24 *** $$ VALUE

(First class Chenin Blanc, notes of honey, melon, gooseberry and lemon zest, super)

All of these wines can be purchased at Wells Discount Liquors.

Everybody appreciates a good buy when you’re shopping for the Fourth, so here are a trio of excellent wines that should get the job done.

When Argentina decided to up its game a few decades ago, their first important female wine maker was at the head of the movement. Hugh checks out the latest offerings from Susan Balbo.

Price key: $=less than $20 $$= $20-40 $$$=$40-60 $$$$=above $60

Quality key: * = decent wine ** = very good wine *** = superb wine ****= elite

VALUE = exceptional quality for the money

Susan Balbo Crios Malbec, Mendoza ’24 ** $ VALUE

(Clean and fresh, textbook malbec, cherry, spice and violets throughout)

Susan Balbo Crios Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza ’22 **1/2 $ VALUE

(Classic Argentine cab sauv, sweet oak and cherry flavors, approachable and drinkable)

WINE OF THE WEEK

Susan Balbo Crios Torrontes, Mendoza ‘24 **1/2 $ VALUE

(Argentina’s best white wine, dry, aromatic with spice and floral notes, balanced)

All of these wines can be purchased at Wells Discount Liquors.

Founded by an immigrant Frenchman in 1990, the original intent was to produce Malbecs with high quality and finesse. Fabre-Montmayou continues to turn out some of the best Argentine reds at affordable prices, including superb cabernet sauvignon. Check out this week's recommended wines on WYPR.org.