Past Issues: Bargain Wine, dec05/jan06,
Best Bargains of 2005!

In this regular feature, we spotlight those wines that offer great bang for the buck -- under $15 bucks, to be exact. Here you'll find our everyday wines, house pours, and occasionally a great new find. Have a favorite Bargain Wine? Tell us about it at editor@wineskinny.com! 

Here's our selection of the Best Bargains of 2005 - all offer nice winemaking at affordable prices. Stock up now for holiday gatherings!

Whites:
Beringer 2003 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Appellation Collection ($12). Full-bodied, with ripe fig and citrus flavors that combine for a delicious, appealing quaff - and a bargain, at that. Picks up a touch of spicy vanilla on the focused finish. Ready to drink now. Very good with a wide range of foods - or all on its own.

Blue Fish 2004 Riesling Pfalz ($10). All juicy apple and lemon zest, this Riesling offers the bright, crisp side of Riesling at an everyday price. Ready to drink now.

Calera 2002 Chardonnay Central Coast ($14). If you're looking for complexity at a Bargain price, you couldn't do much better than this. Earth, mineral, lemon curd and toast accent juicy pear and a touch of peach. Lingers delightfully. Ready to drink now.

Chalone 2004 Chardonnay Monterey County ($12). Crisp, aromatic pear and nectarine fruit is deftly accented with freshly grated nutmeg, toasty oak and a burst of fresh citrus on the appealing finish. Ready to drink now.

Devil's Lair 2004 Fifth Leg White Western Australia ($12). Absolutely crazy about this Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay blend -- quite possibly the new "house " white here at the Wine Skinny! Crisp and refreshing and perfect on a hot day -- juicy, fragrant lime and lime zest runs throughout a pretty mix of apple and white nectarine, and stone notes. Really appealing and ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 04/05)

Grove Mill 2003 Chardonnay Marlborough ($18). Silky and ripe, with fig, pear, orange zest and buttery, spicy oak accents. A lot of wine for the money. Ready to drink now. (World Wide Wine 08/05)

Jim Barry 2004 Riesling Clare Valley The Lodge Hill ($15). Delicate and pretty, with a pronounced mineral note supporting honeysuckle, nectarine and pear flavors. Stays focused through the lingering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years.

Leasingham 2004 Riesling Clare Valley Bin 7 ($15). Delicious stuff, with a nice balance of zesty citrus and crisp apple against lush honeysuckle and peach. All comes together and lingers nicely on the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 3-4 years.

Spy Valley 2004 Riesling Marlborough ($14). Fruit forward and juicy, offering racy tropical flavors against crisp acidity and voluptuous fig notes. Nothing shy here, but with very good structure and length. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years.

Stone Cellars 2003 Pinot Grigio California ($8). Fresh, citrusy bouquet introducing medium-bodied, juicy citrus and tropical flavors and a touch of minerality. Quaffable and refreshing. Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine, 02/05)

Wolf Blass 2004 Chardonnay South Australia Yellow Label ($12). Ripe, vibrant tropical fruit aromas and flavors are balanced with zesty citrus and restrained toasty oak. A nice overall package. Finishes clean. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 04/05)

Wolf Blass 2003 Chardonnay South Australia Presidents Selection ($14). Rated a "scads better than the last bunch of wines" in a recent tasting, offering juicy peach, focused citrus and orange zest, and honeyed fig flavors that wrap up nicely in the generous finish. Nice winemaking for the money. Ready to drink now.

Wolf Blass 2004 Riesling Eden Valley/Clare Valley Gold Label ($14). Peachy and fine citrus aromas introduce clean, focused citrus, floral and peach flavors that stay lively and pretty through the finish. Dry and refreshing. Lovely balance. Excellent value! Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (Weekend Wine 04/05)

Sparkling:
Lindauer NV Brut New Zealand ($13). Nice value at this price, offering lush peach and apricot flavors, with cream, almond and toasty oak accents. Full flavored but light bodied. Ready to drink now.

Reds:
Beringer 2003 Shiraz California Founders' Estate ($11). Great BBQ wine, with a nice balance of ripe black currant, baking spices and toasty oak aromas and flavors. Quite good - especially at this price. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area!

Black Swan 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon South Eastern Australia ($8). Slurpably good, with smooth red cherry and berry flavors accented with a pleasing array of baking spices and toasty oak. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 01/05)

Cline 2001 Zinfandel California Ancient Vines ($15). Pretty red berry and plum flavors are laced with baking spices, dried herbs and smooth, vanillin oak. Stays focused and balanced through the finish. Ready to drink now.

Lindemans 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon South Australia Reserve ($10). Appealing blackberry and currant fruit is juicy and fresh, with an edge of tartness, picking up mint, vanilla and toasty oak notes through the focused finish. Quite nice, particularly at this price. A good match for grilled meats and poultry. Ready to drink now.

Lindemans 2002 Shiraz South Australia Reserve ($10). Very nice winemaking here - at a great price, with balanced blackberry and raspberry fruit mingling with herbal and vanilla oak notes. Appealingly smooth and with a lingering finish. Ready to drink now.

MadFish 2003 Shiraz Western Australia ($12). Tasty! With ripe black plum and cherry fruit layered with freshly cracked black pepper and warm spices. Has a meaty character that is appealing. Finishes long and supple. Ready to drink now.

Pedroncelli 2001 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Mother Clone ($15). Deftly balanced and plummy, with juicy fruit, black pepper and toasty accents, and a mouthwatering finish. A great BBQ wine! Ready to drink now.

San Telmo 2003 Merlot Mendoza ($7). Really liked this wine -- heck of a deal! A great pizza wine, with loads of acidity. Quite Chianti-like, actually. A deep spicy, earthy nose introduces light- to medium-bodied red berry and mineral flavors, with sky high acidity. Delish! Ready to drink right this second.

Wolf Blass 2002 Shiraz South Australia Yellow Label ($12). Deep, concentrated red berry and currant flavors are laced with aromatic black pepper and sweet, spicy oak. Shows nice balance and good bang for the buck. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. (Weekend Wine 04/05)

Check out previous Bargain Wines selections!
This now-fabulously-named column used to be called Easy To Find One Figure Wines, for reasons that we cannot currently remember but were surely enthusiastic about at the time. Anyhoo, check out our Past Issue Index for more great value-priced wine selections!