Recommended Wines
-
Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2016
A typical pandemic Friday night — what to do to shake one out of the ongoing funk that seems to envelop our lives lately? Funny you should ask. Instead of meatloaf and just another nondescript glass of red, we recently reached out to a favorite local Italian restaurant, Princi Italia, to “attend” its Antinori virtual tasting in which three Antinori branded wines were paired with delicious appetizers from the restaurant. Add a couple of good... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2020-Oct-Sat -
Muriel Fincas de la Villas Crianza 2016
The warmth of late spring in Texas has forced its presence onto the scene, one is reminded that serious grilling season is nigh upon us! Whether your home grill favorite is burgers, dogs, ribs or chicken, a delicious Red from the Rioja Region of Spain is an excellent choice to pair with spring and summer fare. If you are not familiar with the nuanced, delicious Reds from Rioja, you are... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2020-May-Sun -
Marchesi Antinori 2015 Villa Antinori Riserva (Chianti Classico)
Your humble Wine Bargain Sleuth has been, like most of my fellow sleuths, observing the local "shelter in place" directive during the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 virus scare. During this seemingly unending period of (more or less) voluntary quarantine, my significant other and I have been cooking at home more frequently, and one of the house favorites is Italian, particularly pasta with hearty meat sauces. I have also taken... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2020-Apr-Tue -
Pedroncelli Merlot Dry Creek Valley Bench Vineyards 2017
Those of us who are Big Red fans are always on the lookout for a great Value Wine to enjoy and serve to our own wine buddies. As most of you have heard, the classic Bordeaux varietal Merlot fell out of favor for several years, coinciding in part with the 2004 dark comedy "Sideways" (and Miles' classic utterance that he wasn't "drinking any *&^%ing Merlot" to his twisted buddy Jack),... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2020-Apr-Sat -
Olema Chardonnay Sonoma County 2018
Greetings and Salutations! As the vast majority of the country is in some stage of quarantine (in Dallas, we call it "Shelter in Place"), it seems that we wine sleuths need to have good information for quality Value Wines more than ever. Otherwise, or so I am told, one is liable to end up cracking open in frustration a prized bottle of Kistler Chardonnay or that favorite Nuits St. Georges... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2020-Mar-Sat -
Milbrandt Merlot (Columbia Valley) 2017
I am always on the lookout for a satisfying Big Red that meets our criteria as a Value Wine--i.e., high quality and a price of less than $20. We at The Wine Bargain Sleuth have long been a fan of Washington Cabs and Merlots and have frequently recommended the same to our wine sleuths! The Milbrandt Merlot Columbia Valley 2017 is a terrific example of a great Value Wine: at... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2019-Dec-Sat -
Courtney Benham Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018
In the Great Southwest, a quality Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser around the pool or for a summer cocktail. The Napa expression of the international Sauvignon Blanc grape tends to be a bit rounder than others, with flavors such as peach and nectarine rather than the grapefruit and citrus profile generally associated with, say, the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. A terrific value version of this wine is... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2019-Aug-Mon -
2015 Land of Promise Pinot Noir
Say you have a birthday or a big anniversary coming up. Or you closed that big deal at work...or just because you are worth it! Some days you just want to have an amazing glass of wine. After a long day this week, I had one of those amazing glasses of wine: the 2015 Land of Promise Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, California. Even better, I got to share a... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2019-Apr-Sat -
Chateau Guiraud G Bordeaux White 2016
With spring comes colorful, fragrant flowers and budding trees, as well as warmer weather that pairs so delightfully with light, crisp wines. Some of my personal favorites include Bordeaux Blancs from France's legendary wine region. In addition to being refreshing with their cleansing acidity and nuanced with their classic blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, many of these French beauties are an amazing value as well. One vivid example of... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2019-Apr-Sat -
Cline Zinfandel Contra Costa County Ancient Vines 2016
Looking for a great value wine in a Big Red? Tired of the ongoing Napa Valley price creep? Enjoy a Zinfandel with a old vines taste profile? Well, wine sleuths, I believe I have you covered for this month! I highly recommend the Cline Zinfandel Contra Costa County Ancient Vines 2016! None other than leading wine publication Wine Spectator bestowed a strong 91 rating on this delicious red Zinfandel, calling... Read More
Posted by Len Musgrove, Admin The Wine Bargain Sleuth on 2019-Feb-Mon
Page 3 of 3
How can you maximize the odds that special bottles will reward your sacrifice and patience rather than tasting like last month’s vinegar when uncorked?
