What’s Hot
Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay have become yesterday’s news and Malbec and Riesling have replaced them as the most popular wines. There are several reasons. For one thing, wine drinkers are becoming more knowledgeable about wine. Newspapers have food and wine sections, and websites – like Twisting Vines, offer wine reviews and suggestions for food pairings. When you go to buy a wine to go with dinner, you have some idea what to expect before you make that choice.

Also, in the past couple of years wine prices have fallen, allowing us to be a little  adventurous and try new wines that were previously just out of our price range.

Of course, not to be overlooked is the fact that wines just keep getting better as winemakers become more knowledgeable about growing the best fruit and improving their winemaking techniques.

White
Riesling has recently become the most popular white wine with sales worldwide continuing to increase. What’s not to like about this versatile wine? It can be dry or sweet and it’s food friendly or great all by itself.

The grand dame of white wines, Chardonnay,has lost it’s luster and sales, worldwide, have been dropping. It seems the top selling California white wine is now associated with baby boomers, so it has the image of a geezer image. Too bad, because California Chardonnays have only gotten better as they’ve gotten away from the heavy oak and now produce wines with complexity and style.

The west coast of the US has some serious contenders for great Rieslings coming from Oregon and Washington State. The fruit is excellent and the winemakers are tops in their field. Because US Riesling growers don’t have to contend with steep hillsides, harvesting the grapes is much easier which keeps the prices lower than many German or Alsace imports.

2008 Chateau St Michelle Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling
Okay, I’ve reviewed this wine before but I have to tell you, each year’s vintage is better than the last. Last week I served this with chicken and noodles – a match made in heaven. I also like to have a glass while I’m cooking.

A beautiful straw color with aromas of pears and peaches, with hints of honey and citrus. Flavors of peaches, citrus and pears with hints of mineral and tea. Crisp and light-bodied. Slightly sweet but still on the dry side. Complex flavors evolve in the glass. Get an extra bottle to have on hand. $18 at K & L.

Red
Malbec from Argentina is becoming the darling of the red set. A less expensive alternative to Cabernet Sauvigon, in the past year everyone I know is talking about Malbec. Friends are serving it at home and it’s even appearing on the menu in family style restaurants. A good California Cabernet Sauvignon under $40 is not easy to find, but it’s pretty easy to find a very good Malbec under $20. Because production costs for wine in South America are considerably less than here in the US, we can enjoy a perfect wine paired with our favorite grilled rib eye steak.

Susana Balbo Mendoza Signature 2007
Medium ruby color. Aromas of dark berries, licorice and oak. Flavors of dark cherries, plum with hints of vanilla, cocoa and oak. Full-bodied, good tannins with a long, fruity finish. Open 45 minutes before serving.
$20 at Hi-Time Wine Cellar in Costa Mesa

Some Prices are Starting to Going Up
If you haven’t noticed, prices continue to creep upward. A quick trip to the mall for a sale will have you asking, “This is on sale? This is the same price it was a few months ago!”

Price increases are most noticeable at the grocery store. Coffee, eggs, bread and produce are at least 10% higher than they were last year at this time.

Wine price increases haven’t gone unnoticed by this consumer. We had a nice drop in wine prices for the past 6 months, but they’ve stopped dropping and, in some cases, are starting to edge upward.

There are several reasons. Because of the loss of jobs, or fear of losing one’s job, consumers are buying less expensive wines. Twisting Vines talked about this in February.

Here in California, and to a lesser extent, Oregon and Washington, it’s starting to take it’s toll. Many newer winemakers and growers purchased land at inflated prices, and unless they have unlimited funds, can’t keep up with expense of producing wine.

Some have gone out of business already. Some are frantically working to downsize and streamline operations. Some are raising prices. There will reach a point where wine drinkers will decide that they would rather switch to a less expensive wine or simply drink less often.

Here at Twisting Vines we will continue to search for those “diamonds in the rough” wines – so you won’t have to.

