photos courtesy of Tatsu Ikeda
24 Yelpers gathered at Downtown Wine & Spirits last night to discover the answers to probing wine questions they were pondering. A great time was had by all, and there was general group consensus on all 8 wines we tried—this stuff was money.
As usual, Downtown’s wine buyer Jeff Golden, General Manager Dan Parsons and our own Tyler Balliet were on hand to answer any and all questions. We did a price-blind tasting, and after we all tried each wine we played a “Price is Right” style guessing game to see how much we thought it cost, what we’d be willing to pay for it, and overwhelmingly we found the selection to have some great bargains.
1. Segura Viudas Brut Reserva
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Q: Can I get sparkling wine equivalent to champagne, but on the cheap? A: Yes! This cava from Spain is a great example of getting stellar bubbly on a budget. Cava is made in the same style as wines from the Champagne region, and although the taste differs due to the differences in grapes. This budget sparkler is reminiscent of the pricey stuff. |
2. Westport Rivers 2003 Westport Brut
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Q: Can New England really produce good wine? Really? A: Yes! The best stuff from our homeland is generally white. This sparkler from south of Boston is designed to be more approachable than the bubbly from across the pond. It’s an easygoing wine that’s fruity, with tastes of apples, and doesn’t have too much of a minerality to it. |
3. 2007 Calvet Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc
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Q: What should I look for when drinking on a budget? A: Most people think that drinking cheap means you have to leave the Old World behind, and look to New World producers to get solid quality for your cash. Not the case—the classics have some great wines that won’t bust your wallet. A former Wine of the Weekend, this bad boy is everything we love about Bordeaux, with none of the drawbacks (read: super expensive prices). It’s fresh and bright, and reminded us of a summer day. |
4. Finca La Linda
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Q: Is it all reds coming out of South America? A: Nope! While our neighbors to the South produce lots of heavy hitting reds like Malbec and Carmenere, their whites don’t disappoint. This Chardonnay was a crowd-pleaser. It’s smooth and very drinkable. With a strong nose, clean flavor and golden amber color, this wine would pair really well with a Gouda or Parmesan cheese. |
5. Chateau Saint-Germain 2007 Bordeaux Superieur
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Q: What’s an awesome deal on wine I would typically think is too expensive? A: Wines like Barolo, Burgundy and Bordeaux have a stigma for being fantastic, but really pricey. Typically, “It’s at least $25 to play ball in Bordeaux,” Tyler explained, meaning we are getting a killer bargain on this Old World classic. This wine is from Bordeaux and you can tell. Very earthy, with a full flavor round it out. |
6. 2007 Altovinum Evodia Garnacha
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Q: How can I tell which wines are worth trying by their labels? A: Well, the answer is pretty complicated. But Jeff and Tyler suggest looking at the importer information—if you like something they’ve carried before, you’ll most likely dig some of their other stuff. This particular wine is brought in by Eric Soloman, a Spanish wine legend. It’s a little spicy, but with solid fruity flavors to back it up. Keep an eye on this bottle (our new Wine of the Weekend!)—Jeff predicts it’s going to “explode”. |
7. Knick Knack Paddy Whack Ozzie Red
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Q: What’s up with blending? Do they mix different grapes together?
A: Blending is used by all wineries to a certain extent, to help balance out the flavors from each varietal to make an all around yummy bottle of vino. This “kitchen sink” wine uses “a shit ton of grapes” to create an awesome blend that was a crowd favorite. This wine puts blend into a new category. It tastes like a gingerbread cookie, a little bit spicy and tannic, but not too overwhelming for a well balanced finish. |
8. Andeluna 2006 Winemaker’s Selection Malbec
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Q: What’s an awesome New World wine? A: Malbec continues to be Argentina’s rising star, with fruit flavors like black cherry, this is a big and juicy bottle. We learned a little bit more about Viticulture (what goes on while the grapes are still on the vine), and how Argentina took a failing European grape and revived it to a beautiful thing. |
All wines available at Downtown Wine and Spirits in Davis Square.
