The $5 buy of the year. Wow.

(Originally posted on 1/23/2010). Through 2/8/2010, BevMo has the Columbia Crest 2007 Vineyard 10 Red (WS 88) for $4.97. I simply cannot say enough good things about this wine. Made from an unusual blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese, it is an elegant, medium bodied, smooth red that reminds me of a mildly-fruity Bordeaux with gentle hints of tobacco and earth, likely from the Sangiovese. It drinks beautifully now. Lovely on its own or with food. My score: 91.

Last night, I had the Chateau Petit Bocq 2005 St Estephe (WS 89-91, $16), a Bordeaux from the famed 2005 vintage, and I prefer the Colubia Crest red. That's how good this wine is. At $10, I would buy 6 bottles, but at $5, I'll get at least 2 cases, if just to give some away. Easily the best under $6 value I've seen in the past 12 if not 24 months. [Update, I've since had this 3 more times and it's a great wine. It needs 15-30 minutes to open but it is so reliably excellent.][Update 2: I've had this wine yet again, and it continues to impress. It really needs 30-45 minutes of breathing to open up. A serious candidate for wine of the year in 2010 for me. I am upping my score: 91-92.]

I don't like all Columbia Crest wines, shocking as that might seem...

BevMo also the corresponding white, the Columbia Crest 2007 Vineyard 10 White for $5, but I find this a bit too sweet. A mix of Chardonnay, Sav Blanc, and Semillion, it tastes a bit disjointed and flabby. I'm going to pass. My score: 84.

Similarly a Columbia Crest 2007 (?) Riesling Grand Estates was also too sweet with not enough acidity. It too tasted flabby. My score: 83.

Finally their 2007 (or 2008) Chardonnay Two Vines (WS 86-87?, $6 Safeway) was too sweet and not oaked enough for my test. No more of that. My score: 85.

European wine deals at Costco, late Feb 2010

Two from France, and a Tokaj.

1) Another Costco screamer is the Domaine Pichot 2008 Vouvray (WS 90, $13).

Vouvray wine is from the Loire Valley in France in the region of Touraine. It uses the much abused chenin blanc grape, which in previous decades has been the term used for bulk white box or jug wine. In this region, chenin blanc is used to make wonderful wines, from dry to sweet, even botyrized, that can age for decades. Costco has carried previous vintages of this in the past, but the 2008 got 90 points, finally! :), and being in the midst of a wine class that just covered the Loire, I bought 6 bottles.

Pale yellow. Good acidity (aka "racy"), with a gentle nose of unripe peach, citrus and mineral. Off dry and a similar palate with some grapefruit peel coming in, and the acidity coming through at the end. Well balanced. Hard not to like. My score: 90.

2) A solid CdR (Cote du Rhone) for under $10. The Perrin & Fils 2007 Cote du Rhone Villages (WS 90, $9.59 CC). This 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah was flavorful, with good intensity, but nothing exceptional. A good example of a CdR. From memory, my score: 88.

3) The landmark sweet white Tokaj from Hungary, centuries ago considered one of the greatest wines on earth, the Royal Tokaji 2005 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos (WS 94, $26). I had a taste of this sweet botrytized rich white about 3 months ago and it takes some getting used to. Imagine a Sauterne with iodine and briny notes. I wasn't really in the mood after a long and filling dinner, but it was still noteworthy. But really now, this can age for 15-20 years easy, and it's a classic for $26. Why not explore a unique part of the wine world? My score: 90 (now) but could be a lot more a decade later.

A shockingly rich Pinot Gris

I picked this up in late January from Costco for $16, the Domaines Schlumberger 2005 Pinot Gris Alsace Grand Cru Kitterle (WS 91, $40). I had no idea Pinot Gris could be like this.

The color was deep gold. The nose was reticent with aging flowers and their associated astringency. Off dry, but appears sweeter. The palate was surprisingly rich and thick with honey, and notes of dried apricot, and ripe tropical. Clean but ends very long, with an intriguing bittnerness (WS said bitter orange peel and I think the tasting notes are spot on) and mouthwatering acidity that kicks in and lingers until the next inevitable sip. It tastes older, like a 2003. My score 93.

Wow. I need to get more of this.

Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Gris Alsace Grand Cru Kitterlé

Trying the Aleatico varietal

L and I exchanged wine and I got Jacuzzi Family Winery 2006 of the Aleatico varietal.

A few days later, I poured this pale ruby wine. No nose initially, but it shyly opened to raspberry jam and some spice. Sometime later a floral flash reminiscent of the Muscat white grape of which this is related.

The palate is similar. Reticent with red fruit, floral, spice, and tree branch. Like a mutant pinot noir. A surprisingly heavy body for such a low intensity wine. Moderate acidity and no tannins. An overall impression of smoothness. It finally occurred to me to view this as a dark rose, not a red.

If you're expecting something moderate or big, it's disappointing. But as an elegant, restrained but surprisingly thick wine, my score is 89 points. Thanks L.