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Buying
Tips for the Budget Conscious
By Andrew Campbell
It's the New Year and I find myself staring hard
at my credit card bills (I should not have spent so much at that
online auction for my Sony Playstation 2), and wondering what I
could budget for wine drinking, without getting into the desperate
stages of jug-ism. Am I alone in this, or are there others
out there who have spent and spent, but still have their gourmet
wine tastes? If you are out there crying for help, heed this
advice:
Buy any California Cabernet Sauvignon from the vintage 1997.
This vintage is outstanding, and will reward people who like
to cellar their wine. Despite some of the price tags, virtually
all of these wines are values. Most have characteristics of
fruit-forwardness, followed by big bold tannins that integrate
seamlessly with the fruit, finishing soft and supple that tempts
drinkers to open promptly. Buy these wines up, before they go into
the next vintage.
The Northwest, the Rhone region in France, and Australia are
great values for the 1998 or 1999 vintage. These wines are
selling off the shelf at a high rate because they taste great and
most of them are under $15. These are great values!
- The Northwest wines of Washington and Oregon were great
years for the 1998 and 1999 vintages. Many of these wines have
increased prices, which are disheartening, but there are some
jewels out there.
- Most of the Côtes du Rhône wines of France from both the
1998 and 1999 vintages are great little reds that are ready to
be drunk at an early age. They reveal flavors of cherries,
cola and earth that are quite pleasant.
- Australia is a great value for the 1998 vintage, especially
Shiraz (not many 1999's are out there yet). Australian Shiraz
display great flavors of black cherry and other dark fruits,
some candied character, and sometimes ends with a chocolaty
finish.
Almost all of these wines from the above regions will be great
and easy on the pocketbook.
California vintage of 1999. The verdict is still out on
your favorite California Chardonnay for the newly released 1999
vintage. These wines are just being released. In researching the
1999 vintage for California, the wines are fuller bodied and carry
more fruit to balance the oak than the 1998 vintage. If you find a
label you can trust, go with it! It will be as good, if not
better, than your 1998 version of the same wine you have been
drinking for the past six months. For pricing, most of these wines
carry a steady price tag, and tend not increase their price to
dramatically.
If you resort to jugs, purchase "larger format
bottles" with a name that is recognizable. These wines
are called "Fighting Varietals" in the industry because
of the price similarities. Tastes are sometimes quite different,
even though most of these bottles are comparable in price. Look
for brands that specify who is making them. If marketing prohibits
putting the name of the winery on the label, they are suspect.
Also, do not worry about vintages with jugs. The quality is
constant.
Hopefully these suggestions will save you money and quench your
thirst for good wine. I know I'll practice what I preach during
the first part of the New Year!
P.S. If you really busted your budget, you might
consider DIY
Jug Wine, but I won't recommend serving it to guests!
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