Assuming for discussion’s sake that you do not have a cave handy, then a cool basement, a dedicated wine cellar or a wine refrigerator may all be possibilities for your cellar.
One outstanding development I have noticed is the increasing occurrences of wine festivals across the country. On a recent weekend excursion I was fortunate to attend a local…
While the perception is that outstanding French wines are becoming more and more dear and unobtainable, you clever wine bargain sleuths know that with a little extra work…
An undeniable treat and this month’s Worth a Splurge Wine is the 2010 Catena Malbec from Argentina. Retailing for a very reasonable $26, this may be the Malbec…
This month’s Value Wine No. 2 is a perfect summer sipper: a lively, crisp blush wine from the State of Washington: the 2012 Charles and Charles Rose. A…
During the recent heat wave in my neck of the woods (read, a few degrees shy of the surface of the sun last week!), I have been in…
We have carefully attempted to identify very good (and even great) wines that set themselves apart from the herd each month, but we don’t necessarily just try to identify the least expensive wines. Heck, that would be cheating. Besides, as you wine sleuths are well aware, Life is Too Damned Short to Drink Bad Wine!
I recommend the Jaume Serra Brut Rose Cava Cristalino NV, available for a terrific bargain at $10. Although Roses and other blush wines have not yet caught on…
Greetings and salutations! Believe it or not, kids, what still vaguely seems like a new year is more than halfway to 2014. Is it me, or is the…
I can’t resist offering up a third Value Wine this month with our theme of hosting a summer wine dinner: the Peju Provence NV from Napa Valley. Available…
Do I have a bargain for you, boys and girls. Want a high-quality summer wine but only have a 10 spot in your wallet? Look no further than…
Quite possibly the best Pinot Noir I have recently sampled, particularly when price is taken into account, is the 2010 Belle Glos Santa Maria Valley Clark & Telephone…
Just because warmer weather is coming doesn’t mean that red wine fans will change their colors. This month’s Worth a Splurge Wine is an elegant powerhouse wine from…
This month’s Value Wine No. 2 is an incredible bargain from a wine value producer you should be familiar with: the 2010 Bogle Essential Red. Bogle is that…
With so much focus on this month’s Chapter on Napa Valley, I don’t think it hurts to brag a little on a jewel of a wine from neighboring…
Greetings and salutations! June, sweet June! The kids are out of school, my rapidly deteriorating math homework skills are placed securely on the back shelf, the grass is…
Our Value Wine No. 3 is the 2010 Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay from the Central Coast of California. The 2010 K-J Grand Reserve is widely available and should…
With due respect to the now-infamous protest of Paul Giamatti’s character Miles in the film Sideways, this month’s Worth a Splurge Wine is the 2009 Meeker Maker’s Handprint…
Peeling Back the Curtain: One of the most enjoyable parts of taking on the commitment of writing The Wine Bargain Sleuth is the many conversations I have had with friends and wine experts about their favorite wines, varietals and ideas.
I have a treat for you this month: bubbles from the great state of New Mexico from a family of French immigrants who know Champagne, the Gruet Brut…
Completing our triumvirate of great Italian imports, this month’s Worth a Splurge Wine is the 2009 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva. As with last month’s Splurge wine…
Value Wine No. 2 is a delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Montepulciano, the 2010 Fattoria Carpoli Toscana Sada Integolo. If you enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon then this Tuscan…
From the cool climates of the Friuli region of Northeastern Italy comes the delicious 2011 Scarbolo Pinot Grigio, this month’s Value Wine No. 1. The Scarbolo is a…
Italy has led the world in wine production for the past three years, with 2012’s total being a whopping 40.8 million hectoliters produced. Even more relevant to Americans, Italy is the number one exporter of wines to our country. Yet many of us in the United States (along with everyone in France!) still consider France to be the wine leader of the world.
