Last Minute Wine and Champagne Hints 

If you haven’t filled your wine requirements for that Christmas dinner or New Year’s, you are certainly a risk taker. But there is hope.

Many of the wines recently touted as great values are sold out. As an example my revue wiped out the good supply of Drappier Grand Sendee ‘95 champagne at under $25 that we recommended.  Many others that the newspapers and wine magazines tout have such small production that they are gone before the news hits the street. One wonders why they waste space on products that are basically unavailable.

So we have come up with three wines that are not only great values but are in wide distribution and should be easy to find.

No.1   If you still are looking for a quality Champagne, Gloria Ferrer Brut Carneros Royal Cuvee Vintage reserve 1992 may be the best value ever offered in a premium domestic sparkler. It is around $20 and compares favorably with French products that are double the price. 

Still in good supply is Freixenet, the Spanish sparkler from the same Ferrer Family. They are actually the world’s largest producers of the preferred Champenoise style bubbly. You can buy a case of 6 for $35.  The ubiquitous Korbel Brut is always available under $10. If French is “de riguer” Montebello is still at Trader Joe’s for $17.  Up the French scale Taittinger Francaise when promoted at around $28 is the best of the rest. Veuve Cliquot ($30) has been inconsistent lately.  After that you are on your own.

No.2. Columbia Crest has 16,000 cases of Cabernet Columbia Valley Estate Series 1996 at $16. This Washington State wine is a phenomenal value along with 20,000 cases of their Merlot.

Other reds to serve the dark meat turkey eaters are Chateau St. Michelle Cab ($25), and Guenoc North Coast Cab. ($17). Australia’s Shiraz are also good choices and the names to look for  at prices from $8 to $25  are Rosemount, Lindeman, Wolf Blass, Penfolds and especially right now 70,000 cases of Taltarni($16). The popular Rioja, Marquis de Caceres ($8) from Spain is widely available as are the upgrade Riojas from  Marquis de Riscal .

Now that most Bordeaux and Burgundy wines have priced themselves out of the market of reality, the wines of the lower Rhone in France are very attractive for those of you that feel Frenchy. This is especially true of the remarkable 1998 vintages now in wide supply.  Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-pape is a great value if you can find it at $25. Chateauneuf –du-pape means new home of the Popes that lived in Avignon, France a long time ago. If you can’t find that one look for Cave des Papes Chateauneuf-du-papes  Les Cloisters 1998 ($24) or others at a similar price. The strong dollar and competition make these complex Rhone reds great values while Bordeaux and Burgundy try to stay above it all.

If you want a prestigious Italian wine Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino ($49) is a great value. Look for Antinori, Ruffino and Castello Banfi if you want medium priced Tuscan or Chianti. Rosso di Montalcino by Banfi ($16) is a good choice in this category.

No.3. Columbia Crest again. If you want to serve a white with the meal, this Columbia Valley Estate Series Chardonnay ($16) 1998 is a remarkable value choice

Flora Springs Napa Valley Reserve 98 at $25, Landmark Chardonnay –Santa Barbara- Sonoma –Monterey Counties Overlook ($22) or, don’t laugh, Gallo of Sonoma Russian River Valley Laguna Ranch Vineyard ($22) are all in good supply and worth the money. After that you can go for the popular Far Niente or Grgich Hills at around $30.