5 Great Import Values Perfect for Summer
Cheers to warmer weather! Our team rounded up our top five imports under $15 to kick off the summer with—take a look and let us know what you think.
1. 2017 Pierre Durdilly Domaine Les Gryphées Beaujolais Cuvée Le Paquet
Price: $14.99
Estate vineyards are located on steep hillsides at altitude (1,050 feet and higher); ‘Le Paquet’ (parcel or package in French) is a selection of Gamay vines from sandy, clay-rich soils. The family plants beneficial herbs between vineyard rows to prevent erosion and combat pests for these 50 year old vines.
Hand-harvested, the grapes are fermented on indigenous yeasts in cement tanks. The wine is then aged in tank and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note: "Aromas of wildflowers, red berries, light pepper. Flavors of raspberry coulis, pomegranate jam, baking spices."
2. 2018 Viu Manent Estate Collection Reserva Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $7.99
After working as a wine merchant alongside his father and brother since the 1930’s, Miguel Viu Manent made the decision to branch out on his own in 1965, purchasing a historic vineyard and winery in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. The estate was and still is one of the most well-exposed sites in the region, and it included 150 hectares of pre-phylloxera massal selections from France.
After nearly 100 years this firm is still family owned and operated (a rarity in Chile, especially for a winery of this size), all farming is certified sustainable, and two of Chile’s top names consult with the winery on a permanent basis – Roberto Pizarro (vineyard management) and Paul Hobbs (winemaking).
Tasting Notes: "Greenish-yellow in color with outstanding fruity aromas of white peach, pineapple, and grapefruit intermingled with floral and subtle citrus and saline notes. The palate is complete, fruity, fresh, and persistent with good volume and a pleasing finish."
3. 2018 Olema Côtes de Provence Rosé
Price: $14.99
"The 2018 Olema Rose continued in the tradition of the previous vintages. Made in the Côtes de Provence in the village of Vidauban in a true Provence Rosé style, this wine is crisp, dry and has the perfect balance of color, body and bouquet. Soaring aromatics of watermelon, strawberry, raspberry and rose petal jump from the glass. Flavors of cherry, watermelon and hints of kirsch lead to a wonderful burst of refreshing acidity on the finish."
One of the best we have had this year!
Price: $13.99
"Light, brilliant gold. Dried pear, orange zest and a subtle herbal nuance on the fragrant nose. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering bitter pear skin, Meyer lemon and chamomile flavors that sharpened by a suggestion of chalkiness. Shows good heft as well as energy and finishes with solid thrust and good, subtly floral persistence." - Josh Raynolds, Vinous
5. 2016 Casa Castillo Monastrell
Price: $13.99
Wine Advocate, 91+ Points
"The first wine in the range is the 2016 Monastrell, which in reality contains some 8% combination of Garnacha and Syrah, cropped from a more continental, cooler and dry vintage. Like all the wines from the property, it fermented with indigenous yeasts, in this case with grapes from different plots, and matured in used oak barrels for eight to nine months. Juicy, primary, incredibly fresh and with a vertical palate, longer than wider, like a hypothetical blend of 2013 and 2015, cool but dry. This is always a great value, even more so in 2016. 160,000 bottles produced from a single blend that is bottled throughout the year."
Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
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