Food and Wine
Best Wines Under $25
By Christina Burridge published Oct 29, 2009
Excellent value wines from our 2010 Eating and Drinking Guide
Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2007
$15.99 | specialty listing
The LDB stocks more than a dozen decent Malbecs around this price, but this is consistently the first-class one. Owned by a group of Italian wine pros, the estate specializes in Malbec: crimson purple and bursting with black cherry and blackberry fruit, spicy meaty leather, and licorice. Good structure and balance along with ripe, lush texture make it a killer everyday barbecue red. Try it and you’ll see why Malbec from Argentina is fast becoming as popular as Aussie Shiraz in Vancouver cellars.
Averill Creek Vineyard Pinot Grigio 2008
$18.99 | private wine stores
Andy Johnston reckons he makes the best Pinot Noir in B.C.; now he’s out to make the best in Canada. One of his most deserving wines is the 2008 Pinot Grigio, which, despite a cool wet summer puts most Italian Grigios to shame. Pale-greeny straw with a blast of fresh apple, bright grapefruit acidity, and a tropical finish, it’s sure to help Johnston in his mission to change the reputation of Vancouver Island wines. Screwcap.
BC Bottle
Château de Valcombe Costières de Nîmes 2007
$12.99 | specialty listing
This sunny blend of Grenache and Syrah sums up the south of France. The Costières de Nîmes—outside the French city that gave us denim—is an up-and-coming region that once made reds even enthusiasts could only call “gutsy” but now turns out enterprising blends at affordable prices. This one is straightforward, nicely chunky, all blueberries and herbs. Meant for flank steak rubbed with Dijon mustard, olive oil, and a sprig of rosemary then briefly grilled, it’s uncomplicated but delicious.
Exceptional Value
Château Gaudrelle Vouvray 2006
$24.99 | specialty listing
Loire Valley Vouvray isn’t very fashionable anymore, but by using its grape name—Chenin Blanc—Vancouver restaurateurs have made Gaudrelle a city favourite. It’s a lovely wine, all fresh summer garden with a bit of oiliness on the palate to give it that zippy “have another mouthful now” character. After that there’s sweet spice and smoke and a bit of honey and tropical fruit. Off-dry in the nicest possible way (what the French call “sec-tendre”), it’s a friendly, flexible wine that gets on exceptionally well not just with fish and shellfish but with mildly spicy food and just about any kind of noodle
Château Pesquié 2006 Les Terrasses Côtes du Ventoux
$17.99 | general listing
Côtes du Ventoux is part of the southern Rhône Valley, a region where the wines have steadily improved over the last decade. Château Pesquié is a family estate with high standards, making wines with juicy fruit and real structure, especially during good years like 2006. The Terrasses—named after the traditional Provençal terraced hillsides—is 70 percent Grenache with the rest Syrah. Dark ruby in colour with loads of cherry, plum, and black currant, it’s dominated by the earthy, spicy, smoky flavours of the land. Worth decanting.
Donnafugata Anthilia 2007
$19.99 | specialty listing
Anthilia is the old Roman name for the Sicilian city of Entella. This blend from one of the most successful family-run Sicilian estates is made from equal parts Ansonica and Catarratto, two local grapes that just about no one has heard of. Luckily that’s no barrier to the appeal of this delicious white. The attractive yellow-gold colour leads to beautiful, sweet peachy fruit with a good dose of lime acidity for elegance and finesse. It’s especially delicious with a big bowl of mussels or spot prawns.
Hardys Stamp of Australia Riesling Gewürztraminer 2008
$10.49 | general listing
The Hardys Stamp of Australia series is all about everyday drinking. The company, one of the largest in the world, is a big believer in interregional blending and delivers some of the best reliable values in the $10-to-$13 range. Its Riesling Gewürz blend (there’s also a deliciously juicy Shiraz Cab) has charm aplenty—the bouquet is all orange blossoms, rose petals, and jasmine, the flavour off-dry but still crisp, nicely citrusy with a spicy nutty finish. Its affinity for Asian food has made it the best-selling Aussie white in B.C.
Exceptional Value