2 Great Value Wines

Saint Clair Family Estate Vicar’s Choice Pinot Noir 2008
From New Zealand’s Marlborough region. Bright ruby color. Aromas of raspberry, strawberry and red cherry. Medium-bodied. Well-balanced acidity, supple tannins. Cherry and raspberry dominate the palate with hints of red currant. A smooth, long finish. Pairs well with red meat or pasta. At Wine Exchange for $12

2008 Pascual Toso Malbec Maipu Valley
From Argentina. Dark ruby color. Aromas of ripe plums, wet stones and a hint of toast. Flavors of dark cherries and berries with a hint of pepper. Full bodied. Acid balanced with ripe tannins. Drink now or hold 2 or 3 years. Perfect pairing with a cheeseburger! At K & L for $10

2007 Wine
One of the best vintage years for wine – worldwide, was 2007. These wines are now coming to market and with wine prices dropping, there are bargains to be had!

California reds have been slow to come down, but winemakers will have to start discounting in order to reduce inventory. Buyers that once spent $20 – $30 are now buying the $9 – $12 bottles. The $10 – $14 buyer is now in the $3 – $6 dollar category. This is quite a shift to a much lower price point.

In restaurants, we’ve started to see some of the higher end wines being sold by the glass. This is a great opportunity to sample better wines without having to buy the whole bottle.

Some of the best buys recently have been Zinfandel and Syrah from California, Malbecs from Argentina and French Rhône wines.

Fall Wines Under $25 from Dreyfus Ashby & Co.
By Jared Paul Stern – Luxist

New York-based Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., a national independent importer and marketer of fine wine and spirits, has put together a list of great fall wines from around the globe, ideal for various cuisines and all priced under $25.

France’s Château de Campuget “1753″ stems from an 18th century document mentioning the historic property. The 100% Syrah is aged in stainless steel, seeing no oak. Deep purple in color, it is elegant and herbal with nice tannin and a crisp finish, paring nicely with spicy foods as well as hearty cold weather dishes like beef and pastas in red sauce. $12.99.

Under the discerning eye of consulting winemaker Véronique Drouhin-Boss, the light, fruity quality of Cloudline Pinot Noir (2007) from Oregon never waivers and pairs perfectly with everything from a fatty fish, such as salmon, to lamb. $14.99.

Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon (2007) from South Africa is a full-bodied, mouth-filling and rich wine with ripe fruit, delicate spice, firm tannins and a lasting aftertaste, pairing perfectly with robust winter stews, roasts and mature cheeses. $10.99.

Italy’s Renato Ratti Barbera D’Alba Torriglione (2007) is structured and rich with a pleasing and harmonious bouquet. The result is a full- bodied wine with an excellent balance between acidity and tannin that lends itself particularly well to pastas with lean protein, such as pork or chicken. $18.99.

Tedeschi Valpolicella Capitel Dei Nicalò (2006) is made from local Veronese grape varieties including Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara in the traditional style of the region. It is complex and elegant with lively acidity and an alcohol content that is balanced nicely by its tannins. $17.99.

Argentina’s Enrique Foster Reserva Malbec (2006) is made of selected grapes from old vines and production is limited to 5,000 lbs per acre. The wine is then aged in French and American oak for 12 months and in bottles for an additional six months. It’s a huge wine with fruity aroma and berry flavors perfectly suited to richly spiced dishes and roasted or grilled meats. $19.99.

2006 Water Wheel “Memsie” Shiraz-Cabernet-Malbec Bendigo Victoria
The 2006 Memsie red is a ruby-colored Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec blend. The nose exhibits black currant, plum and raspberry aromas.

A balanced, full-bodied wine with rich, dark fruit and berry flavors, with hints of savory spice and anise. The smooth, chalky tannins carry through to a lingering finish. This wine received 90 points from Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer.

Best drinking between 2009 – 2012. It is an ideal match for pasta, lean red meat dishes and cheese. A great value. $11

Purple color with aromas of spice and mocha. Flavors of plum, ripe berries and oak. Full- bodied and balanced with a long, smooth finish. We had this wine with barbecued spareribs. It was a perfect match. Quite a bargain at $13.