In our years of writing about wines, we have always been on the lookout for affordable wines that show some character and are worth more than their asking price. We are now happy to say we have come closer to our goal than ever before. We were recently introduced to a series of wines that sell in the $15 range but drink like wines that could be valued at over twice their price.
The wines are made by Bridlewood Estate Winery of Monterey County, Calif., and are among the best dollar value in wines we've sampled in a long time.
Bridlewood 2012 Monterey County Chardonnay ($15)The Monterey County growing district imparts a true California flavor to the grapes used in this wine. No longer are our wines looking to emulate the austere and stiff French style; quite the contrary, Americans prefer the more fruity and expansive style, which is now expounded by modern day California vintners.
The Bridlewood 2012 Monterey County Chardonnay expresses this new California style well. There is not one flavor to pick from but a host of constantly changing flavors. Pineapple melds with golden apple and nectarine, all lying on a bed of light sweet oak.
Bridlewood 2012 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($15) What could follow fine chardonnay? Nothing less than a great cab.
Here too, we have a wine with a big aroma and a full body. Deep in color, this wine offers up the aromas of fresh dark berries and a hint of traditional cranberry and mint chocolate. On the palate, this full-bodied wine displays the fruit flavors of dark, ripe blackberries and cranberries. From beginning to end, this selection is worth far more than its modest $15 price tag.
Bridlewood 2012 Monterey County Pinot Noir ($15) The French insist that California has just too warm a climate to produce grapes good enough to make a truly fine pinot noir. This offering from Bridlewood proves these Gallic gurus are very wrong.
This wine displays a full body and a big flavor and aroma. There are flavors of cherries and plums along with hints of cloves and a background of spicy oak.
Pinot noir is a tricky grape to make wine from. As we have said many times before, it is the grape most responsible for California's best wines and most dismal failures. This wine can be considered one of the successes and is a wine that can accompany most meat dishes as well as full-flavored seafood.
Bridlewood 2012 Central Coast Blend 175 ($15) This wine is a compendium of the stars of the Central Coast district: syrah, grenache, petite sirah and the aromatic white variety, viognier. This wine is not a random assembly of grapes quickly thrown together, but rather a carefully planned and properly executed red wine. What is interesting is that you can detect each of the varieties by the signature flavor and aroma that they contribute to the finished product.
The grenache introduces a red cherry flavor, while the petite sirah and syrah share their signature wild raspberry and pomegranate. There are also hints of spices, coffee and white pepper. The finish is long and equally as fruity as the flavor. We feel that this is a wine you should not miss.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and manages ArticlesOnWine.com. He can be reached at frojhe1@att.net.[[In-content Ad]]
