It's been a little while since I've posted - I think I needed a quick rest after Grape Madness. But, rest assured, I'm back, and with a backlog of posts I need to get out - the first of which is one I've been working on for a while now, my Whole Foods Top 10 wine list. As you may recall, I spent some time in December going through the Whole Foods Holiday Top 10, but this was a list that the store identified as their Top 10. So, I wanted to change it a bit and give everyone my take on the Top 10 wines currently in stock at Whole Foods. I plan to do this every 4 months or so, depending on inventory turn at the store, so please, feel free to send me your suggestions and I'll taste them to see what I think.My criteria for the list is relatively pretty simple:
- I only include wines under $20. There are some very nice wines above $20 at Whole Foods, but I feel like I can get most of them at boutique wine shops or other stores. The sub - $20 range is where I think Whole Foods offers the most compelling and unique choices.
- I try to take a look at a blend of featured wines and wines that are buried deep on the shelves. I often find that Whole Foods is pretty consistent in featuring good wines, but they always leave a few keepers on the shelves.
- The list is a mix of red and white. For those of you that follow this blog regularly, I tend to migrate more toward red wines, but I don't think that correctly represents the Whole Foods' wine offering.
So, here goes for my first Whole Foods Top 10 wine list:
(1) 2005 Masciarelli Estate Bottle Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Italy, $11.99): I really like Montepulciano and this is one of the better values I've tasted in a while. Some very nice fruit and a well balanced effort for the price. If this were $5 more, it would be lower on the list, but at $12, I think this is a great wine to have around the house, drinkable any night of the week. My top pick for this list. My rating: 90
(2) 2007 Vallevo Trebbiano d'Abruzzo (Italy, $7.99): My sister would be proud that a white not only made the list, but it also made it this high on the list (she's constantly asking me to give her some ideas for good white wine). I think this is a great wine to have on hand for what appears to be an early heat wave (at least in California). Straight-forward white wine, with very little oak, meant to be in an ice bucket and shared with friends on a hot summer day. Great quality for the price. My rating: 89
(3) 2007 Joel Gott Zinfandel (California, $12.99): We had the 2004 Joel Gott Zinfandel at our wedding and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this wine. In my opinion, everything Joel touches is worth a try and, most of the time, he's spot on with his efforts. Same story here - this Zin is an easy-drinking, well balanced, fruity and peppery wine. Not quite as good as the 2006, but definitely stands up to the Joel Gott standard. My rating: 89
(4) 2007 Cuvee Selectionnee par Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone (France, $14.99): Tasted this wine the same night as the #1 Montepulcanio and it held up very nicely in comparison. A nice earthy wine, with some good acidity and balance, I will definitely buy a few more of these for the cellar - decanted, it has the potential to drink like a $20+ wine. My rating: 88
(5) 2007 Stephen Vincent Crimson Red (California, $10.99): This wine made it all the way through to the Final Four of Grape Madness before it was crushed by the 2004 Chateau Chevalier Cabernet 90 - 86. But, I still think this is a nice, fruity, well balanced effort and worth a try. A little richer and more full-bodied than most California red wines in this price range. My rating: 87
(6) 2006 Vinum Cellars Petite Sirah (California, $14.99): I loved Vinum Cellars Petite Sirah when I first tasted it (it even made it to #5 on my Top 10 wine list for 2008). It's a hearty, fruity and intense Petite for a very good price - that's not easy to do with this varietal. It's big like other Petite Sirah's - lots of nose, huge flavor and big long finish that makes you want to take a breather (or a knee, whichever works) between sips. My rating: 88 (NOTE: I put this a bit lower on the list, because I think it's very hard to find right now and may be impossible to find sometime soon).
(7) 2007 Los Vascos "Special Selection" Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley (Chile, $14): I'm still not totally sold on Chilean Cabernet. It sits squarely between a California Cab and a very earthy French Bordeaux for me, but most of the Chilean Cabs I've tried are not well balanced and tend to hit me a little too hard. For the price, this is the best one I've tasted to date - earthy, cherry musk with a dusty aftertaste and not as big and hard-hitting as most that I've tried. My rating: 87
(8) 2007 Castle Rock Pinot Noir Monterey County (California, 11.99): I also had this one in my Grape Madness bracket, losing to the Stephen Vincent in a close match-up 88 - 85. I've had the Monterey County since that pairing and I do really like it. It's a lighter-colored Pinot, but definitely packs a spicey, fruity punch. Nothing subtle about this one. My rating: 86
(9) 2007 Elio Grasso Dolcetto d'Alba dei Grassi (Italy, $18.99): I tasted the 2007 Elio Grasso "Gavarini" Nebbiolo d'Alba back in Frebruary as part of Wine Blogging Wednesday and really enjoyed it. So, when I saw the Dolcetto d'Alba at Whole Foods, I grabbed it. Didn't like it as much as the Nebbiolo, but this one definitely held its own. Ripe dark fruit and some chocolate come together in a big wine, with a nice long finish. Probably great paired with a hearty pasta dish. My rating: 86
(10) 2008 Bio-Weingut H.U.M. Hofer Grüner Veltliner Trocken (Austria, $12.99): Okay, I'll admit it, I love the packaging on this white wine - it comes in a tall green 1 Liter bottle, topped with a beer bottle cap. I've heard it called the "Heineken of wine" (or did I just make that up?) and it definitely fits. It's not the best white I've ever had, but like the Vallevo, it's great to have around on a hot summer day - very refreshing and thirst quenching. Just don't let anyone mistake it for a big beer or it could be a long night for them. My rating: 85
Thus ends the first installment of my Whole Foods Top 10 wine list. Remember, let me know if there are any good wines that I'm missing at Whole Foods - there are a lot of them, so always open to suggestions.
Look for my next Top 10 list mid-late summer.
NOTE: These wines were selected from various Whole Foods stores in Northern California, so some wines listed may not be available in your area.
Gadget
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