I hope everyone had a nice holiday, a great NYE and are managing to stay warm as temperatures across the country have plummeted into the netherworld.
So it is January and you are most likely a little broke, a little tired and rightfully so, a little cold. Now that I have gotten those spirits up with my motivational speech, have no fear, Ryans wine picks is here to help you sip like a pro on a tight January budget. I thought I would share a few truly affordable wines that are actually not too bad. I don't suggest you purchase these wines as gifts for that someone special in your life or over analyze these wines too much in the glass because these are what I like to call "Tuesday Comfort Wines". Good honest wine at a good honest price!
What differentiates these wines from more expensive wines is these wines are simple while more expensive wines are more complex. Some of the wines below have been produced in larger yields, seen little to no oak and shipped out of the winery as quickly as possible so the cost to the winemaker is much less. In comparison to say a producer of a Gran Reserva which would have much less yield and spend years in oak before release which means a higher cost. Land price, labour all factor in but essentially lower price equals lower complexity...which isn't a bad thing, honestly.
Let's begin
Dragani Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Doc, Italy at $6.95
This wine is made from the Montepulciano grape in Abruzzo Italy, hence the name Montepulciano D'Abruzzo. This wine is perfect for a walk-in special pizza or a simple pasta on a weekday because at the price you really can't afford to not sip it. Ruby & purple hints, ripe fruit aroma, black cherry with a touch of coffee; full fruity, soft tannin in medium length finish. Enjoy!
George Duboeuf is famous in Beaujolais for his fresh take on the Gamay grape and how it should be consumed as fresh as possible. Although this is from George Duboeuf and is Gamay, it is not from the region of Beaujolais, instead, it is from the south of France. This is the reason it is not called Beaujolais, instead, a unique take on labeling Gamay as an attempt to try and pass it off as Beaujolais Nouveau. Bright medium purple colour; fragrant aromas of red fruit, strawberry, plum and herb, with light floral/mineral tones; dry, light and delicate, slight spritz with fresh acidity, lightly herbal, with generous fruit flavours and notes of candied strawberry, banana, cherry pit and red plum linger on the juicy finish. Pair with some simple and affordable roasted pork tenderloin and potatoes.
This wine is made from a blend of Tannat, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca from Northern Portugal. It has a medium deep ruby; aromas of leather, blueberry, spice, and raisin; dry, medium bodied with soft fruit and moderate tannins. Perfect for roast chicken from either Swiss Chalet or your standard supermarket roast chicken. Honest goodness.
This is a really great go-to bottle and I won't deny I have had more than just a few of these bottles in my lifetime. Garnet red colour; aromas of black cherry, overripe/roasted red fruits, game, chocolate and mint/herb notes; dry, medium-full bodied with sweet dark fruit flavours and oaky notes in the long finish. Pair with tapas, roast meets or even as simple as takeout hamburgers with maybe some grilled peppers on top from a local burger joint, not Mc Dicks.
This wine is made from a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. It offers a ruby red colour; blackberry, red fruit and vanilla aromas and flavours with earthy, dried fruit and cedar notes; dry and medium-bodied with a long finish. Perfect for any type of meats from roast chicken to pot roasts or for the veggie's perhaps a nice mixed bean casserole.
This wine is made from grapes Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Baga, selected in the best areas of the Bairrada region in Portugal. Ruby red colour; blackberry and spice aromas with a touch of earth; dry, medium body; ripe blackberry flavour and medium length finish. This wine would be great for a winters stew, big bowl of chilli or again, roast chicken. This is a pretty fruit forward big wine for the price, enjoy!
This wine is a blend from 55% Syrah, 25% Castelão and 20% Aragonez offering medium purple colour; pronounced aromas of raspberry, spice, with notes of earth and pepper; dry, medium acidity and firm but balanced tannin; juicy black and red berry fruit flavours give way to a tangy, grippy tannin, medium-long finish. We are getting a bit big here now for chicken, I would pair with some serious burgers, roasts, stews or anything that would be strong enough to match. This is hardly a simple pasta wine...besides it's not Italian so why would you even think of pasta you witnit.
This wine is 100% Malbec offering a bright ruby red colour; fresh raspberry, cherry, sweet plum compote and milk chocolate aromas with hints of violets and herbs; dry, medium bodied, with balanced acidity and silky tannins supporting flavours of ripe black fruits. Pair with a typical Argentinian dish such as some empanada's or beef done anyway on a plate...ok maybe not poached. A big wine deserves a big meal!
This 100% Garnacha offers a deep ruby colour; aromas of ripe black cherry, anise and a touch of chocolate; medium bodied, medium tannins and juicy plum, mint and spice flavours. I would personally say pick up a bottle or two, call a friend or two over and make a big tapas plate with various Spanish chorizo sausages, cheeses, olives and give winter the big middle finger...it would be nice to pretend you are in Madrid even if only for an hour or two.
You really can live a champagne life on a beer budget!
Happy Sipping,
Ryan Sullivan
aka wine left outside in Canada for 5 minutes
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