Greetings and salutations! Happy New Year and welcome to these the ‘Teens. Many of us wine lovers have started wine collections, large and small. Yes!! I am feeling…
Greetings and salutations! If you are reading this then you, like your friendly Wine Bargain Sleuth, have made it through yet another exciting year. The Thanksgiving and December…
Although we have extolled the virtues of classic French wines in other Chapters, we have yet to focus upon wines from the Cotes du Rhone appellation of southern…
Your friendly Wine Bargain Sleuth can be a slow learner and not a little bit hardheaded about his love for the Big Reds, but I’m pretty sure he…
Sometimes you come across a great wine by pure serendipity rather than research. That is clearly the case with this month’s Value Wine No. 2: The 2011 Fume…
If you were clever enough to beg off from cooking the annual feast for your friends/family/spousal unit, then the least you could do is bring a great complementary wine to the big bird! So, what are you planning to bring in order to complement the cornucopia of rich, wonderful foods of Thanksgiving?
My suggestion for the holiday sparkler this month is a high-quality Cava from Spain’s Segura Viudas: the NV (non-vintage) Brut Reserva, an estate bottled wine. The Segura Viudas…
If your crew is made up of white wine fans, then it’s hard to go wrong with the 2010 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Careful shopping can land…
If that last piece of dessert is simply a non-starter yet still have just a touch of a sweet tooth, does the Wine Bargain Sleuth have a tip…
First and foremost, wine pairs most wonderfully with food. If you receive a dinner party invitation to an event that you know will be BYOB, a polite inquiry as to what is being served for dinner is a good way to narrow down your quest for that perfect bottle to bring.
Value Wine No. 1 for June is an outstanding value Chardonnay from Down Under, the 2010 Jacob’s Creek Adelaide Hills Reserve, a refined and satisfied white that can be had for $13 per bottle at retail.
This month’s Worth a Splurge Wine is Far Niente’s 2009 Chardonnay. This is a California Chardonnay which is made in the French style that has a lengthy finish…
For Value Wine No. 2, I present the 2010 Chateau Jacquet Bordeaux Blanc. Blended from Bordeaux vineyards that date back to 1789, the largely unknown white Bordeaux from…
Greetings and salutations! Another hump day night finds me, with apologies to the great humor writer Dan Jenkins, doing three of my favorite things: watching sports on TV,…
This month’s Splurge Wine is a long-time favorite and a beautiful example of what the lovers of the Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley call the “Rutherford Dust”: the…
My second Value Wine for April is the refreshing Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (2010). This beauty is a good choice to pair with seafood and vegetable dishes, but…
This month’s Worth A Splurge Wine is the 2008 Grgich Hills Chardonnay. Grgich Hills was the dream of Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, a native of Croatia who emigrated to…
The first time I ordered a “real” bottle of wine at a decent restaurant I experienced a truly awkward moment when my waiter (no sommelier, the restaurant wasn’t THAT decent) presented the cork to me for inspection. The pressure was on, and the time was short. My significant other was intently watching me to evaluate my command of the scene. My palms began to sweat. What in the wide world of sports was I to do with the silly, stained stopper?
I recommend the 2008 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Hall Wines, owned by Kathryn and Craig Hall, has been on a remarkable streak under the direction of…
The State of Washington is making some amazing quality wines for remarkable prices these days. The one I recommend for today is made by Columbia Crest, the 2009…
Testimonials
Len Musgrove
"Brad, Happy New Year to you, Nicole and the kids! I ..."
Brad Bell
"Thanks Len. I will be checking out a few of your suggestions. Wishing ..."
Vince Papali
"Well done! Eagles still have a chance! See you soon! "